EQS Group-News: Zur Rose Group AG / Key word(s): Development of Sales
Zur Rose Group realised its expansion goals in 2018 and grew by over 20 percent

23.01.2019 / 06:50


Press release

Zur Rose Group realised its expansion goals in 2018 and grew by over 20 percent

- Growth targets successfully implemented in 2018

- Increase in revenue of 20.8 percent in local currency terms

- Significant expansion of European market leadership

Amid challenging market conditions, the Zur Rose Group successfully implemented its growth targets in the 2018 financial year. With revenue of CHF 1,207.2 million, it significantly exceeded the billion Swiss franc threshold as expected and posted year-on-year growth of 22.8 percent (20.8 percent in local currency terms). The Group further advanced its acquisition strategy in 2018: With PromoFarma, it acquired the largest Spanish marketplace platform operator, and with apo-rot and medpex the mail-order activities of two major e-commerce pharmacies in the German market. Overall, the Group managed to further strengthen its European market leadership.

Marked increase in market share in Germany to over 30 percent
In Germany, the Zur Rose Group increased revenue in 2018 in local currency terms by 33.8 percent to EUR 581.4 million. In Swiss francs growth stood at 38.9 percent. The online over-the-counter (OTC) business grew significantly by 72.6 percent in local currency terms, while growth in the prescription drugs segment (Rx) stands at 5.0 percent. At the beginning of November 2018, the Group successfully completed the integration of the mail-order activities of apo-rot, Hamburg. Furthermore, the Group acquired the mail-order activities of Germany's third largest e-commerce pharmacy medpex, based in Ludwigshafen, the takeover of which was successfully completed at the beginning of January 2019. Including medpex, the Zur Rose Group has therefore increased its market share in the drugs mail-order business in the core market of Germany from 18 percent to 31 percent while increasing the active number of customers to over five million.

Continuous sales growth in Switzerland
Notwithstanding state-mandated price reductions, Zur Rose succeeded in increasing its revenue in Switzerland by 5.4 percent to CHF 527.0 million in 2018. The physician business (B2B) was the main stability factor, with sales up 5.5 percent. Zur Rose succeeded in increasing its market share in this segment from 23.6 to 24.7 percent. Sales gained 4.3 percent in the B2C business. In November 2018 Zur Rose opened its third shop-in-shop-pharmacy at Limmatplatz Zurich. The concept enables customers to access products across all channels (omnichannel) and thus combines the benefits of in-store trading with those of online trading.

Continuation of expansion strategy in new markets
In 2018, the Zur Rose Group posted revenue of CHF 8.9 million with PromoFarma, which was consolidated in mid-September 2018. PromoFarma is a springboard for the expansion into new markets, cross-border as well as through the addition of new partners in other countries, with a capital-efficient business model. The initial focus is on France and Italy. At the same time, the Group will use the major technology know-how of PromoFarma to set up an e-health platform and promote the digital transformation of its business.

Management continues to expect sales growth of over 20 percent in local currency for 2018 and break-even on EBITDA level, adjusted for exceptional charges and PromoFarma.

The Zur Rose Group will publish the complete 2018 Annual Report on 21 March 2019 and provide details of its outlook until 2022.

Revenue January to December, in CHF thousands
(preliminary figures)
1.1.-31.12.2018 1.1.-31.12.2017 Change
Zur Rose Group 1,207,199 982,921 22.8%
In local currency     20.8%
Organic     6.3%
Segment Switzerland 526,954 499,750 5.4%
B2B 388,599 368,250 5.5%
B2C 132,673 127,149 4.3%
BlueCare (1) 5,682 4,351 n.a.
Segment Germany 671,336 483,171 38.9%
Rx 302,639 277,492 9.1%
OTC 368,697 205,679 79.3%
International      
PromoFarma(2) 8,909 - n.a.
Segment Germany, in EUR thousands 581,421 434,675 33.8%
Rx 262,106 249,640 5.0%
OTC 319,315 185,035 72.6%

 

Revenue October to December, in CHF thousands
(preliminary figures)
1.10.-31.12.2018 1.10.-31.12.2017 Change
Zur Rose Group 317,947 271,294 17.2%
In local currency     18.3%
Organic     0.4%
Segment Switzerland 137,179 136,951 0.2%
B2B 100,834 97,797 3.1%
B2C 34,968 37,541 -6.9%
BlueCare(1) 1,377 1,613 n.a.
Segment Germany 172,931 134,343 28.7%
Rx 73,267 75,648 -3.1%
OTC 99,664 58,695 69.8%
International      
PromoFarma(2) 7,837 - n.a.
Segment Germany, in EUR thousands 152,114 115,999 31.1%
Rx 64,534 65,243 -1.1%
OTC 87,580 50,756 72.6%
 

1) consolidated per 5 May 2017
2) consolidated per 14 September 2018


Investors and analyst contact
Marcel Ziwica, Chief Financial Officer
Email: ir@zurrose.com, phone: +41 58 810 11 49

Media contact
Lisa Lüthi, Head of Corporate Communications
Email: media@zurrose.com, phone: +41 52 724 08 14

Financial Calendar
21 March 2019 Annual Results 2018
17 April 2019 Q1/2019 Trading Update
23 May 2019 Annual General Meeting
21 August 2019 2019 Half-Year Results
23 October 2019 Q3/2019 Trading Update

Zur Rose Group

The Swiss Zur Rose Group is Europe's largest e-commerce pharmacy and one of the leading medical wholesalers in Switzerland. With its business model, it offers high-quality, safe and cost-effective pharmaceutical care and thus contributes to reducing healthcare costs. It is also characterized by the continuous further development of digital services in the field of drug management and actively promotes its positioning as an integrated, cross-service healthcare platform. The creation of added value and a pronounced patient orientation make the Group an important strategic partner for service providers, cost units and industry.

The Zur Rose Group is internationally present with strong brands, including Germany,s best-known pharmacy brand DocMorris. The company employs over 1,000 people at various locations and generated a turnover of CHF 1,207 million in the 2018 financial year. The shares of Zur Rose Group AG are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (securities number 4261528, ISIN CH0042615283, ticker ROSE). The CHF 115 million corporate bond issued in July 2018 is also listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (securities number 42146044, ISIN CH0421460442, ticker ZRO18). Further 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: CH0042615283
Listed: SIX Swiss Exchange

 
End of News EQS Group News Service

768605  23.01.2019 

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