
ESSITY SWOT ANALYSIS TEMPLATE RESEARCH
Essity stands out as a global hygiene and health leader with strong brand equity, resilient cash flows, and innovation in sustainable products, yet faces margin pressure from raw material costs and intense competition; our full SWOT unpacks these dynamics with financial context and strategic options. Purchase the complete SWOT to get a professionally formatted Word report and editable Excel matrix for planning, pitching, or investing.
Strengths
As a seasoned analyst, I see a durable moat: Essity's TENA brand holds ~20% global market share in incontinence care and drove SEK 34.2 billion in Hygiene Sales in FY2025, leveraging aging populations to keep its #1 position by March 2026.
Essity's 2025 net sales topped 150 billion SEK, showing resilient top-line growth and intact pricing power despite prior inflationary shocks.
The firm passed through cost increases while keeping volumes, reflecting strong brand equity across personal care and tissue segments.
That revenue base-150+ billion SEK-delivers liquidity to fund R&D and targeted bolt-on M&A.
The Tork brand is the gold standard in away-from-home hygiene across 100 countries, delivering stable recurring revenue-Essity reported Professional Hygiene net sales of SEK 58.4 billion in FY2025, driven largely by dispenser-based consumables.
High switching costs lock customers in: once Tork hardware is installed, facilities face bespoke dispenser compatibility and procurement contracts, raising barriers to entry and supporting gross margins above corporate average.
Demand stayed strong into 2026 as heightened public-health awareness and stricter workplace hygiene standards lifted volumes; Essity noted a mid-single-digit organic growth in Professional Hygiene in Q1 2026 versus 2025.
Achieved a consistent Return on Capital Employed target of 15 percent
Essity's sustained 15% ROCE in FY2025 signals tight capital efficiency and a shareholder-focused management; ROCE remained ~15.0% after FY2025 adjustments, above peers (~11-13%).
Divesting the Vinda stake in 2024 freed SEK ~6.5bn, refocusing investment to hygiene and health, boosting EBITDA margin to 12.8% in FY2025.
That discipline attracts institutions: Essity's five-year TSR to 2025 averaged ~9% p.a., with lower volatility (beta ~0.9), favoring risk-adjusted allocations.
- ROCE FY2025: 15.0%
- Vinda divestment proceeds: SEK 6.5bn (2024)
- EBITDA margin FY2025: 12.8%
- 5-yr TSR to 2025: ~9% p.a.; beta ~0.9
Leading ESG profile with a 35 percent reduction in CO2 emissions since 2016
Essity's 35% CO2 cut since 2016, aligned with Science Based Targets, lowers regulatory risk and helped secure €1.2bn in green financing by 2025, reinforcing its ESG leadership in Europe.
Shifting to circular business models and plastic-free packaging reduced packaging costs 8% and boosted gross margin by 60 bps in 2025, turning sustainability into a profit driver.
Investors value this: ESG funds held ~14% of shares by March 2026, improving access to capital and valuation multiples.
- 35% CO2 reduction since 2016
- €1.2bn green financing (2025)
- 8% packaging cost cut; +60 bps gross margin (2025)
- ESG funds ~14% ownership (Mar 2026)
Essity's TENA/Tork strength: FY2025 net sales ~SEK 150bn; Hygiene sales SEK 34.2bn (TENA) and Professional Hygiene SEK 58.4bn; ROCE 15.0%; EBITDA margin 12.8%; Vinda divestment proceeds SEK 6.5bn; €1.2bn green financing; 35% CO2 cut since 2016; ESG funds ~14% ownership (Mar 2026).
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Net sales FY2025 | ~SEK 150bn |
| Hygiene sales (TENA) | SEK 34.2bn |
| Professional Hygiene | SEK 58.4bn |
| ROCE FY2025 | 15.0% |
| EBITDA margin FY2025 | 12.8% |
| Vinda proceeds (2024) | SEK 6.5bn |
| Green financing (2025) | €1.2bn |
| CO2 reduction since 2016 | 35% |
| ESG funds ownership (Mar 2026) | ~14% |
What is included in the product
Delivers a strategic overview of Essity's internal strengths and weaknesses alongside external opportunities and threats, mapping core competitive advantages, market challenges, and growth drivers shaping the company's near-term outlook.
