Saint-Gobain: Sales for the First Nine Months of 2015*

PARIS, October 28, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

€29.8bn; organic growth at 0.4%  

• Sluggish volumes over the first 9 months of 2015 (down 0.1%) and in Q3 (down 0.3%), hit by construction markets in France. In Q3, the US contracted slightly, Germany stabilized and the UK and Scandinavia reported growth. Emerging countries held firm.
• Sales prices up 0.5% over the 9-month period, in line with Q3.
• Significant 3.6% positive currency impact over the 9-month period, but more limited in Q3 (+1.8%).
• Minimal Group structure impact after the reclassification of the Packaging business.
• Buyback of around 12.6 million shares since May 2015.

Pierre-André de Chalendar, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Saint-Gobain, commented:  

"The third quarter reflects a disappointing economic climate versus our expectations, with a contraction in France - which is not yet showing any signs of improvement - as well as moderate growth in other Western European countries. Plunging sales in the oil and gas industry put the brakes on the US, while emerging markets continued to deliver good organic growth despite the economic slowdown in certain countries including Brazil. 

In this tougher-than-expected, highly uncertain macroeconomic environment, for full-year 2015 the Group expects to at least maintain operating income on a like-for-like basis and expects a continuing high level of free cash flow." 

* Following the signature of the agreement with Apollo and in accordance with IFRS 5, the Packaging business (including Verallia North America) was reclassified within "Net income from discontinued operations" in the 2014 and 2015 income statement.

The table below presents nine-month sales trends by Business Sector and region:

   
                          9-month
                           2014
                                               Change  Change on                  9-month
                                               on an       a                       2014
                                     9-month   actual  comparable                  sales
                           sales      2015    structure structure  Like-for-like (published)
    EURm                (restated)*   sales    basis     basis       change       
    BUSINESS SECTOR
    Innovative
    Materials[1]           6,770      7,300     7.8%      7.7%         2.5%         6,770
    Flat Glass             3,621      3,911     8.0%      8.2%         5.6%         3,621
    High-Performance
    Materials              3,156      3,399     7.7%      7.1%        -0.9%         3,156

    Construction
    Products[1]            8,543      9,116     6.7%      6.5%         0.8%         8,543
    Interior Solutions     4,505      4,834     7.3%      6.8%         1.9%         4,505
    Exterior Solutions     4,085      4,333     6.1%      6.2%        -0.4%         4,085

    Building
    Distribution          14,084     14,124     0.3%      0.5%        -1.1%        14,084

    Packaging
    (Verallia)[2]                                                                   2,116
       Including VNA                                                                  314

    Internal sales and
    misc.                  (696)      (714)     ---                                 (697)

    REGION
    France                 8,095      7,711    -4.7%     -4.4%        -4.4%         8,672
    Other Western
    European countries    12,541     13,062     4.2%      4.2%         1.6%        13,508
    North America[2]       3,561      4,152    16.6%     18.0%        -2.0%         3,875
    Emerging countries
    and Asia               5,954      6,316     6.1%      5.2%         4.9%         6,241
    Internal sales        (1,450)    (1,415)    ---       ---          ---        (1,480)

    GROUP                 28,701     29,826     3.9%      4.0%         0.4%        30,816

* 2014 figures restated to reflect the impacts of IFRS 5.

^[1] Including inter-division eliminations.

^[2] Verallia North America (VNA) was deconsolidated with effect from April 11, 2014.

Saint-Gobain's sales for the first nine months of 2015 came in at €29,826 million, up 3.9% from €28,701 million in the same period one year earlier. After reclassification of the Packaging business, the Group structure impact was minimal (-0.1%).

Currency fluctuations had a positive 3.6% impact resulting from gains in the US dollar and the pound sterling against the euro - mainly in the first half.

Like-for-like (comparable structure and exchange rates), sales were up 0.4% with no volume growth (-0.1%). Sales prices gained 0.5% over the nine months to September 30 in a slightly deflationary environment for raw material and energy costs.

