The Kramp Group can look back on a satisfactory performance for 2014.
Kramp Groep head office Varsseveld Netherlands
The company saw turnover increase to €668 million, and the EBITDA rose by almost 10% to €70 million. The key focal points of the past year included achieving synergies between Kramp and Grene, and improving efficiency and cost control. The Board of Directors, who have published their annual report for 2014 concluded in their statement these are positive results.
"2014 was a good year for the Kramp Group. We achieved our objectives with an increase in turnover to €668 million. Not only have we achieved excellent growth in turnover, we have also started working more efficiently with one another across thecompanyimproving results in every respect", says Eddie Perdok, CEO of the Kramp Group.
Kramp Groep CEO Eddie Perdok
The title of the annual report is "The essential partner". This is the message that the company would like to convey both to its customers and to its suppliers. "A good example is our partnership with the tractor manufacturers AGCO and SDF", says Perdok. "As partners we complement each other and together we can offer a complete package, which means that our customers do not need to worry about parts and accessories. We also want to develop similar partnerships with other manufacturers. To us, partnership with our customers means working closely with them, speaking their language, sharing in their thinking and offering them solutions so that they can do their work successfully and more easily. After all, if our customers are successful, then so are we".
| In € million | 2014 | 2013 |
| Turnover | 668 | 626 |
| Operating result (EBITDA) | 70 | 64 |
| Net profit | 39 | 34 |
| Equity | 139 | 164 |
| Balance sheet total | 367 | 342 |
| Solvency (%) | 38 | 48 |
Market developments
For turnover and market share, the Kramp Group grew in all countries where the company has a presence.In countries where Kramp has been active for a relatively short period, such as Spain, Portugal, Italy, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary, turnover and market share increased strongly. There was also a substantial increase in turnover and market share in France, Poland and Russia.
Investments
Total investments in the 2014 financial year were over €23 million, with considerable investments in IT and e-business in particularly. In addition, construction of the new head office in Varsseveld was completed at the end of 2014 and a start was made on expanding the distribution centre in Konin in Poland.
Prospects for 2015
The prospects for 2015 are positive. In the first quarter of this year, turnover was in line with the budget and we expect to achieve a turnover of €720 million in 2015. In 2014, a lot of time and energy was devoted to merging the ranges of Kramp and Grene, and we expect the results of this effort to become visible in 2015. By making the most of the advantages of the merger in 2013, the Kramp Group believes that the opportunity exists to further improve the margin.
There will again be a high level of investment in 2015, including in further strengthening of the IT systems, maintaining and increasing the lead that Kramp has in e-business and expanding the distribution centres in Konin (Poland) and Poitiers (France).
