SCHWARZ PHARMA AG / Release of an announcement according to Article 37x of the WpHG [the German Securities Trading Act]
30.04.2009
Interim report according to Article 37x of the WpHG
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April 30, 2009
Three Months Report 2009:
SCHWARZ PHARMA is On Track
SCHWARZ PHARMA group sales increased year-on-year in the first quarter of
2009. Our top-performing product, showing slight growth rates, was
Atmadisc(R) (fluticasone/salmeterol). The epilepsy drug Vimpat(R)
(lacosamide),only recently launched in the first European countries,
achieved sales significantly above expectations. Revenues, which apart from
sales include royalties and other proceeds, showed a rise against the same
quarter of the previous year.
Both SCHWARZ PHARMA's operating result and net result developed in line
with the expectations.
SCHWARZ PHARMA expects Neupro(R) (rotigotine transdermal patch) to once
again reach new Parkinson patients within the first half of 2009. This is
currently being reviewed by the European marketing approval authority. The
market launch of Neupro(R) for treating Restless Legs Syndrome is also
planned for the first half of 2009.
SCHWARZ PHARMA continues to expect sales to show a slight decline to
approximately EUR340 million in the current fiscal year. Given the
improvements targeted by 'SHAPE', a positive group net result is expected
for 2009. This outlook does not include effects stemming from the
divestment of products or partnerships and other transactions.
UCB concluded an agreement with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) on the sale of UCB's
current marketed product portfolio and several of its affiliates across
certain markets for an acquisition price of EUR515 million. Within the
scope of this agreement, SCHWARZ PHARMA AG sold various product rights as
well as the shares in its affiliate in the Philippines. Its consolidated
affiliates in Hong Kong and Macau also sold various product rights by way
of this transaction. Of the total consideration amount of EUR515 million,
the SCHWARZ PHARMA group received around EUR80 million.
At the start of February 2009, UCB SP GmbH, Monheim, submitted its request
to the Executive Board of SCHWARZ PHARMA AG under Section 327a para
graph 1 of the German Stock Corporation Act (AktG), asking for the Annual
General Meeting of the company to pass a resolution transferring the shares
of the remaining shareholders (minority shareholders) to UCB SP GmbH as the
principal shareholder in return for an appropriate cash compensation
(so-called 'squeeze-out'). UCB SP GmbH holds a 99.59% interest in the
common stock of SCHWARZ PHARMA AG (after deducting treasury shares held by
SCHWARZ PHARMA AG) and is thus the principal shareholder for the purpose of
Section 327a (1) 1 of the German Stock Corporation Act (AktG). The
resolution is to be passed at the next Annual General Meeting of SCHWARZ
PHARMA AG for the fiscal year 2008, due to be held on July 8, 2009. UCB SP
GmbH has not yet fixed the amount of the cash compensation.
SCHWARZ PHARMA AG (seated in Monheim, Germany) is a member of the UCB
group, Brussels/Belgium (www.ucb.com). UCB is listed on the Euronext
exchange in Brussels and holds over 99% of all SCHWARZ PHARMA shares.
UCB is a global biopharmaceutical company whose focus is on researching,
developing, and commercializing innovative pharmaceutical and
biotechnological products in the fields Central Nervous System and
Immunological and Inflammatory Diseases. UCB achieved sales of over EUR3.3
billion in 2008 and the company currently has a workforce of more than
10,000 employees in over 40 countries.
Contact: Sylvia Heitzer,Tel: +49 2173 48 1238; Antje Witte, Tel.: +32 2
5599414
Internet: www.schwarzpharma.com
This press release contains assumptions, expectations, and forecasts on
future sector trends, on future legal and commercial developments, and on
the future development of the company. These assumptions, expectations, and
forecasts are no guarantee for future performance and are subject to change
at any time. Consequently, future reports and the factual circumstances of
the company may deviate materially from the outlook presented by the above.
The company assumes no responsibility for updating such assumptions,
expectations, and forecasts on future sector trends, on future legal and
commercial developments, and on the future development of the company.
DGAP 30.04.2009
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Language: English
Issuer: SCHWARZ PHARMA AG
Alfred-Nobel-Str. 10
40789 Monheim
Deutschland
Internet: www.ucb-group.com
End of News DGAP News-Service
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DGAP-IRE: SCHWARZ PHARMA AG: Schwarz Pharma is On Track
| Source: EQS Group AG