Lonza(LZAGY)
Search documents
Lonza(LZAGY) - 2024 Q2 - Earnings Call Transcript
2024-07-26 01:26
Financial Data and Key Metrics - Sales growth in H1 2024 was 1.8% YoY, reaching CHF 3.1 billion, with a core EBITDA margin of 29.2% [48] - Free cash flow for H1 2024 was CHF 296 million, driven by favorable customer funding and normalized inventory levels [11] - The company expects lower free cash flow in H2 2024 due to accelerated CapEx investments [11] - Core EBITDA margin decreased by 0.8 percentage points YoY, mainly due to lower COVID-related mRNA sales and weaker margins in the CHI division [52] Business Line Performance - Biologics division saw 7.3% sales growth YoY, with strong commercial demand and early-stage recovery signs [54][55] - Small Molecules division experienced lower-than-expected sales growth due to timing of customer campaigns, but maintained a solid core EBITDA margin of 33.6% [57][58] - Cell & Gene division declined 6.6% YoY, but underlying growth was 10% excluding the Kodiak termination impact [26] - Capsules & Health Ingredients (CHI) division faced headwinds from destocking in pharmaceutical hard empty capsules, with recovery expected in 2025 [60][62] Market Performance - The company signed significant new contracts in the CDMO business, including a key commercial supply agreement in the Cell & Gene division [49] - Strong interest in the Vacaville site acquisition, with the first letter of intent signed with a key customer [50] - The hard empty capsules market is expected to return to historical growth patterns by 2025, with a projected annual growth rate of 2% [30] Strategy and Industry Competition - The company is focused on expanding large-scale mammalian capacity, with the Vacaville acquisition set to double capacity [44] - Investments in ADC (antibody-drug conjugate) technology and Synaffix integration are driving early-stage interest and commercial demand [17][24] - The company is committed to ESG goals, aiming for 100% renewable electricity in US operations by 2026 [18] Management Commentary on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expects flat sales growth in constant exchange rates and a core EBITDA margin in the high 20s for 2024 [16] - The company anticipates higher CDMO sales in H2 2024, driven by new HPAPI facility operations and recovery in early-stage funding [25][31] - Management remains confident in the long-term growth trajectory of the hard empty capsules market, despite short-term volatility [30] Other Important Information - The company was recognized by Ethisphere as one of the world's most ethical companies for the third time [9] - Board governance updates include the election of a new Chairman and the establishment of new committees focused on talent and leadership [32][65] Q&A Session Summary Question: Margin phasing in Biologics and Small Molecules divisions [71] - Margins in Biologics are expected to be lower in H2 due to less favorable product mix, despite higher sales [76] - Small Molecules margins will be impacted by ramp-up costs for the new Visp facility [72] Question: Long-term mammalian capacity and CapEx outlook [73] - The company believes current capacity is sufficient to meet demand, with no immediate plans for additional large-scale investments beyond Vacaville [44][100] Question: Impact of biotech funding on RFPs and contract signings [78] - Increased biotech funding has led to more early-stage RFPs, but it takes 6-9 months for funding impacts to reflect in financials [80] Question: Interest in Vacaville from new and existing customers [81] - The Vacaville site has attracted interest from both new and existing customers, with the first letter of intent already signed [50][82] Question: Pricing and volume trends in CHI division [84] - Pricing was a significant negative factor in H1, with roughly half of the decline attributed to volume and half to price [85] Question: Impact of BIOSECURE on customer conversations [88] - BIOSECURE has prompted strategic discussions about supply chains, but immediate impacts on business are not yet visible [89][111] Question: Yield improvements in Biologics division [93] - Yield improvements are gradual and tied to customer-specific processes, with no significant impact on H1 financials [94][117] Question: Outlook for ADC and conjugation offerings [139] - The ADC market is constrained, with strong demand for both early-stage and commercial capacities [151] - Synaffix technology is a key entry point for early-stage ADC customers, though its contribution to revenue is not yet significant [150][166] Question: CapEx investment priorities [162] - The company remains focused on commercial capacities, including conjugation and fill-finish, as outlined in previous strategic plans [163][175]
Lonza(LZAGY) - 2024 Q2 - Earnings Call Presentation
2024-07-25 16:40
Business Use Only Half-Year Results 2024 Wolfgang Wienand, CEO Philippe Deecke, CFO 25 July 2024 Wolfgang Wienand Joins Lonza as CEO − Previously CEO of the Swiss CDMO Siegfried, SIX: SFZN (since 2019, from 2010 first Chief Scientific Officer, then Chief Strategy Officer), before at Evonik Industries − Working closely with the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors with a focus on priorities on execution and foundations for long-term success Lonza Half-Year Results 2024 Half-Year 2024 Group Overview ...
