GET 2010/03
20 January 2010
For release at 07:45 UK time
Eurotunnel 2009 traffic and revenue figures
* 2009 revenues only 16% lower at €571.1 million at a constant exchange rate
and excluding insurance indemnities, against the backdrop of the economic
crisis and operations affected by the fire in September 2008
* Eurotunnel Shuttles: growth in fourth quarter revenues (+10%)
* Railways:
* Eurostar: further increase in passenger numbers to more than 9.2 million
for the year, despite the disruptions due to bad weather at the end of
the year
* Rail freight: reversal in the second half of the year of the downward
trend
* The French rail subsidiaries of Veolia Cargo acquired on 30 November
2009[1] have not been consolidated
[1] These subsidiaries are the following: Europorte France, Europorte Link,
Europorte Proximité and Socorail. Together with Europorte Channel, these four
subsidiaries make up Europorte.
Jacques Gounon, Chairman and Chief Executive of Groupe Eurotunnel SA, stated,
"Despite the difficult economic conditions, Eurotunnel's activities are showing
positive signs. The fourth quarter proves that we are on the right path to
regain market share and demonstrates customer confidence in our performance. The
advantages of Eurotunnel's transport system - its reliability in all weather,
its speed and its respect for the environment - have enabled the Group's
performance to hold up in the context of the economic crisis and put us in a
good position as recovery kicks in".
► 2009 REVENUES (full year)
The revenue figures are published using an average exchange rate for each year.
In order to enable a direct comparison between one year and the next, the 2008
revenues have been recalculated at the average exchange rate for 2009.
+---------------------+----------+-------------+-------------------+-----------+
| | | | variance | |
| | 2009 | 2008 | at constant | 2008 |
|In million euros |un audited|recalculated*| exchange rate |published**|
| | | | | |
+---------------------+----------+-------------+-------------------+-----------+
|Eurotunnel Shuttles | 311.4 | 416.2 | -25% | 431.3 |
| | | | | |
|Railways | | | | |
|(Eurostar and rail | 250.1 | 249.7 | 0% | 259.3 |
|freight trains) | | | | |
| | | | | |
|Other revenues | 9.6 | 12.9 | -25% | 13.3 |
+---------------------+----------+-------------+-------------------+-----------+
|Revenues | 571.1 | 678.8 | -16% | 703.9 |
+---------------------+----------+-------------+-------------------+-----------+
* Average exchange rate for 2009: £1=€1.119
** Average exchange rate for 2008: £1=€1.216
► REVENUE FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER 2009
+---------------+------------+------------------+-------------+----------------+
|In million |4th quarter | | variance | |
|euros | 2009 |4th quarter 2008 | at constant |4th quarter 2008|
| | un audited | recalculated* |exchange rate| published** |
+---------------+------------+------------------+-------------+----------------+
|Eurotunnel | | | | |
|Shuttles | 76.7 | 70.0 | +10% | 66.4 |
| | | | | |
|Railways | | | | |
|(Eurostar and | | | +4% | |
|rail freight | | | | |
|trains) | 63.7 | 61.1 | | 59.9 |
| | | | | |
|Other revenues | 2.2 | 2.7 | -19% | 2.6 |
+---------------+------------+------------------+-------------+----------------+
|Revenues | 142.6 | 133.8 | +7% | 128.9 |
+---------------+------------+------------------+-------------+----------------+
* Average exchange rate for 2009: £1=€1.119
** Average exchange rate for 2008: £1=€1.216
Total consolidated revenues for Eurotunnel in 2009 amounted to €571.1 million
not including insurance indemnities, a reduction of 16% compared to 2008 based
on a constant exchange rate of £1=€1.119, the average rate for 2009. The end of
the year shows the beginning of an improvement in activity, but this is compared
to a period in 2008 that was heavily impacted by the fire.
Revenues from the Railways were stable for 2009 as a whole, but grew by 4% at a
constant exchange rate in the fourth quarter, and did so despite the severe
disruptions to the service due to bad weather at the end of the year.
Revenues in 2009 were affected by the reduction in Shuttle capacity at the start
of the year resulting from the fire in September 2008 and the consequent non
renewal of annual contracts by a certain number of transporters at the end of
2008. The second half of 2009, however, shows a satisfying recovery. Truck
traffic grew by 17% compared to the preceding half year. The attention brought
to rail activity and a Shuttle Services commercial strategy focused on high
contribution customers have enabled an increase in revenues of 7%, at a constant
exchange rate, during the fourth quarter of 2009.
Insurance indemnities for operating losses
Advances totalling €36 million were paid by the insurers during the first half
of 2009 in respect of the Eurotunnel Group's operating losses resulting from the
fire. The advances, which the Eurotunnel Group was expecting to receive during
the second half of the year, were suspended due to the fact that the Railways
have claimed compensation from the Eurotunnel Group's insurers in respect of
their own operating losses resulting from the fire (see note 1.6 to the
half-yearly summary consolidated accounts). The Group is currently in
discussions with its insurers with a view to agreeing the final amount of its
operating losses as at 31 December 2009.
