Stallergenes Greer plc Stallergenes Greer Delivers Double Digit Growth and Solid Business Performance in the First Half of 20...

 
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Stallergenes Greer, a biopharmaceutical company specialising in treatments for respiratory allergies, today announced its half-year results for the six-month period ended 30 June 2018.

H1 2018 Financial Highlights

 
(in EUR million)                 H1 (unaudited) 
                               2018   2017   % change 
Net sales                      142.3  129.6  10% 
Gross margin                   96.9   83.4   16% 
Gross margin as a % of sales   68%    64% 
EBIT                           17.4   (3.5)  n.a. 
Net income/(loss)              13.6   (8.9)  n.a. 
EBITDA                         27.6   8.3    n.a. 
EBITDA as a % of sales         19%    6% 
 
 

Fereydoun Firouz, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Stallergenes Greer, commented:

"Our performance through the first half of 2018 reflects our continued focus on business fundamentals: grow our share in priority markets and strengthen profitability to sustain investments. We delivered double digit sales growth in a competitive global market, despite reimbursement and pricing challenges in European and International markets. At the same time, we reduced our operating expenses by 12% while investing in quality at each of our global manufacturing sites and advancing our clinical pipeline.

Our ability to drive growth while controlling our costs resulted in another important milestone in our recovery that is critical for the future of our company: positive net income at EUR13.6 million compared to a loss of EUR8.9 million in the first half of 2017. We also succeeded in generating positive cash flow. As a result of these important milestones being reached, we now have the organizational flexibility, balance sheet stability and internal capability to pursue our goals. We will continue to grow and expand our current business and be opportunistic to accelerate our future growth through external innovation.

In the second half of 2018, we will solidify our leadership position in priority markets and continue to grow our share strategically across our Europe/International and Americas regions. We also expect to release initial results from the phase III clinical trial for our house dust mite tablet candidate STAGR320 later this year. Most importantly, we will sustain our commitments to quality and technical operations to offer a complete range of high quality subcutaneous and sublingual AIT treatments that meet the current global market demand, to position ourselves for future growth and to deliver long-term value creation."

Half-year net sales increased 10% because of continued growth across the product portfolio and regions

Net sales by region: Solid growth in Southern Europe and the United States

 
(in EUR million)           H1 (unaudited) 
                         2018  2017  % change 
Southern Europe          72.1  53.7  34% 
North & Central Europe   17.9  18.5  (3)% 
International            6.9   11.8  (42)% 
United States            45.4  45.6  (0)% 
 
 

The 10% increase year-over-year in first half net sales reflects strong growth in Southern Europe and in the United States. However, results in the United States were negatively impacted by foreign currency exchange. While reported sales were stable compared to the same period in 2017, the region delivered 12% year-over-year sales growth in local currency (USD).

Stallergenes Greer continued to gain share in the European grass tablet market with Oralair®1 and in the German birch tree market with Staloral®2. In addition, the Company had a strong performance in France, Italy, Switzerland, the Benelux region, Slovakia and Russia. Sales in international markets were down due to a combination of effects from the application of the new revenue recognition standard from 1 January 20183 and a large shipment of products in the same period of 2017 to prepare for in-market launches.

In the United States, Stallergenes Greer has strengthened its leadership of the bulk allergen market by executing on a recalibrated marketing approach as well as by maximising production capabilities to meet the demand of a market-wide shortage of priority allergens during a high allergy season in the United States.

Net sales by product category: Sublingual sales grew in EU/International while United States strengthened leadership position in subcutaneous

 
(in EUR million)    H1 (unaudited) 
                  2018  2017  % change 
Sublingual4       91.3  76.9  19% 
Subcutaneous5     34.7  36.9  (6)% 
Veterinary        4.3   5.0   (14)% 
Other products6   12.0  10.8  11% 
 
 

In the first half 2018, sublingual product sales increased 19% to EUR91.3 million from the first half of 2017, primarily driven by Staloral as a result of market share gains in priority markets, a strong performance in the paediatric market and, to some extent, the industry-wide shortage of subcutaneous immunotherapy treatments in Europe.

In the subcutaneous product category, the Company reported first half 2018 sales of EUR34.7 million, a 6% decrease compared to 2017. In Europe/International, sales decreased as a result of production delays at the Company's Antony facility. In the U.S., solid sales growth was offset by the negative impact of foreign currency exchange.

