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Stada Arzneimittel AG

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FY2015 Annual Report · Stada Arzneimittel AG
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02

STADA KEY FIGURES

Key figures for the Group in € million 

2015

Previous year

Group sales

• Generics (core segment)

• Branded Products (core segment)

Group sales adjusted for currency and portfolio effects 

• Generics

• Branded Products

Operating profit

Operating profit, adjusted  1) 2)

EBITDA (Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization)

EBITDA (Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization), adjusted  1) 2)

EBIT (Earnings before interest and taxes)

EBIT (Earnings before interest and taxes), adjusted  1) 2)

EBT (Earnings before taxes)

EBT (Earnings before taxes), adjusted  1) 3)

Net income

Net income, adjusted  1) 3)

Cash flow from operating activities

Capital expenditure

Depreciation and amortization (net of write-ups)

Employees  
(average number calculated on the basis of full-time employees Jan. 1 – Dec. 31)4)

Employees (as of the balance sheet date calculated on the basis of full-time employees)

2,115.1

1,217.5

853.6

2,133.8

1,228.7

865.8

223.7

283.8

377.1

389.4

225.3

285.3

157.8

220.9

110.4

165.8

311.7

177.0

151.8

2,062.2

1,217.7

800.5

2,052.2

1,211.4

796.8

188.5

320.7

418.8

431.9

190.3

322.4

124.7

253.3

64.6

186.2

223.8

279.0

228.5

10,441

10,532

10,209

10,363

± %

+3%

0%

+7%

+4%

+1%

+9%

+19%

-12%

-10%

-10%

+18%

-12%

+27%

-13%

+71%

-11%

+39%

-37%

-34%

+2%

+2%

Key share figures 

2015

Previous year

± %

Market capitalization (year-end) in € million

Year-end closing price (XETRA®) in €

Number of shares (year-end)

Average number of shares (without treasury shares)

Earnings per share in €

Earnings per share in €, adjusted 1) 3)

Diluted earnings per share in €

Diluted earnings per share in €, adjusted 1) 3)

Dividend per share in €

Total dividend payments in € million

Distribution ratio as a percentage

2,327.9

37.34

62,342,440

61,637,621

1,530.8

25.25

60,626,700

60,408,501

1.79

2.69

1.79

2.69

0.705)

43.65)

39%5)

1.07

3.08

1.05

3.04

0.66

40.0

62%

+52%

+48%

+3%

+2%

+67%

-13%

+70%

-12%

+6%

+9%

-36%

1) The deduction of such effects which have an impact on the presentation of STADA’s earnings 
situation and the derived key figures aims at improving the comparability of key figures with 
previous years. To achieve this, STADA uses adjusted key figures, which, as so called pro forma 
figures, are not governed by the accounting requirements in accordance with IFRS. As other 
companies may not calculate the pro forma figures presented by STADA in the same way, 
STADA’s pro forma figures are only comparable with similarly designated disclosures by other 
companies to a limited extent. 

2) Within the context of this annual report, adjustments in connection with the operating profit, 
EBITDA and EBIT generally relate to one-time special effects.
3) Within the context of this annual report, adjustments in connection with EBT, net income, 
earnings per share and diluted earnings per share generally relate to one-time special effects  
and effects from the measurement of derivative financial instruments under financial income  
and expenses.
4) This average number includes changes in the scope of consolidation on a pro-rata basis.
5) Proposed.

STADA Key Figures 
 
 
03

STADA AT A GLANCE

STADA BUSINESS MODEL

• Focus on products with off-patent active pharmaceutical ingredients in the health care market concentrating on the 

 pharmaceutical market 

• Core segments

 – Generics (58% share in Group sales)

 – Branded Products (40% share in Group sales)

• Strategic success factors

 – Good positioning in long-term growth markets

 – Strong presence in Europe and, at the same time, an internationalization strategy with a focus on high-growth markets  

and branded products

 – Comprehensive generics portfolio, selected biosimilars and branded products with an attractive margin

 – Successful product development with a well-filled product pipeline

 – International sales structure

 – Functional organizational structure with strong local market presence

 – Efficient cost management including a culture of continuous cost optimization

 – Highly trained and committed employees all over the world

STADA FINANCIAL YEAR 2015

• Group sales increase by 3% to € 2.12 billion – Group sales adjusted for currency and portfolio effects grow by 4% 

• Reported key earnings figures

 – Reported EBITDA declines by 10% to € 377.1 million

 – Reported net income increases by 71% to € 110.4 million

 – Earnings per share increase by 67% to € 1.79

• Adjusted key earnings figures

 – Adjusted EBITDA declines by 10% to € 389.4 million

 – Adjusted net income records a decrease by 11% to € 165.8 million

 – Adjusted earnings per share decrease by 13% to € 2.69

• Pleasing development in Central Europe with sales growth of 5% and in Asia/Pacific & MENA with a sales increase of 55%

• Further expansion of the self-pay patient portfolio from sales growth of 7% in branded products – share of branded products in 

adjusted operating profit of core segments amounts to 48.5%

• Strong product development with a total of 578 product launches

• Further value-enhancing acquisitions to strengthen the branded products portfolio and Generics segment

• Promising cooperation in the aesthetics area

• Successful placement of another corporate bond in the amount of € 300 million

• Increase of STADA share price by 48%

• Recommendation for a dividend increase of 6% to € 0.70 per STADA share

STADA OUTLOOK

• Outlook for 2016

 – Slight growth in Group sales adjusted for currency and portfolio effects

 – Slight growth in adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income

 – Ratio of net debt, excluding further acquisitions, to adjusted EBITDA at a level of nearly 3

STADA at a Glance04

ANNUAL REPORT  

2015

LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM THE CHAIRMAN 
OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD  

REPORT OF THE SUPERVISORY BOARD  

120-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF STADA  
THE BUSINESS IDEA 

THE CORPORATION 

THE INTERNATIONAL GROUP 

OVERVIEW  

BOARDS OF THE COMPANY 
THE STADA SUPERVISORY BOARD 

THE STADA EXECUTIVE BOARD 

THE STADA ADVISORY BOARD 

THE STADA SHARE 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT
INCLUDING THE DECLARATION OF  
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 

06

08

14

16

18

20

24

28

28

29

30

31

33

Table of Contents 
ANNUAL REPORT  

2015

05

MANAGEMENT REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD   48

STADA CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  

148

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT  

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT  

OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME  

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET  

CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT  

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF  

CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY  

NOTES TO THE  

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  

General Information  

Notes to the Consolidated Income Statement  

Notes to the Consolidated Balance Sheet  

Other Disclosures  

RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT  

AUDITOR’S REPORT  

GLOSSARY FROM A TO Z  

FINANCIAL CALENDAR  

PUBLISHING INFORMATION  

OVERVIEW OF SALES  

FIVE-YEAR CONSOLIDATED  
FINANCIAL SUMMARY  

150

151

152

153

154

156

156

185

197

228

251

252

253

255

256

258

259

BASIS OF THE GROUP 

Business Model of the Group 

Product Development 

Procurement, Production and Quality Management 

Sales and Marketing 

Employees 

Goals and Strategies 

Controlling 

Responsibility and Sustainability 

ECONOMIC REPORT 

General Economic and Industry-Specific Situation 

Business Development and Situation 

Development of 2015 Compared to Outlook 

Development of Financial Performance Indicators  

and Non-financial Performance Indicators 

Earnings Situation 

Development of Sales 

Development of Earnings and Costs 

Development of Segments 

Financial Situation 

Assets Situation 

General Statements of the Executive Board  

on Business Development in 2015 

REMUNERATION REPORT 

SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT 

OPPORTUNITIES REPORT 

RISK REPORT 

TAKEOVER-RELEVANT INFORMATION 

PROGNOSIS REPORT 

50

50

54

57

60

63

67

68

70

73

73

75

75

76

78

78

79

85

95

101

105

106

120

121

124

142

144

Table of Contents 
06

LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS  
FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Despite  difficult  framework  conditions,  in  financial  year  2015  we  were  able  to  record  business  development  in  line  with  our 

 ex pectations. Both reported and adjusted Group sales increased. Earnings development was characterized by an increase in almost 

all  reported key earnings figures. Our Group tax rate also showed positive development, and we were able improve both the reported 

and the adjusted rate. The development of cash flow from operating activities was also very pleasing.

Looking at the regions, we achieved very good development in the market region Asia/Pacific & MENA with sales growth well into the 

double-digit percentage range. In the two market regions Central Europe and Germany we were also able to increase sales. Although 

we continued to be faced with difficult framework conditions in the market region CIS/Eastern Europe, we also achieved a sales 

 increase in local currency. Looking at the countries, the United Kingdom, Spain and Italy in Central Europe should be particularly 

highlighted. In view of the continued very difficult framework conditions, sales in Russia developed well in local currency over the full 

year. In Germany we were able to record a pleasing increase in sales in the generics area, which was primarily based on the decision 

to only take part in tenders for discount agreements with one subsidiary. In Asia/Pacific & MENA the development in Vietnam and 

China in particular was very positive.

Within the scope of our active acquisition policy, we made further progress in financial year 2015. We were thereby able not only to 

strengthen our branded product portfolio through diverse acquisitions, but also to further expand our generics business with the 

purchase of an Argentinean generics producer. In order to expand our business activities in the area of dermatological treatments, 

we have also started a promising cooperation with an Austrian company.

With the introduction of numerous products we have shown once again that we have a successful product development. We have 

also made further progress with our biosimilar activities, among other things, through the in-licensing of Pegfilgrastim.

We were also successful in strengthening our financing structure. Here we were able to place a further corporate bond for the long-

term refinancing of the Group. The attractive conditions of this bond confirmed once again that we continue to enjoy considerable 

trust on the refinancing market. Together with our other financial instruments, we thereby have a balanced financing structure that is 

staggered in terms of volume and duration.

The development of our share was also very pleasing in 2015. Despite the geopolitical tensions in Ukraine and the significant 

 devaluation of the Russian ruble in particular, the STADA share price recorded a total increase of 48%.

Letter to Shareholders from the Chairman of the Executive Board07

For the Group’s outlook, we generally anticipate a continued successful development. Overall, the future sales and earnings develop-

ment of the Group will be characterized both by growth-stimulating and challenging framework conditions in the individual markets 

of STADA’s four market regions. In the overall assessment of opposing influence factors, however, the positive prospects are  expected 

to prevail in financial year 2016. In light of this, we anticipate slight growth in Group sales adjusted for currency and portfolio effects, 

adjusted EBITDA as well as adjusted net income in 2016. We expect the ratio of net debt excluding further acquisitions to adjusted 

EBITDA to be at a level of nearly 3.

At this point on behalf of the entire Executive Board I would like to thank our employees in particular, who have made a key contribu-

tion once again to our success with their extensive expertise, long-standing experience and strong commitment. Our gratitude also 

 extends to both the STADA Supervisory Board and the STADA Advisory Board for their constructive cooperation.

Hartmut Retzlaff

Chairman of the Executive Board

Letter to Shareholders from the Chairman of the Executive Board 
08

REPORT OF THE SUPERVISORY BOARD

Dear Shareholders,

In financial year 2015, the Supervisory Board of STADA Arzneimittel AG carefully executed the duties imposed on it in accordance 

with the law and the Articles of Incorporation. The Supervisory Board continuously monitored the management of the company and 

advised the Executive Board regularly in the management of the Group. In all decisions of fundamental importance for the company, 

the Executive Board involved the Supervisory Board regularly, directly and in a timely manner. Within the scope of its supervisory and 

consultative duties, the Supervisory Board had the Executive Board inform it comprehensively through monthly oral and written re-

ports on  business development, the strategy and corporate planning including financial, investment and personnel planning as relat-

ed to the company and the STADA Group. At all times, the members of the Supervisory Board had the opportunity in the committees 

and in the plenum to critically examine the reports and proposed resolutions submitted by the Executive Board and to present input 

of their own. In particular, the Supervisory Board intensively discussed all business transactions of importance for the company and 

reviewed them for their plausibility on the basis of the Executive Board reports. The Executive Board briefed the Supervisory Board 

– also between the regular meetings – regarding all questions of strategy, planning, business development, the risk situation, risk 

management and compliance. The Executive Board also briefed the Chairman of the Supervisory Board on the progress of business 

including the sales development and profitability, important business events and issues of particular importance. In addition, the 

Supervisory Board monitored the accounting process and the measures taken by the Executive Board for risk management, the in-

ternal control system, the internal auditing system as well as the compliance measures taken. The Executive Board explained in detail 

to the members of the Supervisory Board eventual deviations in the business development from the plans and objectives. 

All issues which, in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation and rules of procedure require the approval of the Supervisory 

Board,  were  submitted  to  the  Supervisory  Board.  The  Supervisory  Board  treated  and  reviewed  these  procedures  in  detail  and 

 discussed  them  with  the  Executive  Board,  whereby  the  focus  was  regularly  placed  on  the  benefits,  the  risks  and  effects  of  the 

 respective procedure. 

Meetings of the Supervisory Board and focus of activities

In financial year 2015, the Supervisory Board held a total of eight meetings, each of which was attended by all nine members of the 

Supervisory Board. The Supervisory Board regularly convened alone and subsequently requested that Executive Board participate and 

report.

In the past financial year, the Supervisory Board, in an intensive exchange with the Executive Board, dealt with the business develop-

ment of the company and the Group in the four market regions Germany, Central Europe, CIS/Eastern Europe and Asia/Pacific & 

MENA,  the  fundamental  corporate  strategy,  in  particular  with  a  view  to  the  positioning  of  the  two  core  segments  Generics  and 

 Branded Products, corporate planning of the company and the Group as well as the position of the Group, especially the financial  

and earnings situation. The Supervisory Board talked regularly to the Executive Board about the financial and liquidity situation con-

sidering especially the investment plans in the Group, the financing structures and refinancing strategies as well as the development 

of the debt-to-equity ratio. A common subject of meetings in the past financial year also included the economic and political devel-

opments in the market region CIS/Eastern Europe, particularly considering the devaluation of the Russian ruble, the Ukrainian hryvnia 

and the Kazakhstani tenge as a result of the CIS crisis. 

The Supervisory Board had the Executive Board report to it regularly on the market structures, development of demand, the com-

petitive situation and the price, conditions and discount development in the individual market regions and in particular the develop-

ment of market shares of the Group and the relevant competitors. The effects of regulatory state interventions on the Group and/or 

Report of the Supervisory Board09

on the individual subsidiaries and the necessary reactions to these played an important role here, especially in the German home 

market  with  regard  to  the  discount  agreements  with  health  insurance  organizations.  In  addition,  the  Supervisory  Board  regularly 

gained  an  overview  of  the  product  development  and  product  portfolio  of  the  Group.  It  discussed  with  the  Executive  Board  the 

 possibilities related to cost, tax and process optimizations. The integration of all German logistics activities of the Group into DHL as 

a worldwide leading provider of logistics services as of June 1, 2015 was important in this context. 

The  Supervisory  Board  also  dealt  intensively  with  the  risk  and  opportunities  management  in  the  Group,  the  internal  control  and 

 auditing system, the compliance management system, considered, planned and executed acquisitions, disposals and cooperations 

of the Group as well as with the integration of acquired companies and products into the Group. 

The restructuring of the Executive Board remuneration system as of January 1, 2016 as well as the contractual implementation of 

the system were also the subject of an intensive consultation and resolution of the Supervisory Board in financial year 2015. The 

review of Executive Board remuneration at regular intervals by the Supervisory Board is required by the German Stock Corporation 

Act and the German Corporate Governance Code. In this regard, the Supervisory Board also obtained the advice of external remuner-

ation experts. Details are presented in the Remuneration Report, which is part of the Management Report. The Supervisory Board is 

 convinced that, with the new remuneration system, it has established a simple, transparent, performance focused and attractive 

foundation for continued very good Executive Board performance. The new system creates an incentive for a successful and sustain-

able  corporate  governance  by  linking  the  remuneration  of  the  Executive  Board  to  the  (short  and  long-term)  development  of  the 

company, but through appropriate upper limits, the system prevents an excessively strong incentive toward risk-oriented behavior. In 

addition, the Super visory Board can undertake, in consideration of the personal performance of a member of the Executive Board and 

within a certain framework, an upward or downward adjustment of the remuneration. The new remuneration system also reflects the 

interests of shareholders and investors in a continuous and long-term positive development of the STADA share, by making the long-

term portion of the performance related remuneration, the so-called LTIP deferrals, directly dependent on the development of the 

STADA share as compared to the development of the MDAX. In the view of the Supervisory Board, the linking to the development of 

the STADA share in relation to the comparative index MDAX is a more suitable indicator than the absolute development of the STADA 

share or the comparison to a peer group defined by the Supervisory Board itself. This is demonstrated in times of negative market 

trends when a comparatively less negative development of the STADA share leads to an increase in the LTIP deferral payout amounts 

and not, as would be the case with an absolute link, to a reduction or even to an elimination. In times of generally good market de-

velopment, on the other hand, only a disproportionately positive development of the STADA share would cause an increase in the LTIP 

deferral payout amount. The newly-structured Executive Board remuneration system will be presented for approval at the next  Annual 

General Meeting on June 9, 2016.

At  its  financial  statements  meeting  on  March  25,  2015,  the  Supervisory  Board  dealt  particularly  intensively  with  the  business 

 situation and earnings development in the previous financial year 2014 as well as with the annual and consolidated financial state-

ments as of December 31, 2014. Following a detailed review of the documentation for the financial statements and after discussions 

with  the  auditor,  the  Supervisory  Board,  based  on  the  recommendation  of  the  Audit  Committee,  adopted  the  consolidated  and  

annual financial statements for financial year 2014. The auditor participated in the consultations and reported prior to the resolution 

on the significant results of the audit. The Supervisory Board discussed and approved the agenda for the Annual General Meeting on 

June 3, 2015 and adopted the Report of the Supervisory Board to the Annual General Meeting for financial year 2014. 

Report of the Supervisory Board10

At its meeting on May 5, 2015, the Supervisory Board, based on reporting from the Audit Committee as well as from the Executive 

Board, dealt with the results from the first quarter of financial year 2015 and with the current business development. In addition, the 

Supervisory Board dealt, among other things, with the positioning of the global development area of STADA and current acquisition 

projects. 

On the day prior to the Annual General Meeting, on June 2, 2015, members of the Supervisory Board convened for a meeting. In 

addition to the report from the Executive Board on current developments in the individual areas of responsibility of the Executive 

Board,  the  upcoming Annual  General  Meeting  in  particular  was  discussed. The  Supervisory  Board  also  decided  on  new  rules  of 

 procedure for the Advisory Board.

At the meeting on August 5, 2015, the Executive Board reported to the Supervisory Board, among other things, on the current M&A 

developments  in  the  pharmaceutical  industry  as  well  as  on  the  global  market  development  of  active  ingredients  that  are  also 

 interesting for STADA. In addition to a review of the Annual General Meeting 2015, the business results for the first half of 2015 were 

also presented by the Executive Board and, under consideration of the report from the Audit Committee, discussed. Furthermore, the 

Supervisory Board dealt with the changes to the German Corporate Governance Code and made the determination in accordance 

with the Law on the Equal Participation of Women and Men in Management Positions. Details concerning the determination that was 

made  by  the  Supervisory  Board  can  be  found  in  the  chapter “Corporate  Governance  Report  including  Declaration  of  Corporate 

 Governance”. The Supervisory Board also discussed topics including personnel and Executive Board issues.

At its meeting on September 8, 2015, the Supervisory Board, on the basis of reporting from the Human Resources Committee, 

without the presence of the Executive Board members, decided on the extension of the appointment of Hartmut Retzlaff as Chairman 

of the Executive Board by an additional five years until August 31, 2021 and approved the conclusion of a new contract. The previous 

contract would have ended on August 31, 2016. In addition, the Supervisory Board dealt with general human resources issues with 

regard to the managers in the Group. 

At the meeting on October 8, 2015, the Supervisory Board was informed by the Executive Board in particular about the corporate 

strategy of the STADA Group. In addition to questions of strategic positioning in the two core segments of Generics and Branded 

Products, the growth and sales strategy, quality assurance as well as the IT strategy were discussed, among other things. Further-

more, the Supervisory Board also dealt with current questions related to corporate governance and approved the issue of the annual 

Declaration of Compliance pursuant to the German Corporate Governance Code. 

Subjects of the meeting on November 11, 2015 included, among other things, the results of the first nine months of financial year 

2015.  In  this  meeting,  the  Executive  Board  also  reported  to  the  Supervisory  Board  about  the  ongoing  acquisition  projects. The 

 Supervisory Board, without the presence of members of the Executive Board, also decided, on the basis of reporting from the Human 

Resources Committee, on the extension of the appointment of Helmut Kraft as Chief Financial Officer by one year until December 31, 

2019 and approved the conclusion of a new contract. The previous contract would have ended on December 31, 2018.

At its last meeting of the reporting year on December 17, 2015, the Supervisory Board dealt with the operational planning of the 

Executive Board for financial year 2016. It also dealt with significant in court and out of court proceedings of the Group in the financial 

year. Without the presence of members of the Executive Board, the Supervisory Board discussed Executive Board personnel issues 

and the Executive Board remuneration and approved the goals for the variable Executive Board remuneration for financial year 2016. 

The Supervisory Board also occupied itself with the staffing of the committees.

Report of the Supervisory Board11

Composition of the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board

The composition of the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board remained unchanged in financial year 2015.

At  its  meeting  on  December  17,  2015,  the  Supervisory  Board  elected  one  employee  representative  as  further  member  of  the  

Audit Committee (Mr. Jens Steegers) and one employee representative as a further member of the Human Resources Committee  

(Mr. Halil Duru), with effect from financial year 2016.

Work of the committees

The  consultative  committees  established  by  the  Supervisory  Board,  the Audit  Committee  and  the  Human  Resources  Committee, 

supported the Supervisory Board in its duties.

In financial year 2015, the Audit Committee held four meetings (on March 24, May 4, August 4 and November 10), each of which 

was attended by all three members of the committee as well as the members of the Executive Board. The auditor participated in  

the financial statements meeting as well as in the first meeting in the second half of the year. The Chairman of the Audit Committee 

and the Chairman of the Supervisory Board also maintained an exchange with the auditor between the meetings. 

The focus of the committee’s work was, in particular, the review of the annual and consolidated financial statements from financial 

year 2014 together with the Management Report and the Group Management Report, the proposal for the appropriation of profits 

and the report of the auditor as well as the preparation of the Supervisory Board resolutions on these items. In addition, the  condensed 

interim consolidated financial statements and Interim Group Management Report as of June 30, 2015 were discussed in detail under 

consideration of the report of the auditor on the review of the financial statements. The interim financial reports on the first quarter 

of 2015 and the first nine months of 2015 were also subjects that were dealt with by the committee. In addition, the Audit Committee 

dealt  primarily  with  the  operating  results,  key  figures,  accounting,  Group  financing  principles,  internal  risk  management,  internal 

auditing as well as compliance in the Group. Members of the Audit Committee also dealt in detail with the current legal and account-

ing developments such as the auditor reform.

The  Human  Resources  Committee  convened  for  seven  meetings  in  financial  year  2015  (on  January  9,  March  9,  March  23,  

May 4, July 20, October 7 and December 16). It dealt in detail with the preliminary work and the draft version of a new remuner-

ation system for the Executive Board, with the preparation for the personnel decisions of the Supervisory Board Plenum as well as 

the decisons on  Executive Board remuneration and issued its recommendations in this regard. The subject of the meetings were, in 

addition, consultations on the re-appointment of members of the Executive Board as well as questions related to the Law on the Equal 

Participation of Women and Men in Management Positions.

Due to the size of STADA’s Supervisory Board with six shareholder representatives, the Supervisory Board believes that a Nomination 

Committee as recommended by the German Corporate Governance Code in the version of May 5, 2015 is structurally superfluous. 

In this regard, a deviation to Section 5.3.3 of the German Corporate Governance Code is explained in the annual Declaration of 

Compliance.  The  Supervisory  Board,  however,  forms  a  Nomination  Panel  consisting  of  the  Chairmen  of  the  Human  Resources 

 Committee and the Audit Committee, which deals with the search for suitable candidates for future proposal to the Annual General 

Meeting  for  election  of  Supervisory  Board  members. The  Nominating  Panel  prepared  the  discussion  and  the  resolutions  of  the 

 Plenum, which included, among other things, the Law on the Equal Participation of Women and Men in Management Positions.

The Chairmen of the committees informed the Supervisory Board Plenum at its ordinary meetings regularly and thoroughly on their 

work.

Report of the Supervisory Board12

Corporate governance

In financial year 2015, too, the Supervisory Board and Executive Board dealt in detail with the further development of corporate 

governance  in  the  Company  while  taking  the  current  version  of  the  German  Corporate  Governance  Code  into  account. The  joint 

Declaration of Compliance 2015 pursuant to Section 161 of the German Stock Corporation Act issued by the Executive Board and 

the Supervisory Board on October 8, 2015 on the basis of the German Corporate Governance Code as amended on May 5, 2015 is 

printed  in  this Annual  Report  in  the  chapter “Corporate  Governance  Report  including  Declaration  of  Compliance”  and  is  publicly 

available  on  the  Company’s  website  in  the  section  Investor  Relations / Corporate  Governance  together  with  the  Declarations  of 

 Compliance from previous years at www.stada.de or www.stada.com. 

No conflicts of interest arose in the reporting year which had to be disclosed to the Supervisory Board and about which the Annual 

General Meeting must be informed. 

Annual and consolidated financial statements, audit

The annual financial statements of STADA Arzneimittel AG and the consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2015 as 

well as the Management Report and the Group Management Report for financial year 2015 were audited by PKF Deutschland GmbH, 

Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft, Hamburg, and issued with an unqualified audit opinion. The responsible auditor since the audit of 

the annual and consolidated financial statements in 2009 has been the auditor Santosh Varughese. The legal requirements and 

 rotation  obligations  from  Sections  319  and  319a  of  the  German  Commercial  Code  are  complied  with.  In  addition  to  these  legal 

 requirements, the responsible auditor should in future not be active for a period longer than five years. 

The  Supervisory  Board  had  no  doubts  with  regard  to  the  independence  of  the  auditor. The  auditor  submitted  the  Statement  of 

 Independence as required by the German Corporate Governance Code. The main areas of the audit were established by the Super-

visory  Board  within  the  scope  of  the  commissioning  of  the  auditor. The Audit  Committee  reviewed  the  financial  statements  and 

 consolidated financial statements as well as the Management Report and the Group Management Report as well as the proposal for 

the appropriation of profits and also included the reports of the auditor on the audit of the financial statements in its review. The 

auditor reported on significant results of the audit in a meeting of the Audit Committee and was available to the members of the 

Committee for questions. The members of the Audit Committee dealt extensively with the submissions from the Executive Board and 

the audit reports and discussed these with the auditor. The Audit Committee raised no objections and recommended to the Super-

visory Board to approve the financial statements and the Management Report as well as the Group Management Report and assent 

to the Executive Board’s proposal for the appropriation of profits.

On  the  basis  of  the  preparation  by  the  Audit  Committee,  the  Supervisory  Board  examined  the  financial  statements  and  the  

consolidated financial statements prepared by the Executive Board, the Management Report and the Group Management Report  

of the Executive Board on financial year 2015 as well as the Executive Board’s proposal for the appropriation of profits. The  Chairman 

of the Audit Committee reported to the Supervisory Board on the work and the audit results of the Audit Committee. The auditor 

 reported to the Supervisory Board on significant results of the audit and was available for questions from members of the Super visory 

Board. The Supervisory Board discussed the submissions mentioned above and the conclusions of the auditor in detail with the 

 auditor and the Executive Board. Also following the final results of the Supervisory Board’s own examination, the Super visory Board 

had  no  objections  to  the  financial  statements,  the  Management  Report,  the  consolidated  financial  statements  and  the  Group 

 Management Report on the financial year 2015 and concurred with the outcome of the audit. The auditor also determined that the 

Executive Board had implemented an appropriate information and monitoring system which, in its concept and use, is suitable for the 

early recognition of any developments that could threaten the continuation of the company.

Report of the Supervisory Board13

The Supervisory Board approved the financial statements and the consolidated financial statements prepared by the Executive Board. 

The annual financial statements are thus adopted. The Supervisory Board concurred with the individual assessments of the business 

situation and the outlook as given in the Management Report of the Executive Board and with the proposal of the Executive Board for 

the appropriation of profits that provides for a dividend of € 0.70 per STADA share.

The Supervisory Board wishes to express its gratitude to all of the Group’s employees, the Executive Board and management for their 

tremendous commitment in financial year 2015. 

Bad Vilbel, March 22, 2016 

Dr. Martin Abend

Chairman of the Supervisory Board

Report of the Supervisory Board14

15

From pharmacist association to global pharmaceutical Group

16

The Business Idea

The start of a 120-year success story

“What are ‘STADA’ preparations?” – a short explanation from the 1930s

Stomach tea is mixed in the material chamber in 1955

STADA’s  zero  hour  according  to  pharmacy  historians  was 

In the wake of the political coordination of regional specialist 

March  14,  1895.  At  that  time,  forward-looking  pharmacists 

companies  and  pharmacists  associations,  in  1933,  with  the 

joined  forces  to  produce  joint  preparations.  Like  many  other 

transfer  of  the  German  Pharmacists  Association  to  the  Pro-

cities,  Dresden  also  established  a  pharmacist  association  for 

fessional Community of German Pharmacists (Standesgemein-

this purpose, from which STADA originated.

schaft  Deutscher Apotheker,  St.D.A),  the  German  Pharmacist 

Association’s specialist company was changed to the German 

In  1903  the  German  Pharmacists  Association  regulated  the 

Pharmacist Association’s own preparations department. 

self-production of pharmaceutical specialties, from production 

to  packaging  and  labeling  to  price.  This  led  in  1908  to  the 

In  1935,  the  abbreviation  “STADA”  became  the  association 

founding  of  the  German  Pharmacists Association’s  specialist 

mark and soon became the general term for all drugs produced 

company, which gave its members the possibility of producing 

 according to standard recipes in the pharmacy.

certain  preparations  in  accordance  with  identical  guidelines, 

which were then uniformly packaged and sold everywhere at 

the same price. 

17

A look at STADA production in 1981

After the war, STADA was reestablished in 1948. This gave rise 

In  1961  STADA’s  representative  assembly  decided  that  

to  two  separate  cooperatives  STADA-Nord  and  STADA-Süd, 

STADA medicines no longer needed to be made exclusively  

which focused on self-medication products. 

in  pharmacies,  but  could  also  be  produced  centrally  in  Bad 

 Vilbel-Dortelweil.

