Valeo: 2004 First Half Results
Paris, France (ots/PRNewswire)
- Improvement in Income and Free Cash Flow
- Strong Increase in Order Intake
Valeo's Board of Directors, which met today, approved the consolidated results for the first half 2004.
In millions of euros 1st half Quarterly evolution
2004(1)
2004 2003 Change 2nd quarter 1st quarter
Sales 4,928 4,846 + 1.7% 2,513 2,415
Gross margin 883 863 +2.3% 454 429
% of sales 17.9% 17.8% + 0.1 pt 18.1% 17.8%
Operating income 251 241 +4.1% 140 111
% of sales 5.1% 5.0% + 0.1 pt 5.6% 4.6%
Income before income tax 176 156 +12.8% 100 76
% of sales 3.6% 3.2% + 0.4 pt 4.0% 3.1%
Net income 120 102 +17.6% 46 74
% of sales 2.4% 2.1% +0.3 pt 1.8% 3.1%
Net cash from operating 465 382 +21.7% NA NA
activities1) The auditors have performed a fairness review of quarterly data
First half results 2004
Consolidated sales were 4,928 million euros in the first half 2004, an increase of 1.7% as compared to the first half 2003. At constant exchange rates and reporting entity, sales dropped by less than 1% - the organic sales drop of 3% in the first quarter having been almost totally offset in the second quarter.
Consolidated gross margin for the six month period was 883 million euros, an increase of 2.3% compared with the first half 2003. The gross margin was 17.9% of sales, an improvement of 0.1 percentage points as compared with the first half 2003. This improvement was achieved despite the strong pressure from raw materials prices particularly in the second quarter.
Operating income increased by 4.1% during the half to 251 million euros, representing 5.1% of sales as compared to 5.0% for the year earlier period. The improvement in the gross margin was reflected in the operating income thanks to a strict control of administrative costs which enabled the financing of the commercial and R&D activities.
Net income before income taxes increased by 12.8% through the double impact of a reduction in net financial charges of 29% and a fall of 8% in other income and expenses net, which totaled 62 million euros.
Consolidated net income was 120 million euros, up 17.6% as compared with the same period in 2003. During both periods exceptional tax gains were recorded, of 88 million euros in 2003 and 83 million euros in 2004, related to the tax rebate received from the French authorities concerning the capital gains from the 1999 disposal of the Group's interest in LuK.
Net cash from operating activities after deduction of capital expenditure in property and intangibles (free cash flow) was 248 million euros as compared with 175 million euros in the first half 2003. The free cash flow adjusted for tax rebates was 156 million euros as compared with 80 million euros in 2003.
Valeo's net financial indebtedness was 390 million euros at the end of the first half 2004, down by 178 million euros compared with December 31, 2003. The debt to equity ratio thus went from 27% to 19%.
The order intake continued to improve and represented 1.4 times sales for the first half 2004 as compared to 1.3 times in 2003. This confirms that ongoing development projects will lead to sales growth.
Valeo is an independent industrial Group fully focused on the design, production and sale of components, integrated systems and modules for cars and trucks. Valeo ranks among the world's top automotive suppliers. The Group has 128 plants, 65 R&D centers, 9 distribution centers and employs 68,800 people in 25 countries worldwide (end June 2004).
Contact:
For further information please contact : Kate Philipps, Group
Communications Director, Tel.: +33(0)1-40-55-20-65 Rémy Dumoulin,
Financial Relations Director, Tel.: +33(0)1-40-55-29-30