News and press

WheelMate, a Coloplast service that helps wheelchair users find accessible toilets and parking, was recently awarded a shared first place and a Finalist Certificate in the Global Awards, an international advertisement competition.

On 6 December 2012, Coloplast’s WheelMate service won a shared first place for “Communication to the Consumer - Social Commitment” in the category “Mobile Media” and received a Finalist Certificate at the Global Awards in New York.

WheelMate enables people to find and share information about wheelchair friendly toilets and accessible parking spaces. It’s available as a free smartphone app for iPhone and Android and also has a webpage.
“We developed WheelMate as a service for people who rely on accessible toilets every day, but who often have a very difficult time finding them when out and about, says Kevin J. Robinson, Vice President of Coloplast Continence Care. 
“We are very proud of the recognition from the Global Awards. Still, the real measure of success is the strong recognition we are getting from the users. WheelMate really helps them to plan their trips outside of home and get on with living – and that is the best compliment we can get.”

User involvement a key ingredient

WheelMate is an example of how new technology can make a big difference by addressing the specific needs of people.
“We strive to make life easier for people with intimate healthcare issues, in every way we can. So, in addition to our innovative products, we also offer services that address their needs. That’s why we’ve developed this app for the wheelchair community, for them to create and develop their own database of accessible toilets and parking,” Kevin J. Robinson.
More than 7,600 people have downloaded the WheelMate app and the service now contains over 31,000 accessible toilet and parking locations globally.

BACKGROUND

WheelMate

The number of accessible toilets and parking spaces per country (approximate numbers; 11 December 2012):

• Austria 7,200
• UK: 6,400
• Germany: 3,400
• Belgium: 3,400
• USA: 3,300
• Spain: 2,600

All people who need to use handicap toilets can use WheelMate ­­– no matter what disability they may have. Also healthcare professionals, personal helpers or family may find it helpful. It’s available in all countries, so you share information wherever you are.

Coloplast worked together with the advertisement agency Advance to develop WheelMate.

The Global Awards

The Global Awards are the only advertising awards dedicated to excellence in healthcare communications on an international basis. The competition receives entries from healthcare corporations, hospitals and education groups as well as from advertising agencies, design studios and production companies.

To us, the words responsibility and growth go hand in hand. As markets develop and our company grows, we’ll have to make choices everyday – corporate responsibility guides those choices.
Watch this video and see some of the choices we face every day.

Innovative single incision sling system implants the lightest single incision mesh while still providing strength, security and adjustability; minimizes risk of complications and potential patient recovery time.

Minneapolis (November 13, 2012) —

Coloplast today announced the U.S. launch of its new surgical urology and gynaecology medical device, the Altis® Single Incision Sling System (SIS). 
Altis received FDA clearance on November 5, 2012, based on Coloplast's submission of an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) Study which included implant data. Altis is a unique, minimally invasive sling that combines integrated two-way tensioning with lightweight sling material to provide strength, security and adjustability.
Designed with surgeons to address unmet needs, Altis provides physicians with an innovative adjustability mechanism during implantation and an introducer designed for safe repeatable anchor placement, avoiding obturator vascular and nerve bundles. The dynamic tensioning system allows for the sling to be intra-operatively adjusted for proper support under the urethra. Altis is made from the lightest, knitted monofilament polypropylene and has low elasticity. 
“Listening and responding—to physicians and their patients’ needs—is at the heart of Coloplast. It is how we deliver a variety of solutions to physicians to use in their treatment of the intimate health care needs of their patients. Altis is a great example of the innovation enabled by ongoing dialogue; a sling that accommodates individual patient anatomy, provides easier implantation and delivers optimal urethral support,” said Eric Halvorson, Global VP of Surgical Urology, Coloplast US.

Minimal Passage Through Skin Aids Physicians

Altis is different from existing products, as it does not require passage through abdominal skin exits for anchoring or tensioning. The elimination of skin exits allows the Altis sling implant to be smaller and the implantation procedure to be streamlined. 

