Descente saw its sales increase by 7.0 percent to 23.47 billion yen (€226.1m-$304.8m) during the second quarter ended Sept. 30, including the distribution in Japan of Cutter & Buck, Le Coq Sportif, Marmot, Munsingwear and Umbro. The gross margin for the quarter went up to 50.4 percent from 47.4 percent in the same period a year ago. Operating earnings improved by 7.0 percent to ¥2.39 billion (€23.0m-$31.0m), but net profit declined by 8.1 percent to ¥1.44 billion (€13.9m-$18.7m).