The Jean Coutu Group: Third Quarter of Fiscal Year 2013 Results
(firmenpresse) - LONGUEUIL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwire) -- 01/10/13 -- The Jean Coutu Group (PJC) Inc. (the "Corporation" or the "Jean Coutu Group") (TSX: PJC.A) reported its financial results today for the third quarter ended December 1st, 2012.
Highlights
Financial results
"We are very satisfied with the results of the third quarter of fiscal 2013 and with the excellent performance of our network whose sales have reached over one billion dollars during this period. The contribution of our affiliated pharmacists and their employees is essential to the success of our organization" said the President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Francois J. Coutu. "In addition, the notable positive results of Rite Aid during the quarter ended December 1st, 2012 allow us to look forward to next year with optimism."
Revenues
Revenues consist mainly of sales and other revenues derived from franchising activities. Merchandise sales to PJC franchisees made mostly through our distribution centres account for the greater part of our revenues.
Revenues amounted to $716.6 million during the third quarter ended December 1st, 2012, compared with $700.1 million in the quarter ended November 26, 2011. During the 39-week period of fiscal year 2013, revenues amounted to $2,056.8 million compared with $1,995.9 million in the same period of previous fiscal year, an increase of 3.1%. This increase is attributable to overall market growth and the expansion of the PJC network of franchised stores, despite the deflationary impact on revenue due to the introduction of the generic version of some drugs as well as the price reductions of generic drugs previously decreed by the Quebec Government.
OIBA
OIBA increased by $5.2 million to $85.1 million for the third quarter ended December 1st, 2012 compared with $79.9 million for the quarter ended November 26, 2011. This increase is mostly attributable to a strong operational performance of the generic drugs segment as well as the franchising activities, despite the reduction of generic drugs prices to the lowest selling price granted to other provincial drug insurance programs since April 20, 2012. OIBA as a percentage of revenues ended the third quarter of fiscal year 2013 at 11.9% compared with 11.4% for the same quarter of the previous fiscal year.
For the 39-week period of fiscal year 2013, the Corporation's OIBA increased by $13.6 million amounting to $241.4 million compared with $227.8 million for the same period of fiscal year 2012. As a percentage of revenues, OIBA ended the 39-week period of 2013 at 11.7% compared with 11.4% for the same period of previous fiscal year.
Pro Doc
Gross sales of Pro Doc drugs, net of intersegments eliminations, amounted to $41.4 million during the quarter ended December 1st, 2012, compared with $37.1 million for the quarter ended November 26, 2011. Pro Doc's contribution to the consolidated OIBA amounted to $16.1 million during the quarter ended December 1st, 2012, compared with $15.4 million for the quarter ended November 26, 2011. Pro Doc's contribution to the consolidated OIBA as a percentage of gross sales, net of intersegment eliminations, ended the third quarter of fiscal year 2013 at 38.9% compared with 41.5% for the same period of the previous fiscal year.
For the 39-week period of fiscal year 2013, gross sales of Pro Doc drugs, net of intersegments eliminations, amounted to $117.5 million compared with $106.7 million for the same period of fiscal year 2012. Pro Doc's contribution to the consolidated OIBA amounted to $46.7 million during the 39-week period of fiscal year 2013, compared with $41.2 million for the same period of fiscal year 2012. Pro Doc's contribution to the consolidated OIBA as a percentage of gross sales, net of intersegment eliminations, ended the 39-week period of fiscal year 2013 at 39.7% compared with 38.6% for the same period of the previous fiscal year.
Gains related to the investment in Rite Aid
During the 39-week period of fiscal year 2013, the Corporation sold 56,000,000 common shares of Rite Aid. Those shares were sold for a total consideration of $82.8 million, net of related costs. During the 39-week period of fiscal year 2012, the Corporation sold 17,574,100 common shares of Rite Aid for a total consideration of $22 million, net of related costs. These proceeds were recorded as a gain on investment since the carrying value of the investment in Rite Aid was previously written-off. Following the sale of those shares, the Corporation lost its significant influence over Rite Aid. Consequently, this investment, which was previously considered as an investment in an associate and accounted for under the equity method, is now considered as an available-for-sale investment and is accounted for at fair value. This change generated a non-cash gain of $265.2 million (US$267.6 million) in the Corporation's consolidated statement of income for the 39-week period ended December 1st, 2012 which was the fair value of the 178,401,162 common shares that the Corporation owned at the date of its loss of significant influence.
