Earnings Release • Apr 28, 2015
Earnings Release
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Paris, April 28, 2015
Pierre-André de Chalendar, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Saint-Gobain, said:
"Our figures for the first quarter are in line with our forecasts, given the tough basis for comparison. Over the rest of the year, we expect to see a gradual improvement, particularly in Germany and in Roofing in the US. Construction markets in France will remain challenging in 2015. In this setting and thanks to our ongoing cost cutting program, we can confirm our objective of a further like-for-like improvement in operating income."
Consolidated sales were stable at €9,859 million. Like-for-like (constant Group structure and exchange rates) sales slipped 1.2%.
Changes in Group structure had a negative 3.2% impact, essentially reflecting the disposal of Verallia North America (VNA).
The fall in the value of the euro against certain currencies – particularly the US dollar and Pound sterling – resulted in a significant 4.2% positive currency impact.
Volumes were down 1.5% on first-quarter 2014, which had been boosted by particularly mild winter weather in Europe.
Prices had a positive 0.3% impact amid a small rise in raw material costs and energy deflation.
| €m | Sales Q1 2014 |
Sales Q1 2015 |
Change on an actual structure basis |
Change on a comparable structure basis |
Like-for-like change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUSINESS SECTOR | |||||
| Innovative Materials1 | 2,175 | 2,385 | 9.7% | 9.8% | 2.0% |
| Flat Glass | 1,159 | 1,285 | 10.9% | 10.8% | 5.8% |
| High-Performance Materials | 1,018 | 1,104 | 8.4% | 8.8% | (2.2%) |
| Construction Products1 | 2,757 | 2,833 | 2.8% | 3.1% | (3.0%) |
| Interior Solutions | 1,452 | 1,541 | 6.1% | 6.1% | 0.9% |
| Exterior Solutions | 1,318 | 1,307 | (0.8%) | (0.1%) | (7.2%) |
| Building Distribution | 4,361 | 4,315 | (1.1%) | (0.8%) | (2.6%) |
| Packaging (Verallia) | 822 | 550 | (33.1%) | 0.9% | 2.5% |
| Internal sales and misc. | (241) | (224) | --- | --- | --- |
| GEOGRAPHIC AREA | |||||
| France | 2,872 | 2,731 | (4.9%) | (4.7%) | (4.7%) |
| Other Western European countries | 4,150 | 4,275 | 3.0% | 3.2% | 0.9% |
| North America | 1,436 | 1,245 | (13.3%) | 9.0% | (9.7%) |
| Emerging countries and Asia | 1,905 | 2,087 | 9.6% | 9.4% | 4.0% |
| Internal sales | (489) | (479) | --- | --- | --- |
| GROUP | 9,874 | 9,859 | (0.2%) | 3.0% | (1.2%) |
1 Including inter-division eliminations.
Construction Products (CP) sales were down 3.0%, hurt by Exterior Products in the US and Interior Solutions in France and Germany.
Building Distribution sales were down 2.6% against a strong first-quarter 2014, when sales had risen 8.1% on the same prior-year period. France continued to suffer from a sharp contraction in newbuilds and a sluggish renovation market. Germany retreated mainly due to a very unfavorable base effect. The UK, Nordic countries and Brazil posted good growth.
Packaging (Verallia) reported 2.5% organic growth. In Europe, the 3.4% rise in volumes confirmed the recovery in a competitive pricing environment. Latin America reported further good sales growth thanks solely to price trends reflecting the impact of inflation.
In accordance with the scenario outlined in February:
After a first quarter characterized by tough 2014 comparatives, the Group maintains its outlook for 2015 as a whole:
The Group confirms its action plan priorities:
First-half 2015 results: July 29, 2015, after close of trading on the Paris Bourse.
| Analyst/Investor relations | Press relations | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaetano Terrasini Vivien Dardel Marine Huet |
+33 1 47 62 32 52 +33 1 47 62 44 29 +33 1 47 62 30 93 |
Sophie Chevallon Susanne Trabitzsch |
+33 1 47 62 30 48 +33 1 47 62 43 25 |
This press release contains forward-looking statements with respect to Saint-Gobain's financial condition, results, business, strategy, plans and outlook. Forward-looking statements are generally identified by the use of the words "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "estimate", "plan" and similar expressions. Although Saint-Gobain believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions as at the time of publishing this document, investors are cautioned that these statements are not guarantees of its future performance. Actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond the control of Saint-Gobain, including but not limited to the risks described in Saint-Gobain's registration document available on its website (www.saint-gobain.com). Accordingly, readers of this document are cautioned against relying on these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this document. Saint-Gobain disclaims any intention or obligation to complete, update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
This press release does not constitute any offer to purchase or exchange, nor any solicitation of an offer to sell or exchange securities of Saint-Gobain.
For further information, please visit www.saint-gobain.com.
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