DGAP-News: Celesio AG: realignment successfully completed

DGAP-News: Celesio AG / Key word(s): Quarter Results Celesio AG: realignment successfully completed and solid basis 12.05.2014 / 07:00 --------------------------------------------------------------------- * Adjusted EBIT for the quarter on par with prior year * McKesson new majority shareholder * More rapid realisation of the European Pharmacy Network Stuttgart, 12 May 2014. Celesio increased group revenue slightly in the first quarter of 2014 - by 0.3 per cent to 5,379.5 million euro. After adjustments for negative currency effects, largely due to the Brazilian real, revenue increased by 2.1 per cent. Following additional adjustments for the effects resulting from the changes in the consolidated group, in particular from the sale of the Irish wholesale business in May 2013, revenue actually increased significantly by 3.3 per cent. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) fell by 6.9 per cent from 95.1 million euro to 88.6 million euro. After adjustments for special effects, EBIT was 95.6 million euro and therefore 0.5 per cent higher than the prior year's figure. Following further adjustments for currency effects, adjusted EBIT fell by 0.7 per cent. The good performance in the United Kingdom made a significant contribution to offsetting the earnings situation, which continued to be weighed down by the persistently fierce discount war in the German wholesale business. At 43.1 million euro, net profit for the period was 4.2 per cent up on the same period of the prior year. Marion Helmes, Speaker of the Management Board and CFO of Celesio: "The fact that the business development in the first three months was as planned is proof that our realignment has been a success. With this development we have established a solid basis for further growth. Over the coming months, we will focus our efforts on implementing our initiatives Top-in-Class procurement and optimising the value chain, as well as on the more rapid realisation of the European Pharmacy Network, as announced. The opportunity for joint global purchasing with McKesson will mean we can realise additional synergy potential." Performance in the divisions The Consumer Solutions division, the pharmacy business, generated revenue of 865.6 million euro and was therefore up by 4.5 per cent compared to the prior year's value of 828.0 million euro. Our business in the United Kingdom made a particularly positive contribution to the increase in revenue. After adjustments for currency effects, revenue increased by as much as 4.7 per cent. The EBIT of the division increased sharply by 10.4 per cent from 47.8 million euro to 52.8 million euro. In the United Kingdom, Celesio's most important pharmacy market, Lloydspharmacy performed well in the past quarter, as expected. The increase in services, particularly in contracts with hospitals and the provision of homecare as well as higher sales of generic drugs overcompensated for the negative effects of government measures. Central purchasing activities also improved earning power. Revenue for the Pharmacy Solutions division - responsible for our wholesale business - fell slightly, down 0.4 per cent from the prior-year figure to 4,513.9 euro. Currency effects, mainly caused by the Brazilian real, as well as the deconsolidation of the Irish wholesale business in May 2013, had an adverse impact on business development in the reporting period. After adjustments for currency effects, revenue increased by 1.6 per cent. By contrast, following additional adjustments for the effects resulting from the change in the consolidated group, from the sale of the Irish wholesale business, , in particular, revenue increased sharply by 3.1 per cent. EBIT dropped by 6.6 per cent compared with the prior-year period to 65.1 million euro. After adjustment for currency effects, EBIT fell by 8.1 per cent. The fall is above all attributable to the problems caused by the further intensification in the discount competition in Germany compared with the prior-year period. The market continued to decline in France. However, we succeeded in compensating for these negative effects through consistently applied measures to increase efficiency. British wholesale activities posted a significant increase in revenue following higher sales of generic drugs. Here, the more favourable product mix, together with better purchasing and additional efficiency increases, contributed to a gratifying rise in earnings. Earnings forecast For Celesio, 2014 is all about consistently pursuing its strategic new direction. Continuous improvements will be made to optimise companies' levels of efficiency, in addition to the optimisation of cost structures. The expansion of the European Pharmacy Network will also have a positive impact, enabling even stronger growth from 2015 onwards. Based on the assumption of a slight deterioration in exchange rates, similar interest rates and a comparable consolidated group, the Management Board expects to achieve an adjusted EBIT for the 2014 fiscal year that is slightly above the prior year. The earnings situation will be significantly affected by future developments on the German wholesale market. From the second half of the year, the Management Board assumes that the unremittingly intensive discount competition in Germany will diminish in the course of the year. Key figures of the Celesio Group 1st quarter 1st quarter 2013 2014 Continuing operations Revenue EUR m 5,361.6 5,379.5 EBITDA EUR m 126.6 118.0 adjusted 1) EUR m 126.6 125.0 EBIT EUR m 95.1 88.6 adjusted 1) EUR m 95.1 95.6 Net profit/loss EUR m 41.7 44.0 adjusted 1) EUR m 41.7 51.0 Free cash flow EUR m -82.2 -186.7 Discontinued operations Net profit/loss EUR m -0.3 -0.9 Continuing and discontinued operations Net financial debt EUR m 934.2 1.614.5 Net financial debt /EBITDA 2.86 1.71 Retail pharmacies 2) 2,178 2,180 Wholesale branches 2) 136 133 Employees 2) 38,650 38,581 Net profit/loss EUR m 41.4 43.1 Earnings per share (basic) EUR 0.23 0.22 Change on EUR basis % Continuing operations Revenue EUR m 0.3 EBITDA EUR m -6.9 adjusted 1) EUR m -1.3 EBIT EUR m -6.9 adjusted 1) EUR m 0.5 Net profit/loss EUR m 5.3 adjusted 1) EUR m 22.2 Free cash flow EUR m Discontinued operations Net profit/loss EUR m Continuing and discontinued operations Net financial debt EUR m -42.1 Net financial debt /EBITDA Retail pharmacies 2) Wholesale branches 2) Employees 2) Net profit/loss EUR m 4.2 Earnings per share (basic) EUR -3.7 1) Adjusted for special effects from certain non-recurring expenses and income (including tax effect). 2) Closing figures at the end of the reporting period. About Celesio Group Celesio is a leading international wholesale and retail company and provider of logistics and services to the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors. The proactive and preventive approach ensures that patients receive the products and support that they require for optimum care. With some 39,000 employees, Celesio operates in 14 countries around the world. Every day, the group serves over 2 million customers - at 2,200 pharmacies of its own and 4,200 participants in brand partnership schemes. With approximately 130 wholesale branches, Celesio supplies 65,000 pharmacies and hospitals every day with up to 130,000 pharmaceutical products. The services benefit a patient pool of about 15 million per day. End of Corporate News --------------------------------------------------------------------- 12.05.2014 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. DGAP's Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de --------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Company: Celesio AG Neckartalstr. 155 70376 Stuttgart Germany Phone: +49 (0)711 5001-735 Fax: +49 (0)711 5001-740 E-mail: investor@celesio.com Internet: www.celesio.com ISIN: DE000CLS1001, DE000CLS1043 WKN: CLS100, CLS104 Indices: MDAX Listed: Regulierter Markt in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt (Prime Standard), München, Stuttgart; Freiverkehr in Hamburg, Hannover; Terminbörse EUREX End of News DGAP News-Service --------------------------------------------------------------------- 267675 12.05.2014