15 December 2004
Todd Stitzer, CEO of Cadbury Schweppes, said, "Following the actions of the last two years, Cadbury Schweppes is a stronger business. We have made good progress in 2004 with momentum in key areas of the business driven by strong performance of core brands and cost savings from our Fuel for Growth initiative."
Our US carbonated soft drinks business is performing well, led by Dr Pepper and our portfolio of diet brands. Similar results are also being seen in our beverage businesses in Mexico and Australia. However, overall results from our beverage operations have been constrained by a difficult market in Europe.
Our confectionery businesses around the world are performing strongly. We have seen momentum building during the year driven by core brands - Cadbury, Halls, Hollywood and Trident - and innovation. The application of Smart Variety to our strengthened confectionery platform post the acquisition of Adams is delivering real benefits. The integration of Adams is substantially complete and the business is performing well, in line with the acquisition case.
Key projects have been implemented to plan, most notably our Fuel for Growth cost reduction initiatives, upgrades to our IT systems and the transition of our US confectionery business from Pfizer to Cadbury Schweppes' infrastructure.
Our expectations for the year are unchanged. We expect to deliver financial results within our goal ranges but toward the lower end. In 2005, we will continue to invest to ensure that the group has a solid base for long-term growth and expect to deliver results within our goal ranges
During the year, the group successfully completed a number of critical efficiency and information system projects:
Starting in 2005, the Group will report its results under IFRS. The change in reporting will principally impact the following areas:
The group intends to provide restated comparative numbers on an IFRS basis for 2004 at the Annual General Meeting on 19 May 2005.
The implementation of IFRS would have reduced our 2003 underlying earnings (excluding goodwill amortisation and exceptional charges) by between 4 - 5%. This estimate excludes any non-cash "fair-value" adjustment relating to financial instruments in accordance with IAS 39.
A short presentation outlining our current position on IFRS implementation will be posted on Cadbury Schweppes' corporate website from 8pm (GMT), 15 December 2004. View the IFRS presentation.
A teleconference for the media will take place at 2.15pm (GMT) today, 3.15pm (central Europe); 9.15am (EST)
Dial-in numbers:
UK Toll +44(0)20 7019 9504
UK Toll Free 0800 279 9640
US Toll 718 354 1152
Replay
UK Toll +44 (0)20 7984 7578
UK Toll Free 0800 559 3271
US Toll 718 354 1112
US Toll Free 866 239 0765
Replay Access Number: 394198#
A teleconference call for analysts and investors will take place at 3pm (GMT) today, 4pm (central Europe), 10am (EST).
Dial in numbers:
UK and Europe +44 207 984 7576
UK Toll Free 0800 559 3272
USA Toll Free 718 354 1157
Replay:
UK and Europe +44 207 984 7578
UK Toll Free 0800 559 3271
USA 718 354 1112
USA Toll Free 866 239 0765
Replay Access Number 347403#
The analyst conference call will be audio webcast live and archived on Cadbury Schweppes' corporate website at www.cadburyschweppes.com.
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| contact | telephone | fax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capital Market Enquiries | |||
| Sally Jones | +44 (0)20-7830-5095 | ||
| Mary Jackets | +44 (0)20-7830-5095 | ||
| Media Enquiries | |||
| Andraea Dawson Shepherd | +44 (0)20-7830 5127 | ||
| Dora McCabe | +44 (0)20-7830 5011 | ||
| The Maitland Consultancy | |||
| Angus Maitland | +44 (0)20-7379-5151 | ||
| Philip Gawith | +44 (0)20-7379-5151 | ||
Cadbury Schweppes is a major global Group which manufactures, markets and distributes branded beverages and confectionery products around the world. With origins stretching back over 200 years, today Cadbury Schweppes' products - which include brands such as Cadbury, Schweppes, Halls, Trident, Dr Pepper, Snapple, Trebor, Dentyne, Bubblicious and Bassett - are enjoyed in almost every country around the world. The Group employs around 55,000 people and is a leading world-wide confectionery company. It is number one in sugar and functional confectionery, a strong number two in gum and the world's third largest soft drinks company
In pursuit of the Group's goal of superior shareowner returns, three external financial performance goal ranges have been set for the 2004-2007 period. These are:
Photographs for the media are available at NewsCast http://www.newscast.co.uk. Tel (44) 207 608 1000.
This material may be deemed to include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the US Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are only predictions and you should not rely unduly on them. Actual results might differ materially from those projected in any such forward-looking statements, which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our or our industry's actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. In evaluating forward-looking statements, which are generally identifiable by use of the words "may", "will", "should", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "believe", "intend" or "project" or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology, you should consider various factors including the risks outlined in our Form 20-F filed with the SEC. Although we believe the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. These materials should be viewed in conjunction with our periodic interim and annual reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, copies of which are available from Cadbury Schweppes plc, 25 Berkeley Square, London W1J 6HB, UK.
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