Net profit
Net profit amounted to $56.2 million ($0.26 per share) during the quarter ended December 1st, 2012 compared with $51.7 million ($0.23 per share) for the quarter ended November 26, 2011. The net profit is mainly attributable to the solid operational performance of the generic drugs segment and of the franchising activities.
Net profit amounted to $504.8 million ($2.32 per share) for the 39-week period of fiscal year 2013 compared with $168.0 million ($0.74 per share) for the same period of fiscal year 2012. The increase in net profit is attributable to gains of $348 million related to the investment in Rite Aid during the 39-week period of fiscal year 2013 compared with a gain of $22 million in the same period of fiscal year 2012. Net profit before gains related to the investment in Rite Aid and change in fair value of other financial assets amounted to $157.9 million ($0.72 per share) for the 39-week period of fiscal year 2013 compared with $145.4 million ($0.64 per share) for the same period of previous fiscal year.
Information on the PJC network of franchised stores
The Corporation carries on the franchising activity under the banners of PJC Jean Coutu, PJC Clinique, PJC Jean Coutu Sante and PJC Jean Coutu Sante Beaute, operates two distribution centres and coordinates several other services for the benefit of its franchisees.
During the third quarter ended December 1st, 2012, on a same-store basis, the PJC network's retail sales grew by 2.6%, pharmacy sales gained 2.7% and front-end sales increased by 2.0% compared with the same period last year. Sales of non-prescription drugs, which represented 8.9% of total retail sales, increased by 2.2% whereas these sales had increased by 1.6% for the same period of the fiscal year 2012.
During the 39-week period of fiscal year 2013, on a same-store basis, the PJC network's retail sales grew by 2.8%, pharmacy sales gained 3.2% and front-end sales increased by 2.1% compared with the same period last year. The sales of non-prescription drugs, which represented 8.6% of total retail sales, increased by 2.2% whereas these sales had increased by 3.6% for the same period of fiscal year 2012.
Generic drugs reached 61.8% of drugs prescriptions during the third quarter of fiscal year 2013 compared with 57.2% during the same quarter of the previous fiscal year. The increase in the number of generic drugs prescriptions with lower selling prices than brand name drugs had a deflationary impact on the pharmacy's retail sales. Therefore, the introduction of new generic drugs reduced pharmacy's retail sales growth by 2.3% and price reductions of generic drugs decreed by the Quebec Government reduced the growth of those sales by 1.0% for the third quarter of fiscal year 2013.
PJC network of franchised stores expansion
During the third quarter of fiscal year 2013, there were 5 store openings in the PJC network of franchised stores, including 1 relocation, and the closing of 1 store. Also, 5 stores were significantly renovated or expanded.
Financing activities
On May 3, 2012, the Corporation announced its intention to repurchase for cancellation, when it is considered advisable, up to 9,398,000 of its outstanding Class "A" subordinate voting shares, representing approximately 10% of the current public float of such shares, over a 12-month period ending no later than May 6, 2013. The shares are repurchased through the facilities of the Toronto Stock Exchange and in accordance with its requirements. Repurchased shares are cancelled.
For the quarter ended December 1st, 2012, the Corporation repurchased 1,291,700 Class "A" subordinate voting shares at an average price of $14.75 per share for a total consideration of $19.0 million including related costs. An amount of $12.1 million representing the excess of the purchase price over the carrying value of the repurchased shares was included in retained earnings.
For the 39-week period ended December 1st, 2012, the Corporation repurchased 3,878,800 Class "A" subordinate voting shares at an average price of $14.89 per share for a total consideration of $57.7 million including related costs. An amount of $37.0 million representing the excess of the purchase price over the carrying value of the repurchased shares was included in retained earnings. The shares repurchased during this period were cancelled except for 133,400 shares that were cancelled after December 1st, 2012.
Dividend
The Board of the Jean Coutu Group declared a quarterly dividend of $0.07 per share. This dividend will be paid on February 8th, 2013, to all holders of Class "A" subordinate voting shares and holders of Class "B" shares listed in the Corporation's shareholder ledger as of January 25th, 2013.
