L'ORÉAL 
GOOD OPERATING PROFITABILITY PROGRESSION
GROWTH CONTRASTED BY DIVISION
- Operating profitability at 18.2% of sales, a profit of 2.029 billion euros
- Sales: 11.17 billion euros
+3.8% like-for-like
-1.5% based on reported figures
- Very strong performance continues at L'Oréal Luxe and Active Cosmetics Division
- Gradual improvement of the Professional Products Division
- Consumer Products Division held back by a sluggish market in the United States
- Confidence in another year of sales and profit growth
Commenting on the figures, Mr Jean-Paul Agon, Chairman and CEO of L'Oréal, said:
"A good progression in operating profitability was once again achieved in the first half, at 18.2% of sales, further illustrating the robustness of L'Oréal's strong value-creating business model.
First-half sales showed contrasts by distribution channel. L'Oréal Luxe is growing rapidly, driven by the vitality of the novel brands Urban Decay, Kiehl's and Clarisonic and by the success of fragrances with Lancôme, "La Vie est Belle" and Giorgio Armani, "Sì". The Active Cosmetics Division also delivered a very good performance thanks to La Roche-Posay, which this year once again is growing very strongly, the continuing recovery of Vichy, and the roll-out of SkinCeuticals. The Professional Products Division is confirming its gradual improvement across all its brands. The Consumer Products Division's growth is held back by a sluggish American market and, to a certain extent, by a slowdown in the New Markets, but remains solid in Western Europe.
In an uncertain economic and monetary environment, we are confident in the Group's ability to once again outperform the market in 2014 and to post another year of like-for-like sales growth, improved profitability and increased net earnings per share.
Following the finalisation on July 8, 2014 of the strategic transaction between L'Oréal and Nestlé, the Group will record this year a capital gain of more than 2 billion euros. The cancellation of 48.5 million shares will have an accretive impact of more than 5% on net earnings per share on a full year basis."
Note: The announcement on February 11, 2014, of the disposal of 50% of Galderma leads to account for this business in accordance with IFRS 5 accounting rule on discontinued operations. In accordance with IFRS 11 accounting rule, Inneov has been consolidated under the equity method of January 1, 2014. All figures for earlier periods have been restated accordingly.
Like-for-like, i.e. based on a comparable structure and identical exchange rates, the sales growth
was +3.8%.
The net impact of changes in consolidation was -0.2%.
Currency fluctuations had a negative impact of -5.1%. If the exchange rates at June 30, 2014, i.e.
€1 = $1.366, are extrapolated up to December 31, the impact of currency fluctuations on sales would be approximately -3.5% for the whole of 2014.
Growth at constant exchange rates was +3.6%.
Based on reported figures, the Group's sales at June 30, 2014 amounted to 11.17 billion euros, a decrease of -1.5%.
| 2nd quarter 2014 | 1st half 2014 | |||||
| Growth | Growth | |||||
| €m | Like-for-like | Reported | €m | Like-for-like | Reported | |
| By operational division | ||||||
| Professional Products | 769.9 | +2.2% | -1.2% | 1,505.1 | +3.0% | -1.7% |
| Consumer Products | 2,722.6 | +2.8% | -2.8% | 5,481.5 | +2.0% | -4.2% |
| L'Oréal Luxe | 1,442.5 | +7.5% | +2.7% | 2,903.3 | +7.4% | +2.7% |
| Active Cosmetics | 413.5 | +7.4% | +2,4% | 920.9 | +8.1% | +3.2% |
| Cosmetics Divisions total | 5,348.5 | +4.3% | -0.8% | 10,810.8 | +4.0% | -1.5% |
| By geographic zone | ||||||
| Western Europe | 1,961.0 | +2.8% | +2.9% | 3,980.9 | +2.8% | +2.4% |
| North America | 1,327.1 | +2.4% | -3.3% | 2,622.3 | +0.9% | -4.4% |
| New Markets, of which: | 2,060.4 | +7.0% | -2.5% | 4,207.6 | +7.3% | -3.1% |
| Asia, Pacific | 1,055.5 | +6.3% | +0.4% | 2,221.9 | +6.6% | -0.8% |
| Latin America | 466.1 | +7.6% | -7.8% | 876.9 | +7.8% | -8.9% |
| Eastern Europe(1) | 397.5 | +5.9% | -6.4% | 824.3 | +6.1% | -6.2% |
| Africa, Middle East(1) | 141.3 | +14.0% | +7.9% | 284.5 | +14.5% | +9.3% |
| Cosmetics Divisions total | 5,348.5 | +4.3% | -0.8% | 10,810.8 | +4,0% | -1.5% |
| The Body Shop | 187.4 | 0.0% | +0.3% | 363.8 | -1,7% | -1.4% |
| Group total | 5,536.0 | +4.1% | -0.7% | 11,174.6 | +3,8% | -1.5 % |
The Professional Products Division has posted growth of +3.0% like-for-like and -1.7% based on reported figures. The Division's growth was weaker in Asia, but has been confirmed in Western Europe and the United States.
