Good conclusion to a strong year

Fourth quarter 2019

· Consolidated net sales amounted to SEK 30,850 million (30,069), an increase of 2.6%
· Operating profit excluding items affecting comparability was SEK 1,267 million (1,139). Recalculated for IFRS 16, operating profit for the comparison period in 2018 was SEK 1,180 million
· Operating profit includes nonrecurring items in ICA Sweden of approximately SEK -50 million. Operating profit for ICA Sweden for the same period a year ago included structural costs of SEK -110 million
· Profit for the period was SEK 915 million (930)
· Profit includes capital losses on sales of non-current assets and impairment losses totalling SEK -18 million net (33)
· Earnings per share were SEK 4.52 (4.61)
· Cash flow from operating activities was SEK 3,096 million (2,244). Excluding ICA Bank, cash flow was SEK 2,925 million (2,768). The outcome for 2018 recalculated for IFRS 16 was SEK 3,648 million
· ICA Gruppen's board of directors proposes a dividend of SEK 12.00 per share (11.50) for 2019, corresponding to 70% (63%) of profit for the year

Events after the end of the quarter

· ICA Real Estate's CEO Lena Boberg will be leaving ICA Gruppen this summer

From our sustainability report

Apart from our focus on our long-term sustainability targets, intensive work is under way on many fronts in sustainability. As an example of our efforts to meet customers' demands for locally produced food, we have partnered with the dairy company Norrmejerier to produce a Swedish alternative to halloumi. An important event in 2020 will take place this spring when we announce our new climate targets.

Comment from CEO Per Strömberg:

"The year was concluded with good momentum and favourable performance in all our businesses. Sales in ICA stores increased at a good pace during the quarter, and in terms of profitability, Rimi Baltic and ICA Bank dominated with strong earnings performance. Our favourable growth online continues, and also during the fourth quarter we grew faster than the market for both groceries and pharmacy products. In November we also started up our e-commerce business in Rimi Baltic."

For more information
ICA Gruppen press service, telephone number: +46 (0)10 422 52 52

Frans Benson, Head of Investor Relations, telephone number: +46 (0)705 10 70 95

icagruppen.se

This is information that ICA Gruppen AB (publ.) is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and the Swedish Securities Markets Act. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact persons set out above, at 07:00 CET on Thursday, 6 February, 2020.

https://news.cision.com/ica-gruppen-ab/r/ica-gruppen-year-end-report-2019,c3028124

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