Storskogen Group AB: Year-end report 2024

"My first year as CEO of Storskogen was both eventful and inspiring. Operational initiatives and strategic divestments aimed at supporting our prioritised areas yielded positive effects, with a sequentially improved profitability and organic profit growth for the quarter. Overall, we are well positioned for continued progress in our prioritised areas, with the aim of eventually generating acquired growth", says Christer Hansson, CEO of Storskogen.

Fourth quarter (1 October - 31 December 2024)

• Net sales decreased by 5 percent to SEK 8,591 million (8,997).
• Adjusted EBITA increased by 20 percent to SEK 849 million (706), corresponding to an adjusted EBITA margin of 9.9 percent (7.8).
• Operating profit (EBIT) increased to SEK 678 million (520).
• Profit for the quarter increased to SEK 388 million (143).
• Basic/diluted earnings per share amounted to SEK 0.20 (0.06).
• Adjusted diluted earnings per share amounted to SEK 0.19 (0.04).
• Cash flow from operating activities was SEK 1,680 million (1,459).
• Storskogen issued bonds with settlement on 3 October of SEK 1,250 million maturing in 2028, and repurchased bonds of SEK 908 million maturing in 2025.
• Storskogen presented new financial targets for the period 2025-2027 at its Capital Markets Day.

The period (1 January - 31 December 2024)

• Net sales decreased by 5 percent to SEK 34,182 million (36,006). Organic sales growth was 0 percent.
• Adjusted EBITA was SEK 3,229 million (3,238), corresponding to an adjusted EBITA margin of 9.4 percent (9.0). Organic EBITA growth was -3 percent.
• Operating profit (EBIT) decreased to SEK 1,492 million (2,446), including items affecting comparability of SEK -947 million (69).
• Profit for the period decreased to SEK 116 million (944), including items affecting comparability of SEK -1,019 million (11).
• Basic earnings per share amounted to SEK -0.03 (0.47).
• Diluted earnings per share amounted to SEK -0.03 (0.46). Adjusted diluted earnings per share amounted to SEK 0.57 (0.46).
• Cash flow from operating activities was SEK 3,098 million (3,361).
• Five add-on acquisitions were completed with combined annual sales of SEK 23 million.
• Eleven divestments were completed, with combined annual sales of SEK 2,024 million.

Significant events after the end of the period

• The Board of Directors proposes a dividend of SEK 0.10 per share (0.09).
• Alexander Bjärgård is stepping down from Storskogen's management team to focus on leading Storskogen's Investment Committee. He is succeeded by Johan Ekström as Group Head of M&A and member of the management team. Ekström was previously Head of M&A in Sweden and Finland.

Amounts in parentheses are for the corresponding periods in 2023.

Presentation of the year-end report
Christer Hansson, CEO, and Lena Glader, CFO, will present the year-end report on 13 February 2025 at 09:00 (CET).

The presentation and the subsequent Q&A can be followed via webcast or telephone conference.

For participation via webcast, please use the following link:
https://storskogen-group.events.inderes.com/q4-report-2024/register

If you wish to participate via telephone conference, please register via the link below. After registration you will be provided with a phone number and conference ID to access the conference. You can ask questions verbally via the telephone conference.
https://conference.financialhearings.com/teleconference/?id=5004056

Questions can also be sent to [e-mail].

The presentation and the webcast will be made available on Storskogen's website after the presentation and can be found via the following link: https://www.storskogen.com/investors/financial-reports/.

For more information, please contact:
Andreas Lindblom, Head of Investor Relations
[phone]
[e-mail]

For media inquiries, please contact:
Michael Metzler, Head of Communication
[phone]
[e-mail]

This press release contains inside information that Storskogen Group AB (publ) is required to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication by the above contact person on 13 February 2025 at 07:00 (CET).

About Storskogen
Storskogen is an international group of businesses across trade, industry and services. As a long-term owner, we are positioned to identify, acquire, and develop market leaders with sustainable business models. Storskogen creates value by providing access to capital and strategic direction combined with active governance and a decentralised operational model. Storskogen has approximately 11,000 employees, net sales of SEK 34 billion (LTM) across a diversified group of businesses and is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm.