Following the likes of Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation, Air Liquide has opted to revise its upcoming financial forecast.
According to the French company, alterations came about thanks to the ‘exceptional’ economic context of 2009 and 2010. The announcement was made today during the Company’s Investor Day in Paris.
Benoît Potier, Chairman and CEO of the Air Liquide Group, stated, “Our ambition is to be the leader of our industry through performance and responsibility over the long term. Since our origin, performance and responsibility are part of our genes, and are naturally at the heart of our company program ALMA 2015. This new program, combined with a €12 billion investment plan over the period, will allow us to reach our objectives and achieve our ambition.
Air Liquide also noted that given present trends, the market of industrial gases is expected to grow in the range of +7% to +8% on average per year between now and 2015. Given this, Air Liquide is aiming for a growth in revenues of between +8% to +10% over the period beginning in 2011, and finishing in 2015. The Company also plans to generate operational efficiencies, targeting over €200m per year, while improving the Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) to reach 12% to 13% in the period.
Potier described, “Our five growth drivers – Energy, the Environment, Developing Economies, Health and High-Tech – are confirmed. They are all borne out of deep underlying trends in society today. That is why we are confident in Air Liquide’s ability to achieve steady growth in net profit over the long term.”
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