Revenues up 1.9% (3.7% organically) to EUR 1,290.0m; adjusted EBITDA totals EUR 258.5m at constant exchange rates; earnings per share up 6.6% to EUR 2.11; proposed dividend of EUR 0.75 per share (prior year: EUR 0.70 per share); international expansion continues.
Gerresheimer AG, one of the leading partners to the pharma and healthcare industry worldwide, brought financial year 2014 to a successful close. “Financial year 2014 was a good year for us. We hit all of our targets. Demand for our packaging for the pharmaceutical industry remained high. Since we tap into important megatrends with our innovations and products, Gerresheimer is very well positioned for the future,” said Uwe Röhrhoff, Chief Executive Officer of Gerresheimer AG.
Pharmaceutical packaging manufacturer Gerresheimer boosted revenues by 1.9% to EUR 1,290.0m in financial year 2014 (1 December 2013 to 30 November 2014). At constant exchange rates, purely organic growth in the company’s revenues was 3.7%. Most recently, Gerresheimer had projected organic revenue growth of around 4% for 2014. The Company achieved this increase in revenues largely with plastic pharmaceutical packaging as well as products for the simple and safe administration of medicines, such as insulin pens, asthma inhalers and prefillable syringes. As expected, sales of glass pharmaceutical primary packaging slowed somewhat, particularly due to the weakness of the US market. Growth in the market for cosmetic glass packaging was restrained, while sales of laboratory glassware picked up slightly.
The company’s adjusted EBITDA came to EUR 253.4m in financial year 2014. The adjusted EBITDA of EUR 258.5m in 2014 at constant exchange rates marginally exceeded the target corridor of EUR 255m to EUR 258m. The adjusted EBITDA margin improved from 19.1% in the prior year to 19.5%, after deducting other operating income from a subsidiary’s put option. Net income went up by 6.4% to EUR 72.9m. Earnings per share rose 6.6% to EUR 2.11. In 2013, this figure stood at EUR 1.98.
Gerresheimer’s capital expenditure in financial year 2014 was EUR 126.6m, representing 9.8% of revenues at constant exchange rates (prior year: EUR 119.1m). Thereby, the company’s target for capital expenditure in 2014, which had been 9% to 10% of revenues, has been fully met. The company is further expanding production capacity for drug delivery systems such as insulin pens and asthma inhalers, especially in the US and Czech Republic. In fall 2014, Gerresheimer opened the third development centre across the globe in China. A new plant for the manufacture of injection vials and ampoules currently under construction in India is scheduled to open in 2015. In the US, a large facility will be completely refitted in 2015, and production technologies are to be further standardized and improved in numerous other plants around the world.
“Our future success depends on continually improving products, processes and quality. We are investing worldwide to ensure that we continue to grow profitably,” said Röhrhoff.
Megatrends are the growth driver in the global healthcare market: The world’s population is increasing, and many people are now living much longer. Emerging markets are seeing healthcare systems improve, so more medicines are being sold. Sales of generic drugs are growing worldwide. Acute and chronic illnesses are on the rise. At the same time, the standards of quality demanded by patients, pharmaceutical companies and regulators are becoming more stringent. New medicines are being developed, requiring new and higher standards of packaging. Self-medication is also becoming ever more important. As a supplier of high-quality pharmaceutical packaging and innovative products enabling safe and easy administration of drugs, Gerresheimer benefits from all of these megatrends.
The company anticipates organic revenue growth of 1% to 3% for financial year 2015. This corresponds to a revenue corridor of some EUR 1,300m to EUR 1,330m at constant exchange rates. Gerresheimer expects an increase in adjusted EBITDA in a target corridor of EUR 255m to EUR 265m at constant exchange rates. Capital expenditure in financial year 2015 is forecast to represent around 9% to 10% of revenues at constant exchange rates.
Gerresheimer is aiming for average annual organic revenue growth of 4% to 6% for the period from 2016 to 2018. For the adjusted EBITDA margin, Gerresheimer has defined a target value of 21% for 2018. To achieve these targets, the company will continue to require annual investment of between 9% and 10% of revenues at constant exchange rates.
At the Annual General Meeting on 30 April 2015, the Management Board and Supervisory Board will be jointly proposing that a dividend of EUR 0.75 per share be paid out for financial year 2014 (prior year: EUR 0.70 per share). This represents an increase of 7.1% against the prior-year dividend. The payout ratio amounts to 26% of adjusted net income after non-controlling interests.