French drug maker Sanofi announced that the company expects sales to grow an annual 5 per cent on average from 2012-15 and business earnings per share to rise as growth platforms, such as animal health, make up more of its turnover. New measures to contain costs as well as synergies from the integration of US biotech Genzyme should yield cost savings of 2 billion euros ($2.8 billion) by the end of 2015.
Commenting on the Group’s outlook, Sanofi CEO Christopher A. Viehbacher said: “Sanofi has undergone an impressive transformation over the last two and a half years and the patent cliff is now almost behind us. While 2012 will be impacted by the loss of exclusivity of Plavix and Avapro in the US, Sanofi is set to embark upon a period of consistent and sustainable growth. Due to the strength of our growth platforms, the addition of Genzyme as well as our continuous financial discipline, today we are setting for ourselves the objective of delivering sales growth1 of at least 5 per cent per year on average over 2012-2015. Average business EPS growth is expected to exceed sales growth over the same period. Our target to bring the dividend payout ratio to 50 per cent reflects the improved future outlook of the company and our commitment to create shareholder value.”
2008-2011: Transforming Sanofi: Since the end of 2008, Sanofi has led an impressive transformation by executing a new strategy focused on three pillars: increase innovation in R&D, pursue external growth opportunities, adapt structure for future challenges and opportunities. Over this period, the group has centred its activities around six growth platforms including Emerging Markets, Human Vaccines, Diabetes solutions, Consumer Health Care, Innovative Products and Animal Health. These platforms have been strengthened through the reallocation of resources and acquisitions. Since January 2009, the Group has invested €23 billion in 23 acquisitions, including Genzyme, to develop and support its growth platforms. The acquisition of Genzyme adds a global centre for excellence in rare diseases and multiple sclerosis. In parallel, Sanofi has built a leaner pharma R&D organization. A comprehensive and rigorous review of the R&D portfolio was performed and enabled the Group to refocus on high-value projects and to reallocate resources to external partnerships. At the same time, Sanofi signed 61 in-licensing agreements to enrich its R&D portfolio. The management team has also been enhanced by adding senior executives with solid international experience.
2011-2012: Mitigating the impact of the patent cliff: In 2011, sales of key genericized products are expected to decline to about €3 billion vs. €7.6 billion in 2008. In parallel, consolidated sales generated by growth platforms and Genzyme should exceed €22 billion this year vs. €11.8 billion in 2008. The last significant headwind remains the impact on profit contribution from Plavix and Avapro in the US following the end of exclusivity in May 2012 and March 2012, respectively.
This impact on the business net income is estimated to be around €1.4 billion (net of tax) in 2012. Given this impact, the Group‘s business operating margin is expected to be around 31% in 2012.
2012-2015: Generating consistent and sustainable growth: Growth platforms - The growth platforms and Genzyme are expected to generate approximately 66% of group sales in 2011 and to contribute more than 80% of Group sales in 2015. Sanofi expects to extend its leadership in Emerging Markets which are expected to account for 38% to 40% of its sales in 2015 compared to 29% in 2010. This objective implies double digit sales growth in Emerging Markets6 over 2012-2015.
Tight cost control - As previously announced, the €2 billion cost savings program initiated in 2009 will be reached in 2011, two years ahead of target. Furthermore, Sanofi now expects that new initiatives combined with the previously announced $700 million savings expected from the acquisition of Genzyme will generate additional incremental cost savings of €2 billion3 by 2015.
R&D objectives - The R&D transformation initiated in 2009 should start to deliver results during 2012-2015 with 19 potential projects to be launched. Of these 19 projects, 6 are scheduled to be filed between July 2011 and March 2012 (Kynamro - mipomersen, Visamerin/Mulsevo - semuloparin, Aubagio – teriflunomide, Zaltrap - aflibercept, Lyxumia - lixisenatide, Lemtrada - alemtuzumab). Aubagio and Kynamro were recently filed in the US and in EU, respectively.
2013 objective - In July 2009, Sanofi announced its objective to achieve at least the same level of sales and a comparable business net income level in 2013 vs. 2008. In February 2011, Sanofi announced the expected accretion from the acquisition of Genzyme in 2013. Despite recent healthcare reforms in the US and austerity measures in EU, Sanofi confirms today both its original objective for 2013 and the incremental contribution from Genzyme.
Sales and business EPS growth – Sanofi will present its prospects for long term growth and its objective to deliver average sales growth of at least 5% per year over 2012-2015. Sanofi targets average business EPS growth per year1 to be superior to sales growth over the same period. As a result of leverage of growth platforms, synergies from Genzyme and Merial and new cost savings programme, Sanofi expects to improve the business operating margin over 2012-2015.
Capital allocation - Given its commitment to shareholder value creation and its improved outlook, Sanofi has decided to progressively increase the dividend payout to 50% by 20144 compared to 35% for 20105. The company also confirms its current practice of opportunistic share buy back.
Definition of business operating income : “Business operating income”, adopted in order to comply with IFRS 8, is an indicator that we use internally to measure operational performance and allocate resources.
Business operating income is derived from operating income, adjusted as: the amounts reported in the lines Restructuring costs, Fair value remeasurement of liabilities related to contingent consideration and Other gains and losses, and litigation, are eliminated; amortization and impairment losses charged against intangible assets (other than software) are eliminated; the share of profits/losses of associates and joint-ventures is added; the share attributable to non-controlling interests is deducted; other acquisition-related effects (primarily the work down of acquired inventories remeasured at fair value at the acquisition date, and the impact of acquisitions on investments in associates and joint ventures) are eliminated; restructuring costs relating to associates and joint ventures are eliminated.
Definition of business net income: “Business net income” is defined as Net income attributable to equity holders of Sanofi, excluding (I) amortization of intangible assets; (ii) impairment of intangible assets, (iii) fair value remeasurement of liabilities related to contingent consideration; (iv) other impacts associated with acquisitions (including impacts of acquisitions on associates and joint ventures); (v) restructuring costs (including restructuring costs relating to associates and joint ventures), (vi) other gains and losses, and litigation; (vii) the impact of the nondepreciation of the property, plant and equipment of Merial in 2010 (in accordance with IFRS 5) (viii) the tax effect related to the items listed in (i) through (vii); as well as (ix) the effects of major tax disputes and (x) the share of non-controlling interests in items (i) through (ix). Items (ii), (v) and (vi) correspond to those reported in the income statement line items Restructuring costs, Fair value remeasurement of liabilities related to contingent consideration and Other gains and losses, and litigation.