Alticor sales reach $4.9 billion Record sales in key markets drive fourth straight year of growth

Bangkok--11 Dec.--Amway (Thailand) Alticor Inc. today announced that worldwide sales for its family of companies increased more than nine percent, to $4.9 billion, in its fiscal year ending August 31, 2003. Alticor Chairman Steve Van Andel said: "Alticor is stronger than ever. Thanks to the extraordinary people around the world selling our products and services, we've recorded our fourth consecutive year of growth." Alticor President Doug DeVos said: "Our employees worked hard this year to grow the business. We're very proud of this year's results, especially in a tough economy where many businesses have struggled." Alticor has more than 11,000 employees worldwide. Last year, the company and its subsidiaries were recognized as a leading employer in the United States, China, Korea and other countries.Highlights The company said it continued to see strong performances in Asia from its subsidiary, Amway Corp., a global leader in direct selling. Amway China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand each reported their highest annual revenues ever. Quixtar, Alticor's North American Web-based business opportunity, also had its best year ' exceeding the $1 billion revenue mark for the first time since its formation in 1999. Both Alticor units continued to grow their nutrition and beauty businesses through strong sales, especially for the Nutrilite and Artistry brands. Combined, these businesses accounted for more than half the company's worldwide sales last year. Alticor, established in 2000, operates through Amway Corp., Quixtar Inc., and Access Business Group LLC, a product development, manufacturing and logistics provider to Amway, Quixtar and other companies. Alticor's Amway unit strengthened its reputation as a global leader in the $85 billion direct-selling industry. "There is new excitement for Amway in both our emerging and established markets," said Van Andel. "Amway is gaining strength as a global brand known for great products and an attractive business opportunity." Earlier this year, Amway said it would commit an additional $120 million to increase its manufacturing and distribution capabilities in China, raising total investment there to $220 million. The company said Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Thailand also remain top markets Amway has been operating in these established areas for an average of 18 years. In Europe, Amway Greece, Hungary, Romania, Scandinavia and Turkey also recorded their best sales year ever in 2003, while Amway announced that it would begin operations in the Ukraine next month.Quixtar Quixtar, Alticor's business opportunity in North America, had another record year with sales exceeding $1 billion for the first time since its formation four years ago. "Quixtar's I-commerce business model brings together the Internet, the individual, infrastructure support, and independent business ownership. The resulting Web shopping experience combined with the person-to-person contact of independent business owners has helped take this business to new heights," said DeVos. "Quixtar's sales are a fantastic accomplishment, especially given the track record of most other e-commerce businesses during the same period." Contributing to Quixtar's sales this year was the launch of several leading-edge health and beauty products, including the eSpring Water Purifier, XS Energy Drinks, Nutrilite Carb Blocker 2 and Artistry Spa Collection body care products, along with strong sales of protein shakes, food bars and other new products.Core sales force More than 3.6 million of the company's core sales force of Amway business owners (ABOs) and sales representatives renewed their affiliation in the last year. ABOs are individuals whose primary focus is to build a business of their own through one of Alticor's business opportunities. In China, Amway uses sales representatives who introduce its products to customers.Access Business Group Access Business Group reported that its third-party product development, manufacturing and logistics sales for the year produced $79 million in revenues, an increase of more than 25% over the prior year. Al Koop, Access Business Group's Chief Operating Officer, said: "Amway and Quixtar are still the heart of our business, but our expertise and talented people also allow us to serve other companies and their product needs." Access's inter-company sales to Amway and Quixtar are not included in Alticor's global reported sales.Other company developments This year, Alticor purchased 50.3 percent of the stock of Interleukin Genetics LLC, a biotechnology company. The alliance is expected to allow Alticor and its businesses to use Interleukin's intellectual property and expertise in genomics to develop personalized consumer products. Alticor's Amway Grand Plaza Hotel is a AAA four-diamond hotel, and this past year, received the first and only five-diamond rating in Michigan for its flagship restaurant, The 1913 Room. During the year, Alticor launched its "One by One Campaign for Children" to improve the lives of young people worldwide through focused charitable donations and corporate sponsorships. In the last fiscal year, the company and its sales force helped more than one million children worldwide through a wide range of initiatives benefiting disabled, orphaned and disadvantaged children. Mr. Preecha Prakobkit, Managing Director of Amway (Thailand), said that Amway Thailand has generated over 7,660 million baht in sales for the 2003 fiscal year or a 40% increase year-on-year, setting another sales volume record for its 16 years in the country. Amway's highest revenue came from its Artistry and Nutrilite lines, with 2 billion baht and 1.3 billion baht respectively. End. -SP-

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