AmBevs investment in the country may get to US$ 1.1 billion
O Estado de S. Paulo
Beverage manufacturer AmBev informed its investments in Brazil may get to R$ 2 billion (US$ 1.1 billion) this year, increasing the number that was announced at the end of last year, of an investment of up to R$ 1.5 billion (US$ 833.3 million) in 2010. "We may invest up to R$ 2 billion (US$ 1.1 billion), which would mean doubling the amount in relation to 2009 and reaching the highest level of the history of the company", said the Financial Officer and Investor Relations Officer of the company, Nelson Jamel. The company, however, conditioned such growth to the maintenance of the tax levels of the sector.
Last year, AmBev faced a 15% increase in federal taxes that, according to Jamel, were not fully passed on to the consumer, allowing an increase in sales. He assesses that, should there be no further increase in the tax burden the market will have even more incentives to grow. "Without tax increases, we have no repass to the consumer and, as a result, we have increase in consumption. It is a virtuous cycle. We're trying to present such dynamic to the Government", he said.
According to the Executive, the investments of up to R$ 2 billion (US$ 1.1 billion) scheduled for this year will result in an increase of 10% to 15% in the productive capacity of the company and should generate nearly 44 thousand new, direct and indirect, jobs. At least three new production units, according to Jamel, should be built, in addition to the enlargement of current units. "The decisions on the location of new plants and distribution centers, in most cases, are still being assessed", he said. The company, however, has already begun the works in some regions, such as Minas Gerais, the interior of São Paulo, Maranhão, and Manaus. "We plan the expansion of the productive capacity in 13 States".
AmBev ended 2009 with net earnings of R$ 5.98 billion (US$ 3 billion), growth of 15.4% compared to the prior year. The net earnings last year amounted to R$ 23.19 billion (US$ 11.8 billion), growth of 11.1% in the same comparison. According to data of the company, the sales of beer in 2009 increased 9.9%. The company attributed the expansion to the real growth of income and to the gains in market share. "In Brazil, the macroeconomic foundations continue supporting the good performance of the industry. Besides, the success of our innovations continued leveraging the growth of the volume of beer, which increased 12.1% in the quarter and 9.9% in the year", said the company in the management report.