HispanicBusiness

Austrian energy drink maker Red Bull reported Friday that its revenue rose 15.9 per cent, to 4.93 billion euros (6.93 billion dollars), last year, owing to higher prices and favourable currency effects.

The privately held firm did not release other benchmark figures, but said it reached an all-time high in terms of operating profit and revenue.

Sales improved by more than 50 per cent in South Africa and Japan, and by 38 per cent in Saudi Arabia.

Red Bull said it wanted to expand in its core markets in Europe and the United States, in the emerging economies of Brazil and India, as well as in Japan and South Korea.

The company said Thursday that it has been targeted by an anonymous blackmailer during the past weeks, who has threatened to smear sewage water on cans if he does not get money.

Red Bull and the Salzburg prosecution office told dpa Friday that the threat had not been carried out so far.