7th Feb 2008 07:00
UNITED DRUG PLC INTERIM MANAGEMENT STATEMENT United Drug plc ("United Drug" or "the Group"), a leading international providerof services to healthcare manufacturers and pharmaceutical retailers todayissues its first Interim Management Statement (IMS). This IMS is produced incompliance with the EU's Transparency Directive, which requires certain listedcompanies to provide periodic updates to the capital markets in addition toexisting reporting arrangements. This IMS covers the 3 month period from 1 October 2007 to 31 December 2007,representing the first quarter of the Group's 2008 fiscal year. During the first quarter, United Drug continued to experience good tradingconditions in each of its four business divisions and overall group performanceis well ahead of the corresponding period in the prior year, in line with ourexpectations. During the period under review, the Group has continued its expansion as aninternational healthcare services company with bolt-on acquisitions in the UKand US markets. United Drug's contract sales and marketing services division hasbroadened its service offering and geographical reach with the acquisition ofAlliance Healthcare in Pennsylvania in the United States and Procon in Yorkshirein the United Kingdom. Both of these acquisitions allow United Drug to add tothe range of value-added services we can provide for our pharmaceuticalmanufacturer clients. In the Medical & Scientific division, the Group has significantly increased itspresence in the Irish market through the acquisition of JVA Analytical, aleading analytical chemistry distributor. Outlook United Drug remains positive about the fundamentals of our core markets and itsposition within those markets. The Group continues to see opportunities toexpand our businesses, both organically and through acquisition, and has astrong balance sheet to support its growth objectives. The Group will hold its Annual General Meeting of shareholders on Tuesday 26February 2008 and will announce its first half results, for the 6 months to 31March 2008, on Wednesday 7 May 2008. \* TFor reference: Liam FitzGerald Pauline McAlesterUnited Drug plc Murray ConsultantsTel: +353-1-4598877 Tel: +353-1-4980300 Investors and AnalystsMark Kenny/Jonathan NeilanK Capital SourceTel: +353-1-6315500\* T About United Drug plc United Drug is a leading international provider of services to healthcaremanufacturers and pharmaceutical retailers. It is the largest pharmaceuticalwholesaler in the island of Ireland. UD is the market leader in contract distribution outsourcing (pre-wholesaling)in Ireland and has achieved the No. 1 position in the UK through its jointventure business UniDrug Distribution (UDG). The company also providesdistribution related services in the areas of pharmaceutical contract packagingand speciality distribution in the UK, Holland and Belgium. Through its Medical & Scientific division, United Drug provides sales &marketing and technical service solutions, including contract distributionservices to Medical & Scientific equipment & consumable manufacturers, with amarket leading position in Ireland and an emerging presence in the UK. United Drug is also a leading provider of contract sales outsourcing services topharmaceutical manufacturers in the UK and Ireland and also provides theseservices in the US market. Copyright Business Wire 2008Related Shares:
UDG.L