Press release

Double-digit growth for the Zur Rose Group in 2017

In financial year 2017 the Zur Rose Group successfully achieved its growth targets with a turnover just short of a billion. Sales increased organically by 11.8 percent to CHF 982.9 million (10.7 percent in local currency). In the fourth quarter they rose by 16.8 percent compared with the same period of the previous year, with growth continuing to accelerate compared with the third quarter. The turnover of the acquisitions Eurapon and Vitalsana, representing business of lasting relevance for the Group, would amount to EUR 85 million in 2017.

Boost to market leadership in Germany.
The Zur Rose Group continued to extend its leading market position in Germany in 2017. Thanks to increased marketing activities, sales grew strongly in double digits, both by 15.8 in the year as a whole and by 15.0 in the fourth quarter (in local currency). In spite of regulatory price reductions, sales of prescription drugs (Rx) grew by 11.8 percent in the fourth quarter and by 10.2 percent in the year as a whole. The conversion effect of customers of non-prescription (OTC) drugs to Rx customers as a result of the marketing campaign continues to be an additional driver of the Rx business. The price-sensitive OTC business has been strong since 2015 and it continues to grow. Sales rose by 32.3 percent in the fourth quarter and by 38.7 percent in the year as a whole.

Significant sales growth in Switzerland
The success of the Zur Rose Group also continued in Switzerland in 2017, where it grew by considerably more than the market average. While sales increased by 6.3 percent in the year as a whole, reaching CHF 500.0 million, in the fourth quarter they reached a staggering 11.2 percent compared with the same period of the previous year. Thanks to positive new customer figures, Zur Rose achieved a boost in sales of 7.7 percent in the doctors' segment in the fourth quarter and 6.5 % over the whole year. The retail business grew significantly in the fourth quarter, by 15.5 percent. This is attributable on the one hand to the realignment of the Specialty Care business and on the other hand to the successful start of the shop-in-shop concept with Migros, which has enjoyed a high level of customer acceptance since its launch in mid-2017.

The Zur Rose Group will publish its full annual report for 2017 on 21 March 2018.

Sales figures (unaudited)

1) consolidated as of 1 May 2017

Investor and analyst contact
Marcel Ziwica, Chief Financial Officer
e-mail: ir@zurrose.com, telephone: +41 52 724 00 64

Media contact
Lisa Lüthi, Head of Corporate Communications
e-mail: lisa.luethi@zurrose.com, telephone: +41 52 724 08 14

Zur Rose Group

Operating under the Zur Rose and DocMorris brands, the Swiss-based Zur Rose Group is Europe's largest mail-order pharmacy and one of Switzerland's leading wholesale suppliers to medical doctors. Through its business model, it helps to ensure safe, reliable and high-quality pharmaceutical care. while also excelling in developing innovative medicines management services to increase the effectiveness of the medication process. This creation of added value, the strong focus on patients and the commitment to supply medication at low cost for the benefit of payors and patients make the Group an important strategic partner for all healthcare stakeholders.

Zur Rose Group is headquartered in Frauenfeld, from where it also serves the Swiss market. Customers in Germany and Austria are primarily supplied from Heerlen (NL). Furthermore, the Group holds a majority interest in BlueCare in Winterthur, the leading provider of networking systems in the Swiss healthcare market. Employing more than 1000 people at its various locations, Zur Rose Group generated revenue of CHF 983 million in 2017. Zur Rose Group AG's shares (ticker symbol ROSE, Swiss security no. 4261528, ISIN CH0042615283) are traded on SIX Swiss Exchange. More information at zurrosegroup.com.