Unilever closes half with 14% higher profit

SAO PAULO-the net income attributed to the anglo-Dutch Unilever controllers rose by 14.3% in the first half, compared with the same period in 2012, to 2.43 billion euros. The result is associated with an improvement of the profitability of the company's operations,
Net revenues rose only 0.4% in the first half of the year, to 25.5 billion euros. The Exchange brought adverse effects to cipher — if they were disregarded the variations of the coins in the markets in which it operates, the Group of consumer goods would have brought high of 3.8% in sales.
The better performance of the period was observed in the region that includes Asia, Russia, Middle East and Africa. There was growth of 9.2%, to 10.4 billion euros, in local revenue. In America, the expansion was 5.6% and reached 8.4 billion euros. Meanwhile, Europe recorded low of 1.9%, to 6.7 billion euros.
In terms of the areas in which it operates, Unilever sales more mainly profited personal care products and for the home. The high was 8% in revenue from the Division that manufactures the Dove soap (9.1 billion euros) and 9.8% for the controller of Omo washing powder mark (4.6 billion euros).
The company won at winning greater efficiency. Operating profit rose 14%--18% if disregarded the currency effect — and reached 3.89 billion euros. The margin on the result was 13.5% to 15.3% in one year.
During the six-month period, the net debt of the group grew 58.2%, compared to December, reached 11.64 billion euros. The level of cash and cash equivalents, on the other hand, was reduced by 15%, to 3.2 billion euros.