23rd Mar 2005 07:00
SABMiller PLC23 March 2005 Ref: 07/2005 SABMiller plc March Trading Update London and Johannesburg, 23 March 2005. SABMiller plc today issued thefollowing update on trading for the 11 months to February 2005, as the group'sfinancial year nears completion. The group has recorded organic lager volume growth of over 4% for the 11 monthsto February 2005. Group financial performance remains in line with ourexpectations as communicated at the time of our interim announcement. Miller's domestic sales to retailers (STRs) were 0.9% above prior year for the11 months. Miller Lite sales have continued to grow, albeit at a slower rate asa result of cycling higher year-on-year comparables and a weak industry tradingenvironment. Domestic shipments to wholesalers (STWs) were in line with STRs forthe 11 months. In Central America, tougher market conditions and an increase in excise on beerin El Salvador contributed to carbonated soft drink volumes being down 7% forthe year to date, and beer volumes down by 1%. In Europe, organic lager volume growth for the year to date was almost 5%, withcontinuing strong performance from Poland, Russia and Romania being partiallyoffset by weakness in Italy, Hungary and Slovakia. The Africa and Asia business has continued to record good growth, with anincrease in organic lager volume, on a year to date comparable basis, of almost10%. Beer South Africa volumes grew by 4% on a year to date comparable basis, whilstABI achieved a volume growth of 7%. South African volume growth was supported bycontinuing robust consumer spending. Ends Notes to Editors SABMiller plc is one of the world's largest brewers, with 2003/04 lager volumesin excess of 137 million hectolitres. It has a brewing presence in over 40countries across four continents and a portfolio of strong brands and leadingmarket shares in many of the countries in which it has brewing operations.Outside the USA, SABMiller plc is one of the largest bottlers of Coca-Colaproducts in the world. In the year ended 31 March 2004, the group generated US$1,391 million pre-taxprofit from a turnover of US$12,645 million. SABMiller plc is listed on theLondon and Johannesburg stock exchanges. Enquiries: SABMiller plc Tel: +44 20 7659 0100 Sue Clark Director of Corporate Affairs Tel: +44 20 7659 0191 Mob: +44 7850 285471 Gary Leibowitz Vice President, Investor Relations Tel: +44 20 7659 0119 Mob: +44 7717 428540 Nigel Fairbrass Head of Media Relations Tel: +44 20 7659 0105 Mob: +44 7799 894265 This announcement is available on the company website, www.sabmiller.com High resolution images are available for the media to view and download free ofcharge from www.vismedia.co.uk This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or issue or thesolicitation of an offer to buy or acquire securities of SABMiller plc (the"Company") or any of its affiliates in any jurisdiction or an inducement toenter into investment activity. This document includes "forward-looking statements". These statements maycontain the words "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "estimate", "expect" andwords of similar meaning. All statements other than statements of historicalfacts included in this announcement, including, without limitation, thoseregarding the Company's financial position, business strategy, plans andobjectives of management for future operations (including development plans andobjectives relating to the Company's products and services) are forward-lookingstatements. 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 fromfuture results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by suchforward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based onnumerous assumptions regarding the Company's present and future businessstrategies 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 disseminateany updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained in thisannouncement to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with regardthereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any suchstatement is based. Any information contained in this announcement on the price at which theCompany's securities have been bought or sold in the past, or on the yield onsuch securities, should not be relied upon as a guide to future performance. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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