Ray-Ban owner Luxottica spots EUR 545m profit for 2013

(MILAN) - Luxottica, the Italian group that owns high-end eyewear brands Ray-Ban and Oakley, said Thursday it made a net profit last year of 544.7 million euros ($745 million) on sales of 7.3 billion euros.

Revenues were 3.2 percent up on 2012 with net profit 1.9 percent higher.

It was the company's third consecutive strong annual results, buoyed by convincing sales in emerging markets China, Brazil and Turkey, where brand-hungry consumers were joining the middle-class. Europe and North America sales remained solid.

The company is the world's largest maker of eyewear. It produces glasses and frames under licence for a wide range of luxury brands, including Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, Versace, Chanel, Ralph Lauren and Paul Smith.

Andrea Guerra, Luxottica's CEO, said 2014 was already shaping up positively.