SSL International Share Discussion Threads

[enami] 08/12/2008 16:15

Excellent day, sold my trading stake at 502 (Bills to pay)

[enami] 08/12/2008 14:03

500 today?

New products on the way?

[dr deals] 06/12/2008 12:41

check out the JNJ/Mentor deal. priced at 3 X revenues, or nearly 100% premium on Mentor shares, while Mentor revenues are actually forecast to fall 3% this year

[dr deals] 02/12/2008 16:10

work noting peak in january at 564.5p was US$11.12 equiv. look at it now

[dr deals] 01/12/2008 14:40

Just been looking at the numbers. These guys always appear to be incredibly modest. According to my calculations the underlying operating profit was up 37%! But please DYOR. Surely i cant be wrong?


"While we are cognisant of the difficult trading environment we are optimistic about our future and remain confident of achieving our target of double digit operating profit growth again this year. "

[enami] 28/11/2008 10:50

Agreed the share price has broken the weekly downtrend channel and target the January high I think (569.5).
Got a signal from a pattern recognition programme "double bottom target 520-534"

WEEKLY CHART

[jonny modnoc] 28/11/2008 10:44

some nice trades at 461, could be 550 soon? 700 maybe in a few months

[jonny modnoc] 28/11/2008 08:59

Bright side: Resourceful couples are making their own fun
Tim Dowling guardian.co.uk,
Monday November 17 2008 00.01 GMT
The Guardian, Monday November 17 2008

Experience dictates that when one is searching for the recession's hidden feelgood factor, it's best to stick close to home. Staying home, after all, doesn't cost anything, provided you turn off the heating and cancel your Sky subscription. But what are you going to do then?

The answer, my friends, is obvious, if inferences drawn from statistics released by online grocer Ocado are correct. According to Ocado's books, condom sales are up by 60%, and sales of pregnancy tests have doubled. It might be preferable to see those figures reversed - this is no time for unnecessary expenditure, and a humble condom costs a lot less than, among other things, a home pregnancy test - but it seems clear that resourceful folks are at least attempting to make their own fun.

[mr bean2] 27/11/2008 10:34

how much money- can you put a number on it

[captain kurt] 27/11/2008 10:28

Both SSL and FUM are going to make alot of money on this and other FUM products to come online later

SSL will want to start the marketing of this new condom as soon as possible imo

[lbo] 26/11/2008 19:34

I wonder what growth rates Durex will see when the CSD500 hits the shelf? This could be the biggest selling Condom in the world IMHO

SSL profits up as Durex sales rise

[chevey] 26/11/2008 17:10

At last, the boards come alive.

Positive's, Russia, Organic growth, CSD500 durex condom, R proof.

[captain kurt] 26/11/2008 16:09

Agree LBO
I hold both SSL and FUM

[jonny modnoc] 26/11/2008 09:55

johnny american might want the russian footprint as well. massive opportunity, more reasons to buy? FT-


SSL set to control Russian condom operation
By Maggie Urry

Published: November 25 2008 09:18 | Last updated: November 25 2008 19:17

SSL International, owner of the Durex and Scholl personal care brands, confirmed on Tuesday its intention to take up options to give it full control of a condom business in Russia and the former Soviet states by April 2010.

Having bought a 15 per cent stake in April this year, it has the option to buy another 35 per cent next April, and to acquire the balance the following April.

Garry Watts, chief executive, said he was pleased with the business so far. He said that the Russian market had a 50 per cent higher condom usage than many other markets in which SSL operates.

Had it been consolidated already within SSL it would have added 20 per cent to operating profits, said Mr Watts after announcing a 46 per cent rise in interim pre-tax profits from £22.3m to £32.5m. SSL supplied 400m condoms to the Russian company in the period.

On the profit-related purchase price formula, SSL is due to pay $100m (£65m) for the second tranche next April.

Mr Watts said the group's strong balance sheet was capable of financing expansion. The total cost of the Russian company was likely to be £200m.

Mr Watts said SSL had enjoyed a strong sales increase in the six months to the end of September, up 23 per cent to £322.5m, and up 10 per cent even at constant currencies.

There was no sign of the economic downturn affecting sales yet, he said, and the group was on track to meet its target of a double-digit increase in operating profits.

Strong sales growth, combined with an improvement in gross margin from 59.8 to 60.8 per cent, reflected the benefits of moving production to Asia and a slower increase in costs.

The interim dividend rises 13 per cent to 2.6p, with earnings per share 48 per cent higher at 11.8p.

Sales of the range of Scholl footcare products rose 15.1 per cent in constant currency terms, while footwear sales were up 9.5 per cent. Durex sales rose 10 per cent.

Mr Watts said product innovations had contributed to volume growth and the group continued to develop new ideas. However, it would focus on providing health benefits, for instance in its footcare ranges, rather than moving into cosmetics that could be more susceptible to a downturn.

The shares closed up 13½p at 434¼p on Tuesday.