SAO PAULO, March 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Eternit S.A.
(BM&FBOVESPA: ETER3; OTC: ETNTY) announces its results for the
4Q13 and for fiscal year 2013.
Growth in the construction materials industry in the fourth
quarter and whole of 2013 fell short of the initial expectations
formulated for both periods. Eternit's performance in the 4Q13
exceeded the industry average, with its chrysotile mining business
operating at full capacity, its fiber-cement operations at
approximately 80% capacity and its concrete roofing tile business
at around 60% capacity.
Chrysotile asbestos sales volume in 4Q13 amounted to 74,700
tons, decreasing 9.5% from 4Q12, which is explained by the failure
to ship a portion of the volume sold in exports markets in December
due to the complexity of the logistics involved. In the same
period, fiber-cement sales volume amounted to 217,000 tons,
virtually stable from the year-ago period, while concrete roofing
tile sales volume contracted 2.2% due to weaker demand in the
high-end roofing segment.
Consolidated net sales in the quarter amounted to R$ 253.2 million, virtually stable in relation to
4Q12, supported by the effective sales policy and the appreciation
in the U.S. dollar against the Brazilian real, which offset the
reduction in sales volume.
EBITDA in 4Q13 amounted to R$ 42.3
million, 21.0% lower than in 4Q12, due to lower sales volume
of chrysotile and concrete roofing tiles, coupled with the increase
in cost of products sold, which outpaced the growth in consolidated
net sales. As a result, net income decreased by 12.8% from 4Q12 to
R$ 25.3 million in the period.
Investments continued under the Expansion and Diversification
Plan and amounted to R$ 93.6 million
in 2013, 34.9% more than in 2012, which was allocated primarily to
the construction of the bathroom chinaware plant in the state of
Ceara, the installation of a research, development and production
unit for construction material inputs in the state of Amazonas and
the maintenance and modernization of the Group's industrial
facilities.
In 2013, its dividend yield was 9.9%, with shareholder payments
in the period amounting to R$ 71.6
million.
Conference call/Webcast
Date: 03/18/14
Time: 11.00 a.m. Brazilian
Local Time – 10.00 a.m. New York – 2.00
p.m. London
Presentation can be followed on the website link
www.ccall.com.br/eternit/4q13.htm or by telephone, dial the
following telephone number (1-786) 924-6977 -
Password:Eternit
IR Team Contact - +55 (11) 3038-3818
ri@eternit.com.br