Petaling Jaya, April 21, 2004 - Main Board-listed Amway (Malaysia) Holdings Berhad (Amway) has posted an unaudited sales revenue of RM216.4 million for the first six months of its financial year ending August 31, 2004, an increase of 9% compared to RM198.4 million in the first six months of last financial year.

Pre-tax profit for the first six months was RM36.3 million, slightly lower than the pre-tax profit of RM38.9 million achieved in the first six months of last financial year.

“Amway’s sales revenue performed better than expected in the first half of the fiscal year. This was due mainly to successful new product launches and product promotions which generated encouraging response from distributors and customers,” said Low Han Kee, Managing Director of Amway.

“Amway distributors have once again proven their mettle and resilience in retailing and sponsoring backed by the company’s enhanced services and information technology capabilities which have increasingly enabled distributors to make inquiries and place orders 24 hours a day, seven days a week through the company’s web-site amway2u.com.”

Low attributed the decline in the company’s operating margin in the last six months to an increase in the cost of goods purchased from the principal supplier and operating expenditure, mainly in the areas of sales incentives, brand building and marketing promotions. This trend will continue to exert pressure on the operating margin for the remainder of the year.

“With the continued improvement in economy and stronger than expected revenue growth in the first half of the fiscal year, the Board expects the sales revenue for this fiscal year to achieve a single digit growth, bearing in mind that our last fiscal year’s sales revenue was a record RM422 million.”

Amway also announced a second quarter interim dividend of 7.5 sen per share less 28% income tax.

About Amway
Amway (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Amway (Malaysia) Holdings Berhad is the leading direct selling company in Malaysia. The company, which began operations in 1976, offers a wide range of meaningfully differentiated quality products under its five core product lines namely Nutrition and Wellness (NUTRILITE vitamins and dietary supplements), Skin Care & Cosmetics (ARTISTRY skin care and cosmetic products), Personal Care (including oral care, toiletries and hair care products) Home Care (including laundry and car care products and household cleaners); and Home Tech (including water treatment system and cookware). In addition, the company’s PERSONAL SHOPPERS Catalogue offers locally sourced and manufactured consumer products, from food and beverage to watches, garments, personal accessories and household appliances.