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Unaudited results presented last month show that the whole group also registered an increase in sales revenues in the first three months of the year - EUR 258m, up five percent on the first quarter of 2010. In this area, the core company also saw an increase. Sales revenues amounted to EUR 236.1m, up two percent year-on-year.

According to Krka chairman Jože Colarič, 93 percent of the sales were carried out on foreign markets, with the biggest share falling to Central Europe, where sales were up two percent from previous year to EUR 77m.

Eastern Europe followed with 26 percent, recording 15 percent growth to EUR 67m.

Western European markets accounted for EUR 53m or 21 percent, remaining level with the same period last year, while South East Europe grew by six percent to EUR 37m to represent 14 percent in total sales. In Slovenia, sales were down two percent to EUR 24m, which is just over none percent of total sales.

Good reputation

The reputation of the company and its chairman continues to be very good, according to a survey carried out by daily newspaper Dnevnik. The firm was chosen as the most respected Slovenian company and Jože Colarič as the country's most admired business executive.

Attention is now turning to July's general assembly meeting. Shareholders will be deciding on a proposal to allow the management to buy the company's shares in the coming 36 months, with the expanded option to list the shares on stock markets abroad. Krka bought five percent of its own shares last year out of a possible 10 percent. At the same meeting the shareholders are expected to decide on the proposed dividend payout for 2010 of EUR 1.4 per share.