Coatings World - May 2012

AkzoNobel reports six percent rise in
revenue while profit dips three percent

AkzoNobel reported a six percent increase in first quarter revenue compared with the same period in 2011, mainly driven by pricing actions to offset higher raw material costs the company said. The EBITDA for the quarter was three percent lower at €423 million, due to weaker end markets and cost inflation the company said.

Overall raw material prices remain a challenge for paint makers. Looking forward, the company expects the higher oil and TiO2 prices on average to have an inflationary impact.

The decorative paints unit recorded a revenue increase of four percent in the first quarter, however, lower volumes impacted earnings, particularly in North America. Restructuring and cost reduction actions are underway in Europe and North America to offset weaker demand.

In the performance coatings unit, revenue increased 11 percent and EBITDA was up 15 percent compared with the previous year. Industrial coatings, which were boosted by acquisition activity, achieved the strongest growth, followed by marine and protective coatings.

“We are continuing to focus on performance improvement. Our global margin management efforts are also proving successful as we continue to mitigate the adverse effects of higher raw material

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costs,” said CEO Hans Wijers. “However, our volumes were down slightly, reflecting the volatile nature of the economic conditions. Despite these challenges, we have solid fundamentals, renowned brands and a strong geographic spread. Furthermore, the ongoing performance improvement program shows that we are taking the right steps towards achieving our medium-term ambitions.”

PPG sees six percent growth in Q1 revenue on
strong U.S. coatings sales

PPG Industries reported net sales for the first quarter 2012 of $3.8 billion, an increase of six percent versus the prior year’s first quarter. Net income for the quarter was $13 million including nonrecurring charges. Adjusted net income for the quarter, excluding the nonrecurring charges, was $279 million. First quarter 2011 net sales were $3.5 billion, and net income was $228 million.

“PPG’s earnings growth momentum continued during the first quarter, and we achieved a seventh consecutive quarter of record earnings with adjusted earnings per share up about 30 percent versus last year,” said Charles Bunch, PPG chairman and CEO. “We have delivered consistently strong earnings over nearly two years despite the prolonged, gradual recovery from the economic crisis and continued raw materials cost inflation. Our broad business portfolio and operating discipline have been critical factors in our record performance, and we still have further growth opportunities as demand in some of our larger end-use markets continues to recover.

PPG’s performance coatings segment sales were a first quarter record of $1.2 billion, up $98 million versus the prior year. The aerospace business delivered mid-teen percentage sales growth, and U.S. architectural coatings sales improved about 20 percent. Automotive refinish and protective and marine coatings results were solid but with more modest sales growth. Architectural coatings volumes in emerging regions declined slightly. Segment earnings grew $21 million versus the prior year to $160 million due to higher sales.

The industrial coatings segment sales were also a first quarter record of $1.1 billion, an increase of $51 million, or five percent, versus the prior year. Segment volumes grew by more than 10 percent in the United States, including strong automotive OEM coatings business performance. Growth in emerging regions continued, albeit at a lesser rate and with less consistency throughout the quarter than in the recent past. European volumes declined by about five percent. Segment earnings for the quarter were $150 million, an increase of $34 million from the prior year.

Architectural coatings - EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) segment sales for the quarter of $517 million increased $46 million, or 10 percent, versus the prior year due principally to the Dyrup acquisition. Despite low-single-digit percentage segment volume declines, segment earnings of $16 million grew by $4 million versus the prior year’s first quarter. CW