Dynamic Anchor Creates Two-Way Adjustability

The Altis sling has two innovative anchors to hold the sling in place during the tissue in-growth period. Coloplast designed the anchors to maximize holding force and minimize tissue damage. One anchor is static in placement, while the other is dynamic, allowing for two-way adjustability and proper tensioning. 

Unique Introducer Aids Implementation

Altis has a helical type introducer with visual marking to guide placement during the surgical procedure. The introducer controls the placement of the anchors in the obturator space and relies on the integrated tensioning systems built into the anchors for positioning the sling. 

This technique is designed by surgeons to allow for ease of passage to the ramus.
Dr. Ty Erickson implanter on the IDE study said, “With reproducible controlled passage through tissues and the lightest weight mesh available, Altis pushes minimally invasive slings to the next level. Designed to aid surgeons, this new implant is showing positive outcomes, greatly reducing the potential of complications while providing effective support.”   

Humlebaek, Denmark (November 6, 2012) – Today, Coloplast announced that revenue increased by 8% to DKK 11,023m in the financial year 2011/2012, and that the EBIT margin was 30% against 25% last year.

Read the announcement: English Danish

Earnings for 2011/2012 increased by 21% to DKK 2,194m and earnings per share (EPS) also increased by 21% to DKK 51.5 against the same period last year. The return on invested capital after taxes (ROIC) was 38% against 30% last year.

”I’m very satisfied with the full year results and the development of the company. We are the global market leader and continue to gain market shares. At the same time, we have improved our earnings significantly, which gives us a solid foundation for growing the company further,” says CEO Lars Rasmussen.

Organic growth by business area was 6% in Ostomy Care, 8% in Continence Care, and 6% in Urology Care. Growth in Wound & Skin Care was negative by 1% against the same period last year.

”I’m particularly satisfied with the growth in our Ostomy and Continence Care businesses, where we’ve launched two new products during 2011/12. Both products have been well received by our customers, who think they are different and innovative and enable a more active life. I think that is fantastic to hear.”

The launches in mention are the ostomy accessories line called Brava™ and the new compact catheter SpeediCath® Compact Set.

Expecting increased growth and earnings

For 2012/2013 Coloplast expects a revenue growth of 6-7% both organically and in DKK. An EBIT margin of 31-32% is expected in both fixed exchange rates and DKK.

“We continue to invest in growth and expect to increase our growth rates over the next 3-5 years relative to the market growth. In 2012/2013, we expect a continued stable growth in the European business as well as higher growth rates than in 2011/2012 both in emerging markets and mature markets outside of Europe,” says Lars Rasmussen.

The Board of Directors maintains Coloplast’s long term financial ambition of growing more than the market and delivering earnings in line with the best performing medical device companies. [1]

At the Annual General Meeting on 11 December 2012, the Board of Directors will propose a dividend of DKK 20 per share against DKK 14 last year, equaling a pay-out ratio of 38%. The board of directors will also propose splitting the share with the ration 1 to 5. This changes the nominal value from DKK 5 to 1.

Coloplast’s annual report will be published later today. Find it here:
http://www.coloplast.com/about/investorrelations/announcements/

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[1] At present, Coloplast’s peer group consists of the following listed medical device companies: Medtronic Inc., Baxter International Inc., Covidien PLC, Stryker Corp., St. Jude Medical Inc., Boston Scientific Corp., Sonova Holding AG, Smith&Nephew PLC, CR Bard Inc., Getinge AB, WDH A/S, Shandon Weigao Group Medical.

Lars Rasmussen, CEO of Coloplast, was recently interviewed by Clinica - an information provider for the international MedTech industry.

Listen to the podcast and hear Lars Rasmussen describe Coloplast’s achievements, challenges and future goals.

Clinica’s interview with Lars Rasmussen is centered on growth, the position in China and Russia, the plan for the wound care business and the impact of US healthcare reforms and the new EU regulatory. 

The interview is divided into two parts – listen to them here.

On 6 October 2012, more than 50 people living with ostomy, their friends and family members gathered at the US Headquarters facility in Minneapolis to celebrate World Ostomy Day.

