Amcor’s managing director and CEO, Ken MacKenzie says, “The full year result represented a record underlying profit, record returns and a record dividend for the company … This strong performance is particularly pleasing given that economic conditions are likely to remain subdued in the developed markets.  

“During the global financial crisis the business undertook two transformational acquisitions, purchasing Alcan Packaging and Ball Plastic Packaging. The integration programs for both acquisitions are ahead of schedule in terms of timing and total synergy benefits. These improvements have been a key component of earnings growth for the year.

“Amcor has over 85% of its sales in the defensive end market segments of food, beverage and healthcare packaging. Consumer demand in these segments was particularly stable during the global financial crisis in 2009 and this stability has continued over the ensuing three years. Growth in emerging markets continues to be strong with sales increasing 10% …  In the current year it is expected that volumes will again be resilient and that the benefits from recent acquisitions, growth in emerging markets, cost reduction initiatives and continued strong cash focus will combine to deliver another year of higher earnings, expressed in constant currency terms,” adds MacKenzie.

    Highlights:
  • Record profit after tax before significant items of $634.9 million, up 11.3%;

  • Earnings per share before significant items 52.3 cents, up 12.5%;

  • Profit after tax and significant items of $412.6 million, up 15.7%;

  • Significant items, primarily relating to acquisitions and restructuring activities, were an after tax expense of $222.3 million compared with an after tax expense of $213.6 million in 2011;

  • The negative impact from translation of overseas earnings into Australian dollars on profit after tax and before significant items was approximately $35 million;

  • On a constant currency basis earnings per share, before significant items, was 55.2 cents, up 18.7%;

  • Returns, measured as underlying profit before interest and tax to average funds employed, of 15.9%;

  • Final dividend increased to 19 cents per share;

  • Operating cash flow of $643.7 million; and

  • Completed $150 million on-market share buy-back.    

       

      Amcor

    714-562-6000; www.amcor.com