Special items
During Q1, Coloplast incurred special
items expenses of DKK 15 million,
related to integration costs for the Atos
Medical acquisition.
Operating profit (EBIT) after special
items
EBIT after special items was DKK 1,807
million, a DKK 46 million (3%) increase
from last year. The EBIT margin after
special items was 27%.
Financial items and tax
Financial items were a net expense of
DKK 253 million against a net expense
of DKK 334 million last year.
The net expense was impacted by
interest expenses of DKK 168 million
compared to DKK 116 million last year,
mostly related to the financing of the
Atos Medical acquisition. Net losses on
balance sheet items of DKK 139 million,
mostly driven by the ARS and the USD,
also contributed to the net expense. The
financial expenses were only partly
offset by financial income of DKK 82
million.
The tax rate was 22%, compared to
21% last year. The tax rate continued to
include positive impact from the transfer
of Atos Medical’s Intellectual Property.
The tax expense was DKK 342 million
compared to DKK 300 million last year.
Coloplast’s long-term tax rate
expectations are unchanged at around
23%.
Net profit
Net profit before special items was DKK
1,224 million, a DKK 87 million increase
from DKK 1,137 million last year.
Diluted earnings per share (EPS) before
special items increased by 2% from DKK
5.35 last year to DKK 5.45 and include
impact from the equity raise in August
2023. Net profit after special items was
DKK 1,212 million and diluted earnings
per share (EPS) after special items were
DKK 5.40.
Cash flows and
investments
Cash flows from operating activities
Cash flows from operating activities
amounted to DKK 1,788 million, against
DKK 487 million last year. The positive
development in cash flows from
operating activities was mostly driven by
lower income tax paid, impacted by the
transfer of Atos Medical’s Intellectual
Property. Changes in working capital also
positively impacted the cash flow, driven
by a favourable development in mostly
inventories, as well as trade and other
payables.
Investments
Net investments amounted to DKK 267
million in the first quarter of 2023/24 or
around 4% of revenue, compared with
DKK 275 million in Q1 last year.
Free cash flow
As a result, the free cash flow was an
inflow of DKK 1,521 million compared to
an inflow of DKK 212 million in the same
period last year.
Capital resources
At 31 December 2023, Coloplast had
net interest-bearing debt, including
securities, of DKK 20,719 million,
against DKK 18,660 million at 30
September 2023. The gearing ratio at
the end of the period was 2.4x EBITDA
(before special items).
Coloplast is committed to deleveraging
and bringing the gearing ratio down to
between 1x-2x EBITDA by 2024/25.
Statement of financial
position and equity
Balance sheet
At 31 December 2023, total assets
amounted to DKK 48,591 million, an
increase of DKK 432 million compared
to 30 September 2023.
Working capital was 26% of revenue, on
par with 30 September 2023.
Inventories decreased by DKK 3 million
to DKK 3,519 million. Trade receivables
increased by DKK 77 million to DKK
4,392 million, while trade payables
decreased by DKK 132 million to DKK
1,162 million, impacted by timing.
Coloplast’s long-term working capital-to-
sales ratio is unchanged and expected to
be around 24%, while the working
capital-to-sales ratio in FY 2023/24 is
expected to be around 25%.
Equity
Equity decreased by DKK 2,174 million
compared to 30 September 2023 to
DKK 15,125 million. Total
comprehensive income for the period of
DKK 1,297 million, net effect of sale of
treasury shares and loss of exercised
options of DKK 102 million and share-
based remuneration of DKK 22 million
were offset by payment of dividends of
DKK 3,595 million.
Treasury shares
At 31 December 2023, Coloplast’s
holding of treasury shares consisted of
3,375,175 B shares, which was 164,353
less than 30 September 2023. The
decrease was due to exercise of share
options.
Return on invested capital (ROIC)
ROIC after tax before special items was
15% against 17% as of 30 September
2023. The decrease was driven by the
acquisitions of Kerecis. Q1 2023/24 is
expected to be the trough on ROIC,
which is expected to improve going
forward.