We can look back on a stable third quarter, with good results from our profitability improvement work, which has strengthened earnings and margins in five of our six platforms. It is particularly pleasing to see Salix Group increasing its EBITA compared with the previous year’s quarter for the first time in five quarters. At the same time, the improvement in earnings and margins in Ettiketto Group shows that our acquisition strategy is working. Sales development for the quarter was negative, largely due to the performance of the Salix Group and the Communication platform in the Industry business area. The Communication platform’s slowdown in the quarter was worse than expected, while the comparative figure from the previous year’s third quarter was strong. The Group is in good shape overall and, as in previous quarters, we see a continuation of the positive trend of reduced tied-up capital, strong operational cash flow and a debt/equity ratio that leaves us well placed for continued acquisitive growth.

Andreas Stenbäck, President and CEO

For the full CEO-comment, see the Interim report in its entirety.

Quarter July–September 2023

• Net sales declined by 7 percent to SEK 1,847 (1,977) million
• EBITA declined by 6 percent to SEK 191 (203) million
• Profit after tax declined by 19 percent to SEK 101 (125) million
• Earnings per ordinary share fell by 21 percent to SEK 1.03 (1.30)
• Electricity support of SEK 12 million was received during the quarter
• The acquisition of Gunnar Prefab AB – a leading producer of prefabricated concrete products primarily for infrastructure – for the S:t Eriks platform was completed on 6 September

Period January–September 2023

• Net sales increased by 3 percent to SEK 5,987 (5,822) million
• EBITA increased by 13 percent to SEK 599 (531) million
• Profit after tax amounted to SEK 328 (329) million
• Earnings per ordinary share increased by 1 percent to SEK 3.40 (3.36)

Events after the reporting period

• No significant events have taken place after the end of the reporting period

Conference call
CEO Andreas Stenbäck and CFO Martin Aronsson will present the interim report in a conference call 25 October at 09.00 CEST. The presentation will be conducted in English.

Telephone number to participate in the conference call: +46 8 5016 3827 (then dial meeting ID: 893 8043 0639). To ask questions to the CEO/CFO, please press *9 on your phone. To withdraw the question, you can do so by pressing *9.

Link to the webcast: https://www.finwire.tv/webcast/volati/q3-2023/

The presentation and webcast will be available on www.volati.se after the conference call.