Announcement of Results for Q1 2001/02

Announcement of Results for Q1 2001/02 1 May 2001 - 31 July 2001 (Unaudited) · Consolidated profit of DKK 281 million (DKK 183 million) against our forecast of DKK 225-275 million · Earnings (EBITA) in Danisco's main business areas up 23 per cent with the Sugar segment advancing 46 per cent and the Ingredients and Sweeteners segment 7 per cent · Sugar was affected by expedited sales and favourable currency adjustments · The consolidated profit for 2001/02 is expected to be DKK 900-975 million. · Sustained progress First quarter: Net sales in Danisco's main business areas - Ingredients, Sweeteners and Sugar - grew to DKK 4.3 billion (DKK 3.9 billion), up 12 per cent on the first quarter of last year. The Ingredients and Sweeteners segment reported 8 per cent growth. The sugar segment was up 15 per cent primarily due to expedited sales as a result of favourable world market prices and actions taken to compensate for the changes in the EU's sugar regime. Earnings (EBITA) in the main business areas increased to DKK 667 million (DKK 541 million), up 23 per cent. The Sugar segment accounted for the greatest improvement, up 46 per cent on the same period of last year. The progress in the Sugar segment was positively affected by the weakening of the Swedish krona against the euro and favourable market conditions for C sugar coupled with expedited sales. The Ingredients and Sweeteners segment advanced 7 per cent on the same period of last year. For further information, please contact: Michael von Bülow, Investor Relations. E-mail: sfmvb@danisco.com Tel.: +45 3266 2043, mobile: +45 2149 2305 Anders Hundahl, Corporate Communications. E-mail: peah@danisco.com Tel: +45 3266 2050, mobile: +45 4043 9370 KEY FIGURES AND FINANCIAL RATIOS GROUP Q1 Q1 YTD YTD 2000/ 2001/ 2000/0 2001/0 01 02 1 2 Profit and loss account in DKK million Net sales 5,988 4,952 5,988 4,952 of which main business areas 3,891 4,341 3,891 4,341 Operating profit before amortisation of goodwill 603 678 603 678 (EBITA) of which main business areas 541 667 541 667 Amortisation of goodwill ( ( ( ( 94) 110) 94) 110) Operating profit (EBIT) 493 584 493 584 of which main business areas 447 573 447 573 Profit on ordinary activities before tax 320 444 320 444 Profit on ordinary activities 183 281 183 281 Consolidated profit 183 281 183 281 Danisco's share of consolidated profit 173 267 173 267 Cash flows in DKK million Cash flow from operating activities 960 960 1,263 1,263 Cash flow from investing activities 481 996 481 996 Cash flow from financing activities ( ( ( ( 849) 2,422 849) 2,422) ) Total cash flow 592 ( 592 ( 163) 163) Financial ratios Diluted average number of shares 1) 57,51 56,55 57,512 56,552 2 2 Diluted earnings per share (DEPS) 3.01 4.72 3.01 4.72 Cash flow per share 16.7 22.3 16.7 22.3 Net asset value per share (NAV) 242 231 242 231 31 30 31 July April July 2000 2001 2001 Balance sheet in DKK million Assets total 35,32 31,956 28,239 2 Capital and reserves 13,93 12,795 13,048 5 Interest-bearing debt, net 8,519 11,58 11,278 1 Invested capital 24,77 23,007 19,973 5 1) Diluted: In the average number of shares it has been taken into account that shares under the share option programme may be subscribed for at a price lower than the market price. The key figures and financial ratios are calculated according to "Guidelines for Computation of Financial Ratios and Key Figures 1997", issued by the Danish Society of Financial Analysts, on the basis of the Group's accounting policies. Please see Danisco's report and accounts 2000/01 for definitions. Danisco develops and produces food ingredients sweeteners and sugar. The Group employs 10,000 people in more than 40 countries. In 2000/01, Danisco boasted net sales of DKK 23.5 billion. Danisco's broad product portfolio includes emulsifiers, stabilisers, flavourings, various types of fat replacers and sweeteners such as xylitol and fructose. Most of these ingredients are produced from natural raw materials and contribute for instance to improving the texture of products such as bread, ice cream and yoghurt. Danisco is also one of the largest and most efficient sugar producers in Europe. Ingredients and Sweeteners · Earnings up 7 per cent (EBITA) · Operating margin of 18 per cent (EBITA) · Robust growth in Asia-Pacific Net sales in Q1 2001/02 were up 8 per cent on the same period of last year. Operating margin was 18 per cent (EBITA), on a par with the same period of last year. Earnings (EBITA) increased to DKK 387 million (DKK 363 million), up 7 per cent. Markets Net sales in North America advanced 6 per cent in USD terms, of which 4 per cent was due to the acquisition of Florida Flavors. In DKK terms the increase was 11 per cent. Net sales in South America showed an increase of 6 per cent on Q1 2000/01 in DKK terms. The cyclical movements in this region impacted negatively on the sales performance. In Europe, the sales efforts changed from being country-focused to industry-focused have had the desired effect, as sales grew 5 per cent in DKK terms compared with Q1 2000/01. The breakdown of this increase was uneven, as sales in Western Europe rose 6 per cent, while declining 5 per cent in Eastern Europe. Sales growth in Asia-Pacific is sustained with an increase of 11 per cent in Q1 2001/02 relative to the same quarter of last year. The Chinese and South Korean markets remain buoyant and show very satisfactory growth rates. The Japanese market is still characterised by uncertain economic prospects. Products Sales of Texturant Products were up 6 per cent on the same period of last year. Particularly sales of functional systems to the baking and dairy industries showed healthy growth. The acquisition of Germantown on 15 August 2001 has provided Danisco with unique market coverage in Australia and New Zealand, markets that were previously covered through sales agents. Further, the acquisition has added additional functional systems capacity. Integration of Germantown has been initiated and will be consolidated from the second quarter of 2001/02. Raw material prices for texturants showed a rising trend during the quarter. Efforts are being made to offset this cost increase through efficiency enhancement and price adjustments. Sales