Double-digit plus following acquisition

The Netherlands Vendex group reports high rates of growth for its DIY business in the first three quarters of 2003 as a result of acquiring the Belgian stores that belonged to Leroy Merlin. When the effect of this is included in the figures, sales have gone up by 15.8 per cent over the same period last year. The increase comes to three per cent without the new stores. Altogether the segment had a turnover of € 937 mio. Sales growth in the third quarter at a volume of € 308 mio comes to 14.3 per cent including the acquisition and three per cent again excluding the new stores.