First Quarter Sales Report
Compagnie de Saint-Gobain
25 April 2002
FIRST-QUARTER 2002 SALES UP 0.4%
Net consolidated sales of the Saint-Gobain Group for the first quarter of 2002
were up 0.4% year-on-year, to EUR 7,296 million, from EUR 7,268 million for the
same period of 2001.
Based on a comparable structure, Group sales dipped 1.0% in euros and 2.1% in
local currencies; sales volumes declined by 3.1%, while prices remained firm,
rising by 1%.
This level of sales, which is measured against a particularly high basis of
comparison in first-quarter 2001, is attributable to the sharp drop in sales
volumes in High-Performance Materials since April 2001. Sales in Glass and
Housing Products have remained practically stable year-on-year, on a like-for-
like basis.
Within the Housing Products Sector, the Pipe Division's distribution operations
have been transferred, as from January 1, 2002, to the Building Materials
Distribution Division, in order to set up a European organization for sales of
materials in civil engineering markets.
Taking into account this transfer, sales trends by business sector, division and
geographic area are as follows:
Q1 2002 Q1 2001 Change Change Change
sales sales based on based on Based on
(in (in millions actual comparable comparable
millions of euros structure structure structure and
of euros) in euros exchange
rates (like-
for like)
SECTORS & DIVISIONS
GLASS (1) 2,916 2,870 1.6% 0.5% -0.5%
Flat Glass 1,100 1,107 -0.6% -1.8% -1.6%
Insulation & Reinforcements 820 815 0.6% -1.3% -3.4%
Containers 1,000 951 5.2% 4.9% 3.3%
HIGH-PERFORMANCE MATERIALS (1) 955 1,069 -10.7% -12.6% -14.4%
Ceramics & Plastics and Abrasives 955 1,069 -10.7% -12.6% -14.4%
HOUSING PRODUCTS (1) 3,500 3,389 3.3% 1.7% 0.8%
Building Materials 754 715 5.5% 5.5% 3.6%
Building Materials Distribution
before transfer 2,366** 2,283 3.6% 2.2% 1.4%
Building Materials Distribution
after transfer 2,450 2,388* 2.6% 1.2% 0.4%
Pipe before transfer 437** 442 -1.1% -1.1% -1.2%
Pipe after transfer 359 358* 0.3% 0.2% 0.5%
INTERNAL SALES (74) (60)
GROUP 7,296 7,268 0.4% -1.0% -2.1%
GEOGRAPHIC AREAS
France 2271 2271 0.0% -0.4% -0.4%
Other European Countries 2997 3016 -0.6% -3.6% -4.7%
North America 1759 1708 3.0% 3.6% -1.6%
Rest of the world 561 566 -0-9% -3.0% 3.9%
INTERNAL SALES -292 -293
GROUP 7296 7268 0.4 % -1.0% -2.1%
* Pro forma 2001, after transfer of pipe distribution operations from the
Pipe Division to the Building Materials Distribution Division (sales amounting
to EUR 105 million before eliminations, and EUR 84 million after).
** Pro forma 2002, before transfer of pipe distribution operations from the
Pipe Division to the Building Materials Distribution Division (sales amounting
to EUR 84 million before eliminations, and EUR 78 million after).
(1) including inter-division eliminations
Divisions linked to the building industry and to consumer spending in the United
States enjoyed satisfactory growth. For other businesses, particularly in
High-Performance Materials, sales volumes have contracted significantly in
relation to first-quarter 2001, which represents a high basis of comparison.
Selling prices continued to improve in most divisions, particularly in Europe.
The Glass Sector recorded mixed results. The Flat Glass Division, after turning
in an excellent 2001, felt the effects of the downturn in the European
construction market, with some price erosion. The Insulation Division's sales
dipped slightly, mainly due to another fall in the German construction market,
as well as pricing pressures.
Low activity in industrial markets continued to weigh on the Reinforcements
Division's performance, but its sales picked up significantly in relation to
fourth-quarter 2001. The Containers Division remained on the upward trend it had
experienced in 2001, drawing upon sustained demand and further price increases,
in both Europe and the United States.
The High-Performance Materials Sector recorded a sharp drop in sales compared to
an especially buoyant first quarter of 2001, as a result of the gradual
contraction in output and capital spending in several industries, notably
electronics, since April 2001. However, this business has stabilized since the
fourth quarter of 2001.
The Housing Products Sector is growing, across all of its segments. The Building
Materials Distribution Division, which now includes pipe materials distribution
operations (representing sales of EUR 84 million in first-quarter 2002, versus
EUR 105 million in first-quarter 2001), continued its development through both
organic growth and acquisitions. The Pipe Division, now refocused on its
industrial operations, has stabilized its sales performance. Building Materials
was boosted by vigorous activity in the United States, and recorded the
strongest growth of all Group divisions, on a like-for-like basis.
Outlook: For the full year 2002, the Saint-Gobain Group confirms its objective
of 0 to 4% growth in net income excluding capital gains. This objective is based
on a scenario of recovery in the US manufacturing sector in the second half of
2002.
April 25, 2002
Next results announcement:
- Estimated results for first-half 2002: July 25 2002, after the closing of the
stock market.
Investor Relations Department
Tel. : Florence TRIOU-TEIXEIRA
+33 1 47 62 45 19 - mailto : florence.triou@saint-gobain.com
Tel. : Claire MOSES
+33 1 47 62 32 36 - mailto : claire.moses@saint-gobain.com
Fax +33 1 47 62 50 62
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange