Second quarter
Sales and results
In local currencies sales for the second quarter of 2008 increased by 12 percent compared with the second quarter of 2007. Reported sales for the second quarter increased by 6 percent to 3,284 MSEK (3,090). Currency translation has affected the sales comparison negatively by 175 MSEK.
For snuff, sales increased by 20 percent during the second quarter to 953 MSEK (794) and operating profit increased by 32 percent to 410 MSEK (311). Scandinavian snus sales were up 26 percent compared to the second quarter of the prior year, volumes measured in number of cans declined by 2 percent. Snuff sales in North America were up by 22 percent in local currency, as a result of a volume growth of 21 percent.
For cigars, sales increased by 7 percent during the second quarter to 908 MSEK (847). Operating profit increased in local currencies but due to translation effects declined in Swedish kronor to 184 MSEK (193). Sales for cigars grew in both the US and in Europe in local currencies as a result of acquired businesses. Operating profit increased in the US in local currency and remained flat versus prior year in Europe. Operating margin for cigars reached 20.3 percent (22.7).
Group operating profit for the second quarter increased by 14 percent to 733 MSEK (642). In local currencies operating profit increased by 21 percent. Currency translation has affected the operating profit comparison negatively by 47 MSEK.
Operating margin for the second quarter amounted to 22.3 percent compared to 20.8 percent for the second quarter of 2007.
Earnings per share (basic and diluted) for the second quarter increased by 22 percent to 2.02 SEK (1.66).
Sales and results for the first six months
Sales for the first six months amounted to 6,103 MSEK (5,752). In local currencies, sales increased by 11 percent. Operating profit amounted to 1,276 MSEK (1,176). Currency translation has affected the operating profit comparison negatively by 68 MSEK.
Group operating margin during the first six months was 20.9 percent (20.4).
EPS (basic) for the first six months was 3.36 SEK (2.89). Diluted EPS was
3.35 SEK (2.89).
SALES
3,284 MSEK
OPERATING PROFIT
733 MSEK

| SUMMARY OF CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT |
|
|
|
| |
April–June |
January–June |
Full year |
| MSEK |
2008 |
2007 |
2008 |
2007 |
2007 |
| Sales |
3,284 |
3,090 |
6,103 |
5,752 |
12,551 |
| Operating profit excl. larger one time items |
733 |
642 |
1,276 |
1,176 |
2,730 |
| Operating profit |
733 |
642 |
1,276 |
1,176 |
2,997 |
| Profit before income tax |
614 |
563 |
1,041 |
1,031 |
2,662 |
| Net profit for the period |
512 |
441 |
854 |
773 |
2,056 |
| Earnings per share, diluted (SEK) |
2.02 |
1.66 |
3.35 |
2.89 |
7.80 |
CEO Lars Dahlgren:
The second quarter confirms a continued strong development of the snus and snuff product lines. Tax-free and Norway compensated for lower volumes in Sweden and overall profit for snus in Scandinavia improved significantly compared to the second quarter of 2007. In the US the national launch of Red Man moist snuff continued, and our US snuff business
gained market share during the quarter. For cigars, sales have started to return to more normal levels following a weak first quarter of 2008. The remaining product groups delivered solid results in local currencies. We maintain our outlook for 2008 with improving sales and underlying operating profit for the Group compared to 2007.”
