ICA Gruppen AB: Year-end report 2013

Regulatory News:

ICA Gruppen’s consolidated financial statements include ICA AB as a wholly owned subsidiary with effect from 27 March 2013 when the acquisition of Ahold’s shares in ICA AB was completed.

Fourth quarter of 2013 in summary

Comparative figures are pro forma and show the fourth quarter of 2012 as if ICA and Hakon Invest had been consolidated.

• Consolidated net sales amounted to SEK 25,964 million (25,865) in the fourth quarter. This corresponds to an increase of 1.5% compared with the fourth quarter last year, adjusted for currency fluctuations.

• Operating profit excluding non-recurring items amounted to SEK 960 million (809).

• Changed accounting principle for sale & leaseback properties affected operating profit excluding non-recurring items by approximately SEK -80 million. This change was made retroactively and comparative figures have been recalculated.

• Operating profit amounted to SEK 641 million (812). Operating profit includes impairment of trademarks and goodwill relating to the portfolio companies of SEK -223 million and an earnings impact from the sale of Forma Books of SEK -82 million.

• Profit for the period amounted to SEK 531 million (713). Earnings per share amounted to SEK 2.49 (3.47).

• Cash flow from operating activities, excluding ICA Bank, amounted to SEK 2,231 million.

• The Board proposes a dividend of SEK 8 per ordinary share (0).

ICA Gruppen’s CEO Per Strömberg comments the report

"ICA Gruppen continued to enjoy positive development in the fourth quarter. Operating profit excluding non-recurring items rose by 19%. Increased sales and higher margins contributed to improved earnings in ICA Sweden, Rimi Baltic and in the portfolio companies while the earnings improvement in ICA Norway is mainly explained by lower shrinkage. The strategic priorities we set for the year have had an effect. The last outstanding bridge loans will be refinanced in the next few days, well ahead of our plan”, CEO Per Strömberg says.

Press and analyst meeting

ICA Gruppen is arranging a press and analyst meeting at Berns Hotel, Berzelii Park, Stockholm on Wednesday, 12 February 2014 at 10.00 CET. CEO Per Strömberg and acting CFO Merlin Poljak will present the year-end report. The meeting held (in Swedish) will be webcasted and can be followed at www.icagruppen.se or via phone tel. +46 8 50 55 64 74.

For further information, please contact:

Per Strömberg, CEO ICA Gruppen,
tel. +46 10 422 50 05

Merlin Poljak, Acting CFO ICA Gruppen,
tel. +46 10 422 18 43

Frans Benson, IR ICA Gruppen,
tel. +46 8 561 50 020

Pernilla Grennfelt, IR ICA Gruppen,
tel. +46 8 561 50 111

ICA Gruppen’s press service,
tel. +46 70 253 66 60

The information in this year-end report is such that ICA Gruppen must disclose pursuant to the Swedish Securities Market Act and/or the Swedish Financial Instruments Trading Act. The information was submitted for publication at 07.30 CET on Wednesday, 12 February 2014. The report has not been reviewed by the company’s auditors.

ICA Gruppen AB (publ) is one of the Nordic region’s leading retail companies, with around 2,400 of its own and retailer-owned stores in Sweden, Norway, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The Group includes the retail companies ICA Sweden, ICA Norway and Rimi Baltic, ICA Real Estate, which owns and manages properties and ICA Bank, which offers financial services to Swedish customers. The Group also includes the fully-owned portfolio companies Forma Publishing Group and inkClub and partly owned portfolio companies Cervera, Hemtex and Kjell & Company. For more information see www.icagruppen.se

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