Nestlé 2012 Results in Line, Sees Challenges Ahead

Nestlé's reported sales were up CHF 8.6 billion (US$9.34bn), or 10.2%, to CHF 92.2 billion (US$100.1bn) in 2012. Organic growth was 5.9%, building on the strong growth of recent years, and was composed of 3.1% real internal growth and 2.8% pricing. After years of adverse impact, foreign exchange added 1.7% to sales, and acquisitions, net of divestitures, a further 2.6%.

14 Feb 2013 --- The Group's trading operating profit was CHF 14.0 billion, up CHF 1.5 billion or 11.8%. The trading operating profit margin was 15.2%, up 20 basis points, +10 basis points in constant currencies.

The cost of goods sold fell by 30 basis points and distribution costs were down 20 basis points. Nestlé Continuous Excellence delivered efficiencies of over CHF 1.5 billion, building on savings in previous years.
 
Nestlé increased the marketing support behind our brands bringing total marketing costs up by 30 basis points. Consumer facing spend rose about 8% in constant currencies.
 
Administrative costs were up by 20 basis points, following last year's drop of 80 basis points caused by the restructuring of pension plans in 2011.
 
Net profit was up CHF 1.1 billion to CHF 10.6 billion, and earnings per share were up 12.2% reported to CHF 3.33. Underlying earnings per share in constant currencies were up 7.5%.
 
We increased operating cash flow by CHF 5.6 billion to CHF 15.8 billion, reflecting primarily a substantial improvement in our working capital.
 
Paul Bulcke, Nestlé CEO: "In 2012 we delivered on our commitment: a good, broad-based performance building upon the profitable growth achieved consistently over previous years. All our businesses, both in developed and in emerging markets contributed. Our nutrition, health and wellness agenda continued to bring enhanced benefits for consumers, greater brand differentiation in the market place and increased value for shareholders. With creativity and innovation, our people laid the foundations for future growth. We increased the support behind our brands. We further strengthened our global R&D network with new facilities in India and China. We developed new capabilities for Nestlé Health Science and acquired Wyeth Nutrition. We invested responsibly and sustainably, expanding our manufacturing footprint, while continuing to reduce the environmental impact of our business. Despite the many challenges 2013 will no doubt bring, we expect to deliver the Nestlé Model of organic growth between 5% and 6% as well as an improved margin and underlying earnings per share in constant currencies."

The Nestlé Group's growth was broad-based across all categories and geographies, with 5.9% organic growth in the Americas, 2.4% in Europe and 10.3% in Asia, Oceania and Africa.
 
In spite of the challenging trading environment in the developed world Nestlé innovation in products, systems and routes to market delivered organic growth of 2.5%. In emerging markets we grew 11%, achieving sales of CHF 39.3 billion.
 
“We took further steps to enhance our position as the trusted leader in nutrition, health and wellness. We continued to reformulate products to make them healthier and tastier. We leveraged our research and development capabilities to deliver good nutrition and develop solutions to help people manage diet-related illnesses. We continued to build partnerships with organisations active in the fight against non-communicable diseases. We acquired Wyeth Nutrition and a number of new capabilities for Nestlé Health Science. We inaugurated the Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, added two new R&D units in China, a new R&D centre in India and opened a global centre for clinical trials in Switzerland,” the company reported.
 
At the Annual General Meeting on 11 April 2013, the Board of Directors will propose an increase in the dividend to CHF 2.05 per share. The last trading day with entitlement to receive the dividend is 12 April 2013. The net dividend will be payable as from 18 April 2013. Shareholders who are on record in the share register with voting rights on 4 April 2013 at 12:00 noon (CEST) will be entitled to exercise their voting rights.
 
The Board will propose the re-elections of Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, Steven G. Hoch, Titia de Lange and Jean-Pierre Roth as directors, each for a further term of three years. The Board will also propose the election of Eva Cheng. Ms. Cheng is the former Corporate Executive Vice President responsible for Greater China and Southeast Asia Region of Amway Corporation, a U.S. based global consumer product company. André Kudelski has reached the end of his third term and is not standing for re-election. The Board wishes to thank him for his service over the past twelve years which was highly appreciated.

The environment looks to be every bit as challenging in 2013 as it was in 2012. But 2013 will again provide opportunities to leverage our competitive advantages, deliver on our growth opportunities and benefit from our drive for continuous improvement across the Group. Nestlé expect, therefore, to deliver the Nestlé Model once again in 2013: organic growth between 5% and 6% together with an improved trading operating profit margin and underlying earnings per share in constant currency, as well as improvement in capital efficiency.