After an outstanding performance last year, Helly Hansen enjoyed another growth spurt in the first quarter of 2012. The Norwegian outdoor and sailing brand's turnover increased by nearly 15 percent for the quarter, while its operating earnings before amortization (Ebitda) more than tripled. The soaring profitability is not due to any extraordinary items, but rather to the higher sales levels as well as juicy margins and stringent cost controls. Helly Hansen expects that its turnover will climb by 16 percent for the first half of the year, driven by more abundant sales in Asia, North America and the Nordics. The company thus predicts that it will end the year with another record in sales: Helly Hansen acknowledges that its targeted sales increase of 20 percent for the full year is at the higher end of current expectations, but claims that it remains attainable. As reported earlier this year, Helly Hansen's sales jumped by 17 percent to just under 1.6 billion Norwegian kroner (€210.5m-$268.2m) last year, while its comparable Ebitda, excluding the survival unit divested early last year, soared by about 50 percent to some NOK 145 million (€19.0m-$24.2m).

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