ICA Gruppen year-end report 2018

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Favourable sales – new organisation in ICA Sweden

Fourth quarter 2018 in summary

  •  Consolidated net sales amounted to SEK 30,069 million (28,601), an increase of 5.1%
  •  Operating profit excluding items affecting comparability was SEK 1,139 million (1,172)
  •  Operating profit excluding items affecting comparability includes SEK 110 million in structural costs in ICA Sweden associated with the ongoing organisational change. The change entails that approximately SEK 180 million annually is being freed up for continued investments during the second half of 2019
  •  Profit for the period was SEK 930 million (892). Profit includes capital gains on sales of non-current assets and impairment losses totalling SEK 33 million net (9)
  •  Earnings per share were SEK 4.61 (4.41)
  •  Cash flow from operating activities amounted to SEK 2,244 million (1,606). Excluding ICA Bank, cash flow was SEK 2,768 million (2,634)
  •  ICA Gruppen's board of directors proposes a dividend of SEK 11.50 per share (11.00) for 2018, corresponding to 63% (53%) of net profit for the year

After the end of the quarter

  • No significant events have taken place after the end of the quarter

Comment from the CEO of ICA Gruppen, Per Strömberg:

“We closed 2018 with good momentum - favourable sales growth and stable earnings, with Apotek Hjärtat and ICA Bank showing very strong performance. We have now also conducted a review of ICA Sweden’s organisation, where the ambition is to be even more agile and quickly be able to capitalise on new opportunities at the same time that we maintain good momentum in our traditional operations and ensure efficient processes.”

For further information, please contact:

Frans Benson, Head of Investor Relations

Tel. +46 8-561 500 20

ICA Gruppen press service

Tel +46 10 422 52 52

Conference call for the media and financial market

ICA Gruppen will arrange a press and analyst meeting at 10.00 CET on Thursday, 7 February 2019, during which CEO Per Strömberg and CFO Sven Lindskog will present the year-end report. The meeting will be conducted in English and can be followed at www.icagruppen.se/investerare. It is also possible to call in on tel. +46850558352 or +443333009030.

Location: IVA, Grev Turegatan 16, Stockholm

Calendar

5 March 2019                                             Publication of 2018 Annual Report

11 April 2019                                              Annual General Meeting

3 May 2019                                                Q1 interim report

15 August 2019                                          Q2 interim report

24 October 2019                                        Q3 interim report

6 February 2020                                         2019 year-end report

This information is such that ICA Gruppen AB is obligated to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication at time 07.00 CET on Thursday 7 February, 2019.

ICA Gruppen AB (publ) is a leading retail company with a focus on food and health. The Group includes ICA Sweden and Rimi Baltic which mainly conduct grocery retail, ICA Real Estate which owns and manages properties, ICA Bank which offers financial services and Apotek Hjärtat which conducts pharmacy operations. The Group also includes Hemtex. For more information see icagruppen.se

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