Title: Univar N.V. FullYear 2006 Financial Results
1Univar N.V. Full-Year 2006 Financial Results
- March 8, 2007 Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2Presentation Agenda
- Operating Performance FY 2006
- Overview and Highlights
- Gary Pruitt, President and CEO
- Review of Financial Results FY 2006
- Patrick Tole, Chief Financial Officer
- QA
3Gary PruittPresident and CEO
4Univar Achieved Solid Performance Again In 2006
With EBIT Growth Of 14.9.
- 2006 results were fairly strong from top to
bottom, with no single driver being key to our
improvement. - Sales growth resulted from both price increases
(which peaked by Q4) and volume growth. - - We saw a more representative environment than
the hyper-price-growth period of 2004 and 2005. - Efforts to contain operating expenses were again
successful, and had we not been investing in
start-up businesses, would have been even more
substantial. - We are particularly pleased with the turnaround
at Univar Europe, where an economic uplift on the
continent enabled us to grow revenue and EBIT.
5The Economic And Industrial Environment Overall
Was Modestly Helpful To Univar.
- In the US, there were no significant supply
constraints to propel pricing as in 2005 (due to
the Fall 2005 hurricanes), and economic growth
was modest. - After Q1, Canada saw slowing economic growth
through the course of the year. - Mainland Europe experienced a resurgence in
economic growth and industrial activity from
about mid-year, and Univar Europe took advantage
of this improved climate.
6The Upward Pricing Spiral Appears To Have Pulled
Back, As We Had Suggested A Year Ago.
- Chemical pricing movements were less of a factor
toward the end of the year, with prices
stabilizing and in some cases retreating. - A stable to moderately deflating pricing
environment is likely to continue in 2007.
7Looking Ahead In 2007
- The new year will pose its usual quota of
challenges. But I am confident that we have put
our company in a position to continue its
success, and to better our year-over-year
operating performance in sales and EBIT again in
2007.
8Patrick ToleChief Financial Officer
9Key Consolidated Results FY 2006
10Key Results FY 2006
- Sales
- Sales growth was solid at all three of our major
business units on an organic basis (8.9
companywide), with Univar Canadas clearly aided
by currency movements (but still up
meaningfully). - Along with volume growth, chemical pricing
increases helped revenues for three quarters in
the US and Europe, whereas Canada saw a net
slight pricing decline through the year.
11Key Results FY 2006 (contd)
- EBIT
- On a currency-neutral basis, strong at all major
business units. - Our results were helped slightly by currency
movements. - Canada benefited again in 2006, as the previous
year, from appreciation in the Canadian dollar
which contributed to its even stronger operating
results.
12Univar Europes Turnaround In The Second Half Was
Felt At The Top Line And The Bottom Line.
- We were pleased with the European businesss
consistent improvement from mid-year on. - In the fourth quarter, Univar Europe had by far
the largest EBIT increase of Univars three
business units, on both a dollar and percentage
basis.
13Fourth-quarter Results Continued The Strong
Y-O-Y Trend.
- Consolidated sales grew by 11.7 in Q4 from the
year-ago quarter. - Q4 gross margin grew by 5.1 to 252.4 million,
as gm fell to 16.1 from the year-ago 17.1.
Competitive price pressures affecting gm were
strongest in the US and Canada. - In Q405, Univar recovered 4.8 million in income
taxes, 0.9 million in interest, and 0.2 million
in fee reimbursement via a ruling by the Tax
Court of Canada. - Excluding this extraordinary year-ago event,
Q406 net income would have increased 11.2
instead of declining 3.6.
14QA
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