- Haircare, driven by the new Biolage by Matrix, and hair colourants, boosted by the further success of ODS2 technology, are the main contributors to growth. Styling is growing strongly, thanks to the relaunch of TecniArt by L'Oréal Professionnel and Redken's styling range.
- The return to growth in mature markets has been confirmed. The Division is maintaining good momentum in the New Markets (excluding Japan), which are still dynamic, especially in India, Russia and Brazil.
The Consumer Products Division recorded growth of +2.0% like-for-like and -4.2% based on reported figures. Well-positioned to benefit from the gradual improvement in European markets, the Division was nevertheless held back by an American mass market that has been slow to pick up, and, to a certain extent, by slower growth of the market in the emerging countries.
- Recent launches, which have provided a strong boost in hair where the Division is continuing to win market share, have been less effective in facial skincare in the first part of the year. The Division is maintaining its very good momentum in haircare, particularly in China, in Europe with the launches of Fibralogy by L'Oréal Paris and Ultimate Blends by Garnier, and in the United States with sustained growth on both L'Oréal Paris Advanced Haircare and Garnier Fructis. In hair colourants, the roll-out of Garnier Olia continues. In make-up, L'Oréal Paris is expanding well, and is innovating with Butterfly and Miss Manga mascaras.
- Amongst the geographic Zones, North America has been held back by a sluggish market and a high comparison base. The Division has posted solid growth in Western Europe and Brazil. The Division continues to be dynamic in Southern Asia, Eastern Europe and Africa, Middle East, where it is gaining market share.
The sales of L'Oréal Luxe grew by +7.4% like-for-like and +2.7% based on reported figures at end-June. The Division is continuing to make strong market share gains.
- Urban Decay, the Californian L'Oréal Luxe brand, driven by its cult Naked Palette product, is recording very strong growth, and the same is true of the American alternative brands Kiehl's and Clarisonic. Giorgio Armani, with its women's fragrance "Sì", Yves Saint Laurent, with its lip make-up, and Ralph Lauren, thanks to its fragrances Polo Red and Midnight Romance, are maintaining their dynamism. Lancôme's fragrance "La Vie est belle" is now number one, both in the French market and in the five major European markets combined, and the brand has successfully launched Visionnaire Crème.
- The Division is expanding in all its strategic categories and is gaining market shares across all geographic Zones, particularly in the New Markets, notably China, and in the United States and Western Europe.
In the first half, the Active Cosmetics Division continued its sustained growth at +8.1% like-for-like and +3.2% based on reported figures.
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The first-half headline was the very good start made by sun protection, both at Vichy (Capital Soleil) and at La Roche-Posay (Anthelios). Vichy is maintaining its momentum with the launch of Aqualia Thermal and the roll-out of Teint Idéal.
La Roche-Posay has posted once again double-digit growth on every continent. Note the launch of Effaclar Duo[+], an anti-blemish corrective skincare line that unclogs pores and targets marks. It is strengthening the Effaclar franchise for acne-prone skin, one of the main reason of dermatological consultations. Roger&Gallet successfully launched a new fresh fragrance, Gingembre Rouge, in the second quarter. - All the geographic Zones are contributing to growth, with strong market share gains in France, Russia, Brazil and China.
