14/11/2002

US growth aids Galen profits gain

Improved growth in the United States has helped Craigavon-based, Galen Holdings post its strongest set of results since flotation in 1997.

The pharmaceutical company revealed that profits rose to £101m from £41m over the past year while revenues for the past 12 months rose to £102m from last year's £187m.

Galen's earning's per share (EPS) before exceptional items and amortisation of goodwill and intangible assets rose to 32.2p from 23.4p a year earlier.

Commenting on the results, CEO Roger Boissonneault, said: "This is an excellent set of results for Galen. During the year, we took a number of strategic steps, such as the divestment of our services business towards positioning Galen as a pure pharmaceutical company, with strong organic growth, a robust pipeline and a strong balance sheet.

"We have delivered on all of our objectives and look forward to 2003 with much confidence."

But despite the company's strong performance throughout the year, Galen's share price has underperformed with shares falling nearly 30% since the start of the year, hitting an all-time low of 264p in July.

However, while executive chairman, Dr John King described the share price performance as a "disaster" he insisted recovery was already underway.

Galen's positive yearly result follows on a Viridian Group report earlier this week which revealed a £3.1m increase in pre-tax half-year profits.

The figures showed that for the six months up to the end of September, the company posted a pre-tax profit hike of £29.8 million compared to £26.7 million for the same period last year.

While turnover increased from £305.3 million to £331.8 million, adjusted operating profit was down from £48.5 million to £47.6 million.

The company's share price also went up by 3p to 498p in early trading.

(MB)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

11 November 2003
Galen post better than expected full year figures
Northern Ireland based pharmaceuticals company Galen has posted better than expected end of year figures. Total operating profit for the company was up 79% at US$187 million, from almost US$105 million in 2002, and sales revenue rose almost 46% to reach US$432 million in the year, up from US$296 million in 2002.
09 April 2024
Greens Welcomes Major Investment In Cross-Border Rail Service
The Green Party has welcomed the news of an investment of €165 million (approximately £141m) for the development of new cross-border rail services between Belfast and Dublin. The PEACEPLUS programme involves modernising the service with brand new trains and improving journey times to under two hours.
14 November 2001
Galen report buoyant trading for year ending 2001
Galen Holdings, the international speciality pharmaceuticals company based in Craigavon, has posted buoyant profit figures. In the last trading year the company reported a turnover of £183 million for the year ended September 2001, up more than double on that of the previous year’s £86 million turnover figure.
04 July 2001
HOLDINGS WINDFALL FOR GALEN DIRECTORS
THREE Ulster businessmen are to benefit from a share holdings windfall of around £100 million. Galen pharmaceutical group directors, Dr Allen McClay and John King will pick up £40 million each, while finance director Geoffrey Elliott, as well as charitable trust set up by Dr McClay, will receive £10 million each.
14 January 2004
Rise in NI unemployment figures
The number of people unemployed in Northern Ireland is on the increase according to the latest figures. Labour force statistics released on Wednesday revealed that some 46,000 people are unemployed, a rise of 3,000 on the this time last year.