► TRAFFIC 2009 (full year)
+-------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+--------+
| | 2009 | 2008 | Change |
| | | | |
+------------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+--------+
| Truck Shuttles | Trucks | 769,261 | 1,254,282 | - 39% |
+------------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+--------+
| | Cars[1] | 1,916,647 | 1,907,484 | 0% |
| Passenger Shuttles | | | | |
| | Coaches | 54,547 | 55,751 | -2% |
+------------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+--------+
| Eurostar[2] | Passengers | 9,220,233 | 9,113,371 | +1% |
+------------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+--------+
| | Tonnes | 1,181,089 | 1,239,445 | - 5 % |
| Rail freight trains[3] | | | | |
| | Trains | 2,403 | 2,718 | -12% |
+------------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+--------+
[1] Includes motorcycles, vehicles with trailers, caravans and camper vans.
[2] Only passengers travelling through the Channel Tunnel are included in this
table, excluding those who travel between Paris-Calais and Brussels-Lille.
[3] Railway freight operators using the Tunnel are SNCF, DB Schenker and
Europorte 2.
► TRAFFIC FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER 2009
+---------------------------------+----------------+----------------+------+
| |4th quarter 2009|4th quarter 2008|Change|
| | | | |
+----------------------+----------+----------------+----------------+------+
|Truck Shuttles |Trucks | 225,777 | 200,805 | +12% |
+----------------------+----------+----------------+----------------+------+
| |Cars[1] | 478,117 | 333,884 | +43% |
|Passenger Shuttles | | | | |
| |Coaches | 12,699 | 8,736 | +45% |
+----------------------+----------+----------------+----------------+------+
|Eurostar[2] |Passengers| 2,281,700 | 2,109,893 | +8% |
+----------------------+----------+----------------+----------------+------+
| |Tonnes | 308,686 | 285,981 | +8% |
|Rail freight trains[3]| | | | |
| |Trains | 631 | 621 | +2% |
+----------------------+----------+----------------+----------------+------+
[1] Includes motorcycles, vehicles with trailers, caravans and camper vans.
[2] Only passengers travelling through the Channel Tunnel are included in this
table, excluding those who travel between Paris-Calais and Brussels-Lille.
[3] Railway freight operators using the Tunnel are SNCF, DB Schenker and
Europorte 2.
Eurotunnel Shuttles
* Truck Shuttles: Traffic was doubly impacted during the year by the
consequences of the fire in September 2008 and by the reduction in economic
activity, but traffic increased in the fourth quarter compared to the same
period in 2008 (+12%).
* Passengers Shuttles: Full year car traffic increased slightly (+0.5%), the
decrease seen over the first half having been compensated by strong growth
in the second six months. The fourth quarter of 2009 saw Eurotunnel regain
market share for cross-Channel traffic.
Coach traffic declined slightly over the year (-2%).
Overall, even though the fourth quarter is compared to a low base, affected by
the fire in September 2008, the growth of activity in the fourth quarter is
marked, demonstrating the return of customers attracted by the high frequency of
Shuttle departures and their punctuality. The reduced waiting time associated
with crossing the Channel via the Tunnel is a major competitive advantage -
particularly for trucks - and contributes to the recovery in market share.
Railways
* Eurostar: The strong growth seen in the third quarter continued into the
fourth, despite the total suspension of this service for three days
following the breakdown of five Eurostar trains on the night of 18 December
and a very progressive restart of services (on average only 86% of services
ran until the end of the year).
* Rail freight trains: The increase in the number of trains in the second half
year (+2.4%) kept the reduction in traffic to 12% for the year, in a sector
which has seen its market collapse. Tonnage transported also increased in
the fourth quarter of 2009 (+8%). The re-launch of freight initiated by the
French government and Eurotunnel initiatives should create the conditions
for the renewal of growth in this sector.
► ARBITRATION IN EUROTUNNEL'S FAVOUR
Eurotunnel has received €8 million in compensation from the British government.
In 2003, Eurotunnel brought a case before the International Tribunal for
Arbitration against France and Great Britain, on the basis that intrusions by
illegal immigrants from the centre at Sangatte had disrupted its activities
between 2000 and 2002. In a ruling on 30 January 2007, published on 23 February
2007, the Tribunal recognised Eurotunnel's right to compensation. The Group and
the French government reached an agreement in April 2008 for an amount of €24
million to be paid to Eurotunnel, which was accounted for in 2008.
In 2009, the British government signed an agreement with Eurotunnel to pay €8
million, bringing the total compensation to €32 million.
For media enquiries contact the press office on +44 (0) 1303 284491
Email: press@eurotunnel.com <mailto:press@eurotunnel.com>
For investor enquiries contact Michael Schuller on +44 (0) 1303 288749
Email: Michael.schuller@eurotunnel.com <mailto:Michael.schuller@eurotunnel.com>
http://hugin.info/139825/R/1375066/337268.pdf
[HUG#1375066]
Eurotunnel 2009 traffic and revenue figures:
http://hugin.info/139825/R/1375066/337268.pdf