In 1954 the two cooperatives merged to become one company. 

Frankfurt am Main was initially chosen as the site of the com-

pany’s head office. 

However, as part of the implementation of expansion plans Bad 

Vilbel-Dortelweil  was  chosen  in  1957.  New  buildings  were 

built,  initially  on  a  small  scale,  for  offices  and  storage.  Over  

the  course  of  the  next  few  years,  a  modern  pharmaceutical 

operation came into being here. 

18

The Corporation

Change of the legal status as a basis for further growth

A registered share with restricted transferability from 1996 with a nominal value of 50 German Marks

At  the  beginning  of  1970,  STADA  changed  the  existing  legal 

With the acquisition of Swiss Helvepharm AG, STADA began to 

structure. The  cooperative  became  a  corporation,  in  order  to 

purchase  the  first  international  subsidiaries  in  1986.  In  the 

raise  larger  amounts  of  capital  and  to  remain  viable  for  the 

 following years, the company gradually expanded into Austria, 

 future. At the time only pharmacists were entitled to purchase 

Belgium  and  the  Netherlands.  STADA  began  its  business 

STADA shares. 

 activities in Asia in 1992 with the acquisition of STADA Pharma-

ceuticals (Asia) Ltd. in Hong Kong.

In  1975,  STADA  decided  to  expand  its  product  line  with 

 generics  and  established  STADAPHARM  GmbH  for  this  pur-

In 1993 STADA opened for non-pharmacists, so that non-phar-

pose. The first approvals were gained at that time. One of the 

macists  could  also  become  STADA  shareholders,  alongside 

greatest historic generic successes was Nifedipin STADA®.

pharmacists and company employees.

19

1895 – 2015
120-Year Anniversary 
of STADA 

ANNUAL REPORT  

2015

The STADA annual report from the anniversary year

The STADA Annual General Meeting 2015

In 1995 STADA was transformed into a medium-sized holding 

In  1997  STADA  began  its  IPO  and  non-voting  preference 

company.  The  holding  company  headquartered  in  Bad  Vilbel 

shares  were  initially  issued.  On  October  29,  1997  STADA 

remained responsible for all pharmaceutical research, produc-

shares were listed for the first time for official trading on the 

tion,  certification  and  quality  assurance  duties.  The  core 

stock exchanges in Frankfurt and Düsseldorf. In 1998 the IPO 

 business, the marketing of prescription drugs and preparations 

was closed with ordinary shares with restricted transferability. 

for  self-medication,  was  taken  over  by  the  two  German  sub-

sidiaries STADApharm GmbH and the new STADA OTC Arznei-

With  the  acquisition  of  cell  pharm  Gesellschaft  für  pharma-

mittel GmbH.

zeutische und diagnostische Präparate mbH, which specializes 

in oncology products, as well as a product package of prescrip-

The acquisition of ALIUD PHARMA GmbH in 1996 gave STADA 

tion brands from Fresenius, from 1998 STADA positioned itself 

a generic second-line in Germany. The company also expanded 

as a comprehensive supplier within the health care market. 

its business activities into the Czech Republic and into France 

in the following year.

20

The International Group

Successful growth to a worldwide active Group

The  years  following  the  IPO,  with  inclusion  in  the  MDAX  in 

In 2013 the Group moved into the field of individualized drug 

2001, were characterized by a rapid internationalization strate-

therapy with the introduction of multiple DNA tests, and thereby 

gy. As part of this, STADA expanded into Thailand, Ireland, the 

developed its diagnostic portfolio. Over the course of the year 

Philippines, the United Kingdom, Russia, Portugal and Serbia. 

the offer was expanded into diverse self-tests.

In addition, STADA acquired successful branded products and 

branded product portfolios, in order to continually develop the 

Furthermore,  with  the  acquisition  of  British  OTC  suppler 

second mainstay of the Group. STADA was thereby going back 

 Thornton & Ross, STADA took a further step in developing its 

to its roots, so to speak, since the 120 year success story of the 

increasingly  important  branded  product  portfolio,  as  this  is 

Group initially began with the sale of branded products.

 generally  characterized  by  less  regulatory  intervention  and 

With  the  introduction  of  Silapo®,  a  preparation  used  to  treat 

strengthening  of  German  business  activities  followed  the 

anemia  resulting  from  chronic  kidney  failure  and  chemo-

 successful start of STADAvita GmbH, which is focused on the 

therapy, in 2008 the Group introduced the first biosimilar and 

sale of products for prevention, nutritional supplements, nume-

thereby took an important step in this pioneering area. In the 

rous plant-based preparations and cosmetics.

more attractive margins than the generics sector. In 2014 the 

following  years  STADA  began  to  in-license  biosimilars  from 

highly  specialized  suppliers,  in  order  to  develop  its  biosimilar 

Over  the  course  of  its  120  year  history,  using  a  far-sighted 

portfolio in a cost-effective low-risk way and also to use this 

company philosophy and a sustainable business model, STADA 

step to best position itself for increasing competition. 

was  able  to  grow  from  a  small,  nationally  focused  pharma-

STADA  also  took  new  paths  in  financing  and  successfully 

 financial  year  2015  achieved  sales  of  € 2,115.1 million,  had 

 positioned  diverse  corporate  bonds,  alongside  the  securing  

10,532 employees and was active in around 30 countries. 

ceutical company to an internationally active Group, which in 

of  promissory  note  loans,  in  order  to  diver sify  its  financial 

 structure. 

A success story to be proud of.

 
21

International impressions: 
Hemofarm A.D. in Vrsac, Serbia (above left);  
Thornton & Ross Ltd., Huddersfield, UK, has been part of the STADA Group since 2013  
(above right); 
the STADA Executive Board at the opening of the new company building of the Pymepharco 
Joint Stock Company in Tuy Hoa, Vietnam (center); and  
the headquarters of AO Nizhpharm in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia (below)

22

23

24

OVERVIEW

Five-year comparison in € million

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

Group sales

Operating profit

Operating profit, adjusted

EBITDA1) 

EBITDA, adjusted

EBIT2) 

EBIT, adjusted

EBT3)  

EBT, adjusted

Net income

Net income, adjusted

2,115.1

2,062.2

2,003.9

1,837.5

1,715.4

223.7

283.8

377.1

389.4

225.3

285.3

157.8

220.9

110.4

165.8

188.5

320.7

418.8

431.9

190.3

322.4

124.7

253.3

64.6

186.2

248.3

303.1

382.6

414.3

252.4

307.1

189.3

240.7

121.4

160.6

202.1

266.2

323.7

367.4

205.9

270.0

135.6

200.5

86.5

147.9

120.1

257.6

223.2

337.2

121.2

258.7

69.5

205.8

22.0

146.6

Business development as expected under difficult framework conditions

Despite difficult framework conditions, in financial year 2015 the Group recorded business development in line with the expectations 

of the Executive Board. In the market region Asia/Pacific & MENA, STADA achieved very pleasing development with double-digit 

percentage sales growth. Sales were also able to be increased in the two market regions Central Europe and Germany. Although the 

Group  continued to be faced with difficult framework conditions in the market region CIS/Eastern Europe, a sales increase in local 

currency was also achieved. 

Overall, the Group had to report one-time special effects in the total amount of € 16.9 million before and € 16.9 million after taxes 

in connection with currency translation expenses recorded in the income statement as a result of the weak Russian ruble, the strong 

devaluation of the Ukrainian hryvnia and an extremely weak Kazakhstani tenge. 

In 2015, reported Group sales increased by 3% to € 2,115.1 million (previous year: € 2,062.2 million). When effects on sales based 

on changes in the Group portfolio and currency effects are deducted, Group sales grew by 4% to € 2,133.8 million (previous year: 

€ 2,052.2 million).

Earnings development was characterized by an increase in almost all reported key earnings figures. 

Reported  operating  profit  increased  by  19%  to  € 223.7 million  in  financial  year  2015  (previous  year:  € 188.5 million).  Reported 

EBITDA  declined by 10% to € 377.1 million (previous year: € 418.8 million). Reported net income recorded an increase of 71% to 

€ 110.4 million (previous year: € 64.6 million).

After  adjusting  the  key  earnings  figures  for  influences  distorting  the  period  comparison  resulting  from  one-time  special  effects, 

 adjusted operating profit decreased by 12% in 2015 to € 283.8 million (previous year: € 320.7 million). Adjusted EBITDA declined by 

10% to € 389.4 million (previous year: € 431.9 million). Adjusted net income decreased by 11% to € 165.8 million (previous year:  

€ 186.2 million).

1) Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.
2) Earnings before interest and taxes.
3) Earnings before taxes.

Overview25

The  Group’s  tax  rate  showed  positive  development. The  reported  tax  rate  decreased  in  2015  to  25.8%  (previous  year:  43.8%), 

 primarily because the previous year included goodwill impairment not deductible for tax purposes in the market regions CIS/ Eastern 

Europe and Asia/Pacific & MENA as well as a tax rate reduction in the United Kingdom. In the same period, the adjusted tax rate 

improved to 22.0% (previous year: 24.2%).

In consideration of the challenging framework conditions in the market region CIS/Eastern Europe, STADA achieved a solid develop-

ment in financial year 2015 in the Executive Board’s view, which was based on the sustainable business model focused on market 

regions  with  long-term  growth  potential.  Despite  the  difficult  regulatory  and  economic  environment,  overall  STADA  was  able  to 

maintain its market positions in the major national markets.

Stable financial position

The financial position of the STADA Group in the reporting year was characterized by a high degree of stability.

As of the balance sheet date, the equity-to-assets ratio was 31.0% (December 31, 2014: 27.1%) and was thereby satisfactory in the 

opinion of the Executive Board. Net debt was at € 1,215.7 million as of December 31, 2015 (December 31, 2014: € 1,327.5 million). 

The ratio of net debt to adjusted EBITDA was at 3.1 in 2015 (previous year: 3.1). 

The long-term refinancing of the Group as of December 31, 2015 was provided for by a five-year corporate bond that was placed in 

the second quarter of 2013 in the amount of € 350 million with an interest rate of 2.25% p.a. as well as a bond1) placed in the first 

quarter of 2015 in the amount of € 300 million and a term of seven years with an interest rate of 1.75% p.a. Furthermore, as of 

December 31, 2015, there were promissory note loans with maturities in the area of 2016 – 2020 with a total nominal value in the 

amount of € 547.0 million. In order to ensure a balanced financing structure, promissory note loans are staggered in terms of their 

volume and duration.

Cash flow from operating activities amounted to € 311.7 million in financial year 2015 (previous year: € 223.8 million). Free cash 

flow  was  at  € 133.5 million  (previous  year:  € -38.2 million).  Free  cash  flow  adjusted  for  payments  for  significant  investments  or 

 acquisitions and proceeds from significant disposals amounted to € 212.4 million (previous year: € 157.4 million).

Successful product development with a well-filled pipeline and pioneering biosimilar activities

The STADA Group has a successful product development including a well-filled pipeline. With the further expansion of the product 

portfolio and the launch of 578 individual products worldwide in 2015 (previous year: 626 product launches), STADA once again 

proved the strength of its development activities. 

The Group also made further progress in the area of biosimilars. In the third quarter of 2015, STADA in-licensed Pegfilgrastim, which 

is expected to be launched under the STADA label shortly after the expiration of the patent in 2017.2) 

In consideration of the well-filled product pipeline, the Executive Board expects to be able to continuously introduce new products to 

the individual national markets of the respective market regions in future as well. The focus here remains on generics in the EU 

countries. In the context of its biosimilar activities, the Group continues to consistently adhere to the strategy of in-licensing bio-

similars from highly specialized suppliers in order to expand its biosimilar portfolio in a low-cost and low-risk manner. 

1) See the Company’s press release of April 1, 2015.
2) See the Company’s press release of August 6, 2015.

Overview26

Active acquisition policy with promising purchases

In the reporting year, the STADA Group continued to pursue an active acquisition policy to accelerate organic growth with external 

impulses. Overall, the Group concentrates, on the one hand, on the regional expansion of business activities with a focus on high-

growth emerging markets. On the other hand, the Group also focuses on the expansion and internationalization of the core segments, 

in particular Branded Products, as this area is generally characterized by more attractive margins and less regulatory interventions 

than the generics area.

STADA made further value-enhancing purchases in the context of this active acquisition policy in financial year 2015.

Already in the fourth quarter of 2014, the Russian STADA subsidiary AO Nizhpharm had signed the purchase agreement for the two 

branded products AndroDoz® and NeroDoz®, which are positioned in the area of men’s health. The purchase was completed in the 

first quarter of 2015.1)

In the third quarter of 2015, STADA acquired SCIOTEC Diagnostic Technologies GmbH including the associated sales structures to 

strengthen its branded product portfolio. The company is primarily focused on the development and marketing of prescription-free 

(OTC) products against enzymatic food intolerances (histamine, fructose and lactose intolerance).2) 

For the expansion of the core segment Generics, STADA and the STADA subsidiary BEPHA Beteiligungsgesellschaft für Pharmawerte 

mbH concluded a contract in the fourth quarter of 2015 for the purchase of the Argentinian generics producer Laboratorio Vannier 

S.A., which sells its products in niches which are subject to few price regulations, particularly in the area of CNS (conditions of the 

central nervous system), cardiology and diabetes. The purchase was completed in the first quarter of 2016.3) Through the acquisition, 

STADA also expanded its international sales network in a country, in which the Group had not yet been represented with its own sales 

company.

Furthermore,  in  the  fourth  quarter  of  2015,  STADA  sold  the  French  company  Laboratoires  d’études  et  de  recherches  en  oligo 

 éléments thérapie SA, which specializes in branded products.

With the goal of expanding its business activities in the area of dermatological treatments, STADA Arzneimittel AG started  cooperation 

with the Austrian company CROMA-PHARMA GmbH through its subsidiary STADA Aesthetics AG.4) The long-term  cooperation relates 

to the existing product portfolio as well as the product pipeline, which also includes preparations with the active ingredient botulinum 

toxin A. 

Significant growth in the STADA share price

In 2015, the STADA share price recorded very pleasing development. Despite the geopolitical tensions in Ukraine and the significant 

devaluation of the Russian ruble in particular, the STADA share price recorded a total increase of 48% in 2015. Whereas the STADA 

share price closed 2014 at € 25.25, it amounted to € 37.34 at the end of 2015. While STADA’s market capitalization amounted to 

€ 1.531 billion at the end of 2014, it was € 2.328 billion at the end of 2015.

1) See the Company’s press release of February 4, 2015.
2) See the Company’s press release of August 26, 2015.
3) See the Company’s press release of December 10, 2015.
4) See the Company’s press release of December 17, 2015.

Overview 
27

Dividend proposal

With  a  view  to  the  consistent  dividend  policy,  the  Executive  Board  recommends  the  Supervisory  Board  to  propose  a  dividend  

for  financial year 2015 in the amount of € 0.70 per share to the next Annual General Meeting on June 9, 2016 (previous year: 

€ 0.66).1) This would represent a dividend increase of 6% compared to the previous year. The resulting total dividend payments of 

€ 43.6 million (previous year: € 40.0 million) would reflect a distribution ratio of approx. 39% of reported net income. 

Comprehensive opportunities and risk management

The wide-reaching risk management system aims to continuously identify relevant risks that may jeopardize the Company’s con-

tinued existence, to assess their effects on the Group and to determine measures that can be taken in due time if necessary. Looking 

to the current state of the risk management system, there are currently no recognizable risks that could jeopardize the continued 

existence of the Group in the Executive Board’s opinion.

The opportunities management established in the STADA Group, which focuses on the recognition and realization of new growth 

potential and on securing and expanding upon existing growth opportunities, aims to secure the further success of the Group. It is 

based on the strategic success factors, which primarily include strong product development, an international sales structure, an 

active acquisitions policy including experienced integration management, a functionally organized Group with short decision-making 

processes and close-to-market sales companies, a culture of continuous cost optimization including efficient cost management as 

well as qualified employees.

Outlook

For the Group’s outlook, the Executive Board generally anticipates continued successful development. Overall, the future sales and 

earnings development of the Group will be characterized both by growth-stimulating and  challenging framework conditions in the 

individual markets of STADA’s four market regions. In the overall assessment of opposing influence factors, how ever, the positive 

prospects are expected to prevail in financial year 2016. In light of this, the Executive Board anticipates slight growth in Group sales 

adjusted for currency and portfolio effects, adjusted EBITDA as well as adjusted net income in 2016. The Executive Board  expects 

the ratio of net debt excluding further acquisitions to adjusted EBITDA to be at a level of nearly 3. Detailed information on the outlook 

can be found in the Management Report of this Annual Report in the chapter “Prognosis report”.

1) See the Company’s ad hoc release of February 29, 2016.

Overview 
28

BOARDS OF THE COMPANY

THE STADA SUPERVISORY BOARD  
(as of March 1, 2016)

Dr. Martin Abend, Dresden (Chairman)

Carl Ferdinand Oetker, Düsseldorf (Deputy Chairman)

Dr. Eckhard Brüggemann, Herne

Halil Duru1), Frankfurt am Main

Dr. K. F. Arnold Hertzsch, Dresden

Dieter Koch, Kiel

Constantin Meyer, Seelze

Dr. Ute Pantke1), Wettenberg

Jens Steegers1), Bad Vilbel

The Supervisory Board members can be contacted via STADA Arzneimittel AG’s business address.

1) Employee representatives.

Boards of the Company 
Boards of the Company | The STADA Supervisory Board | The STADA Executive Board

29

THE STADA EXECUTIVE BOARD 
(as of March 1, 2016)

Hartmut Retzlaff

Chairman of the Executive Board 

Executive Board member since 1992

Chairman of the Executive Board since 1993

Contract until August 31, 2021

Helmut Kraft

Chief Financial Officer

Executive Board member since 2010

Contract until December 31, 2019

Dr. Matthias Wiedenfels

Chief Business Development & Central Services Officer

Executive Board member since 2013

Contract until December 31, 2020

The Executive Board members can be contacted via STADA Arzneimittel AG’s business address.

30

THE STADA ADVISORY BOARD 
(as of March 1, 2016)

Members of the STADA Advisory Board are appointed by the Chairman of the Supervisory Board on the recommendation of the 

 Executive Board and the Supervisory Board. According to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, the duty of the Advisory Board is 

to support and advise the Executive and Supervisory Boards. Furthermore, members of the Advisory Board are available to act as 

proxy for shareholders who do not wish to exercise their voting rights in person at the Annual General Meeting. The Advisory Board, 

appointed for five years from 2014 through 2018, currently includes the following members:

Dr. Thomas Meyer, Seelze (Chairman) 

Dr. Frank-R. Leu, Gießen (Deputy Chairman) 

Rika Aschenbrenner, Mainburg

Wolfgang Berger, Gießen 

Gerd Berlin, Haßloch 

Alfred Böhm, Munich 

Jürgen Böhm, Kirchhain

Axel Boos, Darmstadt

Reimar Michael von Kolczynski, Stuttgart

Dr. Wolfgang Schlags, Mayen

Jürgen Schneider, Offenbach

The Advisory Board members can be contacted via STADA Arzneimittel AG’s business address.

Boards of the Company 
31

ISIN: DE0007251803, WKN: 725180

Reuters: STAGn.DE, Bloomberg: SAZ:GR

THE STADA SHARE

STADA share codes

Identification numbers

Ticker symbols

Capital structure

As of December 31, 2015, the subscribed share capital of STADA Arzneimittel AG was at an amount of € 162,090,344.00 (Decem-

ber 31, 2014: € 157,629,420.00) consisting of 62,342,440 registered shares with restricted transferability1) (December 31, 2014: 

60,626,700 registered shares), each with an arithmetical share in share capital of € 2.60. Changes from the previous year were 

attributable to the exercising of 85,787 warrants 2000/2015. The exercise period of the warrants expired at the end of June 26, 

2015.

Capital structure of STADA Arzneimittel AG

Dec. 31, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

Number of issued registered shares with restricted transferability

Number of outstanding warrants 2000/2015

Number of potential shares from warrants 2000/2015

62,342,440

60,626,700

– 2)

– 2)

88,176

1,763,520

Significant growth in the STADA share price

In 2015, the STADA share price recorded a very pleasing development. Despite the geopolitical tensions in Ukraine and the significant 

devaluation of the Russian ruble, in particular, the STADA share price recorded a total increase of 48% in 2015. Whereas the STADA 

share price closed at € 25.25 at the end of 2014, it amounted to € 31.10 at the end of the first quarter of 2015 and finished the first 

half of 2015 at € 30.26. The STADA share price closed the first nine months of 2015 at € 32.00 and the end of 2015 at € 37.34. 

The  relevant  national  comparative  indices  for  STADA  showed  significant  differences  in  their  share  price  development  during  the 

course of 2015. The German benchmark index DAX® 3) recorded growth by 10% as compared to the previous year. MDAX® 4), the 

index which the STADA share belongs to, increased by 23% in the same period. Both developments relate to their XETRA® 5) closing 

prices. The Bloomberg Pharmaceutical Index6) increased by 13% in comparison with the previous year.

STADA’s market capitalization amounted to € 2.328 billion at the end of 2015, whereas it was € 1.531 billion at the end of the 

previous year. Based on Deutsche Börse AG’s index system, which only includes free float, STADA occupied position 21 in terms of 

market capitalization in the MDAX® in 2015. In 2014, STADA occupied position 24 in this category. 

1) Under the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, STADA’s registered shares with restricted 
transferability can only be transferred and entered into the share register with the consent of the 
Company’s Executive Board and, pursuant to the Articles of Incorporation, grant one vote each in 
the Annual General Meeting. Shareholders are only those who are registered as such in the share 
registry and only such persons are authorized to participate in the Annual General Meeting and to 
exercise their voting rights. No shareholder and no shareholder group shall have any special rights. 
2) The exercise period of the warrants ended on June 26, 2015.
3) DAX® is the index of Deutsche Börse AG largely consisting of the 30 biggest companies by 
market capitalization and order book volume.

4) MDAX® is the index of Deutsche Börse AG for midcap companies, largely consisting of the 
50 next-biggest companies by market capitalization and order book volume below the DAX®, thus 
also including the STADA share.
5) XETRA® is the electronic trading system of Deutsche Börse AG.
6) The Bloomberg Pharmaceutical Index is a market capitalization-weighted index of all companies 
involved in the pharmaceutical sector of the Bloomberg Europe 500 Index. STADA is currently not 
part of the index.

The STADA Share32

The  average  daily  volume  of  the  STADA  share  in  the  trading  volume  at  the  XETRA®  trading  and  the  Frankfurt  Stock  Exchange 

 amounted to a total of € 11.6 million in 2015. In 2014, the average trading volume per day of the STADA share was € 13.7 million. 

Thus in trading volume in accordance with Deutsche Börse AG’s index system, STADA occupied place 21 in 2015. In the previous 

year, STADA had occupied position 8.

STADA key share data

Number of shares (year-end)

Number of treasury shares (year-end)

Average number of shares (without treasury shares)

Year-end closing price (XETRA®) in €

High (XETRA® closing price) in €

Low (XETRA® closing price) in €

2015

2014

62,342,440

60,626,700

87,259

89,835

61,637,621

60,408,501

37.34

37.42

25.10

25.25

38.72

24.64

Market capitalization (XETRA®) in € million (year-end)

2,327.9

1,530.8

Earnings per share in €

Adjusted earnings per share in €

Diluted earnings per share in € 

Adjusted diluted earnings per share in €

Dividend per share in €

1.79

2.69

1.79

2.69

0.701)

1.07

3.08

1.05

3.04

0.66

Broadly based shareholder structure with 100% free float

On December 31, 2015, approx. 39,000 shareholders held share capital of STADA Arzneimittel AG. Based on results of regularly 

carried out analyses of the Company’s shareholder structure, STADA assumes that approx. 68% of STADA’s shares are held by 

 institutional investors and approx. 10% are held by pharmacists and doctors.

As of December 31, 2015, the Company held 87,259 treasury shares, while STADA had held 89,835 treasury shares on the corre-

sponding balance sheet date of the previous year. As part of an employee share ownership program, STADA sold 2,576 of its own 

shares in the reporting year at an average price of € 29.78. 

In 2015, the Group published all of the received voting rights notices according to Section 26 of the German Securities Trading Act 

(WpHG). These twelve received voting rights notices, as well as any received later, are available on the website at www.stada.de  

or www.stada.com.

Directors’ Dealings

In 2015, according to information available to the Company, no Director’s Dealings occurred. 

Annual General Meeting

On June 3, 2015, the STADA Annual General Meeting resolved a dividend of € 0.66 per share that was unchanged from the previous 

year.2) The total dividend payments of € 40.0 million (previous year: € 39.8 million) thus represent a distribution ratio of approx. 62% 

of reported net income (previous year: approx. 33%). In addition, the Annual General Meeting confirmed the Executive Board and the 

Supervisory Board with a high level of approval. 

1) Proposed.
2) The dividend decision taken at the Annual General Meeting on June 3, 2015 is available on the 
Company’s website at www.stada.de and www.stada.com at least until the end of the current 
financial year.

The STADA Share33

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT INCLUDING  
THE DECLARATION OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The Corporate Governance Report pursuant to Section 3.10 of the German Corporate Governance Code (GCGC) and the Declaration 

of Corporate Governance pursuant to Section 289a of the German Commercial Code (HGB) are available on the STADA website at 

www.stada.de/cg and www.stada.com/cg.

DECLARATION OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The Declaration of Corporate Governance according to Section 289a of the German Commercial Code includes the declaration on the 

German Corporate Governance Code pursuant to Section 161 of the German Stock Corporation Act (AktG), the relevant information 

on corporate management practices, a description of the working practices of the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board as well 

as the composition and working practices of the Supervisory Board committees, the specifications pursuant to Section 76 (4) and 

Section 111 (5) of the German Stock Corporation Act as well as the information whether the specified targets were met during the 

reference period or not, and if not, details on the reasons. 

1. Declaration of Compliance 2015
Joint Declaration of the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board of STADA Arzneimittel AG 
concerning the German Corporate Governance Code pursuant to § 161 of the German Stock 
Corporation Act (AktG) 

STADA Arzneimittel AG (“STADA”) had complied with the recommendations of the German Corporate Governance Code in the version 

of June 24, 2014 (published on September 30, 2014 in the Federal Gazette) since the last Declaration of Compliance on Novem- 

ber 11, 2014, with the exception of the deviations as mentioned there, and STADA will comply with the recommendations of the 

German Corporate Governance Code in the version of May 5, 2015 (published on June 12, 2015 in the Federal Gazette) in future 

with the following deviations: 

Section 5.3.3: Nomination Committee for Supervisory Board elections

In view of the size of STADA’s Supervisory Board with six shareholder representatives, the Supervisory Board believes that such an 

additional committee is structurally superfluous, but assigned the task of a nomination panel to the Chairmen of the Human  Resources 

Committee and the Audit Committee; the additional remuneration, which pursuant to the articles of incorporation would be payable 

to Supervisory Board members involved in such a committee, is thus avoided.

Section 5.4.1 Sentence 2: Age limit and regular limit of length of membership for the members of the Supervisory Board

The objectives specified by the Supervisory Board regarding its composition do not contain an age limit or a regular limit of length of 

membership of the Supervisory Board. In the opinion of the Supervisory Board, age is not a suitable criterion for choosing qualified 

candidates  (male  or  female)  and  the  expertise  of  long-time  experienced  supervisory  board  members  shall  in  principle  be  made 

 available to the Company. A solely age-related disqualification or a limit of maximum length of membership defined in advance is not 

considered appropriate by the Supervisory Board.

Corporate Governance Report including the Declaration of Corporate Governance34

Section 6.2: Shares held by members of the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board

The purchase and sale of STADA shares and options by members of the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board and by closely 

related persons mentioned in the law are reported to the Company itself and to the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority 

(BaFin) in accordance with legal requirements and are published by the Company in accordance with legal requirements. However, 

the respective holdings of shares and options to purchase and sell such shares by individual members of the Executive Board and 

Supervisory Board are not published in the Corporate Governance Report. The Supervisory Board and the Executive Board are of the 

opinion that  compliance with the legal requirements provides sufficient transparency. 

For STADA, the recommendations of the German Corporate Governance Code serve as a general basis for the Company’s activity. In 

daily practice, however, individual situations may occur in which the application of the Code would lead to limitations in the flexibility 

of the Company or in the proven corporate practice. In the interest of good corporate governance, deviations from the recommenda-

tions of the Code may take place in those individual cases. STADA will, however, regularly review and, if necessary, correct com-

pliance with the Code and the above mentioned exceptions. 

Bad Vilbel, October 8, 2015

signed 

Dr. Martin Abend 

signed

Hartmut Retzlaff

 Chairman of the Supervisory Board 

Chairman of the Executive Board

Corporate Governance Report including the Declaration of Corporate Governance 
 
35

2. Relevant information on Company practices
Corporate Governance 

STADA Arzneimittel AG is a joint stock corporation under German law and has a dual management and monitoring structure which 

consists of the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board. The third body of the Company is the Annual General Meeting. Further-

more, there is an Advisory Board according to the Articles of Incorporation.

In the Executive Board and Supervisory Board’s view, good corporate governance is an important basis for the Company’s success. 

The Executive Board and the Supervisory Board of STADA view corporate governance as a comprehensive concept of responsible, 

transparent and value-based corporate management. The Executive Board, Supervisory Board and management staff ensure that 

corporate governance is actively approached and continuously developed in all areas at STADA. In addition to legal and regulatory 

requirements as well as the German Corporate Governance Code, corporate governance at STADA also comprises the standards of 

the internal control system and compliance, the regulations on organizational and supervisory duties in the Company, as well as 

STADA’s internal business guidelines and shared principles and values.

Risk Management and Internal Auditing

The responsible handling of risks is an element of good corporate governance. STADA has systematic risk management and a control 

system that puts the Executive Board in the position to recognize risks and market trends at an early stage and to immediately react 

to relevant changes in the risk profile. STADA’s risk management and control system thus contributes to the success of the  Company. 

Risk management is part, in regular intervals, of the annual audit of financial statements as well as Internal Auditing. Details hereof 

can be found in the Management Report of this Annual Report under “Risk Report”.

Furthermore, Internal Auditing supports the Executive Board as an independent department outside of the daily operational business. 

The department evaluates internal procedures and processes from an objective perspective and with the distance necessary. The 

goal is to achieve optimized business processes, reduced costs and increased efficiency, and to reach internally determined goals, 

by way of improved internal controls. 

