Orkla's first-quarter operating revenues totalled NOK 13.4 billion, down from NOK 16.3 billion in 2008. Much of this decline is ascribable to weak markets and a 40 per cent decline in volume for Orkla Aluminium Solutions. Volume and price trends for Orkla Materials were also negative in the quarter. Orkla's equity ratio was 50 per cent, while net interest-bearing debt was on a par with the end of 2008.

 

"Orkla has a diverse portfolio in which the less cyclical businesses like Orkla Brands and the energy business reported satisfactory results, while the more international, cyclical business areas in Aluminium Solutions and Materials were hard hit by the powerful global economic downturn. However, Orkla's financial position is robust, and the main focus in the short term is to adapt capacity and costs to the weak markets and, at the same time, be as well positioned as possible when the economic situation again improves," says President and CEO Dag J. Opedal.

 

He points out a few important milestones that were reached in the first quarter:

"The swap agreement whereby Orkla took over Alcoa's 45 per cent interest in Sapa Profiles in exchange for Orkla's 50 per cent stake in Elkem Aluminium was finally completed, generating an accounting gain of NOK 993 million. The new Elkem Solar plant is an investment of well over NOK 4 billion, and the ramp-up programme aimed at full-scale operations in the course of 2009 is on track. We also inaugurated one of the last major hydropower plants in Norway, Saudefaldene. That was an investment of over NOK 2 billion, and the plant's total production output is equivalent to 20 per cent of the city of Oslo's energy consumption," sums up President and CEO Opedal.

 

1) Operating profit (EBITA): Before amortisation, restructuring and significant impairment charges.

Key figures Q1-09 (Q1-08) in NOK million:
Operating revenues: 13 448 (16 332)
EBITA: 233 (1 029)
Profit before taxes: -315 (846)
Earnings per share diluted (NOK): 0.7 (0.6)
Cash flow from operations: 214 (839)

 

As of 31 Mar 2009(as of 31 Dec 2008):
Net interest-bearing debt: 26 588 (27 424)
Equity (%):49.9 (47.7)
Net gearing: 0.56 (0.55)

 

- The international recession grew worse in the first quarter and contributed to weaker demand in important product markets in Orkla Aluminium Solutions and Orkla Materials.

 

- Orkla has implemented and planned extensive measures in order to adapt production capacity and costs to the challenging market situation.

 

- Orkla's EBITA came to NOK 233 million (NOK 1,029 million)1 in the first quarter.

 

- Orkla Brands had a satisfactory EBITA of NOK 522 million (NOK 492 million)1.

 

- The volume for Orkla Aluminium Solutions was 40 % lower than the same quarter last year. This contributed to a weak result, with EBITA of NOK -342 million (NOK 343 million)1.

 

- In Orkla Materials, there was profit growth for Elkem's energy business, while the markets for the silicon-related units weakend considerably during the quarter. Elkem Solar is following the targeted start-up plan, and this has resulted in EBITA of NOK -159 million.

 

- REC reported EBITDA of NOK 527 million (NOK 742 million)1 in the first quarter. Jotun has had a satisfactory start for the year with continued growth in sales.

 

- The stock markets were somewhat weaker in the quarter than at year-end, and this contributed to a negative return of -5.7 % in the Share Portfolio in the first quarter compared with returns for the Morgan Stanley Nordic Index and the Oslo Børs Benchmark Index of -7.3 % and +0.4 %, respectively. The impairment resulted in further accounting write-downs, and the net result in the Share Portfolio came to NOK -315 million.

 

- Profit/loss before taxes came to NOK -315 million (NOK 846 million)1 in the first quarter.

 

- The swap between Orkla and Alcoa has been completed. The transaction gives a positive contribution to profit for Orkla of NOK 993 million, which is shown on the line for discontinued operations.

 

The group
Orkla's operating revenues came to NOK 13,448 million (NOK 16,332 million)1 in the first quarter. The decline was mainly a result of continued weak markets for Orkla Aluminium Solutions and weaker markets for Elkem's silicon-related products and Borregaard's chemicals business. The Norwegian krone is stronger now than it was at year-end, but still weaker than in the same quarter last year, relative to both USD and EUR. This resulted in a positive currency conversion effect on operating revenues of NOK 696 million.

 

EBITA came to NOK 233 million (NOK 1,029 million)1 in the first quarter. The negative deviation in profits can be mainly explained by the weak sales volume in Orkla Aluminium Solutions. The total volume was 40 % lower than last year. Demand in the North American market has been in decline now for 10 consecutive quarters and is down 60 % since its peak in the first quarter of 2006. Orkla Brands had a growth in profits relative to last year. Implemented price increases and cost-reducing measures compensated for a weaker volume trend and raw material price increases. The timing of this year's Easter vacation had a positive effect on the results. For Orkla Materials, the picture was more complicated. The energy business in Elkem had better results than in the same quarter last year, primarily as a result of positive contributions from trading activities compared with losses during the same quarter last year. Weaker markets contributed to a decline in profits for the silicon-related businesses in Elkem and for Borregaard's chemicals business. The start-up programme for Elkem Solar is following its ramp-up plan with an EBITA of NOK -159 million in the first quarter. The uncertain financial markets resulted in continued poor results for Orkla Finans in the first quarter. For the Group as a whole, EBITA was negatively affected by currency conversion effects of NOK -38 million during the quarter.

 

The swap between Orkla and Alcoa, where Orkla acquires Alcoa's 45.45 % share in Sapa Profiles in exchange for its 50 % share in Elkem Aluminium was completed on 31 March 2009. Low book values in Elkem Aluminium meant that the transaction made a positive contribution of NOK 993 million to Orkla's earnings for the first quarter, which is presented on the line for discontinued operations.

 

Orkla's share in REC (39.73 %) and Jotun (42.5 %) are presented according to the equity method on the line for associates. REC had an EBITDA of NOK 527 million in the quarter compared with NOK 742 million last year. Profit after tax for REC, however, was higher than last year. Following this, Orkla's earnings contribution from REC came to NOK 157 million in the first quarter, whereas it amounted to NOK 84 million in the first quarter of 2008.
In the first quarter, the Share Portfolio had a return of -5.7 % compared with -7.3 % for the Morgan Stanley Nordic Index and 0.4 % for the Oslo Børs Benchmark Index. Gains, losses and write-downs in the Share Portfolio came to NOK -315 million for the quarter, of which accounting write-downs amounted to NOK 816 million. As described in Orkla's Annual Report for 2008, the Share Portfolio concluded hedge accounting in 2008. Currency hedging effects will thus be regularly reported in the income statement. A strengthened Norwegian krone from year-end entailed that there were positive hedge effects of NOK 513 million during the quarter. Dividends received for the Share Portfolio amounted to NOK 45 million (NOK 87 million)1.

 

Orkla's profit per share diluted in the quarter amounted to NOK 0.7 compared with NOK 0.6 in the first quarter of 2008. Also adjusted for discontinued operations, however, the profit per share amounted to NOK -0.3 compared with NOK 0.6 in the first quarter of 2008. The tax for the first quarter is estimated at NOK -40 million.

 

1) Figures in parentheses are for the corresponding period in the previous year.

 

Orkla ASA
Oslo, 6 May 2009
 
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