Lonza(LZAGY) - 2024 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript
2024-05-14 17:48
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a softer Q1 group performance, with expectations for H1 to normalize and align with the full year trajectory, confirming a flat CER sales growth compared to the prior year and a CORE EBITDA margin in the high 20s, between 27% to 29% [5][14] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Biologics division experienced good momentum despite a slower start in Q1, impacted by high delivery in Q4 of the prior year and campaign shifts [7] - The Drug Product Services business continued to grow but at a slower pace compared to previous years, with a key milestone reached in Q1 for the first commercial fill and finish program [8] - The Microbial business developed strongly, supported by new assets and solid demand [9] - The Small Molecules division saw strong commercial demand but was affected by biotech funding challenges, with expectations for a stronger H2 [10] - The Cell & Gene division delivered improvements in commercial and operational performance, with strong sales and customer interest [11] - The Capsules & Health Ingredients division faced softer sales and margin performance, particularly in the U.S. due to post-pandemic destocking [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The funding environment for biotech improved significantly, with around USD 23 billion in funding in Q1 2024, although customers remain cautious about spending [60] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on growing its commercial offering while managing costs and driving operational excellence, with ongoing progress in growth projects such as the large-scale commercial drug product facility in Switzerland [6][14] - The integration of Synaffix into the licensing business is proceeding smoothly, with positive market feedback on the expanded offering [9] Management Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the softness in Q1 was due to phasing of commercial batches and weaker demand in early discovery activities, but emphasized the strength in other business units [25][69] - The company remains cautious about the market recovery in the Capsules & Health Ingredients division and has made price concessions to maintain business with key customers [32] - Management expressed confidence in the visibility of contract deliveries, supporting the outlook for H1 and H2 [53] Other Important Information - The company is progressing with a share buyback program of up to CHF 2 billion, having repurchased CHF 1.3 billion of shares as of March 31 [13] - The appointment of Wolfgang Wienand as the new CEO was confirmed, set to commence in the summer [13] Q&A Session Summary Question: Phasing and growth trends - Management explained that Q1 softness was due to the phasing of commercial CDMO batches and a weaker start in Bioscience, with expectations for improvement in Q2 and H2 [19] Question: Market developments and fill and finish expansion - Management refrained from speculating on the acquisition of Catalent but acknowledged potential pressure on fill and finish capacity [27] Question: Vacaville acquisition status - The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2024, with no contribution from Vacaville included in the 2024 guidance [30] Question: Capsules & Health Ingredients recovery - Management noted weakness in demand in pharma and cautious expectations for market recovery during 2024 [32] Question: Core definitions impact on segment EBITDA - Management indicated that the reporting change would not distort figures going forward, providing a new base for divisional EBITDA [34] Question: Small molecules campaign impact - Management stated that the impact of campaign timing would be marginal but positive in H2, with new HP API plant ramping up in Q4 [38] Question: Cell & Gene demand drivers - Demand is driven by both strong market interest and the number of programs progressing into later stages [40] Question: BIOSECURE Act impact - Management expressed uncertainty regarding the BIOSECURE Act's implementation and its potential impact on business [44][49] Question: Capacity normalization in the industry - Management did not observe a trend of capacity elimination in the industry, stating that closures were due to inefficiencies in specific plants [57] Question: Biotech funding recovery pace - Management noted that while funding has improved, there is a 6 to 9-month delay before any impact on revenues is expected [60] Question: Biologics EBITDA margin guidance - Management maintained that the Vacaville acquisition would be neutral to the overall margin guidance for 2028 [62] Question: New business contracts and backlog - Management reported signing CHF 10 billion in biologics and CHF 1 billion in small molecules contracts last year, with ongoing contracting but no specific backlog metrics shared [66]
Lonza: Excellent Growth Projections Will Sharply Increase Free Cash Flow
Seeking Alpha· 2024-01-27 15:40
JHVEPhoto Introduction The Lonza Group (OTCPK:LZAGF) is a chemical and biotech company providing high quality ingredients to the pharmaceutical industry, where it has been building and maintaining long-term relationships with its customer base. It recently started an aggressive expansion program in the CDMO space, where it acts as a third party manufacturer of drugs or components for drugs. Lonza continues to invest in growth and has outlined an ambitious plan to increase its revenue by a double-digit n ...
