Clichy, September 4th, 2002
Mr Lindsay Owen-Jones, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of L'Oréal, commented: "Strong organic growth in sales, together with productivity gains and careful management of exchange rate risks, have brought a marked increase in margins. Although it is not possible to extrapolate from the first half results, they seem extremely encouraging. Our confidence in the results for the year as a whole has been strengthened: despite an unpredictable economic climate, 2002 should be a very good year for L'Oréal"
Strong growth in sales
New products prove exceptionally successful
Many products launched over the past 12 months have been exceptionally successful:
Strong sales in all Divisions
Strong increase in 1st half 2002 profit - Net profit before exceptionals up : 29.6%
- Consolidated group sales up to 30th June 2002 amounted to € 7.4 billion. This represents a growth rate of 5.6% compared with the 1st half of 2001 based on consolidated figures, and 8.6% on a like-for-like basis.
- Net profit before exceptionals, i.e. before capital gains and losses and after minority interests, which forms the basis for calculating earnings per share, amounted to € 761.1 million, an increase of 29.6%. This figure does not include non-recurrent items.
Mr Lindsay Owen-Jones, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of L'Oréal, commented: "Strong organic growth in sales, together with productivity gains and careful management of exchange rate risks, have brought a marked increase in margins. Although it is not possible to extrapolate from the first half results, they seem extremely encouraging. Our confidence in the results for the year as a whole has been strengthened: despite an unpredictable economic climate, 2002 should be a very good year for L'Oréal"
Strong growth in sales
New products prove exceptionally successful
Many products launched over the past 12 months have been exceptionally successful:
- In the Consumer Products Division, Fructis Style by Garnier, the facial skincare line Visible Results and Lash Architect mascara from L'Oréal Paris, and Water Shine Diamonds lipstick from Maybelline.
- In the Luxury Products Division, Armani Mania perfume - which has strengthened the leadership of the Giorgio Armani brand on the men's fragrance market - and the skincare lines Absolue Yeux from Lancôme, Source Thérapie from Biotherm and Prodigy by Helena Rubinstein.
- Vichy's Oligo 25 skincare line, sold in pharmacies.
- Amongst the professional products sold through hair salons, the Sleek Look haircare line from Matrix - a recently acquired brand which now benefits from the group's technologies - and the L'Oréal Professionnel colourant line Majirouge Mix Plus.
| At 30 June 2002 (€ millions) | Like-for-like growth | Growth in consolidated figures | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Products | 4,009 | +9.1% | +6.6% |
| Luxury Products | 1,757 | +5.5% | +3.8% |
| Professional Products | 983 | +9.3% | +6.6% |
| Active Cosmetics | 404 | +12.0% | +9.4% |
| Direct marketing and others | 57 | +15.7% | +12.8% |
| Cosmetics total | 7,210 | +8.4% | +6.1% |
Good growth in Western Europe:
Western Europe, which accounts for a little under half of cosmetics sales, achieved good sales growth (6.4%) with encouraging performances in the U.K. (14.4%), Spain (9%), but also in Germany (5.6%) and France (4.5%).
Dynamic performance on new markets:
The group's new growth driver countries continued to demonstrate their very large potential. Very substantial advances were made in Asian countries such as China (64%), Korea (35%) and Thailand (33%), in Latin American countries including Brazil (26%) and Mexico (16%), and in South Africa (33%).
Sales continued to advance by 63% in Russia after two years of very strong growth (52% in 2001, 47% in 2000). Other sales breakthroughs came in Hungary (13%), the Czech Republic (16%), Romania (40%), Slovakia (30%) and Slovenia (79%).
Western Europe, which accounts for a little under half of cosmetics sales, achieved good sales growth (6.4%) with encouraging performances in the U.K. (14.4%), Spain (9%), but also in Germany (5.6%) and France (4.5%).
Dynamic performance on new markets:
The group's new growth driver countries continued to demonstrate their very large potential. Very substantial advances were made in Asian countries such as China (64%), Korea (35%) and Thailand (33%), in Latin American countries including Brazil (26%) and Mexico (16%), and in South Africa (33%).