of Speciality Products, including flavours, bio- and feed ingredients, showed an increase of 9 per cent on the first quarter of 2000/01. Asia-Pacific and parts of Europe saw healthy growth rates in the flavour segment. Florida Flavors, acquired in May 2001, has contributed special know-how on flavours to the fruit juice industry. Integration of the business is proceeding according to plan. Sales in the Sweeteners segment were up 11 per cent on the same quarter of last year. A major part of this increase results from the continuously strong sales performance of xylitol in Asia-Pacific, particularly in South Korea where Danisco has captured a significant market share. Sales of other naturally based sweeteners remained on a par with Q1 2000/01. Earnings (EBITA) were positively affected by Danisco's currency hedging of JPY against USD in December 2000. Sugar · Sales expedited to compensate for changed sugar regime · Favourable currency effects contributed significantly to earnings improvement of 46 per cent (EBITA) · Favourable market conditions for C sugar Net sales in Q1 2001/02 were 15 per cent higher and earnings (EBITA) 46 higher than in the same period of last year. Operating margin (EBITA) increased to 15 per cent, reflecting an increase of 3 percentage points compared with the same period of last year. Earnings (EBITA) benefited from the weakening of the Swedish krona against the euro. The total currency effect is estimated at DKK 40 million, of which DKK 15 million derives from a reduction of costs in Sweden measured in Danish kroner. Compared with 1999/2000 the total sugar output in the EU fell from 18.2 million tonnes to 15.8 million tonnes in 2000/01, which means there has been a reduced supply of C sugar, which has led to an improved world market price. Further, Danisco has been able to market considerably larger sales volumes of C sugar relative to the same period of last year. Expedition of sales resulted in an earnings improvement (EBITA) of DKK 55 million in the first quarter, which will impact negatively on earnings in the rest of the year. Since this year's first field samples of beets made in early August, weather conditions have been particularly favourable for beet development and the potential for the year's sugar production is fully satisfactory. At this stage Danisco Sugar expects an overall production well above the quotas specified by the EU, but lower than the record production of recent years. Other business Danisco Foods (fruit and condiments) performed to expectations, whereas Danisco Pack UK underperformed because of sustained low demand for corrugated board in the UK resulting from the recession-like situation in the UK manufacturing industry. Associated undertakings Income from associated undertakings, Genencor and Amcor Flexibles Europe, amounted to minus DKK 5 million. Danisco Venture Danisco Venture was set up on 1 May 2001. Since then, efforts have been targeted at building a portfolio of potential venture projects. These efforts were successful and a number of venture projects have been identified. Hence, the coming months will be used to convert these venture opportunities into actual investments. Divestments and acquisitions In conjunction with the acquisition of Cultor, Danisco established a divestment programme. With the sale of Danisco Pack UK this programme has almost been completed and with a satisfactory result. Work on divesting the remaining activities (Danisco Foods) will continue. Danisco continues expansion through organic growth as well as acquisitions, like the recent acquisition of Germantown. The consolidation of Germantown will, as announced, affect the consolidated profit negatively in the year of consolidation due to increasing costs relating to amortisation of goodwill and interest expenses. The acquisition is expected to meet Danisco's financial target of a return on investment exceeding the weighted average cost of capital (WACC) in the third full financial year after the acquisition, at the latest. Accounting policies IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement has become effective and is applied as from the current financial year. Apart from this, the accounting policies applied are unchanged from those applied in the annual accounts. Implementation of IAS 39 has not impacted on the profit and loss account. Capital and reserves were revalued at the beginning of the quarter by an amount of DKK 42 million, representing the value of forward exchange contracts as hedging for future transactions. This amount was not previously taken to the balance sheet but was stated in a note, cf. Danisco's report and accounts 2000/01 note 24. Outlook for 2001/02 In the Ingredients and Sweeteners segment, the acquisition of Germantown has led to an upward adjustment of our forecast, and we thus expect full- year earnings (EBITA) to exceed DKK 1.4 billion. The Sugar segment is still expected to see full-year earnings (EBITA) of DKK 1.1 billion. The consolidated profit for 2001/2002 is expected to be DKK 900-975 million against our previous estimate of DKK 0.9 -1.0 billion, thereby narrowing our forecast by DKK 25 million due to the sale of Danisco Pack UK and dilution effect from the acquisition of Germantown. The second quarter of 2001/02 should see a consolidated profit of DKK 175 - 225 million. The above expectations for the future are inherently associated with uncertainty and risks, which may imply that actual results will deviate from forecasts. 18 September 2001 Hugo Schrøder, Chairman of the Board of Directors Alf Duch- Pedersen, CEO Financial calendar 17 Dec.2001 Q2 accounts (Aug.-Oct.) 20 Mar.2002 Q3 accounts (Nov.-Jan.) 30 Apr.2002 End of financial year 19 Jun.2002 Accounts for 2001/02 05 Sep.2002 Annual General Meeting 18 Sep.2002 Q1 accounts (May-July) This announcement of quarterly results is also available at www.danisco.com. The meeting for institutional investors, equity analysts and the press to be held today at 3pm can be followed at the above website and www.stockwise.dk ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2001/09/18/20010918BIT01020/bit0001.doc The full report http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2001/09/18/20010918BIT01020/bit0001.pdf The full report