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Baltika Brewery

May 12, 2006

Baltika Breweries: Q1 2006 results

ST PETERSBURG, 12 May 2006 – The Company’s financial results for Q1 2006 reported in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) are as follows:

 

SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN THE INTEGRATION PROCESS AND STABLE GROWTH OF FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

 

Despite the restructuring of the distribution system that is nearing completion and is related to the merger of the companies Baltika, Pikra, Vena, and Yarpivo, and notwithstanding a temporary fall in sales volume, Baltika remains the undisputed leader on the market and continues to deliver high financial performance.

 

  • Total sales volume:  4.1 million hectoliters,   - 1.7%
  • Net sales:  188.2 million EURO, +13.8%
  • Gross profit:  96.6 million EURO, + 23.2%
  • EBITDA:  50.2 million EURO, +11.7%
  • EBIT:  32.2 million EURO, +9.4%

 

CONFIDENT LEADERSHIP ON THE MARKET

 

Baltika continues to be the leader on the Russian beer market with a market share of23% during Q1 2006. In March the Company’s shareholders approved the merger of Baltika with the other BBH Group companies in Russia – Vena, Pikra and Yarpivo. The aggregate market share of all the merged companies was about 35% in Q1. The overall sales volume of the group companies amounted to approximately 6.2 million hectoliters in the reporting period.

 

Beer sales during the first quarter

 

The slight decline in the Company’s sales volume during Q1 compared to the same period last year was expected and is due to the active process of integrating the four companies of the Group, and in particular due to unification of the distribution systems of the companies, a change in the system of sales, a shift over to unified price models and rotation of sales staff. This kind of restructuring of the system of sales traditionally leads to a temporary fall-off in sales, but pay off in the longer term. The general level of sales was influenced by the severe winter temperatures this year which caused a sharp reduction in demand during January 2006.

 

 

The Russian market and the Company’s position

 

In the first quarter, the market grew by 2% while the Company’s sales fell by 1.7% and its market share came to 23%. According to data from Rosstat, the growth of beer production during the reporting period considerably exceeded the rate of growth of consumption. This was due to the bitterly cold weather in January and the building of seasonal reserve stock by producers in preparation for the summer season.

                                                            Q1 2006

Sales of Baltika Breweries                        - 1.7%

Sales of the Group of companies              - 1%

Beer market in Russia                               + 2%

 

 

BRANDS

 

During Q1, the Company managed an integrated portfolio of brands which includes all brands of the four companies. Thanks to such an unbeatable portfolio of brands, the Company leads in all price segments of the market other than licensed beer.

 

The two most popular Russian brands, Baltika and Arsenalnoye, are now joined with other successful Russian brands that have shown excellent growth in sales volume during Q1: e.g. Nevskoye (sales growth of 37%) and Tuborg, the leader in the licensed beer segment (sales growth of  47%).

 

In the spring of 2006, the Company launched a new brand called Baltika Cooler which occupies a worthy place in the mainstream segment and is specially brewed for young adult consumers who lead an active life style. This stands alongside other innovations launched in the quarter that will enable Baltika to strengthen its leadership position on the market.

 

prices/segments

 

During the first quarter of 2006 the average price increase of the Company’s products in rubles was 6.2% in comparison to the comparable period in 2005. The Company increased its share in the premium segments of the market: in premium its market share is 29.7% and in licensed beer it has 7.6% of the market.

 

EXPORT

 

In 2006 the Company has continued to successfully develop its export activities.

The export sales volume during Q1 2006 was 11% higher than in Q1 2005.

 

During Q1 the Company began producing Baltika beers under license in the Ukraine for the first time. Baltika concluded a license agreement with the brewing company Slavutich for production of beer varieties under the Baltika brand up to the year 2010. Including the license production of Baltika beers at Slavutich, the international sales volume of the company’s brands amounted to 0.3 mln hl, which is 20% higher than in the Q1 2005.

 

Baltika’s share of all Russian beer exports was in excess of 70%.

