Gross margins increased by 2.3 percentage points to 33.8 percent at Easton-Bell in the first quarter of 2012, thanks to lower closeout sales and higher average selling prices associated with product innovation and productivity gains. With total sales rising by 6.3 percent to $203.4 million for the period, adjusted operating earnings before amortization (Ebitda) moved up by 14.9 percent to $22.6 million for the period, and the company switched to net income of $1.3 million from a loss of $62,000 in the year-ago period. Increased sales of Giro and Bell cycling helmets to the specialty channel and the introduction last year of Giro cycling shoes helped the company book a 5.5 percent increase in action sports sales to an indicated level of $91.9 million. Team sports sales rose by 7.0 percent.

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