Operating profit

The gross operating profit and the operating profit for the period amount to €242.2 million and €118.6 million, respectively, with a gross operating profit margin of 9.2% (10.3%) and a R.o.S. of 4.5% (5.7%). The reduction in the two margins is mainly due to seasonality factors related to Lane.

The central units’ costs and other general expenses for the period come to approximately €58.7 million (€ 61.0 million).

The operating profit generated by the foreign operations amounts to €170.5 million, while that recorded by the Italian operations, excluding the corporate costs, totals €6.8 million.