 

FINANCIAL RESULTS

 

The Company demonstrated high financial performance in Q1 2006.

 

 

Gross profit, MEUR

96,6

+23,2%

Gross margin

51,3 %

+3,9%-pts.

 EBITDA margin

26,7 %

-0,%-pts

EBIT, MEUR

32,2

+9,4%

EBIT margin

17,1 %

-0,7%-pts.

Net profit, MEUR

24,0

+3,0 %

Net profit, margin

12,8 %

-1.3%-pts.

 

 

It has to be mentioned that comparative analysis of both absolute and relative indicators of the Company’s profitability is complicated by the current status of the merger process. By the end of the year, the Company plans to finish the shift over to reporting on the entire group of BBH companies in Russia on a consolidated basis in which we will present completely comparable information on the financial results. Preliminary estimations over the consolidated results do not show a negative trend for the operational margin of the consolidated Company.

 

However, it is already possible to confirm that the substantial growth in gross profit adjusted for the influence of ruble appreciation relative to the Euro was the result of synergies in production.

 

The growth in commercial expenses follows the general tendency in the market, that is characterized by increased investments in the promotion of products under the conditions of stricter limitations for beer advertising.  In addition, this increase was partly caused by the fact that the phase of integration now underway focused on consolidating the system of sales and marketing of the entire Group on the base of Baltika.

 

The rise in the Company’s administrative expenses during Q1 2006 compared to Q1 2005 was besides inflation due mainly to additional expenditures related to restructuring as well as to the creation of necessary reserves.

 

 

MERGER WITH COMPANIES OF THE BBH GROUP

 

On March 7, 2006, the Extraordinary General Shareholder Meeting of Baltika Breweries voted in favor of the merger with the companies Vena, Pikra and Yarpivo. During the courseof 2006, Baltika will continue the integration processes with the other Russian companies of BBH and it plans to complete the legal merger of the companies by the year end.

 

Commenting the results, Baltika President ?nton Artemiev stated:

 

«In Q1 2006 a major event shaping the future success of Baltika took place: the shareholders approved the merger of the four companies and the creation of one large entity having splendid prospects for development. We are pleased with this decision and we are continuing to work at the integration processes. We now possess a strong brand portfolio and an extensive system of sales and distribution as well as the best specialists. We believe that with such a team Baltika will be able to achieve the goals that have been set for us».

 

 

************

 

Baltika Brewerieshas been the leader on the Russian beer market since 1996. The Company owns Russia’s two leading brands, Baltika and Arsenalnoye.  The Company comprises 5 plants: St Petersburg, Rostov-on-Don, Tula, Samara, and Khabarovsk. It has a malt plant in Tula and32 sales subdivisions. The Company’s products are exported to 38 countries both along its borders and around the world.

Baltika Breweries is presently merging with the companies Vena, Pikra and Yarpivo. It is expected that the merger process will be completed by the end of 2006. As a result of the merger, Baltika will have 10 brewery plants and 4 malt houses in 9 regions of Russia, the most powerful portfolio of brands and more than 11,000 employees.

Since 1993 the largest shareholder of Baltika Breweries has been ?altic Beverages Holding AB (??H).  BBH is a company that is 50:50 owned by Carlsberg A/S and Scottish & Newcastle plc.

 

************

 


The Company’s Key Financial Results for Q1 2006

 

(According to the Company’s financial reports prepared under IFRS)

Indicator

2006

2005

%change

Sales volume, mln hl

4.10

4.17

-1.7

Net sales, MEUR

188.2

165.4

+13.8

Gross profit, MEUR

96.6

78.4

+23.2

Gross margin

51.3%

47.4%

+3.9 %-pts.

EBITDA, MEUR

50.2

44.9

+11.7

EBITDA margin

26.7%

27.1%

-0.5 %-pts

EBIT,  MEUR

32.2

29.4

+9.4

EBIT margin

17.1%

17.8%

-0.7 %-pts

Net profit, MEUR

24.0

23.3

+3.0

Net margin

12.8%

14.1%

-1.3 %-pts

 

 

 

 

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