The table below presents third-quarter sales trends by Business Sector and region:

   
                                                Change  Change on
                                                on an       a                     Q3 2014
                             Q3 2014            actual  comparable                 sales
                              sales    Q3 2015 structur structure  Like-for-like  (publish
    EURm                   (restated)*  sales  e basis    basis       change        ed)
    BUSINESS SECTOR
    Innovative
    Materials[1]              2,286     2,378    4.0%      3.8%         2.3%        2,286
    Flat Glass                1,223     1,278    4.5%      4.6%         5.5%        1,223
    High-Performance
    Materials                 1,065     1,102    3.5%      2.9%        -1.3%        1,065

    Construction
    Products[1]               2,900     3,037    4.7%      3.9%         0.4%        2,900
    Interior Solutions        1,551     1,637    5.5%      4.5%         1.3%        1,551
    Exterior Solutions        1,366     1,420    4.0%      3.4%        -0.6%        1,366

    Building Distribution     4,797     4,786   -0.2%     -0.1%        -1.0%        4,797

    Packaging
    (Verallia)[2]                                                                     616

    Internal sales and
    misc.                     (228)     (235)    ---       ---          ---         (229)

    REGION
    France                    2,548     2,429   -4.7%     -4.8%        -4.8%        2,724
    Other Western European
    countries                 4,336     4,488    3.5%      3.5%         1.4%        4,673
    North America[2]          1,234     1,414   14.6%     16.0%        -1.5%        1,234
    Emerging countries and
    Asia                      2,103     2,097   -0.3%     -1.8%         4.9%        2,217
    Internal sales            (466)     (462)    ---       ---          ---         (478)

    GROUP                     9,755     9,966    2.2%      2.0%         0.2%       10,370

* 2014 figures restated to reflect the impacts of IFRS 5.

^[1] Including inter-division eliminations.

^[2] Verallia North America (VNA) was deconsolidated with effect from April 11, 2014.

Consolidated sales for the third quarter came in at €9,966 million, up 2.2% from €9,755 million in third-quarter 2014, including a positive Group structure impact of 0.2%.

Currency fluctuations continued to have a positive impact (+1.8%), although less than in the first half due chiefly to the sharp slide in the value of the Brazilian real against the euro. This trend was more pronounced in September, with the currency impact turning negative.

As a result, organic growth came in at 0.2% for the quarter. Volumes slipped 0.3%, hit by the decline in construction markets in France. In line with the first nine months of the year, prices had a positive impact of 0.5%.

Like-for-like performance of Group Business Sectors 

Innovative Materials sales climbed 2.5% over the nine-month period (up 2.3% over the third quarter), powered once again by Flat Glass.

• Flat Glass delivered further robust organic growth over the quarter, at 5.5% (5.6% for the nine-month period). Automotive glass continued to advance strongly in all regions except Brazil and China. Construction markets remained upbeat in Asia and emerging countries including Brazil; in Europe, prices were stable versus the second quarter amid still shaky markets.
• High-Performance Materials (HPM) sales edged down 0.9% over the nine months to September 30. They retreated 1.3% in the third quarter, still affected by the decline in ceramic proppants. Other HPM businesses continued to deliver organic growth, but at a slower pace.

Construction Products (CP) sales climbed 0.8% over the nine months and inched up 0.4% over the third quarter, affected by Pipe.

• Interior Solutions reported 1.9% growth over the nine-month period. In the third quarter, sales rose 1.3%, confirming the solid momentum in Asia and emerging countries. Trading in North America was dented by the shrinking Canadian market. Growth remained weak in Western Europe, hard hit once again by the decline in the French market along with slight downward pressure on prices.
• Exterior Solutions, down 0.6% over the third quarter, remained on track with their year-to-date performance at September 30 (-0.4%). Over the last three months, Roofing continued to recover, posting volume-driven growth despite prices remaining down on 2014 but virtually stable quarter-on-quarter. In contrast, Pipe fell sharply in Brazil, and saw a slowdown in Western Europe and in export sales. Mortars continued to be affected by the economic climate in Western Europe, but delivered further good organic growth in Asia and emerging countries despite exposure to the Brazilian market.

