In 4Q08 Ultrapar reports another quarter of earnings growth, in spite of
the more challenging environment now faced in the global economy. Ultrapar's
revenues grew in all business units and consolidated EBITDA in 4Q08 amounted
to
-- ULTRAPAR'S EBITDA SURPASSES R$ 1 BILLION IN 2008, 37% HIGHER THAN IN 2007 -- ULTRAPAR'S NET EARNINGS REACHES R$ 388 MILLION IN 2008, 113% UP ON 2007 -- APPROVED AN ADDITIONAL DIVIDEND DISTRIBUTION OF R$ 119 MILLION, RESULTING IN A TOTAL DIVIDEND DISTRIBUTION OF R$ 238 MILLION IN 2008, WHICH CORRESPONDS TO 61% OF THE NET EARNINGS IN THE PERIOD -- FOCUSING ON MAINTAINING ULTRAPAR'S SOUND FINANCIAL POSITION, THE COMPANY HAS APPROVED R$ 1.7 BILLION IN NEW LOANS AND A R$ 528 MILLION INVESTMENT PLAN FOR 2009.
"2008 was another year of great achievements at Ultrapar. We continued our strategy of expanding scale and increasing the competitiveness of our businesses, with the acquisitions of Texaco and Uniao Terminais and the completion of important expansion projects at Oxiteno. In 2009 we will focus on obtaining benefits provided by increased financial and operational scale, which combined with Ultrapar's resilience and soundness, leave us in a privileged position to continue to move forward on our path of sustainable growth and value generation, even in a more challenging macroeconomic environment."
Pedro Wongtschowski - CEO Results Conference call National Conference Call Date: March 13, 2009 11 a.m. (Brazil time) Telephone for connection: 55 11 2188-0188 Code: Ultrapar International Conference Call Date: March 13, 2009 11:30 p.m. (US EDT) Participants in Brazil: 0800 891 0015 US participants: 1(800) 860-2442 International participants: + 1(412) 858-4600 Code: Ultrapar
SOURCE Ultrapar Participacoes S.A.