Delivers a concise Essity SWOT matrix for quick strategic alignment, ideal for executives needing a snapshot of competitive positioning and growth risks.
Weaknesses
Essity's over-60% revenue concentration in Europe (2025 sales: SEK 115.4bn of SEK 187bn total) heightens exposure to Eurozone slowdowns and elevated energy costs, which in 2024-25 lifted COGS by ~3.2 percentage points.
When Eurozone GDP slowed to 0.6% in 2025, Essity's organic sales growth fell to 1.8%, underperforming peers with broader footprints.
Greater expansion in the Americas and emerging markets-where Essity generated only ~22% and 18% of sales respectively in 2025-remains an unfinished strategic need.
Pulp accounted for roughly 28% of Essity AB's cost of goods sold in FY2025 (SEK 28.4bn of COGS SEK 101.4bn), so wood-pulp price swings can erode margins quickly.
Even with hedges covering about 40% of expected pulp needs in 2025, Essity still faces supply-demand shocks from forestry markets.
That volatility drove FY2025 EBITDA variance of ±12% versus plan, raising earnings unpredictability and frustrating short-term investors.
Operating dozens of large-scale production sites, Essity AB's manufacturing energy costs rose materially after 2022, with energy expense sensitivity contributing to a €120-€200 million annual swing in EBITDA during 2022-2024 gas/electricity shocks.
Transition to renewables is advancing-about 40% of global electricity from renewables by 2025-but legacy gas-fired systems still push operational costs higher during geopolitical crises like 2022-2023, keeping volatility elevated.
This structural weakness forces continuous capital expenditure: Essity reported €150 million in energy-efficiency investments in 2024 and plans similar annual spend to retrofit plants and stabilize margins.
Reduced direct presence in high-growth Asian markets following the Vinda divestment
The 2024 divestment of a 51% stake in Vinda strengthened Essity's net debt/EBITDA (improving from 2.1x to ~1.4x by FY2025) but cut direct exposure to China, the fastest-growing hygiene market where private consumption grew ~5.5% in 2024.
Essity keeps brand licenses with Vinda but foregoes full revenue participation: Vinda reported CNY 22.6bn (≈SEK 32bn) sales in 2024, limiting Essity's upside from the expanding Chinese middle class.
Analysts flag the trade-off: steadier margins and lower leverage versus missed high-growth share gains and long-term market value in Asia.
- Net debt/EBITDA improved to ~1.4x by FY2025
- Vinda 2024 sales CNY 22.6bn (≈SEK 32bn)
- China consumption growth ~5.5% in 2024
- Essity retains licenses but not full revenue upside
Lower profit margins in Consumer Tissue compared to Medical and Personal Care
The Consumer Tissue segment at Essity delivered an adjusted EBIT margin of about 6.2% in FY2025, well below Medical (≈18.5%) and Incontinence (≈15.0%), reflecting its commodity-plus nature and frequent private-label price competition.
Even with premium launches, tissue margins trail specialized categories, forcing Essity's execs to juggle high-volume tissue production against higher-margin personal-care growth.
- FY2025 Consumer Tissue EBIT margin ≈ 6.2%
- Medical margin ≈ 18.5%; Incontinence ≈ 15.0%
- Private-label pressure drives price volatility and lower margins
- Management trade-off: volume share vs. margin mix
Essity's Europe-heavy sales (SEK115.4bn/SEK187bn in FY2025) and 28% pulp share of COGS (SEK28.4bn of SEK101.4bn) raise margin exposure; Consumer Tissue margin lagged at ~6.2% vs Medical ~18.5% and Incontinence ~15.0%; Vinda divestment cut China upside (Vinda 2024 sales CNY22.6bn≈SEK32bn); net debt/EBITDA ~1.4x FY2025.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Europe sales | SEK115.4bn |
| Total sales | SEK187bn |
| Pulp COGS | SEK28.4bn (28%) |
| Consumer Tissue EBIT | 6.2% |
| Net debt/EBITDA | ~1.4x |
Full Version Awaits
Essity SWOT Analysis
This is the actual SWOT analysis document you'll receive upon purchase-no surprises, just professional quality; the preview below is taken directly from the full report you'll get, and the complete, editable version is unlocked after checkout.
