AN IRISH subsidiary of consumer goods giant Unilever paid a dividend of €171.7 million to its multinational parent in April of this year.

The figure is revealed in accounts for Unilever Ireland (Holdings) Ltd, which have been provided to The Irish Times.

The accounts state that on April 21st, 2010, Unilever Ireland (Holdings) received dividends of €95.2 million from three sister companies based here. On the same day, the company paid a dividend of €171.7 million to its immediate parent – Unilever Overseas Holding Ltd.

Unilever Ireland (Holdings) had ended 2009 with shareholders’ funds of €362 million on its balance sheet. The Irish company posted an operating loss of €11.5 million in 2009, according to the accounts. This was down slightly on the €12.9 million operating loss recorded in 2008. The decline was due largely to a reduction in restructuring costs and impairment charges.

The company’s turnover declined to €248 million last year from €296 million in 2008 as the effects of the recession were felt.

Unilever’s Irish business was also hit during the year by the movement in the value of sterling versus the euro, which affected both its turnover and profitability.

Conor Kilduff, Unilever’s managing director in Ireland, said the company would be loss-making again in 2010 due to additional restructuring costs. But he said the business is now trading profitably day to day as a result of measures taken by management.

Volumes are strong but prices remain under pressure as consumers continue to seek value and the company drives sales through promotional activity. “We are beginning to pull ourselves back to profitability,” Mr Kilduff added.

Unilever is working through a restructuring programme that is to be completed by mid-2011. This will involve a reduction in its headcount of 55, leaving the company with about 180 staff.

Some back-office functions in Ireland are being moved to Britain while it is also adjusting the structure of its distribution.

Unilever’s accounts show that its cost of sales declined by 12 per cent to €142.8 million last year. This left it with a gross profit of €105.6 million, compared with €135 million in the previous year.

Unilever achieved a €22 million positive turnaround in exceptional costs and also achieved operating savings of €8.6 million.

Its after-tax loss for the year was €11 million compared with a profit of just more than €1 million in 2008. This reverse was largely attributable to a €10 million decline in interest income and pension costs of €1.1 million.

Unilever’s headcount here reduced to 238 last year from 300 in 2008. The company spent €19 million on wages and salaries, just over half what it spent in 2008, when it incurred significant redundancy costs.

Unilever owns a number of leading consumer food and household brands, including HB ice cream, Lyons Tea, Hellmann’s, Persil and Domestos.