First half 2018 veterinary sales declined 14% to EUR4.3 million compared to the same period of 2017, due to increased competition in this segment and the negative impact of foreign exchange. Sales from the other product category grew 11% year-over-year to EUR12.0 million in the first half of 2018 as a result of captured market opportunities in the U.S.

_______________1 Source: IQVIA MIDAS2 Source: Insight Health3 IFRS154 Product category includes oral drops (Staloral) and tablets (Oralair and Actair®)5 Product category includes Named Patient Prescription products and bulk allergens6 Product category includes diagnostic and ancillary products

Operational efficiencies delivered margin improvement and return to positive net income

Stallergenes Greer's first half 2018 gross margin of EUR96.9 million represented a margin of 68% of net sales, compared to 64% in the prior year first half. In addition, efficiency measures continued to deliver significant cost savings and the Company reported a positive first half 2018 EBIT of EUR17.4 million, compared to a loss of EUR3.5 million in the same period of 2017. First half 2018 EBITDA increased by EUR19.3 million to EUR27.6 million as a result of a EUR12.7 million increase in sales as well as a 12% decline in operating expenses, from EUR86.8 million in the first half of 2017 to EUR76.6 million in the same period of 2018. The Company reported a net income of EUR13.6 million in the first half of 2018, compared to a net loss of EUR8.9 million in the same period of 2017. As of 30 June 2018, the Company's shareholders' equity represented 83% of the balance sheet total.

Company continues to invest in innovation to fuel long-term growth

Stallergenes Greer is committed to developing innovative therapies for major respiratory allergies and invested EUR20.1 million in R&D in the first half of 2018, primarily to fund the phase III global multi-centre clinical trial for the Company's tablet candidate STAGR320 for the treatment of house dust mite-induced allergic rhinitis. With more than 1,600 patients enrolled, this is the largest study conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of a sublingual immunotherapy tablet treatment. The Company expects to release top line results from the trial during the fourth quarter of 2018.

In addition, Stallergenes Greer announced positive results from two real-world evidence studies regarding the use of allergy immunotherapy (AIT) compared to the use of only symptomatic treatments to treat patients with respiratory allergies in June 2018. These studies were retrospective longitudinal analyses of French and German prescription databases and further substantiated the long-term benefits of AIT to significantly reduce the need for allergic rhinitis and asthma medication in patients suffering from grass pollen- and birch tree pollen-induced allergies. These studies are part of the BREATH real-world evidence program, which is designed to understand the real-world benefits of AIT outside of a clinical trial setting.

Investments in Quality and Technical Operations to continue

Stallergenes Greer continued investments in Technical and Quality Operations capabilities at all its manufacturing sites to comply with evolving regulatory requirements and the latest Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) biological manufacturing standards; to strengthen its quality culture across the organisation; and to ensure product quality and patient safety for all released and distributed products.

During the first half of 2018, the Company successfully completed maintenance of its manufacturing operations with major renovations and upgrades. In France, the Company continued to progress on its remediation plan to address observations related to a 4 January 2018 injunction for its Antony facility from the National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety (ANSM), including renovation to key manufacturing areas, employee training and an enhanced quality system focused on consistency across operations. In the U.S., the Company continued to strengthen its quality system and introduced state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies and advanced initiatives to increase capacity.

The company also demonstrated its manufacturing flexibility to meet market demands during the first half of 2018. In France, the company increased production of sublingual products to partially offset the temporary shortage of injectable products in the European/International markets and sourced a new venom supply to meet a market shortage in Europe and Asia. In the U.S., the company increased its volume and delivered high priority allergens.

2018 Business Outlook unchanged

The Company expects 2018 net sales to be in the range of EUR270 million to EUR280 million and EBITDA to be in the range of EUR40 million to EUR50 million.

Senior Leadership Succession Plan

Fereydoun Firouz, currently Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, has informed the Board of his decision to retire from these positions at the end of 2018. He will be succeeded at that time as Chairman by Stefan Meister, a member of the Board since 2015, and as Chief Executive Officer by Michele Antonelli, currently Executive Vice President, Head of Europe & International & President of Stallergenes SAS. The announcement comes at the culmination of the successful turnaround of the Company led by Fereydoun Firouz. Stallergenes Greer is now well positioned to regain its global market leadership and continue its positive business momentum.

