| Wed 12 Apr 2006, 8:00 | | SABMiller Plc - Trading update |
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SAB
SOSAB
SABMiller Plc - Trading update
SABMiller Plc
JSEALPHA CODE : SAB
ISSUER CODE SOSAB
ISIN CODE GB0004835483
SABMiller plc Trading Update
London and Johannesburg, 12 April 2006. SABMiller plc today issued the
following update on trading for the 12 months to 31 March 2006.
The group recorded good organic growth of 5% in lager volumes for the 12
months to 31 March 2006, and group financial performance was in line with
management"s expectations. The calculation of organic growth rates
excludes volumes for our new South America business, which became part of
the group in October 2005.
Miller"s domestic sales to retailers ("STR"s) were 1.0% below prior year,
in a relatively weak industry trading and pricing environment over the 12
months. Our flagship brand Miller Lite continued to grow, despite cycling
higher year-on-year comparables and aggressive pricing by the main
competitor brand.
South America lager volumes for the six months to 31 March were 7% above
the prior year, on a pro forma basis, in line with our expectations at the
time of the transaction. This reflects continued good growth in Colombia,
and a particularly strong volume performance in Peru in competitive market
conditions. In Central America, carbonated soft drink volumes have grown by
6%, but beer volumes were down by 5%, as a result of the ongoing impact of
the discriminatory increase in excise on beer in El Salvador during 2005.
In Europe, lager volumes grew by 5% on an organic basis, with strong
performances from Poland, Russia and Romania throughout the year.
The Africa and Asia business has recorded further good growth, with robust
growth in China driving an increase in organic lager volume, on a
comparable basis, of 14% for the year.
Volumes in South Africa were impacted by both the absence of an Easter
trading period in the financial year and challenging prior year
comparables. The summer weather was poorer than in recent years, and this
particularly affected soft drink volumes. Beer volumes grew by 1% (after
adjusting for the transfer of Angola sales volumes to Africa and Asia), and
within this the premium sector of the market continued to perform strongly.
Soft drink volumes grew by some 4%.
Ends
Notes to editors
SABMiller
SABMiller plc is one of the world"s largest brewers with brewing interests
or distribution agreements in over 60 countries across five continents. The
group"s brands include premium international beers such as Miller Genuine
Draft, Peroni Nastro Azzurro and Pilsner Urquell, as well as an exceptional
range of market leading local brands. Outside the USA, SABMiller plc is
also one of the largest bottlers of Coca-Cola products in the world.
In the year ended 31 March 2005, the group reported US$2,194 million pre-
tax profit and a turnover of US$14,543 million on a UK GAAP basis.
SABMiller plc is listed on the London and Johannesburg stock exchanges.
This announcement is available on the company website: www.sabmiller.com
High resolution images are available for the media to view and download
free of charge from: www.vismedia.co.uk
Enquiries:
SABMiller plc Tel: +44 20 7659 0100
Sue Clark Director of Corporate Tel: +44 20 7659 0184
Affairs
Gary Leibowitz Senior Vice President, Tel: +44 20 7659 0174
Investor Relations
Nigel Fairbrass Head of Media Relations Tel: +44 20 7659 0105
This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or issue or the
solicitation of an offer to buy or acquire securities of SABMiller plc (the
"Company") or any of its affiliates in any jurisdiction or an inducement to
enter into investment activity.
This document includes "forward-looking statements". These statements may
contain the words "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "estimate", "expect"
and words of similar meaning. All statements other than statements of
historical facts included in this announcement, including, without
limitation, those regarding the Company"s financial position, business
strategy, plans and objectives of management for future operations
(including development plans and objectives relating to the Company"s
products and services) are forward-looking statements. These forward-
looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
important factors that could cause the actual results, performance or
achievements of the Company to be materially different from future results,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements. These forward-looking statements are based on numerous
assumptions regarding the Company"s present and future business strategies
and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future. These
forward-looking statements speak only as at the date of this announcement.
The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to
disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements
contained in this announcement to reflect any change in the Company"s
expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or
circumstances on which any such statement is based.
Any information contained in this announcement on the price at which the
Company"s securities have been bought or sold in the past, or on the yield
on such securities, should not be relied upon as a guide to future
performance.
12 April 2006
Date: 12/04/2006 08:00:20 AM Produced by the JSE SENS Department
