PHOENIX group underlines its position as a leading healthcare provider in Europe

• Total operating performance and revenue increased again
• EBITDA significantly improved compared with the first quarter of 2014/15
• Growth exceeds European market as a whole
• Positive outlook for fiscal year 2015/16 confirmed

The PHOENIX group consolidated its position as a leading healthcare provider in Europe in the first quarter of the fiscal year 2015/16. The company’s overall performance in Europe exceeded that of the market as a whole. Total operating performance, including revenue as well as handled volume for service charge, rose by 9.1 per cent to EUR 7.128 billion. Adjusted for exchange rate effects, this growth amounts to 8.5 per cent. Revenue rose by 7 per cent to EUR 5.836 billion. This primarily relates to an increase in revenue in Germany, where the pharmaceutical wholesale market experienced considerable growth. PHOENIX also recorded higher revenues in the majority of its foreign markets.

The PHOENIX group increased its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) by EUR 16.5 million to EUR 106.2 million in the first quarter of 2015/16. Adjusted for exchange rate effects, this corresponds to growth of 15.3 per cent in comparison with the same quarter of the previous year. The profit for the period further improved significantly by EUR 22.8 million to EUR 44.3 million. “The PHOENIX group has once again strengthened its position as a leading healthcare provider in Europe. The developments in the last quarter have met our expectations, and we are looking forward to the further course of the fiscal year with optimism,” says Oliver Windholz, Chief Executive Officer of the PHOENIX group.

Further optimisation of the capital structure and financial result

The financial result improved by EUR 13.7 million in comparison with the corresponding period of the previous year to EUR -11.7 million, primarily as a result of the repayment in 2014 of the high-yield bond issued in 2010 as well as the lower average net debt. Profit before tax increased by EUR 28.9 million to EUR 66.4 million compared with the same period of the previous year.

Equity rose from EUR 2.184 billion as of 30 April 2014 to EUR 2.541 billion, resulting in an increase in equity ratio of 33.6 per cent.

Forecast for the fiscal year 2015/16 confirmed

For the fiscal year 2015/16, the PHOENIX group expects to further expand its market position in Europe through organic growth and acquisitions and thereby continue to increase revenue above the level of growth on the European pharmaceutical markets.

Key figures of the PHOENIX group in comparison with the previous year’s period

¹ Total operating performance = revenue + handled volume (handling for service charge).