Samsonite Continues To Look For Takeover Targets This Year.

In the 2014 fiscal year, Samsonite's net sales increased by 15.4%, from $2 billion 37 million 800 thousand in fiscal 2013 to a record $2 billion 350 million 700 thousand, excluding the increase in the exchange rate.

Excluding the sales of three brands Lipault, Speck and Gregory completed during the year, net sales rose by 10% annually.

Same store sales increased by 7.9%.

All regions had strong double-digit growth. After excluding exchange rate effects, the North American market led by 22.9% growth, mainly due to the accession of Speck and Gregory.

Followed by 18% growth in Asia, driven by American Tourister, China's sales growth rate was 18.4%, and continued to pick up.

Latin America and Europe increased by 15.7% and 10.4% respectively.

The growth of American Tourister and High Sierra continued to be strong by brand. After the exchange rate was removed, sales increased by 19% and 24.9% respectively, while the two brands of Samsonite Samsonite and Hartmann had a steady growth of 10.2% and 10.3%.

Net profit for the year was $186 million 300 thousand, up 5.8% from $176 million 100 thousand in the previous year, and the earnings per share increased from $0.125 to $0.132.

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And foreign exchange losses, net profit rose 16.3% over the same period.

The adjusted EBITDA interest rate before depreciation and amortization increased by 13.8% to 384 million 300 thousand US dollars per year, but the adjusted EBITDA profit margin decreased from 16.6% to 16.4%, mainly because the profit margin of the newly acquired brand was relatively low.

The group has completed four acquisitions in the past 12 months with a total cost of $200 million. It has acquired French luggage brand Lipault, personal electronic equipment protection shell brand Speck, and high-end professional outdoor.

Gregory and Rolling Luggage, an airport suitcase retailer, further achieve the goal of diversifying the development of Group brands, product lines and distribution channels.

In the performance press conference, Samsonite CEO Ramesh Tainwala said it would continue to look for acquisitions this year.

By the end of the year, the group generated cash of $229 million 900 thousand from operating activities, an increase of 19.1% over the previous year of $193 million and a net cash of $72 million 900 thousand at the end of the year.

The board recommended that the annual dividend of $0.0625 per share be distributed to shareholders, an increase of 10% over the previous year.

It is revealed that the group performed well in the first two months of this year and is expected to continue double-digit growth this year.

Ramesh Tainwala also estimates that the mainland will still be one of the fastest growing markets, and will continue to increase mainland sales outlets. There are 115 new stores in the short and medium term.

As for the recent fluctuations in the foreign exchange rate, Ramesh Tainwala said that the corresponding increase in individual markets, coupled with lower oil prices, led to a fall in costs. The number of visitors worldwide has also continued to grow under the impetus of the mainland of China, believing that all factors can offset each other and gross margin can be maintained.

Samsonite received 24.9 Hong Kong dollars on Tuesday, down 1.58% on the day.