Nokia first quarter 2004 net sales decline 2% to EUR 6.6 billion with continued good profitability and reported EPS (diluted) EUR 0.17

- Net sales declined 2% to EUR 6.6 billion (EUR 6.8 billion in Q1 2003), up 7% at constant currency

- Nokia operating profit was EUR 1.1 billion (EUR 1.4 billion), with operating margin of 17.2% (20.2%)

- Reported EPS (diluted) was EUR 0.17 (EUR 0.20 including EUR 0.04 from the positive revaluation of the France Telecom receivable and the gain on sales of shares in Nokian Tyres)

- Mobile Phones net sales decreased 15% to EUR 4.3 billion (EUR 5.0 billion) with EUR 1.1 billion operating profit (EUR 1.4 billion) and operating margin of 25.6% (29.0%)

- Multimedia net sales increased 60% to EUR 776 million (EUR 484 million); Enterprise Solutions net sales increased 95% to EUR 189 million (EUR 97 million)

- Healthy mobile device industry volume growth of 29%, according to Nokia's preliminary estimate

- Nokia's overall mobile device volume grew 19% to 44.7 million units, resulting in a 35% market share, according to Nokia's preliminary estimate

- Networks net sales increased 16% to EUR 1.4 billion (EUR 1.2 billion), with EUR 182 million operating profit (EUR 85 million, including a gain of EUR 226 million from the revaluation of the France Telecom receivable) and an operating margin of 12.9% (7.0%)

 

Overall mobile device industry volume continued to grow at a very healthy pace of 29% in the first quarter 2004, according to our preliminary estimate.  This is clearly a vibrant market that is expanding into new areas and attracting many new users every day. 

 

Nokia's own first-quarter mobile device volume growth of 19%, slower than the market, reflected that Nokia was not able to fully exploit the usual seasonal market pick up in March.  As a result, our sales for the quarter did not meet our expectations and our mobile device market share declined to 35%, based on our preliminary estimate.  However, our long-term mobile device market share target remains unchanged at 40%.

 

Despite Mobile Phones and Multimedia device sales not meeting our expectations, overall we maintained good, solid profitability illustrating the company's ability to manage costs.  I am pleased with the strong growth in Networks' sales and the Networks' operating margin of 12.9%, which reflected the positive product mix as well as the full impact of the restructuring measures taken in early 2003.  Our new Enterprise Solutions business group is off to a good start with the success of messaging devices, such as the Nokia 6820.

 

Nokia is committed to maintaining a broad mobile device product portfolio covering products in all markets and most technologies.  Our mobile device product plans reflect this commitment to bring competitive products to market in all segments and in a wide range of designs and technologies.  We have started to ship six phone models since the beginning of this year, including our first fashion-category fold model, the Nokia 7200.  To date this year, we have also launched nine phone models: five with cameras, including our first mega-pixel camera phone; four CDMA phones; and the second generation N-Gage, the N-Gage QD game deck.  We plan to have a total of approximately 40 product launches in 2004, with shipments weighted towards the second half of the year. 

 

The organizational changes, which we began implementing during the quarter, are designed to increasingly enhance our ability over time to realize the specific opportunities in mobile voice, consumer mobile multimedia and mobile enterprise solutions. At the same time, we expect to improve our research and development efficiency and effectiveness as well as our logistical strength.

 

We are not satisfied with our sales development during the first quarter.  I realize that improvements require additional effort and a lot of hard work, but I have confidence in the ability of the Nokia team to address and meet customer needs in all segments by further strengthening our product portfolio. 

