PRAGUE, March 27 (Reuters) - Czech gunmaker Colt CZ

Group reported a 50% rise in both revenue and earnings

before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) in

2024, and said on Thursday it would proposed a dividend and

share buy-back program from earnings.

Revenue rose last year to 22.4 billion crowns ($968.10

million), just above company guidance, and adjusted EBITDA

reached 4.6 billion crowns, at the top end of its outlook.

Results were boosted by the acquisition of ammunition

producer Sellier & Bellot last year, along with growth in

European and U.S. markets, Colt CZ said.

Adjusted net profit fell 5.7% to 1.9 billion crowns, hit by

higher interest costs, it said.

The group said it would propose paying 847 million crowns in

dividends, amounting to 15 crowns per share, and another 847

million for a share buyback program from 2024 profit. The payout

would be similar, albeit in a different structure, to a 2023,

when it paid a 30 crown per share dividend.

Colt CZ has seen its business grow on the back of

acquisitions such as Sellier & Bellot, while its revenue last

year was split between the commercial and military & law

enforcement divisions, after leaning more toward commercial in

2023. The U.S. market accounted for 40% of revenue in 2024.

"With regards to the outlook for 2025, Colt CZ sees major

global business opportunities in the military and law

enforcement segment," the company said.

"Cooperation with NATO and EU member countries and the NATO

Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) remains a top priority."

It said in an outlook it expected revenue to rise to around

25 billion crowns in 2025 and adjusted earnings before interest,

tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) to reach 5.5 billion

crowns.

($1 = 23.1380 Czech crowns)