HAMBURG (dpa-AFX) - Opticians' group Fielmann expects the takeover of US group SVS Vision to be completed soon. After that, the forecast for the current year will be updated, the company announced when presenting its final half-year figures in Hamburg on Thursday. SVS Vision will contribute to the Fielmann Group's sales immediately after closing, it said. However, the company sees the contribution to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (Ebitda) as low in 2023 due to acquisition costs. From 2024, the consolidation of the US business will lead to a significantly higher contribution to earnings at Group level over the entire course of the year, it said.

At the beginning of July, Fielmann had announced the acquisition of SVS Vision and the Canadian company Eyevious Style, thus making the leap to North America. According to the information provided at the time, SVS Vison is valued at the equivalent of around 105 million euros, Eyevious Style at around 35 million euros - in each case excluding cash and debt.

So far, Fielmann is assuming growth in consolidated sales of between 7 and 10 per cent for 2023. In terms of operating profit (Ebitda), the Group is targeting growth of 9 to 21 per cent. The preliminary half-year figures already published in July were confirmed. The company recorded double-digit percentage growth and benefited from cost reductions. After tax, Fielmann earned 74.6 million euros, compared with 60.9 million a year earlier./nas/jha/