NWG Annual Report 2019 - EN NWG Annual Report 2019 - EN | Page 8

NWG // CEO COMMENTS
"Today we have a strong balance
sheet and good finances. "
- Torsten Jansson
T
st
or
en Janss
on
CEO
comments
2019 is the third year in a row that I start by saying that I am fantasti-
cally satisfied with the year. Or at least almost, something can always
be better.
I
t was another year of growth, sales
increased by 10% (5% in local
currencies) and amounted to SEK 6,903.5
million. It was the sixth year in a row with
growth and during these years we have
grown organically by SEK 2.9 billion,
which shows the strength of our company.
Result
Operating result was SEK 535.0 million,
which is a new all-time high and even the
result for the year of SEK 370.1 million is
as well. I am pleased with the increase in
earnings, but I am not satisfied with the
operating margin, which we will focus on
increasing.
Balance sheet
The future
While writing this, we are in the major
Corona turmoil. I don't think anyone can
say with certainty how much this will
affect all of us or how long it lasts. What
I can see, however, is that we are entering
into this with a strong balance sheet.
We have fantastic products and brands,
knowledgeable and competent employees
and a strong and experienced mana-
gement, who, while never having dealt with
a similar epidemic, have had several other
crises including the latest financial crisis.
In the short term, it is difficult to feel
any optimism, but I still feel great confi-
dence in the future in a slightly longer
perspective.
Today we have a strong balance sheet and
good finances. With an equity of SEK
3,770.7 million, we have a strong position
going forward.
Torsten Jansson
CEO
008 // ANNUAL REPORT