Sales Grow at Swedish Match

Source from:  Tobacco Reporter 04/03/2009

Swedish Match yesterday reported sales up by almost five percent to SEK13,162 million during the year to the end of December 2008. "Total company sales grew for the first time since 2005, even with continued negative currency effects," commented president and COO, Lars Dahlgren. "The company's net profit grew and reached the second highest level in this decade. Earnings per share reached 8.98 SEK per share, a level unsurpassed since the sale of the cigarette division in 1999," he said. Sales of snuff and snus were up by 16 per cent from SEK3,289 million to SEK3,829 million, but sales of chewing tobacco were down from SEK956 million to SEK934 million. Sales of cigars were up from SEK3,411 to SEK3,657 million, but sales of pipe tobacco were down from SEK851 million to SEK817 million. Sales of lights (matches and lighters) were up from SEK1,473 million to SEK1,534 million. Operating profit was increased from SEK2,997 million to SEK3,090 million, EBITDA rose from SEK3,166 million to SEK3,465 million, and earnings per share were up from SEK7.82 to SEK8.98. Enditem