Attendees had the opportunity to connect with our Consumer Care Advisors, meet other local people living with a stoma, learn about our new, innovative ostomy products and tour the facility.  

Feedback from the guests was positive and several commented that it was nice to meet Coloplast employees – especially those who they have spoken to over the phone. 

One of the guests even sent a follow-up email to the team to express his gratitude. "I just want to thank the people hosting the open house on World Ostomy Day," he writes and adds:

"They were all very friendly and gracious. I was truly glad that I attended the open house and I appreciated your hospitality. Thank you."

Coloplast employees also found the event valuable. Heather Zimmerman, Consumer Care Advisor, explains: 

“World Ostomy Day was a great opportunity for us to get to interact with our customers in person!  The customers benefited from speaking with other ostomates and getting direct feedback from us regarding any questions they had and on our new products.  This was definitely an event we should continue to host each year!” 

Sonia McDonough, Marketing Director, adds: 

“The event was a hit! I was so impressed with their desire to learn more about Coloplast as well as seek help and advice regarding their own personal ostomy issues. We were truly helping people and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate World Ostomy Day!”

Coloplast employee Philipp Nieke from Austria recently participated in a course for children with spina bifida, where he gave the children advice on how to handle life in a wheelchair.

Philipp Nieke is very familiar with Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI), because he suffers from it himself. Philipp knows what children with SCI are going through and the daily challenges they face.“Kids don’t have the possibility to experience rehabilitation like adult SCI patients. So, it’s up to the children and their parents to learn how to handle the wheelchair and the continence care,” Philipp says.  

Philipp spent two days at the 'Mobi-Course' in Austria, where children with spina bifida and their parents learned how to deal with life in a wheelchair. The Mobi-Course lasted for one week, and Coloplast got this opportunity to participate while providing support and knowledge.  

Learning through games

“We played games where the children learnt how to handle their wheelchair.” 
“After playing all day, we really got to know each other, and that closeness was important for me in order to talk about intimate topics related to continence care,” Philipp says.

A child-friendly understanding of anatomy

“I explained to them where the urine and the stool come from and that sometimes it’s necessary to use medical products in order to get rid of the useless stuff in our body.” 

Later on, Philipp gave the children some practical examples from every-day life, illustrating that they don’t have to limit themselves, as long as they have the appropriate products and services. Following the workshop children and parents had the chance to contact Philipp individually for a talk about how to make life easier.

Revenue was up 8% to DKK 8,174m in the first three quarters of the financial year 2011/2012 and the EBIT margin was 29% against 24% during the same period of last year.

Read the announcement: English Danish

Organic growth by business area was 6% in Ostomy Care, 9% in Continence Care and 5% in Urology Care while growth in Wound and Skin Care was negative 2% against same period of last year.

”I’m very pleased with the way the company develops. We have delivered a solid result which means we’re able to raise our earnings expectations for this financial year once again," says CEO Lars Rasmussen.

Raising full year earnings expectations

In the financial year 2011/12 Coloplast continue to expect organic revenue growth of about 6% and of about 8% in DKK. The EBIT margin is raised from about 28% to about 29% at constant exchange rates and from about 29% to around 30% in DKK.

Investing in growth

In the third quarter Coloplast launched an updated strategy for the next 3-5 years which aims to accelerate growth.

”We believe we’re able to grow more. Right now we are working to identify and asses our long-term investments in growth.”

“The future investments should maintain and strengthen our position as market leader in Europe, strengthening growth in the developed markets outside Europe (U.S., Canada, Japan and Australia) as well as providing greater expansion into new markets, including China.”

Coloplast – the most customer oriented company

Furthermore, in the third quarter Coloplast was ranked by patient groups world wide as the most customer oriented medical device company globally.*

”Many of our customers live with chronic diseases that are still considered taboo. We strive to help people get on with their lives by delivering high quality services and products that are safe, easy to use and don’t look like medical equipment. This survey tells me that our customers appreciate what we do and that really creates a strong foundation for the future.”

