Carlsberg Reports Flat Organic Beer Volume in Q3

Net profit up by 28% to DKK 5.4bn. Adjusted net profit down 3% but up 7% in Q3. Free cash flow of DKK 5.1bn driven by positive trade working capital and sale of brewery site. 2012 earnings outlook maintained.

7 Nov 2012 --- Carlsberg has reported that organic net revenue was up by 2% to DKK 51.3bn (Q3: +4%). Continued solid beer price/mix of +2% (Q3: +4%). Group operating profit of DKK 7.6bn influenced by higher input costs; poor weather in Q2 and July; and phasing of sales and marketing investments. Q3 organic operating profit growth of 5%. Net profit up by 28% to DKK 5.4bn. Adjusted net profit down 3% but up 7% in Q3. Free cash flow of DKK 5.1bn driven by positive trade working capital and sale of brewery site. 2012 earnings outlook maintained.

Total Western European beer market excluding Poland contracted 2-3%. The Russian beer market grew slightly. Group organic beer volume was flat. Solid Western Europe organic beer volume growth of 1%. Eastern European organic beer volumes decline of 7%. Adjusted for Russian destocking in Q1 and suspended production in Uzbekistan, organic beer volume decline was 1%. Russian beer volume decline of 1% (adjusted for Q1 destocking) but 2% growth in Q3. There was strong Asian organic volume growth of 10%. Russian market share continued the positive trend increasing to 38.9% in Q3, a 100bp improvement vs Q2 2012 and 110bp vs Q3 2011. There was solid Western European market share growth from strong execution of commercial activities. Continued market share improvements in Asia. Ongoing strong performance by our international premium brands with 9% Carlsberg brand growth in premium markets and 6% Tuborg brand growth.

Commenting on the results, CEO Jørgen Buhl Rasmussen says: “Our Q3 performance was in line with our expectations and we are on track to meet our full-year outlook. We are particularly pleased that our sustained efforts to drive our international premium brands and our local power brands are resulting in continued positive market share performance across all three regions. It is particularly positive to report that we are back on a growth trend in Russia where in Q3 we grew market share quarter-on-quarter and year-on-year. While we will remain focused on driving our commercial agenda, becoming more efficient remains a top priority for the Group and we still see significant long-term opportunities in this area, with particular focus on Western Europe.”