Firstextile AG
Firstextile AG confirms 2014 preliminary results and publishes outlook for 2015
Firstextile AG / Key word(s): Final Results Firstextile AG confirms 2014 preliminary results and publishes outlook for 2015 – Record revenue level at EUR 216.0 mn and strong EBIT margin at 19.1% based on audited figures 2014 – Net profit at EUR 28.1 mn; Earnings per share amount to EUR 2.38 – For 2015 total revenue between EUR 213 mn and EUR 237 mn and EBIT margin between 16% and 18% expected – Launch of operations of the new production site expected in the middle of 2015 Frankfurt, 29 April 2015 – As scheduled Firstextile AG (FT8) publishes its final financial figures for the financial year 2014 today and thereby confirms the preliminary figures already announced two months ago. Firstextile achieved an increase of 7.8% in revenue resulting in the highest revenue level in its history. The company’s gross profit margin at a high level and its sustained strong EBIT margin of 19.1% underline the high profitability of its business model. In the financial year 2014, Firstextile’s revenue amounted to EUR 216.0 million compared to EUR 200.3 million in the previous year. This increase was mainly due to higher revenue in the Uniforms segment that over-compensated the decrease in the Branded products segment resulting from the unfavourable economic environment for the corporate gift business as an important part of this segment. Gross profit in the financial year 2014 amounted to EUR 65.9 million (2013: EUR 64.8 million) and thus gross profit margin of 30.5% still remained at a high level. Although earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) slightly decreased by 0.7% to EUR 41.3 million (2013: EUR 41.6 million), the corresponding EBIT margin of 19.1% (2013: 20.8%) exceeded the 2014 guidance of between 16% and 18%. The slight drop in margin yoy is due to an increase in distribution and selling expenses as well as spendings on research and development (R&D) underlining the great importance of R&D for Firstextile’s business. Overall net profit amounted to EUR 28.1 million (2013: EUR 32.9 million) resulting in earnings per share of EUR 2.38. According to experts forecasts saying the Chinese macroeconomic environment will continue to be fairly healthy in 2015, all signals point to sustainable business development in the financial year 2015. Alongside Firstextile’s high equity ratio of 56.5% place the company into a very good position to successfully promote business development in 2015. Cash and cash equivalents amounted to EUR 120.2 million at the end of 2014. On the back of a stable market environment, the very healthy company situation and the imminent completion of the new production site, the company consequently expects total revenue between EUR 213 million and EUR 237 million and an EBIT margin of between 16% and 18% in 2015. Fred Yang, founder and CEO of Firstextile AG: “In 2015 we aim to continue insistently our growth trend of the previous years. To exploit the huge opportunities in the overall very attractive Chinese market for high-end fabrics, we plan to start operations in the new facility in the middle of 2015. Most machinery has already been successfully ordered before the end of the first quarter of 2015 and will be installed during the second quarter.” The full annual report for the financial year 2014 will be available at the company’s website (www.firstextile.de), within the “Investor Relations” area, starting from today. Please find following an overview of the final financial information (in EUR m):
Company profile 2015-04-29 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP – a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de |
Language: | English | |
Company: | Firstextile AG | |
Lyoner Str. 14 | ||
60528 Frankfurt am Main | ||
Germany | ||
Phone: | +49 (0) 69 6655 4416 | |
Fax: | +49 (0) 69 6655 4418 | |
E-mail: | ir@firstextile.de | |
Internet: | www.firstextile.de | |
ISIN: | DE000A1PG8V8 | |
WKN: | A1PG8V | |
Listed: | Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Stuttgart | |
End of News | DGAP News-Service |
350153 2015-04-29 |