Fereydoun Firouz said "Stallergenes Greer is a special company with an inspiring purpose and highly dedicated people. By the end of 2018, I will have been Chairman and CEO for nearly four years and I believe this is the right time for a new leader to build upon what has been accomplished. I have been privileged to work with a passionate leadership team to successfully overcome some challenging phases and ultimately deliver the strong results we published today. These results demonstrate our achievements and the Company can now look to the future with great confidence. Michele has been an instrumental leader in the Company's success over the past three years. He has the expertise and experience to take the lead as CEO and drive Stallergenes Greer to its next phase of growth."

Fereydoun continued "I will leave the Company in very good hands and at a time when the strategy we devised and executed is showing through in our financial results and market performance. My colleagues on the Board of Directors and the management team have the knowledge and abilities to take the Company to new heights and capitalise on our product, manufacturing, and geographic opportunities. I would also like to thank the Board and our shareholders for their resolute support at all times and wish the very best success to the Company."

"On behalf of the Board and our shareholders, I would like to recognise and thank Fereydoun for his remarkable contribution to the Company and its performance." said Elmar Schnee, an Independent Director and the Chairman of the Remuneration and Appointment Committee. "Fereydoun oversaw the creation of the Company through the successful integration of Stallergenes and Greer Laboratories in 2015 and then led it through the resolution of significant problems from an earlier implementation of Enterprise Resource Planning software that unfortunately temporarily halted the supply of products in early 2016 to its major markets."

He concluded by saying "Fereydoun combined a determination and relentless commitment to meeting challenges, with a penetrating vision to first develop and then implement a strategy to successfully bring the Company back to a path of growth and profitability. There is no doubt that the strength of the Company today is due to his leadership, of both the Company's strategy and its great people. We recognise these achievements and are truly grateful for Fereydoun's dedicated service and for assisting the process of transition until the end of 2019."

The Chairman-designate, Stefan Meister, then welcomed Michele Antonelli to the role of Chief Executive Officer and said "In Michele we are fortunate to have ready the leader for the next phase of the Company's development. His experience and insight, combined with his commitment and passion for the business, are the ideal combination of talent and motivation for the future of Stallergenes Greer. I look forward to serving as Chairman and join Elmar in thanking Fereydoun for his great service to the Company over the last four years."

Commenting on his appointment, Michele said today "I am honoured to have been invited to take on the role of CEO of Stallergenes Greer. This Company is a global leader in an important and growing market and makes a real difference to the lives of the patients it serves. The transformation driven by Fereydoun over the last four years leaves us in a remarkable place, ready to move forward and deliver even more outstanding results for all its stakeholders. I am delighted to accept this position at such an exciting time and look forward to working with the team of great professionals Fereydoun has attracted to the Company and build upon the strong foundations he has secured for this fantastic business."

Michele Antonelli has more than 20 years of international experience in the biopharmaceutical industry with extensive expertise in both manufacturing and commercial. He previously worked at UCB, the multinational biopharmaceutical Company, where he held roles of various responsibility and scope, most recently serving as Executive Vice President and Head of lmmunology Europe, overseeing the region's commercial, medical, and market access activities. Prior to joining UCB, Michele spent 16 years at Merck Serono, ultimately serving as Senior Vice President and Global Head of Biotech Manufacturing and Process Development.

The Company and Fereydoun Firouz will enter into an agreement governing Fereydoun Firouz's retirement from the Company that reflects the terms of his existing contract of employment. This agreement contemplates a one-year garden-leave period that will run through to the end of 2019, consistent with Fereydoun Firouz's existing one year undertaking to not compete with the Company. During this one-year garden-leave period, Fereydoun will assist as needed with the transition to the Company's new leadership, providing support as required to Michele Antonelli and to the Board and management team generally when requested. At the end of 2019, Fereydoun Firouz will leave the Company's employment and be entitled to the severance terms set out in his existing contract.