Lonza(LZAGY) - 2023 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript
2024-01-26 18:14
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In 2023, the company reported sales of CHF6.7 billion, reflecting a sales growth of 10.9% at constant exchange rates [2][99] - Core EBITDA remained flat year-over-year at CHF2 billion, resulting in a margin of 29.8% [8][99] - Reported profits decreased by 46% to CHF655 million, primarily due to high base effects from divestment gains in 2022 and impairment losses in 2023 [8][99] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Small Molecules division achieved sales of over CHF900 million in 2023, growing by 11% due to strong demand for high-value CDMO services [9][43] - The Biologics division experienced a sales growth of 17.6%, with underlying growth reaching 25% when excluding the Moderna business [60][75] - The Cell & Gene division reported a sales growth of 6.6%, but faced margin declines due to early-stage funding weaknesses and operational challenges [64][101] - The Capsules & Health Ingredients division saw a decline in sales and margins, impacted by post-pandemic inventory destocking and higher raw material costs [22][31] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company signed approximately 130 new CDMO customers and around 350 new clinical and commercial programs in 2023, indicating strong market demand [4][27] - The company’s top 10 customers represent about half of total sales, providing a stable foundation for growth [28] - The company operates in a market where 80% of sales are focused in Europe and the Americas, with a balanced customer base between small, mid, and large pharma [96] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company continues to invest in growth, deploying CHF1.7 billion in CapEx in 2023, which is 25% of sales, focusing on large growth projects [12][104] - The strategic review led to the decision to decommission two sites in Guangzhou, China, and Hayward, U.S., to reduce fixed costs without impacting mid-term growth [41][103] - The company aims for high single-digit underlying sales growth in 2024, driven by strong commercial CDMO performance and a rebound in Capsules & Health Ingredients [23][47] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the long-term potential of the CDMO industry, driven by outsourcing trends and a robust pipeline of Phase I drug candidates [27][95] - The company anticipates a similar adverse impact on 2024 sales due to the loss of COVID business from Moderna, but expects margins to remain stable due to natural hedging [15][39] - Management noted that the early-stage funding environment remains challenging, with no significant rebound expected in 2024 [77][88] Other Important Information - The company achieved a strong free cash flow of CHF329 million in 2023, supported by net working capital improvements [36][99] - A 14% increase in the dividend to CHF4 per share is proposed, reflecting a payout ratio in line with the company's capital allocation strategy [94][106] - The company has made significant progress in sustainability, reducing emissions intensity by 43% and energy intensity by 35% [29] Q&A Session Summary Question: Clarification on margin range - Management clarified that the core EBITDA margin for 2024 is expected to be between 27% to 29% [50][51] Question: Performance trends in early-stage demand - Management indicated that early-stage demand remains weak, with no significant rebound expected in 2024 [77][88] Question: Guidance for growth adjusted for Moderna - Management explained that the guidance for high single-digit growth in 2024 reflects a lower base due to the previous year's performance and ongoing challenges in early-stage funding [58][88] Question: Impact of site closures on early-stage capacity - Management stated that there is sufficient small-scale capacity in the market for early-stage biologics despite the site closures [145] Question: Update on CEO search process - The board is in the process of interviewing candidates and expects to announce a new CEO by early Q2 [117][145]
Lonza(LZAGY) - 2023 Q2 - Earnings Call Transcript
2023-07-21 17:10
