KUALA LUMPUR, (4th April 2012) – Pharmaniaga Berhad is confident about its ability to gain from the positive prospects in the healthcare sector as it gears up to further strengthen its earnings potential in 2012.

For the year ended 31 December 2011, the Group delivered a strong performance registering a profit before tax of RM73 million for the financial year under review signifying a 62% increase compared with RM45million registered last year.

Pharmaniaga recorded a substantial growth in revenue of RM1.5 billion for the year under review, the Group’s highest in five years. As a result of this notable feat, the Group declared a net dividend per share of 27.8 cents for its financial year ended 31 December 2011 (2010: 7.5 cents). Total distribution for the year was RM31.9 million (2010: RM8.0 million).

YBhg Tan Sri Dato’ Lodin Wok Kamaruddin, Chairman, Pharmaniaga Berhad commented after Pharmaniaga’s Annual General Meeting, “Pharmaniaga’s first nine months under the Boustead Group has resulted in tangible benefits to our bottom line. True to our commitment to balance long-term capital growth with delivering shareholder value, we are glad to reward our shareholders with a significant 61% payout ratio for the year under review. Our shareholders are able to enjoy a 4.7% yield based on the closing price for the financial year. On top of the dividend payout, we rewarded our shareholders with a bonus issue on the basis of one Pharmaniaga bonus share for every 10 shares held.”

“We have initiated several significant operational restructuring programmes at all levels during the year under review to improve efficiencies and productivity. This has resulted in us surpassing our previous financial year’s performance, setting the tone for future earnings growth.”

“We trust the Group will be able to grow and are optimistic about the prospects that the coming year will present. We are committed to expanding our business locally and internationally by enhancing our capabilities that will eventually work towards enhancing shareholder value. We trust the renewal in the Concession Agreement (CA) with the MOH for the supply of pharmaceutical products for a 10-year period will be the catalyst for this growth and allow us to move up the pharmaceutical value chain.” concluded YBhg Tan Sri Dato’ Lodin.

Source: Pharmaniaga Berhad