 

	NOKIA Q1 RESULTS - REPORTED
EUR million	Q1/2004	Q1/2003*	Change (%)
Net sales	6 625	6 773	-2
Mobile Phones	4 251	4 989	-15
Multimedia	776	484	60
Networks	1 415	1 217	16
Enterprise Solutions	189	97	95
Operating profit	1 138	1 370	-17
Mobile Phones	1 089	1 449	-25
Multimedia	2	-41
Networks	182	85	114
Enterprise Solutions	-31	-93
Operating margin (%)	17.2	20.2
Mobile Phones (%)	25.6	29.0
Multimedia (%)	0.3	-8.5
Networks (%)	12.9	7.0
Enterprise Solutions (%)	-16.4	-95.9
Financial income and expenses	76	80	-5
Profit before tax and minority interests	1 210	1 446	-16
Net profit	816	977	-16
EPS, EUR
Basic	0.17	0.20	-15
Diluted	0.17	0.20	-15

 

 

Nokia's first-quarter net sales decreased 2% to EUR 6.6 billion compared to first quarter 2003.  On a constant currency basis, group net sales would have increased 7% year on year.

 

Mobile Phones first-quarter net sales decreased 15% year on year to EUR 4.3 billion despite higher unit volumes. Volume growth was very strong in Latin America, healthy in China, slower in the rest of Asia and North America, and flat in the Europe/Africa area. Net sales were strong in Latin America and flat in North America, but were more than offset by the decline in the Europe/Africa area and Asia, including China. Net sales in all sales areas, except for North America, were impacted by a product mix more weighted towards the low end.  In addition, net sales in Europe and the United States were impacted by gaps in the mid-range of the portfolio.

 

Multimedia first-quarter net sales increased 60% to EUR 776 million.  The performance of imaging devices, especially the Nokia 6600, was positive; however, Nokia N-Gage sales were disappointing.

 

Networks first-quarter net sales increased 16% year on year to EUR 1.4 billion as a result of a favorable product mix and strong sales, especially in China and Latin America. 

 

Enterprise Solutions first-quarter net sales increased 95% to EUR 189 million mainly due to the success of the Nokia 6820 messaging device. 

 

Nokia Group's operating profit was EUR 1.1 billion (EUR 1.4 billion) and operating margin was 17.2% (20.2%).

 

Mobile Phones' operating profit was EUR 1.1 billion (EUR 1.4 billion), with a 25.6% (29.0%) operating margin.  The operating margin was impacted by lower sales.

 

For the first quarter, Multimedia showed a small operating profit of EUR 2 million, with a 0.3% operating margin driven by sales of the Nokia 6600.

 

Networks' operating profit continued, for the second consecutive quarter, to exceed the company's expectations and was EUR 182 million (EUR 85 million, including a gain of EUR 226 million from the revaluation the France Telecom receivable) with a 12.9% (7.0%) operating margin, reflecting higher than expected sales and the streamlined cost structure.

 

Enterprise Solutions' operating loss of EUR 31 million was smaller than expected due to the positive market reception of the Nokia 6820.  Operating margin was -16.4%.

 

Nokia's capital structure remains strong as reflected by the cash position of EUR 11.4 billion as of March 31, 2004, and a net debt-to-equity ratio (gearing) of -77%. 

 

During the first quarter, the company used EUR 642 million for share buybacks, bringing the total used for buybacks, pursuant to the 2003 Annual General Meeting authorization, close to EUR 2.0 billion.  Additionally, as authorized by the Annual General Meeting on March 25, 2004, Nokia intends to continue share buybacks using a maximum of EUR 3.0 billion for share repurchases during the second quarter 2004 and the following three quarters.

 

Additionally, Nokia has today paid EUR 1.4 billion in dividends from 2003 earnings, bringing the total amount distributed to shareholders during the past twelve months very close to Nokia's total 2003 net profit of EUR 3.6 billion.

 

Mobile device industry volume grew at an estimated 29% year on year and is estimated to have reached 128 million units.  Nokia's mobile device volumes grew 19% year on year to reach 44.7 million units, resulting in an estimated market share of 35%.  This would represent a 3% decline compared to the first quarter 2003 and a 2% sequential decline based on an updated industry volume estimate of 148 million units in the fourth quarter 2003.

 

This year, Nokia expects that the mobile device market will continue to develop positively and currently estimates volume growth for the full-year 2004 to reach the high teens.

 

On the mobile network infrastructure side, the company expects the market to develop steadily and currently estimates that the overall market will be slightly up compared to last year in euro terms in 2004.

