SCA’s net sales in the first quarter of 2017 increased 4.2% compared with the corresponding period a year ago to SEK 25.2 billion ($2.9 billion). Organic sales, which exclude exchange rate effects, acquisitions and divestments, increased 1%, of which volume accounted for 0.7% and price/mix for 0.3%. Organic sales decreased 0.9% in mature markets and increased 5.2% in emerging markets. Emerging markets accounted for 36% of net sales. Exchange rate effects increased net sales by 2.6%. The acquisition of Wausau Paper Corp. increased net sales by 0.6%.

In the personal care segment, net sales increased by 3.8% to SEK 8.4 billion ($957 million). Organic sales increased 1.1%, of which volume accounted for 0.4% and price/mix for 0.7%. The discontinuation of the Baby Care business in Mexico and the hygiene business in India negatively impacted organic sales by approximately 1%. Organic sales in mature markets decreased by 0.3%. On emerging markets, which accounted for 42% of net sales, the organic sales rose by 3.1%. Exchange rate effects increased net sales by 2.7%.

For Incontinence Products, under the Tena brand, organic sales increased 2%. Growth is attributable to emerging markets and North America. In Europe, the retail sector reported good growth, while lower sales to the health care sector had a negative effect on growth. For Baby Care, organic sales decreased 4.2%. The decline was mainly the result of the closure of the Baby Care businesses in Mexico and India. For Feminine Care, organic sales increased by 4.5%, attributable to emerging markets.

On April 5, 2017, the 2017 Annual General Meeting of SCA decided that all shares in the wholly owned subsidiary SCA Hygiene AB (currently undergoing a change of name to Essity Aktiebolag), comprising the SCA Group’s hygiene business, will be distributed to the shareholders of SCA. The preparations for the distribution and the listing of SCA Hygiene AB are under way, and the intention is that the first day of separate trading in the two companies will be in June 2017.