ZAGREB, May 9 (Hina) - The Croatian drugs company Pliva achieved results in this year's first quarter that exceed the expectations of foreign financial markets and analysts, chairman of the board Zeljko Covic told reporters on
Thursday.
ZAGREB, May 9 (Hina) - The Croatian drugs company Pliva achieved
results in this year's first quarter that exceed the expectations
of foreign financial markets and analysts, chairman of the board
Zeljko Covic told reporters on Thursday. #L#
Pliva's income earnings totalled 1.55 billion kuna (EUR209.5
million), which is an increase of 22.2 percent as against the same
time last year. A 54-percent increase was recorded in prescription
drug sales, which amounted to 720.7 million. The net profit grew by
8.8 percent, to 354.7 million, while profit per share grew by 19.5
percent, to 20.26 kuna.
Income earnings on international markets rose by 32.6 percent, to
1.21 billion kuna, which pushed their share in total earnings to
78.1 percent.
Pliva's assets exceeded one billion US dollars, amounting to 8.6
billion kuna, said Covic. Plans for this year include increasing
sales by 12-15 percent, with a 30 percent operative profit rate, he
added.
Investments in this year's first quarter totalled 175 million kuna,
the biggest being the building of a research institute in Zagreb
which should be opened later this year. Investments were also
resumed into the research of new chemical entities and development.
Nineteen products are in the process of registration in five
states.
Covic announced Pliva would look for a strategic partner for Neva,
the company manufacturing cosmetics and personal hygiene products,
and for the sale of the Supetar recreation centre.
(EUR1 = 7.4 kuna)
(hina) ha sb