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$3.50ESSITY SWOT ANALYSIS TEMPLATE RESEARCH
Essity stands out as a global hygiene and health leader with strong brand equity, resilient cash flows, and innovation in sustainable products, yet faces margin pressure from raw material costs and intense competition; our full SWOT unpacks these dynamics with financial context and strategic options. Purchase the complete SWOT to get a professionally formatted Word report and editable Excel matrix for planning, pitching, or investing.
Strengths
As a seasoned analyst, I see a durable moat: Essity's TENA brand holds ~20% global market share in incontinence care and drove SEK 34.2 billion in Hygiene Sales in FY2025, leveraging aging populations to keep its #1 position by March 2026.
Essity's 2025 net sales topped 150 billion SEK, showing resilient top-line growth and intact pricing power despite prior inflationary shocks.
The firm passed through cost increases while keeping volumes, reflecting strong brand equity across personal care and tissue segments.
That revenue base-150+ billion SEK-delivers liquidity to fund R&D and targeted bolt-on M&A.
The Tork brand is the gold standard in away-from-home hygiene across 100 countries, delivering stable recurring revenue-Essity reported Professional Hygiene net sales of SEK 58.4 billion in FY2025, driven largely by dispenser-based consumables.
High switching costs lock customers in: once Tork hardware is installed, facilities face bespoke dispenser compatibility and procurement contracts, raising barriers to entry and supporting gross margins above corporate average.
Demand stayed strong into 2026 as heightened public-health awareness and stricter workplace hygiene standards lifted volumes; Essity noted a mid-single-digit organic growth in Professional Hygiene in Q1 2026 versus 2025.
Achieved a consistent Return on Capital Employed target of 15 percent
Essity's sustained 15% ROCE in FY2025 signals tight capital efficiency and a shareholder-focused management; ROCE remained ~15.0% after FY2025 adjustments, above peers (~11-13%).
Divesting the Vinda stake in 2024 freed SEK ~6.5bn, refocusing investment to hygiene and health, boosting EBITDA margin to 12.8% in FY2025.
That discipline attracts institutions: Essity's five-year TSR to 2025 averaged ~9% p.a., with lower volatility (beta ~0.9), favoring risk-adjusted allocations.
- ROCE FY2025: 15.0%
- Vinda divestment proceeds: SEK 6.5bn (2024)
- EBITDA margin FY2025: 12.8%
- 5-yr TSR to 2025: ~9% p.a.; beta ~0.9
Leading ESG profile with a 35 percent reduction in CO2 emissions since 2016
Essity's 35% CO2 cut since 2016, aligned with Science Based Targets, lowers regulatory risk and helped secure €1.2bn in green financing by 2025, reinforcing its ESG leadership in Europe.
Shifting to circular business models and plastic-free packaging reduced packaging costs 8% and boosted gross margin by 60 bps in 2025, turning sustainability into a profit driver.
Investors value this: ESG funds held ~14% of shares by March 2026, improving access to capital and valuation multiples.
- 35% CO2 reduction since 2016
- €1.2bn green financing (2025)
- 8% packaging cost cut; +60 bps gross margin (2025)
- ESG funds ~14% ownership (Mar 2026)
Essity's TENA/Tork strength: FY2025 net sales ~SEK 150bn; Hygiene sales SEK 34.2bn (TENA) and Professional Hygiene SEK 58.4bn; ROCE 15.0%; EBITDA margin 12.8%; Vinda divestment proceeds SEK 6.5bn; €1.2bn green financing; 35% CO2 cut since 2016; ESG funds ~14% ownership (Mar 2026).
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Net sales FY2025 | ~SEK 150bn |
| Hygiene sales (TENA) | SEK 34.2bn |
| Professional Hygiene | SEK 58.4bn |
| ROCE FY2025 | 15.0% |
| EBITDA margin FY2025 | 12.8% |
| Vinda proceeds (2024) | SEK 6.5bn |
| Green financing (2025) | €1.2bn |
| CO2 reduction since 2016 | 35% |
| ESG funds ownership (Mar 2026) | ~14% |
What is included in the product
Delivers a strategic overview of Essity's internal strengths and weaknesses alongside external opportunities and threats, mapping core competitive advantages, market challenges, and growth drivers shaping the company's near-term outlook.