* Corporate reputation of the medical device industry – from the patients’ perspective, Patient view, April 2012. Based on 300 patient groups from 42 countries. Coloplast no. 1 in all six categories. Read more at http://patientview.posterous.com/

Coloplast UK recently helped launch a new partnership called “Bowel Independence”. The partnership’s aim is to help increase awareness of bowel issues, which affects 1 in 10 people.

On 4 July 2012, Coloplast UK hosted the first ever “Bowel Independence Day”. 

At a media event in London, the newly formed Bowel Independence partnership was launched with the aim of breaking down a taboo that affects thousands of UK citizens: Faecal incontinence and chronic constipation.
The partnership consists of health care professionals, patient organisations, media representatives and Coloplast UK. 

Bowel issues still a big taboo

Sue Frost, UK Senior Market Manager, explains why Coloplast has taken the initiative to form the partnership.
“With products such as Peristeen, we already help a lot of people with faecal incontinence or constipation to live better lives, says Sue.
“However, far too many people still don’t know where to find basic information about their condition or the treatment options that can help them – simply because bowel issues are still a big taboo.”

More information is crucial

To help illustrate the physical and mental challenges of people with bowel issues, the media event featured presentations both from a leading medical expert and from two experienced health care professionals working with patients every day.
To provide a patient perspective, Matt Hampson, former England U21 rugby player and spinal cord injured, and Kerry Lloyd, mother of two from the West Midlands with Multiple Sclerosis, shared their personal stories.
“I think it’s crucial that more people get access to information. I wish that I had known about available treatment options much earlier. We need to start talking openly about this, and I think this event is very good start,” says Kerry Lloyd.

Building better pathways for treatment

The event also featured a roundtable discussion, covering topics such as: How can we educate and improve access to treatment? How can we make it more acceptable to talk about tabooed issues such as faecal incontinence?
“Apart from making products that make a real difference, we also want to help create better information channels and pathways for treatment. This event is an important first step in reaching these goals – and the discussion tonight has given us great ideas to work with in the coming weeks and months,” says Sue Kernahan, General Manager UK.
Coloplast will also host a Bowel Independence Day next year. 
Visit the Bowel Independence website and learn more.

Coloplast employee and swimmer Kyosuke Oyama has qualified as a Japan representative for the London Paralympics 2012.
At the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing Oyama won the silver medal in the 50 meter butterfly event – now four years later he fights for gold. 

Since 2011, Oyama has been working at Coloplast once a week and focusing on his training for the London Paralympics with the support and back up of Coloplast Japan.  
“I will go to the Paralympics with gratitude in my heart and enjoy this opportunity to swim. I am going to go for the gold! Thank you everyone for your continued support,” Oyama says.    

From cerebral infarction to the Paralympics

While in junior high school, Oyama collapsed from a cerebral infarction that left the right side of his body paralysed. But Oyama fought his way back, resumed swimming and while he studied at the university he competed at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics.

Cheer out for Oyama on September 7

On September 7, Oyama will be swimming the 50 meter butterfly qualifying and, hopefully, final races in the London Aquatics Centre. We hope everyone will be cheering on him!

Case demonstrates Coloplast’s commitment to defend Intellectual Property rights now and in the future

May 8, 2012— Coloplast North America today announced that a federal court jury in Tacoma, Wash., ruled that Generic Medical Devices, Inc. (GMD) was infringing on a Coloplast Urology Care patent for the transobturator (TOT) method for treating stress urinary incontinence in women. Using this approach, surgeons implant Coloplast’s Aris® sling to help women regain control of their bladder.

The jury found that GMD infringed six separate claims of U.S. Patent Number 7,621,864, by marketing and selling its surgical tools and sling products for the purpose of using the TOT surgical method patented by Coloplast. The court soon will schedule a briefing on Coloplast’s motion for a permanent injunction.

“By pursuing and winning this patent case, Coloplast is able to protect the research and development investments we make,” said Steffen Hovard, senior vice president of Coloplast Urology Care. “Our mission is to improve patient quality of life. Protecting our patents allows us to realize that mission and push the industry forward through innovation. This is how we bring the best technologies, best devices and best methods to our surgeon partners and patients.”  

