Ebos Group Limited Analysis

Overview

Formerly Early Bros Dental & Surgical Supplies Ltd, the company's business was restructured in the 1990s. The major focus now is the marketing of medical consumable products, and growth has been assisted by acquisitions on both sides of the Tasman since 1996. These included Richard Thomson & Co, Health Support Ltd, Maygar Medical, Medic Corporation, Nature's Kiss creams and the Australian Allersearch range of asthma products.

In October 2002 it announced a joint venture of its former Medic Scientific division with Global Science, giving EBO 47.5% of the new entity. In 2004, the company acquired healthcare product distributor Vernon-Carus and the Melbourne based company, Stelmara Medical.

In January 2005 it increased its stake in Global Science from 47.5% to 67% and in March that year acquired the Australian business of Quantum Scientific. In December 2005 it raised its shareholding in Global Science to 100%. Global Science also acquired 100% of Scientific Supplies Ltd - a NZ-based specialty supplier of chemicals to the scientific market.

In August 2007, it acquired pharmaceuticals distributor PRNZ for $86.3m in cash and shares. In July 2008 it acquired MedBio Scientific.

In April 2009, EBO entered into a new issuance and share buyback as part of its profit distribution plan. Under the Profit Distribution Plan shareholders can elect to have the company buy back shares issued to them under the Plan at the issue price of $4.691798 per share.

As a result of shareholder elections the company achieved an off-market buy back of 279,875 shares. Of the total number of bonus shares issued in respect of the 2009 interim profit distribution (of 10.5 cps), 74.1% of shares are being retained with 25.9% electing the buyback option.

The company has elected to cancel all of the 279,875 shares bought back. With the issue of 1,080,305 new shares and the cancellation of 279,875 shares bought back, the total number of shares on issue is now 48,980,799.

On 14 June 2013, shareholders elected to proceed with a pro-rata renounceable Entitlement Offer of 7 new ordinary shares for every 20 existing ordinary shares held on the Record Date. The transaction settlement is expected to take place on or about 5 July 2013.

In November 2015, the company acquired Red Seal, a leading New Zealand natural health product business, for NZ$80 million.

Performance

The following information was extracted from EBOS Group Limited's half year results, released on 19 February 2025:

Half-Year Highlights:

• Revenue of $6.0 billion (up 9.5%1)
• Underlying EBITDA of $291 million (up 7.1%1)
• Underlying NPAT of $131 million
• Underlying EPS of 67.5 cents
• Interim dividend declared of NZ 57.0 cents per share (maintained at H1 FY24 level)

Strong progress made on our near-term growth strategies:

• Underlying EBITDA growth for the Healthcare and Animal Care segments of 7.0%1 and 7.2% respectively
• Approximately $100m revenue from new pharmacy wholesale customers ($450m+ annualised)
• $15m cost savings achieved
• Three investments completed in the Medical Technology business in Southeast Asia
• EBOS reiterates its guidance that the Group expects to generate Underlying EBITDA between $575 - $600 million in FY25