PRAGUE, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Fast-growing Czech-based defence company Czechoslovak Group (CSG) is considering an eventual initial public offering of its shares, among its options to continue its expansion, the company said on Tuesday.
CSG, owned by entrepreneur Michal Strnad, has seen rapid growth amid soaring demand for ammunition and military equipment since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The company is among top European makers of artillery ammunition and among leading global makers of small-calibre ammunition for handguns following the $2.2 billion acquisition of U.S.-based Kinetic Group last year.
Ukraine and NATO countries have been the main customers.
CSG has also seen rapid growth in its division producing and modernising heavy military equipment including artillery, armoured vehicles, trucks and tanks.
"The Group is in the early stages of evaluating potential strategic alternatives to support its continued growth strategy," CSG said in a half-year report on Tuesday.
"These alternatives include further possible capital markets transactions, including potentially, in due course, an IPO on a regulated market."
It said no decisions had been made yet.
CSG reported revenue of 2.8 billion euros in the first half of this year and core profit before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of 0.8 billion euros.
In the first half, Ukraine accounted for 28% of revenue and NATO countries for 68%.
It had an operating margin of 27.6% and net leverage of 1.9 times EBITDA, it said.
CSG said its backlog of orders stood at 14 billion euros, and another 14 billion in the pipeline of projects in various stages of negotiation.
(Reporting by Jan LopatkaEditing by Peter Graff)
((jan.lopatka@thomsonreuters.com; +420 234 721 614; Reuters Messaging: jan.lopatka.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))