Our sales performance for the 2023 fiscal year fell by 6.0% (2022: 13.0 %, 2021: +17.6 %, 2020: +8.2 %, 2019: -0.5 %, 2018: +5.3 %) of sales revenues compared to the previous year.
Our absolute economic performance amounts to a turnover of over 140 million euros.
This shows that VAUDE is developing well economically even in a difficult and uncertain year. It can also be seen in direct comparisons with the European outdoor market based on growth rates of the European Outdoor Group (EOG).
In May 2017 VAUDE was awarded the European Business Award in "Environmental & Corporate Sustainability" and recognized as one of the eleven best European companies.
»The EBA has reaffirmed that our sustainability philosophy is an economic success factor. I am really pleased that we were distinguished among this large international group of applicants. The award goes to the team for its tremendous achievement because sustainability is teamwork and there are just so many people involved throughout the company.«
VAUDE offers its employees a total annual tranche of € 100,000 in the form of profit participation certificates with a fixed interest rate of 2 percent and a profit participation of 2 percent. In 2024, both the fixed interest rate and the profit participation will be increased to 3%. Loss participation was excluded. The term of each non-voting equity security is 5 years. This can then be used tax-free by the employees up to an annual amount of 360.00 € as a salary conversion, for example by converting 30.00 € per month in the salary conversion. In addition, employees also have the option of investing higher amounts in order to take advantage of the interest / profit sharing - all together up to an annual maximum of € 100,000. Since the participation certificates have a subordination clause, VAUDE strengthens its equity capital and at the same time offers employees the opportunity to participate in the company as shareholders at attractive conditions.
When we began to implement the plan at the beginning of 2017, great interest was shown and the first tranche was already completely awarded. In the following years, the offerings continued to be very well received. An annual tranche is planned for the future.
The equity ratio and the proportion of liabilities worsened during the reporting period. Due to a short-term decline in orders, pre-ordered goods could not be delivered, leading to an increase in externally financed inventories.
VAUDE uses mezzanine funds to strengthen its equity, including from the development loan from the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau, the silent partnership from the Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft Baden-Württemberg MBG and profit participation certificates.
Our economic equity ratio as of December 31, 2023, is 43.4 percent (2022: 50.0%; 2021: 61.8%; 2020: 65.5%; 2019: 64.7%; 2018: 53.4%), and the proportion of liabilities to the total assets as of December 31, 2023, is 68.9 percent (2022: 60.5%; 2021: 51.9%; 2020: 48.1%; 2019: 50.8%; 2018: 62.3%).
Despite the further deterioration of both metrics, Vaude continues to demonstrate solid financial figures.
Banks are key stakeholders for VAUDE. The company’s financing options are determined based on their ratings. As part of our bank financing, we undertake to comply with covenant requirements. These include figures such as the equity ratio and debt ratio. In 2023, we were unable to meet some of these requirements, prompting Vaude to negotiate with its financing partners to suspend these metrics.
Expenditures for sustainability management are integrated into the budgets of the company's divisions. In addition, VAUDE makes funds available for the implementation of comprehensive sustainability management in a CSR Budget. These include:
In addition to the CSR expenditures listed above, we employ three personnel who work on the ground in Asia with the Fair Wear Foundation and supervise the Environmental Stewardship Program in the supply chain. These employees are not included in this reporting as they are related to a subsidiary of VAUDE Sport GmbH & Co in China as well as a representative office in Vietnam.
In 2023, Vaude made cash donations totaling €16,768. Due to the corporate structure (GmbH & Co. KG), donations are distributed among the shareholders, resulting in their inclusion in the annual financial statements as private withdrawals. None of the donations were made to political parties. The main recipient was SV Tannau. Additionally, there were smaller donations to the organization "Save the Children," as well as to other charitable institutions. Information about our in-kind donations can be found on the Second Hand and Donations page.
Nevertheless, it remains challenging to monetarily quantify the value of all sustainability management efforts at VAUDE. This is because the above-mentioned positions do not account for all the non-quantifiable activities, which also play an important role.
This primarily includes the additional costs for more sustainable materials in product development, which sometimes result in lower margins and thus a sacrifice of profit, yet are not separately identifiable. Also included are presentations and lectures held by Antje von Dewitz and her team on CSR issues, the many ongoing efforts of employees who are not permanent members of the CSR team concerning the ecological optimization of their working operations.
You can read more about why this is an important strategy for us here.
We describe here the extent to which we have succeeded in decoupling our emissions from business success.
In order to put increased consumption or emissions in relation to sales development, we are reporting sales growth not only compared to the previous year, but also to various base years. Our most important base years for sustainability reporting are:
2011: Base year for the VAUDE Climate Footprint
2013: Base year for sustainability report according to GRI standard
2015: Base year for the VAUDE mobility goals
2019: Base year for science-based climate goals (Science Based Targets)
VAUDE's partner banks include Sparkasse Bodensee, Landesbank Baden-Württemberg, DZ Bank, Volksbank Allgäu-West, Commerzbank Friedrichshafen, Sparkasse Esslingen and the GLS Bank. With the GLS bank we have now an institution that finances sustainable companies exclusively so that new socio-ecological opportunities can develop in our society. Our partner banks all deal with ecological and social issues and have already published sustainability reports. These savings banks and cooperative banks have a municipal mandate and are committed to the public interest.