Coloplast was represented in the patent case by Faegre Baker Daniels LLP.  

About Aris®

Aris® is a sling used to treat stress urinary incontinence in women. The Aris sling is implanted using the newest effective treatment approach, transobturator, which places the sling in a hammock position cradling the urethra. When in place, the sling supports and keeps the urethra in the correct position without the use of screws, anchors or sutures.
 
 

Johnson, 19, is competing this year in The Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda, the first step on the Mazda Road to Indy, an open-wheeled development program for drivers seeking a career in professional racing. Johnson’s goal is to be the first paralyzed driver to compete in the Indy500.With modifications to his No. 54 car and the use of medical devices, Johnson is able to compete at the professional level. One of those devices is Coloplast’s SpeediCath® coated catheter that provides hygienic, safe and convenient catheterization.

“Coloplast’s mission is to improve patient quality of life. Michael Johnson embodies that mission. He is redefining the sport and erasing boundaries, proving that with the right mix of innovation and passion, any obstacle can be overcome,” said Tom Remmel, SpeediCath Product Manager. “We are proud to be part of this racing team and will be cheering for Michael every step of the way, especially when he crosses the finish line at Indy500 for the first time.”

Coloplast’s 2012 sponsorship provides financial support for Michael Johnson racing. Coloplast and SpeediCath logos will be displayed on Johnson’s car and gear throughout the season.

“I sincerely appreciate Coloplast’s support in pursuing my dream,” Johnson said. “Their sponsorship fuels my team’s aim to advance to the IndyCar series, and SpeediCath gives me the convenience and freedom to focus on my training.”

A Lifelong Desire For Competition

In 2005, then 12-year-old Johnson was a 14-time motorcycle-racing champion. He became paralyzed from mid-chest down after spinal cord injuries suffered in a dirt-track competition. 

Despite having no feeling in his legs, Johnson never gave up his desire to race competitively. His experience using his hands to apply throttle, brake and clutch in motorcycle racing paid off in the years following his paralyzing accident. He racked up numerous wins in go-kart racing competitions, driving specially designed vehicles with hand controls instead of foot pedals.

Johnson’s adult stem cell surgery in 2009, followed by aggressive physical therapy, stimulated some sensation down to his waist, and gave Johnson the confidence to race formula cars professionally on tracks throughout the U.S. this year.

“My goal is to become the first paralyzed driver to win the Indy 500,” Johnson said. “My journey may seem unconventional, but we all have different paths to reach our true potential and live life to the fullest. I might have some challenges here or there but I’m never going to give up. Racing is my life.”

Visit www.MichaelJohnsonRacing.com to learn more about Johnson’s story.

In the coming days, Christian Husegaard, Coloplast's Vice President for Emerging Markets, will travel to South Korea with members of the Danish Royal Family and colleagues from more than six Danish companies. The objective is to strengthen the co-operation with the South Asian tiger economy.

For some time now, South Korea's economy has outperformed those of many Western countries and today it is the world's 15th strongest economy. There are also several parameters that make the Korean market an attractive target for Coloplast.

"South Korea has a relatively high healthcare budget per inhabitant and treatment standards are high. This means that quality products such as those produced by Coloplast would be valued and could come to play a role on the market", says Christian Husegaard to Ritzau Finans.

In the battle for the growing Korean market, Coloplast established a subsidiary five years ago in South Korea.

"As an Asian market, South Korea represents a slightly greater challenge than closer markets for Danish companies. To be successful in the Korean market, one must establish and cultivate relationships. This means that it is important to maintain both a physical and cultural presence, and to practice proper etiquette. That's why we decided to invest in our own company over there", he explains.

Coloplast is taking the opportunity to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the company's Korean subsidiary on Friday at an event in which the Danish Crown Prince Couple will participate. As part of the event, Coloplast will donate a number of ostomy care products to the Korean Coloproctology Society, so that the organisation will have the chance to test the products.

Christian Husegaard looks forward to being part of the Danish delegation and helping to strengthen the co-operation with the Korean healthcare system.

