Philips 2009 Annual Report Download - page 95

5.4 Lighting
“2009 was a very challenging, but also a very encouraging
year. We got our hands around our cost structure, we drove
good cash fl ow, and, more than ever, the customer was at
the center of our activities.”
Rudy Provoost, CEO Philips Lighting
€ 6.5 billion sales 2.2% EBITA as a % of sales € 591 cash fl ows before
fi nancing activities
million
• Lighting industry undergoing a radical
transformation
• Important global trends underpinning strategy
• Impact of recession on performance
5.4.1 Introduction
Several key global trends are changing the way people use
light, and what they want lighting solutions to be able to
deliver for them and the environment.
Around the world, people are increasingly concerned
about the effects of climate change and rising energy costs.
In many countries a substantial body of ‘green’ legislation
is in place or imminent – much of which has a direct impact
on the lighting industry. For example, 2009 saw the start
of the phase-out of incandescent lamps within the
European Union. We will continue to play a significant
role in encouraging and enabling the switch to energy-
efficient lighting and helping combat climate change.
5 Our sector performance 5.4 - 5.4.1
Philips Annual Report 2009 95