Köhler & Krenzer AG

Köhler & Krenzer Fashion AG is one of the most important manufacturers of classic women's outerwear in Germany. The structure of this sector is dominated by medium-sized companies. Köhler & Krenzer Fashion AG has been highly successful in positioning itself in the clearly-defined market niche for high-quality, classic ladies' outerwear in the medium price segment for women of 35 and over.

The company is quoted in the Regulated Market in Frankfurt and Hamburg and listed in the General Standard Segment. The Köhler & Krenzer-Group employs around 285 staff and concentrates on value-added stages that are relevant for earnings and competition. The much lower costs that result from this guarantee a very good price-performance ratio in the retail sector on the one hand, and substantially improve the performance of the company on the other.

Köhler & Krenzer Fashion achieves above-average sale and advance sale ratios, while its proximity to its customers and markets has ensured a high standing with its customers. Köhler & Krenzer Fashion regularly achieves top results in customer appraisals, not least thanks to the high sales ratios achieved by its collections, its favourable price-performance ratio and its good service.

The products are mostly manufactured in eastern European countries, owing to the excellent mix of cost and logistics advantages that prevail there. This would not be the case in the more cost-advantageous Asian region, for example. In addition, Köhler & Krenzer Fashion AG operates an attentive outsourcing policy to keep costs as variable as possible.

Since organic growth can only be realised at a comparatively slow pace in mature markets, Köhler & Krenzer Fashion AG is stepping up its growth rate by acquiring successful clothing companies. In April 2000, for example, the company acquired 70% of the Gelsenkirchen-based company Marcona-Kleidung Heinz Ostermann GmbH & Co. KG, which also operates successfully in the classic ladies' outerwear segment.

In the truncated business year 2002 (1.6. - 31.12.2002), Köhler & Krenzer Fashion AG`s sales were EUR 51.9 million and the after tax profit for the short year amounted to EUR 1.9 million. As a result the company is posting an EBITDA return of 13.1%, placing it well above the industry average.