In the first nine months sales grew by 12% at constant rates to 995.3 million euros (£859.2 million) compared with an average analysts estimate of 990 million euros, according to a Reuters poll.

The Asia and rest of the world area, which account for about 40% of total revenues, posted a 15% increase in the third quarter, thanks to Japan, Mainland China and Korea, the group said on Thursday. Sales in Italy grew by 4% and Europe by 7%.

(Reporting by Claudia Cristoferi, editing by Silvia Aloisi)