Colgate Announces 4th Quarter And Full Year 2012 Results

As previously disclosed, the 2012 Restructuring Program is projected to result in cumulative pretax charges, once all phases are approved and implemented, totaling between $1,100 and $1,250 million ($775 and $875 million aftertax), with pretax savings projected to be in the range of $365 to $435 million ($275 to $325 million aftertax) annually by the fourth year of the program. Fourth quarter projects under the 2012 Restructuring Program have been initiated largely as planned, with savings from the 2012 Restructuring Program expected to be realized beginning in 2013.

Ian Cook, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented on the results and outlook excluding the 2012 and 2011 items noted above, “We are very pleased to have ended the year with another quarter of strong profitability. Gross profit margin, operating profit margin and net income as a percent of sales all increased versus the year ago period.

“As we began 2012, we anticipated an intense competitive environment, and challenging foreign currency exchange and macroeconomic conditions worldwide. Despite this, we planned to improve worldwide market shares and volume growth, achieve gross margin expansion, increase commercial spending and grow diluted earnings per share at a double-digit rate, on a currency-neutral basis.

“We are delighted that we were able to achieve all of these objectives in 2012. It was another year of healthy top-line growth as well, with organic sales increasing 6.0%, led by the emerging markets where organic sales grew a robust 10.0%. Pleasingly, this growth was well balanced between solid unit volume gains and higher pricing worldwide.

“Colgate’s global market shares in toothpaste and manual toothbrushes are both at record highs year to date. Colgate’s share of the global toothpaste market strengthened to 44.6% year to date, up 0.5 share points versus year ago. Our global leadership in manual toothbrushes also strengthened during the quarter with Colgate’s global market share in that category reaching 32.7% year to date, up 0.8 share points versus year ago.

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