TOMRA - Fourth Quarter results 2003
12 February 2004 - 3:18AM
PR Newswire (US)
TOMRA - Fourth Quarter results 2003 ASKER, Norway, Feb. 11
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Please find a short version of the
quarterly report below. For more detailed information, please find
links to the whole quarterly report and presentation at the end of
the summary. - Revenues 712 MNOK (+9% relative to fourth quarter
2002) - Europe 338 MNOK (+52%) - North America 283 MNOK (-8%) -
Non-deposit markets 91 MNOK (-25%) - Cash flow from operations 190
MNOK Germany The revenue in Germany increased with 98 percent in
fourth quarter 2003 relative to fourth quarter 2002. This growth
was mainly driven by high demand for technology for refillable
containers. Many retailers, who are not yet participating in
established deposit systems for non-refillable containers, have
de-listed non-refillable packaging from the stores and replaced
them with refillable packaging. This shift in packaging has created
an increased need for automated handling solutions for refillable
containers. Under the previously announced frame agreements which
TOMRA (Pink Sheets: TMRAY) has entered into with two German
retailers for delivery of reverse vending systems for
non-refillable containers, TOMRA installed machines worth
approximately 21 MNOK during fourth quarter. TOMRA also continues
to test reverse vending systems for non-refillable packaging at
various retail chains in Germany. Sweden The growth in revenues
during the fourth quarter was driven by installations at Coop
Sweden, Danske Netto and other new stores. The deliveries to Coop
Sweden will be completed during first quarter, and the activity
level will be lower during the first quarter than in fourth
quarter. Finland Finland had a strong performance during the fourth
quarter with revenues of 33 MNOK - a 22 percent increase. Several
new store openings have been the main driver of the positive
development in Finland. Other events In order to improve the
productivity within TOMRA's manufacturing activities, while
simultaneously maintaining capacity for the German market
opportunity, TOMRA decided to close its R&D and production
company in Finland. All R&D and production activities will be
discontinued in Finland during the first quarter, and certain
activities will be moved to Norway. The restructuring is expected
to generate annual operating cost savings of 25-30 MNOK, and TOMRA
has accrued 35 MNOK in the fourth quarter 2003 to cover the
restructuring costs. California TOMRA had 405 recycling centers in
operation at year-end 2003, which is an increase of twelve percent
versus the prior year-end. Collection volumes at recycling centers
increased by five percent during the period, which was in part due
to the new centers at Albertson's stores. Approximately 250 of
TOMRA's recycling centers have been negatively impacted by a strike
since mid-October at three major retail chains (Vons, Ralph's and
Albertson's). As a consequence recycling center volumes decreased
by approximately 9 percent in the fourth quarter 2003 versus 2002.
The strike may continue through the first quarter of 2004. Canada
TOMRA placed 273 machines in Canada in 2003, which is an increase
of 24 percent versus 2002. TOMRA expects industry to continue to
replace and upgrade machines and related equipment in order to
generate further operating efficiencies in the value chain, and
hereby a continued growth in the Canadian market in 2004. Brazil In
Brazil, revenues measured in USD were down by two percent relative
to 2002, but declined by 14 percent when measured in Norwegian
currency to NOK 368 million in 2003. Consumption of beverages sold
in aluminum cans dropped by approximately 13 percent in 2003 due to
the depressed overall macro-economic situation. As a consequence,
used beverage container collection volumes have also dropped at a
similar rate, which negatively impacted TOMRA's operations in
Brazil. To view the webcast live on internet, please use the
following link:
http://login.smartcom.no/?view=presid-7$sector-4fcdf634 A record of
the broadcast will be available as soon as the live broadcast has
ended. For presentation of 4th quarter 2003 please use the
following link: http://hugin.info/162/R/933925/128634.pdf For full
report with tables of 4th quarter 2003 please use the following
link: http://hugin.info/162/R/933927/128635.pdf Contact: Fredrik
Witte Vice President, Chief Analyst & Investor Relations
Officer Tomra Systems ASA Phone office: +47 66 79 92 90 Mobile: +47
97 01 67 69 DATASOURCE: Tomra Systems CONTACT: Fredrik Witte, Vice
President, Chief Analyst & Investor Relations Officer of Tomra
Systems ASA, office - +47-66-79-92-90, Mobile - +47-97-01-67-69 Web
Site: http://www.tomra.com/
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