STADA Arzneimittel AG / Final Results
27.03.2008
Release of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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Important items at a glance
2007: Sales and earnings grew to new record highs for the twelfth year
in a row
All preliminary financial figures confirmed (ad hoc release of March 6,
2008)
STADA Group sales: EUR 1.57 billion (+26%); strong growing international
business (+30%)
Operating profit: EUR 215.5 million (+19%), adjusted for special effects
EUR 248.8 million (+33%)
Operating profit margin: 13.7% (previous year: 14.5%), adjusted 15.8%
(previous year: 15.0%)
Net income: EUR 105.1 million (+14%), adjusted EUR 146.8 million (+44%)
Dividend increase by 15% to EUR 0.71 per STADA share proposed by
Executive Board and Supervisory Board
Executive Board confirms once again positive outlook
The final financial results for the fiscal year 2007, presented by STADA
Arzneimittel AG today, on March 27, 2008, confirm all of the preliminary
results published on March 6, 2008. '2007 was the twelfth year in a row for
STADA in which we achieved new record highs in sales and earnings. STADA
thereby showed once again that our business model is sustainable and shows
strong growth, also under challenging conditions', was the comment of
STADAs Chairman of the Executive Board Hartmut Retzlaff on the successful
business development in front of press and analysts.
Development of sales
In fiscal year 2007, STADA recorded an increase in sales of 26% to EUR
1,570.5 million (previous year: EUR 1,245.1 million). Thus, the average
growth rate of Group sales for the last five years is 21%. Organic growth
adjusted for acquisitions and disposals on an accrual basis was 14% in
fiscal year 2007.
'With an international business that, with 30%, continues to grow at an
even higher rate than the Group overall, we have also further advanced with
the Groups internationalization. Almost two thirds of our sales, namely
approx. 63%, are now generated internationally' commented Retzlaff the
STADA Groups regional sales development in fiscal year 2007.
Once again the Groups two core segments contributed to the sales plus.
Thus, STADA was able to increase sales in what is still by far the bigger
of the two core segments, Generics (share in sales 73.5%), by 27% to EUR
1,154.4 million in fiscal year 2007 (previous year: EUR 911.2 million). In
the Branded Products core segment (share in sales 19.4%), STADA increased
sales by 17% to EUR 304.0 million in 2007 (previous year: EUR 259.1
million).
Regional development
In Germany, which continues to be the largest national market for STADA,
the Group achieved sales growth of 20% to EUR 579.8 million in fiscal year
2007 (previous year: EUR 481.9 million). The German business, which
continues to report an operating profitability approximately in the scope
of Group average, thus contributes a share of 36.9% (previous year: 38.7%)
to Group sales.
Also in 2007, growth in Germany was significantly driven by the increase in
the German Generics business, which, in the reporting year, grew to EUR
483.8 million (previous year: EUR 386.2 million) and thus went up by 25%.
Sales in Germany in the Groups second core segment, Branded Products, with
a plus of 3% were at EUR 92.9 million in fiscal year 2007 (previous year:
EUR 89.8 million).
According to data from IMS Health the STADA Group thus increased the
overall market share in the German generics market to 10.9% in 2007
(previous year: 9.3%), thereby reaching a peak market share of 11.2% in the
fourth quarter of 2007 (fourth quarter of 2006: 9.8%).
The strong growth in STADAs German Generics business and the associated
clear gain in market share were thereby achieved under the challenging
conditions of a German generics market which declined by 3% in 2007. In
addition, as is known, the Act for strengthening competition in public
health insurance (GKV-WSG), which took effect on April 1, 2007, sustainably
changed the market structures of the German generics market through the
stimulation of the regulation instrument discount agreements between
suppliers and health insurance organizations.
The STADA Group reacted quickly and successfully to these structural market
challenges in 2007. In particular STADAs generics sales label ALIUD
PHARMA, which has always operated in the market without a sales force,
based on mailing concepts and which thus, due to low-price cost structures,
is able to pursue more price-aggressive sales strategies, concluded
discount agreements early to great extent, achieving a strong sales
increase of 69% to EUR 204.5 million in fiscal year 2007 through this
strategy (previous year: EUR 120.7 million).