"Hopefully, this type of event will help generate goodwill, though we believe that it will serve to generate business in the time ahead, too. At any rate, we will be able to show our business partners that we are committed to the Korean

market", he concludes.

Among those travelling with the Danish delegation are representatives from A.P. Møller-Mærsk, FLSmidth, Lundbeck, Novo Nordisk, Pandora and Vestas.

Finding accessible toilets is a daily challenge for around eight million wheelchair users in North America and Europe. WheelMate™, a new smartphone application, aims to solve the issue by offering a quick and simple way to find accessible toilets.

People who use a wheelchair need to use the toilet about 4-6 times a day. Apart from the challenge of finding accessible toilets, some wheelchair users also have bladder control issues and may have to use a catheter to empty their bladder. To them, being able to find accessible and hygienic toilets is even more crucial.

To solve this issue, the medical device company Coloplast is introducing a free iPhone App – WheelMate™. The app enables wheelchair users to find and rate handicap friendly toilets when they’re out and about – for instance in pubs, shops and restaurants.

Enabling an easier life

“Coloplast’s ambition is to make life easier for people with intimate healthcare needs. This includes developing the best medical devices, as well as offering innovative services that enable people to do more, says Martin Damm Jensen, Director, Coloplast.

A study confirms that almost 50 pct. of wheelchair users can’t go to the restaurants they’d like due to inaccessible toilets . But Simon Pinnell, a 46 year-old wheelchair user from the UK, is confident that a toilet app can make a big difference.

“If somebody suggests off the cuff ‘let's go here’, you can think: ‘Well, that's fine, we can go there. If I need the toilet, I can just search on the phone, and away we go.’"

Liz Bambury, clinical nurse specialist from the UK, also thinks the app has potential.

“I think it will enable and encourage people to go out more, and perhaps explore places where they haven’t been before,” she says.

Co-creation empowers community

“With WheelMate, we provide a platform that wheelchair users can help build by adding and rating accessible toilets. This way, WheelMate users can increase their own personal mobility and live more spontaneously, while helping others to do the same. That’s why WheelMate has potential to become more than a practical tool – we believe it can also empower the wheelchair user community as a whole,” Martin Damm Jensen says.

WheelMate is available for iPhone, and an Android version will also be developed. An estimated 65 million people across the world need a wheelchair  of which five million live in Europe and three million in the US.

Visit www.wheelmate.com

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[1] “The Social Implications of Increases in Wheelchair Use”, Sapey et al 2004
[2] World Health Organization 2008

In a new global study, patients say that Coloplast has the best customer focus, the most useful products and the strongest patient safety. The study places Coloplast in front of competitors such as Smith & Nephew and Johnson & Johnson.

In a study covering 18 leading medical device companies, patients rate Coloplast as no. 1 in six different areas. The study was done by PatientView, an independent healthcare consultancy, and is based on feedback from 300 patient groups from 42 countries worldwide.
The study looked at the corporate reputation of the medical device industry as a whole, and of 18 individual medical device companies. It used six indicators to measure each company’s performance: 

• Whether the company has an effective patient-centred strategy
• The quality of the information that the company provides to patients
• The company’s record on patient safety
• The usefulness of the company’s products to patients
• The company’s record of transparency with external healthcare stakeholders
• Whether the company acts with integrity

Coloplast ranked first in all six of the study’s indicators.

Strong customer focus key to success

Coloplast makes products and services for people with very personal and private medical conditions – the company calls this “intimate healthcare”. The business areas include ostomy care, continence care, urology as well as wound and skin care.
Nicolas Nemery, Senior Vice President at Coloplast, believes the study results reflect Coloplast’s strong customer focus.
“We care for our customers and want to make a real difference to their lives – and this study tells me that they appreciate it”, Nicolas Nemery says. 
“Most of our customers have had serious accidents or diseases, and we want to help them regain full and meaningful lives. By designing products that work, are easy to use and don’t look like medical products, we hope to remove the problems and stigma that many of our customers live with – and we can only do this by listening to their needs and engaging them in our product innovation, so it is great to see that they like to engage with us.” 
Read more about the study at Patient View’s webpage.
Read more about Coloplast at www.coloplast.com.

