Excellent outlook for 2010, Swatch Group

09 Feb '10

6 min read

Swatch Group: Key Figures 2009:

• Group gross sales of CHF 5 421 million, on comparable basis (excluding 2008 divestments of Sokymat and Michel) -6.3% at constant exchange rates and -8.1% in total lower than in the record year 2008.
• Watch segment sales with a decrease at constant rates of -5.5% largely outperform SwissWatch Federation export sales (-22.3% in 2009), gaining market shares for the Group in practically all price segments and markets.
• Operating profit reaches CHF 903 million or 17.6% on net sales (versus 21.2% in 2008), with a very strong performance in the second half-year (EBIT margin of over 20%) despite currency losses of CHF 105 million versus 2008.
• Net income amounts to CHF 763 million, -8.9% less than in 2008, with 14.8% of net sales exactly the same as in the previous year.
• Substantial equity of CHF 6 billion or 77.6% of total balance sheet (versus 75.3% in the prior year).
• Dividend 2009 proposed: CHF 0.80 per registered share and CHF 4.00 per bearer share.
• At the Annual General Meeting, the Board of Directors will propose reelection of its current members and in addition the election of Jean-Pierre Roth and Georges Nicolas Hayek as new Board members.
• A good start so far in 2010, January sales representing the second-best month of January in the history of the Group, with an excellent outlook for the Group for the rest of this year.

Group Overview

In a very challenging year 2009 with a worldwide recession, the Swatch Group recorded gross sales of CHF 5 421 million, a decrease of -6.3% on a comparable basis (at constant exchange rates and excluding 2008 divestments of Sokymat and Michel) compared to the record year 2008. This performance is substantially better than the export figures published by the Swiss Watch Federation (-22.3% in 2009), which means that the Group has once again increased its market shares in practically all price segments and markets. Foreign currencies negatively impacted sales by CHF 105 million or -1.8%, mainly in the second half of 2009. The month of December 2009 showed a very positive sales trend in the watch segment (+28.8% versus December 2008), with clear signs of market normalization.

After a temporary setback in the first half of 2009, the Group's operating margin improved considerably
in the second half year and achieved 17.6% (21.2% in 2008) for the full year. The main driving force was the watch segment, with a very convincing operating margin. Taking into account that foreign currencies as well as the gold price, an important raw material for the Group's watches, did not develop
in our favor, this represents a very positive achievement. In addition, the Group preserved jobs for its employees, maintained strong marketing activities and kept investment at a very high level.

Net income decreased by 8.9% to CHF 763 million compared to CHF 838 million in the previous year,
and, at 14.8%, the net margin remained at the same level asin 2008. The Group's balance sheet is still

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