The STADA label, which, as is known, eliminated its own doctors-related
sales force through a restructuring in the fourth quarter of 2007 as a
reaction to the GKV-WSG, achieved growth with Generics sales supported by
it of a total of 4% to EUR 255.1 million in the reporting year (previous
year: EUR 245.5 million).
The far-reaching changes in the structure of the German generics market in
2007 have not and will not, from todays perspective, lastingly burden
STADAs position in the German generics market. For 2008, the Executive
Board rather expects further growth and a further improvement of the
Groups market share in the Generics market segment.
With sales in the amount of EUR 145.1 million (previous year: EUR 46.1
million with consolidation as of August 1, 2006), Serbia was the second
largest national market for STADA in 2007 after local sales were, for the
first time, consolidated in the Group over a whole year.
In Russia overall sales generated by the Group there increased partly
also due to the initial inclusion of acquired sales by 53% to EUR 133.8
million (previous year: EUR 87.5 million).
In Italy, STADA recorded sales growth of 8% to EUR 117.2 million in fiscal
year 2007 (previous year: EUR 109.0 million). Adjusted for disposals, sales
in Italy increased by 10%.
In France, the Group achieved a sales plus of 9% to EUR 87.0 million in the
reporting year (previous year: EUR 79.6 million).
In Spain, sales grew, regardless of significant price reductions due to
regulatory measures in the local generics market as of March 1, 2007, by 3%
to EUR 62.7 million in fiscal year 2007 (previous year: EUR 61.1 million).
Adjusted for sales disposals of non continued licensed products sales in
STADAs Spanish business rose by 7% in the reporting year.
In other European countries too, the Group generated very pleasing sales
growth in fiscal year 2007, such as in the United Kingdom (of 89% to EUR
75.7 million partly acquisition-related), in Ireland (of 40% to EUR 23.5
million partly acquisition-related), in Austria (of 16% to EUR 13.1
million) and in Portugal (of 19% to EUR 12.3 million).
In Poland, Bulgaria and Slovakia the STADA Group operated only in the scope
of export activities in fiscal year 2007. In the first half of the current
fiscal year 2008 the Group will also start sales activities in these
national markets through its own subsidiaries.
In the Asian markets, sales grew by 4% to EUR 44.7 million in the reporting
year (previous year: EUR 42.9 million). Here it must be considered that in
Asia STADA had an unusually high sales basis in fiscal year 2006 due to a
one-time tender business in Vietnam. Without this tender business, sales in
Asia in fiscal year 2007 rose by 40% as compared to the previous year.
Development of earnings
Overall, the STADA Groups earnings situation also developed once again
pleasingly in fiscal year 2007.
Net income recorded growth of 14% to EUR 105.1 million in 2007 (previous
year: EUR 91.8 million). By deducting one-time special effects, adjusted
net income increased by 44% to EUR 146.8 million in the reporting year
(previous year: EUR 102.1 million).
Earnings per share rose taking into account an increased average number
of shares by 8% to 58,315,643 shares due to the exercise of warrants in
2007 (previous year: 53,983,327 shares) by 6% to EUR 1.80 (previous year:
EUR 1.70), adjusted earnings per share went up to EUR 2.52 (previous year:
EUR 1.89). Diluted earnings per share in 2007 thereby recorded a plus to
EUR 1.74 (previous year: EUR 1.62), adjusted diluted earnings per share
rose to EUR 2.42 (previous year: EUR 1.81).
The other key earnings figures also showed a partially very clear plus in
fiscal year 2007. In detail the following items grew in the reporting year
as compared to the previous year: operating profit by 19% to EUR 215.5
million (previous year: EUR 180.5 million), adjusted operating profit by
33% to EUR 248.8 million (previous year: EUR 186.4 million), earnings
before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) by 24% to
EUR 289.5 million (previous year: EUR 232.6 million), adjusted earnings
before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization by 35% to EUR 315.7
million (previous year: EUR 233.0 million), earnings before interest and
taxes (EBIT) by 11% to EUR 187.8 million (previous year: EUR 168.7
million), adjusted earnings before interest and taxes by 34% to EUR 249.2
million (previous year: EUR 186.7 million), earnings before taxes (EBT) by
4% to EUR 150.7 million (previous year: EUR 145.2 million), adjusted
earnings before taxes by 30% to EUR 212.1 million (previous year: EUR 163.2
million).
