March 31 (Reuters) - Lindt & Spruengli LISN.S :
* LINDT & SPRÜNGLI HAS STARTED CURRENT YEAR VERY STRONGLY,
GAINING
MARKET SHARE IN ALL STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT MARKETS
* SINCE BEGINNING OF MARCH, GLOBAL HEALTH AND ECONOMIC
CRISIS
RESULTING FROM COVID-19 PANDEMIC, TOGETHER WITH SEVERE
RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED TO LIMIT SPREAD OF VIRUS IN MANY MAJOR
MARKETS, ARE IMPACTING LINDT & SPRÜNGLI'S BUSINESS
* MID- TO LONG-TERM GROWTH TARGETS MAINTAINED AND DIVIDEND
CONFIRMED
* IMPACTS AFFECT MAINLY TRAVEL RETAIL, OWN STORE NETWORK,
FOOD
SERVICE AS WELL AS GROCERY TRADE IN CERTAIN MARKETS.
* E-COMMERCE BUSINESS, HOME DELIVERY AND PICK-UP SERVICES AT
SOME
STORES ARE YET GAINING IMPORTANCE
* FOR COMING YEARS, LINDT & SPRÜNGLI MAINTAINS ITS EXISTING
MID-
TO LONG-TERM ORGANIC SALES GROWTH TARGET OF 5-7% P.A., COMBINED
WITH A STEADY IMPROVEMENT IN OPERATING MARGIN OF 20-40 BASIS
POINTS P.A
* WHILE EXTENT AND DURATION OF SITUATION ARE STILL
UNCERTAIN,
GROUP'S GROWTH AND FINANCIAL OUTLOOK 2020 IS NO LONGER VALID
* LINDT & SPRÜNGLI CONTINUES TO MONITOR DEVELOPMENT OF
OUTBREAK
* BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONFIRMS PROPOSAL TO ANNUAL
SHAREHOLDERS
MEETING OF A DIVIDEND INCLUDING A SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY DIVIDEND
ON APRIL 24, 2020 OF CHF 1,750 PER REGISTERED SHARE AND CHF 175
PER PARTICIPATION CERTIFICATE.
Source text for Eikon: ID:nNDL3HzM49
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(Berlin Speed Desk)
((frankfurt.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com;))
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