OREANDA-NEWS. July 26, 2012. OJSC Pharmacy Chain 36.6 [RTS: APTK; MICEX: RU14APTK1007] - the leading Russian pharmaceutical retailer announces 1Q 2012 financial results prepared in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (unaudited).

SALES:

-  Consolidated sales from ongoing operations in 1Q 2012 increased by 5.6% versus 1Q 2011 and reached RUR 5 590 mln;

-  Net sales in the retail pharmacy segment increased by 0.5% and reached RUR 3 733 mln. As of the end of 1Q 2012 Pharmacy Chain 36.6 operated 979 pharmacies, 9 stand-alone optical outlets and 24 additional optical departments within pharmacies;

-  During 1Q 2012 30 stores were opened organically and 56 stores were closed;

-  During 1Q 2012 146 stores were converted to the new format ‘Leko’[1];

-  Thus as of the end of 1Q 2012 Pharmacy Chain 36.6 operated 654 like-for-like[2] stores. Sales in l-f-l stores in 1Q 2012 grew up by 2%.

PROFIT:

-  The Company’s consolidated EBITDA increased by 14.2% and reached RUR 506 mln;

-  Consolidated gross profit increased by 7.4% in 1Q 2012 and reached RUR 2 374 mln;

-  Gross profit of the retail pharmacy segment decreased by 0.2% in 1Q 2012 and reached RUR 1 171 mln. The gross profit margin in the retail segment in 1Q 2012 decreased as a percentage of sales by 0.2 points to 31.4%;

-  EBITDA in the retail pharmacy segment in 1Q 2012 reached RUR 3 mln versus RUR 21mln in 1Q 2011;

-  Consolidated selling, general and administrative expenses increased in 1Q 2012 by 4.8% and reached RUR 1 978 mln. SG&A of the retail pharmacy segment in 1Q 2012 equaled to RUR 1 235 mln this is an increase of 0.3%;

-  Consolidated Net profit reached RUR 2mln versus RUR 206 mln in 1Q 2011.

FINANCIAL DEBT AND INVESTMENTS

-  Company’s Net Debt (deducting the remaining monetary funds) equaled to RUR 8 712 mln;

-  As of the end of 1Q 2012 consolidated financial debt reached RUR 9 660 mln which is a slight increase of 2% versus the beginning of the year data. Whereas the retail pharmacy financial debt equaled to RUR 8 955 mln and Veropharm’s debt reached RUR 704 mln;

-  Consolidated finance costs in 1Q 2012 increased by 22% and reached RUR 388 mln;

-  Consolidated investments in fixed and intangible assets in 1Q 2012 reached RUR 174 mln, out of which retail investments in opening new pharmacies and re-branding equaled to RUR 30 mln Veropharm investments reached RUR 144 mln.

VEROPHARM

For the latest update on 1Q 2012 performance please refer to the official press-release of the company as of June 13th, 2012 at www.pahrmacychain366.ru.

ELC

-  Early Learning Center revenue consolidated by the Group (which is 50% of the total revenue) in 1Q 2012 increased by 7.8% and reached RUR 57 mln;

-  Net profit in 1Q 2012 equaled to RUR 0,23 mln;

-  As of the end of 1Q 2012, the unit operated 19 stores.

[1]At the end of 2011 year Pharmacy chain 36.6 launched a new brand of pharmacy ‘Leko’. The main distinction of ‘Leko’ is going to be a more extensive assortment of pharmaceuticals at lower prices. More than 200 stores in total are decided to be converted into the new brand, the conversion is going to be completed in early 2Q 2012.

[2]Like-for-like stores are defined as stores:

-         Opened or acquired 24 months prior to the presented reporting period, and

-         Not closed in the presented reporting period.

-         Not stood by unattended time for more than 2 weeks in the reporting period due to any reason

-         Not converted to ‘Leko’