COMMUNIQUÉ DE PRESSE
par SARTORIUS STED BIO (EPA:DIM)
Sartorius Stedim Biotech publishes unaudited results for the first nine months of 2024
Sartorius Stedim Biotech SA / Key word(s): 9 Month figures Aubagne, France | October 17, 2024 Sartorius Stedim Biotech publishes unaudited results for the first nine months of 2024
Sartorius Stedim Biotech, a leading partner of the biopharmaceutical industry, closed the first nine months of the fiscal year as expected, with a positive trend in demand and a robust underlying profit margin. The company confirms its full year outlook. “Over the past months, we have seen a stabilizing business environment: Most customers are about to complete their destocking, leading to an increase in order intake on our side, especially for consumables. We are also encouraged by the above-average performance of our portfolio for advanced therapies. At the same time, many customers are still cautious about investing, which is impacting our equipment business. In terms of profitability, we see a very robust profit margin and expect the highest contribution from our ongoing efficiency program in the fourth quarter,” said René Fáber, CEO of Sartorius Stedim Biotech. “Based on the development of the first nine months, we are confident that we will meet our full-year guidance for 2024 and are optimistic for the future. With the high number of drug approvals and the increasing number of drug candidates entering our customers’ pipelines, Sartorius Stedim Biotech remains well-positioned for long-term growth, offering key solutions to support new therapies for patients worldwide.” Business development1 Sartorius Stedim Biotech offers a wide range of innovative technologies for the manufacture of biopharmaceuticals such as monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, and cell and gene therapeutics. In the first nine months of the fiscal year, the company recorded sales revenue of 2,029 million euros, which corresponds to a slight decline of 1.3 percent in constant currencies (reported: - 1.9 percent; organic: - 3.0 percent in constant currencies). Sales revenue includes a contribution of 2.5 percent from acquisitions2. As most customers are well progressing with their destocking programs, order intake1 increased by 8.5 percent in constant currencies (reported: +7.7 percent) to 1,895 million euros, with growing demand in the consumables business more than compensating for the still muted equipment business. Regionally, business performance varied: While in the Americas, sales revenue declined by 9.7 percent against strong prior year comparables and due to the soft equipment business, sales revenue grew by 5.9 percent in EMEA3. and also picked up in Asia Pacific by 1.3 percent, despite a still weak Chinese market. Underlying EBITDA was down by 4.9 percent to 565 million euros in the first nine months of 2024, mainly due to volume and product mix effects. The respective margin reached a robust 27.8 percent after 28.7 percent in the same period of 2023. Underlying net profit1 was 238 million euros, compared to 320 million euros in the first nine months of 2023. Net profit amounted to 129 million euros after 279 million euros in the prior-year period. Underlying earnings per share stood at 2.46 euros (PY: 3.47 euros) and earnings per share at 1.34 euros (PY: 3.02 euros). As of September 30, 2024, Sartorius Stedim Biotech employed 10,082 people worldwide, after 10,849 in September 2023 (December 31, 2023: 10,662 people). The reduction resulted primarily from the expiry of fixed-term employment contracts and regular attrition. Key financial indicators Sartorius Stedim Biotech’s key financial indicators remain at a highly robust level. Equity was 3,939 million euros as of September 30, 2024, while the equity ratio1 was 49.3 percent (December 31, 2023: 2,674 million euros and 34,6 percent), mainly as a result of the equity measures successfully completed at the beginning of February 2024. Net operating cash flow increased significantly to 530 million euros compared to 410 million euros in the prior-year period, particularly due to the reduction in working capital. Investments in research and the company’s global production infrastructure amounted to 260 million euros (PY: 371 million euros). The ratio of capital expenditures (capex) to sales revenue was 12.8 percent (PY: 17.9 percent). Gross debt decreased to 2,832 million euros (December 31, 2023: 3,682 million euros), net debt to 2,349 million euros and the ratio of net debt to underlying EBITDA1 to 3.1 as planned (December 31, 2023: 3,565 million euros and 4.5). Outlook for fiscal 2024 confirmed Based on the company’s nine-month results, management confirms its guidance for the full year 2024: Sartorius Stedim Biotech continues to expect sales revenue to be at prior-year level, with a bandwidth of low single-digit negative to low single-digit positive development in sales revenue. Acquisitions should contribute around 2 percent to sales revenue. In terms of profitability, the underlying EBITDA margin is expected to reach 27 to 29 percent, with a slightly positive effect from the above-average profitability of the Polyplus business. The ongoing efficiency program will contribute more than 85 million euros, while volume effects and the company's own inventory reduction will have a temporary dilutive effect. The ratio of capital expenditure in relation to sales revenue is forecast to be around 12 percent for the full year, while the ratio of net debt to underlying EBITDA should be approximately 2.5 to 3.0. Forecasts have been prepared based on historical information and are consistent with accounting policies. All forecast figures are based on constant currencies, as in past years. Management points out that dynamics and volatilities in the industry have increased significantly in recent years. In addition, uncertainties due to the changed geopolitical situation, such as the emerging decoupling tendencies of various countries, are playing a greater role. This results in higher uncertainty when forecasting business figures. 1 Sartorius Stedim Biotech publishes alternative performance measures that are not defined by international accounting standards. These are determined with the aim of improving the comparability of business performance over time and within the industry.
3 EMEA = Europe, Middle East, Africa This media release contains forward-looking statements about the future development of the Sartorius Stedim Biotech Group. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Sartorius Stedim Biotech assumes no liability for updating such statements in light of new information or future events. Sartorius Stedim Biotech shall not assume any liability for the correctness of this release. The original French press release is the legally binding version. Conference call Dr. René Fáber, CEO of the Sartorius Stedim Biotech Group, will discuss the company’s 9-month results with analysts and investors in a conference call at 1.00 p.m. CEST on October 17, 2024. Register here: https://sar.to/9M_2024 Key Performance Indicators for the first nine months of 2024
Key Performance Indicators for Q3 2024
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