In Western Europe, the Group is maintaining its growth trend at +2.8% like-for-like and +2.4% based on reported figures. All the Divisions contributed to growth. The strong market share gains made by L'Oréal Luxe and the Active Cosmetics Division are worth noting. The Consumer Products Division is winning market share in haircare and hair colourants, and is continuing to prove dynamic with market share gains in Spain and Portugal.
NORTH AMERICA
In the first half, L'Oréal posted growth of +0.9% like-for-like and -4.4% based on reported figures. The Professional Products, Active Cosmetics and L'Oréal Luxe Divisions are gaining market shares.
Urban Decay is growing very strongly, establishing itself as the number two L'Oréal Luxe brand, after Lancôme. In a sluggish mass market environment in the first half of 2014, the Consumer Products Division was faced with a high 2013 comparison base. In hair, L'Oréal Paris Advanced Haircare and Garnier Fructis are winning market share, while L'Oréal Paris make-up is strengthening its position thanks to the new Butterfly mascara.
- Asia, Pacific: L'Oréal recorded growth of +6.6% like-for-like and -0.8% based on reported figures. The market in this Zone is still dynamic, despite a slight slowdown, and the Group is continuing to win market share. The first half was marked by very good performances from the Kiehl's, Yves Saint Laurent, Giorgio Armani, La Roche Posay and Clarisonic brands. By country, India, Hong Kong and Australia are contributing particularly strongly to this performance. Magic Holdings, the recent acquisition in China, posted solid sales growth over the period.
- Latin America: In the first half, L'Oréal recorded growth of +7.8% like-for-like and -8.9% based on reported figures. The growth of the Consumer Products Division is being driven by the good performances of Elsève and Maybelline. The three selective Divisions are performing well, with double-digit growth for L'Oréal Luxe and the Active Cosmetics Division. Growth is being driven by the success of L'Oréal Professionnel hair colourants, sun protection in all the Active Cosmetics brands, and fragrances at L'Oréal Luxe, such as "La Vie est Belle", Polo Red and "Sì".
- Eastern Europe: The Zone has posted growth of +6.1% like-for-like and -6.2% based on reported figures. L'Oréal Luxe and the Professional Products Division are proving highly dynamic in almost all countries in this Zone. The Consumer Products Division is winning market share across the Zone as a whole, reflecting the leadership now attained in hair colourants and the strong dynamism of deodorants.
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Africa, Middle East: The Zone achieved growth of +14.5% like-for-like and +9.3% based on reported figures, outperforming the market in the region. The good growth figures in Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, and the acceleration in Nigeria and South Africa, are worth noting.
Market share gains are also accelerating in fragrances for L'Oréal Luxe, and in hair colourants and make-up for the Consumer Products Division. The Active Cosmetics brands are also recording strong growth in the Middle East.
At end-June, The Body Shop recorded sales of -1.7% like-for-like and -1.4% based on reported figures. Business in Europe, North America, the Middle East, Africa and Brazil, was driven by innovations. The strategic priority given to skincare is delivering, driving growth in this category. Asia is still facing challenges in certain markets, that are affecting performances.
At June 30, 2014, The Body Shop has 3,041 points of sale, including those of Emporio Body Store.
B - Important events during the period 04/01/14 to 06/30/14- On April 8, 2014, the acquisition of Magic Holdings was finalised. This move marks L'Oréal's largest investment to date in the Chinese beauty market.
- On April 17, 2014, the Annual General Meeting of L'Oréal shareholders renewed the tenure of Mr Jean-Paul Agon as Director. The Board of Directors, which met at the end of the Annual General Meeting, decided to renew the duties of Mr Jean-Paul Agon as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
- On April 30, 2014, the acquisition of the Decléor and Carita brands was finalised. The new brands provide the Professional Products Division with a key position in the worldwide professional skincare market in beauty institutes, spas and hair salons.
