Looking good: N Brown surprises

Fashionable underwear and dresses for plus-size thirtysomethings helped catalogue business N Brown report a surprise profit rise.

The company’s online lingerie business Figleaves posted its first-ever profit as the home shopping group today reported a 2.5% rise in profits to £96.9 million in the year to March 3. N Brown’s plus-size brands Simply Be, Jacamo and Marisota reported strong growth.

Its US business saw sales increase from £800,000 to £4.8 million, and group revenue rose 4.8% to £753.2 million. Like-for-like sales grew 0.6% in the eight weeks to April 28. The dividend is up 5% at 13.03p