E-Malt.com News article: 2719

Russia: SUN Interbrew Limited, a leading brewer in Russia and Ukraine, announced on May 31, 2004 its financial results for the 1st quarter ended 31 March 2004. The Company’s beer volume grew by 48.6% versus the 1st quarter of 2003. Net Turnover increased by 60.7% versus the 1st quarter of 2003. EBITDA for the 1st quarter was €17.2m, or 126.9% higher than in the same period in 2003. Excluding the negative currency, EBITDA was €18.5m, a 144.1% increase versus the same quarter in 2003. EBIT growth for the 1st quarter of 2004 was €6.0m versus the 1st quarter of last year. Net Loss was reduced to € (1.8)m from € (7.1)m.

SUN Interbrew continued to build on last year's key initiatives; strengthening our route to market; introducing new higher margin brands; and optimizing our operational efficiency.

In Russia, these activities led to a volume growth of 61.0% for the 1st quarter leading to an improvement in market share to 16.0% up from 12.8% in the same period of 2003. In Ukraine, the Company realised a volume increase of 21.4%. In the 1st quarter the market share reached 34.3%.

SUN Interbrew’s brands: Tolstiak® Grechishnoye, Klinskoye® Arriva and Sibirskaya Korona® Yantarnoye and Georgievskoye were launched into the Russian market. In March, the Company started producing Stella Artois® at Novocheboksarsk brewery in Russia. Chernigivske® Bagryane and Yantar® Unfiltered were introduced on the Ukrainian market.

The financial performance of SUN Interbrew Limited in the 1st quarter of 2004 was underpinned by strong volume growth in both Russia and Ukraine. The Euro exchange rate evolution had a €1.3m negative impact on EBITDA. The company says that it is important to note the evolution of accounts receivable turnover ratio (net of VAT) going from 21 days in the 1st quarter 2003 down to 15 days in the same period this year. At the same time gross margin remained stable.

Sales, marketing and distribution costs increased by 41% to €36.1 m in the 1st quarter of 2004 from €25.6 m for the same period of the last year. The average distribution cost per hl was €4.8 in the 1st quarter of 2004 versus €4.0 in the same quarter last year. Sales development in more distant locations and unexpected railway tariff increases were the main causes of the increase in transport cost. Total sales and marketing costs in the 1st quarter of 2004 represented 12.0% of Net Turnover, compared to 16.6% in the same period of 2003. General and administration costs for the quarter were €6.1m versus €5.8m in the same period of 2003, reflecting the Company's continuous focus on cost control mainly resulting in payroll and consultancy savings.

Russia: In the 1st quarter of 2004 SUN Interbrew Russia sold 2.9m hl of beer versus 1.8m hl in the same period last year. This represents an increase of 61.0% compared to overall beer market growth of 17.9%. Stella Artois® grew by 69.7% in volume versus the 1st quarter of 2003. Both Staropramen® continued its successful growth and the initial performance of Beck's® looks promising. Sibirskaya Korona® exceeded last year's sales by 159.1%, due to successful launches of new packaging and brand extensions. Klinskoye® achieved volume growth of 63.0% versus the 1st quarter of 2003. This growth was driven by the success of PIVOPACK®, SUN Interbrew's new proprietary bottle, and the powerful launch of Klinskoye® Arriva. Tolstiak® sales volume grew by 28.9% following the successful geographical expansion of the brand, the introduction of a new PET bottle shape and the launch of a new brand extension Tolstiak® Grechishnoye.

Ukraine: Beer sales by volume grew by 21.4% versus the same period of the previous year and reached 1.0 m hl. Chernigivske® grew volumes by 45.2% compared to the same period of 2003, largely driven by success of Chernigivske® Bile. Stella Artois® continued to grow strongly, increasing volumes by 62.7% in the quarter compared to the same period last year. PET volume grew by 65.1% making it the fastest growing on a quarter-on-quarter basis. SUN Interbrew Ukraine grew its keg volume by 28.8%, versus an overall keg market volume of 24.9%. Bottle volumes declined by 2.5%. The can segment share now represents 9.8% of total volumes. No beer was sold in cans in the 1st quarter last year.

SUN Interbrew Limited is the second largest brewer in Russia and the largest brewer in Ukraine. The company is a strategic partnership between Interbrew, one of the largest brewers in the world, and the SUN Group, which has operated in the region since 1958, and in the beer sector of Russia and the CIS since the early 1990s.

The company's main brands are Stella Artois®, Beck's®, Staropramen®, Sibirskaya Korona ®, Klinskoye ®, and Tolstiak® in Russia, and Stella Artois®, Beck's®, Chernigivske®, Rogan®, Taller® and Yantar® in Ukraine.

SUN Interbrew is a public company registered in Jersey, whose shares are listed in Luxembourg and traded on the Luxembourg, Frankfurt and Berlin stock exchanges.


01 June, 2004