CONSUMER HEALTHCARE UP 24% IN 2013
FOURTH QUARTER OF 2013
- NET SALES amounted to MSEK 26.2 (26.2).
- OPERATING PROFIT totalled MSEK 3.1 (2.6).
- PROFIT AFTER TAX amounted to MSEK 2.6 (2.1).
- PROFIT AFTER TAX PER SHARE was SEK 0.29 (0.24).
- CASH FLOW amounted to a negative MSEK 0.1 (pos: 1.2)
FULL-YEAR 2013
- NET SALES amounted to MSEK 102.2 (99.6).
- OPERATING PROFIT totalled MSEK 18.1 (17.2).
- PROFIT AFTER TAX amounted to MSEK 15.0 (13.5).
- PROFIT AFTER TAX PER SHARE was SEK 1.65 (1.48).
- CASH FLOW amounted to MSEK 4.0 (11.1). Probi paid dividends of MSEK 6.8 (6.8).
INFORMATION FOR COMPARATIVE PURPOSES:
The comparative figures for the year-earlier period are impacted by two contractual changes, which totalled MSEK 7.0, pertaining to NextFoods and Danone. Adjusted for these changes net sales increased MSEK 9.6, from MSEK 92.6 to MSEK 102.2, and operating profit increased MSEK 7.9, from MSEK 10.2 to MSEK 18.1.
SIGNIFICANT EVENTS DURING THE FOURTH QUARTER:
- Probi recruited Peter Nählstedt as the company’s new CEO, and he assumed his new position on 7 January 2014.
- Probi’s bacterial diversity patent for Lactobacillus plantarum 299v was approved by patent authorities in both the US and Europe.
SIGNIFICANT EVENTS AFTER THE CLOSE OF THE PERIOD:
- Symrise has increased its shareholding in Probi to more than 30%, thus requiring Symrise to make a mandatory offer to acquire all of Probi’s shares.
- The Board of Directors proposes a total dividend of MSEK 6.8 (6.8), corresponding to SEK 0.75 (0.75) per share.
CEO’S COMMENTS:
“During the year, net sales in Consumer Healthcare rose 24% to slightly more than MSEK 60, which is very gratifying in view of our investment in this business area. Growth was largely driven by a positive trend in our key North American market. Overall, this increase offset the decline in Functional Food, where lower royalty revenue was mainly due to contractual changes. Adjusted for the effect of these changes, our operating profit improved MSEK 7.9 compared with 2012. We also signed new agreements in Asia and Eastern Europe during the year, and a number of new distributors were added in North America who will conduct launches during the first six months of 2014. These markets have been prioritised to enable continued growth. Probi is therefore well positioned for continued positive growth through international expansion during 2014,” says Peter Nählstedt, CEO of Probi.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Peter Nählstedt, CEO Probi, tel: +46 (0)46-286 89 23 or +46 (0)723-86 99 83, e-mail: peter.nahlstedt@probi.se
Niklas Brandt, CFO Probi, tel: +46 (0)46 286 89 26 or +46 (0)706 62 98 83, e-mail: niklas.brandt@probi.se
This information is such that Probi AB is required to disclose in accordance with the Swedish Securities Market Act and/or the Financial Instruments Trading Act. The information was submitted for publication on January 23, 2014 at 8.45 a.m.
This is a translation of the Swedish version of the interim report. When in doubt, the Swedish wording prevails.
ABOUT PROBI
Probi is a leading player in probiotic research and development of effective and well-documented probiotics. The research areas are: the gastrointestinal tract, immune system, metabolic syndrome and stress and recovery. Probi’s customers are leading companies in the Functional Food and Consumer Healthcare segments. Total revenue for 2013 was MSEK 103.6. Probi’s share is listed on Nasdaq OMX Stockholm, Small Cap. Probi has about 4,000 shareholders. Read more on www.probi.se
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