Strategies and outlook
With its operations and financial flexibility, the Corporation is very well positioned to capitalize on the growth in the drugstore retail industry. Demographic trends are expected to contribute to the growth in prescription drugs' consumption and to the increased use of pharmaceuticals as the primary intervention in individual healthcare. Management believes that these trends will continue and that the Corporation will maintain its growth in revenues through differentiation and quality of offering and service levels to its network of franchised stores, with a focus on sales growth, its real estate program and operating efficiency. The growth in the number of generic drugs' prescriptions, with lower selling prices than the branded drugs, will however have a deflationary impact on retail sales in the pharmacy section but our integration in generic drugs with Pro Doc will have a positive impact on the consolidated margins.
Conference call
Financial analysts and investors are invited to attend the third quarter of fiscal year 2013 results conference call to be held on January 10, 2013, at 9:00 AM (ET). The call-in number is 514-861-2255 or toll free at 1-877-405-9213, access code 4210694 followed by pound sign (#). Media and other interested individuals are invited to listen to the live or deferred broadcast on The Jean Coutu Group corporate website at . A full replay will also be available by dialling 514-861-2272 or toll free at 1-800-408-3053 until February 10, 2013. The access code is 7900146, followed by pound sign (#).
Supporting documentation (Management's discussion and analysis and investor presentation) is available at using the investors' link. Readers may also access additional information and filings related to the Corporation using the following link to the website.
About The Jean Coutu Group
The Jean Coutu Group is one of the most trusted names in Canadian pharmacy retailing. The Corporation operates a network of 405 franchised stores located in the provinces of Quebec, New Brunswick and Ontario under the banners of PJC Jean Coutu, PJC Clinique, PJC Sante and PJC Sante Beaute, and employs close to 19,000 people. Furthermore, the Jean Coutu Group owns Pro Doc Ltd ("Pro Doc"), a Quebec-based subsidiary and manufacturer of generic drugs. The Corporation also holds an investment in Rite Aid Corporation ("Rite Aid") a national chain of drugstores in the United States with more than 4,600 drugstores in 31 states and the District of Columbia.
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, and which are based on the Corporation's current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions made by the Jean Coutu Group in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends. All statements that address expectations or projections about the future, including statements about the Corporation's strategy for growth, costs, operating or financial results, are forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this MD&A, including statements regarding the prospects of the Corporation's industry and the Corporation's prospects, plans, financial position and business strategy may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Canadian securities legislation and regulations. Some of the forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "project", "could", "anticipate", "plan", "foresee", "believe" or "continue", the negatives of these terms, the variations of them or the use of other similar terms. Although the Corporation believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to have been correct. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These statements do not reflect the potential impact of any non-recurring items or of any mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, asset write-downs or other transactions or charges that may be announced or that may occur after the date hereof. While the list below of cautionary statements is not exhaustive, some important factors that could affect our future operating results, financial position and cash flows and could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, namely changes in the legislation or the regulatory environment as it relates to the sale of prescription drugs and the pharmacy exercise, the success of the Corporation's business model, changes in laws and regulations, or in their interpretations, changes to tax regulations and accounting pronouncements, the cyclical and seasonal variations in the industry in which we operate, the intensity of competitive activity in the industry in which we operate, the supplier and brand reputations, our equity interest in Rite Aid, our ability to attract and retain pharmacists, labour disruptions, including possibly strikes and labour protests, the accuracy of management's assumptions and other factors that are beyond our control.
These and other factors could cause our actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any estimates or projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Investors and others are cautioned that undue reliance should not be placed on any forward-looking statements. For more information on the risks, uncertainties and assumptions that would cause the Corporation's actual results to differ from current expectations, please also refer to the Corporation's public filings available at and . In particular, further details and descriptions of these and other factors are disclosed in the Corporation's Annual Information Form under "Risk Factors" as well as in the "Critical Accounting Estimates", the "Risks and uncertainties" and the "Strategies and outlook" sections of the MD&A for the fiscal year ended March 3, 2012. We expressly disclaim any obligation or intention to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or any other reason, unless required by the applicable securities laws.
Contacts:
Source:
The Jean Coutu Group (PJC) Inc.
Andre Belzile
Senior Vice-President, Finance and Corporate Affairs
(450) 646-9760
Information:
Helene Bisson
Vice-President, Communications
(450) 646-9611, Ext. 1165
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Datum: 10.01.2013 - 12:00 Uhr
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