Plastic Omnium S.A. Business Report FY2009

Business Highlights

Financial Overview

(in million euros)
  FY2009 FY2008 Rate of change (%) Factors
Overall
Sales 2,458.6 2,696.5 (8.8) 1)
Automotive Equipment
Sales 2,014.5 2,171.5 (7.2) -

Factors
1)
-Revenue continued to increase in Asia, led by the Automotive Division's capital projects launched in 2007 in China, which became the world's largest automobile market in 2009. The Company doubled its revenue in China to 100 million euros, representing 5% of total automotive revenue.

Contracts

-Followings are major contracts from press releases in 2009.
Maker/ Model Products
Suzuki Swift Impact absorption system, Fuel system
Suzuki SX4 Bumper
Fiat 500 Bumper
Volkswagen Up! Bumper, Fuel system
Renault Fluence Bumper
Daimler Trucks Body component
BMW 1 Series Fuel system
BMW 3 Series Fuel system
BMW 7 Series TSBM(TM) fuel system
PSA Peugeot 208 Fuel system
Daimler Mercedes A Class Fuel system, Front end module
Daimler Mercedes B Class Fuel system, Front end module
Audi Q5 SCR DINOx emissions-control system
Audi Q7 SCR DINOx emissions-control system
Audi A4 SCR DINOx emissions-control system
Audi A8 TSBM(TM) fuel system
GM Epsilon platform SCR DINOx emissions-control system
GM Chevrolet Beat Bumper
Toyota Fuel system
Hyundai SO Front end module
Kia Matrix Front end module

Recent Developments outside France

-YFPO and XieNO benefited from very strong demand in 2009, with YFPO recording a sales increase of 110% year-on-year. Owned jointly by Plastic Omnium Auto Exterior and Shanghai Automotive Industry Company, YFPO is pursuing its growth through recent alliances with Guangzhou Zongxin, a partner to Toyota and Honda, and Faway, a subsidiary of First Auto Works. These agreements will open new markets for YFPO, which is going to operate two new plants in Guangzhou and Chengdu. Following the construction of its plant in Wuhan, Inergy Automotive Systems built a second plant in 2009, in Beijing, that will begin delivering fuel systems to Hyundai in 2010 and GM in 2011. The Automotive Division now has 12 facilities in China.

-The Company's Varroc plant in Pune has been delivering bumpers for General Motors' low-cost Beat since late 2009 and has five programs planned for Mahindra. The Inergy plant in Vellore will begin producing fuel systems for a low-cost Toyota vehicle in second-half 2010.

Outlook for FY2010

-The Company is pursuing its development in emerging markets, bringing two new facilities on stream in China in 2010, ramping up production at two plants in India and commissioning a third plant - in New Delhi - in partnership with Maruti Suzuki.

R&D

R&D Expenditures

(in million euros)
  FY2009 FY2008 FY2007
Overall 110 140 127.9

R&D Structure

-A total of 700 engineers and technicians are employed worldwide in 13 R&D centers located near carmaker decision-making centers.

Patents
-The Company manages a portfolio of 688 patents, of which 43 were filed in 2009.

R&D Activities

Automotive Equipment
-The Company focuses its research on solutions that reduce the carbon footprint of vehicles throughout their entire lifecycle. These solutions involve using lightweight plastics and composites, and recycled or biotechnology-based materials; optimizing component design by integrating new functions that reduce carbon emissions; and designing automotive parts that can be easily disassembled and recycled at the end of their useful lives. This focus has led to the development of new product lines, such as composite hatchbacks and floors for electric vehicles that can house batteries.

-Another major research priority for Plastic Omnium Auto Exterior is to reduce the risk of injury to the head, hips and legs in the event of accidents involving pedestrians.

-Inergy Automotive Systems has stepped up its efforts to reduce hydrocarbon and diesel engine emissions with the series production of two innovations:
TSBM(TM): this technology helps reduce hydrocarbon emissions by integrating a large number of components into the fuel tank during the blow molding stage instead of welding them once the tank has been manufactured. This solution can also be used for gasoline-powered engines on hybrid vehicles as it is capable of withstanding greater internal pressure; the Selective Catalyst Reduction (SCR) system, which reduces nitrous oxide emissions from diesel engines, thanks to a urea storage tank installed on the vehicle. When the urea comes in contact with hot exhaust fumes, it reacts with nitrous oxides to create water and non-polluting nitrogen.

Investment Activities

Capital Expenditure

(in million euros)
  FY2009 FY2008 FY2007
Overall 49 96 120