GSK Consumer Healthcare records unprecedented growth for the year ended Dec 31, 2009

Sales increase by 24.6 % and Profits up 23.6 %

Highlights for the year

• Sales and Profits register strong double digit growth
• Q4 closed with a stellar performance of 26.1 % sales growth 
• Recommended a Final Dividend of Rs. 18 per equity share.
• Customer driven innovation in existing and new product categories – the key growth driver 
• Continued effort in cost curtailment, efficiency and improved processes contribute to the growth

Overview

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Limited (GSKCH) today declared its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2009. Net sales at Rs.19, 215 millions recorded an impressive growth of 24.6% over 2008 with PAT at Rs. 2328 millions growing by 23.6% for the same period and PBT growing by 23.9%, over last year to Rs. 3,539 millions. For the fourth quarter, net sales were Rs. 4,181 millions, while PBT and PAT were Rs. 473 and Rs. 337 respectively.

The Board of Directors of the Company also recommended a final dividend @ Rs. 18 per equity share of Rs.10 each to share success with its shareholders.

“2009 has been an extremely exciting year for GSKCH with accelerated growth, driven by customer centric innovation in existing and new product categories”, said, Zubair Ahmed, Managing Director, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Ltd India. “We as a company are well on our track to become the leaders in the health and wellness category by delivering more products of value to our customers and by remaining focused on our key areas of expertise”, he added.

The year saw a slew of launches across categories by GSKCH including Horlicks NutriBar, ActiGrow, Horlicks ChillDood, Junior Horlicks Biscuits and two new products in the last quarter itself viz. Foodles, multigrain instant noodles from Horlicks and Horlicks ProHeight, a specialized Protein formulation containing essential nourishment important for a child’s growth. Keeping in mind the significant increase in rural consumption, GSKCH is also test marketing Horlicks Asha in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, a low cost Health Food Drink (HFD) targeted at the emerging semi-urban and rural consumer segment.

About GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Ltd
GSKCH is an associate of GlaxoSmithKline plc. of the U.K, a global science based healthcare company. GSKCH has continually benefited from the technical and marketing inputs that have been available as a consequence of this association. GSKCH is the largest player in the health food drinks industry. The Company with its manufacturing plants located in Nabha, Rajahmundry and Sonepat has a total workforce of about 2700 people.

GSKCH has a strong marketing and distribution network in India comprising over 1,000 wholesalers and direct coverage of over 3,50,000 retail outlets. Its flagship product, Horlicks, is a widely regarded and highly respected brand for over 100 years. The Company also manufactures and markets Boost, Viva and Maltova and in addition markets and distributes a number of products in diverse categories, which include prominent household names such as Eno, Crocin and Iodex.