Financial Performance - Net sales for the first quarter of 2023 reached R11.28billion,a15.79.74 billion in the same period of 2022[4]. - Gross profit improved to R5.31billion,up23.14.31 billion year-over-year[4]. - Net income for the period was R5.24billion,adecreaseof49.110.31 billion in Q1 2022[4]. - Basic earnings per share decreased to R3.97fromR7.64 in the previous year, reflecting a decline of 47.9%[4]. - The company reported a net income before taxes of R6,776,395,adecreasefromR16,324,360 in the same period last year, with an effective tax rate of 22.63% compared to 36.87% in Q1 2022[141]. Assets and Liabilities - Total assets increased to R135.37billionasofMarch31,2023,comparedtoR133.20 billion at the end of 2022, reflecting a growth of 1.63%[1][2]. - Total current liabilities rose to R15.31billion,anincreaseof5.714.49 billion at the end of 2022[2]. - Total non-current liabilities decreased to R81.76billion,down4.385.54 billion at the end of 2022[2]. - The company reported a total equity of R38.30billion,anincreaseof15.533.17 billion at the end of 2022[2]. - Total liabilities decreased to 91,337,552from94,025,822, reflecting a decrease of approximately 3%[60]. Cash Flow and Investments - Cash and cash equivalents decreased significantly to R4.76billionfromR9.51 billion, a decline of 50.1%[1]. - Cash generated from operations for the period was 5,768,635,comparedto5,974,228 in the previous year[8]. - Cash provided by operating activities decreased to 4,297,210from4,592,845 year-over-year[8]. - Cash used in investing activities increased to (8,833,698)from(4,858,187) in the previous year[8]. - The company raised R50,691innetfundraisingduringQ12023,comparedtoR1,335,715 in the previous quarter, indicating a significant decline in fundraising activity[159]. Market and Operational Developments - The company is focusing on market expansion and new product development to drive future growth[3]. - The Cerrado Project involves building a pulp production mill with an estimated capacity of 2,550,000 tons per year, with total investment of R19,300,000,expectedtostartoperationsinthesecondhalfof2024[22].−TheacquisitionofKimberly−Clark′stissuebusinessinBrazilisvaluedatUS175 million (approximately R922,915),withafactorycapacityof130,000tonsperyearfortissueproducts[23][25].−Thecompanyhas13industrialunitsandoperatesinthepulpandpapersector,producinghardwoodpulpandvariouspaperproducts[10].RiskManagement−Thecompanyhasnotidentifiedanyshort−termorlong−termrisksrelatedtosupplychaininterruptionsduetotheRussia−Ukraineconflict,althoughtherehasbeenincreasedvolatilityincommodityandenergyprices[25].−ThecompanycontinuestomonitortheimpactsoftheRussia−Ukraineconflictonitsoperationsandhasnotexperiencedsignificantdisruptionsinlogisticsorcommercialtransactions[25].−Thecompanyhasahedgingpolicyinplacetomanageexchangeraterisks,includingamaximumnotionalamountof1,500,000 for the Cerrado Project[63]. - The company is exposed to commodity price risks, particularly in hardwood pulp prices, which may impact operating results due to global market dynamics[86]. Shareholder Information - The company has cancelled 37,145,969 treasury shares at an average cost of R40.84pershare,totalingR1,517,224, resulting in a new share capital of R9,269,281dividedinto1,324,117,615shares[27].−Thecompany’ssharecapitalwasR9,269,281 divided into 1,361,263,584 common shares as of March 31, 2023, with a net share capital of R9,235,546afterpublicofferingexpenses[195].−Thecompanyheld16,727,500treasurysharesasofMarch31,2023,downfrom51,911,569asofDecember31,2022[197].−Thecompanyrepurchased1,961,900commonshareswithatotalmarketvalueofR87,243 up to March 31, 2023, under a repurchase program approved on October 27, 2022[198]. Sustainability and Environmental Initiatives - The Horizonte de Carbono Project has validated 1.9Mt CO2e of carbon credits, with 1.7Mt CO2e eligible for issuance, although the credits have not yet been issued[106]. - The company has ongoing projects for carbon credit certification, contributing to sustainability and financial viability through the commercialization of carbon credits[106]. - The company’s biological assets increased to R15,114,469asofMarch31,2023,upfromR14,632,186 at the end of 2022, with additions of R$1,393,291 during the period[144].