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported sales of CHF3.1 billion for H1 2023, representing a 5.6% growth at constant exchange rates compared to H1 2022, with underlying performance showing about 10% growth [6][19] - CORE EBITDA reached CHF922 million, resulting in a margin of 30%, which is 3 percentage points lower than the previous year due to the loss of COVID-related sales and lower asset utilization [7][20] - The updated outlook for sales growth is mid- to high single-digit at constant exchange rates, with CORE EBITDA margin revised to 28% to 29% [7][40] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - **Biologics Division**: Reported sales growth of 2%, with double-digit growth when adjusted for mRNA sales loss. The division saw strong performance in Bioconjugates, Mammalian, and Microbial businesses [23][32] - **Small Molecule Division**: Achieved a strong performance with sales growth of 37.5%, driven by high asset utilization and a favorable product mix, with margins at 35% [24][32] - **Cell & Gene Division**: Experienced softer growth at 11%, with BioScience performing well but Cell & Gene Technologies facing weak demand due to the biotech funding environment [25][35] - **Capsules Division**: Reported flat sales, impacted by weak demand in the nutraceutical market, while pharmaceutical hard capsules showed growth [28][32] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted a decrease in early-stage service inquiries, leading to underutilization of assets, particularly in the Cell & Gene division [56][60] - The nutraceutical market is experiencing destocking by U.S. customers, contributing to lower demand [10][28] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on ramping up new commercial assets to support growth in Biologics and optimizing early-stage opportunities [16][45] - An acquisition of Synaffix was completed to enhance capabilities in developing Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs), positioning the company uniquely in the industry [12][13] - The company remains committed to its ESG initiatives, including significant progress in emission reduction programs [14][15] Management Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged current market headwinds affecting early-stage services and nutraceutical capsules, with expectations of a prolonged recovery period [60][61] - The company maintains confidence in its long-term growth potential, particularly in the Cell & Gene sector, despite short-term challenges [76][117] Other Important Information - The company invested CHF765 million in CapEx, focusing 80% on growth projects, primarily in the Biologics division [29] - Free cash flow was negative CHF62 million, attributed to ongoing organic growth investments [30] Q&A Session Summary Question: Margin bridge between H1 last year and H2 this year - Management explained that the margin decline is primarily due to the drop in COVID-related sales, one-off effects, and lower asset utilization [49][51] Question: Project funding infrastructure changes - Management noted a decrease in early-stage service inquiries, impacting utilization rates [56] Question: Guidance for early-stage services recovery - Management indicated that visibility for early-stage services is limited to three to six months, with expectations of a slow recovery [60][61] Question: Visibility for 2023 and 2024 guidance - Management confirmed strong visibility for commercial manufacturing, while early-stage services have less visibility [81][82] Question: Pricing and capacity concerns in the industry - Management expressed confidence in high utilization rates for large-scale assets, emphasizing the importance of execution and quality over pricing [85][87] Question: Capital expenditure plans - Management confirmed no changes to capital expenditure plans, focusing on growth projects in Biologics [96][98] Question: Outlook for Cell & Gene therapy - Management noted stabilization in the Cell & Gene market, with potential for recovery [100]
Lonza(LZAGY) - 2023 Q2 - Earnings Call Presentation
2023-07-21 11:06
Enabling a Healthier World Lonza Half-Year Results 2023 Pierre-Alain Ruffieux, CEO Philippe Deecke, CFO 21 July 2023 Lonza Contents Half-Year 2023 Group Overview Half-Year 2023 Financial Summary Half-Year 2023 Divisional Overview Concluding Remarks Q&A 2 Half-Year 2023 Group Overview Executive Summary1 – CHF 3.1 billion sales and 5.6% CER sales growth, corresponding to around 10% CER underlying sales growth² – CHF 922 million CORE EBITDA resulted in a margin of 30% – Good momentum in commercial CDMO busines ...
