Compagnie Chargeurs Invest maintained its first-half sales

French textile group Compagnie Chargeurs Invest posted first-half sales of 372.2 million euros. This represents a contraction of 0.6%, and 1.7% on an organic basis, after a first quarter marked by growth.

While the group reported strong growth for its Museum Studio (+17.9%) and Personal Goods (+21.1%) divisions, as well as positive momentum for Novacel, it pointed to a “wait-and-see attitude on the part of Chargeurs PCC customers (interlinings and components for fashion and luxury goods, editor’s note) linked to uncertainties over customs duties”.

Thus, in the second quarter, PCC’s sales fell organically by 12.2%, and even by 15.5% for Luxury Fibers. For the group as a whole, this resulted in a gross margin for the first half of the year of just 0.6% at 99.9 million euros, while Ebitda contracted by 2% to 29 million euros, representing 7.8% of sales.

The group reports that it is studying “several expressions of interest” in Novacel, which is being considered for sale. “These expressions of interest reflect the market’s recognition of an asset that has been profoundly transformed over the last ten years,” said management.

Last May, the group announced that it had raised €108 million in new financing. This followed a takeover bid for the company’s shares in 2024 by its own CEO.

The group generated sales of 729.6 million euros in fiscal 2024. This represents a growth of 11.9%, and 10.7% in organic terms. Compagnie Chargeurs Invest recently announced the appointment of Carla Bruni-Sarkozy to its board of directors.