FACTS

Final ranking for the top 6 companies 

 
Table: PatientView, April 2012

PatientView’s study looked at 18 companies:

• Abbott 
• Baxter International 
• B. Braun Melsungen AG 
• Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) 
• Boston Scientific
• Coloplast A/S 
• Fresenius Medical Care (FMC) 
• GE Healthcare 
• Johnson & Johnson 
• Medtronic, Inc
• Olympus Medical Systems Business 
• Philips Healthcare 
• Roche Diagnostics 
• Siemens Healthcare 
• Smith & Nephew
• St. Jude Medical, Inc 
• Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation 
• 3M Health Care

The patient groups questioned represent a minimum of 1.5 million patients and cover a wide range of fields such as neurology, cancer, diabetes and mental health. The majority (23%) are based in the UK, 13% in the US, 8% in Germany, and 5% in Belgium and Canada – most other countries are also represented. The study was carried out from mid-February to late-March 2012.

Revenue was up 7% to DKK 5,346m in the first half of the financial year 2011/2012 and the EBIT margin was 27% against 24% during the same period last year.

Read the announcement: English Danish

"I’m very pleased. We continue to grow more than the market and have delivered a solid result which means we can raise our earnings expectations for this financial year," says CEO Lars Rasmussen.

The revenue growth expectations for the financial year 2011/2012 continue to be about 6% at constant exchange rates and about 8% in DKK based on current exchange rates. The EBIT margin is raised from about 27% to about 28% at constant exchange rates and from about 28% to around 29% in DKK based on current exchange rates.

Ready to invest in growth

Coloplast's Board of Directors today approved an updated strategy for the next 3-5 years which aims to accelerate growth.

"The combination of a strong portfolio of new products and a stronger, more professional sales force means that we now have the foundation to accelerate growth."

"Furthermore, we have over the past four years improved the company's profitability significantly which means that we are now ready to invest up to 1 billion Danish kroner in growth during the next five years while maintaining earnings in line with the best in the market, "says Lars Rasmussen.

The future investments should maintain and strengthen Coloplast's position as market leader in Europe, strengthening growth in the developed markets outside Europe (U.S., Canada, Japan and Australia) as well as providing greater expansion into new markets including China.

Coloplast today announced a new sales organisation, which supports the updated strategy. For more details go to H1 announcement.

Coloplast's long-term financial ambition is to outgrow the market while achieving earnings margins that are in line with the best performing med-tech companies.

The Ethisphere® Institute, a New York City-based business ethics think-tank, today announced Coloplast as one of the companies on its annual list of the “World’s Most Ethical Companies”.
Before publishing its sixth annual list of the World’s Most Ethical Companies, the Ethisphere Institute reviewed companies worldwide based on more than 100 different criteria. These include codes of conduct, litigation and regulatory infraction histories as well as sustainable business practices. Coloplast features on the Ethisphere Institute list in the medical device category.
“We are pleased to feature on the Ethisphere Institute’s list of the world’s most ethical companies.”
“Doing business responsibly is something we are strongly committed to. We clearly see an increasing number of investors, health care professionals and people using our products expressing their interest in how we put our global standards for corporate responsibility into practice”, says Jeppe Kromann Haarsted, Head of Corporate Responsibility at Coloplast.
“A strong ethical foundation is a competitive advantage, and Coloplast recognises the important role corporate responsibility plays in improving its bottom line,” said Alex Brigham, executive director of the Ethisphere Institute.
“As more and more organisations strive for this honour each year, Coloplast’s inclusion as a World’s Most Ethical Company for 2012 demonstrates its industry-leading commitment to ethics and dedication to integrity.”
In addition to the Ethisphere Institute recognition, Coloplast also features on the annual list of the “Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations”, which was recently announced by Corporate Knights during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
A full version of Coloplast’s latest Corporate Responsibility Report is available for download here.
For more information about the Ethisphere Institute or Corporate Knights, visit ethisphere.com or corporateknights.com.