Webcast and Conference Call Information

Stallergenes Greer will host an Investors and Analysts meeting tomorrow, 30 August 2018. The event will be available via live webcast at 10:30 am GMT / 11:30 am CET / 5:30 am EDT. The webcast will be available via the following link: https://edge.media-server.com/m6/go/STAGR_18HY and on the Company's website,http://stallergenesgreer.com/financial-calendar-events.

Participants are asked to connect at least 15 minutes prior to the conference call to register, download and install any necessary audio software.

ABOUT STALLERGENES GREER PLC

Headquartered in London (UK), Stallergenes Greer plc is a global healthcare company specialising in the diagnosis and treatment of allergies through the development and commercialisation of allergy immunotherapy products and services. Stallergenes Greer plc is the parent company of GREER Laboratories, Inc. (whose registered office is in the US) and Stallergenes SAS (whose registered office is in France).

TRADING INFORMATION

Name: Stallergenes GreerISIN: GB00BZ21RF93 1 - Ticker: STAGRICB Classification: 4577LEI: 213800CYVZA7GJQEME86Market: Euronext Paris regulated market

Additional information is available at http://www.stallergenesgreer.com.

This document (including information incorporated by reference in this document), oral statements made, and other information published by the Company contain statements that are or may be forward-looking with respect to the financial condition and/or results of operations and businesses of the Company. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believe," "expects," "project," "estimated," "forecast," "should," "plan," "may" or the negative of any of these, or other variations thereof, or comparable terminology indicating expectations or beliefs concerning future events. These forward-looking statements include risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. Without being exhaustive, such factors include economic situations and business conditions, including legal and product evaluation issues, fluctuations in currencies and demand, and changes in competitive factors. These and other factors are more fully described in the Company's 2017 annual report published on 16 April 2018 on the Company's website www.stallergenesgreer.com. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements, due to various factors. Save as required by applicable law, neither the Company nor any other person assumes any obligation to update these forward-looking statements or to notify any person of any such update.

Stallergenes GreerCommunications and Investor RelationsNatacha Gassenbach, +1 [e-mail] Stefanik, +1 [e-mail] Relations AgencyHavas Paris (Europe)Samuel Rousseau, [phone] [e-mail] Relations AgencyFTI ConsultingArnaud de Cheffontaines, [phone] [e-mail]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Consolidated income statement as of 30 June 2018

Consolidated balance sheet as of 30 June 2018

Consolidated cash flow statement as of 30 June 2018

The financial information set out above does not constitute the Group's financial statements for the period ended 30 June 2018 and 2017 but are derived from those statements. The annual report for 2017 have been delivered to the UK Companies House. The auditor has reported on those statements. Their report was unqualified, did not draw attention to any matters by way of emphasis and did not contain statements under Section 498 (2) or (3) Companies Act 2006 or equivalent preceding legislation. While the financial information included in this preliminary announcement has been computed in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), this announcement itself does not contain sufficient information to comply with IFRS.

The Group published full financial statements that comply with IFRS that are available on its website at http://stallergenesgreer.com/half-year-report.

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 29 August 2018.

Consolidated income statement as of 30 June 2018

For the period ended 30 June 2018

 
EUR thousands                                            30 June    30 June 
                                                       2018       2017 
Net sales                                              142,327    129,615 
Other revenue                                          57         10 
Total revenues                                         142,384    129,625 
Cost of goods sold                                     (45,531)   (46,265) 
Gross margin                                           96,853     83,360 
Distribution costs                                     (5,439)    (5,383) 
Selling and marketing expenses                         (24,447)   (29,894) 
Administrative expenses                                (24,626)   (28,807) 
Other general expenses                                 (3,168)    (1,027) 
Selling, general and administrative expenses           (57,680)   (65,111) 
Research and development costs (R&D)                   (20,132)   (24,947) 
R&D-related income                                     1,189      3,225 
Net R&D costs                                          (18,943)   (21,722) 
Operating result (EBIT) before transformation costs    20,231     (3,473) 
Transformation costs                                   (2,800)    - 
Operating result (EBIT)                                17,430     (3,473) 
Financial income                                       3          20 
Financial expenses                                     (401)      (847) 
Net financial expense                                  (398)      (827) 
Net income / (loss) before tax and associates          17,032     (4,300) 
Income tax                                             (3,394)    (4,582) 
Share of loss from associated companies                -          (8) 
Net income / (loss) for the period                     13,638     (8,890) 
 
