(Reuters) – BIC lowered its annual prospects on Thursday for 2025, citing a deterioration in the macroeconomic environment which leads to a larger drop than expected within the group’s categories since the start of the year, especially in the United States.
“In a fluctuating trade environment, marked by a drop in consumer confidence and uncertainty linked to customs duties in the United States, our categories were impacted by a stronger drop than anticipated in the 1st quarter,” said Gonzalve Bich, general manager, in a press release.
“It was amplified by the difficult comparison bases that we faced in the quarter,” he added.
The group is now counting on an increase in turnover between 0% and 3% in 2025 and an adjusted operating margin is expected around 15.0%, but has maintained its target for generation of net cash flow available greater than 240 million euros.
In February, BIC had declared to aim for growth in turnover this year between +4% and +6% and an operating margin adjusted to 15.6%.
Over the period January-March, the turnover of the manufacturer of stationery items fell 7% to 478.4 million euros, against 521.7 million euros a year ago.
(Written by Elena Smirnova, edited by Augustin Turpin)
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