Recently Gail Sorensen, who was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2011, attended the Coloplast Symposium in Sydney to provide a patient testimonial for the Coloplast Care programme. 

But as you can see from the video below, she is obviously also very happy with SenSura® Mio! 

Watch her spontaneous reaction, where she says that she is “…bubbly with life and ready to go again.”

Former English rugby union prop Matt ‘Hambo’ Hampson has spent a day at Coloplast’s UK office talking to staff about how Peristeen has changed his life nearly seven years after he became paralysed from the neck down.

The accident

In 2005, Matt was training for an under 21 Six Nations match against Scotland when a scrum collapsed on top of him, dislocating his neck and severing his spinal cord. 

Seven years on and Matt is still discovering new ways of doing things and new products that can improve his day to day life. 
Last year Matt discovered Peristeen, Coloplast’s bowel management system and, after just three months of use, says it has changed his life.

Peristeen makes Matt's life easier

Matt explains: “People take going to the toilet for granted. Nobody talks about it but we all do it. Thanks to Peristeen I am back in control of my bowels for the first time in nearly seven years. It has taken hours off my morning routine. I feel healthier on the inside and it shows on the outside too, my skin looks better and brighter.” 
Matt has pledged to do all he can to raise the profile of Peristeen, as it’s vital for other people in his situation to know that there are products available that make a real difference. 

Matt commented: “I’m going to tell as many people as possible in my situation about Peristeen. It has changed my life and could change their lives too.”

Matt inspires us all

Sue Kernahan, Coloplast general manager in the UK, said: “Matt is such an inspiration and we are delighted that he is going to work with us to increase the awareness of Peristeen. At Coloplast we work hard every day, knowing that our products make a difference to people’s lives. 

To have someone come in and share his story with us and tell us, in person, that our product has changed his life, left many of us with tears in our eyes. It’s been such a humbling day.”
Sue Frost, senior market manager in Coloplast UK, added: “Peristeen has the potential to make a huge difference to so many lives. To have someone like Matt, a famous face with an amazing story, say that it changed his life, makes us even more proud of the work we do. It also gives us hope that we have found a new way spreading the word about what an amazing product Peristeen is. He is a great ambassador for the product and we look forward to working with him.”
For more information on Peristeen click here.

Coloplast: In the first quarter of 2011/12 revenue increased by 4% to DKK 2,654m and the EBIT margin was 26% against 24% in the same period of last year. The gross profit increased by 8% to DKK 1,738m which gives a gross margin of 65% against 63% in Q1 2010/11.

Read the announcement: English Danish

“I’m satisfied with the continued earnings improvement.” says CEO Lars Rasmussen.

“However, growth in Europe is not satisfactory. Almost 75% of our sales are effected here and in the first quarter we experienced lower growth rates than witnessed before. Especially, the development in Spain and France was disappointing.”

Return on invested capital before tax (ROIC) was 32% against 27% in the same period of last year.

Within the business areas growth was 7% in Ostomy Care, 5% in Continence Care and 5% in Urology Care whereas growth within Wound & Skin Care products was negative by 3% compared to last year.

Positive development in Ostomy Care

“Development in Ostomy Care was positive and especially Russia contributed to growth. I’m also quite pleased with the development in the US which continued as planned and showed improved growth rates.”

“In the relatively small Wound Care business area development was not satisfactory. This was especially due to Greece where we have reduced stocks at our distributor in order to decrease the risk of loss. At the same time, however, we saw a positive development in Germany and the United Kingdom which both generated positive growth in the quarter.”

Financial guidance for 2011/12

Revenue growth of about 6% is expected organically and about 8% in DKK. An EBIT margin of about 27% is expected at constant exchange rates and about 28% in DKK.

Share buy-back

In December 2011, the shareholders in general meeting authorised Coloplast to establish a share buy-back programme totalling up to DKK 1bn until the end of the 2012/13 financial year. The first part of the share buy-back programme is expected to be launched in the second quarter and completed no later than 30 September 2012