L'Oréal approaches 2012 with ‘confidence, optimism and enthusiasm’
2011 results expected 13 February
L'Oréal's president, Jean-Paul Agon, has declared his confidence in the company's prospects in 2012, given the expectation that sales growth in the emerging markets will outpace markets in western Europe.
Agon said the company approached 2012 with "confidence, optimism and enthusiasm". He confirmed his earlier forecast of 4% growth in the world cosmetics market in 2011 but declined to indicate any forecast for the current year.
L'Oréal's 2011 results are expected on or about 13 February. Analysts expect that the organic growth rate of 4.8% in the third quarter last year could be sustained and that the company's overall growth will turn out higher than for the market as a whole. The emerging markets, referred to by Agon, accounted for some 36% of the group's sales in the first three quarters of last year.