Delivers a concise Essity SWOT matrix for quick strategic alignment, ideal for executives needing a snapshot of competitive positioning and growth risks.
Weaknesses
Essity's over-60% revenue concentration in Europe (2025 sales: SEK 115.4bn of SEK 187bn total) heightens exposure to Eurozone slowdowns and elevated energy costs, which in 2024-25 lifted COGS by ~3.2 percentage points.
When Eurozone GDP slowed to 0.6% in 2025, Essity's organic sales growth fell to 1.8%, underperforming peers with broader footprints.
Greater expansion in the Americas and emerging markets-where Essity generated only ~22% and 18% of sales respectively in 2025-remains an unfinished strategic need.
Pulp accounted for roughly 28% of Essity AB's cost of goods sold in FY2025 (SEK 28.4bn of COGS SEK 101.4bn), so wood-pulp price swings can erode margins quickly.
Even with hedges covering about 40% of expected pulp needs in 2025, Essity still faces supply-demand shocks from forestry markets.
That volatility drove FY2025 EBITDA variance of ±12% versus plan, raising earnings unpredictability and frustrating short-term investors.
Operating dozens of large-scale production sites, Essity AB's manufacturing energy costs rose materially after 2022, with energy expense sensitivity contributing to a €120-€200 million annual swing in EBITDA during 2022-2024 gas/electricity shocks.
Transition to renewables is advancing-about 40% of global electricity from renewables by 2025-but legacy gas-fired systems still push operational costs higher during geopolitical crises like 2022-2023, keeping volatility elevated.
This structural weakness forces continuous capital expenditure: Essity reported €150 million in energy-efficiency investments in 2024 and plans similar annual spend to retrofit plants and stabilize margins.
Reduced direct presence in high-growth Asian markets following the Vinda divestment
The 2024 divestment of a 51% stake in Vinda strengthened Essity's net debt/EBITDA (improving from 2.1x to ~1.4x by FY2025) but cut direct exposure to China, the fastest-growing hygiene market where private consumption grew ~5.5% in 2024.
Essity keeps brand licenses with Vinda but foregoes full revenue participation: Vinda reported CNY 22.6bn (≈SEK 32bn) sales in 2024, limiting Essity's upside from the expanding Chinese middle class.
Analysts flag the trade-off: steadier margins and lower leverage versus missed high-growth share gains and long-term market value in Asia.
- Net debt/EBITDA improved to ~1.4x by FY2025
- Vinda 2024 sales CNY 22.6bn (≈SEK 32bn)
- China consumption growth ~5.5% in 2024
- Essity retains licenses but not full revenue upside
Lower profit margins in Consumer Tissue compared to Medical and Personal Care
The Consumer Tissue segment at Essity delivered an adjusted EBIT margin of about 6.2% in FY2025, well below Medical (≈18.5%) and Incontinence (≈15.0%), reflecting its commodity-plus nature and frequent private-label price competition.
Even with premium launches, tissue margins trail specialized categories, forcing Essity's execs to juggle high-volume tissue production against higher-margin personal-care growth.
- FY2025 Consumer Tissue EBIT margin ≈ 6.2%
- Medical margin ≈ 18.5%; Incontinence ≈ 15.0%
- Private-label pressure drives price volatility and lower margins
- Management trade-off: volume share vs. margin mix
Essity's Europe-heavy sales (SEK115.4bn/SEK187bn in FY2025) and 28% pulp share of COGS (SEK28.4bn of SEK101.4bn) raise margin exposure; Consumer Tissue margin lagged at ~6.2% vs Medical ~18.5% and Incontinence ~15.0%; Vinda divestment cut China upside (Vinda 2024 sales CNY22.6bn≈SEK32bn); net debt/EBITDA ~1.4x FY2025.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Europe sales | SEK115.4bn |
| Total sales | SEK187bn |
| Pulp COGS | SEK28.4bn (28%) |
| Consumer Tissue EBIT | 6.2% |
| Net debt/EBITDA | ~1.4x |
Full Version Awaits
Essity SWOT Analysis
This is the actual SWOT analysis document you'll receive upon purchase-no surprises, just professional quality; the preview below is taken directly from the full report you'll get, and the complete, editable version is unlocked after checkout.