Strong compliance culture

Compliance  comprises  all  actions  taken  by  a  company  in  line  with  legal  requirements  as  well  as  the  drafting  and  monitoring  of  

internal regulations which a company places on itself. The goal of all compliance efforts is to avoid possible damage to the company 

and to prevent wrong-doing. At STADA, compliance is embedded in the mission statement of a responsible company leadership and 

corporate governance. The Compliance Office is responsible for the constant development of a Compliance Management System 

within the STADA Group. The Compliance Office is the consultant and advisor for all departments and all employees of the STADA 

Group in its independent and objective role.

All of STADA’s business processes and Group activities are carried out exclusively within the framework of respective laws in force.

STADA’s Code of Conduct establishes binding Group-wide behavioral guidelines for the entire management and staff of the STADA 

Group. The goal of the Code of Conduct is to support all employees in legal and ethical challenges in their daily work and to provide 

them with orientation for correct behavior. Furthermore, internal guidelines, the so-called Corporate Policies, make these behavioral 

guidelines more concrete for specific topics. 

Corporate Governance Report including the Declaration of Corporate Governance36

With the aid of various measures such as e-learning measures, traditional training, regular newsletters and leaflets with compliance- 

relevant  content,  STADA  employees  are  informed  and  trained  on  an  ongoing  basis  of  relevant  legal  requirements  and  internal 

 guidelines.

The Chief Compliance Officer who is responsible for the Compliance Management System is a member of the Executive Board, 

 coordinates the entire system and receives complaints and information – also anonymously if needed and follows up on suspected 

compliance breaches. The officer is supported in Germany and internationally by Compliance Managers, and by an external Ombuds-

man in Germany. In order to guarantee the adherence to legal regulations and internal company policies of compliance in an effective 

manner, STADA regularly controls and further develops the Compliance Management System.

The Code of Conduct, along with further information regarding compliance, can be found online at www.stada.de or www.stada.com 

in the Sustainability section of “Corporate Management”. 

Quality and safety, sustainability and environment, and the STADA mission statement

Details on the topics of “quality”, “safety”, “sustainability” and “environment” and the mission statement of STADA can be found in 

the Management Report of this Annual Report in the chapters “Procurement, Production and Quality Management” and “Responsi-

bility and Sustainability”.

More detailed information on the discussed corporate governance practices at STADA as well as further information can also be found 

online at www.stada.de or www.stada.com in the Sustainability section.

3. Description of the working practices of the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board 
as well as the composition and working practices of their committees

The Executive Board and the Supervisory Board of STADA work in close cooperation for the good of the Company and, after extensive 

consultation,  make  fundamental  strategic  decisions  in  the  context  of  their  legal  responsibilities. The  Executive  Board  briefs  the 

 Supervisory Board – in the context of its legal obligation to make reports – regularly, promptly and comprehensively regarding all 

Company-relevant questions of strategy, planning, business development, the risk situation, risk management and compliance. It 

confirms  the  strategic  orientation  of  the  Company  with  the  Supervisory  Board  and,  in  the  course  of  the  implementation  of  the  

strategy, discusses the respective status at regular intervals. Furthermore, the Chairman of the Supervisory Board maintains regular 

contact with the Executive Board, particularly with the Chairman of the Executive Board, and discusses with them the strategy, plan-

ning, business development, the risk situation, risk management and the compliance of the Company and the Group. The Executive 

Board and the Supervisory Board adhere to the rules of proper corporate management and have each established their own rules of 

procedure. 

a) Executive Board

The Executive Board is appointed and dismissed in accordance with legal regulations. The Articles of Incorporation do not provide 

special provisions on the appointment or dismissal of individual and all members of the Executive Board. Only the Supervisory Board 

is  responsible  for  appointments  and  dismissals.  It  appoints  Executive  Board  members  for  a  maximum  period  of  five  years.  

A  repeated appointment or extension of the term is allowed, for a maximum of five years each.

Corporate Governance Report including the Declaration of Corporate Governance37

Tasks and responsibilities

The Executive Board manages the Company with the goal of sustainable added value in its own responsibility in consideration of the 

concerns of the shareholders, its employees and other groups connected to the Company. The members of the Executive Board are 

jointly responsible for corporate governance. The Executive Board runs the businesses in accordance with the legal requirements, the 

Articles of Incorporation, the rules of procedure and the schedule of responsibilities. 

STADA’s Executive Board comprises at least two people in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation. 

As of the balance sheet date, the Executive Board consisted of three members responsible for the following areas: 

• Hartmut Retzlaff, Chairman of the Executive Board (under contract until August 31, 2021), is the Executive Board member 

responsible for the areas of Marketing and Sales, Corporate Strategy, Corporate Communications, Production, Purchasing and 

Procurement, Research and Development, as well as Biotechnology.

• Helmut Kraft, Chief Financial Officer (under contract until December 31, 2019), is responsible for, in addition to the area of 

Finance (Controlling and Accounting, Treasury and Taxes), the areas of Internal Auditing, IT, Investor Relations as well as  

Business Transformation. 

• Dr. Matthias Wiedenfels, Chief Business Development & Central Services Officer (under contract until December 31, 2020), is the 

member of the STADA Executive Board responsible for Business Development, Portfolio Management, Human Resources, Legal, 

IP/Patents, Compliance (including Export Control), Risk Management as well as for Quality Assurance and Quality Control.

Working practices of the Executive Board

Despite the overall responsibility of the Executive Board, each member of the Executive Board manages his area of the business in 

his own responsibility. The distribution of the business areas to individual members of the Executive Board results from a schedule of 

responsibilities that is a component of the rules of procedure for the Executive Board. The Executive Board as a whole decides upon 

all matters of fundamental and/or strategic significance or of particular importance for the Company. All members of the Executive 

Board  inform  themselves  of  the  significant  proceedings  within  the  business  areas.  Regarding  proceedings  that  also  impact  the 

 business area of another member of the Executive Board, a member of the Executive Board confers with other affected members of 

the Executive Board before coming to a decision.

According to the rules of procedure for the Executive Board, the Chairman of the Executive Board is responsible for the coordination 

of the Executive Board as a whole. The Chairman of the Executive Board represents the Executive Board and the Company in public 

matters, in particular concerning authorities, associations, economic organizations and publication outlets. He can delegate this task 

to another member of the Executive Board for particular areas or in individual cases.

The Executive Board regularly holds Executive Board meetings that are convened by the Chairman of the Executive Board. Upon 

 request of a member of the Executive Board, the Chairman must convene an Executive Board meeting. The Executive Board can make 

resolutions when all members have been invited and at least half of the members take part in the resolution. The Executive Board 

passes resolutions with a simple majority of votes cast. Absent members of the Executive Board can cast their votes in written form, 

via text or telephone. The use of a representative is not permitted. Resolution by circulation procedure is also possible provided no 

member of the Executive Board objects. In case of a tie, the Chairman of the Executive Board shall have the deciding vote. If the 

Chairman of the Executive Board is absent or delayed, the proposed resolution is rejected in the case of a tie.

Corporate Governance Report including the Declaration of Corporate Governance38

For certain business defined in the Executive Board’s rules of procedure, the Executive Board must first obtain the approval of the 

Supervisory Board.

The STADA Executive Board has not established any Executive Board committees.

Conflicts of interest

According to the rules of procedure of the Executive Board, every member of the Executive Board is required to disclose conflicts of 

interest without delay to the Supervisory Board and to inform the other members of the Executive Board of this. Carrying out ancillary 

activities, particularly taking on Group-external Supervisory Board positions, requires the prior approval of the Supervisory Board.

Remuneration report

The Remuneration Report, which can be found in the Management Report of the Executive Board, presents the principles of the 

 remuneration system of the Executive Board of STADA as well as individual details of the remuneration of individual members of the 

Executive Board.

b) Supervisory Board

In accordance with the provisions of the German One-Third Participation Act, the STADA Supervisory Board is comprised of nine 

members of which six are representatives of the shareholders and three represent the employees. The Annual General Meeting elects 

the  shareholder representatives in accordance with the German Stock Corporation Act and the employees elect employee represen-

tatives in  accordance with the German One-Third Participation Act. 

Tasks and responsibilities

The Supervisory Board appoints the members of the Executive Board. Furthermore, the Supervisory Board monitors and advises the 

Executive Board in the running of its business operations. Through a regular dialog with the Executive Board, the Supervisory Board 

is informed of the business development, strategy, corporate planning, the risk situation, risk management and compliance. It agrees 

the  company  planning  and  approves  the  annual  financial  statements  of  STADA  Arzneimittel  AG  and  the  consolidated  financial 

 statements of the STADA Group. 

The Supervisory Board included the following members on the balance sheet date:

• Dr. Martin Abend, Attorney, Dresden (Chairman)

• Carl Ferdinand Oetker, Banker, Düsseldorf (Deputy Chairman)

• Dr. Eckhard Brüggemann, Doctor, Herne 

• Halil Duru, Deputy Chairman of the Worker’s Council released from duty, Frankfurt am Main (Employee Representative)

• Dr. K. F. Arnold Hertzsch, Pharmacist, Dresden

• Dieter Koch, Pharmacist, Kiel

• Constantin Meyer, Pharmacist, Seelze 

• Dr. Ute Pantke, Director Internal Communications, Wettenberg (Employee Representative)

• Jens Steegers, Chairman of the Worker’s Council released from duty, Bad Vilbel (Employee Representative) 

The term of all representatives of the shareholders on the Supervisory Board ends with the completion of the Annual General Meeting 

2018. 

Corporate Governance Report including the Declaration of Corporate Governance39

Working practices of the Supervisory Board

The Chairman of the Supervisory Board is responsible for the coordination of work, chairing Supervisory Board meetings and handling 

the external matters of the Supervisory Board.

The Chairman of the Supervisory Board convenes the Supervisory Board in writing at least 14 days, which may be reduced in ex-

ceptional cases, prior to a meeting according to need. Meetings of the Supervisory Board should convene at least once per quarter 

and must convene twice within a half year (see also Section 16 (5) of the Articles of Incorporation). The meetings of the Supervisory 

Board and its committees shall as a rule be by personal attendance. In exceptional cases with good reason, the Chairman of the 

Supervisory Board can elect to hold the meetings of the Supervisory Board and its committees in the form of a telephone or video 

conference, or permit individual members of the Supervisory Board to participate via telephone or video connection.

The Supervisory Board generally passes resolutions in meetings. Outside of meetings, resolutions made via telephone or in written 

form (via telefax or with the aid of other common means of communication such as e-mail) are permitted. The Supervisory Board shall 

constitute a quorum if at least two thirds of its members, including the Chairman of the Supervisory Board or the deputy, are present, 

or absent members have had another member of the Supervisory Board submit their written vote. Supervisory Board resolutions are 

passed with a simple majority of votes cast. In case of a tie, the chairman of the meeting shall have the casting vote.

Composition and working practices of the Supervisory Board committees

According to the rules of procedure of the Supervisory Board, the following Supervisory Board committees exist: the Audit Committee 

and the Human Resources Committee. Other committees, such as a Nomination Committee, can be created as needed.

• Audit Committee 

The Audit Committee deals in particular with monitoring the accounting process, the effectiveness of the internal control system 

and that of the internal auditing system, the risk management system and compliance. Furthermore, the Audit Committee deals 

with the financial statement audits, in particular the required independence of the auditor, the additional tasks rendered by the 

auditor, the award of the audit contract to the auditor, the determination of the main areas for the audit and the fees agreement 

with the auditor. In addition, it discusses the annual and interim reports with the Executive Board prior to their publication.

The Chairman of the Audit Committee must have specialist knowledge and experience in the application of accounting principles 

and internal control processes. Furthermore, the Chairman of the Audit Committee shall be independent and neither the Chairman 

of the Supervisory Board, nor a former member of the Executive Board whose position ended less than two years ago.

As of the balance sheet date, the Audit Committee included the following members from the shareholders: Carl Ferdinand Oetker 

(Chairman), Dr. Martin Abend and Dr. K. F. Arnold Hertzsch. As Chairman of the Audit Committee, Mr. Oetker fulfills the prerequisites 

outlined above. In its meeting on December 17, 2015, the Supervisory Board elected Mr. Jens Steegers as additional member of 

the Audit Committee, effective from financial year 2016.

Corporate Governance Report including the Declaration of Corporate Governance40

• Human Resources Committee

The Chairman of the Supervisory Board is the Chairman of the Human Resources Committee. The Human Resources Committee 

prepares the personnel decisions of the Supervisory Board. The committee discusses, in particular, the conditions of the employ-

ment  contracts  for  the  members  of  the  Executive  Board  and  prepares  the  resolutions  of  the  Supervisory  Board  regarding  the 

 remuneration system of the Executive Board in that it recommends to the Supervisory Board the structure of the remuneration 

system and the ranges of the fixed and variable components of the remuneration of the Executive Board. In addition, it ensures 

together with the Executive Board that long-term succession planning takes place. 

Moreover, the Human Resources Committee consults with the Executive Board regarding the strategic personnel development of 

STADA Arzneimittel AG and prepares the decisions of the Supervisory Board in this area.

As of the balance sheet date, the members of the Human Resources Committee from the shareholders were Dr. Martin Abend 

(Chairman), Dieter Koch and Constantin Meyer. In its meeting on December 17, 2015, the Supervisory Board elected Halil Duru as 

additional member of the Human Resources Committee, effective from financial year 2016.

• Nomination Panel

As the declaration on the German Corporate Governance Code already submitted on October 8, 2015 describes in more detail, the 

Supervisory Board appointed a Nomination Panel, consisting of the Chairmen of the Human Resources Committee and the Audit 

Committee, to develop objectives and a profile for the composition of the Supervisory Board. 

The members of the Nomination Panel on the balance sheet date were Dr. Martin Abend and Carl Ferdinand Oetker.

The  Supervisory  Board  Report  contains  more  detailed  information  on  its  meetings  and  the  focus  of  the  Supervisory  Board’s 

 activities and its committees.

Corporate Governance Report including the Declaration of Corporate Governance41

Individualized disclosure of meeting participation

The Supervisory Board considers the individualized disclosure of participation in meetings of the Supervisory Board Plenum and the 

Supervisory Board committees part of good corporate governance.

Supervisory Board Plenum

Dr. Martin Abend

Dr. Eckhard Brüggemann

Halil Duru

Dr. Arnold Hertzsch

Dieter Koch

Constantin Meyer

Carl Ferdinand Oetker

Dr. Ute Pantke

Jens Steegers

Audit Committee

Dr. Martin Abend

Dr. Arnold Hertzsch

Carl Ferdinand Oetker

Human Resources Committee

Dr. Martin Abend

Dieter Koch

Constantin Meyer

Meeting 
participation

Attendance   
in %

8/8

8/8

8/8

8/8

8/8

8/8

8/8

8/8

8/8

4/4

4/4

4/4

7/7

7/7

7/7

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

Goals for the composition of the Supervisory Board

In  financial  year  2012,  the  Nomination  Panel  presented  to  the  Supervisory  Board  Plenum  goals  as  well  as  an  appointment  plan  

for the composition of the members of the Supervisory Board to be elected at the Annual General Meeting on June 5, 2013 as 

 re presentatives of the shareholders.

In the first quarter of 2012, the Supervisory Board concluded the following goals for its composition at its meeting on January 23, 

2012 in accordance with Section 5.4.1 of the German Corporate Governance Code (GCGC):

1. General goals

The Company’s Supervisory Board is to be composed in a manner that its members as a whole have the required knowledge, abilities 

and specialist experience in order to appropriately assume the tasks (Section 5.4.1 GCGC), so that all competencies required for the 

Company’s Supervisory Board are actually represented within the Supervisory Board, or rather among the representatives of the 

shareholders.

The general knowledge of the Supervisory Board members includes, in particular, theoretical knowledge and practical experience in 

the areas of legal principles and compliance, accounting and risk controlling.

Corporate Governance Report including the Declaration of Corporate Governance 
42

Supervisory  Board  members  are  to  be  familiar  with  the  core  segments  of  the  operations  of  the  Company,  the  development  and 

 marketing of products with, generally, active pharmaceutical ingredients which are free of commercial property rights, particularly 

patents, and regularly also prescription drugs and products required to be or only sold in pharmacies.

Furthermore, the international activities of STADA Arzneimittel AG are to be considered in the composition of the shareholder re-

presentatives in the Supervisory Board. Here, criteria include, in addition to fluency in written and spoken English, the understanding 

of global economic connections and an international Group structure.

In particular, candidates should be recommended who, as a result of their integrity and personality, are in the position to take on the 

tasks of a Supervisory Board member of the publicly listed STADA Arzneimittel AG. Furthermore, diversity is to be considered.

2. Concrete goals, appointment plan

a) Required knowledge, abilities and specialist experience

Each member of the Supervisory Board is to fulfill the following requirements – in addition to the general requirements of reliability 

and the specific knowledge required to assume the control function as well as to evaluate, monitor and consult the Executive Board 

of STADA Arzneimittel AG:

 – general understanding of the business activities carried out by STADA Arzneimittel AG, the industry and market environment,  

and the strategic positioning of the Company, 

 – the ability to understand and evaluate the reports submitted to the Supervisory Board in order to draw independent conclusions 

from these; additionally the ability to evaluate and assess the decisions of the Executive Board and the transactions arising as 

well as to be able to analyze economic connections,

 – the ability to understand the documentation submitted for the financial statements and to be able to evaluate these in 

 consideration of company-specific issues, if necessary, with the support of an auditor,

 – communicative abilities.

Each member of the Supervisory Board is to contribute as particular in-depth specialist knowledge and sound experience as possible 

in one or several areas, in order to supplement and support the Supervisory Board as a whole in the task of monitoring and  consulting.

The above-mentioned specialist knowledge and experience is to be as widely represented as possible.

b) Personal requirements

Candidates are to be recommended who fulfill the determined personal requirements of the most current version of the German 

Corporate Governance Code. The personal requirements according to the most current version of the German Corporate Governance 

Code are also to be upheld during the active term of a Supervisory Board member.

It is also to be ensured that the Supervisory Board members are independent. For candidate recommendations to the Annual  General 

Meeting,  it  is  to  be  ensured  that  the  individual  candidate  does  not  hold  a  management  or  consulting  function  at,  nor  is  in  the 

 supervisory bodies of competitor companies, suppliers, significant lenders or customers, so that conflicts of interest can be avoided 

from the start.

Corporate Governance Report including the Declaration of Corporate Governance43

c) Appointment plan

Diversity is to be considered in the recommendation of candidates for the election of shareholder representatives by the Annual 

General Meeting. Diversity in the Supervisory Board is reflected, among other things, in the various occupational careers and areas 

of activity, as well as with respect to the internationality of STADA Arzneimittel AG, in the diverse spectrum of experience of the 

shareholder representatives in the Supervisory Board.

The chairmen of the Human Resources Committee and of the Audit Committee provided the Supervisory Board with the following 

appointment plan for the new election of shareholder representatives at the Annual General Meeting in June 2013:

 – a practicing pharmacist,

 – an experienced and knowledgeable pharmacist, in particular in the areas of medicinal care – patent-protected and  

generic RX and OTC products – at pharmacies, of advise on self-medication and of resulting opportunities thus available for 

STADA Arzneimittel AG,

 – a pharmacist with many years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, e.g. as the head of production and quality control 

(e.g. qualified person in the sense of Sections 14 f. of the German Pharmaceutical Act, AMG),

 – an independent financial specialist with expertise in the areas of accounting and financial report auditing,

 – an attorney experienced in corporate and industrial law.

For further candidates, expertise in the areas of future treatment methods, biotechnology, health care trends, health care systems  

(in and out-patient care), among other things, is desirable.

Furthermore, the Supervisory Board decided against the determination of an age limit and against a fixed diversity quota. Specific age 

limits or fixed diversity quotas would only limit the selection of appropriate candidates.

Taking these goals into consideration, the Supervisory Board submitted a candidate recommendation at the 2013 Annual General 

Meeting, which was approved at that Annual General Meeting. 

The Supervisory Board continually monitors the currentness and implementation of the goals for its composition established in the 

first quarter of 2012. The Supervisory Board therefore dealt with changes to the German Corporate Governance Code in the third and 

fourth quarters of 2015, which affect the designation of concrete goals for its composition, and therefore passed the regulations, 

which are subsequently described in further detail. 

In  the  context  of  the  implementation  of  the  Law  on  Equal  Participation  of  Men  and Women  in  Private-Sector  and  Public-Sector 

 Management Positions, which came into effect on May 1, 2015, at its meeting on August 5, 2015 the Supervisory Board agreed on 

the target for the proportion of women in the Supervisory Board for the period until June 30, 2017 of at least maintaining the status 

quo of 11.11%. The Supervisory Board will continue to promote the proportion of women on its board, however recommendations for 

positions on the Supervisory Board are primarily based on professional and personal qualifications of the candidate, rather than on 

gender. 

In the meeting on August 5, 2015 the Supervisory Board also agreed to abstain from setting an age limit or a regular limit on the 

length of membership of the Supervisory Board. In the opinion of the Supervisory Board, age is not a suitable criterion for choosing 

qualified candidates (male or female) and the expertise of long-time experienced Supervisory Board members shall in principle also  

Corporate Governance Report including the Declaration of Corporate Governance44

be made available to the company. A solely age-related disqualification or a limit of maximum length of membership defined in 

 advance is not considered appropriate by the Supervisory Board.

In its meeting on October 8, 2015 the Supervisory Board again discussed and confirmed target setting for independence in the 

 Supervisory Board. As regards the number of independent members in accordance with Section 5.4.2 GCGC the Supervisory Board 

continues to believe that all shareholder representatives in the Supervisory Board of STADA Arzneimittel AG should be independent 

in the sense of the assessment of the Code. Because, as before, in the opinion of the Supervisory Board no concrete indications of 

relevant relationships or circumstances exist for any of the shareholder representatives, which would be in breach of Section 5.4.2 

of the GCGC, this target continues to be met.

In the coming financial year the Supervisory Board will continually assess the validity and implementation of goals for its composition. 

A general review of the goals of the Supervisory Board will be carried out in due time prior to the Supervisory Board election in 2018.

Conflicts of interest

According to the rules of procedure of the Supervisory Board, members of the Supervisory Board shall not be a member of any board 

at,  or  provide  consulting  services  to,  significant  competitors  of  the  Company.  Furthermore,  the  Supervisory  Board  members  are 

 required to disclose conflicts of interest to the Supervisory Board, particularly those which may arise as a result of consultation or 

board membership with customers, suppliers, banks or other third parties. Significant and not only temporary conflicts of interest for 

an individual in the Supervisory Board shall result in termination of the position. In its report, the Supervisory Board informs the  

Annual General Meeting whether conflicts of interest were recognized and how they were handled.

Efficiency review

The Supervisory Board regularly reviews the efficiency of its activities. The subject of the efficiency review includes, in addition to the 

qualitative criteria to be established by the Supervisory Board, in particular the procedural flows in the Supervisory Board and the flow 

of information between the committees and the Plenum as well as the prompt and sufficient internal distribution of information. 

Remuneration report

The  principles  of  the  remuneration  system  of  the  STADA  Supervisory  Board  as  well  as  individual  details  of  the  remuneration  of 

 individual members of the Supervisory Board are discussed in the Management Report of this Annual Report in the “Remuneration 

Report” chapter.

c) Advisory Board

The Chairman of the Supervisory Board convenes the members of the Advisory Board of STADA Arzneimittel AG upon recommenda-

tion of the Executive and Supervisory Boards. According to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, the duty of the Advisory Board is 

to support and advise the Executive and Supervisory Boards. Furthermore, members of the Advisory Board are available to act as 

proxy for shareholders who do not wish to exercise their voting rights in person at the Annual General Meeting. The Advisory Board 

had 11 members on the balance sheet date. The currently elected 11 members of the Advisory Board are appointed until the end of 

financial year 2018. The principles of the remuneration system of the STADA Advisory Board are discussed in the Management 

 Report of this Annual Report in the “Remuneration Report” chapter.

Corporate Governance Report including the Declaration of Corporate Governance45

4. Specifications of Section 76 (4) and Section 111 (5) AktG as well as information 
regarding whether the set targets were reached during the reference period and 
justification if not reached 

In  the  implementation  of  the  Law  on  Equal  Participation  of  Men  and  Women  in  Private-Sector  and  Public-Sector  Management 

 Positions which came into effect on May 1, 2015 and which is applicable to STADA Arzneimittel AG as a publicly-listed and one-third 

participation stock corporation company, the Executive Board and Supervisory Board agreed on the goals and deadlines for achieve-

ment described subsequently in more detail, in accordance with Section 76 (4) AktG and Section 111 (5) AktG.

a) Specifications by the Executive Board in accordance with Section 76 (4) AktG

In its meeting on August 5, 2015 the Executive Board agreed unanimously on the following targets for the proportion of women in the 

two management levels below the Executive Board of STADA Arzneimittel AG, in accordance with Section 76 (4) AktG: 

The existing proportion of women in the first management level at 23.5% and at 25% in the second management level should at 

least be maintained for the period up to June 30, 2017. The first management level includes employees of STADA Arzneimittel AG 

who have personnel responsibility and a direct reporting line to the Executive Board, the second management level includes employ-

ees of STADA Arzneimittel AG with personnel responsibility and a direct reporting line to the first management level. As before, the 

Executive  Board  will  continue  to  ensure  an  appropriate  promotion  of  women  to  continually  increase  the  proportion  of  women  in 

management positions. The proportion of women of over 50% across the entire workforce of the STADA Group forms the basis for 

this. However, management positions are awarded primarily based on the professional and personal qualifications of the candidate, 

rather than based on gender.

b) Specifications by the Supervisory Board in accordance with Section 111 (5) AktG

In its meeting on August 5, 2015 the Supervisory Board established the following goals, described subsequently in more detail, for 

the proportion of women in the Executive Board and Supervisory Board, in accordance with Section 111 (5) AktG:

As regards the setting of targets for the proportion of women on the Executive Board, for the period up to June 30, 2017 the status 

quo of 0% should be maintained. Positions on the Executive Board are awarded primarily based on the professional and personal 

qualifications of the candidate, rather than based on gender. In awarding future Executive Board positions the Supervisory Board will 

consider an appropriate proportion of women.

As regards the setting of targets for the proportion of women on the Supervisory Board, which currently has one female member out 

of nine total members, the status quo should be maintained for the period up to June 30, 2017, i.e., a target of at least 11.11% was 

set for the proportion of women on the Supervisory Board. The Supervisory Board will continue to promote the proportion of women 

on its board. However, recommendations for positions on the Supervisory Board are awarded primarily based on the professional and 

personal qualifications of the candidate, rather than based on gender.

c) Report on the achievement of goals

The Annual Report 2017, after the deadline of June 30, 2017, will report on the achievement of the goals.

Corporate Governance Report including the Declaration of Corporate Governance46

SHAREHOLDERS AND THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The shareholders1) assume their rights in the Annual General Meeting and exercise their voting rights. Each STADA share2) grants 

entitlement to one vote. Shareholders have the option to exercise their voting right themselves in the Annual General Meeting or to 

have  their  voting  right  exercised  by  an  authorized  representative  of  their  choice  or  by  way  of  a  voting  representative  from  the 

 Company,  who  is  bound  by  instructions.  Every  shareholder  is  entitled  to  participate  in  the Annual  General  Meeting,  to  speak  on 

 individual agenda items there and to request information about Company issues, if this is required for the appropriate assessment of 

an item on the agenda. 

The Annual General Meeting takes place annually in the first eight months of the financial year and passes resolutions, among other 

things, on the allocation of profits, the approval of the Executive Board and Supervisory Board, the selection of the auditor as well as 

on any changes to the Articles of Incorporation and capital-changing measures.

TRANSPARENT CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

In order to ensure transparent corporate governance, STADA informs shareholders, financial analysts, other capital market partici-

pants, the media and the interested public regularly and promptly about the situation of the Company and about any significant 

business changes. 

In order to ensure the equal treatment of all users and to provide market participants the same information in terms of content and 

in due time, STADA provides all the important documentation on the STADA website at www.stada.de and www.stada.com. There, all 

interested individuals are provided access, in particular, to all compulsory information such as financial reports (annual and interim 

reports) and ad hoc releases, voting rights notices, reports in accordance with Section 15a WpHG (Director’s Dealings), information 

on the Annual General Meeting, as well as other comprehensive Company and share information such as press releases, Company 

profile,  financial  calendar,  presentations  and  current  share  price  information  on  STADA  (including  peer  group  comparisons). The 

Company generally publishes up-to-date presentations on its website for the capital markets.

The reporting about the situation and results of STADA Arzneimittel AG and the STADA Group is delivered by the Annual Report, the 

interim reports and at press and analysts’ conferences which can generally be followed live and can be viewed for some time as a 

recording on the STADA website at www.stada.de and www.stada.com. 

1) For capital and shareholder structure see “The STADA Share”.
2) Under the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, STADA’s registered shares with restricted 
transferability can only be transferred and entered into the share register with the consent of the 
Executive Board of the Company and, pursuant to the Articles of Incorporation, grant one vote 
each in the Annual General Meeting. Shareholders are only those who are registered as such in 
the share registry and only such persons are authorized to participate in the Annual General 
Meeting and to exercise their voting rights. No shareholder and no shareholder group shall have 
any special rights.

Corporate Governance Report including the Declaration of Corporate Governance47

FINANCIAL REPORTING AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT

STADA  prepares  the  consolidated  financial  statements  and  the  consolidated  interim  financial  statements  in  accordance  with  the 

relevant international financial reporting standards and the annual financial statements of STADA Arzneimittel AG in accordance with 

the rules and regulations of the German Commercial Code.

The auditor and Supervisory Board audit the consolidated financial statements and the consolidated interim financial statements for 

the  first  half  of  the  year  provided  by  the  Executive  Board. The Audit  Committee  discusses  the  interim  financial  reports  with  the 

 Executive Board prior to their publishing. 

STADA publishes the annual financial statements of STADA Arzneimittel AG (including the Management Report) and the consolidated 

financial statements of the STADA Group (including the Group Management Report) within 90 days of the end of the respective 

 financial year and, in addition, informs shareholders and third parties during the year via interim financial reports within 45 days of 

the end of the reporting period. The interim financial report for the first half of the year is voluntarily audited by the auditor elected by 

the Annual General Meeting for this purpose.

The Company does not have a stock option plan.

The significant investments of the Company as well as the related parties are presented in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial 

Statements. 