Sales continued to advance by 63% in Russia after two years of very strong growth (52% in 2001, 47% in 2000). Other sales breakthroughs came in Hungary (13%), the Czech Republic (16%), Romania (40%), Slovakia (30%) and Slovenia (79%).
| At 30 June 2002 (€ millions) | Like-for-like growth | Growth in consolidated figures | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Europe | 3,678.7 | + 6.4% | + 6.2% |
| North America | 2,140.7 | + 4.0% | + 1.7% |
| Rest of the World | 1,390.4 | + 22.8% | + 13.3% |
| Cosmetics total | 7,209.8 | +8.4% | +6.1% |
Sharp increase in operating profit
Adjusted operating profit, i.e. including exchange gains and losses, increased by 27.2% to € 1,036 million. This represents 14.1% of consolidated sales, compared with 11.7% up to end-June 2001. The strong growth in sales, together with productivity gains, and the strict management of exchange rate risks were the factors behind this very substantial improvement in operating margins.
Adjusted operating profit, i.e. including exchange gains and losses, increased by 27.2% to € 1,036 million. This represents 14.1% of consolidated sales, compared with 11.7% up to end-June 2001. The strong growth in sales, together with productivity gains, and the strict management of exchange rate risks were the factors behind this very substantial improvement in operating margins.
| Adjusted operating profit by sector | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| At 30 June 2001 | At 30 June 2002 | As % of sales | |
| Cosmetics | € 790.3m | € 1,007.5m | 14.0% |
| Dermatology (1) | € 25.7m | € 23.7m | 15.4% |
| Consolidated total | € 814.4m | € 1,036.0m | 14.1% |
| Growth = an increase of 27.2% | |||
| (1) Group share, i.e. 50%. | |||
Net financial expenses and provisions, excluding exchange gains and losses, amounted to € 112 million, compared with € 87.3 million at end-June 2001.
As a result, the pre-tax profit of fully consolidated companies amounted to € 924.0 million, up by 27.1%.
Corporate income tax at group level was € 319.7 million, up by 22.3%.
The net operating profit of fully consolidated companies was thus € 604.3 million, representing an increase of 29.8%.
Good contribution from SANOFI-SYNTHELABO
The group share of the net profit of equity affiliates amounted to € 161,9 million. This consists mainly of SANOFI-SYNTHELABO which contributed € 161.7 million to consolidated profit, representing an increase of 28.6%.
As a result, the pre-tax profit of fully consolidated companies amounted to € 924.0 million, up by 27.1%.
Corporate income tax at group level was € 319.7 million, up by 22.3%.
The net operating profit of fully consolidated companies was thus € 604.3 million, representing an increase of 29.8%.
Good contribution from SANOFI-SYNTHELABO
The group share of the net profit of equity affiliates amounted to € 161,9 million. This consists mainly of SANOFI-SYNTHELABO which contributed € 161.7 million to consolidated profit, representing an increase of 28.6%.
| Main half-year indicators | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| At 30 June 2001 | At 30 June 2002 | Growth | ||
| in € millions | ||||
| Consolidated sales | 6,978.3 | 7,371.3 | + 5.6% | |
| Operating profit | 792.4 | 1,017.0 | + 28.4% | |
| Adjusted operating profit (2) | 814.4 | 1,036.0 | + 27.2% | |
| Pre-tax profit of fully consolidated companies | 727.1 | 924.0 | + 27.1% | |
| Net profit before capital gains/ losses of fully consolidated companies |
465.7 | 604.3 | + 29.8% | |
| Group share of net profit of equity affiliates | 126.2 | 161.9 | + 28.3% | |
| Net profit before capital gains and losses and minority interests | 591.9 | 766.3 | + 29.5% | |
| Net profit before capital gains/ losses and minority interests | 587.1 | 761.1 | + 29.6% | |
| Net book profit after capital gains/losses and minority interests was € 713.3 million, an increase of 1.8%. Last year net book profit after capital gains/losses and minority interests included the capital gain resulting from the disposal of the stakes in Marie-Claire and Lanvin. (2) Operating profit including exchange gains and losses. |
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