The decisions of the bank consortium are taken by a majority of the lenders. The lender majority consists of those lenders whose shares in the credit lines together reach or exceed 66 percent of the credit lines.
VAUDE is supported by KfW (Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau) through promotional loans to finance and implement social and environmental protection projects.
The MBG (Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft Baden-Württemberg) contributes to external financing through silent partnerships. One of these partnerships was repaid in November 2021.
As part of the "Green Financing" project, VAUDE plans to add further banks with an explicitly sustainable orientation to its bank portfolio. The addition of GLS Bank was a major and important milestone in this respect. VAUDE does not engage in speculative transactions with futures and options. Due to international business activities, currency swaps are only used to reduce the risk of exchange rate fluctuations. Loans are financed exclusively in euros and not in foreign currencies.
VAUDE has almost no financial assets that are invested. The majority of profits are invested directly into the company via reserves in the sustainable corporate strategy.
VAUDE creates reserves of about 55 percent from the surplus funds. The remaining 60 percent is distributed to the shareholders, members of the founding von Dewitz family. Withdrawals from the shareholder accounts are possible at 12 percent of the respective annual surplus.
Our principle in the use of funds is to make investments within the profits generated and to further increase the equity ratio.
We have concluded syndicated financing with a term of 5 years (until the end of 2024) and a volume of 40 million euros for strategic investments in order to achieve our goals.
For the first time, we were able to include an aspect of sustainability in the calculation of interest: the development of the VAUDE Green Shape standard is incorporated into our banks' evaluations and has a positive impact on our interest charges. We see this as a groundbreaking agreement and hope that the link between sustainability and profitability will expand far beyond financing alone. The set target was achieved as planned.
1. Financial independence:
The intergenerational preservation of the family business is our ultimate goal. Financial independence gives us flexibility for our business practices and ensures the future of the company over the long term.
2. International competitiveness:
Competition in the outdoor industry is extremely dynamic, international and has been determined by acquisitions and debt capital for the past few years. The size of the company and its associated brand strength are relevant to be successful in this competition. Our goal is to be internationally competitive as a strong, sustainable, European brand.
3. Efficient economics:
We are striving for healthy growth in order to efficiently do business in the three main business areas of our corporate structure. At the same time, we want to optimize production resources and capacities and benefit from economies of scale.
4. Increased influence for greater sustainability:
Economic growth also helps us to increase our influence on production and material suppliers, which we can use to implement further sustainability measures.
»... a big congratulations to all of VAUDE for this great year-end. Achieving this in these special times is very, very remarkable!
It was not so long ago that you were worried about liquidity (at the beginning of 2020) and at least very quickly and very concretely thought about KfW support. This issue was resolved as quickly as the worries had arisen.
But even longer ago were the days when we set out on the path of the first syndicated financing with a debt ratio of >6.5. And what has come of it in the meantime!!! Hats off!!!«
Isabel Stiefenhofer, Controlling at VAUDE:
»We believe that sustainable business pays off in the long term. Economic, ecological and social aspects must be equally considered.«
Our values are not geared purely to maximizing profits. We're convinced: Sustainable management pays off in the long term. See also CSR Team as a Driving Force for Sustainability.
We are also willing to invest in this concept: In 2017, we invested 669,651 euros (2016: 762,157 euros, 2015: 615,672 euros, 2014: 578,791 euros) - See also CSR Team as a Driving Force for Sustainability.
In addition, we are committed to the development of other sustainable business models. These include upcycling projects, repair services and the development of a gear rental program and the VAUDE Academy.
The objective system is arranged according to the perspectives of the "Balanced Scorecard". Measures and indicators are defined for each goal.
In a multi-step process, the achievement of objectives and status of the budget and economics planning is monitored. This process includes the following steps:
1. Senior Management executive session in January:
Management analyzes economic performance in the product areas, analyzes risks within and outside the company as well as the competition, checks the validity of the objectives set and sets strategic guidelines for the next three years.
2. Division manager committee executive session in February:
The Division Managers define measures for the objectives set for the following year and check the previous achievement levels.
3. Distribution of the goals:
Goals, measures and indicators are broken down by departments.
4. Ongoing controls:
Goal achievement levels are checked several times a year. The review indicators for some key figures only take place at the end of the year.
5. Close connections for budget planning:
The budget planning process is closely connected with the corporate management and runs parallel to the goal process. Budget planning takes place in the first half year, including the budget for the following year’s objectives. In several rounds of voting, plans are adapted to the possibilities.
6. Finalization of goals and budgets:
In a two-day meeting in September, both the objectives for the following year and the budget are finalized by department heads.
7. Budget approval:
The final, 100 percent approval of the budget in each case comes into effect only after ascertaining the previous year’s results and the winter preorders. If the planned annual results are unlikely to be met on this basis, those responsible can only have 80% of their budget.
8. Ongoing controls, for budgets as well:
Just like our reviews of the goal achievement status, budget compliance is verified during the year.
Sales are also carefully planned and consolidated at the top level. In addition, we regularly collect financial figures which are used to operationally guide the company. The most important figures are reconciled, evaluated and analyzed for deviations from the planned system on a monthly basis by management and controlling division. This is a requisite for the management to identify trends and developments and, when necessary, guide measures to offset adverse developments and reinforce positive trends.