Lonza(LZAGY) - 2023 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript
2023-05-10 19:30
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company confirmed its 2023 outlook with high single-digit constant exchange rate sales growth and a core EBITDA margin of 30% to 31% [5][15] - The performance in the first quarter is in line with expectations, indicating a strong second half of the year to balance a softer first half [5][15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the Biologics division, there was a decrease in demand for early-stage offerings due to biotech funding constraints, but solid demand for long-term large-scale programs was noted [8][12] - The Small Molecule division showed solid performance in Q1, supported by good demand visibility, despite a slight decrease in inquiries due to industry funding challenges [11][28] - The Cell & Gene division experienced growth aligned with expectations, but faced challenges in preclinical and Phase 1 demand due to biotech funding issues [12][28] - The Capsules & Health Ingredients division saw strong demand for pharma capsules, but faced pressure on top and bottom lines due to excess manufacturing capacity and lower demand for nutraceuticals in the U.S. [13] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company observed a significant decrease in biotech funding, approximately 30% down compared to the previous year, impacting early-stage projects [26] - Weaker performance in China was attributed to low interest from international customers and a challenging local market [9][41] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on quality and has a broad offering of global assets and technical expertise to capture value in the industry [15] - The company is committed to its growth projects, with ongoing construction of a new CHF 500 million commercial product facility in Stein [10][42] - The company has initiated a share buyback program, scheduled to complete in H1 2025, to enhance shareholder value [14] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged the macroeconomic factors influencing the business, particularly the constraints in biotech funding affecting early-stage services [6][12] - The company remains optimistic about the long-term potential of the Cell & Gene therapy space despite current funding challenges [12][28] - Management confirmed that the outlook for 2023 remains intact, with no significant changes expected in the funding environment [18][26] Other Important Information - The company will hold a Capital Market Day on October 17, which will replace the quarterly qualitative update for Q3 [14] - The company is focused on maintaining a healthy customer base, with a significant portion of sales coming from a diverse group of clients [63] Q&A Session Summary Question: Cadence of first half versus second half and performance offset - Management confirmed the outlook for 2023 and noted that headwinds in different parts of the business can offset each other [18][19] Question: Role in manufacturing late-stage Alzheimer's drugs - Management expressed optimism about the potential for increased capacity utilization driven by new therapies for Alzheimer's [20][21] Question: Biotech funding assumptions for second half of 2023 and 2024 - Management indicated that funding is down approximately 30% compared to the previous year, and they do not expect a significant improvement in the near term [25][26] Question: Ramp-up of growth projects and market conditions in China - Management confirmed that growth projects are progressing as planned, and the company is seeing a slowdown in the Chinese market [42] Question: Customer concentration and risk mitigation - Management stated that the increase in customer concentration is part of industry consolidation and does not pose a significant risk due to a healthy customer base [63][64]
Lonza(LZAGY) - 2022 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript
2023-01-25 17:36
Financial Performance - The company reported a sales growth of 15.1% at constant exchange rates, reaching CHF6.2 billion, with a core EBITDA of CHF2 billion and a margin of 32.1% [5][21] - Core EBITDA grew by 19.8%, leading to a year-on-year margin improvement of 1.3 percentage points [23] - Free cash flow before gross CapEx was CHF1.1 billion, implying an 18% cash conversion, while the return on invested capital (ROIC) remained strong at 11.4% [36] Business Line Performance - The Biologics division achieved a sales growth of 21.7%, driven by high customer demand and a strong pipeline of commercial agreements [42] - The Small Molecules division saw a sales growth of 5.9%, supported by new manufacturing capacity for ADC payloads and improved margins [45] - The Cell & Gene division reported a sales growth of 13.6%, with strong performance in BioScience, but faced challenges in the Cell & Gene technologies unit due to product delays and funding slowdowns [46][100] Market Performance - 90% of sales are concentrated in the EMEA and Americas regions, with a customer base split of 60% small to mid-sized pharma and 40% large pharma [11][12] - The company signed approximately 115 new CDMO customers and around 375 new clinical and commercial programs in 2022 [11] Company Strategy and Industry Competition - The company plans to maintain a CapEx of 30% of sales to secure long-term growth and consolidate its leading position in the CDMO industry [6][52] - Following the divestment of the Specialty Ingredients business, the company is focused on organic investment and attractive bolt-on M&A opportunities [8][39] - The CDMO industry is expected to continue showing double-digit