- On June 18, 2014, L'Oréal announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire NYX Cosmetics, a mass market brand rooted in professional make-up artistry with its headquarters in Los Angeles.
The half-year consolidated accounts have undergone a limited examination by the Statutory Auditors.
The announcement on February 11, 2014, of the disposal of 50% of Galderma leads to account for this business in accordance with IFRS 5 accounting rule on discontinued operations. In accordance with IFRS 11 accounting rule, Inneov has been consolidated under the equity method of January 1, 2014.All figures for earlier periods have been restated accordingly. 1) Operating profitability at 18.2% of sales
Consolidated profit and loss account: from sales to operating profit.
(2013 figures restated in accordance with IFRS 5 and IFRS 11 accounting rules)
| In € million | 06/30/13 | % sales | 12/31/13 | % sales | 06/30/14 | % sales | Change H1-2014 vs. H1-2013 |
| Sales | 11,342.4 | 100.0% | 22,124.2 | 100.0% | 11,174.6 | 100.0% | -1.5% |
| Cost of sales | -3,212.7 | 28.3% | -6,379.4 | 28.8% | -3,151.2 | 28.2% | |
| Gross Profit | 8,129.7 | 71.7% | 15,744.8 | 71.2% | 8,023.4 | 71.8% | +10bp |
| R&D expenses | -364.4 | 3.2% | -748,3 | 3.4% | -367.2 | 3.3% | |
| Advertising and promotion expenses | -3,400.5 | 30.0% | -6,621.7 | 29.9% | -3,270.9 | 29.3% | |
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | -2,338.9 | 20.6% | -4,614.4 | 20.9% | -2,356.2 | 21.1% | |
| Operating profit | 2,025.9 | 17.9% | 3,760.4 | 17.0% | 2,029.0 | 18.2% | +30bp |
Gross profit, at 8,023 million euros, has come out at 71.8% of sales, compared with 71.7% in the first half of 2013, representing an improvement of 10 basis points.
Research and Development expenses have increased from 3.2% to 3.3% as a percentage of sales. This increase illustrates the Group's constant determination to support its Research and Innovation effort.
Advertising and promotion expenses came out at 29.3% of sales, which is 70 basis points below the first-half 2013 level, as announced at the beginning of the year.
Selling, general and administrative expenses, at 21.1% of sales, have come to a higher level, by 50 basis points, compared to the first half of 2013.
Overall, the operating profit at 2,029 million euros, has grown by 0.2%, and amounts to 18.2% of sales. At constant exchange rates, operating profit growth would have been +4.5%.
2) Operating profit by operational Division(2013 figures restated in accordance with IFRS 5 and IFRS 11 accounting rules)
| 06/30/13 | 12/31/13 | 06/30/14 | ||||
| €m | % of sales | €m | % of sales | €m | % of sales | |
| By operational Division | ||||||
| Professional Products | 307.3 | 20.1% | 609.5 | 20.5% | 294.7 | 19.6% |
| Consumer Products | 1,190.2 | 20.8% | 2,166.7 | 19.9% | 1,157.2 | 21.1% |
| L'Oréal Luxe | 566.2 | 20.0% | 1,174.2 | 20.0% | 590.6 | 20.3% |
| Active Cosmetics | 247.1 | 27.7% | 342.6 | 21.7% | 259.5 | 28.2% |
| Total Divisions before non-allocated | 2,310.8 | 21.1% | 4,293.0 | 20.2% | 2,302.0 | 21.3% |
| Non-allocated(1) | -294.8 | -2.7% | -604.5 | -2.8% | -275.7 | -2.6% |
| Total Divisions after non-allocated | 2,016.1 | 18.4% | 3,688.5 | 17.3% | 2,026.3 | 18.7% |
| The Body Shop | 9.8 | 2.7% | 71.9 | 8.6% | 2.7 | 0.8% |
| Group | 2,025.9 | 17.9% | 3,760.4 | 17.0% | 2,029.0 | 18.2% |
With the exception of the Professional Products Division, whose profitability has declined from 20.1% to 19.6%, the profitability of each of the Divisions has increased during the first half:
- The Consumer Products Division, from 20.8% to 21.1%, representing a rise of 30 basis points.