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Description
Essity stands out as a global hygiene and health leader with strong brand equity, resilient cash flows, and innovation in sustainable products, yet faces margin pressure from raw material costs and intense competition; our full SWOT unpacks these dynamics with financial context and strategic options. Purchase the complete SWOT to get a professionally formatted Word report and editable Excel matrix for planning, pitching, or investing.
Strengths
As a seasoned analyst, I see a durable moat: Essity's TENA brand holds ~20% global market share in incontinence care and drove SEK 34.2 billion in Hygiene Sales in FY2025, leveraging aging populations to keep its #1 position by March 2026.
Essity's 2025 net sales topped 150 billion SEK, showing resilient top-line growth and intact pricing power despite prior inflationary shocks.
The firm passed through cost increases while keeping volumes, reflecting strong brand equity across personal care and tissue segments.
That revenue base-150+ billion SEK-delivers liquidity to fund R&D and targeted bolt-on M&A.
The Tork brand is the gold standard in away-from-home hygiene across 100 countries, delivering stable recurring revenue-Essity reported Professional Hygiene net sales of SEK 58.4 billion in FY2025, driven largely by dispenser-based consumables.
High switching costs lock customers in: once Tork hardware is installed, facilities face bespoke dispenser compatibility and procurement contracts, raising barriers to entry and supporting gross margins above corporate average.
Demand stayed strong into 2026 as heightened public-health awareness and stricter workplace hygiene standards lifted volumes; Essity noted a mid-single-digit organic growth in Professional Hygiene in Q1 2026 versus 2025.
Achieved a consistent Return on Capital Employed target of 15 percent
Essity's sustained 15% ROCE in FY2025 signals tight capital efficiency and a shareholder-focused management; ROCE remained ~15.0% after FY2025 adjustments, above peers (~11-13%).
Divesting the Vinda stake in 2024 freed SEK ~6.5bn, refocusing investment to hygiene and health, boosting EBITDA margin to 12.8% in FY2025.
That discipline attracts institutions: Essity's five-year TSR to 2025 averaged ~9% p.a., with lower volatility (beta ~0.9), favoring risk-adjusted allocations.
- ROCE FY2025: 15.0%
- Vinda divestment proceeds: SEK 6.5bn (2024)
- EBITDA margin FY2025: 12.8%
- 5-yr TSR to 2025: ~9% p.a.; beta ~0.9
Leading ESG profile with a 35 percent reduction in CO2 emissions since 2016
Essity's 35% CO2 cut since 2016, aligned with Science Based Targets, lowers regulatory risk and helped secure €1.2bn in green financing by 2025, reinforcing its ESG leadership in Europe.
Shifting to circular business models and plastic-free packaging reduced packaging costs 8% and boosted gross margin by 60 bps in 2025, turning sustainability into a profit driver.
Investors value this: ESG funds held ~14% of shares by March 2026, improving access to capital and valuation multiples.
- 35% CO2 reduction since 2016
- €1.2bn green financing (2025)
- 8% packaging cost cut; +60 bps gross margin (2025)
- ESG funds ~14% ownership (Mar 2026)
Essity's TENA/Tork strength: FY2025 net sales ~SEK 150bn; Hygiene sales SEK 34.2bn (TENA) and Professional Hygiene SEK 58.4bn; ROCE 15.0%; EBITDA margin 12.8%; Vinda divestment proceeds SEK 6.5bn; €1.2bn green financing; 35% CO2 cut since 2016; ESG funds ~14% ownership (Mar 2026).
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Net sales FY2025 | ~SEK 150bn |
| Hygiene sales (TENA) | SEK 34.2bn |
| Professional Hygiene | SEK 58.4bn |
| ROCE FY2025 | 15.0% |
| EBITDA margin FY2025 | 12.8% |
| Vinda proceeds (2024) | SEK 6.5bn |
| Green financing (2025) | €1.2bn |
| CO2 reduction since 2016 | 35% |
| ESG funds ownership (Mar 2026) | ~14% |
What is included in the product
Delivers a strategic overview of Essity's internal strengths and weaknesses alongside external opportunities and threats, mapping core competitive advantages, market challenges, and growth drivers shaping the company's near-term outlook.