Prior to submitting the nomination, the Audit Committee receives a declaration from the selected auditor of whether and to what 

extent commercial, financial, personal or other relationships exist between the auditor, its board members and head auditors on  

one side, and STADA and its board members on the other side, which could represent any doubts regarding the independence of  

the  auditor. The  declaration  also  covers  to  what  extent  in  the  past  financial  year  other  services  were  provided  –  or  have  been  

contractually agreed upon for the following year – to the Company, in particular in the area of consultancy.

The Supervisory Board agreed with the auditor that the Chairman of the Supervisory Board or Audit Committee shall be informed 

without delay of any possible grounds for exclusion or bias arising during the audit insofar as these are not remedied immediately.

Furthermore, the Supervisory Board agreed with the auditor that the auditor shall report without delay on all facts and events of 

 importance for the tasks of the Supervisory Board which arise during the performance of the audit, as well as that the auditor shall 

disclose and/or note in the Auditor’s Report if, during the performance of the audit, the auditor comes across facts which show a 

misstatement by the Executive Board and Supervisory Board in the declaration on the German Corporate Governance Code.

The  auditor  participates  in  the  meetings  of  the  Supervisory  Board  regarding  the  semi  annual,  annual  and  consolidated  financial 

statements and reports the significant results of the audit.

Corporate Governance Report including the Declaration of Corporate Governance48

BASIS OF THE GROUP 

Business Model of the Group 

Product Development 

Procurement, Production and Quality Management 

Sales and Marketing 

Employees 

Goals and Strategies 

Controlling 

Responsibility and Sustainability 

50

50

54

57

60

63

67

68

70

MANAGEMENT REPORT  
OF THE  
EXECUTIVE BOARD

2015

ECONOMIC REPORT 

General Economic and Industry-Specific Situation 

Business Development and Situation 

Development of 2015 Compared to Outlook 

Development of Financial Performance Indicators  

and Non-financial Performance Indicators 

Earnings Situation 

Development of Sales 

Development of Earnings and Costs 

Development of Segments 

Financial Situation 

Assets Situation 

General Statements of the Executive Board  

on Business Development in 2015 

REMUNERATION REPORT 

SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT 

OPPORTUNITIES REPORT 

RISK REPORT 

TAKEOVER-RELEVANT INFORMATION 

PROGNOSIS REPORT 

73

73

75

75

76

78

78

79

85

95

101

105

106

120

121

124

142

144

Management Report of the Executive Board49

MANAGEMENT REPORT  

OF THE  

EXECUTIVE BOARD

Management Report of the Executive Board | Table of Contents50

BASIS OF THE GROUP
Group Business Model

Focus on health care market concentrating on pharmaceutical market

The STADA business model is focused on the health care market, whereby particularly the pharmaceutical market – one of the 

global growth markets – is at the heart of the internationally focused Group activities.

The global health care and pharmaceutical markets recorded further increase in 2015. Sales in the international pharmaceutical 

market thus increased by approx. 8.9%1) to approx. € 987 billion1) as compared to the previous year. 

On the basis of both general as well as generics-specific growth drivers, numerous national health and, in particular, pharmaceutical 

markets will continue to be characterized in the future by high growth opportunities that are relatively independent of economic 

 activity, in the Executive Board’s assessment. These opportunities are based, on the one hand, on general growth drivers such as the 

global population growth, an increasingly aging society in industrialized countries as well as further medical progress. On the other 

hand,  there  will  be  a  progressive  generics  penetration  as  a  result  of  increasing  spending  restraints  in  individual  national  health 

 systems, continuous patent expirations and other commercial property rights. The latter also applies to the promising field of bio-

pharmaceuticals with high sales and earnings potential. Furthermore, the demand for OTC products (non-prescription drugs), which 

are reported in the Branded Products core segment at STADA, is increasing. This is due, on the one hand, to the fact that they are, 

with only a few exceptions, not reimbursable and therefore relieve the global health care systems. On the other hand, the number of 

so-called “self-improvers”, who rely on self-medication in health care and, with a growing tendency, spend an increasing amount of 

money on this, particularly in the Western industrialized nations.

In view of the continually rising demand in the health care market and the fact that drugs continue to offer a relatively high level of 

efficiency as compared to other forms of treatment, further growth is also expected for the global pharmaceutical market in future. 

According to forecasts, sales in the international pharmaceutical market will increase by 5% to 7% per year by 2020 (see “Prognosis 

Report”).1) 

The STADA Group focuses on selected segments within the health care and pharmaceutical market. With regard to costs and risks, 

STADA deliberately refrains from conducting research on, and marketing new active pharmaceutical ingredients. Instead, the Group 

concentrates on the development and marketing of products with active ingredients – generally active pharmaceutical ingredients 

– which are free from commercial property rights, particularly patents. In this context, the products sold by STADA are primarily 

 positioned in the two core segments of Generics and Branded Products.

With regard to regional divisions, STADA’s business activities are focused on the four market regions of Central Europe, CIS/Eastern 

Europe, Germany as well as Asia/Pacific & MENA2).3) 

Core segments and non-core activities

According to the Group’s strategic positioning, STADA focuses its business model on products with off-patent active pharmaceutical 

ingredients in the two core segments Generics and Branded Products.

While Generics sales focus on low pricing and/or cross-product and cross-indication marketing, Branded Products marketing  focuses 

on the respective product characteristics and, in particular, the brand name of the individual products.4)

1) IMS Market Prognosis, September 2015; IMS Market Prognosis Global, September 2015;  
IMS Syndicated Analytics Service (September) 2015; prepared for STADA February 2016.
2) Since January 1, 2015, the former market region Asia & Pacific has been grouped together 
with the activities of the MENA region and reported in the market region Asia/Pacific & MENA.

3) For a breakdown of the national sales activities of the STADA Group according to the four 
market regions, see “Development of Segments”.
4) For a detailed segment definition see Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements – 42.

Management Report of the Executive Board51

Apart from the different sales positioning, the two core segments are differentiated from one another in other aspects such as the 

demand structure, growth and margin expectations as well as the respective requirements of portfolio expansion and the develop-

ment strategies.

In  the  Generics  segment,  the  requirements  for  the  product  portfolio  are  closely  tied  to  the  regulatory  structure  of  the  individual 

 markets in the respective market regions and the regional market power of the local STADA subsidiary. STADA is generally positioned 

as  a  so-called  full-portfolio  provider  in  this  segment.  In  this  context,  the  product  portfolio  includes  numerous  dosage  forms  and 

strengths for the most relevant active pharmaceutical ingredients and thus partly also products with only a small sales contribution. 

In only few markets such as the United Kingdom, however, STADA is active as a niche provider in the area of generics. This means 

that  the  respective  subsidiary  offers  a  selected  product  portfolio  with  special  pharmaceutical  ingredients  that  have  good  sales 

 prospects in the corresponding market. The Group adopts this type of portfolio structure if it seems to be promising based on  specific 

local market conditions, and in particular taking earnings aspects into consideration. 

The Group pursues a generally selective portfolio approach in the Branded Products core segment. STADA thereby markets branded 

products  in  consideration  of  availability  and  demand  in  selected  markets  of  the  individual  market  regions.  In  general,  the  Group 

hereby pursues a concept of so-called “strong brands”, which, in view of their high brand awareness – ideally as the local market 

leader – generate growth largely independent of local market trends with comprehensive promotional and sales support.

Share of core segments and non-core activities in STADA Group sales

— Generics 57.6% 

— Generics 59.1% 

2015

— Branded Products 40.3%

2014

— Branded Products 38.8%

— Commercial Business 2.1% 
— Group holdings/Other 0.0%

— Commercial Business 2.1%
— Group holdings/Other 0.0%

In the reporting year, the two core segments Generics and Branded Products contributed a total of 97.9% to Group sales (previous 

year:  97.9%). The  core  segment  Generics  contributed  57.6%  to  Group  sales  (previous  year:  59.1%);  89%  of  the  generics  were 

 prescription products (previous year: 89%). The core segment Branded Products contributed 40.3% to Group sales (previous year: 

38.8%); 66% of the branded products were non-prescription products (previous year: 63%).1) 

STADA includes business and investments in areas outside the two core segments under non-core activities.

1) At Group level, prescription products contribute approx. 67% (previous year: approx. 69%) and 
non-prescription products approx. 33% (previous year: approx. 31%) to Group sales (according to 
national categorization).

Management Report of the Executive Board | Basis of the Group52

The Commercial Business segment includes activities primarily with a trading character such as wholesaling activities. In financial 

year 2015, this item contributed 2.1% to Group sales (previous year: 2.1%).

Core segment Generics

In financial year 2015, sales in the international generics market increased by approx. 8.5%1) to approx. € 169.8 billion1) as compared 

to the previous year. The market share of generics in the global pharmaceutical market amounted to approx. 17.2%1).

For the expansion of the core segment Generics, STADA and the STADA subsidiary BEPHA Beteiligungsgesellschaft für Pharmawerte 

mbH signed a contract in the fourth quarter of 2015 to purchase the Argentinian generics producer Laboratorio Vannier S.A., which 

sells its products in niches which are subject to few price regulations, particularly on conditions of the central nervous system (CNS), 

cardiology and diabetes. The purchase was completed in the first quarter of 2016.2)

According to the estimate of the STADA Executive Board, generics continue to have growth opportunities within the pharmaceutical 

market, as they ensure a cost-effective medicative therapy without any loss in quality and, at the same time, counteract increasing 

cost pressure in the individual health care markets. In addition, the potential available for generics competition is constantly being 

expanded due to the expiration of patents or other commercial property rights. 

These views are also confirmed by forecasts of IMS Health, a leading international pharmaceutical market research institute (see 

“Prognosis Report”). 

In the generics area, biosimilars in particular will play an increasingly important role in the future, as they can contribute signi ficantly 

to containing costs in the individual national health care markets. Already in 2014, a paradigm shift took place, as, for the first time 

ever, there were more patent expirations among biopharmaceutical products than chemical-synthetic products. Overall, twelve of the 

strongest biologics in terms of sales will have lost their patent protection by 20203). 

In light of this growth potential, STADA consistently continues to pursue its strategy of in-licensing biosimilars specifically from high-

ly specialized suppliers, since this represents the course with a lower risk and lower costs for the Group than relying on in-house 

developments (see “Product Development”).

Core segment Branded Products

Since branded products are generally exposed to less regulatory intervention and have more attractive margins than the generics 

area, STADA has been pursuing the strategy of driving the expansion of this area for several years. In doing so, the Group, which 

celebrated its 120-year anniversary in 2015, focuses increasingly on its original business activities, having expanded its portfolio by 

generics only in 1975.

The Group increasingly leverages synergies for the international positioning of its branded products. At the same time, STADA takes 

account of the growing Group-wide importance of this segment in relying on the advantages of a centralized portfolio management 

structure and a decentralized marketing structure. On the one hand, STADA has been introducing existing branded products into new 

markets in order to accelerate the expansion and the internationalization of this segment. On the other hand, the Group has been 

expanding its portfolio by new branded products. 

1) IMS Market Prognosis, September 2015; IMS Market Prognosis Global, September 2015;  
IMS Syndicated Analytics Service (September) 2015; prepared for STADA February 2016.
2) See the Company’s press release of December 10, 2015.
3) Source: “Deutsches Ärzteblatt” (a German medical journal) of March 14, 2014; 111 (11):  
A-452 / B-388 / C-372: Biosimilars: Das Wettrennen ist in vollem Gange (Biosimilars:  
The race is well underway).

Management Report of the Executive Board53

The  marketing  and  development  expertise  of  the  British  STADA  subsidiary  Thornton  &  Ross,  one  of  the  most  important  health 

 companies in the United Kingdom and the number four company in the British OTC market, plays an important role in the support of 

the STADA “Center of OTC Excellence”. In this context, the Group makes use of Thornton & Ross’ competence, infrastructure and the 

technical  possibilities  in  the  areas  of  OTC,  consumer  marketing  and  dermatology.  In  principle, “Center  of  OTC  Excellence”  was 

 conceived as a think tank for the entire Group for the cooperation of an interdisciplinary team from the areas of market research, 

marketing, research & development, production and business development. The main focus is the long-term pipeline and portfolio 

development in the areas of OTC and dermatology.

Among the leading OTC companies in the STADA market regions, STADA occupied position 91) in 2015. 

Sales of the international OTC market in 2015 increased by approx. 7.8%2) to approx. € 69.03 billion2) as compared to the previous 

year. The market share of OTC products in the global pharmaceutical market amounted to approx. 7.7%2).

In the reporting year, STADA was able to further strengthen the Branded Products segment through various acquisitions. In the first 

quarter of 2015, the Russian STADA subsidiary AO Nizhpharm completed the acquisition of the two branded products AndroDoz® and 

NeroDoz®,  which  are  positioned  in  the  area  of  men’s  health.3)  In  the  second  and  third  quarter  of  2015,  the  German  subsidiary 

STADAvita expanded its branded product portfolio by the nutritional supplement RYDEX375 IMMUN-POWER4) and the premium sun 

protection line SWYZZ SUN5). In the third quarter of 2015, STADA acquired the Austrian company SCIOTEC Diagnostic Technologies, 

which is primarily focused on the development and marketing of prescription-free (OTC) products against enzymatic food  intolerances 

(histamine, fructose and lactose intolerance).6) With the goal of expanding its business activities in the area of dermatological treat-

ments,  STADA Arzneimittel AG  started  a  cooperation  with  the Austrian  company  CROMA-PHARMA  GmbH  through  its  subsidiary 

STADA Aesthetics AG.7) (See “Economic Report – Business Development and Situation – Financial Situation”.)

Operative alignment

STADA has a predominantly functional organizational structure in the areas of product development, procurement, central  purchasing, 

production,  quality  management,  finance,  risk  management,  compliance  and  corporate  governance.  However,  the  main  strategic 

responsibility in each case lies with STADA Arzneimittel AG. Certain sales functions are deliberately excluded from this alignment. 

They are focused locally and organized through the STADA market regions with a primarily regional focus to ensure the greatest 

possible  degree  of  market  proximity.  In  this  context,  the  sales  responsibility,  which  comprises  sales  and  earnings  of  the  market 

 regions, their product portfolio and their  personnel management, was allocated to the respective regional management.

The goal of this operative alignment is to possess the necessary flexibility and market proximity for the business model to be able to 

react quickly to changed framework conditions, despite the Group-wide harmonization and centralization that are needed in order to 

increase efficiency. 

Against this backdrop, the division into the core segments Generics and Branded Products as well as the non-core activity  Commercial 

Business is carried out essentially on sales aspects. Thus, the different sales requirements of the individual product categories are 

also reflected in the operational management of the Group.

1) IMS Health MIDAS – EU28+RU+CH+NO+RS – Panel: Retail + Hospital – MAT/12/2015, 
without cosmetics and RX branded products.
2) IMS Market Prognosis, September 2015; IMS Market Prognosis Global, September 2015;  
IMS Syndicated Analytics Service (September) 2015; prepared for STADA February 2016.  
IMS MIDAS (September) 2015.

3) See the Company’s press release of February 4, 2015.
4) See STADAvita’s press release of April 15, 2015.
5) See STADAvita’s press release of September 17, 2015.
6) See the Company’s press release of August 26, 2015.
7) See the Company’s press release of December 17, 2015.

Management Report of the Executive Board | Basis of the Group 
54

Product Development

Strategic and organizational basis of development activities

In view of the strategic positioning and the business model, the STADA Group deliberately does not conduct any own research for 

new  active  pharmaceutical  ingredients,  but  rather  focuses  on  the  development  of  products  with  generally  pharmaceutical  active 

 ingredients, which are no longer subject to any commercial property rights, particularly patents.

The focus of Group-wide development activities is on the development of generics and branded products for global marketing using 

STADA’s sales companies. Furthermore, the development activities focus on the expansion of the existing product portfolio by way of 

additional dosage forms or strengths and the internationalization of nationally successful products. Furthermore, the Group is working 

on supporting transfer projects, e.g. the transfer of knowledge in the production area, as well as on the optimization of products 

 already launched with the goal of improving usage or optimizing production costs.

Development activities for new products focus on their market readiness. In the case of pharmaceuticals this usually involves ob-

taining national approval from the responsible regulatory authorities in the context of differentiated, largely supranational approval 

processes. In the majority of cases, STADA Arzneimittel AG, as the central development unit, prefers supranational – in particular 

EU-wide – approval processes in order to achieve numerous national approvals of a product in different countries nearly simultane-

ously. Approval procedures outside of the EU are carried out, if possible, on the basis of the EU dossier of the individual products, so 

that the Group can thereby fall back on a  standardized formulation. In addition, economies of scale should be achieved through the 

international orientation of development activities with the aid of optimized batch sizes.

The Group-wide development activities are generally aimed at the long-term – particularly in the Generics segment – in order to drive 

organic growth through a continuous flow of new product launches. In view of this, STADA is already today working on the develop-

ment of generic products with potential launch dates beyond 2024. STADA currently assumes a regulatory preparation time including 

an average approval period of three years for generics with Group-wide relevance. STADA generally pursues a “time and cheap to 

market” strategy with the goal of launching new products not only at the earliest point in time, but also at the best possible cost of 

sales.

Considering  the  great  significance  that  strong  product  development  has  for  the  further  success  of  the  Group,  the  planning  and 

 organization of development activities is generally structured centrally at STADA Arzneimittel AG. Group-owned development centers 

for internationally oriented projects are located in Bad Vilbel, Germany, and Vrsac, Serbia. In order to optimally manage development 

resources and close technological gaps, STADA also cooperates with external third-party developers from Europe and Asia. Apart 

from in-house and third-party development, STADA generally takes advantage of a global network of external development partners, 

through which the Group acquires dossiers or approvals. In view of the great significance of strong product development for the future 

success of the Group, the punctual coordination of such a network – also in terms of costs and the respective commercial property 

rights – ranks as one of the Group’s strategic success factors. 

With a view to cost savings, STADA has continually increased the number of in-house developments of strategically important and 

high-sale products in recent years. This particularly allows for the optimization of procurement and production costs, as the purchase  

Management Report of the Executive Board55

of dossiers and their accompanying initial supply commitments can be reduced. In exceptional cases, individual local business units 

carry out own development activities. However, this only applies to new products that are not significant for the Group.

On  the  basis  of  a  Group  management  function  of  STADA Arzneimittel AG,  the  Group  has  control  of  all  Group-wide  development 

 projects through central project management with interface management, which facilitates the transparent management of product 

development.

The core segment Generics is one of the main focus areas of the development activities. Depending on the local patent and  approval 

situation and on the relevant market strategy, the decision as to which active pharmaceutical ingredients are to be launched into a 

market and when, is made in cooperation with the management of the respective market region. As the long-term success of a 

 generic drug also depends on its time of launch, STADA aims to have completed the development of all relevant, in the view of the 

Group, strengths and dosage forms of an active pharmaceutical ingredient as early as possible, in order to be able to make these and 

all required approvals available to individual sales companies as soon as possible after the expiration of the respective patent and/or 

commercial property right. 

Within the framework of determining a launch date for a generic in a market, the commercial property rights, that have to be observed 

respectively, play an important role, as their scope and duration can be very different from market to market. As a precautionary 

measure, the STADA Group management and the regional management continuously receive legal recommendations on commercial 

property rights from both internal and external experts. In spite of this, legal disputes can occur before or after the launch of new 

generics, which are, in some cases, commenced by initial suppliers. These particularly concern the validity of commercial property 

rights, which stand in contrast to the Group’s assessment and, in exceptional cases, can also give rise to a negative result for STADA.

Within the area of innovative branded products, in particular of non-prescription drugs, 

nutritional  supplements  and  cosmetics,  development  activities  are  being  expanded 

continuously to support the increasingly strategic orientation of the Group toward this 

core segment. The implementation of this strategy is carried out in close cooperation 

with STADA’s “Center of OTC Excellence”. 

Sustainable development and approval strength

STADA’s sustainable strength in development and approval becomes clear through the 

high number of annual product launches. In financial year 2015, the Group proved this 

with the introduction of 578 individual products worldwide (previous year: 626).

The great importance of STADA’s successful product development is displayed by the 

5% share in sales (previous year: 5%) generated with products the Group introduced 

in the last two years1) 2).

The Group continues to have a well-filled product pipeline. This is also shown by the 

high number of ongoing approval procedures as of December 31, 2015 totaling more 

than 1,300 for more than 150 active pharmaceutical ingredients and active ingredient 

combinations for over 55 countries. This applies in particular to generics in the EU. In 

5-year development:  
Number of product launches

7
1
7

6
0
7

0
0
6

6
2
6

8
7
5

addition,  the  Group  also  conducts  approval  activities  in  markets  outside  of  the  EU 

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

where it is active with its own subsidiaries or in the export business.

1) Reporting year and previous year.
2) Not including products and sales from acquisitions.

Management Report of the Executive Board | Basis of the Group56

The high level of expertise in product development becomes clear not only through the large number of successful new launches in 

the area of classic generics, but also considering activities in the increasingly important field of biosimilars, particularly in competitive 

and margin aspects.

The Group has been already successful on the German market with SILAPO®, a biosimilar epoetin, already since 2008. Since 2014, 

STADA subsidiary cell pharm Gesellschaft für pharmazeutische und diagnostische Präparate mbH has sold the filgrastim product 

Grastofil® 1), in-licensed from Apotex.

Cooperation with Gedeon Richter for the monoclonal antibody Rituximab2), whose approval is expected in 2018 from today’s perspec-

tive, has existed since 2011. Since 2014, there has been a contract with Richter-Helm BioTec for the in-licensing of Teriparatid3), 

which is expected to be launched in 2019 under the STADA label throughout Europe following the expiration of the patent of the 

original product, Forsteo®. In financial year 2015, STADA in-licensed Pegfilgrastim4) from Gedeon Richter, which should be introduced 

under the STADA label shortly after patent expiration in 2017. In addition, STADA also has the possibility of in-licensing a biosimilar 

to Adalimumab5) from biotech  specialist mAbxience, currently internationally known by its best-selling and original product Humira®. 

In light of the existing potential in the biosimilars area (see “Prognosis Report”), STADA will continue to pursue the strategy of selec-

tively in-licensing biosimilars from highly specialized partners instead of relying on in-house developments, since this represents the 

course with the lowest risk and lower costs for the Group. In order to expand the existing biosimilar portfolio in a targeted manner, 

STADA continuously reviews offers for in-licensing biosimilars for various indications, which meanwhile also cover biosimilars for 

monoclonal antibodies whose patents expire as from 2020.

Expenses for research and development costs

The research and development costs amounted to € 65.0 million in the reporting year (previous year: € 56.9 million) (see  “Economic 

Report – Business Development and Situation – Earnings Situation – Development of Earnings and Cost”). Since STADA is not active 

in research for new active pharmaceutical ingredients due to its business model, it is only a matter of development costs. In addition, 

the Group capitalized development costs for new products in the amount of € 26.1 million in 2015 (previous year: € 27.5 million). 

This  corresponds  to  a  capitalization  rate  of  28.6%  (previous  year:  32.6%). Amortization  of  capitalized  development  costs  in  the 

 reporting  year  amounted  to  approx.  € 8 million  (previous  year:  approx.  € 6 million).  In  financial  year  2015,  594  employees  were 

working Group-wide in the area of product development (previous year: 571).

1) See the Company’s press release of October 28, 2013.
2) See the Company’s press release of August 30, 2011.
3) See the Company’s press release of October 13, 2014.
4) See the Company’s press release of August 6, 2015.
5) See the Company’s press release of November 18, 2014.

Management Report of the Executive Board57

Procurement, Production and Quality Management

Global network for procurement of active ingredients and auxiliary materials

Under flexibility and cost aspects, the Group has generally abstained from manufacturing any active ingredients or auxiliary materials 

necessary for pharmaceutical production in the Group itself, but utilizes a global network of raw materials suppliers. Thereby, within 

the scope of its strategic function, STADA Arzneimittel AG concentrates, particularly for the procurement of active pharmaceutical 

ingredients, on low-priced suppliers from low-cost countries, primarily from Asia. Nevertheless, the Group does not generally rule out 

future cooperations in the area of active pharmaceutical  ingredient production with the goal of achieving greater vertical integration.

In view of the strongly established continuous cost optimization in the Group, both China and India represent important resource 

countries for low-cost active ingredient procurement. STADA currently has procurement offices in Shanghai, China, and in Mumbai, 

India.

If  products  of  the  Group  are  produced  in  the  context  of  contract  manufacturing,  STADA  is  dependent  on  the  prices  of  contract 

 manufacturers in addition to the global purchase price developments for the necessary raw and auxiliary materials. As far as possible, 

STADA involves suppliers in the risk of margin losses due to falling selling prices. This occurs, for example, by using price escalation 

clauses in which procurement prices are linked to selling prices, subsequent negotiations or the agreement of special procurement 

prices for special sales volumes, such as volumes that are put out to tender by public health insurance organizations in the context 

of discount agreements.

Centralized needs planning

In the area of the supply chain, the Group’s needs planning for important products is carried out centrally. In addition, there are three 

so-called supply chain hubs at the locations in Bad Vilbel, Germany, Vrsac, Serbia, and Moscow, Russia, which are managed through 

STADA Arzneimittel AG and where the centralized needs planning is carried out for selected top products in the Group. The  related 

pooling of services allows STADA to achieve cost synergies and thus cost savings. In consideration of the continuous cost optimiza-

tion, this concept will be continuously developed in the context of an ongoing improvement process.

High flexibility and continuous cost optimization in the supply chain and pharmaceutical production 

In view of the comprehensive product portfolio of over 800 active pharmaceutical ingredients with over 16,000 product packagings 

marketed by the Group, each different in terms of its active ingredients and/or quantities of the active ingredients and/or dosage 

forms  and/or  package  sizes,  STADA  utilizes  an  international  network  of  internal  and  external  resources  in  the  supply  chain  and 

 pharmaceutical production.

The concentration of production processes at Group-owned locations, which was initiated as part of the cost optimization program 

“STADA  –  build  the  future”,  was  continued  in  financial  year  2015.  On  the  one  hand,  this  applies  to  the  gradual  assumption  of 

 production  volumes  from  contract  manufacturing,  and,  on  the  other  hand,  to  a  shift  of  production  volumes  within  Group-owned 

 production facilities. Through the concentration process, the Group benefits from both the structural cost advantages, which result 

from the usage of sites in low-cost countries, and the higher capacity, which leads to a reduction of unit prices.

Management Report of the Executive Board | Basis of the Group58

The  EU-GMP  certified  production  facility  in  Huddersfield,  United  Kingdom,  which  was  added  to  the  Group’s  internal  production 

 network in the course of the acquisition of the British OTC supplier Thornton & Ross in 2013, was also further integrated in the 

 production network of STADA Arzneimittel AG in 2015. Central capacity utilization was further increased through various product 

transfers of previously externally produced products, as a result of which unit prices could be reduced.

The production facilities for nutritional supplements, which were newly incorporated into the production network in 2015 as part of 

the purchase of SCIOTEC Diagnostic Technologies in Tulln, Austria, will be integrated in 2016 following a transition and adjustment 

period.

In the second quarter of 2015, the Serbian STADA subsidiary Hemofarm in Vrsac opened a state-of-the-art production and filling 

facility for ampoules.1) The equipment and technology of the new production facility, which is worth € 4.37 million, is of the highest 

international standard and strengthens one of the Group’s most important locations. Across a floor area of 600 square meters, up to 

75 million ampoules will be produced annually, which are intended for the Serbian market but also primarily for export.

The  expansion  of  the  process  optimization  program  in  the  technical  areas  was  continued  in  financial  year  2015,  through  which 

 significant optimizations were achieved. Ongoing improvement in all technical/operative processes is always extremely important for 

the STADA Group in order to continuously ensure competitiveness.

As of March 1, 2016, the Group had pharmaceutical production facilities at the following locations:

Market region Central Europe

Market region  
CIS/Eastern Europe

Market region Germany

· Huddersfield (United Kingdom)

· Tulln2) 3) (Austria)

· Banja Luka (Bosnia-Herzegovina)

· Dubovac (Serbia)

· Nizhny Novgorod (Russia)

· Obninsk (Russia)

· Podgorica (Montenegro) 

· Sabac (Serbia)

· Vrsac (Serbia)

· Bad Vilbel (Germany) 

· Buenos Aires4) (Argentina)

· Pfaffenhofen (Germany)

· Beijing4) (China)

Market region  
Asia/Pacific & MENA

· Binh Duong Branch (Greater Ho Chi Minh City area) (Vietnam)

· Hoc Mon District4) (Greater Ho Chi Minh City area) (Vietnam) 

· Tuy Hoa4) (Vietnam)

The  Group  makes  appropriate  annual  investments  to  ensure  that  all  Group-owned  production  facilities  and  test  laboratories  are 

maintained  at  the  level  required  by  legal  stipulations  and  technical  production  considerations.  Investments  in  the  expansion  and 

 renewal of production facilities and plants as well as test laboratories, amounted to € 32.2 million in the reporting year (previous year: 

€ 19.7 million).

1) See the Company’s press release of June 8, 2015.
2) Since September 1, 2015.
3) Exclusive production of nutritional supplements – see the Company’s press release of  
August 26, 2015.
4) Production unit that is exclusively or primarily focused on local demand and not integrated  
in the Group.

Management Report of the Executive Board59

Highest safety and quality requirements

As  an  internationally  active  health  Group,  STADA  sets  the  highest  requirements  for  the  quality  and  safety  of  its  products. These 

 requirements apply to the quality of raw materials, products, services and working conditions. 

In the context of regular and comprehensive audits, the Group-wide quality management reviews the quality standards set by the 

Group, which in part by far exceed the legal requirements, not only at its own production sites, but also in the facilities of suppliers 

and contract manufacturers. 

Furthermore, inspections are carried out externally in regular intervals by the respective nationally responsible regulatory authorities. 

Within the EU, these inspections are carried out every two to three years. In addition to inspection by national authorities outside the 

EU, STADA also orders EU Good Manufacturing Practice Compliance inspections (EU GMP compliance inspections) in order to receive 

extensions of the required EU import authorizations valid for three years each. In this context, the authorities responsible for the Group 

review whether the inspected production facilities meet the EU GMP standards. Between 2013 and 2015, a total of eleven inspec-

tions were successfully completed in third countries. This included inspections in the production facilities of Hemofarm A.D., Vrsac, 

Serbia; Hemofarm Banja Luka d.o.o., Banja Luka, Bosnia-Herzegovina; Hemofarm d.o.o., Sabac, Serbia; Hemomont d.o.o.,  Podgorica, 

Montenegro; LCC Nizhpharm J.S.C., Nizhny Novgorod, Russia; Hemofarm LLC, Obninsk, Russia; Pymepharco Joint Stock Company, 

Tuy Hoa, Vietnam; and STADA Vietnam J.V. Co., Ltd., Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Since the Group aims to guarantee, also in countries outside of the EU, EU quality standards for drugs, which often go beyond local 

requirements, the Group-owned production facilities not located in the EU in Banja Luka, the greater Ho Chi Minh City area (Binh 

Duong Branch), Nizhny Novgorod, Obninsk, Podgorica, Sabac, Tuy Hoa and Vrsac are set up for the production of certain pharma-

ceutical dosage forms for EU countries and are therefore authorized by the responsible EU regulatory authorities for delivery to the 

EU according to the previously mentioned inspections.