- L'Oréal Luxe, from 20.0% to 20.3%, representing plus 30 basis points.
- And the Active Cosmetics Division, from 27.7% to 28.2%, that is plus 50 basis points.
The Body Shop makes most of its profit in the second half, as it does every year. The first-half trend is therefore not significant.
3) Net profit from continuing operationsConsolidated profit and loss account: from operating profit to net profit excluding non-recurring items.
(2013 figures restated in accordance with IFRS 5 and IFRS 11 accounting rules)
| In € million | 06/30/13 | 12/31/13 | 06/30/14 | Change H1-2014 vs. H1-2013 |
| Operating profit | 2,025.9 | 3,760.4 | 2,029.0 | +30bp |
| Financial revenues and expenses excluding dividends received | -12.9 | -31.4 | -8.1 | |
| Sanofi dividends | 327.5 | 327.5 | 331.1 | |
| Profit before tax and associates excluding non-recurring items | 2,340.4 | 4,056.6 | 2,352.0 | |
| Income tax excluding non-recurring items | -564.8 | 1,018.1 | -575.4 | |
| Net profit excluding non-recurring items of equity consolidated companies | +0.6 | -3.0 | -1.5 | |
| Non-controlling interests | -1.7 | -3.2 | -1.6 | |
| Net profit continuing operations, excluding non-recurring items, attributable to owners of the company(1) | 1,774.5 | 3,032.4 | 1,773.5 | |
| Net EPS(2) (€) | 2.92 | 4.99 | 2.92 | - |
| Net profit attributable to owners of the company | 1,708.9 | 2,958.2 | 1,734.8 | +1.5% |
| Diluted earnings per share attributable to owners of the company (€) | 2.81 | 4.87 | 2.85 | +1.5% |
| Diluted average number of shares | 607,829,132 | 608,001,407 | 607,667,507 |
(2) Diluted earnings per share of continuing operations, attributable to owners of the company, excluding non-recurring items.
Overall finance costs amounted to 8.1 million euros, compared with 12.9 million euros in the first half of 2013. This decline reflected the continuing strengthening of our financial structure in the first half.
The Sanofi dividends amounted to 331 million euros.
Income tax excluding non-recurring items amounted to 575 million euros, representing a taxation rate of 24.5%, slightly above the rate of the first half of 2013, which came out at 24.1%.
Net profit from continuing operations, excluding non-recurring items, attributable to owners of the company, which amounted to 1,773.5 million euros, is flat compared to that of the first half of 2013.
Net EPS, calculated at this stage without taking into account the impact of the strategic transaction with Nestlé, amounted to 2.92 euros. It is flat compared to that of the first half of 2013.
Net profit attributable to owners of the company, amounted to 1,734.8 million euros, an increase of 1.5%.
4) Net earnings per share(4): 3.17 euros, up by +7.5%It is the comparison of net profit per share, excluding non-recurring items, attributable to owners of the company - as it was reported in 2013 - with the net profit per share, excluding non-recurring items, attributable to owners of the company, for the first half of 2014, adjusted for the strategic transaction between L'Oréal and Nestlé as from January 1, 2014.
| In € million | 06/30/13 | 12/31/13 | 06/30/14 | Change H1-2014 vs. H1-2013 |
| Net profit from continuing operations, excluding non-recurring items, attributable to owners of the company | 1,774.5 | 3,032.4 | 1,773.5 | |
| 2013 contribution of Galderma to net profit excluding non-recurring items | 15.4 | 85.1 | - | |
| Reported net profit excluding non-recurring items, attributable to owners of the company | 1,789.9(1) | 3,117.5(1) | 1,773.5(2) | |
| Theoritical net financial costs linked with the strategic transaction | - | - | -3.3 | |
| Net profit excluding non-recurring items, attributable to owners of the company | - | - | 1,770.2 | |
| EPS (€) | 2.94(3) | 5.13(3) | 3.17(4) | +7.5% |
| Diluted average number of shares used to calculate the EPS | 607,829,132 | 608,001,407 | 559,167,507 |
(2) Net profit from continuing operations, excluding non-recurring items, attributable to owners of the company, for the first half of 2014.
