1st Quarter Results
Compagnie de Saint-Gobain
22 April 2008
April 22, 2008
FIRST-QUARTER 2008 SALES
> UP 1.5% AT CONSTANT EXCHANGE RATES*
> UP 0.9% LIKE-FOR-LIKE
Saint-Gobain's consolidated sales for first-quarter 2008 came in at €10,301
million, compared with €10,447 million in the same year-ago period. This
represents a decline of 1.4% on an actual structure basis, but a rise of 0.9%
like-for like (on a constant structure and exchange rate basis) and of 1.5% at
constant exchange rates*.
At a constant number of working days, organic growth for the Group would have
been slightly above 3.0%, despite the very high comparison basis with
first-quarter 2007 (up 8.0% on a like-for-like basis compared to the prior-year
period).
Changes in Group structure represent 0.5% growth in sales. The impact of the
Desjonqueres and Reinforcements & Composites divestments in 2007 was more than
offset by the contribution from acquisitions, in particular Maxit and Norandex
(consolidated as of March 1, 2008 and September 1, 2007, respectively). The
exchange rate impact was a negative 2.8%, in particular as a result of the
further slide in the value of the US dollar and pound sterling against the euro.
Like-for-like, consolidated sales moved up €96 million, or 0.9%. Sales prices
remained on an upward trend (+2.6%), while volumes fell back slightly (-1.7%),
as expected, due to fewer working days than for the same period 2007.
All of the Group's business sectors reported a rise in like-for-like sales over
the quarter, with the exception of Construction Products (CP), which saw a 0.4%
dip in sales. This was fueled by a downturn in the Interior Solutions business
in the US, not entirely offset by vigorous 4.9% growth in Exterior Solutions.
On the whole, residential construction remained on track in western European
countries. In the United States, however, in line with the economic scenario set
out by the Group at the beginning of the year, residential construction markets
continued to lose ground and are not yet showing any tangible signs of leveling
off.
(*) Based on average exchange rates for first-quarter 2007.
As anticipated, household consumption, industrial output and capital spending
held up very well in both the United States and Europe.
Emerging countries and Asia remained buoyant and once again posted double-digit
growth.
* * *
Sales trends by business sector and major geographic area are as follows:
Q1 2008 Q1 2007 % change on an % change on a % change
actual comparable like-for-like
sales sales structure basis structure
(€ millions) (€ millions) basis
BY BUSINESS SECTOR
Flat Glass 1,399 1,369 +2.2% +1.5% +3.0%
High-Performance Materials 1,036 1,241 -16.5% -4.5% +0.5%
Construction Products (1) 2,730 2,720 +0.4% -4.1% -0.4%
Interior Solutions 1,578 1,680 -6.1% -6.9% -3.7%
Exterior Solutions 1,159 1,047 +10.7% +0.6% +4.9%
Building Distribution 4,637 4,424 +4.8% -0.8% +1.1%
Packaging 797 955 -16.5% +0.2% +4.5%
Internal sales and other (298) (262)
GROUP 10,301 10,447 -1.4% -1.9% +0.9%
BY GEOGRAPHIC AREA
France 3,250 3,277 -0.8% +2.4% +2.4%
Other western European countries 4,699 4,725 -0.6% -3.5% -0.7%
North America 1,263 1,473 -14.3% -17.3% -6.2%
Emerging countries and Asia-Pacific 1,630 1,533 +6.3% +11.5% +11.8%
Internal sales (541) (561) ----- ----- -----
GROUP 10,301 10,447 -1.4% -1.9% +0.9%
(1) Including inter-division eliminations.
Performance of Group sectors
Activity in the Flat Glass sector (+3.0% like-for-like) continued to be driven
by construction markets in Europe, Asia and emerging countries. There was a
further rise in volumes and sales prices and the product mix continued to
expand. Demand for automotive glass also remained strong worldwide.
High-Performance Materials achieved 0.5% like-for-like growth, mainly as a
result of the 2.8% growth in Ceramics, Plastics & Abrasives.
Sales recorded by the Construction Products (CP) sector gained 0.4% on a
reported basis but lost 0.4% like-for-like. The impact of changes in Group
structure (-4.5%) stemming from Saint-Gobain's acquisition of Norandex and Maxit
(consolidated as of September 1, 2007 and March 1, 2008, respectively) offset
the negative exchange rate impact (-3.7%) resulting chiefly from the fall in the
value of the US dollar.
- Hit by a further weakening of its US operations, Interior Solutions saw
sales fall by 6.1% on a reported basis and by 3.7% like-for-like, despite
the resilience of Europe and sustained business momentum in emerging
countries.
- In contrast, sales for the Exterior Solutions business surged 10.7% on a
reported basis and 4.9% like-for-like, buoyed by a vigorous performance
from Pipe and Mortars. Exterior Fittings businesses in the United States
remained stable over the quarter.
Building Distribution delivered the Group's best sales growth on a reported
basis at 4.8%, powered by acquisitions (5.6%) and organic growth (1.1%), despite
a very high comparison basis (organic growth of 11.0% in first-quarter 2007) .
Growth continued to be powered by France and Scandinavia, with the United
Kingdom reporting a slight downturn.
Packaging delivered 4.5% organic growth, amid robust demand especially in Europe
and emerging countries.
* * *
Sales analysis by geographic area
The breakdown of sales by geographic area is in line with the trends observed in
fourth quarter 2007.
- France (29.5% of Group sales in first-quarter 2008) posted a 2.4% rise in
sales on a like-for-like basis, while other western European countries
(43.9% of Group sales) saw like-for-like sales shed 0.7%. The expected
slowdown in Spain and softening market conditions in the United Kingdom
were not entirely offset by good performances from Germany - up on the
first quarter despite the unfavorable basis for comparison -, Scandinavia
and Benelux.
- In North America (11.9% of Group sales), business continued on a downward
trend with a fall of 6.2% in like-for-like sales fueled by the ongoing
crisis in residential construction markets.
- Asia and emerging countries (14.7% of Group sales) continued to post
vigorous growth, coming in at 11.8% on a like-for-like basis. Latin America
and Asia turned in particularly robust performances, delivering organic
growth of 15.4% and 16.2%, respectively.
* * *
Update on asbestos claims in the United States
Some 1,000 claims were filed against CertainTeed in the first quarter of 2008,
versus 2,000 in the same period of 2007. After taking into account around 2,000
settlements made during the period, the number of outstanding claims at March
31, 2008 declined to approximately 73,000 from 74,000 claims outstanding at
December 31, 2007.
* * *
Outlook
The Group is confident in its ability to adapt and withstand more challenging
economic conditions, and therefore confirms its objectives for 2008:
- modest growth in operating income at constant exchange rates (average
exchange rates for 2007) and recurring net income*,
- a solid financial structure and continuing high levels of free cash
flow.
* excluding capital gains, asset write-downs, and the Flat Glass fines (European
Commission)
* * *
Forthcoming results announcements:
- Final results for first-half 2008: July 24, 2008, after close of
trading on the Paris Bourse.
* * *
Investor Relations Department
Florence Triou-Teixeira Tel.: +33 1 47 62 45 19
Alexandre Etuy Tel.: +33 1 47 62 37 15
Vivien Dardel Tel.: +33 1 47 62 44 29
Fax: +33 1 47 62 50 62
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