Aeffe, the Italian fashion group that owns the shoemaker Pollini, has reported an increase in the profitability of its footwear and leathergoods division, whose Ebitda (operating income before amortization) switched to a €0.6 million profit in 2011 from a €3.0 million loss a year earlier. Ebit (operating profit before interest) was a positive €3.5 million compared with a €13.1 million loss a year earlier. The group reiterated that the division's revenues rose by 27.0 percent to €63.9 million in 2011, with Pollini's sales going up by 15.4 percent to €32.3 million. The group's total revenues rose by 12.2 percent last year to €246.0 million, while the Ebitda margin widened to 7.5 percent from 1.6 percent. Aeffe narrowed its net loss to €4.3 million from €12.5 million. The company is confident that it will increase sales and profits this year.