In addition to legal provisions, STADA holds international certifications in accordance with external quality management systems. 

Accordingly, at numerous production sites, the Group not only focuses on GMP standards but also on the relevant ISO standards.  

At several locations, STADA holds various ISO certificates such as ISO-9001:2008 and ISO-14001:2004.

If quality problems occur in individual cases despite all the preventative and controlling measures, the quality management area 

 focuses on an active approach to identify the root cause as quickly as possible and to find an appropriate solution. The procedure led 

to success at the Serbian production facility in Vrsac, for example, where technical problems arose in the injection substances area 

which is primarily used for contract manufacturing in the third quarter of 2011. In the context of the ongoing GMP optimization 

 program, STADA had in the fourth quarter of 2014 displayed the willingness for re-inspections by the US regulatory authority FDA, 

which were carried out successfully in the second quarter of 2015. All relevant measures for meeting the FDA requirements were 

completed in the fourth quarter of 2015.

In general, the Group-wide quality management through STADA Arzneimittel AG is focused centrally, internationally and on a low-cost 

activity. 

Management Report of the Executive Board | Basis of the Group60

Sales and Marketing

Functionally organized Group with local and close to market sales companies

The international sales structure of the Group is made up of numerous nationally aligned sales companies, thereby with close market 

proximity, which are centrally organized within STADA’s four market regions and managed regionally by the sales functions with a 

local focus.

Depending on the local market structure and the specific demand structure, the STADA subsidiaries concentrate on various target 

groups – such as patients and/or consumers, doctors, doctors’ cooperatives, pharmacies, pharmacy cooperatives, hospitals, whole-

salers  and  other  service  providers  in  the  health  care  market  as  well  as  on  cost  bearers  in  the  form  of  public  health  insurance 

 organizations or private insurances – in the area of sales and marketing in coordination with the management of the corresponding 

market regions.

Generally, the sales activities are coordinated at an international level in the Group. This applies, among other things, to the structur-

ing  of  the  portfolio  in  the  context  of  the  further  internationalization  of  individual  products  or  sales  activities  such  as  wholesaling 

 cooperative agreements. If necessary due to structural or legal framework conditions, the marketing and sales activities of various 

sales companies within the individual market regions are separated. 

While adhering to the strategic requirements of the Group, the subsidiaries are responsible for sales decisions in their respective 

local market in order to meet the requirements of the respective local target group.

This market region-oriented sales concept enables STADA to respond promptly to changes in the individual markets of the respective 

market regions and to immediately adjust local sales to the corresponding requirements.

In order to strengthen the core segment Generics, STADA and the STADA subsidiary BEPHA Beteiligungsgesellschaft für Pharma-

werte mbH signed a contract for the purchase of the Argentinian generics producer Laboratorio Vannier in the fourth quarter of 2015. 

Through the acquisition, STADA has also expanded its sales network in a country where the Group had not yet been represented with 

a sales company of its own.1)

1) See the Company’s press release of December 10, 2015.

Management Report of the Executive Board61

Continuous expansion and further internationalization of the international sales network

In the course of the active acquisitions policy, STADA will also continue to gradually expand the existing sales network in the future. 

On the one hand, this is to reduce the dependence on individual countries which are characterized by difficult regulatory  framework 

conditions for generics, and, on the other hand, to ensure optimal usage of existing growth opportunities.

As  of  March  1,  2016,  the  Group  was  active  in  the  four  market  regions  Germany,  Central  Europe,  CIS/Eastern  Europe  and Asia/ 

Pacific & MENA with numerous sales companies. The sales focus was on the market regions Germany, Central Europe and CIS/

Eastern Europe. 

In the Asia/Pacific & MENA market region, as of March 1, 2016, the Group was represented with its own sales companies in China, 

the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam as well as in Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. 

More information on the development of Group’s sales activities in the individual market regions carried out in financial year 2015 is 

 provided under “Economic Report – Situation – Earnings Situation – Development of Segments – Information by Market Region”.

Management Report of the Executive Board | Basis of the Group62

STADA sales structure (as of March 1, 2016)1) 

The following overview shows STADA’s sales structure with all significant sales companies according to the allocation to the Group’s 

four market regions.

Belgium

Denmark

France

United Kingdom 

Ireland

Italy 

The Netherlands 

Austria

Poland

Portugal

Switzerland

Slovakia

Spain

· S.A. Eurogenerics N.V., Brussels 

· STADA Nordic ApS, Herlev

· EG Labo - Laboratoires Eurogenerics SAS, Boulogne-Billancourt 

· Britannia Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Reading
· Internis Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Huddersfield
· Thornton & Ross Ltd., Huddersfield

· Clonmel Healthcare Limited, Clonmel

· Crinos S.p.A., Milan
· EG S.p.A., Milan

· Centrafarm B.V., Etten-Leur 
· Centrafarm Services B.V., Etten-Leur
· Healthypharm B.V., Etten-Leur
· Neocare B.V., Etten-Leur

· STADA Arzneimittel Gesellschaft m.b.H., Vienna 
· SCIOTEC Diagnostic Technologies GmbH, Tulln

· STADA Poland Sp. z o.o., Warsaw

· Ciclum Farma, Unipessoal, LDA, Paco de Arcos

· Spirig HealthCare AG, Egerkingen

· STADA PHARMA Slovakia s.r.o., Bratislava

· Laboratorio STADA, S.L., Barcelona

Czech Republic

· STADA PHARMA CZ, s.r.o., Prague

Bosnia-Herzegovina

· Hemofarm Banja Luka d.o.o., Banja Luka

Bulgaria

Kazakhstan

Lithuania

Montenegro

Romania

Russia

Serbia

Ukraine

Argentina

Germany 

Egypt

China 

· STADA PHARMA Bulgaria EOOD, Sofia

· Nizhpharm-Kasachstan TOO DO, Almaty

· UAB STADA-Nizhpharm-Baltija, Vilnius

· Hemomont d.o.o., Podgorica

· STADA M&D S.R.L., Bucharest

· AO Nizhpharm2), Nizhny Novgorod 

· Hemofarm A.D.3), Vrsac

· Nizhpharm-Ukraine DO, Kiev

· Laboratorio Vannier S.A.4), Buenos Aires

· ALIUD PHARMA GmbH, Laichingen
· cell pharm Gesellschaft für pharmazeutische und diagnostische Präparate mbH, Bad Vilbel
· Hemopharm GmbH Pharmazeutisches Unternehmen5), Bad Homburg 
· STADA GmbH6), Bad Vilbel 
· STADApharm GmbH6), Bad Vilbel 
· STADAvita GmbH, Bad Homburg

· STADA Egypt Ltd., Cairo

· STADA Import/Export International Ltd., Hong Kong
· STADA Pharmaceuticals (Asia) Ltd., Hong Kong
· STADA Pharmaceuticals (Beijing) Ltd., Beijing

The Philippines

· Croma Medic, Inc., Manila

Thailand

Vietnam 

· STADA Thailand Company, Ltd., Bangkok

· Pymepharco Joint Stock Company, Tuy Hoa 
· STADA Vietnam J.V. Co., Ltd., Ho Chi Minh City

United Arab Emirates

· STADA Mena DWC-LLC, Dubai

Market region 
Central Europe

Market region 
CIS/Eastern 
Europe

Market region 
Germany

Market region 
Asia/Pacific & 
MENA

1) All significant companies with a STADA share of at least 50% have been listed.
2) Bundled under the umbrella brand STADA CIS.
3) Including various local sub-labels.

4) Allocated to the market region Germany for reasons of management responsibility.
5) Export sales.
6) Acting as commission agents on behalf of STADA Arzneimittel AG.

Management Report of the Executive Board 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
63

Employees

Long-term personnel policy

The worldwide active STADA Group’s operative alignment is in principle based on the management of a comprehensive network of 

internal and external resources. This applies in particular to procurement and production, product development as well as sales and 

marketing. The worldwide employees with their exceptional expertise, their long-standing experience and strong commitment play an 

important part in the sustainable success of the Group. STADA’s personnel management pursues a long-term personnel policy, which 

places considerable value on training and development, support, succession planning for management and knowledge management. 

In addition, employee dialog is also supported through a visible management culture. 

Training and development as an important component of personnel management

In view of the importance of STADA employees for consistent and continued successful Group development, the subject of training 

and development plays a very important role. Alongside internships, as part of which young people are able to gain an insight into the 

processes of a pharmaceutical company, STADA also offers training programs and study programs in the areas of procurement and 

production as well as administration. The individual development of employees is adapted to the constantly increasing requirements 

of each area of activity – supplemented with offers, which support the personal career interests of each individual. This particularly 

includes supportive programs and measures for language skills and specialist workshops, seminars and extra-occupational study 

programs.

Ongoing personnel development through targeted employee programs

STADA offers diverse development programs for targeted Group-wide talent development. At the heart of this is employee develop-

ment targeted at different career levels and development through individual career planning and institutional talent development. This 

includes, for example, international talent management and development programs, exchange programs between subsidiaries at 

home and abroad or management seminars, in which potential is identified early and future managers can be consistently developed. 

The aim of the personnel development program is to continually develop talent and in future to be able to fill all management and 

expert positions from within STADA’s own ranks, if possible.

Employee participation and employee dialog – two fixed aspects of internal communication

Employee participation is an important part of personnel policy in the STADA Group. For the Group, this concerns on the one hand the 

financial contribution made for employees when they buy STADA shares. On the other hand this also concerns active participation in 

the form of an idea management system, which has been completely redeveloped and optimized in 2015. Because the development 

and exchange of knowledge and ideas are important prerequisites for sustainable corporate success.

A further important step is the institutionalized employee dialog. This includes both direct communication between employees and 

management bodies and exchanges among employees. There are also further measures, which have been continually expanded in 

recent years, with the aim of promoting cooperation and strengthening team spirit. 

Management Report of the Executive Board | Basis of the Group64

Increasing importance of employer branding

Despite the fact that STADA is only marginally affected by the often mentioned skills shortage, the topic of “employer branding” is 

becoming increasingly important, particularly for the future development of the Group. In order to position STADA as both a  responsible 

and attractive employer, future communication should present in more detail the advantages of employment in the STADA Group, 

adapted to the expectations of the target group and in contrast to competitors.

STADA voluntarily offers its employees many additional benefits. The Group therefore clearly differentiates itself from the competition 

and thereby also reinforces its attractiveness on the labor market. The numerous voluntary benefits are to be supplemented through 

the introduction of a working time model, which will offer employees the possibility of building up a balance and using it individually, 

either for a longer sabbatical or early retirement, from 2016. In addition, in 2015 STADA joined the “Hessische Initiative – Beruf und 

Pflege vereinbaren” (Hesse initiative – balance work and care). The Group would thereby like to support employees who have to care 

for relatives at home by offering consultations. Alongside this initiative, which among other things supports flexible working-time 

models and the introduction of lifetime working time accounts, STADA is also supporting the balancing of family and career with 

further benefits.

Decentralized personnel management

STADA’s personnel management is deliberately decentrally organized. It thereby corresponds to the Group-wide sales structure and 

can  thus  effectively  and  efficiently  satisfy  the  operational  requirements  and  diverse  needs.  Under  consideration  of  the  company 

guidelines – particularly the compliance guidelines – the international subsidiaries are largely independent in many areas such as 

recruitment, training and remuneration. 

Background information regarding the personnel policy of the Group companies that 

are located in Germany is published annually in STADA’s personnel and social report, 

which is also available on the German Company website at www.stada.de. 

Development of the number of employees

In  financial  year  2015  the  number  of  employees  increased  in  comparison  with  the 

previous year both on average and on the balance sheet date. The average number of 

employees  in  the  reporting  year  increased  to  10,441  (previous  year:  10,209). The 

number of employees at the balance sheet date of December 31, 2015 increased to 

10,532 (December 31, 2014: 10,363).

The most substantial reasons for the increase in the number of employees include the 

consolidation on January 1, 2015 of the subsidiary STADA Egypt Ltd., the acquisition 

of British company Internis Pharmaceuticals Ltd. and the purchase of Austrian com-

pany SCIOTEC Diagnostic Technologies with a total of 52 employees. The most sub-

stantial reason for the decrease in the number of employees is the handover of the 

German  logistics  activities  with  155  employees  to  the  worldwide  leading  logistics 

company DHL as of June 1, 2015.1) 

STADA’s development  
in the number of employees  
on an annual average

9
0
2
,
0
1

1
4
4
,
0
1

1
4
8
,
8

6
2
8
,
7

4
1
8
,
7

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

1) See the company’s press releases of October 10, 2014 and March 23, 2015.

Management Report of the Executive Board 
65

The  regional  breakdown  of  employees  in  the  Group  shows  that  there  was  an  average  of  1,207  employees  in  Germany  in  2015 

 (previous year: 1,318). Of these, an average of 938 employees were located at the Group’s headquarters in Bad Vilbel (previous year: 

978). The average number of persons employed in international Group companies amounted to 9,234 (previous year: 8,891).

With regard to the STADA Group’s average total number of employees, the following percentage distributions resulted for the 

 functional areas as of December 31, 2015:

STADA employees by functional area

    Marketing / —  
Sales 29% 

 Logistics 3% —

 Finance/IT 7% —

— Administration1) 8% 

— Product Development 6% 

—  Procurement/ 

Supply Chain 3% 

    Marketing / —  
Sales 28% 

— Administration1) 9% 

— Product Development 6% 

—  Procurement/ 

Supply Chain 3% 

Dec. 31, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

—  Production/Quality 
Management1) 44% 

 Logistics 4% —

 Finance/IT 7% —

—  Production/Quality 
Management1) 43% 

In  the  implementation  of  the  Law  on  Equal  Participation  of  Men  and  Women  in  Private-Sector  and  Public-Sector  Management 

 Positions which came into effect on May 1, 2015, the Executive Board and Supervisory Board agreed on the goals and deadlines for 

the achievement of these goals described subsequently in more detail, in accordance with Section 76 (4) AktG and Section 111 (5) 

AktG.  Further  information  on  this  topic  can  be  found  in  the  chapter “Corporate  Governance  Report  including  the  Declaration  of 

 Corporate Governance”.

Looking  at  the  entire  Group, the proportion  of  women in management  positions amounted to  approx. 48% in the reporting  year 

(previous year:  approx. 51%).

Personnel expenses

Personnel  expenses  increased  to  € 342.7 million  in  financial  year  2015  (previous  year:  € 305.1 million). The  ratio  of  personnel 

 expenses to sales amounted to 16.2% in the reporting year (previous year: 14.8%). The increase resulted from earnings recorded 

within personnel expenses from past service cost in the previous year in connection with a change in the defined benefit plan for  

the Chairman of the Executive Board and the resulting changes with regard to the  benefits awarded in accordance with the former 

 benefit plan.

1) Since 2014, facility management staff in production have been allocated to the functional area 
Production/Quality management and the remaining facility management staff have been assigned 
to the functional area Administration.

Management Report of the Executive Board | Basis of the Group66

Personnel structure by market region and functional area

Average number of STADA employees in 2015 

Marketing/ 
Sales

Logistics

Finance/IT

Production/
Quality 
Manage-
ment1)

Procure-
ment/ 
Supply 
Chain

Product 
Develop-
ment

Ad- 
ministra-
tion1)

2015  
total

1,492

133

88

588

76

54

97

179

53

224

94

9

7

39

7

2

1

11

2

16

363

5,407

18

2

11

4

187

139

2

-

175

175

-

243

198

32

13

875

175

125

140

97

2,387

2,171

180

132

1,263

1,207

56

2,279

2,046

107

126

10,441

Central Europe

• Belgium

• France

• United Kingdom

• Italy

• The Netherlands

• Poland

• Spain

• Czech Republic

• Other2) 

726

99

49

136

39

15

89

140

44

115

CIS/Eastern Europe

1,460

• Bosnia-Herzegovina

• Kazakhstan

• Montenegro

• Romania

• Russia

• Serbia

• Ukraine

• Other2) 

Germany

• Germany

• Other2) 

Asia/Pacific & MENA

• Vietnam

• China

• Other2) 

Group total

32

104

9

36

842

156

163

118

291

241

50

535

440

13

82

3,012

43

-

-

26

-

8

-

-

-

9

98

6

1

2

4

41

41

3

-

44

44

-

114

95

10

9

299

99

7

7

29

13

6

4

12

2

19

317

4

9

278

3

6

-

4

-

13

324

2,796

8

7

3

3

136

151

7

9

172

169

3

89

68

6

15

105

-

111

48

1,010

1,522

-

-

336

336

-

1,195

1,151

42

2

91

4

9

22

6

11

-

6

2

31

137

3

8

3

-

45

77

1

-

81

80

1

24

23

1

-

122

10

7

58

8

6

3

6

3

21

229

3

3

1

2

126

85

4

5

164

162

2

79

71

3

5

684

4,644

333

594

1) The facility management employees in production are allocated to the functional area 
Production/Quality Management and the other facility management employees are assigned  
to the functional area Administration.
2) Other countries of the respective market regions each have less than 50 employees.

Management Report of the Executive Board 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
67

Goals and Strategies

Sustainable growth based on a multi-pillar strategy 

Generally, STADA’s business model focuses on the generation of sustainable growth. For this purpose, the Group also strives to 

maintain or take the leading position in the respectively relevant market segments in the most important markets of the four STADA 

market regions in financial year 2016. The Group hereby focuses on both the expansion of organic growth and acquisitions. In the 

context of an active acquisition policy, STADA pursues a multi-pillar strategy. It relies on an increasing diversification of the portfolio, 

which aims to reduce potential risks and to build upon existing opportunities. The STADA Group also pursued these goals in financial 

year 2015.

Strategic success factors for the utilization of existing growth opportunities

The strategic success factors create the basis for utilizing existing growth potentials and thereby securing sustainable Group success. 

They  primarily  include  strong  product  development,  an  international  sales  structure,  an  active  acquisitions  policy  including  

experienced integration management, a functionally organized Group with short decision-making processes and close-to-market 

sales companies, a culture of continuous cost optimization including efficient cost management as well as qualified employees (see 

“Prognosis Report”).

With a strong product development and a well-filled product pipeline, STADA ensures a continuous flow of product launches and 

therefore also the continuous expansion of the existing product portfolio – particularly in the Generics segment. With in-licensing from 

highly-specialized partners, the Group also increasingly expands the promising biosimilars area.

The international sales structure with the four STADA market regions is designed to market the products from the Group portfolio in 

a way which is adapted to the different regulatory and competitive framework conditions in the individual markets of the respective 

market regions.

The active acquisition policy aims to expand the Group’s business activities. In this context, STADA focuses on regional expansion, 

particularly in high-growth emerging markets. In addition, the Group focuses on the expansion and internationalization of the core 

segments, in particular Branded Products, as they are generally characterized by less regulatory interventions and more attractive 

margins than the generics area.

In order to achieve future growth, an important role is inherent in the organization by market region with short decision-making 

structures while at the same time maintaining a strong local market presence. This predominately applies to sales activities, because 

the ability to react to changes in the short-term is very important, both for exploiting opportunities and reducing risks. 

In consideration of earnings, continuous cost optimization and efficient cost management play an important role.

Management Report of the Executive Board | Basis of the Group68

Controlling

The management of the corporate areas in the STADA Group is based on strategic and operative guidelines as well as on various 

financial indicators. The financial performance indicators used by the Group as key figures for the operational management are Group 

sales adjusted for currency and portfolio effects and adjusted net income. In addition, adjusted EBITDA and the net debt to adjusted 

EBITDA ratio are used as key performance indicators. While Group sales adjusted for currency and portfolio effects is subject to 

controlling at segment level, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and the net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio are managed at Group 

level.

The development of Group sales adjusted for currency and portfolio effects is a key element to ensure sustainable business 

success.  Against  this  backdrop,  top-line  programs  to  increase  Group  sales  adjusted  for  currency  and  portfolio  effects  have  an 

 important  function in the STADA Group. Regardless of the fact that the Group relies on growth both by organic means and through 

acquisitions in the context of its growth strategy, sales adjusted for currency and portfolio effects is the essential key figure at STADA.

Adjusted EBITDA1) in the STADA Group corresponds to EBITDA adjusted for one-time special effects within operating profit with the 

exception of one-time special effects that relate to impairments and write-ups of non-current assets. The Group utilizes adjusted 

EBITDA to measure the operational performance and the success of the individual business areas adjusted for influences distorting 

the year-on-year comparison resulting from one-time special effects. Results from associated companies and investment income are 

included. 

Adjusted net income1) in the STADA Group is net income adjusted for one-time special effects and effects from the measurement 

of derivative financial instruments under financial income and expenses. At STADA, the adjusted net income is used as a key figure 

for the measurement of the overall success in the Group.

The net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio is an indication of the financial stability of the Group and serves as a benchmark for the 

borrowing of funds. 

1) The deduction of such effects, which have an impact on the presentation of the earnings 
situation and the derived key figures, aims at improving the comparability of key figures with 
previous years. To achieve this, STADA uses adjusted key figures, which, as so called pro forma 
figures, are not governed by the accounting requirements in accordance with IFRS. As other 
companies may not calculate the pro forma figures presented by STADA in the same way, 
STADA’s pro forma figures are only comparable with similarly designated disclosures by other 
companies to a limited extent.

Management Report of the Executive Board69

The financial performance indicators of Group sales adjusted for currency and portfolio effects, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income 

and net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio are derived as follows:

Financial performance  
indicators

Determined based on the consolidated income statement and  
the consolidated balance sheet in accordance with IFRS

Group sales adjusted  
for currency and  
portfolio effects

Group sales

± portfolio effects

± currency effects

Adjusted  
net income

Adjusted  
EBITDA

= Group sales adjusted for currency and portfolio effects

Result distributable to shareholders of STADA Arzneimittel AG (net income)

± one-time special effects

± effects from the measurement of derivative financial instruments under financial income and expenses

= Adjusted net income

EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes)

± 

balance from depreciation and amortization / write-ups on intangible assets (including goodwill),  
property, plant and equipment and financial assets

= EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization)

± 

one-time special effects within operating profit excluding one-time special effects that relate to 
impairments and write-ups of non-current assets

= Adjusted EBITDA (adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization)

Non-current financial liabilities

+ current financial liabilities

= gross debt

Net debt to  
adjusted EBITDA ratio

–

cash, cash equivalents and “available-for-sale” securities

= net debt

÷ adjusted EBITDA

= Net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio

Management Report of the Executive Board | Basis of the Group 
70

Responsibility and sustainability

Corporate responsibility – for 120 years

As a worldwide pharmaceutical and health care company, STADA has been committed to taking on responsibility – and this already 

for 120 years. With a view to the “All the best” mission statement, care for people’s health and well-being is at the heart of its actions. 

This foundation also includes sustainable and responsible economic activity, which is firmly anchored in STADA’s corporate history. 

 Beginning in 1895 with the founding of a pharmacist association in Dresden, certain preparations were produced in accordance with 

identical guidelines, uniformly packaged and sold everywhere at the same price. Even then, forward-looking pharmacists were able 

to achieve more together, which also benefited society. The two core segments alone show that STADA takes its social  responsibility 

seriously and that the Group makes an important contribution towards sustainable social development. Generics thus  contributes 

 towards effective and affordable health care through lower prices, and branded products relieve pressure on the health care systems, 

because they are, with only a few exceptions, not reimbursable. The STADA Group also takes responsibility in its daily  activities. The 

requirements of the management of the company, safety and health of patients, environmental protection and fair working conditions 

are thereby extremely high. Through our safe and high quality products, good corporate governance, the con servation of resources, 

knowledgeable health care information and a comprehensive employee program, STADA ensures long-term  security for its strong 

market position.

In order to demonstrate the responsibility and the sustainable commitment of Group activities on the one hand and to document and 

compare the status and future goals on an annual basis on the other, STADA plans to join the UN Global Compact. 

Value-based corporate governance

STADA believes that good corporate governance is an important foundation for business success. In view of this, the STADA Group 

has a comprehensive concept for responsible, transparent and value-based corporate governance. The governance mechanisms 

include the STADA “All the best” mission statement, opportunities and risk management, Group-wide binding behavioral guidelines 

– set out in the Code of Conduct – and topic-oriented corporate policies. Furthermore, compliance, i.e. the observance of laws and 

internal rules, which is described in the chapter “Corporate Governance Report” of the Management Report of this Annual Report, is 

an  inherent  part  of  the  STADA  Group.  Value-based  corporate  governance  at  STADA  includes  central  purchasing  and  supplier 

 management, which ensures the implementation of Group-wide consistent purchasing strategies as well as consistent management 

of suppliers. STADA’s value-based corporate governance is supplemented by a comprehensive corporate responsibility  management 

(CR management) and environmental, social and governance management (ESG management), for which the Executive Board is 

responsible. As part of this, the STADA Steering Group CR ensures the strategic management of CR across all areas, by engaging the 

CR project group within the organization with the operational  implementation. 

All the best for patients

Hardly any product has as much direct influence on people’s health and thus on well-being as a medication. For this reason, the 

topic of “responsibility for patients” is a major focus at STADA, with highly qualified employees working in closely regulated  processes 

towards one goal: The production of safe and high quality products. In order to ensure this, quality assurance and quality control in 

the STADA Group are designed in accordance with the guidelines of the European Good Manufacturing Practice Standard (EU-GMP 

standard). The  worldwide  STADA  subsidiaries  are  essentially  subject  to  a  central  management  of  quality  assurance  and  quality  

Management Report of the Executive Board71

control, which is supported by regional quality assurance officers. In addition, STADA has a global medicine safety system with  clearly 

defined processes and a direct reporting line for all subsidiaries to the “Medicine Safety” department. At STADA, the topic of product 

safety includes safe medicine packaging, the observance of all legal requirements and guidelines, the regular auditing of the global 

medicine safety system as well as the orientation of development activities in accordance with EU guidelines and national require-

ments for local in-house developments. Furthermore, all suppliers to the STADA Group are subject to the GMP standards.  Additionally, 

STADA was the first pharmaceutical company in Germany to introduce 2D bar code labeling on products on a large scale already in 

2013, which simplified product management and increased customer safety, for example in the case of a product recall. Further 

information on the subject of “quality management” can be found in the Management Report of this Annual Report in the chapter 

“Procurement, Production and Quality Management”.

All the best for the environment

For STADA, environmental protection means more than just complying with current environmental regulations. Against this backdrop, 

STADA continually optimizes procedures and processes in order to conserve resources and minimize environmental effects. STADA’s 

GMP  certification  also  covers  all  significant  environmental  issues  up  to  the  supply  chain.  Overall,  decentralized  environmental 

 management, supported by a Group-wide best practice transfer, contributes towards the integration of local standards, laws and 

measures. Responsible action is also ensured through regular GMP certification of the production sites and suppliers. Furthermore, 

as a result of its business model, which does not include the production of active ingredients, STADA does not present any significant 

emission risks. In addition, the Group views optimizing its energy efficiency as an ongoing task. The Group is currently working on 
defining Group-wide environmental indicators and key performance indicators (KPIs) in the categories of CO2 emissions, energy, 
water  and  waste,  in  order  to  be  able  to  define  concrete,  measurable  environmental  goals  in  the  future.  In  order  to  promote  the 

 environmental awareness of STADA employees, there are attractive incentives in Germany for using public transport or organizing car 

pools.

All the best for our employees

STADA’s success is largely based on the knowledge, competencies, performance and commitment of its employees. With the aim of 

ensuring  sustainable  corporate  success,  STADA  relies  on  a  long-term  personnel  policy.  A  common  value  basis,  decentralized 

 personnel management, diverse development programs for managers and a wide range of youth development programs are  designed 

to  retain  employees  for  the  company  long-term.  Moreover,  this  goal  should  also  be  achieved  through  family-friendly  offers  and 

 financial benefits. Through preventative measures in the areas of health and safety management, STADA provides the conditions 

necessary within the company for a healthy work day for its employees. Employees at the company headquarters in Bad Vilbel, for 

example, have a health care center which offers fitness training, yoga classes and massage sessions, among other things. Further-

more, the offer includes measures such as an annual health day and diverse sport and leisure facilities under the slogan  “STADAktiv”.

All the best for society

In order to fully satisfy the company philosophy and its “All the best” mission statement, STADA is also involved in numerous social 

sponsoring projects. As part of this, worldwide the Group is particularly active in the areas of information, education and research, 

culture and sport and helps with medication and financial donations when emergency aid is needed during disasters.

Management Report of the Executive Board | Basis of the Group72

The “All the best” initiative founded by STADA Arzneimittel AG in 2014 contributes towards, for example, providing people with useful 

 information, but also explaining gaps in knowledge or incorrect knowledge. Accordingly, the second health report of the “All the best” 

initiative thus focused on Germans’ health knowledge. In addition, since 2007 STADA Arzneimittel AG has been the main sponsor for 

the non-profit organization dolphin aid e.V., which offers alternative therapies for ill and disabled children. Russian STADA CIS uses 

the project “Mobile Diagnostics: Take Your Health under Control” to provide information about the risks of cardiovascular disease, 

basic diagnosis methods and useful measures. Since 2012 the Spanish subsidiary Laboratorio STADA has been providing information 

about dementia disease Morbus Alzheimer through the “kNOW Alzheimer” project. In the Asian countries Thailand, Vietnam and the 

Philippines, STADA supports health education and is working intensively in the interests of the poor and the older population. 

Within the area of “education and research”, STADA has been supporting the Hochschule Fresenius since 2003 in the form of a 

 foundation professorship. Furthermore, German subsidiary STADApharm is involved for a fourth year in the so-called “Deutschland-

stipendium” (Scholarship of Germany), in cooperation with Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin.

Within the area of culture, for 28 years STADA Arzneimittel AG has promoted the annual Burgfestspiele (castle festival) in Bad Vilbel, 

which  offers  a  program  of  theater  and  musicals  for  all  ages.  In  Russia,  Ukraine  and  Kazakhstan  STADA  CIS  has  supported  the 

“The doctor’s job” photography project, which it initiated, since 2012.