 

Second quarter net sales for Nokia Group are expected to be flat or slightly below the second quarter 2003 (EUR 7.0 billion) net sales.  Reported EPS (diluted) in the second quarter is expected to be in the range of EUR 0.13 to EUR 0.15 (EUR 0.13, including a EUR 0.06 negative impact from the Nokia Networks restructuring charge of EUR 399 million).

 

Nokia expects that its mobile device sales and margins should benefit towards the end of the year from the new products launched in 2004.  The products, with shipments weighted towards the end of the year, are designed to further enhance Nokia's product portfolio.  In addition, Nokia intends to continue to achieve economies of scale in the growing mobile device market.  The company also expects the new organizational structure to enable Nokia to better focus on the specific opportunities in the mobile voice, multimedia and enterprise markets.

 

In the first quarter, Mobile Phones started shipping three new phone models: the Nokia 2300 phone for first-time users, the Nokia 7200, a fashion-inspired fold-model, and the Nokia 6230 phone for mobile professionals.  In April, Nokia launched the Nokia 3120 targeted at youthful consumers in the Asia-Pacific market.

 

To further expand Nokia's CDMA product portfolio, Mobile Phones launched four new CDMA handsets: the Nokia 6255, a fold-model camera phone; the Nokia 3205 camera phone for wider audiences; and two other color-screen handsets, the Nokia 6012 and Nokia 6015i. 

 

Nokia continued to pioneer the evolution of the CDMA protocol with a live demonstration of next generation CDMA2000 1X EV-DV technology.  Additionally, Nokia highlighted a number of services designed specifically for CDMA operators worldwide.

 

Nokia expanded its imaging portfolio by announcing the Nokia 6620 imaging smartphone for the Americas and the Nokia 7610, the company's first mega pixel imaging device. Both of these Series 60 devices include rich imaging features, streaming video and personal information management.  Nokia also collaborated with Kodak, HP and Adobe on digital image sharing, editing and printing solutions and launched the 20-gigabyte Nokia Image Album.

 

Shipments of the Nokia 7600 3G WCDMA imaging device started in several new countries, bringing the total number of countries where the Nokia 7600 is available to 50.   

 

In April, Nokia launched the N-Gage QD, the company's second mobile game deck. During the first quarter, Nokia also broadened the N-Gage games portfolio with the launch of several new titles.

 

The strong flow of GSM, GPRS and EDGE deals included new agreements with CTI Movil in Argentina, Smart in the Philippines, FCC/Atheer Telecom in Iraq, T-Mobile in the USA, Finnet in Finland, Saudi Telecom Company in Saudi Arabia, and TeliaSonera in the Nordic countries.

 

Nokia's growth market network systems showed good progress with the announced deliveries of the Nokia ConnectSite Solution to 12 provincial operators in China.

 

Nokia gained a new 3G customer when T-Mobile in the Netherlands chose Nokia as their sole WCDMA supplier. WCDMA rollouts proceeded steadily, and to date, Nokia has been a supplier to nine of the 21 commercially launched 3G networks in the world. Nokia has been also rolling out 3G networks to 26 customers in 15 countries.

 

Commercial deliveries of Nokia's Push to talk over Cellular (PoC) network products started, and Nokia signed five commercial deals. The first service launches are expected during the second quarter 2004.  Nokia is actively participating in the creation of open standards for PoC within the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA), and all of Nokia's PoC networks products will be upgradeable to the OMA standard once it is available.

 

During the quarter, Nokia also made broadband deals in Russia and Sweden, and TETRA system deals in Brunei and China.

 

Global shipments of Nokia's new messaging device, the Nokia 6820 started.  Its Blackberry(TM)-enabled variant became available in Europe and Asia. The Nokia 6810 messaging device also began selling in Europe at the beginning of April.

 

The new Nokia 9500 Communicator was launched, and IBM and Nokia agreed to deliver mobile solutions to enable greater workforce mobility. Nokia announced or reaffirmed alliances with leading IT companies that support its new enterprise-grade Communicator family.

 

Nokia Secure Access System, an SSL-based remote access solution with clientless VPN functionality, had early success in the market with over 135 customers in the first quarter 2004. 

