Annual Report 2005
- The return on the Orkla share, dividend reinvested, was 46.3 %
- The Speciality Materials area was expanded to include Elkem and Sapa. These companies accounted for
39 % of the Group’s operating revenues
- Orkla strengthened its position in the Branded Consumer Goods sector by making a number of acquisitions, the largest of which were Chips, SladCo, Panda and Collett Pharma
- Cost improvement programmes were planned and initiated in all business areas
- Orkla Foods and Orkla Brands faced challenging operating parameters in the Swedish grocery trade
- Growth in advertising markets had a positive effect for Orkla Media
- Elkem and Borregaard’s energy businesses and Elkem Aluminium had good market conditions and satisfactory results
- Higher raw material prices and difficult markets led to weak results for Elkem’s silicon business, Sapa and Borregaard
- Exposure to exciting growth markets in the solar energy industry through Elkem’s own development project and its interest in the Renewable Energy Corporation (REC)
- The return on the investment portfolio was 38.4 % and net asset value increased by NOK 4.9 billion
- Orkla Finans achieved good growth in terms of number of customers, sales and profit