The health care company is particularly committed to numerous projects in amateur, disabled and professional sport, both at home 

and abroad. For example, STADA Arzneimittel AG is a long-standing partner of the successful wheelchair basketball team (RSV) Lahn-

Dill and in Spain Ladival® is one of the main sponsors of the largest European women’s sport event, “Carrera de la Mujer”. 

Digitalization in the health care industry offers huge potential

The subject of “digitalization” also plays an increasingly important role in the STADA Group. As a result, in financial year 2015 STADA 

joined the Bundesverband Informationswirtschaft, Telekommunikation und neue Medien e.V. (Bitkom, Germany’s digital association). 

In doing so, the Group would like to be involved in the dialog on the usefulness of digitalization for patients and the health care 

 industry.  Important aspects for STADA thereby include the topic of data protection within health care as well as the planned e-health 

law. STADA views the digitalization in the health care industry as an opportunity to more effectively and efficiently manage health in 

the future. An aging society and increasingly easy access to digital health information support the need for self-determined and 

 informed patients. The Group believes that digital health services therefore have ever greater potential. Patient compliance can also 

be  supported by digital health applications such as health apps, treatments can be more successfully and safely supported by doctors 

and medication can be better monitored for its effects or interaction with other medication. Digitalization is also a factor for employer 

attractiveness and employee motivation. Digital networking and digital knowledge management will therefore become ever more 

important for STADA in the future, in order to offer employees a diverse working environment. In previous years STADA had already 

continually developed digitalization in the company, among others through the increased use of digital media to provide information 

about health topics and through the establishment of an IT shared service center, which supports and advises the entire Group with 

IT services. In future, STADA’s digital offer will be expanded, in order to help even more people to become and stay healthy.

Management Report of the Executive BoardManagement Report of the Executive Board | Basis of the Group | Economic Report

73

ECONOMIC REPORT
General Economic and Industry-specific Situation

Overall economic development

The year 2015 was characterized by a very low interest rate environment. The turnaround on interest rates of the US American 

 Federal Reserve (Fed) had been long anticipated, it finally occurred at the end of 2015. The continuation of the “cheap money” policy, 

amongst  other  things  through  the  extensive  purchasing  programs  of  the  European  Central  Bank  (ECB)  in  order  to  stimulate  the 

 economy and increase inflation, led to increasing share prices. Overall, the cautious approach of Fed contributed towards an  increase 

of the already high volatility of the international financial markets, because there was a lack of clear direction. Furthermore, concerns 

over the further development of the Chinese economy and briefly the VW scandal also resulted in high volatility. A further important 

influence factor on the development of the economy and the financial markets was the low oil price. Whilst oil-exporting countries 

such as Russia had to do without foreign exchange earnings, both importing countries and consumers benefited from the cheap oil. 

According to information from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), global economic output in 2015 increased by 3.1%.1) In the 

course of this, the growth rates of the advanced countries at 1.9% and those of the emerging markets at 4.0% moved closer to-

gether.1) The economic output of the USA, the world’s largest economy, increased by 2.5%, while economic growth in China was 

slower than in the previous years at 6.9%.1) The speed of growth of countries in the Euro zone increased to 1.5%.1) In this context, 

the four largest countries of this region were able to record positive growth of the gross domestic product (GDP). Germany showed 

growth of 1.5%, France of 1.1%, Italy of 0.8% and Spain of 3.2%.1) The GDP in the so-called CIS countries (Commonwealth of 

 Independent States) recorded a decrease of 2.8%. Russia, in particular, suffered massively from the drop of the raw material prices. 

As a consequence, its economic output declined by 3.7%. The Emerging and Developing Europe2) region showed growth of 3.4%, 

while economic output in Serbia3) increased by 0.5% and was thus able to reverse the negative trend of the previous year.

Industry-specific development

In 2015, sales of the global generics market increased by approx. 8.5%4) to approx. € 169.8 billion4) as compared to the previous 

year. The market share of generics in the global pharmaceutical market amounted to approx. 17.2%4). The sales development of 

generics in the four STADA market regions in the same period was as follows: Germany approx. +4.9%5) to approx. € 7.38 billion5), 

Central Europe approx. +7.4%5) to approx. € 26.31 billion5), CIS/Eastern Europe approx. +9.3%5) to approx. € 5.48 billion5), Asia/

Pacific & MENA approx. +8.5%5) 6) to approx. € 28.83 billion5) 6).

Sales in the global OTC market increased by approx. 7.8%7) to approx. € 69.03 billion7) as compared to the previous year. The market 

share of OTC products amounted to approx. 7.7%7). The sales development of OTC products in the four STADA market regions in  

the same period was as follows: Germany approx. +6.0%5) to approx. € 5.76 billion5), Central Europe approx. +2.2%5) to approx. 

€ 12.51 billion5), CIS/Eastern Europe approx. +6.0%5) to approx. € 6.46 billion5), Asia/Pacific & MENA approx. +7.8%5) 6) to approx. 

€ 10.44 billion5) 6).

Both the generics market and OTC market were characterized by a high level of consolidation in 2015. This development primarily 

occurred in the context of acquisitions or investments. Furthermore, several companies traded or bundled business units to in-

creasingly focus on their core competences and to strengthen the respective divisions.

1) Source: International Monetary Fund: World Economic Outlook of January 2016.
2) Including Bulgaria, Croatia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Turkey and Hungary.
3) Source: International Monetary Fund: World Economic Outlook of October 2015.

4) IMS Market Prognosis, September 2015; IMS Market Prognosis Global, September 2015;  
IMS Syndicated Analytics Service (September) 2015; prepared for STADA February 2016.
5) IMS MIDAS (September) 2015, data based on the definition of STADA market regions.
6) Asia/Pacific & MENA excluding China.
7) IMS Health, MIDAS, Market Segmentation MAT QIII 2015.

74

Effects of overall economic and industry-specific framework conditions

Due to the fact that the business model of STADA is oriented toward the health care market with demand that is relatively indepen-

dent of the economy, the global economic environment generally has less of a direct influence on the business development of the 

Group than the respective regulatory framework conditions in the individual markets of the four STADA market regions.

Nevertheless, the economic development does have an effect on the business activities of the Group in the form of currency and 

interest rate volatility. STADA therefore continually takes precautionary measures to be able to react appropriately to strong  volatility 

in  interest  rates  and  Group-relevant  currency  relationships  (see  “Risk  Report”  as  well  as  Notes  to  the  Consolidated  Financial 

 Statements – 46.). Furthermore, the Group is subject to stronger economic influences in the markets belonging to the so-called 

 self-pay markets, since the demand for STADA products in these markets, to a certain extent, depends on the financial means of the 

respective  patients.  Furthermore,  depending  on  the  respective  economic  development,  there  is  also  a  more  or  less  strong  cost 

 pressure in the individual health care systems, which can have curbing effects on generics suppliers as a result of regulatory mea-

sures. In addition, macroeconomic influences can affect STADA’s development, if individual state health care systems no longer have 

sufficient funds to finance adequate health care for their people.

In financial year 2015, an uneven development could be seen in translation of sales and earnings in the most important national 

currencies for STADA of the Russian ruble, Serbian dinar and the British pound sterling. Whereas the Russian ruble showed signifi-

cantly weaker and the Serbian dinar showed slightly weaker development, the British pound sterling had a positive currency effect. 

Furthermore, the Ukrainian hryvnia recorded significantly weaker development while the value of the  Vietnamese dong and the Swiss 

franc increased significantly. The currency relations in other countries relevant for STADA only had a small influence on the translation 

of sales and earnings in local currencies into the Group currency euro.

With a view to the self-pay markets, business development in the Russian market, which belongs to the market region CIS/Eastern 

Europe, was affected by the effects of the CIS crisis in the reporting year. In this context, a reluctance to buy on the part of end 

 consumers was particularly notable, through whom about 94% of STADA’s sales in Russia are generated.

Management Report of the Executive Board75

Business Development and Situation | Development of 2015 Compared to Outlook 

In the outlook for financial year 2015, the Executive Board had anticipated slight growth in Group sales adjusted for currency and 

portfolio effects in the Prognosis Report of the Annual Report 2014. In view of the development of the Russian ruble and increased 

risks  in  connection  with  consumer  mood  as  well  as  the  general  market  situation,  however,  it  expected  a  decreased  earnings 

 contribution from Russia. Taking these developments into account and on the basis of the currency relations at the time, the Executive 

Board expected a substantial decrease in adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income. The Executive Board anticipated the ratio of net 

debt, excluding further acquisitions, to adjusted EBITDA to be at a level of nearly 3.

Group sales adjusted for currency and portfolio effects increased in the reporting year – with varying developments in the individual 

market regions – by 4% to € 2,133.8 million. Adjusted EBITDA decreased by 10% to € 389.4 million. Adjusted net income declined 

by 11% to € 165.8 million. The ratio of net debt excluding further acquisitions to adjusted EBITDA ratio was at 3.1.

The development in financial year 2015 was thus in line with the outlook published in the Prognosis Report of the Annual Report 

2014. 

Management Report of the Executive Board | Economic Report76

Business Development and Situation | Development of Financial Performance Indicators 
and Non-financial Management Metrics

Financial performance indicators of the STADA Group

The development of the STADA Group’s financial performance indicators in financial year 2015 was as follows:

Financial performance indicators in € million

Group sales adjusted for currency and portfolio effects 

• Generics

• Branded Products

Adjusted EBITDA

• Generics

• Branded Products

Adjusted net income

Net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio

2015

2,133.8

1,228.7

865.8

389.4

232.8

220.1

165.8

3.1

2014

2,052.2

1,211.4

796.8

431.9

228.7

240.0

186.2

3.1

±%

+4%

+1%

+9%

-10%

+2%

-8%

-11%

0%

Further details on the development of STADA’s financial performance indicators can be found in the following information on the 

earnings situation.

Non-financial management metrics of the STADA Group

Alongside important indicators for the evaluation of the financial business development of STADA, non-financial management metrics 

also play a key role in sustainable Group success. In this context, the topics “corporate responsibility”, “sustainable development and 

approval strength”, “quality assurance and quality control”, “environmental protection” and “personnel development and retention” 

are of central importance. 

As a worldwide pharmaceutical and health care company, STADA is committed to taking on responsibility. In light of the “All the best” 

mission statement, care for people’s health and well-being is at the heart of STADA’s actions. This foundation also includes  sustainable 

and responsible economic activity, which is firmly anchored in 120 years of corporate history. The two core segments alone show 

that STADA takes its social responsibility seriously and that the Group makes an important contribution towards sustainable social 

development. Generics contribute towards effective and affordable health care through lower prices and branded products relieve 

pressure on the health care systems, because they are, with only a few exceptions, not reimbursable. In order to fully satisfy the 

corporate philosophy and its “All the best” mission statement, STADA is also involved in numerous social sponsoring projects. As part 

of this, worldwide the Group is particularly active in the areas of information, education and research, culture and sport and helps with 

medication and financial donations when emergency aid is needed during disasters.

Management Report of the Executive Board77

Sustainable development and approval strength is a key aspect of STADA’s corporate performance. This is shown by both the high 

number  of  products  introduced  each  year  and  by  the  share  in  sales,  which  the  Group  achieves  with  products  introduced  into  

the market in the last two years. In financial year 2015, the Group launched 578 individual products worldwide. STADA expects to 

approximately achieve this figure again in financial year 2016. In order to constantly have a well-filled product pipeline, the Group 

pursues a total of 1,300 ongoing approval procedures for over 150 pharmaceutical active ingredients and active ingredient combi-

nations for more than 55 countries every year. 

Responsibility for patients in particular is of fundamental importance for STADA. This also includes the provision of safe and high 

 quality products. In order to ensure this, quality assurance and quality control in the STADA Group are designed in accordance with 

the guidelines of the European Good Manufacturing Practice Standard (EU-GMP standard). The topic of product safety includes safe 

medicine  packaging,  the  observance  of  all  legal  requirements  and  guidelines,  the  regular  auditing  of  the  global  medicine  safety 

system as well as the orientation of development activities in accordance with EU guidelines and national requirements for local 

 in-house developments. In addition, all suppliers to the STADA Group are subject to the GMP standards. Furthermore, STADA was the 

first pharmaceutical company in Germany to introduce 2D bar code labeling for its products on a wide scale.

Environmental protection is also extremely important for STADA, and means more than just complying with current environmental 

regulations. In view of this, STADA continually optimizes procedures and processes in order to conserve resources and minimize 

environmental effects. STADA’s GMP certification also covers all significant environmental issues up to the supply chain. Overall, 

decentralized environmental management, supported by a Group-wide best practice transfer, contributes towards the integration of 

local standards, laws and measures. Responsible action is also ensured through regular GMP certification of the production sites and 

suppliers. Furthermore, as a result of its business model, which does not include the production of active ingredients, STADA does 

not present any significant emission risks. Additionally, the Group views optimizing its energy efficiency as an ongoing task. The Group 
is currently working on defining Group-wide environmental indicators and key performance indicators (KPIs) in the categories of CO2 
emissions, energy, water and waste, in order to be able to define concrete, measurable environmental goals in the future.

Because STADA’s success is largely based on the knowledge, competencies, performance and commitment of its employees, STADA 

relies on a long-term personnel policy. A common value basis, decentralized personnel management, diverse development programs 

for managers, a wide range of development programs for junior staff, family-friendly offers and financial benefits are designed to 

retain  employees for the company long-term. Furthermore, the subject of “employer branding” is becoming increasingly important in 

the Group, in order to be able to attract highly qualified and motivated employees to also ensure sustainable business success in the 

future.

Further information on the subject of “non-financial management metrics” can be found in the Management Report of this Annual 

Report in the chapter “Responsibility and Sustainability”.

Management Report of the Executive Board | Economic Report78

Business Development and Situation | Earnings Situation 
Development of Sales

Increase in Group sales and positive organic growth

in € million

Group sales

Group sales adjusted for currency and portfolio effects 

2015

2,115.1

2,133.8

2014

2,062.2

2,052.2

Group sales rose in the reporting year – with varying development in the  individual market regions – by 3% to € 2,115.1 million 

(previous year: € 2,062.2 million).

Group sales adjusted for currency and portfolio effects, which is calculated by deducting effects on sales based on changes in 

the Group portfolio and currency  effects, increased by 4% to € 2,133.8 million in 2015 (previous year: € 2,052.2 million).

In detail, these effects on sales, which result from changes in the Group portfolio and currency effects, were as follows:

In  financial  year  2015,  portfolio  changes  totaled  €  45.9  million  and  in  the  previous  year  € 10.1 million,  which  includes  the 

 retrospective adjustment. This represents 1.8 percentage points, which can be broken down into the following net amounts for the 

affected market regions as follows: market region Central Europe € 38.8 million, market region CIS/Eastern Europe € -5.5 million, 

market region Asia/Pacific & MENA € 2.5 million. 

In detail, the effects on sales, which were attributable to changes in the Group portfolio and currency effects, were as follows:

As a result of applying foreign exchange rates from the reporting year compared with the previous year for the translation of local 

sales  contributions  into  the  Group  currency  euro,  STADA  recorded  a  negative  currency  effect  for  Group  sales  in  the  amount  of 

€ 64.6 million or -3.2 percentage points because the development of two of the three most important national currencies for STADA 

was weaker as compared to the Group currency euro. In this context, the development of the Russian ruble was significantly weaker 

and the development of the Serbian dinar was slightly weaker. However, the Group’s third most important national currency, the 

British pound sterling, had a positive currency effect in the reporting period. Furthermore, the Ukrainian hryvnia  recorded a signifi-

cantly weaker development while the value of the Vietnamese dong and the Swiss franc increased significantly. The currency relations 

in other countries relevant for STADA only had a small influence on the translation of sales and earnings in local currencies into the 

Group currency euro.

To the extent that adjusted sales figures are reported in this Annual Report, this refers to sales adjusted for portfolio effects and 

currency fluctuations respectively.

Management Report of the Executive Board79

Business Development and Situation | Earnings Situation 
Development of Earnings and Costs

Adjusted EBITDA  
in € million

Adjusted EBIT  
in € million

Adjusted net income  
in € million

.

9
1
3
4

.

3
4
1
4

4

.

9
8
3

.

4
7
6
3

.

2
7
3
3

.

4
2
2
3

.

1
7
0
3

.

3
5
8
2

.

0
0
7
2

7

.

8
5
2

2

.

6
8
1

.

8
5
6
1

.

6
0
6
1

.

6
6
4
1

9

.

7
4
1

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

Increase in almost all reported key earnings figures

Earnings development was characterized by an increase in almost all reported key earnings figures.

Reported operating profit increased by 19% to € 223.7 million in financial year 2015 (previous year: € 188.5 million). Reported 

EBITDA declined by 10% to € 377.1 million (previous year: € 418.8 million). Reported net income recorded an increase of 71% to 

€ 110.4 million (previous year: € 64.6 million).

After  adjusting  the  key  earnings  figures  for  influences  distorting  the  period  comparison  resulting  from  one-time  special  effects, 

 adjusted  operating  profit  decreased  by  12%  to  € 283.8 million  in  2015  (previous  year:  € 320.7 million).  Adjusted  EBITDA  

declined by 10% to € 389.4 million (previous year: € 431.9 million). Adjusted net income decreased by 11% to € 165.8 million 

(previous year: € 186.2 million).

In the reporting year, the reported tax rate decreased to 25.8% as compared to the previous year (previous year: 43.8%). In the 

same period, the adjusted tax rate improved to 22.0% as compared to the previous year (previous year: 24.2%). 

Management Report of the Executive Board | Economic Report80

Influence on earnings due to one-time special effects

One-time special effects amounted to a net burden on earnings of € 63.1 million before or € 55.4 million after taxes in  financial 

year 2015 (previous year: net burden on earnings due to one-time special effects of € 128.6 million before or € 121.6 million after 

taxes).

In detail, these were as follows:

• a burden in the amount of € 33.2 million before or € 29.1 million after taxes from value adjustments netted of write-ups on 

intangible assets after impairment tests

• a net burden in the amount of € 16.9 million before and after taxes in connection with currency translation expenses and 

currency translation income recorded in the income statement resulting from the fluctuation of the Russian ruble as well as 

further significant currencies of the market region CIS/Eastern Europe

• a burden in the amount of € 9.5 million before or € 10.6 million after taxes resulting from additional scheduled depreciation  

and other measurement effects due to purchase price allocations as well as significant product acquisitions taking financial year 

2013 as a basis

• a net relief in the amount of € 3.1 million before or € 2.9 million after taxes in connection with the measurement of derivative 

financial instruments and the underlying transactions

• a net burden in the amount of € 0.4 million before or a net relief in the amount of € 4.1 million after taxes resulting from several 

extraordinary expenses and income, among other things, from damage claim payments made and received, tax rate changes in 

the United Kingdom, a disposal gain from the sale of a French branded product company and expenses in connection with the 

disposal of the German logistics activities

To the extent that adjusted key earning figures are reported in this Annual Report, the earnings adjustments carried out include these 

effects in total both for financial year 2015 as well as for the previous year. The deduction of such effects, which have an impact on 

the presentation of the earnings situation and the derived key figures, aims to improve the comparability of key figures with previous 

years. To achieve this, STADA uses adjusted key figures, which, as so called pro forma figures, are not governed by the accounting 

requirements in accordance with IFRS. As other companies may not calculate the pro forma figures presented by STADA in the same 

way, STADA’s pro forma figures are only comparable with similarly designated disclosures by other companies to a limited extent.

Management Report of the Executive Board81

In the charts below, further essential key earnings figures of the STADA Group and the resulting margins are each also reported 

 adjusted for the aforementioned one-time special effects or for the aforementioned one-time special effects and effects from the 

measurement of derivative financial instruments under financial income and expenses for 2015 and for the previous year to allow for 

comparison.

Development of the STADA Group’s reported key earnings figures

in € million

Operating profit

• Operating segment result Generics

• Operating segment result Branded Products

EBITDA2)

EBIT3)

EBT4)

Net income

Earnings per share in €

Diluted earnings per share in €

2015

223.7

178.5

130.0

377.1

225.3

157.8

110.4

1.79

1.79

2014

± %

Margin1)   
2015

Margin1)  
2014

188.5

108.3

138.2

418.8

190.3

124.7

64.6

1.07

1.05

+19%

+65%

-6%

-10%

+18%

+27%

+71%

+67%

+70%

10.6%

14.7%

15.2%

17.8%

10.7%

7.5%

5.2%

9.1%

8.9%

17.3%

20.3%

9.2%

6.0%

3.1%

Development of the STADA Group’s adjusted 5) key earnings figures

in € million

Operating profit, adjusted

• Operating segment result Generics, adjusted

•  Operating segment result Branded Products, 

adjusted

EBITDA 2), adjusted

• EBITDA Generics, adjusted

• EBITDA Branded Products, adjusted

EBIT 3), adjusted

EBT 4), adjusted

Net income, adjusted

Earnings per share in €, adjusted

Diluted earnings per share in €, adjusted

2015

283.8

183.6

173.2

389.4

232.8

220.1

285.3

220.9

165.8

2.69

2.69

2014

± %

Margin 1)  
2015

Margin 1)  
2014

320.7

176.9

192.9

431.9

228.7

240.0

322.4

253.3

186.2

3.08

3.04

-12%

+4%

-10%

-10%

+2%

-8%

-12%

-13%

-11%

-13%

-12%

13.4%

15.1%

20.3%

18.4%

19.1%

25.8%

13.5%

10.4%

7.8%

15.6%

14.5%

24.4%

21.0%

18.8%

30.3%

15.7%

12.3%

9.1%

1) Related to relevant Group sales.
2) Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.
3) Earnings before interest and taxes.
4) Earnings before taxes.
5) Adjusted for one-time special effects.

Management Report of the Executive Board | Economic Report 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
82

Income statement as well as cost development

The consolidated income statement is presented in the chart below – both for the reporting year and for the previous year, each 

under consideration of the effects to be adjusted, which are accordingly presented for financial year 2015 in detail under the items 

“Influence on earnings due to one-time special effects” and “Influence on earnings due to effects from the measurement of derivative 

financial instruments under financial income and expenses”. 

Income statement  
(abridged)  

in € 000s

Sales

Cost of sales

Gross profit 

Selling expenses

General and administrative expenses

Research and development expenses

Other income

Other expenses

Operating profit

Result from investments  
measured at equity

Investment income

Earnings before interest and taxes 
(EBIT)

Financial income

Financial expenses

Earnings before taxes (EBT) 

Income taxes

Earnings after taxes

Result distributable to  
non-controlling shareholders

Result distributable to shareholders 
of STADA Arzneimittel AG  
(net income)

Earnings per share in €

Earnings per share in € (diluted)

2015 
without 
deduction of 
effects to be 
adjusted

2,115,129

1,101,709

1,013,420

482,643

178,364

64,993

20,032

83,709

223,743

1,419

138

225,300

1,170

68,667

157,803

40,638

117,165

2015
effects to be 
adjusted

-

9,501

9,501

-

2,334

-

-4,561

52,741

60,015

-

-

60,015

-

3,087

63,102

-7,957

55,145

2015 
after  
deduction of 
effects to be 
adjusted

2,115,129

1,092,208

1,022,921

482,643

176,030

64,993

15,471

30,968

283,758

1,419

138

285,315

1,170

65,580

220,905

48,595

172,310

2014
without 
deduction of 
effects to be 
adjusted

2,062,247

1,070,441

991,806

458,381

152,817

56,905

20,067

155,243

188,527

1,595

132

190,254

4,833

70,393

124,694

54,586

70,108

2014 
effects to be 
adjusted

-8,650

14,756

6,106

-

-

-

-5,972

132,012

132,146

-

-

132,146

-3,588

-

128,558

-6,816

121,742

2014 
after 
deduction of 
effects to be 
adjusted

2,053,597

1,055,685

997,912

458,381

152,817

56,905

14,095

23,231

320,673

1,595

132

322,400

1,245

70,393

253,252

61,402

191,850

6,761

237

6,524

5,546

93

5,639

110,404

55,382

165,786

64,562

121,649

186,211

1.79

1.79

-

-

2.69

2.69

1.07

1.05

-

-

3.08

3.04

EBIT

225,300

60,015

285,315

190,254

132,146

322,400

Balance from depreciation/amortization 
and impairments/write-ups on 
intangible assets (including goodwill), 
property, plant and equipment and 
financial assets

Earnings before interest, taxes, 
depreciation and amortization 
(EBITDA)

151,848

-47,778

104,070

228,521

-119,033

109,488

377,148

12,237

389,385

418,775

13,113

431,888

Management Report of the Executive Board 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
83

Cost of sales amounted to € 1,101.7 million in 2015 (previous year: € 1,070.4 million). Gross profit, i.e. sales after deducting cost 

of sales, was thus € 1,013.4 million (previous year: € 991.8 million).

Overall, cost of sales in the reporting year included depreciation and amortization in the amount of € 101.5 million (previous year: 

€ 100.8 million), which was primarily based on amortization on such intangible assets, which represent a necessary condition for the 

marketing of the products manufactured – in particular drug approvals.

The cost of sales ratio, i.e. the share of cost of sales in relation to sales, was 52.1% in financial year 2015 (previous year: 51.9%). 

The sales-related gross margin, which is reciprocal to the cost of sales ratio, decreased to 47.9% in the reporting year (previous year: 

48.1%). This development was mainly attributable to continuing burdens in the context of the CIS crisis (see “Earnings Situation – 

Development of Segments – Development by Market Region – Russia”).

Selling expenses, which at STADA are predominantly composed of costs for sales force and sales department employees, as well 

as product-related marketing expenditure, increased to € 482.6 million in 2015 (previous year: € 458.4 million). The development 

particularly resulted from increased marketing expenses in the British and Italian markets. The selling expenses ratio amounted to 

22.8% (previous year: 22.2%). 

General and administrative expenses rose to € 178.4 million in financial year 2015 (previous year: € 152.8 million). Their share 

in Group sales amounted to 8.4% (previous year: 7.4%). The increase resulted from earnings recorded within personnel expenses 

from past service cost in the amount of € 15.9 million in the previous year in connection with a change in the defined benefit plan for 

the Chairman of the Executive Board and the resulting changes with regard to the benefits awarded in accordance with the former 

benefit plan.

Research  and  development  costs  amounted  to  € 65.0 million  in  the  reporting  year  (previous  year:  € 56.9 million). The  sales- 

related ratio of research and development costs amounted to 3.1% (previous year: 2.8%).

STADA’s  reported  development  costs  include  the  non-capitalizable  development  costs,  which  are  primarily  made  up  of  costs 

 associated with regulatory requirements and the optimization of existing products. This cost item does not include payments for the 

development of new products, as they are usually capitalized by STADA (see Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements – 15.).1)

Other expenses decreased in the reporting year to € 83.7 million (previous year: € 155.2 million). This development was  particularly 

based on lower impairments to intangible assets following impairment tests. In addition, the market regions CIS/Eastern Europe as 

well as Asia/Pacific & MENA included large goodwill impairments in the previous year.

Remaining other expenses include personnel expenses in the amount of € 4.4 million (previous year: € 5.8 million).

The financial result, which is primarily made up of financial income and financial expenses, was € -65.9 million in the reporting year 

(previous year: € -63.8 million). The interest expense in the amount of € 65.6 million (previous year: € 70.4 million) represented the 

largest single operational item. Furthermore, the financial result also included effects from the measurement of derivative financial 

instruments that amounted to a net expenses of € 3.1 million (previous year: relief on earnings of € 3.6 million).

1) In the reporting year, development expenses for new products in the amount of € 26.1 million 
(previous year: € 27.5 million) were capitalized.

Management Report of the Executive Board | Economic Report84

In financial year 2015, the Group refinanced itself at interest rates of between 0.7% p.a. and 16.6% p.a. (previous year: between 

0.9% p.a. and 12.0% p.a.). On the balance sheet date of December 31, 2015, the weighted average interest rate for non-current 

financial liabilities was approx. 2.0% p.a. (previous year: approx. 3.3% p.a.) and for current financial liabilities approx. 5.1% p.a. 

(previous year: approx. 4.6% p.a.). For all of the Group’s financial liabilities, the weighted average interest amounted to approx. 2.6% 

p.a. (previous year: approx. 3.7% p.a.).

Income tax expenses decreased to € 40.6 million in 2015 (previous year: € 54.6 million). This development could be attributed in 

particular to a tax rate reduction in the United Kingdom as well as changed profit allocation in the STADA Group. 

In 2015, the reported tax rate decreased to 25.8% (previous year: 43.8%), which was primarily a result of impairments to goodwill 

not deductible for tax purposes in the market regions CIS/Eastern Europe and Asia/Pacific & MENA in the previous year as well as a 

tax rate reduction in the United Kingdom. In the same  period, the adjusted tax rate improved to 22.0% (previous year: 24.2%).

Management Report of the Executive Board85

Business Development and Situation | Earnings Situation 
Development of Segments: Information by Operating Segment

Development of core segments 

The information by operating segment, according to the definition of segment used by STADA, is divided according to differentiation 

possibilities in terms of sales and is therefore separated into the core segments of Generics and Branded Products as well as the 

non-core segment Commercial Business (see “Basis of the Group – Business Model”). 

Sales of both core segments Generics and Branded Products increased by 3% in 2015. Their share in Group sales thus amounted 

to a total of 97.9% (previous year: 97.9%). Sales of the two core segments adjusted for portfolio effects and currency influences 

increased by 4% (see “Economic Report – Business Development and Situation – Earnings Situation – Sales Development”).

Sales of the core segment Generics in the reporting year was approximately at the level of the previous year with € 1,217.5 million 

(previous year: € 1,217.7 million). Sales of the core segment Generics adjusted for currency and portfolio effects increased slightly 

in the reporting year by 1% to € 1,228.7 million (previous year: € 1,211.4 million). This development resulted from a strong sales 

growth of the German sub sidiary ALIUD PHARMA GmbH and a significant sales increase in the British, Spanish, French, Dutch and 

Vietnamese  companies.  Sales  generated  with  generics  in  the  Russian  market,  which  belongs  to  the  market  region  CIS/Eastern 

 Europe, and in the Belgian market, which belongs to the market region Central Europe, showed an opposing development. Generics 

contributed  57.6%  to  Group  sales  (previous  year:  59.1%). Adjusted,  Generics  sales  in  the  Group  increased  slightly  by  1%  (see 

 “Economic Report – Business  Development and Situation – Earnings Situation – Sales Development”).

Top 5 generic active ingredients in products of the STADA Group 2015

Active ingredient

Indication group

Tilidine naloxone

Pain

Atorvastatin

Pantoprazole

Diclofenac

Enalapril

Total

Elevated cholesterol level

Stomach ulcer / reflux

Pain / inflammation

High blood pressure

Sales 2015  
for products of the 
STADA Group in 
€ million

Change from 
previous year

32.0

24.2

21.7

20.6

19.4

117.9

+34%

+5%

-3%

-16%

-7%

With  products  containing  the  Group’s  top  five  pharmaceutical  active  ingredients  in  terms  of  sales,  STADA  achieved  sales  in  the 

amount of € 117.9 million in financial year 2015 (previous year: € 119.1 million). These products thus contributed 9.7% to sales in 

the Generics segment (previous year: 9.8%). 

With sales in the amount of € 32.0 million in 2015 (previous year: € 23.8 million), the opioid tilidine naloxone was the strongest 

selling active pharma ceutical ingredient in the Generics core segment. 

Management Report of the Executive Board | Economic Report 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
86

Sales of the core segment Branded Products recorded an increase of 7% to € 853.6 million in financial year 2015 (previous year: 

€ 800.5 million). Sales of the core segment Branded Products adjusted for currency and portfolio effects grew by 9% to € 865.8 mil-

lion (previous year: € 796.8 million). This growth was primarily based on the positive development in the United Kingdom, Italy and 

Vietnam. Sales generated with branded products in the Russian market, which belongs to the market region CIS/Eastern Europe, 

showed  a  contrary  development.  Branded  products  contributed  40.3%  to  Group  sales  (previous  year:  38.8%). Adjusted  sales  of 

branded products in the Group rose by 9% (see “Economic Report – Business Development and Situation – Earnings Situation – 

Sales Development”).

Top 5 branded products in the STADA Group in 2015

Branded product

Indication group

Sales 2015  
in € million

Change from 
previous year

APO-Go®

Aqualor®

Grippostad®

Snup®

Vitaprost®

Total

Parkinson’s

Rhinitis / sore throat

Cold

Rhinitis

Prostate disease

62.9

42.9

42.2

30.0

21.7

199.7

+23%

+6%

+25%

-9%

+5%

With the top five branded products in the Group in term of sales, STADA achieved sales in the amount of € 199.7 million in financial 

year 2015 (previous year: € 184.4 million). These products thus had a share of 23.4% of sales in the Branded Products segment 

(previous year: 23.0%).

In 2015, the Parkinson’s medicine APO-Go® was the strongest selling product both in the core segment Branded Products and in the 

Group, with sales of € 62.9 million (previous year: € 51.3 million). 

Non-core activities to support core segments

In financial year 2015, sales in the Commercial Business segment, which is not part of the core segments, were at the level of the 

previous year with € 43.9 million (previous year: € 44.0 million). 

Operating profit by segment

Reported operating profit in the Generics segment increased in the reporting year by 65% to € 178.5 million (previous year: 

€ 108.3 million). This  development  resulted,  among  other  things,  from  significant  growth  in  the  operating  result  of  the  German 

 company ALIUD PHARMA, the Spanish subsidiary Laboratorio STADA and the British STADA activities. In addition, the previous year 

was burdened by high impairments on goodwill in the market region CIS/Eastern Europe. A regulatory change in Belgium had an 

opposite effect, leading to price reductions. Furthermore, the difficult market situation in France, due to the increase in the maximum 

permitted  discount  amount,  led  to  a  burden  on  the  key  earnings  figures  despite  a  volume  growth,  because  the  functional  costs 

 increased in accordance with the volume growth. The reported operating profit margin of Generics amounted to 14.7% (previous 

year: 8.9%).

Management Report of the Executive Board 
 
Management Report of the Executive Board

87

Adjusted operating profit in the Generics segment increased by 4% in financial year 2015 to € 183.6 million (previous year: 

€ 176.9 million). Adjusted EBITDA of Generics grew by 2% to € 232.8 million (previous year: € 228.7 million). This development 

primarily resulted from the aforementioned developments in Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom. The weaker development of 

adjusted key figures compared to the reported key figures was based on higher adjustments in the previous year, which mainly relate 

to impairments on goodwill in the market region CIS/Eastern Europe, as well as to currency  translation expenses of the CIS subgroup 

recorded in the income statement. The adjusted operating profit margin of Generics was at 15.1% (previous year: 14.5%).

Reported  operating  profit  in  the  Branded  Products  segment  decreased  by  6%  to  € 130.0 million  in  2015  (previous  year: 

€ 138.2 million). This development was primarily attributable to the decline of the operating segment profit of Branded Products in 

the market region CIS/Eastern Europe in euro due to the weak ruble. In contrast, there was a significant increase in the operating 

profit of the British and Italian companies. In addition, operating profit of Branded Products improved in the market region Asia/ 

Pacific & MENA. The reported operating profit margin of Branded Products amounted to 15.2% (previous year: 17.3%).

Adjusted operating profit in the Branded Products segment decreased by 10% in the reporting year to € 173.2 million (previous 

year: € 192.9 million). Adjusted EBITDA of Branded Products declined by 8% to € 220.1 million (previous year: € 240.0 million). 

Both developments resulted from the reasons already mentioned in connection with the reported operating profit of Branded Products 

in the market region CIS/Eastern Europe. In addition, due to lower one-time special effects as compared to the previous year, which 

mainly relate to the impairments on additional intangible assets after impairment tests and to currency translation expenses of the 

CIS subgroup  recorded in the income statement, there was a higher decrease in the adjusted operating profit than in the reporting 

operating  profit. The adjusted operating profit margin of Branded Products amounted to 20.3% (previous year: 24.4%).

Reported operating profit in the Commercial Business segment decreased to € -0.9 million in 2015 (previous year: € 0.9 mil-

lion).

Management Report of the Executive Board | Economic Report88

Business Development and Situation | Earnings Situation 
Development of Segments: Information by Market Region

Development of the market regions

In the STADA Group, information by market region is based on the regional differentiation in market regions. In this context, in the 

individual market regions, all relevant net sales according to segment to third parties generated by consolidated Group companies 

are reported. The STADA Group is composed of four market regions in total: Germany, Central Europe, CIS/Eastern Europe and Asia/

Pacific & MENA. 

As of financial year 2015, the former market region Asia & Pacific was expanded by substantial parts of the business activities in the 

Middle East and North Africa (MENA region). In doing so, the activities in this region, which used to be allocated mainly to the market 

region Germany, should be largely centralized. The market region has therefore been referred to as market region Asia/Pacific & 

MENA since 2015.

When looking to the reported sales of individual market regions, it should generally be taken into consideration that they are  allocated 

to the market region in which the sales company that generated the sales is located. Accordingly, sales of the individual market 

 regions include both the sales of the respective sales companies recorded within the country they are located in, as well as the export 

sales they achieve. 

Management Report of the Executive Board89

Share  
in Group 
sales 
2015

47.3%

9.2%

8.9%

5.7%

4.9%

4.3%

2.7%

2.1%

1.2%

1.1%

1.0%

Total 
sales  
2015

999.4

194.9

189.2

120.4

103.9

90.2

57.4

44.3

24.8

23.5

20.9

Total 
sales 
previous 
year

956.3

135.2

181.2

113.0

150.2

95.4

52.2

39.5

22.9

25.8

19.5

±% 
adjusted

± %1)

+4.5%

-2.7%

+44.2%

+13.6%

+4.4%

+6.5%

-3.7%

+6.3%

-30.8%

-30.9%

-5.5%

+10.0%

-3.5%

-3.4%

+12.2%

+10.7%

+8.3%

+8.7%

-8.9%

-9.2%

+7.2%

+3.9%

83.9

4.0%

82.9

+1.2%

+0.4%

46.0

2.2%

38.5

+19.5%

+5.3%

509.9

295.8

93.7

25.4

23.8

16.4

24.1%

14.0%

4.4%

1.2%

1.1%

0.8%

564.5

360.7

93.4

27.1

13.4

15.4

-9.7%

+11.7%

-18.0%

+0.3%

+8.4%

+3.4%

-6.3%

+48.6%

+77.6%

+78.8%

+6.5%

+6.6%

45.2

2.1%

45.0

+0.4%

+14.6%

9.6

0.5%

9.5

+1.1%

+5.6%

459.6

428.9

21.7%

20.3%

447.3

389.3

+2.7%

+2.7%

+10.2%

+10.2%

30.7

1.5%

0.0

146.2

6.9%

4.4%

0.7%

0.4%

0.3%

0.3%

93.7

15.8

7.6

7.0

6.2

58.0

94.1

73.3

11.8

-

3.9

-

-47.1%

-47.1%

+55.4%

+32.1%

+27.8%

+11.7%

+33.9%

+14.0%

-

-

+79.5%

+54.6%

-

-

15.6

0.7%

5.0

>100%

>100%

0.3

0.0%

0.1

>100%

+75.4%

Sales in 2015 by segment, market region and market in € million

in € million

Central Europe

• United Kingdom

• Italy

• Spain

• Belgium

• France

• Switzerland

• The Netherlands

• Ireland

• Poland

• Austria

•

Other/rest  
of Central Europe

•  Export sales of the market 
region Central Europe

CIS/Eastern Europe

• Russia

• Serbia

• Ukraine

• Kazakhstan

• Bosnia- Herzegovina

•  Other/rest of  

CIS/Eastern Europe

Generics

Branded 
Products

600.7

26.9

149.0

107.0

95.0

80.2

20.1

41.0

15.7

0.8

13.9

369.5

168.0

40.2

13.4

8.9

10.0

14.6

3.3

8.6

22.7

7.0

49.4

28.5

1.7

44.3

211.5

83.6

73.6

5.8

2.7

14.3

297.2

212.2

19.9

19.6

21.1

2.1

Commer-
cial 
Business

29.2

-

-

-

-

-

22.7

-

0.5

-

-

6.0

-

1.1

-

0.1

-

-

-

22.1

22.1

1.0

•  Export sales of the market 
region CIS/Eastern Europe

9.4

0.2

Germany

• Germany

•  Export sales of the  

market region Germany

Asia/Pacific & MENA

• Vietnam

• China

Saudi Arabia

• The Philippines

United Arab Emirates

•

Other/rest of  
Asia/Pacific & MENA

•  Export sales of the market 
region Asia/Pacific & MENA

326.3

306.3

20.0

79.0

54.9

14.2

-

1.8

-

7.9

0.2

133.3

122.6

10.7

53.6

30.5

1.6

7.6

-

6.2

7.6

0.1

-

-

-

-

13.6

8.3

-

-

5.2

-

0.1

-

1) Calculated in € million.

Recon-
ciliation 
Group 
holdings/
other 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

0.1

-

0.1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Management Report of the Executive Board | Economic Report 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
90

The  following  depicts  STADA’s  development  in  the  four  market  regions  Central  Europe,  CIS/Eastern  Europe,  Germany  and Asia/ 

Pacific & MENA in financial year 2015. Furthermore, within these market regions, the development of the most important countries 

is described according to sales within the corresponding market region.

Market region Central Europe

In the market region Central Europe, sales recorded an increase in the reporting year – with varying developments of the countries 

included – of 5% to € 999.4 million (previous year: € 956.3 million). This development was primarily due to increases in sales in the 

United Kingdom, Spain and Italy. Sales generated in this market region had a share of 47.3% in Group sales (previous year: 46.4%). 

Of the sales generated by market region Central Europe, € 46.0 million were attributable to export sales (previous year: € 38.5 mil-

lion). Adjusted sales in this market region decreased by 3%.

For financial year 2016, the Executive Board expects growth in sales with operating profitability at Group average in the market region 

Central Europe.

The  countries  of  the  market  region  Central  Europe  recorded  varying  developments  in  financial  year  2015. The  development  of 

 business in the five largest markets according to sales within this market region is described below.

Sales generated in the United Kingdom in financial year 2015 increased by 31% applying the exchange rates of the previous year. 

In euro, sales recorded growth by 44% to € 194.9 million due to a positive currency effect of the British pound sterling (previous year: 

€ 135.2 million). The increase in sales was also based on the acquisition of the British company Internis Pharmaceuticals Ltd. in the 

fourth quarter of 2014, the production and distribution rights for the branded product portfolio Flexitol® that were acquired in the 

second quarter of 2014 as well as the launch of the branded product Ladival® in January 2015. Adjusted, sales increased by 14%.

Sales generated in the British market with branded products recorded growth of 42% to € 168.0 million (previous year: € 118.2 mil-

lion). Branded products thereby contributed 86% to sales achieved in the United Kingdom (previous year: 87%).

In the United Kingdom, sales generated with generics, where STADA is a niche provider of selected generics with only a few active 

pharmaceutical ingredients, increased despite strong competition by 59% to € 26.9 million (previous year: € 17.0 million). Generics 

contributed 14% to local sales (previous year: 13%).

Sales in Italy grew by 4% to € 189.2 million in 2015 (previous year: € 181.2 million).

Sales generated with Generics in the Italian market decreased slightly by 1% to € 149.0 million (previous year: € 150.5 million).

Generics contributed 79% to local sales (previous year: 83%). With a market share of approx. 14.8% (previous year: approx. 14.8%), 

STADA occupied position 4 in the Italian generics market in financial year 2015.1) 

Sales  generated  with  branded  products  in  Italy  grew  by  31%  to  € 40.2 million,  particularly  due  to  acquisitions  (previous  year: 

€ 30.7 million). Branded products contributed 21% to sales in Italy (previous year: 17%).

Sales recorded in Spain recorded a rise – despite continued high price competition – of 7% to € 120.4 million in financial year 2015 

(previous year: € 113.0 million). This development was based on a new cooperation with an important Spanish wholesaler and on 

product launches of high-sale pharmaceutical ingredients.

1) STADA estimate based on IMS Health data at ex-factory prices.

Management Report of the Executive Board91

Sales  recorded  with  generics  in  the  Spanish  market  showed  a  plus  of  6%  to  € 107.0 million  (previous  year:  € 101.1 million).  

Generics contributed 89% to local sales (previous year: 89%). With a market share of approx. 9.8% (previous year: approx. 9.4%), 

STADA occupied position 2 in the Spanish generics market in 2015.1) 

Sales generated with branded products in Spain grew by 12% to € 13.4 million (previous year: € 12.0 million). Branded products 

contributed 11% to local sales (previous year: 11%).

In Belgium, sales decreased in the reporting year by 31% to € 103.9 million (previous year: € 150.2 million).

In light of a decrease in volume and as a consequence of price reductions as of March 1, 2015 for a large part of the generics port-

folio as well as discounts granted, sales reported with generics in the Belgian market decreased by 33% to € 95.0 million (previous 

year: € 141.6 million). Overall, a large discrepancy between decreasing sales development and strong demand among end  consumers 

was noticed. The main reason for this was a temporary reluctance on the part of Belgian wholesalers which resulted from a changed 

working capital management, together with their uncertainty regarding the possible takeover of Perrigo by Mylan in the second half 

of 2015. Generics contributed 91% to local sales (previous year: 94%). With a market share of approx. 51.5% (previous year: approx. 

50.0%), STADA remained the clear market leader in the Belgian generics market in 2015.1) 

Sales achieved in Belgium with branded products increased by 4% to € 8.9 million (previous year: € 8.6 million). Branded products 

had a share in sales of 9% in Belgium (previous year: 6%).

Sales in France decreased by 5% to € 90.2 million in 2015 (previous year: € 95.4 million).

Sales generated with generics in the French market grew by 6% to € 80.2 million (previous year: € 75.5 million). This development 

resulted from a growth in volume against the backdrop of a strong price competition and, as a result of this, high discounts and the 

reduction of reimbursement amounts. The share of generics in local sales was at 89% (previous year: 79%). With a market share of 

approx. 3.6% (previous year: approx. 3.5%), STADA occupied position 7 in the French generics market in the reporting year.1)

Sales reported in France with branded products decreased mainly due to the portfolio optimization carried out at the end of 2014 by 

50% to € 10.0 million (previous year: € 19.9 million). Branded products contributed 11% to sales in France (previous year: 21%). 

Market region CIS/Eastern Europe

In the market region CIS/Eastern Europe2), sales in the reporting year increased by 11% applying the exchange rates of the pre-

vious year. As a result of negative currency effects, sales in euro recorded a decrease of 10% to € 509.9 million (previous year: 

€ 564.5 million). Sales generated in this market region had a share of 24.1% in Group sales (previous year: 27.4%). Of the sales 

generated in the market region CIS/Eastern Europe, € 9.6 million was attributable to export sales (previous year: € 9.5 million). Sales 

adjusted for portfolio and currency effects in this market region increased by 12%.

For financial year 2016, the Executive Board expects an increase in sales in the market region CIS/Eastern Europe applying the 

 exchange rates of the previous year. Operating profitability adjusted for negative currency effects is expected to be above Group 

 average.

The development in the two largest markets according to sales within this market region is described below.

1) STADA estimate based on IMS Health data at ex-factory prices.
2) So-called CEE countries (Central and Eastern Europe) including Russia.

Management Report of the Executive Board | Economic Report92

In Russia, sales rose by 7% in the reporting period applying the exchange rates of the previous year. As a result of a clearly negative 

currency effect of the Russian ruble, sales decreased in euro by 18% to € 295.8 million (previous year: € 360.7 million). Compared 

to the quarters of the previous years, the development in local currency was as follows: In the first quarter, sales in local currency 

declined by 21%, in the second quarter they recorded growth of 18%, in the third quarter there was an increase of 60% and a de-

crease of 15% in the fourth quarter. Overall, an unchanged reluctance to buy among the end consumers, with whom 94% of STADA’s 

sales in Russia are generated, was noticeable during the course of the year. Due to the invoicing of high  seasonal orders that served 

to strengthen and further expand the strategic competitive position in the distribution channels, STADA was able to slightly increase 

its market share in the Russian market. Sales generated in the context of the state program for the re imbursement of selected med-

icines for individual population groups (DLO Program), which accounted for around 5% of the Russian sales, were above the level of 

the previous year in local currency. Sales primarily generated with branded products, which have higher margins, in the self-pay 

market increased in local  currency in the high single-digit percentage range. Around 1% of sales were achieved directly or indirectly 

with other state clients, particularly via tenders.

Sales generated in the Russian market with generics decreased by 29% to € 83.6 million (previous year: € 118.0 million). Generics 

contributed 28% to local sales (previous year: 33%). With a market share of approx. 4.6% (previous year: approx. 4.4%), STADA took 

position 2 in the Russian market in 2015.1) 

Sales  generated  with  branded  products  in  Russia  declined  by  13%  to  € 212.2 million  (previous  year:  € 242.7 million).  Branded 

 products contributed 72% to sales achieved in the Russian market (previous year: 67%).

The further development of the currency relation of the Russian ruble to the euro will continue to have a strong influence on sales 

and earnings contributions of the Russian STADA business activities in the future. In addition, the continued bleak prospects for the 

Russian economy and the corresponding strong devaluation of the Russian ruble present an increased risk in terms of consumer 

sentiment and consumer spending.

In Serbia, sales in financial year 2015 increased by 3% applying the exchange rates of the previous year. As a result of a negative 

currency effect of the Serbian dinar, sales rose slightly in euro by 0.3% to € 93.7 million (previous year: € 93.4 million). A general 

shift from generics to branded products can be observed in the sales mix of the Serbian market.

Sales recorded with generics in Serbia decreased by 4% to € 73.6 million (previous year: € 76.8 million). This development resulted 

from a decrease in reimbursement prices since January 1, 2015. Generics contributed 79% to Serbian sales (previous year: 82%). 

With a market share of approx. 33.7% (previous year: approx. 34.7%), STADA remained the market leader in the Serbian market in 

2015.1)

Sales achieved with branded products in the Serbian market recorded an increase of 20% to € 19.9 million (previous year: € 16.6 mil-

lion). Branded products contributed 21% to local sales (previous year: 18%).

In  the  first  quarter  of  2014,  the  insolvency  administrator  of Velefarm  Holding  and Velefarm VFB  took  legal  action  in  Belgrade’s 

 commercial court against Hemofarm A.D., a subsidiary of STADA Arzneimittel AG, and Velefarm Prolek, a company of the Velefarm 

group. STADA and Hemofarm believed the lawsuit to be unfounded.2) The dispute was resolved in the fourth quarter of 2015.3)

In the future, the sales and earnings contributions in Serbia will continue to be decisively influenced by the currency relation of the 

Serbian dinar to the euro as well as by the local liquidity situation of the wholesalers and distribution partners.

1) STADA estimate based on IMS Health data at ex-factory prices.
2) See the Company’s ad hoc release of February 14, 2014.
3) See the Company’s ad hoc update and press release of December 18, 2015.

Management Report of the Executive Board93

Market region Germany

In the market region Germany, sales in the reporting year increased by 3% to € 459.6 million (previous year: € 447.3 million). This 

development was achieved despite the fact that export  activities to the MENA region are no longer disclosed in the market region 

Germany due to the grouping together1) of the activities from the MENA region and the former market region Asia & Pacific as of 

January 1, 2015. Not considering the grouping together, i.e. including export activities to the MENA region, sales in the market region 

Germany increased by 7% to € 480.5 million (previous year: € 447.3 million). Overall, the market region Germany contributed 21.7% 

to Group sales (previous year: 21.7%). Of the sales  generated in this market region, € 30.7 million was attributable to export sales 

(previous year: € 58.0 million). Adjusted sales in this market region were also 3% above the level of the corresponding period of the 

previous year.

Sales generated in Germany, i.e. sales excluding export sales of the market region Germany and excluding sales of other market 

regions in Germany, increased by 10% to € 428.9 million in 2015 (previous year: € 389.3 million).

Despite the continued difficult local framework conditions for generics, which resulted from the strong competition in tenders for 

discount  agreements  from  public  health  insurance  organizations,  sales  in  the  German  Generics  segment  increased  by  15%  to 

€ 306.3 million in the reporting period (previous year: € 265.3 million). Sales generated in Germany with generics had a share of 

71%  in  the  overall  sales  achieved  in  the  German  market  (previous  year:  68%).  The  market  share  of  generics  sold  in  German 

 pharmacies  by  volume  in  financial  year  2015  was  approx.  12.4%2)  (previous  year:  approx.  13.5%2)).  Overall,  the  STADA  Group 

 continues to be the clear number 32) in the German generics market.

Sales  achieved  with  generics  in  Germany  are  almost  exclusively  generated  with  the  sales  companies  ALIUD  PHARMA  GmbH, 

 STADApharm GmbH and cell pharm Gesellschaft für pharmazeutische und diagnostische Präparate mbH. Sales achieved by ALIUD 

PHARMA in the reporting year recorded an increase of 23% to € 194.0 million (previous year: € 158.3 million). Sales generated by 

cell pharm, a special supplier for the indication areas oncology and nephrology, decreased by 8% to € 28.4 million (previous year: 

€ 30.7 million).

Sales generated with branded products in the German market – primarily with the two sales companies STADA GmbH and  STADAvita 

GmbH – decreased slightly by 1% to € 122.7 million in the reporting year (previous year: € 124.0 million).

Overall, branded products contributed 29% to sales generated in Germany in the reporting year (previous year: 32%).

In financial year 2015, STADA’s important branded products continued to be counted as market leaders in their respective  market 

segments  in  the  German  pharmacy  market.  Examples  for  this  are  the  cold  medicine  Grippostad® C  with  sales  in  Germany  of 

€ 43.1 million (previous year: € 33.9 million) and a market share of approx. 32% in the market for flu drugs2) 3) as well as STADA’s 

sunscreen portfolio under the brand Ladival® with sales in Germany of € 28.6 million4) (previous year: € 27.3 million4)), which with a 

market share of approx. 33%4) remains a clear market leader in the pharmacy market for sunscreens.

In financial year 2014, STADA had already signed a letter of intent for handing over the German logistics activities to the global 

leading logistics company DHL.5) In the first quarter of 2015, the corresponding contract was signed, which came into effect on  

June 1, 2015.6)

For financial year 2016, the Executive Board expects sales in the market region Germany to be below the level of the previous year 

with operating profitability under Group average.

1) Since January 1, 2015, the former market region Asia & Pacific has been grouped together 
with the activities of the MENA region and reported in the market region Asia/Pacific & MENA.
2) Data from IMS Health based on pharmacy sales to customers (source: IMS/Pharmascope 
national).

3) Excluding anti-infective agents.
4) STADA estimate at pharmacy retail prices based on data from IMS Health.
5) See the Company’s press release of October 10, 2014.
6) See the Company’s press release of March 23, 2015.

Management Report of the Executive Board | Economic Report94

Market region Asia/Pacific & MENA

As of financial year 2015, the former market region Asia & Pacific has been expanded by substantial parts of the business activities 

in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA region). In doing so, the activities in this region, which used to be allocated mainly to the 

market region Germany, should be largely centralized. In light of this, this market region has been referred to as market region Asia/

Pacific & MENA since then.

In the market region Asia/Pacific & MENA, sales rose in the reporting year by 55% to € 146.2 million (previous year: € 94.1 mil-

lion). Not considering the expansion, i.e. excluding the MENA region, sales in the region increased by 33% to € 125.4 million (pre-

vious  year:  € 94.1 million). This  development  was  primarily  based  on  a  sales  increase  in Vietnam  and  China.  Here,  sales  were 

 increased through gains in local tender processes despite higher price pressure. Furthermore, the sales growth was attributable to 

the previously mentioned grouping together of the former market region Asia & Pacific and the activities of the MENA region. In light 

of  this,  dis closures  for  the  subsidiaries  STADA  MENA  DWC-LLC,  based  in  Dubai  and  consolidated  since  January  1,  2015,  and  

STADA Egypt Ltd., based in Cairo and consolidated since January 1, 2015, are also included under this region. The sales contribution 

of this market region to Group sales was at 6.9% (previous year: 4.5%). Adjusted sales in this market region increased by 32%.

For  financial  year  2016,  the  Executive  Board  expects  a  sales  increase  in  the  market  region Asia/Pacific  &  MENA  with  operating 

 profitability above Group average.

Management Report of the Executive Board 
95

Business Development and Situation | Financial Situation 

Stable financial situation

The STADA Group has a stable financial position in the view of the Executive Board. Apart from some items of the cash flow statement, 

this is also displayed by various key figures such as those shown in the liquidity analysis in this chapter. 

Basic principles and goals of financial management at STADA

STADA pursues a conservative financial policy characterized by long-term secured financing instruments and forward-looking control 

of financial risks. In principle, the goal of STADA’s financial management is oriented towards being able to provide  sufficient liquidity 

for the operating business at any time.

In the course of its forward-looking control of financial management, STADA has defined the “net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio” key 

figure as a dynamic debt capacity, which should not exceed 3, excluding further acquisitions. If this target is temporarily exceeded, 

then STADA aims to achieve it again within twelve to 18 months.

Financial  management  also  covers  financial  risks  such  as  currency  and  interest  price  risks.  In  this  area,  the  Group  pursues  the 

 objective  of  minimizing  existing  financial  risks  that  arise  by  way  of  natural  hedges  or  derivative  financial  instruments.  Derivative 

 financial instruments are neither held nor issued for speculation purposes.

Only those financial risks are hedged which have significant consequences on the Group’s cash flow. Details on the management of 

individual financial risks can be found in the Management Report of this Annual Report in the chapter “Risk Report”.

With regard to the Group-wide financing strategy, STADA prioritizes a high degree of financial flexibility. In order to achieve this, 

STADA relies both on various financing instruments and a diversified investor structure. The Group’s profile of maturity dates demon-

strates a wide spread with a high share of middle and long-term financial instruments.

The Group covers its need for financing through a combination of cash flow from operating activities and the borrowing of funds on 

the short, middle and long-term, as well as factoring programs. 

Furthermore, STADA has credit lines available as a liquidity reserve.

Long-term refinancing ensured, among other things, through successful placement of an additional corporate bond 

The long-term refinancing of the Group as of December 31, 2015 was provided for by a five-year corporate bond that was placed in 

the second quarter of 2013 in the amount of € 350 million with an interest rate of 2.25% p.a. In the first quarter of 2015, STADA 

successfully placed an additional bond in the amount of € 300 million and a term of seven years with an interest rate of 1.75% p.a.1) 

Furthermore, as of December 31, 2015 there were promissory note loans with maturities in the area of the end of 2016 to 2020 with 

a total nominal value in the amount of € 547.0 million. In order to ensure a balanced financing structure, promissory note loans are 

 staggered in terms of their volume and duration.

1) See the Company’s press release of April 1, 2015.

Management Report of the Executive Board | Economic Report96

Financial liabilities in a currency other than the Group’s functional currency primarily exist at one Group company within the market 

region CIS/Eastern Europe.

In financial year 2015, the Group refinanced itself at interest rates of between 0.7% p.a. and 16.6% p.a. (previous year: between 

0.9% p.a. and 12.0% p.a.). On the balance sheet date of December 31, 2015, the weighted average interest rate for non-current 

financial liabilities was approx. 2.0% p.a. (previous year: approx. 3.3% p.a.) and for current financial liabilities approx. 5.1% p.a. 

(previous year: approx. 4.6% p.a.). For all of the Group’s financial liabilities, the weighted average interest rate amounted to approx. 

2.6% p.a. (previous year: approx. 3.7% p.a.).

The following table presents an overview of the structuring of financial liabilities in the STADA Group:

Remaining maturities of financial liabilities 
due to banks as of Dec. 31, 2015  
in € 000s

< 1 year

1 – 3 years

3 – 5 years

> 5 years

Total

thereof as of 
Dec. 31, 2015  
> 1 year  
in %

Promissory note loans

Bond

Amounts due to banks

Total

187,734

-

86,938

274,672

43,935

348,149

80,353

472,437

314,252

-

-

-

297,524

-

545,921

645,673

167,291

314,252

297,524

1,358,885

66%

100%

48%

80%

In general, liabilities due to banks can indeed be terminated in the short term and are therefore reported under current liabilities of 

less than one year. However, it must be taken into consideration that many of the utilized credit lines have a partly long-standing 

history.

Liquidity analysis

In 2015, the Group’s liquidity was ensured at all times. Significant sources of liquidity were attained from cash inflows from operating 

activities as well as the borrowing of funds on the short, middle and long-term. STADA also received cash inflow from factoring 

programs  and  from  exercising  outstanding  warrants  2000/20151).  Cash  inflows  from  operating  activities  are  influenced  by  the 

 profitability of business activities and by net working capital from receivables, among other things. In addition to the existing  financing 

through two corporate bonds, long-term credit lines and various promissory note loans, STADA maintains a liquidity reserve in the 

form of cash supplemented by short-term credit lines. The short-term credit lines bilaterally agreed with various banks each have a 

term of twelve months and currently amount to over € 500 million. 

1) The exercise period of the warrants expired at the end of June 26, 2015.

