Clothing Underwear manufacturer Calida returns to profit
The underwear and lingerie manufacturer Calida returned to profit in 2024. The bottom line was a plus of CHF 14.9 million after a hefty loss of CHF 66.5 million in the previous year.
21.02.2025, 08:02
SDA
The company benefited in particular from the sale of the outdoor furniture brand Lafuma Mobilier. Meanwhile, total sales from continuing operations fell by 10.1 percent to 231.0 million Swiss francs, as Calida announced on Friday. The core brand Calida, the lingerie brand Aubade and, to an even greater extent, the US subsidiary Cosabella, which is currently undergoing restructuring, all lost sales.
The decline in sales had been on the cards. In the important sales markets of Germany and France, consumer sentiment was gloomy. However, the decline was greater than analysts had expected. According to Calida, the fourth quarter was particularly difficult with the Christmas business.
Online retail performed better. The digital share of sales rose to 33.7 percent, compared to 30.8 percent in the previous year.
Calida spoke of an "overall satisfactory" result. The core brands offer "attractive opportunities for growth and development", the Group said. It has been a challenging time, but the company is confident that the strategic decisions taken will have a greater impact in the current year.
Slightly more money for shareholders
In the previous year, the result was heavily impacted by write-downs at Cosabella, liquidation costs for the discontinued online store Onmyskin and losses from the discontinued Erlich Textil division. The operating result (EBIT) has now risen again to CHF 4.0 million after a loss of CHF 40.2 million in 2023.
The adjusted EBIT margin was 2.8 percent after 4.2 percent in the previous year. Calida is aiming for a margin of 10 percent in the medium term.
Nevertheless, shareholders should receive a little more. The dividend is set at CHF 0.66 per share. This includes a dividend in kind of CHF 0.43 per share and withholding tax of CHF 0.23 per share. In the previous year, the dividend was halved to CHF 0.60 per share.
Thomas Stöckli becomes new CEO
Thomas Stöcklin will take over as CEO of the underwear and lingerie manufacturer from June 1, 2025. Stöcklin is no stranger to Calida: he worked for the company for a total of 13 years - most recently as Chief Financial Officer. He is currently CFO at Manor.
Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors Felix Sulzberger is stepping down from operational management on May 31, 2025. According to the press release, he will make himself available as Chairman of the Board of Directors in a non-executive capacity at the Annual General Meeting.
Gregor Greber has also decided not to stand for a further term of office at the upcoming Annual General Meeting. He has been a member of the Board since 2020. Andrea Sieber, a partner at the law firm MLL Legal AG, will join the Board of Directors instead.
