May 12 - SuperGroup, the British company behind the fast-expanding Superdry fashion brand, posted a 61 percent rise in fourth-quarter sales, though its phenomenal rate of growth slowed a little.

Superdry fashion brand (owned by SuperGroup)

The firm, whose clothes are a favourite of celebrities such as David Beckham, Leonardo DiCaprio and Zac Efron, said on Thursday it would meet current market expectations for full-year pretax profit.

SuperGroup said total sales were 66 million pounds ($108.8 million) in the three months to May 1, up from 41 million pounds in the same period last year.

That compares with a rise of 87 percent in the third quarter.

Retail sales of SuperGroup's trademark T-shirts, hoodies, check shirts and jogging bottoms increased 39 percent, while wholesale sales were up 89 percent.

Full-year sales rose 71 percent to 238 million pounds.

SuperGroup was one of 2010's most successful IPOs after listing at 500 pence 14 months ago and hitting a high of 1,899 pence in February.

The stock closed at 1,569 pence on Wednesday, valuing the business at 1.26 billion pounds.

(Reporting by James Davey; Editing by Will Waterman)