Toilet paper and hygiene products maker Asaleo Care says new products, new customers, geographic expansion and the largely completed upgrade of its tissue-making facilities will drive earnings in 2015.
The company behind Sorbent toilet paper and Libra tampons expects low-to-mid-single-digit earnings growth in calendar 2015 after its profit and dividend for 2014 beat prospectus forecasts.
Chief executive Peter Diplaris says Asaleo wants to drive earnings by introducing some of its products into emerging retailers such as Chemist Warehouse.
It also plans to expand its incontinence hygiene sales force in New Zealand, and appoint a distributor in Papua New Guinea where the company does not yet have a presence.
And improvements are on the cards for its Sorbent toilet paper.
"The company's focus is now on leveraging off a more efficient asset base to achieve sustainable earnings growth and shareholder returns," Mr Diplaris said on Tuesday.
Asaleo made a $72.3 million pro forma net profit in the 12 months to December 31, up 17.7 per cent from $61.4 million in 2013.
The pro forma result was 2.4 per cent ahead of the prospectus forecast released before Asaleo's stock market debut last June.
Asaleo said the major drivers of increased earnings were cost reductions generated from its tissue investment program, and cost savings.
Shares in Asaleo gained 3.5 cents, or two per cent, to $1.825.
ASALEO PROFIT BEATS PROSPECTUS FORECASTS
* Pro forma net profit of $72.3m, up 2.4 pct on prospectus forecast
* Pro forma revenue of $629.9m, down 1.9 pct on forecast
* Dividend of 5.4 cents per share, up 12 per cent on forecast
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