The sales-related profit margins for fiscal year 2007 thus were as follows:
operating profit margin of the Group 13.7% (previous year: 14.5%), adjusted
operating profit margin of the Group 15.8% (previous year: 15.0%),
operating profit margin of Generics 17.9% (previous year: 16.4%), adjusted
operating profit margin of Generics 18.4% (previous year: 16.6%), operating
profit margin of Branded Products 16.7% (previous year: 19.3%), adjusted
operating profit margin of Branded Products 17.2% (previous year: 17.3%).
The key earnings figures as well as the sales-related profit margins were
burdened through clearly higher one-time special effects in the reporting
year as compared to the previous year. Overall, the one-time special
effects in fiscal year 2007 resulted in a net burden of EUR 61.5 million
before taxes or EUR 41.6 million after taxes; the one-time special effects
in fiscal year 2006 had resulted at the time in a net burden in the total
amount of EUR 18.0 million before taxes or EUR 10.3 million after taxes.
Development of costs
The sum of all operative costs in the STADA Group without depreciation or
amortization increased, with 24%, at a lower rate than sales in 2007.
'Through our continuous cost optimization we have once again been able in
2007 to absorb the price erosion inherently linked to our business model
for which we estimate a total loss of sales equal to approx. 4% of Group
sales in fiscal year 2007 as a result of price reductions', says Wolfgang
Jeblonski, STADAs Chief Financial Officer with regard to STADAs positive
cost development in the reporting year.
Gross profit rose to EUR 755.3 million in fiscal year 2007 (previous year:
EUR 626.2 million). The cost of sales ratio was 51.9% in 2007 (previous
year: 49.7%); thus the sales-related gross margin, which is reciprocal to
the cost of sales ratio, was 48.1% in the reporting year (previous year:
50.3%).
Selling expenses as a percentage of sales improved to 22.8% in 2007
(previous year: 26.0%) due to the expected lower increase of selling
expenses as compared to sales growth.
General and administrative expenses had a share in Group sales of 7.3% in
the reporting year (previous year: 7.3%). The acquisition-related increase
of general and administrative expenses in 2006 was successfully
counteracted in 2007. Personnel expenses rose to EUR 272.4 million in the
reporting year (previous year: EUR 187.7 million). This includes expenses
for restructuring measures of the German generics sales in the amount of
EUR 28.1 million before taxes. The ratio of personnel expenses to sales
thus amounted to 17.3% or adjusted for these restructuring measures 15.6%
(previous year: 15.1%).
Research and development costs, which due to the business model are only
development costs, increased to EUR 39.0 million in 2007 (previous year:
EUR 32.2 million). The sales-related ratio of research and development
costs amounted to 2.5% in fiscal year 2007 (previous year: 2.6%).
Taxes on income decreased to EUR 44.0 million in fiscal year 2007 (previous
year: EUR 52.7 million). The tax rate thereby decreased in the reporting
year to 29.2% (previous year: 36.3%). Here, STADA increasingly benefits
from the fact that the Group is generating earnings in countries with
national tax rates that are significantly lower than the Group tax rate. In
2007, in particular the tax effects in connection with the Serbian Hemofarm
Group acquired in 2006 also contributed to this.
Balance sheet
In the Executive Boards view, the STADA Groups financial position
continues to be stable.
The rise in total assets to EUR 2,553.9 million as of the reporting date
December 31, 2007 (December 31, 2006: EUR 2,150.2 million) was based on the
further expansion of the STADA Groups operating business including the
acquisitions of fiscal year 2007, in particular the additions of the MAKIZ
group and the Forum Bioscience group. Shareholders equity rose to EUR
933.8 million as of December 31, 2007 (December 31, 2006: EUR 863.1
million). The equity-to-assets ratio was 36.6% at the balance sheet date
(December 31, 2006: 40.1%). Thus regardless of the acquisitions of the
year 2007 again financed with outside capital it continues to be clearly
in a, from the Executive Boards perspective, satisfying area of over
approx. 30%. The Group therefore also continues to have sufficient
financial means available for further growth.
