HAMBURG (dpa-AFX) - The optician chain Fielmann expects slightly higher sales for the current year following the acquisition of the US company Shopko Optical. The Group now expects consolidated sales of around 2.3 billion euros for 2024, as Fielmann announced in Hamburg on Monday. This is around 100 million euros more than initially forecast. The existing business is developing in line with expectations, it said. Shopko will contribute to sales for six months.

Shopko Optical has a comparable margin profile to the Fielmann Group, it added. However, the contribution to profitability will be lower in 2024 due to transaction and integration costs. The expectations for the Group's margin before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) remain unchanged.

Fielmann announced the acquisition of the US optician with 1100 employees in June. The company intends to provide further details on the transaction and the Fielmann Group's strategy in the USA at the Annual General Meeting on July 11./nas/mis