growth driven by the biopharma market and increased demand for outsourcing [17] Management Commentary on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - The management anticipates high single-digit sales growth at constant currency for 2023, with a core EBITDA margin of 30% to 31% [7][51] - The company is confident in its midterm guidance of low-teen sales growth and core EBITDA margins within the 33% to 35% range [53] - Management noted that inflation impacts are being managed through price adjustments and procurement initiatives [26][93] Other Important Information - The company has committed to returning excess capital to shareholders via a share buyback program of up to CHF2 billion and proposed a dividend increase to CHF3.50 per share [8][38] - The company reduced greenhouse gas emission intensity by 13%, energy intensity by 6%, and water intensity by 10% compared to 2021, reflecting its commitment to sustainability [16] Q&A Session Summary Question: Contribution of various headwinds to margin contraction - Management indicated that residual inflation and delays in growth projects are key drivers for 2023, but they remain confident about 2024 margin improvements due to strong visibility on growth assets [59][63] Question: Slowdown in ramp-up of biologic projects - Management confirmed that some delays impacted 2022 and early 2023, but they expect to catch up by the end of the year [66][67] Question: CapEx expectations and growth opportunities - Management stated that the high CapEx in 2023 corresponds to projects initiated in previous years, and they anticipate a decrease to high teens by 2025, contingent on investment opportunities [71][73] Question: Local market pressures in China - Management noted that competition and post-lockdown challenges have affected their operations in China, but they remain optimistic about future opportunities as restrictions ease [76][78] Question: mRNA impact on future margins - Management clarified that while mRNA sales peaked in 2022, residual sales are expected to be marginal, with no significant impact anticipated for 2024 [80][81] Question: Cell & Gene product headwinds - Management acknowledged challenges in the Cell & Gene division due to clinical trial delays and funding slowdowns, but they do not foresee long-term disruptions [100][102] Question: Cash flow generation expectations - Management expects improved cash flow in 2023 as inventory levels normalize following supply chain recovery [120]
Lonza(LZAGY) - 2022 Q2 - Earnings Call Transcript
2022-07-22 23:59
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Sales grew by 16.8% at constant exchange rates, reaching CHF3 billion for the half year [6][17] - CORE EBITDA generated was CHF987 million, corresponding to a margin of 33.1% [6][20] - The core EBITDA margin of 33.1% is slightly below the high base of H1 2021, remaining robust against inflation impacts [20][22] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Biologics reported 26.2% sales growth with a margin of 37.3%, supported by large growth projects and customer cancellation fees [24] - Small Molecules experienced a sales decline of 20.3%, but margin increased by 2.6 percentage points to 29.9% due to phasing of major shipments [25] - Cell & Gene division achieved 23.4% sales growth and a margin increase of 6.3 percentage points to 22.4%, including a one-time event [26] - Capsules & Health Ingredients saw a 4% increase in sales with a stable margin at 35.2% [27] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The healthcare industry is less sensitive to economic fluctuations, with strong demand for CDMO services [8] - The company continues to see high interest in its Ibex offering and end-to-end solutions [8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company announced a strategic investment of CHF500 million to construct a new Fill & Finish facility in Switzerland, expected to be completed in 2026 [11] - The focus remains on long-term growth, operational excellence, and innovation while navigating macroeconomic challenges [10][42] - The company plans to invest around 30% of sales in CapEx for the full year [31] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged rising inflation and supply chain disruptions but confirmed the business remains on track [7][36] - The outlook for 2022 is reconfirmed, with expectations for underlying business performance to remain strong [36] Other Important Information - The company has over 100 ESG projects across its global network, integrating ESG targets into employee remuneration policies [14] - Free cash flow was negative in the first half of 2022 due to increased capital investments and inventory buildup [32] Q&A Session Summary Question: Confirmation of mid-term guidance and inflation impact - Management confirmed mid-term guidance remains valid despite inflationary impacts, which can be mitigated through contract clauses [45][46] Question: Clarification on one-time items in Biologics - The one-time item in Biologics had a sales impact of approximately 3% of group sales, with a corresponding EBITDA impact [52][53] Question: Update on Fill & Finish facility - The new facility is expected to start production in 2026, with no specific sales figures provided [58][59] Question: Biologics growth expectations for the second half - Management indicated that growth in the Biologics division is expected to continue, although specific half-year guidance is not provided [65][66] Question: Impact of Small Molecule revenue deferral on margins - The deferral of Small Molecule revenue is expected to positively impact sales and margins in the second half [114]