Puma 3Q net profit flat

Sportswear maker Puma AG said that its net profit was flat in the third quarter, but the company reported
healthy sales growth and raised its sales forecast for the full year.

The Herzogenaurach based company said net profit for the third quarter was flat at 89 million euros
($113 million). Sales grew by more than 9 percent to 713 million euros ($906 million) in the third quarter.
Pretax profit also was higher at 125 million euros ($159 million).

Puma said orders had risen 5 percent from last year's levels. "Despite the very challenging economic situation and sluggish retail environment, Puma was able to post another quarter of sales growth," Jochen Zeitz, the company's chief executive, said in a statement.

"Due to the year to date performance and our order books, we raise our sales guidance for our
full year outlook from a single digit to a mid to high single digit currency adjusted sales growth."