Dai risultati pubblicati ieri, 27 gennaio, Philips annuncia per lo scorso anno un utile netto di 2.836 milioni di Euro ed un fatturato complessivo che supera i 30 miliardi di Euro capovolgendo il trend degli ultimi tre anni..

Grazie agli ottimi risultati conseguiti nei settori dell'elettronica di consumo e dei semiconduttori, il fatturato complessivo - pari a 30,319 miliardi di Euro - è in netta crescita rispetto allo scorso anno, pari a 29,037 miliardi di Euro.

"Il 2004 è stato un anno di grandi risultati per Philips", si legge nel messaggio del Presidente Gerard Kleisterlee agli azionisti. "Grazie all'incremento delle performance operative e all'ottimizzazione della gestione dei costi, i nostri risultati finanziari hanno evidenziato un considerevole miglioramento, con conseguente aumento dei profitti ben oltre il nostro costo del capitale".

Fonte: Philips Corporate Press

Segue comunicato stampa originale.

Philips reports full-year net income of EUR 2,836 million.

Fourth-quarter net income of EUR 498 million.

The fourth quarter of 2004

Philips recorded net income of EUR 498 million (EUR 0.39 per share), compared with net income of EUR 598 million (EUR 0.46 per share) in the same period of 2003.

Sales amounted to EUR 9,179 million, an increase of 2% over the same period of 2003. The weaker US dollar and dollar-related currencies had a downward effect of 4%. Comparable sales increased by 6%.

Income from operations was a profit of EUR 14 million, including a non-cash impairment charge of EUR 576 million related to MedQuist and a charge of EUR 133 million (net of recoveries from insurance) related to the settlement of litigation with Volumetrics Inc. In Q4 2003, income from operations was a profit of EUR 608 million, which included a non-cash goodwill-impairment charge of EUR 139 million.

Financial income and expenses resulted in income of EUR 417 million, which included gains totaling EUR 440 million on the sale of the remaining stakes in ASML and Vivendi Universal, and EUR 46 million interest income related to a final agreement on prior-years tax settlements. In Q4 2003, financial income and expenses resulted in an expense of EUR 58 million.

Unconsolidated companies contributed EUR 198 million to net income, including a gain of EUR 151 million related to the sale of shares in Atos Origin. In Q4 2003, results from unconsolidated companies amounted to EUR 183 million, which included a gain of EUR 695 million on the sale of TSMC shares and restructuring and impairment charges of EUR 804 million for LG.Philips Displays.

Cash flow from operating activities was EUR 1,939 million. In Q4 2003, cash flow from operating activities totaled EUR 1,673 million. Inventories as a percentage of sales was a new record-low of 10.7%.

For the full year, Medical Systems surpassed its 14% target by achieving an EBITA of 14.4% (adjusted for the Volumetrics settlement). 14.4% is comparable to income from operations of 12.8% of sales excluding impairment charges for MedQuist.

Gerard Kleisterlee,

Philips' President and CEO:

"2004 was a year of major progress for Philips. Driven by our focus on operational performance and cost management, our financial results showed considerable improvement, delivering a return well in excess of our cost of capital. With the consistent execution of our management agenda for 2004, we also took an important step forward in implementing our strategy to transform Philips into a truly market-driven healthcare, lifestyle and technology company. And with the introduction of our new brand promise 'Sense and simplicity' we are creating a unique, differentiated positioning that will further enhance our value proposition to our customers."