24.01.2018 – 07:12

Zur Rose AG

EQS-News: Double-digit growth for the Zur Rose Group in 2017

EQS Group-News: Zur Rose Group AG / Key word(s): Development of Sales
Double-digit growth for the Zur Rose Group in 2017

24.01.2018 / 07:00

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Press release

Double-digit growth for the Zur Rose Group in 2017

In financial year 2017 the Zur Rose Group successfully achieved its growth
targets with a turnover just short of a billion. Sales increased organically by
11.8 percent to CHF 982.9 million (10.7 percent in local currency). In the
fourth quarter they rose by 16.8 percent compared with the same period of the
previous year, with growth continuing to accelerate compared with the third
quarter. The turnover of the acquisitions Eurapon and Vitalsana, representing
business of lasting relevance for the Group, would amount to EUR 85 million in
2017.

Boost to market leadership in Germany.
The Zur Rose Group continued to extend its leading market position in Germany in
2017. Thanks to increased marketing activities, sales grew strongly in double
digits, both by 15.8 in the year as a whole and by 15.0 in the fourth quarter
(in local currency). In spite of regulatory price reductions, sales of
prescription drugs (Rx) grew by 11.8 percent in the fourth quarter and by 10.2
percent in the year as a whole. The conversion effect of customers of
non-prescription (OTC) drugs to Rx customers as a result of the marketing
campaign continues to be an additional driver of the Rx business. The
price-sensitive OTC business has been strong since 2015 and it continues to
grow. Sales rose by 32.3 percent in the fourth quarter and by 38.7 percent in
the year as a whole.

Significant sales growth in Switzerland
The success of the Zur Rose Group also continued in Switzerland in 2017, where
it grew by considerably more than the market average. While sales increased by
6.3 percent in the year as a whole, reaching CHF 500.0 million, in the fourth
quarter they reached a staggering 11.2 percent compared with the same period of
the previous year. Thanks to positive new customer figures, Zur Rose achieved a
boost in sales of 7.7 percent in the doctors' segment in the fourth quarter and
6.5 % over the whole year. The retail business grew significantly in the fourth
quarter, by 15.5 percent. This is attributable on the one hand to the
realignment of the Specialty Care business and on the other hand to the
successful start of the shop-in-shop concept with Migros, which has enjoyed a
high level of customer acceptance since its launch in mid-2017.

The Zur Rose Group will publish its full annual report for 2017 on 21 March
2018.

 

Sales figures (unaudited)

October to December, in 1000 CHF       1.10.-31.12.2017 1.10.-31.12.2016 Change

Zur Rose-Gruppe                        271,294          232,271          16.8%

Operating segment Switzerland          137,084          123,303          11.2%

B2B                                    97,797           90,800           7.7%

B2C                                    37,541           32,503           15.5%

BlueCare(1)                            1,746                              

Operating segment Germany              134,210          108,968          23.2%

Rx                                     72,774           60,625           20.0%

OTC                                    42,236           29,885           41.3%

Other                                  19,200           18,458           4.0%

Operating segment Germany, in 1000 EUR 115,999          100,886          15.0%

Rx                                     62,769           56,158           11.8%

OTC                                    36,572           27,639           32.3%

Other                                  16,658           17,089           -2.5%
 
January to December, in 1000 CHF       1.1.-31.12.2017 1.1.-31.12.2016 Change

Zur Rose-Gruppe                        982,921         879,535         11.8%

in local currency                      -               -               10.7%

Operating segment Switzerland          500,034         470,333         6.3%

B2B                                    368,250         345,848         6.5%

B2C                                    127,149         124,485         2.1%

BlueCare(1)                            4,635                            

Operating segment Germany              482,887         409,202         18.0%

Rx                                     266,638         237,284         12.4%

OTC                                    144,494         102,133         41.5%

Other                                  71,755          69,785          2.8%

Operating segment Germany, in 1000 EUR 434,675         375,494         15.8%

Rx                                     239,876         217,738         10.2%

OTC                                    129,991         93,720          38.7%

Other                                  64,808          64,036          1.2%
 
1) consolidated as of 1 May 2017

Investor and analyst contact
Marcel Ziwica, Chief Financial Officer
e-mail:  ir@zurrose.com, telephone: +41 52 724 00 64

Media contact
Lisa Lüthi, Head of Corporate Communications
e-mail:  lisa.luethi@zurrose.com, telephone: +41 52 724 08 14

Zur Rose Group

Operating under the Zur Rose and DocMorris brands, the Swiss-based Zur Rose
Group is Europe's largest mail-order pharmacy and one of Switzerland's leading
wholesale suppliers to medical doctors. Through its business model, it helps to
ensure safe, reliable and high-quality pharmaceutical care. while also excelling
in developing innovative medicines management services to increase the
effectiveness of the medication process. This creation of added value, the
strong focus on patients and the commitment to supply medication at low cost for
the benefit of payors and patients make the Group an important strategic partner
for all healthcare stakeholders.

Zur Rose Group is headquartered in Frauenfeld, from where it also serves the
Swiss market. Customers in Germany and Austria are primarily supplied from
Heerlen (NL). Furthermore, the Group holds a majority interest in BlueCare in
Winterthur, the leading provider of networking systems in the Swiss healthcare
market. Employing more than 1000 people at its various locations, Zur Rose Group
generated revenue of CHF 983 million in 2017. Zur Rose Group AG's shares (ticker
symbol ROSE, Swiss security no. 4261528, ISIN CH0042615283) are traded on SIX
Swiss Exchange. More information at zurrosegroup.com.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
End of Corporate News
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Language: English

Company:  Zur Rose Group AG

          Walzmühlestrasse 60

          8500 Frauenfeld

          Switzerland

Phone:    +41 52 724 08 14

Internet: www.zurrosegroup.com

ISIN:     CH0199729366, CH0042615283

Listed:   SIX Swiss Exchange



 

End of News EQS Group News Service

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

647913  24.01.2018