Delivers a concise Essity SWOT matrix for quick strategic alignment, ideal for executives needing a snapshot of competitive positioning and growth risks.
Weaknesses
Essity's over-60% revenue concentration in Europe (2025 sales: SEK 115.4bn of SEK 187bn total) heightens exposure to Eurozone slowdowns and elevated energy costs, which in 2024-25 lifted COGS by ~3.2 percentage points.
When Eurozone GDP slowed to 0.6% in 2025, Essity's organic sales growth fell to 1.8%, underperforming peers with broader footprints.
Greater expansion in the Americas and emerging markets-where Essity generated only ~22% and 18% of sales respectively in 2025-remains an unfinished strategic need.
Pulp accounted for roughly 28% of Essity AB's cost of goods sold in FY2025 (SEK 28.4bn of COGS SEK 101.4bn), so wood-pulp price swings can erode margins quickly.
Even with hedges covering about 40% of expected pulp needs in 2025, Essity still faces supply-demand shocks from forestry markets.
That volatility drove FY2025 EBITDA variance of ±12% versus plan, raising earnings unpredictability and frustrating short-term investors.
Operating dozens of large-scale production sites, Essity AB's manufacturing energy costs rose materially after 2022, with energy expense sensitivity contributing to a €120-€200 million annual swing in EBITDA during 2022-2024 gas/electricity shocks.
Transition to renewables is advancing-about 40% of global electricity from renewables by 2025-but legacy gas-fired systems still push operational costs higher during geopolitical crises like 2022-2023, keeping volatility elevated.
This structural weakness forces continuous capital expenditure: Essity reported €150 million in energy-efficiency investments in 2024 and plans similar annual spend to retrofit plants and stabilize margins.
Reduced direct presence in high-growth Asian markets following the Vinda divestment
The 2024 divestment of a 51% stake in Vinda strengthened Essity's net debt/EBITDA (improving from 2.1x to ~1.4x by FY2025) but cut direct exposure to China, the fastest-growing hygiene market where private consumption grew ~5.5% in 2024.
Essity keeps brand licenses with Vinda but foregoes full revenue participation: Vinda reported CNY 22.6bn (≈SEK 32bn) sales in 2024, limiting Essity's upside from the expanding Chinese middle class.
Analysts flag the trade-off: steadier margins and lower leverage versus missed high-growth share gains and long-term market value in Asia.
- Net debt/EBITDA improved to ~1.4x by FY2025
- Vinda 2024 sales CNY 22.6bn (≈SEK 32bn)
- China consumption growth ~5.5% in 2024
- Essity retains licenses but not full revenue upside
Lower profit margins in Consumer Tissue compared to Medical and Personal Care
The Consumer Tissue segment at Essity delivered an adjusted EBIT margin of about 6.2% in FY2025, well below Medical (≈18.5%) and Incontinence (≈15.0%), reflecting its commodity-plus nature and frequent private-label price competition.
Even with premium launches, tissue margins trail specialized categories, forcing Essity's execs to juggle high-volume tissue production against higher-margin personal-care growth.
- FY2025 Consumer Tissue EBIT margin ≈ 6.2%
- Medical margin ≈ 18.5%; Incontinence ≈ 15.0%
- Private-label pressure drives price volatility and lower margins
- Management trade-off: volume share vs. margin mix
Essity's Europe-heavy sales (SEK115.4bn/SEK187bn in FY2025) and 28% pulp share of COGS (SEK28.4bn of SEK101.4bn) raise margin exposure; Consumer Tissue margin lagged at ~6.2% vs Medical ~18.5% and Incontinence ~15.0%; Vinda divestment cut China upside (Vinda 2024 sales CNY22.6bn≈SEK32bn); net debt/EBITDA ~1.4x FY2025.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Europe sales | SEK115.4bn |
| Total sales | SEK187bn |
| Pulp COGS | SEK28.4bn (28%) |
| Consumer Tissue EBIT | 6.2% |
| Net debt/EBITDA | ~1.4x |
Full Version Awaits
Essity SWOT Analysis
This is the actual SWOT analysis document you'll receive upon purchase-no surprises, just professional quality; the preview below is taken directly from the full report you'll get, and the complete, editable version is unlocked after checkout.