| |
April–June |
Change |
January–June |
Change |
July 2007– |
Full year |
| Sales by product area, MSEK |
2008 |
2007 |
% |
2008 |
2007 |
% |
June 2008 |
2007 |
| Snuff |
953 |
794 |
20 |
1,774 |
1,457 |
22 |
3,606 |
3,289 |
| Cigars |
908 |
847 |
7 |
1,665 |
1,581 |
5 |
3,495 |
3,411 |
| Chewing tobacco |
227 |
253 |
–10 |
437 |
492 |
–11 |
901 |
956 |
| Pipe tobacco & accessories |
189 |
203 |
–7 |
387 |
408 |
–5 |
830 |
851 |
| Lights |
374 |
354 |
5 |
721 |
694 |
4 |
1,500 |
1,473 |
| Other operations |
634 |
638 |
–1 |
1,119 |
1,121 |
0 |
2,569 |
2,571 |
| Total |
3,284 |
3,090 |
6 |
6,103 |
5,752 |
6 |
12,901 |
12,551 |
| |
April–June |
Change |
January–June |
Change |
July 2007– |
Full year |
| Operating profit by product area, MSEK |
2008 |
2007 |
% |
2008 |
2007 |
% |
June 2008 |
2007 |
| Snuff |
410 |
311 |
32 |
728 |
541 |
34 |
1,553 |
1,366 |
| Cigars |
184 |
193 |
–4 |
296 |
357 |
–17 |
676 |
737 |
| Chewing tobacco |
77 |
82 |
–6 |
146 |
154 |
–5 |
305 |
312 |
| Pipe tobacco & accessories |
47 |
24 |
99 |
99 |
79 |
24 |
220 |
201 |
| Lights |
62 |
62 |
0 |
116 |
119 |
–3 |
249 |
252 |
| Other operations |
–47 |
–29 |
|
–108 |
–74 |
|
–172 |
–137 |
| Subtotal |
733 |
642 |
14 |
1,276 |
1,176 |
9 |
2,830 |
2,730 |
| Larger one time items |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Capital gain from sale of real estate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
267 |
267 |
| Total |
733 |
642 |
14 |
1,276 |
1,176 |
9 |
3,098 |
2,997 |
| |
April–June |
January–June |
July 2007– |
Full year |
| Operating margin by product area, percent |
2008 |
2007 |
2008 |
2007 |
June 2008 |
2007 |
| Snuff |
43.0 |
39.1 |
41.1 |
37.2 |
43.1 |
41.5 |
| Cigars |
20.3 |
22.7 |
17.8 |
22.6 |
19.3 |
21.6 |
| Chewing tobacco |
34.1 |
32.3 |
33.4 |
31.2 |
33.8 |
32.7 |
| Pipe tobacco & accessories |
25.0 |
11.7 |
25.5 |
19.4 |
26.5 |
23.6 |
| Lights |
16.6 |
17.5 |
16.0 |
17.1 |
16.6 |
17.1 |
| Group* |
22.3 |
20.8 |
20.9 |
20.4 |
21.9 |
21.8 |
| * Excluding larger one time items |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
April–June |
Change |
January–June |
Change |
July 2007– |
Full year |
| EBITDA by product area, MSEK |
2008 |
2007 |
% |
2008 |
2007 |
% |
June 2008 |
2007 |
| Snuff |
448 |
347 |
29 |
804 |
614 |
31 |
1,701 |
1,511 |
| Cigars |
232 |
237 |
–2 |
393 |
446 |
–12 |
867 |
920 |
| Chewing tobacco |
82 |
87 |
–5 |
156 |
164 |
–5 |
322 |
330 |
| Pipe tobacco & accessories |
55 |
32 |
69 |
114 |
96 |
18 |
252 |
235 |
| Lights |
72 |
74 |
–3 |
136 |
142 |
–4 |
293 |
299 |
| Other operations |
–46 |
–26 |
|
–105 |
–69 |
|
–165 |
–129 |
| Total |
842 |
750 |
12 |
1,498 |
1,393 |
8 |
3,271 |
3,166 |
| |
April–June |
January–June |
July 2007– |
Full year |
| EBITDA margin by product area, percent |
2008 |
2007 |
2008 |
2007 |
June 2008 |
2007 |
| Snuff |
47.0 |
43.7 |
45.3 |
42.1 |
47.2 |
45.9 |
| Cigars |
25.5 |
28.0 |
23.6 |
28.2 |
24.8 |
27.0 |
| Chewing tobacco |
36.3 |
34.3 |
35.7 |
33.3 |
35.7 |
34.5 |
| Pipe tobacco & accessories |
28.9 |
15.8 |
29.5 |
23.6 |
30.4 |
27.6 |
| Lights |
19.2 |
20.8 |
18.9 |
20.5 |
19.5 |
20.3 |
| Group |
25.7 |
24.3 |
24.5 |
24.2 |
25.4 |
25.2 |