SAO PAULO, Brazil, May 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Several cost reduction management initiatives and the first benefits of Ultragaz's distribution structure review have resulted in an increase of 23% in Ultrapar (BOVESPA: UGPA4) EBITDA, when compared to 4Q05.
-- Consolidated EBITDA in 1Q06 amounted to R$ 107 million, up 23% on 4Q05,
and down 37% compared to the same period in 2005
-- ULTRAGAZ's EBITDA amounted to R$ 55 million, up 22% and 61%, compared
to 1Q05 and 4Q05, respectively
-- OXITENO's EBITDA amounted to R$ 40 million, down 64% and 4%, compared
to 1Q05 and 4Q05, respectively
"In this first quarter of the year, some of the initiatives taken to improve company performance have already shown concrete results at Ultragaz. At Oxiteno, we have moved ahead with the implementation of our growth strategy based on increased scale and technology, with the construction of the fatty alcohol plant, expanding production capacity of specialty chemicals and expanding production capacity of ethylene oxide at our Maua plant, which will have a positive effect on Ultrapar's performance as from 2007. With the growth path of our businesses in Brazil clearly identified, we are reinforcing our focus on the company's expansion in international markets."
Paulo G. A. Cunha - CEO
