
Aspen reports a creditable and resilient performance under challenging trading conditions
Johannesburg – JSE-listed Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Limited (APN), a global multinational specialty pharmaceutical company, has reported creditable unaudited interim Group financial results for the six months ended 31 December 2022. Salient Highlights Revenue decreased by 1% (-6% in constant exchange rate (“CER”)) to R19,2 billion (December 2021: R19,4 billion) Normalised EBITDA decreased by 11% (-15% in CER) to R5,1 billion (December 2021: R5,7 billion) Normalised headline earnings per share decreased by 17% (-21% in CER) to 679.6 cents (December 2021: 816.4 cents) Headline earnings per share decreased by 15% (-20% in CER) to 660.6 cents (December 2021: 777.2 cents) Earnings per share decreased by 18% (-23% in CER) to 602.0 cents (December 2021: 736.2 cents) Improved Commercial Pharma gross profit margins helped deflect inflationary headwinds Significant advances have been made in contract negotiations with multinational customers seeking to secure a portion of Aspen’s sterile manufacturing capacities The technical transfer project for manufacture of the finished dose form vaccines licensed from Serum Institute of India is well advanced Stephen Saad, Aspen Group Chief Executive said, “The Group’s performance under challenging trading conditions was anticipated and is aligned to guidance previously shared for the first half of the financial year. Consistent with our previous communications, we are optimistic that the results for the second half of this financial year will not only exceed those reported for the first half but will also exceed those of the second half of the prior year. We are pleased to report that we are at advanced stages of contract negotiations to fill a portion of the additional sterile manufacturing capacities we have developed. Once concluded, this new manufacturing business is anticipated to realise a contribution of R2 billion in the 2024 calendar year, increasing to R4 billion in calendar year 2025. During the second half of this financial year we also anticipate closing important product portfolio transactions which will further enhance the Commercial Pharmaceuticals businesses in Latin America and South Africa.” GROUP HIGHLIGHTS Key Financial Indicators1 GROUP PERFORMANCE The Group has delivered a creditable and resilient performance under challenging trading conditions. As previously guided, relative to the prior comparative period, this half was impacted by the Russian/Ukraine war, inflationary pressure, COVID lockdowns and volume-based procurement impacts in China as well as the loss of COVID vaccine sales. These headwinds had some offsets from improved margins in Commercial Pharmaceuticals. Group revenue for the six months ended 31 December 2022 declined by 1% (-6% CER) to R19 150 million with Commercial Pharmaceuticals revenue growing 2% (-4% CER). Manufacturing revenue declined by 10% (-12% CER). Gross profit fell by 5% (-9% CER) as the reduction in Manufacturing gross profit margins from lost COVID vaccine contributions more than offset the improvement in Commercial Pharmaceuticals gross profit margins. Normalised EBITDA recorded negative growth of 11% (-15% CER) at R5 083 million. Lower net interest costs partly mitigated the increase in net financing costs arising from net foreign exchange losses of R234 million following the weakening of emerging market currencies. NHEPS declined by 17% (-21% CER) to 679,6 cents. The Group’s leverage ratio remained comfortably below target levels with reported net borrowings of R18,8 billion. During this period of uncertainty, given the war in Ukraine and COVID related supply impacts, there was increased investment in inventory by the Manufacturing segment. We have sufficient confidence to substantially unwind this working capital investment in the second half of the financial year. Aspen successfully concluded agreements with each of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (“the Gates Foundation”) and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (“CEPI”) to support African regional manufacturing capacity for an affordable supply of vaccines. Important advances were also made in the negotiation of key manufacturing contracts. SEGMENTAL PERFORMANCE (AT CER) Commercial Pharmaceuticals Commercial Pharmaceuticals revenue, comprising Regional Brands and Sterile Focus Brands, declined by 4% to R14 547 million. Revenue was negatively impacted, primarily by the divestment of certain products in South Africa in March 2022 as well as by the challenges documented earlier. The improved gross profit margin percentage resulted in a lower decline in gross profit of 2% to R8 728 million. Regional Brands Revenue from our largest segment, Regional Brands, increased by 2% to R9 355 million with 7% growth from each of Australasia and the Americas being the major contributors. Excluding the impact of the product divestment in South Africa (R294 million), Regional Brands revenue grew 6% with growth in Africa Middle East of 5% on a comparable product basis. Gross profit percentage was up at 59,7% (H1 2022: 57,0%), driven by cost of goods savings and favourable sales mix. Sterile Focus Brands Revenue from Sterile Focus Brands decreased by 13% to R5 192 million due to the aforementioned challenges in both Russia and China. Although the gross profit percentage of 60,5% was lower than the prior year comparable period (H1 2022: 61,4%), it is an improved margin compared to the second half of the previous financial year (H2 2022: 59,0%). The cost of goods savings from insourcing production has more than offset higher inflationary and logistic cost pressures. Manufacturing Manufacturing revenue decreased by 12% to R4 603 million attributable to the lower COVID vaccine sales. Heparin revenue was impacted by the prioritisation of technical transfer work related to new customers offset by increased pricing to counter the rising cost of raw heparin. The Manufacturing business has a high fixed cost base and consequently gains and losses of contribution are extremely impactful on profit margins. Gross profit margins were significantly lower at 5,2% (H1 2022: 19,2%), largely impacted by the loss of contribution from the manufacture of the COVID vaccine. This was exacerbated by revenue foregone to facilitate non-revenue generating technical transfer costs needed for the on-boarding of new sterile manufacturing opportunities. The receipt of the grant funding from the Gates Foundation and CEPI helped to partially offset sterile production costs related to the introduction of




