|
Consumer Health Care | Key figures |
XLS | ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
€ million |
2008 |
2007 |
Δ in % |
|
Total revenues |
442 |
420 |
5.2 |
|
Gross margin |
294 |
284 |
3.5 |
|
R&D |
17 |
12 |
40 |
|
Operating result |
61 |
60 |
2.9 |
|
Exceptional items |
– |
– |
– |
|
Free cash flow (FCF) |
5.6 |
47 |
–88 |
|
FCF before acquisitions and disposals |
38 |
47 |
–19 |
|
ROS in % |
13.9 |
14.2 |
|
Focusing on four health themes
Our Consumer Health Care division is a specialized supplier of over-the-counter products focused on four health themes: Cough and Cold, Mobility, Everyday Health Protection and Women’s and Children’s Health. Our main distribution channels are pharmacies, as well as retail chains and mail order in some countries. We are building on the strength of our well-known brands and the trust consumers place in them with respect to their quality and efficacy.
Total revenues of the Consumer Health Care division rose by 5.2% to € 442 million in 2008. Organically, we posted a double-digit sales increase of 12%, more than twice that of the estimated global OTC market. We are continuing to pursue a two-pronged strategy. On the one hand, we are increasingly focusing our business on our strategic brands, while on the other hand we are driving expansion in growth markets such as those of eastern Europe, Asia and Latin America.
In 2008, we continued to invest significantly to further develop our strategic brands. These were financed partly by the proceeds from the sale of the Spanish diet product brand biManán® to the French company Nutrition & Santé for € 11 million. While biManán® was the division’s most important brand in Spain, it was only of local significance, did not focus on our health themes and recorded stagnant sales.
The operating result of the Consumer Health Care division increased to € 61 million, 2.9% more than in 2007. Free cash flow adjusted for acquisitions and disposals decreased by 19% to € 38 million mainly as a result of higher capital spending.