STOCKHOLM, April 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --  Quarter 1, 2024 - High profitability and strong cash flow Net sales decreased 4.1% to SEK 34,850m (36,352) Organic growth amounted to -4.0%, of which volume accounted for -1.8% and price/mix -2.2%. Excluding restructuring and exited contracts, volumes increased 0.6% EBITA increased 4% to SEK 4,523m (4,368) EBITA excl. IAC increased 14% to SEK 4,880m (4,281) and the EBITA margin excl. IAC increased 2.2 percentage points to 14.0% (11.8) ROCE increased to 15.9% (15.5) and ROCE excl. IAC increased 2.0 percentage points to 17.2% (15.2). Operating cash flow increased 48% to SEK 4,253m (2,870) Essity completed the divestment of all shares in the subsidiary Vinda. The sales proceeds amounted to approximately SEK 19bn and the profit from divestment to approximately SEK 9bn. Vinda is reported as discontinued operations. Profit for the period, total operations amounted to SEK 11,493m (2,703) Earnings per share, continuing operations amounted to SEK 3.51 (3.75) Earnings per share, total operations increased to SEK 16.21 (3.79) CEO'S COMMENTS Innovation-driven growth "Volume growth was positive for the quarter, except for the impact of restructuring measures implemented in Professional Hygiene and contracts exited in Incontinence Products Health Care. In Consumer Goods, Feminine Care gained market shares and Incontinence Products Retail continued ...