(3) Diluted earnings per share based on reported net profit excluding non-recurring items, attributable to owners of the company.
(4) Diluted earnings per share based on net profit of continuing operations, excluding non-recurring items, attributable to owners of the company, adjusted for the strategic transaction as from January 1, 2014. 5) Operating cash flow and balance sheet
Gross cash flow amounted to 2,108 million euros, up by 2.2% compared with the first half of 2013.
As is the case each year in the first half, the change in working capital has increased significantly. In this half, the increase is very close to that of the first half of 2013, at 598 million euros.
Investments at 484 million euros, represent 4.3% of sales.
Operating cash flow has come out at 1,025 million euros, up by 5.9%.
After payment of the dividend and acquisitions, consisting mainly of the acquisitions of Magic Holdings, Decléor and Carita, the residual cash flow amounts to -1,346 million euros.
At June 30, 2014, net cash is positive at 922 million euros.
The balance sheet structure is particularly robust, as shareholders' equity amounted to 22.9 billion euros, has been strengthened compared with December 31, 2013.
6) Post-closing events- The strategic transaction with Nestlé announced on February 11, 2014, was finalised on July 8, 2014: the buyback and cancellation by L'Oréal of 48.5 million of its own shares (representing 8% of its share capital) and the disposal by L'Oréal to Nestlé of its stake in Galderma. The sale of Galderma will result, in the second half, in a capital gain net of tax of about 2.1 billion euros.
- The acquisition of NYX Cosmetics, a mass market brand rooted in professional make-up artistry with its headquarters in Los Angeles, announced on June 18, 2014, was finalised on July 30, 2014.
This news release may contain some forward-looking statements. Although the Company considers that these statements are based on reasonable hypotheses at the date of publication of this release, they are by their nature subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated or projected in these statements."
This a free translation into English of the First-half 2014 results news release issued in the French language and is provided solely for the convenience of English speaking readers. In case of discrepancy, the French version prevails.
Individual shareholders and market authorities
Mr Jean Régis CAROF
Tel.: +33 1 47 56 83 02
jean-regis.carof@loreal.com
Financial analysts and institutional investors
Mrs Françoise LAUVIN
Tel.: +33 1 47 56 86 82
francoise.lauvin@loreal.com
Journalists
Mrs Stephanie CARSON-PARKER
Tel.: +33 1 47 56 76 71
stephanie.carsonparker@loreal.com
Switchboard
Tel.: +33 1 47 56 70 00
| 2013 | 2014 | |
| First quarter: | ||
| Cosmetics Divisions | 5,583.6 | 5,462.2 |
| The Body Shop | 181.9 | 176.4 |
| First quarter total | 5,765.5 | 5,638.6 |
| Second quarter: | ||
| Cosmetics Divisions | 5,390.0 | 5,348.5 |
| The Body Shop | 186.9 | 187.4 |
| Second quarter total | 5,576.9 | 5,536.0 |
| First half: | ||
| Cosmetics Divisions | 10,973.6 | 10,810.8 |
| The Body Shop | 368.8 | 363.8 |
| First half total | 11,342.4 | 11,174.6 |
| Third quarter: | ||
| Cosmetics Divisions | 5,103.2 | |
| The Body Shop | 179.9 | |
| Third quarter total | 5,283.1 | |
| Nine months: | ||
| Cosmetics Divisions | 16,076.8 | |
| The Body Shop | 548.7 | |
| Nine months total | 16,625.5 | |
| Fourth quarter: | ||
| Cosmetics Divisions | 5,211.7 | |
| The Body Shop | 287.0 | |
| Fourth quarter total | 5,498.7 | |
| Full year: | ||
| Cosmetics Divisions | 21,288.5 | |
| The Body Shop | 835.8 | |
| Full year total | 22,124.2 |
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