 

 

(International Accounting Standards, IAS, comparisons given to the first quarter 2003 results, unless otherwise indicated. Business Group first quarter 2003 figures are based on the unaudited, regrouped 2003 financial results as published on March 25, 2004.)

 

Nokia's net sales decreased by 2% to EUR 6 625 million (EUR 6 773 million). Sales of Mobile Phones decreased by 15% to EUR 4 251 million (EUR 4 989 million). Sales of Multimedia increased by 60% to EUR 776 million (EUR 484 million). Sales of Networks increased by 16% to EUR 1 415 million (EUR 1 217 million). Sales of Enterprise Solutions increased by 95% and totaled EUR 189 million (EUR 97 million).

 

Operating profit decreased by 17% to EUR 1 138 million (EUR 1 370 million), representing an operating margin of 17.2% (20.2%). Operating profit in Mobile Phones decreased by 25% to EUR 1 089 million (EUR 1 449 million), representing an operating margin of 25.6% (29.0%). Operating profit in Multimedia increased to EUR 2 million (operating loss EUR 41 million), representing an operating margin of 0.3% (-8.5%). Operating profit in Networks increased to EUR 182 million (EUR 85 million), representing an operating margin of 12.9% (7.0%). Networks operating profit in the first quarter 2003 included a gain of EUR 226 million from the revaluation of the France Telecom receivable. Enterprise Solutions reported an operating loss of EUR 31 million (operating loss of EUR 93 million). Common Group expenses totaled EUR 104 million (EUR 30 million, including the gain of EUR 56 million on the sale of the remaining shares of Nokian Tyres Ltd).

 

Financial income totaled EUR 76 million (EUR 80 million). Profit before tax and minority interests was EUR 1 210 million (EUR 1 446 million). Net profit totaled EUR 816 million (EUR 977 million). Earnings per share decreased to EUR 0.17 (basic) and to EUR 0.17 (diluted), compared with EUR 0.20 (basic) and EUR 0.20, (diluted) (including EUR 0.04 from the positive revaluation of the France Telecom receivable and the gain on sales of shares in Nokian Tyres) in the first quarter 2003.

 

The average number of employees during the quarter was 51 665. At March 31, 2004, Nokia employed a total of 51 725 people (51 359 people at December 31, 2003).

 

At March 31, 2004, net debt-to-equity ratio (gearing) was -77% (-71% at December 31, 2003). During the first quarter 2004, capital expenditure amounted to EUR 80 million (EUR 100 million).

 

At the end of March, outstanding long-term customer loans totaled EUR 365 million, while guarantees issued on behalf of third parties totaled EUR 33 million. In addition, Nokia had financing commitments totaling EUR 394 million. After the end of the quarter, Hutchison 3G UK prepaid the entire outstanding amount of EUR 365 million and cancelled all commitments totaling EUR 309 million under the customer financing facility from Nokia.

 

Nokia repurchased through its share repurchase plan a total of 38 057 700 shares on the Helsinki Exchanges at an aggregate price of approximately EUR 647 416 736 during the period from January 23 to February 27. The price paid was based on the market price at the time of repurchase. The shares were repurchased to be used for the purposes specified in the authorization held by the Board. The aggregate par value of the shares purchased was EUR 2 283 462, representing approximately 0.79% of the share capital of the company and of the total voting rights. These new holdings did not have any significant effect on the relative holdings of the other shareholders of the company nor on their voting power.

 

On March 31, 2004, Nokia and its subsidiary companies owned 133 819 670 Nokia shares. The shares had an aggregate par value of EUR 8 029 180.20, representing approximately 2.8% of the share capital of the company and of the total voting rights. The total number of shares on March 31, 2004, was 4 796 292 460 and the share capital was EUR 287 777 547.60.

 

The Annual General Meeting on March 25, 2004, resolved to cancel shares repurchased during the past four quarters, a total of 132 536 200 shares. The cancellation was effected on April 14, 2004, reducing the total number of shares correspondingly.

 

 

 

 

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- Nokia plans to report Q2 2004 results on July 15, 2004, and Q3 2004 results on October 14, 2004.