 

All the activities were in respect of continuing operations.The basic profit and diluted net income per share for the six months to June 2018 was EUR 0.69 (June 2017: loss of EUR 0.45)

Consolidated balance sheet as of 30 June 2018

As at 30 June 2018

 
EUR thousands                                     30 June  31 December 
                                                2018     2017 
Goodwill                                        199,711  195,187 
Other intangible assets                         67,878   70,913 
Property, plant and equipment                   66,768   69,138 
Non-current financial assets                    4,279    3,957 
Deferred tax assets                             26,717   26,754 
Other non-current assets                        237      237 
Non-current assets                              365,590  366,186 
Inventories                                     60,828   56,793 
Trade receivables                               26,030   33,199 
Current financial asset                         732      684 
Other current assets                            10,888   9,231 
Current income tax receivable                   661      611 
Research tax credit and subsidies receivable    26,151   22,708 
Cash and cash equivalents                       70,702   50,849 
Current assets                                  195,991  174,075 
Total assets                                    561,581  540,261 
Share capital                                   19,788   19,788 
Share premium                                   539      539 
Merger and contribution premium                 342,149  342,149 
Revaluation reserve                             (236)    (236) 
Retained earnings                               103,448  85,086 
Group shareholders' equity                      465,688  447,326 
Non-controlling interests                       -        - 
Total shareholders' equity                      465,688  447,326 
Provision for employee retirement               3,560    3,442 
obligations and related benefits 
Non-current provisions                          526      514 
Non-current financial liabilities               6,318    6,318 
Deferred tax liabilities                        6,432    6,283 
Non-current liabilities                         16,836   16,557 
Trade payables                                  23,836   19,793 
Current provisions                              4,547    2,115 
Current financial liabilities                   12,378   12,204 
Income tax payable                              2,538    1,313 
Other current liabilities                       35,757   40,953 
Current liabilities                             79,057   76,378 
Total equity and liabilities                    561,581  540,261 
 
 

Consolidated cash flow statement as of 30 June 2018

 
EUR thousands                                    30 June  30 June 
                                               2018     2017 
Cash flow from operating 
activities 
Group share of net                             13,638   (8,890) 
income / (loss) 
Share of earnings from equity                  -        8 
accounted investments 
Tax                                            3,394    4,582 
Net financial result                           398      827 
Amortisation and depreciation                  11,728   11,752 
charges 
Change in provisions                           2,620    (3,048) 
Share-based compensation                       976      1,391 
Capital losses from                            1,090    49 
disposal of assets 
Financial (profits) / losses                   (2)      (385) 
excluding interest 
Operating cash flow before                     33,842   6,286 
changes in working capital 
Current income tax paid                        (2,418)  (961) 
Change in subsidies and R&D                    (3,253)  (3,585) 
tax credit receivables 
Change in working capital                      (1,681)  (13,375) 
of operating activities 
Change in deferred income                      82       (315) 
Net cash flow from operating                   26,572   (11,950) 
activities 
Cash flow from investing 
activities 
Purchase of non-current assets                 (8,319)  (4,653) 
Acquisition of investments in consolidated     -        - 
undertakings, net of cash  acquired 
Proceeds from sale of                          2,363    2,274 
non-current assets 
Change in working capital                      (906)    (2,234) 
of investment activities 
Net cash flow from investing                   (6,862)  (4,613) 
activities 
Free cash flow after                           19,710   (16,563) 
investing activities 
Cash flow from financing 
activities 
Treasury shares transactions                   48       374 
Net financial interest                         (396)    (441) 
received / (paid) 
Repayment of bank overdrafts                   (8)      (238) 
Repayment of borrowings                        (5,368)  (15,704) 
Proceeds from borrowings                       5,393    9,766 
Net cash flow from financing                   (331)    (6,243) 
activities 
Change in cash and                             19,379   (22,806) 
cash equivalents 
+ Cash and cash equivalents                    50,849   71,262 
- opening balance 
-/+ effect of translation adjustment on        474      (811) 
foreign currency -  denominated cash 
=Cash and cash equivalents                     70,702   47,645 
- closing balance 
 
 
 
 

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August 30, 2018 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT)