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Key financial performances
Revenue for 2018 reached € 4.63 billion, +2% at actual and +5% at constant exchange rates (CER). Net sales went up by 5% (+8% CER) to € 4.41 billion, driven by the continued growth of 5 core products, with combined net sales of € 3.8 billion (+6%; +10% CER), representing 82% of UCB’s revenue.
Recurring EBITDA [Operating profit adjusted for amortisation, depreciation, impairment charges, restructuring expenses and other exceptional income and expenses.] measuring the underlying profitability improved by 2% (+5% CER) to € 1 398 million - thanks to core product growth and despite higher R&D expense.
Core earnings per share, which reflect profit attributable to UCB shareholders, adjusted for the after-tax impact of non-recurring items, the financial one-offs, the after-tax contribution from discontinued operations and the net amortization of intangibles linked to sales, reached € 4.78 (-1%; +3% CER) based on 188 million weighted average shares outstanding.
Upcoming report›
| Date | Event details |
|---|---|
| 20 February 2020 | 2019 full year results 07.00 Press release 14.00 Conference call /webcast Exact timing to be confirmed closer to the time |
Outlook 2019 confirmed
For 2019, UCB expects the continued growth of its core products driving company growth. UCB will also advance its strong development pipeline to offer potential new solutions for patients and complement existing pipeline assets with external opportunities.
The acquisition of Ra Pharma will not impact UCB’s 2019 financial guidance. The acquisition would be dilutive to UCB’s mid-term earnings level due to additional planned R&D investments. As a result, the mid-term target of UCB reaching a rEBITDA ratio (to revenue) of 31% would move to 2022 from 2021 as previously guided.
2019 revenue reporting to reach approximately
€ 4.6-4.7 billion
Recurring EBITDA [Operating profit adjusted for amortisation, depreciation, impairment charges, restructuring expenses and other exceptional income and expenses.] in the range of
27-29% of revenue
Core earnings per share are therefore expected in the range of
€ 4.40-4.80
based on an average of
188 million shares outstanding
Mid-term guidance
The acquisition of Ra Pharma would be dilutive to UCB’s mid-term earnings level due to additional planned R&D investments. As a result, the mid-term target of UCB reaching a rEBITDA ratio (to revenue) of 31% would move to 2022 from 2021 as previously guided.
Recurring EBITDA [Operating profit adjusted for amortisation, depreciation, impairment charges, restructuring expenses and other exceptional income and expenses.] / revenue ratio
31% in 2022
Updated peak sales
- Vimpat® ≥ € 1.4 billion by 2022
- Cimzia® peak sales ≥ € 1.7 billion by 2024
Briviact® peak sales
≥ € 600 million in 2026
The acquisition of Ra Pharma would be dilutive to UCB’s mid-term earnings level due to R&D investments. As a result, the mid-term target of UCB reaching a rEBITDA ratio (to revenue) of 31% would move to 2022 from 2021 as previously guided.
In 2018, our recurring EBITDA/revenue ratio reached 30.2%
UCB has updated its peak sales guidance for Cimzia® to reach € 1.7 billion net sales by 2024, and Vimpat® € 1.4 billion by 2022.
In 2018, Cimzia® net sales amounted to € 1 446 million while Vimpat® net sales reached € 1 099 million - a new blockbuster for UCB
Briviact® available for people living with epilepsy since 2016, reached net sales of € 142 million. UCB provided peak sales guidance of € 600million by 2026 (patent expiry).
More financials...
Revenue for 2018 reached € 4.63 billion, +2% at actual and +5% at constant exchange rates (CER). Net sales went up by 5% (+8% CER) to € 4.41 billion.
Main drivers of the continued growth are UCB's core products, Cimzia® (immunology), Vimpat®, Keppra®, Briviact®, and Neupro® (neurology) with combined net sales of € 3.8 billion (+6%; +10% CER), representing 82% of UCB’s revenue.
Operating expenses, encompassing marketing and selling expenses, research and development expenses, general and administrative expenses and other operating income/expenses, reached € 2 329 million (+6%; +8% CER).
The operating expenses ratio (as a % of revenue) is 50.3%.
10% higher R&D expenses of € 1 161 million were driven by the late-stage clinical development pipeline, including the Phase 3 program for bimekizumab in psoriasis being fully recruited (results expected in Q4 2019).
The R&D ratio (as a % of revenue) for 2018 was 25%.
Net debt decreased by € 288 million from € 525 million as of end December 2017 to € 237 million as per end December 2018, and mainly relates to the underlying net profitability, offset by the acquisition of assets, the dividend payment on the 2017 results and the acquisition of own shares.
The net debt / recurring EBITDA ratio for 2018 reached 0.17 after 0.38 for 2017.
As from 2009 UCB successfully implemented a debt diversification and refinancing strategy. The company issued bonds that are outstanding bonds per 31 December 2018:
- € 75 million institutional notes, due 2019
- € 250 million retail bonds, due 2020
- € 350 million institutional bonds, due 2021
- € 350 million institutional bonds, due 2022
- € 176 million retail bonds, due 2023
In addition to these bonds, UCB has the availability of a
€ 1 billion revolving credit facility, due 2024.
The evolution of cash flow generated by biopharmaceuticals activities is affected by the following:
- Cash flow from operating activities amounted to € 1 089 million, of which € 1 098 million from continuing operations, compared to € 896 million in 2017 and stemming from underlying net profitability, offset with a higher need of commercial and development inventory.
- Cash flow from investing activities showed an outflow of € 320 million (continuing operations), compared to € 228 million in 2017 after investing in assets such as midazolam acquired from Proximagen and the last milestone payment to Dermira, offset with the sale of non-core assets.
- Cash flow from financing activities has an outflow of € 538 million, which includes the dividend paid to UCB shareholders (€ 222 million), the acquisition of treasury shares (€ 51 million) and the repayment of short-term borrowings (€ 169 million).