Amsterdam, 18 February 2009 - Heineken N.V. today announced that strong organic net profit growth of 11%, ahead of forecast; Net profit (beia) amounted to EUR1,013 million.
- Proposed dividend of EUR0.62 per share for 2008.
|
Key figures*
|
2008 |
|
2007 |
|
Change |
|
Organic growth |
|
|
(mhl) |
|
(mhl) |
|
|
|
|
|
Group beer volume |
161.5 |
|
139.2 |
|
16% |
|
3.6% |
|
Consolidated beer volume |
125.8 |
|
105.4 |
|
19% |
|
3.5% |
|
Heineken® premium volume |
25.9 |
|
24.7 |
|
4.7% |
|
4.7% |
|
|
(EUR m) |
|
(EUR m) |
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue |
14,319 |
|
11,245 |
|
27% |
|
7.4% |
|
EBIT |
1,080 |
|
1,418 |
|
-24% |
|
- |
|
EBIT (beia) |
1,932 |
|
1,748 |
|
11% |
|
8.7% |
|
Net Profit |
209 |
|
807 |
|
-74% |
|
- |
|
Net Profit (beia) |
1,013 |
|
1,119 |
|
-9.5% |
|
11% |
|
|
(EUR) |
|
(EUR) |
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted EPS |
0.43 |
|
1.65 |
|
-74% |
|
|
|
Diluted EPS (beia) |
2.07 |
|
2.28 |
|
-9.5% |
|
|
* From 1 January 2008, Heineken has adopted the equity accounting method for joint ventures, replacing the proportional consolidation method. 2007 financials are re-stated to reflect this change.
CEO comments
Jean-François van Boxmeer, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO:
"In the face of deteriorating economic conditions, we have delivered a strong organic profit growth ahead of our forecast. This has been driven by robust pricing, higher volumes, better sales mix and a reduction in fixed costs. The Heineken brand continued to grow faster than the international premium segment.
However, the exceptional economic circumstances required us to reduce the value of goodwill in Russia, our investment in India and in our pub portfolios in the UK. These non-cash exceptional charges, together with low profit contributions of new businesses and the related financing costs resulted in a substantially lower reported net profit.
We strengthened our geographic footprint considerably, entering 11 new markets. We now hold the number one or number two position in 59 of the 66 markets in which we operate. In the current environment, we believe this to be a significant competitive advantage.
The strategic potential of our new markets remains strong. However, the economic downturn means that it will take longer to achieve the goals we had set for them. In particular, the performance in the UK was below expectations as the combination of recession, on-trade downturn, unprecedented excise duty rises, the smoking ban and the fall in the value of the British pound made the market exceptionally challenging. We are realising the announced synergies. In addition, we are reducing costs more significantly, restructuring parts of the business, investing in brands and improving pricing in order to increase profitability.
As we have experienced in recent months, our business is robust but not immune from the challenges posed by the global economic downturn. Therefore, we have in place a rigorous, company-wide focus on cash generation and cost reduction. We will continue to invest in key brands, customer relationships and people in order to increase profitability. Each operating company is implementing specific action plans to address the local market situation.
Together, all of these actions will ensure that Heineken emerges a stronger, more competitive player."
Outlook for 2009
The impact of the economic slowdown is far from clear at this stage and potentially poses significant challenges. A number of beer markets showed a slowdown at the end of 2008. Therefore, Heineken remains cautious on the development of beer consumption.
Past experience indicates that beer consumption as a whole is relatively resilient in a period of economic downturn although shifts from on-trade to off-trade consumption and from mainstream beers to economy beers may occur. Heineken's operations are widely spread geographically and are not dependent on the development of a limited number of markets. The financial structure and cash flow of the company are sound and existing, committed long-term credit facilities offer financial flexibility. These factors will help mitigate the effect of the global economic downturn on Heineken's business.
Heineken will during 2009 and beyond maintain a rigorous focus on:
-
Reducing debt through initiatives that strengthen cash generation and cash conservation. These include programmes to reduce capital expenditure, net working capital and the sale of non-core assets. The company has instigated a programme to increase the cash conversion rate in excess of 100% in the period 2009-2011.
-
Improving performance of newly acquired companies. Every new business has specific, focused action plans to improve their performance.
-
Reducing costs through Total Cost Management. Heineken has launched new cost reduction initiatives focusing on savings that will have an immediate and positive impact on cash flow.
-
Maintaining the price positioning of key brands. Heineken will continue to pass on the effect of higher costs, currency impacts and higher excise duties, in the selling prices of its key brands. It will restore margins, which were negatively affected by high cost increases in 2008.
-
Increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of all marketing investments. Heineken will ensure the right level of marketing support for key local and international brands, leveraging the fall in media costs.
For 2009, Heineken expects that the underlying downward trend in the number of employees will continue due to cost-reduction and efficiency improvement programmes.
Capital expenditures related to property, plant and equipment, including the investments of newly acquired businesses, will amount to approximately EUR700 million (4.9% of 2008 revenue), of which EUR230 million relates to the carry-over of expansion projects started in previous years. This is substantially below the like-for-like EUR1.1 billion of 2008, which is mainly due to new capex reducing initiatives and the completion of a number of investment programmes. Heineken will finance the capital expenditure from cash flow.
Starting in 2009, Heineken will issue a trading update after each first and third quarter.
Dividend
The Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on 23 April 2009 will be asked to approve the distribution of a cash dividend of EUR0.62 per share of EUR1.60 nominal value (2007: EUR0.70). This represents a dividend pay out ratio of 30% in line with Heineken's dividend policy to payout 30-35% of its Net profit (beia). As an interim dividend of EUR0.28 per share was paid on 3 September 2008, the final dividend will be EUR0.34 per share, subject to the 15% Dutch withholding tax, payable on 4 May 2009. Heineken shares will be quoted ex-dividend on 27 April 2009.
Editorial information:
Heineken N.V. is one of the world's great brewers and is committed to growth and remaining independent. The brand that bears the founder's family name - Heineken - is available in almost every country on the globe and is the world's most valuable international premium beer brand. The company's aim is to be a leading brewer in each of the markets in which we operate and to have the world's most prominent brand portfolio. In 2008, the Company operated 125 breweries in more than 70 countries and sold 162 million hectolitres of beer. Heineken is Europe's largest brewer and the world's third largest by volume. Heineken is committed to the responsible marketing and consumption of its more than 200 international premium, regional, local and specialty beers and ciders. These include Amstel, Birra Moretti, Cruzcampo, Foster's, Maes, Murphy's Newcastle Bown Ale, Ochota, Primus, Sagres, Star, Strongbow, Tiger and Zywiec. In 2008, revenue totalled EUR 14.3 billion and Net Profit before exceptional items and amortisation was EUR 1.0 billion. In 2008, the average number of people employed was 56,208. Heineken N.V. and Heineken Holding N.V. shares are listed on the Amsterdam stock exchange. Prices for the ordinary shares may be accessed on Bloomberg under the symbols HEIA:NA and HEIO:NA and on the Reuter Equities 2000 Service under HEIN.AS and HEIO.AS.