Building Distribution sales for the third quarter slipped 1.0%, along the lines of the first half (down 1.1%), affected once again by the sharp contraction in construction markets in France. Trading got back on a par with prior-year levels in Germany after retreating in the first half. The UK reported weaker-than-expected demand after a good first half. Scandinavia and particularly Norway and Sweden continued to report firm trading. The Netherlands and Spain saw further strong gains. Brazil showed good growth although the wider economic slowdown began to make inroads.

Like-for-like analysis by region 

Growth in the third quarter continues to be affected by weakness in certain regions:

• In France, trading was down again, falling 4.8% over the quarter (down 4.4% over the nine-month period), hit by the ongoing contraction in construction markets.
• Trading in other Western European countries continued to increase slightly, up 1.4% (up 1.6% over the nine-month period). After declining in the first half, Germany saw trading stabilize, while the UK and Nordic countries reported growth.
• North America retreated 1.5% (2.0% over the nine-month period), hit chiefly by the decline in the proppants market, as well as by lackluster industrial markets and a downturn in construction in Canada.
• Asia and emerging countries reported further good growth, at 4.9% after 4.8% in the first half. Latin America gained 11.7%, with Brazil proving resilient amid a sharp economic slowdown. Eastern Europe continued to benefit from solid momentum in the Czech Republic and Poland. Asia was affected by the slowdown in China but was helped by ongoing good growth in India. Africa and the Middle East enjoyed further good momentum driven by volumes.

Update on share buybacks 

In line with its objectives, the Group has bought back 12,645,601 shares since May 2015. This exceeds the number of shares created in 2015 in connection with the Group Savings Plan, stock option plans, bonus share plans and the stock dividend payment.

Outlook for 2015 

In a tougher-than-expected macroeconomic environment, the Group expects the following trends for the fourth quarter:

• Trading in France should remain difficult.
• Other Western European countries should see growth in line with nine-month trends, on the back of stabilizing sales in Germany and good trading in Scandinavia, and despite less growth in the UK.  
• North America should advance except in proppants.
• Asia and emerging countries should continue to report satisfactory organic growth despite the slowdown in Brazil.

Saint-Gobain confirms its action plan priorities for the full-year:

• keep its priority focus on increasing sales prices to maintain a positive spread with regard to raw material and energy costs;
• roll out the cost cutting plan in order to unlock additional cost savings of €170 million in second-half 2015 versus second-half 2014 (representing total cost savings of €360 million in 2015 compared to 2014);
• pursue a capital expenditure program reduced to around €1,400 million given the current economic trends;
• renew its commitment to invest in R&D in order to support its differentiated, high value-added strategy;
• finalize the divestment of Verallia shortly;
• pursue its plan to acquire a controlling interest in Sika pending the decision in first instance of the Zug court expected during first-half 2016.

In this tougher-than-expected, highly uncertain macroeconomic environment, for full-year 2015 the Group expects to at least maintain operating income on a like-for-like basis and expects a continuing high level of free cash flow.

Financial calendar 

Results for 2015: February 25, 2016, after close of trading on the Paris Bourse.

Important disclaimer - forward-looking statements:

This press release contains forward-looking statements with respect to Saint-Gobain's financial condition, results, business, strategy, plans and outlook. Forward-looking statements are generally identified by the use of the words "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "estimate", "plan" and similar expressions. Although Saint-Gobain believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions as at the time of publishing this document, investors are cautioned that these statements are not guarantees of its future performance. Actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond the control of Saint-Gobain, including but not limited to the risks described in Saint-Gobain's registration document available on its website (http://www.saint-gobain.com). Accordingly, readers of this document are cautioned against relying on these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this document. Saint-Gobain disclaims any intention or obligation to complete, update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

This press release does not constitute any offer to purchase or exchange, nor any solicitation of an offer to sell or exchange securities of Saint-Gobain.  

For any further information, please visit http://www.saint-gobain.com.

Analyst/Investor relations
Gaetano Terrasini
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Vivien Dardel           
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Florent Nouveau
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SOURCE Saint-Gobain