Cape Town - Ascendis Health said on Wednesday that it had lifted operating profit by 69 percent to R362 million on revenue that was up by 74 percent at R2.8 billion in the year to June.
A statement from the company pointed to key acquisitions – including Respiratory Care Africa, Arctic Healthcare Brands and the Scientific Group – as complementing comparable organic growth of 11 percent.
Ascendis – whose three divisions cover consumer brands, prescription drugs and medical devices, and plant and animal health – said the performance translated into headline earnings growth of 53 percent, from R137 million to R209 million.
Headline earnings per share increased by 25 percent to 80 cents in the period under review, impacted by a 23 percent increase in the weighted average number of shares in issue.
The total dividend was increased by 27 percent to 19 cents per share.
The fast growing health and care brands company also referred to plans to increase its international footprint, with a medium-term goal of earning 30 percent of revenue outside South Africa.
Revenue generated from foreign markets increased by 39 percent to R259 million this time around, accounting for nine percent of the group’s total sales in the year under review.
Shortly after year-end the company, which already exports its brands to 52 countries, announced its first international acquisition: the purchase of a 49 percent stake in Spanish pharmaceutical group, Farmalider, for R210 million.
ANA