The STADA Groups net debt further grew in the course of the year 2007 in
particular in the course of the credit-financed acquisitions of the MAKIZ
group and the Forum Bioscience group and reached EUR 958.5 million as of
December 31, 2007 (December 31, 2006: EUR 773.0 million) and thus amounting
to approx. 3.0 times adjusted EBITDA of the previous fiscal year. The
weighted average interest rate for all of the STADA Groups financial
liabilities thereby amounted to approx. 4.8% p.a. on the balance sheet
date, with the major part of the STADA Groups financial liabilities
subject to long-term financing.
Cash flow
Gross cash flow was clearly increased to EUR 201.2 million (previous year:
EUR 153.2 million) in the reporting year due to the improved earnings
situation and higher depreciation and amortization. Reported cash flow from
operating activities amounted to EUR 100.5 million in 2007 (previous year:
EUR -13.0 million), thus showing a clear increase. When assessing this
increase, special effects from payments made and still outstanding from
acquisitions and disposals are to be considered: Operating cash flow
adjusted for these special effects from payments made or still outstanding
from acquisitions and disposals amounted to EUR 92.9 million in the
reporting year (previous year: EUR 61.8 million) and thus also clearly
improved.
Product development
2007, too, was again a very successful year for STADA in terms of annual
product launches. Thus, Group-wide, 424 individual products were launched
in individual national markets worldwide in fiscal year 2007 (previous
year: 331 products) more than ever before within one year in STADAs
company history.
The Groups product pipeline remains well-filled so that, from the
Executive Boards view, STADA should continue to have a comprehensive and
up-to-date product portfolio in the individual national markets with a
focus on generics in the EU.
Dividend proposal
Already on March 6, 2008, the STADA Executive Board proposed that a
dividend for fiscal year 2007 in the amount of EUR 0.71 per common share be
distributed. This represents a 15% increase compared to the previous year.
The Supervisory Board supported this proposal. Should the Annual
Shareholders Meeting follow this proposal on June 10, 2008, it would
represent, with total dividend payments of EUR 41.6 million, a dividend
ratio of approx. 40% of net earnings.
Acquisition policy
STADA plans to accelerate the long-term growth course by making appropriate
acquisitions in the future as well and continuously examines suitable
takeover projects. To create a sufficient financial framework, appropriate
capital measures continue to be imaginable for corresponding acquisition
projects if such acquisitions too strongly burdened the equity-to-assets
ratio.
Positive outlook confirmed
In the Annual Report published today the Executive Board confirms the
positive outlook. It reads: 'Indeed, significant regulatory measures,
intensive competition and significant pressure on margins can always occur
in individual national markets. However, in view of the strategic focusing
on growth markets and the Groups proven operative strengths, the Executive
Board assumes, from todays perspective, that STADA will be able to achieve
sustainable operative growth under challenging conditions in the future,
too, and thus will be able to continue the Groups successful growth course
in the years to come.'
Further information:
STADA Arzneimittel AG / Corporate Communications / Stadastrasse 218 /
D - 61118 Bad Vilbel / Phone: +49(0) 6101 603-113 /
Fax: +49(0) 6101 603-506 / E-mail: communications@stada.de
Or visit our website at www.stada.com
DGAP 27.03.2008
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Language: English
Issuer: STADA Arzneimittel AG
Stadastraße 2-18
61118 Bad Vilbel
Deutschland
Phone: +49 (0)6101 603- 113
Fax: +49 (0)6101 603- 506
E-mail: communications@stada.de
Internet: www.stada.de
ISIN: DE0007251803, DE0007251845,
WKN: 725180, 725184,
Indices: MDAX
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard), Düsseldorf;
Freiverkehr in Berlin, Hannover, Hamburg, München, Stuttgart
End of News DGAP News-Service
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DGAP-News: STADA 2007: twelfth year of growth in sales and earnings positive outlook
| Source: EQS Group AG