Clichy, Thursday 23rd January, 2003 - 7.30 a.m.
Very strong 4th quarter growth
2002 sales: up 8.9% like-for-like. Strong annual growth confirmed in 4th quarter.
The consolidated sales of L'OREAL at 31st December 2002 amounted to €14.3 billion.
Record year for growth in like-for-like terms
On a like-for-like basis (based on a constant group structure and exchange rates), the group's consolidated sales growth reached +8.9%.
As expected, like-for-like growth - already strong at the end of June - has improved. The year ended with figures in line with the group's expectations.
The exchange effect on the conversion of sales of foreign subsidiaries, which was negative at -2.5% over the first six months, became more pronounced at -4.8% for the whole of 2002.
The impact of changes in the scope of consolidation was low at -0.1%.
Sales growth based on consolidated figures was +4%.
The sales achieved by the two main branches are shown below:
As expected, like-for-like growth - already strong at the end of June - has improved. The year ended with figures in line with the group's expectations.
The exchange effect on the conversion of sales of foreign subsidiaries, which was negative at -2.5% over the first six months, became more pronounced at -4.8% for the whole of 2002.
The impact of changes in the scope of consolidation was low at -0.1%.
Sales growth based on consolidated figures was +4%.
The sales achieved by the two main branches are shown below:
| € millions | Growth (as %) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Consolidated figures | Like-for-like | ||
| Cosmetics | 13,952 | +4.2% | +8.7% |
| Dermatology(1) | 321 | +9.9% | +17.8% |
| (1) Group share, i.e. 50% | |||
The group emphasises that the performance achieved in a particular quarter must be put into perspective and analysed in the context of the whole year.
Like-for-like growth in the fourth quarter was very strong at +10%. The exchange rates impact in the fourth quarter was negative at -8.1% and consolidated sales increased by +2.3%.
The strong sales performances achieved in luxury products and in North America are worth noting.
In the cosmetics branch, like-for-like growth was as follows:
Like-for-like cosmetics sales growth (as %)Like-for-like growth in the fourth quarter was very strong at +10%. The exchange rates impact in the fourth quarter was negative at -8.1% and consolidated sales increased by +2.3%.
The strong sales performances achieved in luxury products and in North America are worth noting.
In the cosmetics branch, like-for-like growth was as follows:
| First 9 mths. |
4th quarter |
Full year 2002 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| By division | |||
| Professional Products | +9.5 | +8.4 | +9.2 |
| Consumer Products | +9.3 | +9.4 | +9.2 |
| Luxury Products | +5.2 | +10.8 | +6.7 |
| Active Cosmetics | +11.1 | +9.0 | +10.5 |
| Cosmetics total | +8.4 | +9.8 | +8.7 |
| By zone | |||
| Western Europe | +6.1 | +5.8 | +6.1 |
| North America | +4.2 | +10.3 | +5.6 |
| Rest of the World | +23.1 | +18.9 | +21.8 |
| Cosmetics total | +8.4 | +9.8 | +8.7 |
In Western Europe the growth rate was +6.1%, considerably higher than in previous years, with growth of +12% in the United Kingdom, +5% in France and +9% in Spain.
In North America growth reached +5.6% over the year as a whole, a level identical to 2001, despite the difficult economic environment.
In the Rest of the World, after two years of high growth, L'Oréal again achieved strong increases: +21.1% in Asia, +22.5% in Latin America and +30.3% in Eastern Europe.
L'Oréal achieved particularly high growth rates in the following countries: China (+61%), South Korea (+30%), Russia (+61%) and Brazil (+50%).
Innovation and internationalisation drive organic growthIn North America growth reached +5.6% over the year as a whole, a level identical to 2001, despite the difficult economic environment.
In the Rest of the World, after two years of high growth, L'Oréal again achieved strong increases: +21.1% in Asia, +22.5% in Latin America and +30.3% in Eastern Europe.
L'Oréal achieved particularly high growth rates in the following countries: China (+61%), South Korea (+30%), Russia (+61%) and Brazil (+50%).
The technological advances achieved by L'Oréal Research, backed up by a systematic policy of product innovation, enabled the group's brands to record some significant successes:
Confidence about upcoming results- Strengthened positions in core business segments. This was the case in skin care with Visible Results from L'Oréal Paris, the Garnier Skin Naturals line, Prodigy by Helena Rubinstein, Oligo 25 from Vichy and Effaclar K from La Roche-Posay; and in hair colourants with Feria Booster from L'Oréal Paris and Majirouge Mix + from L'Oréal Professionnel. In make-up Water Shine Diamonds helped make Water Shine the world's top-selling lipstick. The group's position in perfumes was also bolstered by Sensi from Giorgio Armani;
- Extended reach by moving into new sectors: one of the many examples is Biotherm's launch of the Skin Loving Colors make-up range, whose initial results are very promising;
- Brought new and younger consumers, with products such as Juicy Tubes lipstick from Lancôme;
- Responded to new consumer needs, with Elsève Liss Intense from L'Oréal Paris, and developed new types of service, with the Elasto Curl range by Kerastase and Sleek Look from Matrix.
Mr Lindsay OWEN-JONES, L'Oréal Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said: "The impact of currency fluctuations has been very adverse. But on the other hand the like-for-like sales growth rate was a pleasant surprise. Overall, these figures should enable us to confirm our estimates of results for the full year".