Management Report of the Executive Board 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
97

Cash flow analysis

Cash flow statement (abridged) in € 000s

2015

2014

Cash flow from operating activities 

Cash flow from investing activities 

Free cash flow 

Cash flow from financing activities 

Non-cash changes in cash and cash equivalents

Cash flow 

311,748

-178,217

133,531

-155,089

527

-21,031

223,810

-261,980

-38,170

83,711

-7,495

38,046

Cash flow from operating activities – which consists of changes in items not covered by investment activities, financing activities 

or by changes in cash and cash equivalents due to exchange rates and/or the scope of consolidation – amounted to € 311.7 million 

in financial year 2015 (previous year: € 223.8 million). The increase in cash flow from operating activities of € 87.9 million compared 

to the previous year is primarily due to decreased cash-efficiency in the area of other net assets. The resulting positive effects on 

operating cash flow were, on the one hand, reinforced by lower income tax payments than in the previous year and, on the other hand, 

only partly compensated through a cash-effective increase in trade receivables.

Cash  flow  from  investing  activities,  which  reflects  the  cash  outflows  for  investments  reduced  by  the  inflows  from  disposals, 

amounted to € -178.2 million in the reporting year (previous year: € -262.0 million). In financial year 2015, payments for investments 

in intangible assets in the amount of € 81.4 million (previous year: € 181.4 million) were made, of which € 32.3 million (previous 

year: € 147.5 million) related to significant investments in intangible assets for the short-term expansion of the product portfolio. 

Acquisition-related sales growth was generally associated with these investments in the reporting year. Proceeds from the disposal 

of non-current assets amounted to € 11.8 million (previous year: € 12.0 million) in the financial year.

In the previous year, cash flow from investing activities was particularly influenced by payments for investments in intangible assets, 

which primarily related to the acquisition of the Russian branded product portfolio Aqualor®. In addition, there were payments for 

business  combinations  from  the  purchase  of  the  branded  product  portfolio  Flexitol®  and  the  acquisition  of  the  British  company 

 Internis in the previous year. In 2015, cash flow from investing  activities was affected by the settlement of outstanding payments for 

the acquisition of the Russian branded product portfolio  Aqualor®, the Russian branded products AndroDoz® and NeroDoz®, as well 

as the British company Internis Pharmaceuticals. Furthermore, the settlement of outstanding purchase price payments for the acqui-

sition of the British company Internis as well as purchase price payments from the acquisition of the Austrian company SCIOTEC 

Diagnostic Technologies and the British Socialites group are included in cash flow from investing activities.

For acquisitions – for both the acquisition of consolidated companies and business combinations in accordance with IFRS 3 as well 

as for significant investments in intangible assets for the short-term expansion of the product portfolio (generally in the reporting year) 

– STADA spent a total of € 89.0 million in 2015 (previous year: € 202.5 million).

As a result of disposals, cash flow from investing activities recorded an inflow of cash and cash equivalents in the total amount of 

€ 11.8 million in financial year 2015 (previous year: € 12.0 million).

Management Report of the Executive Board | Economic Report98

Investments in other intangible assets, i.e. investments in intangible assets in the context of the ongoing operating business and 

thus without consideration of significant investments or acquisitions for the short-term expansion of the product portfolio, amounted 

to  € 49.2 million  (previous  year:  € 33.9 million)  and  primarily  comprised  payments  for  the  acquisition  of  approvals  and  approval 

dossiers in the reporting year. 

Payments for investments in property, plant and equipment amounted to € 51.2 million in financial year 2015 (previous year: 

€ 37.5 million). 

Property, plant and equipment investments in 2015 comprised investments in production facilities, production sites and test labora-

tories in the total amount of € 32.2 million (previous year: € 19.7 million) (see “Basis of the Group – Procurement, Production and 

Quality Management”). 

Payments for investments in financial assets were € 0.6 million in the reporting year (previous year: € 0.1 million).

Cash  flow  from  financing  activities  in  financial  year  2015  amounted  to  € -155.1 million  (previous  year:  € 83.7 million). This 

 development was primarily attributable to proceeds resulting from the placement of a corporate bond with a nominal value in the 

amount of € 300 million for the refinancing of a corporate bond with a nominal value of € 350 million which reached maturity in  

April 2015. Furthermore, two new loans were taken out in the third quarter. In the previous year, there were proceeds from securing 

financial  liabilities, among other things, in connection with promissory note loans secured in financial year 2014 in the total amount 

of  € 270 million  and  a  loan  in  the  amount  of  approx.  € 121 million  for  financing  the  purchase  of  the  branded  product  portfolio 

 Aqualor®. Furthermore, more financial liabilities were repaid in the reporting year than in the previous year.

The exercise of options from STADA warrants 2000/2015 in the first half of 20151) led to an increase in cash flow from financing 

activities  by  € 28.2 million  (see  Notes  to  the  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  –  34.1.  and  34.2.).  In  contrast,  cash  flow  from 

 financing  activities decreased due to dividend payments.

Free cash flow, i.e. cash flow from operating activities plus cash flow from investing activities, amounted to € 133.5 million in 2015 

(previous year: € -38.2 million). Free cash flow adjusted for payments for significant investments or acquisitions and proceeds from 

significant disposals amounted to € 212.4 million in the reporting year (previous year: € 157.4 million).

In total, cash flow for financial year 2015, as the balance of all cash inflows and outflows, amounted to € -21.0 million (previous 

year: € 38.0 million). 

Capital expenditure

The Group’s investments amounted to a total of € 177.0 million in 2015 (previous year: € 279.0 million). Investments in property, 

plant and equipment amounted to € 53.5 million (previous year: € 37.9 million), of which € 0.6 million (previous year: € 0.1 million) 

was  attributable to business combinations according to IFRS 3. In relation to Group sales, the share of investments in property, plant 

and equipment was 2.5% (previous year: 1.8% of Group sales). Investments in intangible assets amounted to € 122.9 million (pre-

vious year: € 241.0 million), of which € 51.1 million was used for business combinations in accordance with IFRS 3 (previous year: 

€ 85.5 million). Therefore, in 2015, 30% of the total investment volume was attributable to property, plant and equipment (previous 

year: 14%) and 69% to intangible assets (previous year: 86%).

1) The exercise period of the warrants expired at the end of June 26, 2015.

Management Report of the Executive Board99

Active acquisition policy with value-enhancing purchases

In  the  reporting  year,  the  STADA  Group  pursued  an  active  acquisition  policy  to  further  accelerate  organic  growth  with  external 

 impulses. Overall, the Group concentrates, on the one hand, on the regional expansion of business activities with a focus on high-

growth emerging markets. On the other hand, the Group also focuses on the expansion and internationalization of the core segments, 

in particular Branded Products, as this area is generally characterized by more attractive margins and less regulatory interventions 

than the generics area.

Regardless of the active purchasing policy, profitability and the purchase price must strike a good balance with acquisitions. For 

larger acquisitions or cooperations with capital investments, appropriate capital measures continue to be imaginable if the burden on 

the equity-to-assets ratio from such acquisitions or cooperations is too high.

STADA made further value-enhancing purchases in the context of this active acquisition policy in financial year 2015.

Completion of purchase of branded products AndroDoz® and NeroDoz® 

Already in the fourth quarter of 2014, the Russian STADA subsidiary AO Nizhpharm had signed the purchase agreement for the two 

branded products AndroDoz® and NeroDoz®, which are positioned in the area of men’s health. The purchase price was RUB 526.5 mil-

lion (approx. € 7.9 million applying the official exchange rate of the Russian central bank as of December 25, 2014). The seller was 

OOO PharmEnergy, a Russian pharmaceutical company based in Moscow. Net sales generated with these two products in Russia 

amounted to approx. € 3.0 million in 2014. Product sales have been consolidated in the STADA Group since 2012, as Nizhpharm had 

previously sold the products via in-licensing. The purchase was completed in the first quarter of 2015.1)

Acquisition of SCIOTEC Diagnostic Technologies

In  the  third  quarter  of  2015,  STADA  acquired  Austrian  SCIOTEC  Diagnostic  Technologies  GmbH  including  the  associated  sales 

 structures  to  strengthen  its  branded  product  portfolio. The  company  is  primarily  focused  on  the  development  and  marketing  of 

 prescription-free (OTC) products against enzymatic food intolerances (histamine, fructose and lactose intolerance).2) The purchase 

price totaled € 16.9 million and was to be paid in cash or cash equivalents. The sellers were a number of private owners, a sales 

company and an investment company. Sales expectations for the products acquired within the scope of the transaction for 2015 were 

approx. € 5.8 million, whereby the current sales are, for the most part, generated in equal parts in Germany and Austria as well as 

about 20% internationally through distributors. The company has been consolidated in the STADA Group since September 1, 2015.

Strengthening of the generics area and expansion of the international sales structure

For the strengthening of the core segment Generics, STADA and STADA subsidiary BEPHA Beteiligungsgesellschaft für Pharmawerte 

mbH signed a contract in the fourth quarter of 2015 to purchase the Argentinian generics producer Laboratorio Vannier S.A., which 

sells its products in niches which are subject to few price regulations, particularly in the area of CNS (conditions of the central nervous 

system), cardiology and diabetes.3) The purchase price amounted to USD 13.0 million (according to the exchange rate at the date of 

acquisition approx. € 11.9 million) and was to be paid in cash or cash equivalents. The seller was a private individual. The purchase 

was completed in the first quarter of 2016. Through the acquisition, STADA also expanded its sales network in a country, where the 

Group had not yet been represented with its own sales company.

1) See the Company’s press release of February 4, 2015.
2) See the Company’s press release of August 26, 2015.
3) See the Company’s press release of December 10, 2015.

Management Report of the Executive Board | Economic Report100

Sale of a French company

Furthermore, in the fourth quarter of 2015, STADA sold the French company Laboratoires d’études et de recherches en oligo élé-

ments  thérapie  SA,  which  specializes  in  branded  products,  with  effect  from  December  22,  2015. The  sales  price  amounted  to 

€ 7.3 million.

Cooperation within the aesthetics area

With the goal of expanding its business activities in the area of dermatological treatments, STADA Arzneimittel AG started a  cooperation 

with the Austrian company CROMA-PHARMA GmbH through its subsidiary STADA Aesthetics AG.1) The long-term cooperation relates 

to the existing product portfolio as well as the CROMA-PHARMA product pipeline. Exclusive brand licensing rights and other distribu-

tion rights for STADA currently apply to Germany, Belgium, Italy, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Hungary, 

Croatia and Hong Kong. In Germany and Belgium, STADA acquired the existing sales companies of CROMA-PHARMA with a total of 

five employees. The well-filled product pipeline includes products containing the active ingredient botulinum toxin A, which is  currently 

in the clinical study phase 3 for application in cosmetic dermatology. The purchase price paid by STADA for the existing products and 

the pipeline as well as two purchased sales companies in Germany and Belgium is in the single-digit million euro area. Once an 

approval of botulinum toxin A has been issued, a further payment in the single-digit million euro range will be due.

Continuation of STADA’s active acquisition policy

In the current financial year 2016, STADA will continue the active acquisition policy.

1) See the Company’s press release of December 17, 2015.

Management Report of the Executive Board101

Business Development and Situation | Assets Situation 

Development of the Balance Sheet 

Balance sheet (abridged)  
Assets

Non-current assets 

Intangible assets

Property, plant and equipment   

Other assets

Current assets 

Inventories 

Trade accounts receivable   

Other assets

Cash and cash equivalents  

Total assets    

Equity and liabilities

Equity 

Non-current borrowed capital 

Other non-current provisions   

Financial liabilities 

Other liabilities

Current borrowed capital 

Other provisions 

Financial liabilities 

Trade accounts payable

Other liabilities

Total equity and liabilities 

Dec. 31, 2015  
in € 000s

Dec. 31, 2015  
in %

Dec. 31, 2014  
in € 000s

Dec. 31, 2014  
in %

2,032,309

1,649,020

321,617

61,672

1,255,106

501,520

485,901

124,507

143,178

3,287,415

61.8%

50.2%

9.8%

1.8%

38.2%

15.2%

14.8%

3.8%

4.4%

100%

2,013,819

1,631,516

305,430

76,873

1,321,639

498,785

502,794

155,851

164,209

3,335,458

60.4%

48.9%

9.2%

2.3%

39.6%

15.0%

15.1%

4.6%

4.9%

100%

Dec. 31, 2015  
in € 000s

Dec. 31, 2015  
in %

Dec. 31, 2014  
in € 000s

Dec. 31, 2014  
in %

1,018,530

1,282,577

28,869

1,084,213

169,495

986,308

22,532

274,672

328,487

360,617

3,287,415

31.0%

39.0%

0.9%

33.0%

5.1%

30.0%

0.7%

8.4%

10.0%

10.9%

100%

903,339

1,246,693

30,097

1,042,998

173,598

1,185,426

17,442

448,703

340,847

378,434

3,335,458

27.1%

37.4%

0.9%

31.3%

5.2%

35.5%

0.5%

13.5%

10.2%

11.3%

100%

From the Executive Board’s perspective, the STADA Group’s asset situation continues to be stable. This was reflected in various 

 derived key figures as a supplement to the items reported in the balance sheet.

Net debt was at € 1,215.7 million as of December 31, 2015 (December 31, 2014: € 1,327.5 million). 

The net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio was 3.1 in the reporting year (previous year: 3.1). 

The equity-to-assets ratio was 31.0% at the balance sheet date (December 31, 2014: 27.1%) and was thereby satisfactory in the 

opinion of the Executive Board.

Management Report of the Executive Board | Economic Report 
102

The balance sheet total as of December 31, 2015 decreased to € 3,287.4 million (December 31, 2014: € 3,335.5 million). The 

 decrease was primarily attributable to settlements of financial liabilities. 

Intangible assets increased by € 17.5 million to € 1,649.0 million as of December 31, 2015 (December 31, 2014: € 1,631.5 mil-

lion). The  amount  of  this  balance  sheet  item  was  a  result  of  the  Group’s  long-term  active  acquisition  policy  with  corresponding 

 investments in the acquisition of companies and products including brands and licenses as well as in the area of product develop-

ment for the acquisition of dossiers and approvals.

As of December 31, 2015, intangible assets included goodwill in the amount of € 391.6 million (December 31, 2014: € 372.3 mil-

lion). There were additions to other intangible assets from business combinations – without considering impairments – in the amount 

of  € 33.3 million. This  included  € 1.4 million  for  the  acquisition  of  British  company  Internis,  € 11.8 million  for  the  acquisition  of 

Austrian company SCIOTEC as well as € 20.1 million for the acquisition of the British Socialites group. In addition, in financial year 

2015 development costs in the amount of € 27.5 million (December 31, 2014: € 28.7 million) were capitalized as internally created 

 intangible assets (see Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements – 24.). In the reporting year, impairments on intangible assets 

were recognized in the total amount of € 32.9 million (previous year: € 104.8 million).

Property,  plant  and  equipment  was  at  € 321.6 million  as  of  December  31,  2015  (December  31,  2014:  € 305.4 million). The 

 increase particularly resulted from investments in production facilities in Serbia, the United Kingdom, Russia and Germany.

Other assets comprise various items including, among other things, financial assets, shares in associated companies, deferred tax 

assets, other financial assets and non-current assets and disposal groups held for sale.

Financial  assets  declined  as  of  December  31,  2015  by  € 0.7 million  to  € 1.3 million  (December  31,  2014:  € 2.0 million).  This 

 development was primarily attributable to the inclusion of STADA MENA DWC and STADA Egypt in the scope of consolidation of 

STADA Arzneimittel AG.

Investments measured at equity increased to € 13.2 million (December 31, 2014: € 10.6 million). The growth of this balance sheet 

item particularly resulted from the earnings contribution of associated companies in the reporting year.

Deferred tax assets decreased by € 15.3 million to € 34.1 million as of December 31, 2015 (December 31, 2014: € 49.4 million). 

The decrease primarily resulted from lower temporary differences, which led to deferred tax assets.

Other financial assets in the amount of € 83.0 million (previous year: € 98.7 million) include purchase price receivables. This item 

also includes the positive market values of derivative financial instruments, which amounted to € 27.5 million as of the balance sheet 

date (December 31, 2014: € 33.3 million) and mainly resulted from the cross-currency swaps.

Inventories increased by € 2.7 million to € 501.5 million as of December 31, 2015 (December 31, 2014: € 498.8 million). This 

resulted, among other things, from translation effects in the United Kingdom and Vietnam, which were only partially compensated by 

opposite translation effects in Russia.

In light of the principle of market proximity (see “Basis of the Group – Sales and Marketing”), in specific situations STADA  deliberately 

puts certain range considerations in favor of possible operating opportunities. In individual cases this can lead to value adjustments 

for inventories which burden earnings, if the utilization of opportunities cannot be realized as expected. Total burdens in the amount 

of € 36.5 million as of December 31, 2015 were incurred due to value adjustments in inventories netted with reversals (previous 

year: € 33.7 million). 

Management Report of the Executive Board103

Trade accounts receivable decreased as of the balance sheet date to € 485.9 million (December 31, 2014: € 502.8 million). This 

development resulted, among other things, from reporting date effects as well as translation effects in the context of converting 

 financial statements of foreign subsidiaries with a reporting currency other than the Group currency euro. Furthermore, the factoring 

volume showed an increase as of December 31, 2015 as compared to the balance sheet date of the previous year.

If the possibility of attaining a better market position exists, the Group accepts, if necessary, higher current trade receivables in se-

lected market situations. In the scope of its receivables management, STADA pays thorough attention to the liquidity of customers as 

a rule. However, defaults can never be entirely ruled out (see “Risk Report”). 

Cash and cash equivalents, which include cash and call deposits as well as short-term financial investments, decreased as of 

December 31, 2015 to € 143.2 million (December 31, 2014: € 164.2 million). This development was mainly due to effects related 

to the balance sheet date. Further details on the development of cash and cash equivalents can be found in the consolidated cash 

flow statement.

Equity increased as of December 31, 2015 to € 1,018.5 million (December 31, 2014: € 903.3 million). Here it must be taken into 

account that the Group recorded proceeds from capital increases from the conversion of STADA warrants in the first half of 20151) in 

the amount of € 28.2 million (previous year: € 3.0 million) (see “The STADA Share”). 

Retained earnings including net income comprise net income for the financial year as well as earnings generated in previous 

periods, provided these were not distributed, including amounts transferred to retained earnings. In addition, effects from measure-

ments of the net defined benefit liability that are recognized in other comprehensive income are reported under this item taking 

 deferred taxes into account. In the context of measuring the significant defined benefit obligations as of December 31, 2015 – not 

considering  amounts  attributable  to  non-controlling  interests  –  net  earnings  in  the  amount  of  € 2.7 million  recognized  in  other 

 comprehensive income after deferred taxes resulted from the remeasurement. This is mainly based on the slight increase in the 

discount rate for various defined benefit plans in the STADA Group underlying the measurement of December 31, 2015 in com-

parison to December 31, 2014. In addition, the retained earnings include an adjustment of the previous year recognized directly in 

equity in the amount of € 1.2 million, in connection with a company accounted for at equity.

The  share  capital  and  capital  reserve  of  STADA Arzneimittel AG  increased  as  of  December  31,  2015  by  € 4,460,924.00  to 

€ 162,090,344.00 and by € 23,770,371.60 to € 514,171,360.77 respectively. This development resulted from the increase in the 

number of shares in the first half year of 2015, which was attributable to the exercise of 85,787 options from STADA warrants 

2000/2015. The share options from the STADA warrants mentioned had expired as of June 26, 2015, there were therefore no more 

warrants  outstanding for subscription as of December 31, 2015. As a consequence, the number of shares as of the balance sheet 

date of December 31, 2015 did not increase further as compared to June 30, 2015.

Other  provisions  include  results  recognized  directly  in  equity. This  relates,  among  other  things,  to  foreign  exchange  gains  and 

losses resulting from the currency translation with no effect on income of financial statements of companies included in the Group, 

which are recognized in the statement of changes in equity under the currency translation reserve. In the reporting year, income of 

€ 6.7 million recognized directly in equity arose, which is primarily composed of the following effects: Due to the appreciation of the 

currencies British pound sterling and Swiss franc since December 31, 2014, income recognized directly in equity from the currency 

translation of financial statements of companies reporting in the respective currency was recorded. In contrast, expenses recognized  

1) The exercise period of the warrants expired at the end of June 26, 2015.

Management Report of the Executive Board | Economic Report104

directly in equity as a consequence of the devaluation of the Russian ruble since December 31, 2014 resulted from the currency 

translation  of  the  financial  statements  of  the  companies  reporting  in  the  currency.  In  total,  other  provisions  increased  slightly  to 

€ -364.1 million as of December 31, 2015 (December 31, 2014: € -371.9 million). 

Financial liabilities amounted to € 1,358.9 million as of December 31, 2015 (December 31, 2014: € 1,491.7 million). The item 

includes, in particular, promissory note loans with a nominal value in the amount of € 547.0 million (December 31, 2014: € 552.5 mil-

lion) and a bond with a nominal value in the amount of € 350.0 million and a bond with a nominal value in the amount of € 300.0 mil-

lion (December 31, 2014: two bonds of € 350.0 million each). The change in financial liabilities was mainly based on the placement 

of an additional bond in the first quarter of 2015 for the refinancing of a corporate bond which reached maturity in April 2015. 

 Furthermore, the repayment of current financial liabilities exceeded borrowing.

Trade  accounts  payable  decreased  to  € 328.5 million  as  of  December  31,  2015  (December  31,  2014:  € 340.8 million). This 

 development was primarily due to lower liabilities of STADApharm to health insurance organizations as a result of decreased operat-

ing activities and in Belgium as a result of decreased business.

Remaining liabilities include, among other things, deferred tax liabilities, other financial liabilities and other liabilities.

Deferred tax liabilities showed a decrease to € 160.2 million as of December 31, 2015, which is particularly attributable to a tax rate 

change in the United Kingdom as well as impairments of assets from result of business combinations, which led to a reduction in 

temporary differences (December 31, 2014: € 166.7 million). This effect was partially compensated by the acquisition of the  Austrian 

SCIOTEC and the British Socialites group and the associated purchase price allocations.

Other financial liabilities in the amount of € 226.0 million (December 31, 2014: € 262.7 million) include, among other things, finance 

lease  liabilities  and  liabilities  from  derivative  financial  instruments.  The  finance  lease  liabilities  amounted  to  € 2.2 million  as  of 

 December 31, 2015 (December 31, 2014: € 3.1 million). The liabilities from derivative financial instruments amounted to € 4.6 mil-

lion  on  the  balance  sheet  date  (December  31,  2014:  € 3.1 million),  and  resulted  from  the  negative  market  values  of  derivatives 

measured at fair value with an effect on income, which were partly used as hedging instruments. 

The decrease in other financial liabilities to € 226.0 million as of December 31, 2015 (December 31, 2014: € 262.7 million) was 

primarily a result of decreased liabilities due to discount agreements, among other things due to a quicker settlement of existing 

discount agreements. In addition, this development was based on the decision to take part in tenders for discount agreements with 

only one German subsidiary in the future. With this step, the Group followed the decision to participate in German tenders for discount 

agreements primarily with a view to appropriate operating profitability. Payments for outstanding purchase price liabilities were also 

responsible for the decrease, particularly payments for the acquisition of Internis and the product acquisition of Aqualor®.

The increase in other liabilities to € 104.4 million (December 31, 2014: € 88.9 million) mainly resulted from increased tax liabilities.

Management Report of the Executive Board105

Business Development and Situation |  
General Statements of the Executive Board on Business Development 2015 

In financial year 2015, the STADA Group recorded solid business development in line with the expectations of the Executive Board, 

which reflected the outlook published at the beginning of the year. 

In  the  market  region Asia/Pacific  &  MENA,  STADA  achieved  a  thoroughly  pleasing  development  with  sales  growth  well  into  the 

 double-digit percentage range. The Group was able to increase sales in the market region Central Europe, and both sales and sales 

adjusted for currency and portfolio effects in the market region Germany. Although STADA continued to be faced with difficult frame-

work conditions in the market region CIS/Eastern Europe, it achieved an increase in the double-digit range in sales adjusted for 

currency and portfolio effects.

Overall,  the  Group  had  to  report  one-time  special  effects  in  the  amount  of  € 16.9 million  before  or  € 16.9 million  after  taxes  in 

 connection with currency translation expenses recorded in the income statement as a result of the weak Russian ruble, the strong 

devaluation of the Ukrainian hryvnia and an extremely weak Kazakhstani tenge.

Group sales adjusted for currency and portfolio effects rose in the reporting year – with varying development in the individual 

market regions – by 4% to € 2,133.8 million (previous year: € 2,052.2 million). 

Earnings development was characterized by an increase in almost all reported key earnings figures. 

After  adjusting  the  key  earnings  figures  for  influences  distorting  the  period  comparison  resulting  from  one-time  special  effects, 

 adjusted EBITDA decreased by 10% to € 389.4 million (previous year: € 431.9 million). Adjusted net income declined by 11% to 

€ 165.8 million (previous year: € 186.2 million).

The net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio was at 3.1 (previous year: 3.1). 

Management Report of the Executive Board | Economic Report 
106

REMUNERATION REPORT

This  Remuneration  Report  summarizes  the  principles  applied  to  the  determination  of  the  remuneration  of  the  members  of  the 

 Executive Board of STADA Arzneimittel AG and explains the structure and amount of remuneration of the members of the Executive 

Board. 

The first part of the report presents the Executive Board remuneration system applicable for financial year 2015 and the remuneration 

of the members of the Executive Board both in accordance with the applicable financial reporting principles of the German  Commercial 

Code (HGB) and the German Accounting Standards (DRS), and the recommendations of the German Corporate Governance Code 

(DCGK).  The  redesigned  Executive  Board  remuneration  system,  applicable  from  January  1,  2016,  which  will  be  presented  for  

approval at the Annual General Meeting on June 9, 2016, is subsequently explained. 

The report concludes with a presentation of the remuneration awarded to the Supervisory Board and the Advisory Board in financial 

year 2015.

Remuneration of the Executive Board

The Executive Board remuneration system in financial year 2015

The full Supervisory Board determines the Executive Board remuneration system and the remuneration of individual Executive Board 

members upon the proposal of the Human Resources Committee and reviews these regularly. The Executive Board remuneration 

system applicable for financial year 2015 was agreed by the Supervisory Board in financial year 2010 in accordance with the new 

regulations  of  the  German  Act  on  the  Appropriateness  of  Executive  Board  Remuneration  (VorstAG),  which  came  into  effect  on  

August 5, 2009. This system was approved by the STADA Annual General Meeting on June 16, 2011 in accordance with Section 120 

(4) of the German Stock Corporation Act (AktG).

Principles of Executive Board remuneration

The objective of the Executive Board remuneration system is to allow the members of the Executive Board to appropriately participate 

in the sustainable development of the company according to their personal responsibilities and performance, the overall performance 

of the Executive Board as well as successes in the design of the economic and financial situation of the Company under consideration 

of the competitive environment. 

Overall, the remuneration of the Executive Board in the framework of this remuneration system is performance-oriented and assessed 

in a way that is competitive both nationally and internationally and offers incentives for committed and successful  performance in a 

dynamic environment.

The remuneration of the Executive Board in the framework of this remuneration system is made up of non-performance related 

 remuneration and a performance related remuneration. The performance related remuneration includes a variable annual bonus 

(one-year  variable  remuneration)  and  a  variable  long-term  special  remuneration  (multi-year  variable  remuneration).  Stock  option 

plans and other  comparable components with a long-term incentive effect do not exist. 

Non-performance related components

In  financial  year  2015,  the  non-performance  related  remuneration  consisted  of  an  agreed  basic  salary  paid  out  in  twelve  equal 

monthly installments. This annual fixed salary was determined in accordance with the requirements of stock company law under 

consideration of usual market remuneration with the conclusion of the Executive Board employment contracts.

Management Report of the Executive Board107

The members of the Executive Board received other remuneration in the form of fringe benefits, which consisted for the most part  

of  the  private  use  of  a  company  car,  contributions  to  health  and  nursing  care  insurance  and  other  insurance  services  (accident 

 insurance, among other things). 

In  the  framework  of  the  remuneration  structure,  individual  contractual  commitments  were  fundamentally  possible  for  individual 

 Executive Board members, in accordance with the German Act on the Appropriateness of Executive Board Remuneration, regarding 

additional non-performance related remuneration components, e.g. pension commitments or commitments in case of termination of 

activity.

Performance related component

In  the  remuneration  structure  which  was  applicable  until  financial  year  2015,  performance  related  remuneration  was  structured 

similarly for all members of the Executive Board, however, it differed as a result of individual contractual agreements in the share of 

the total target remuneration and the amount for the individual Executive Board members.1)

The performance related remuneration was made up of the following components for each Executive Board member in the remuner-

ation structure applicable until financial year 2015:

• the variable annual bonus, which consisted of performance related and a target related bonus component and for which a cap 

was agreed upon. While the performance related bonus component of this variable annual bonus was based on the Group’s 

adjusted EBITDA of the respective financial year, the target related bonus component of the variable annual bonus remunerated 

for the achievement of specific pre-determined goals, which were individually agreed upon in writing with individual Executive 

Board members for the respective financial year (personal goal agreement). 

• the variable long-term special remuneration, for which defined annual progress payments were to be made by the Company 

upon the reaching of annual interim goals set out in individual contracts and which targeted the Group’s overall business 

success in a defined target year. The long-term target thereby taken as a basis in individual contracts, as well as the annual 

interim goals, were geared to a challenging adjusted Group EBITDA under the assumed framework conditions for the period 

under consideration; the target year for the variable long-term special remuneration should, at the earliest, generally be the third 

full financial year after the beginning of the contract of the respective Executive Board contract. If the long-term target agreed 

upon for the variable special long-term remuneration is not reached in consideration of the agreed corridor of a degree of target 

attainment, the Company is entitled to the repayment of rendered progress payments in the case that the interim goals of the 

agreed corridor are not reached. A cap for the variable special long-term remuneration was also agreed upon. 

The  Executive  Board  contracts  of  acting  Executive  Board  members,  applicable  up  to  the  balance  sheet  date,  reflected  this  

remuneration system.

Within the concrete arrangement of the Executive Board contracts of current Executive Board members, both the long-term target for 

the variable long-term special remuneration and the respective interim goals for all three Executive Board members are based on the 

Group’s long-term targets for adjusted EBITDA in financial year 2014 as initially published in financial year 2010, as well as on the 

increasing adjusted EBITDA in each subsequent financial year.

1) See the breakdown in the following tables in accordance with the German Corporate 
Governance Code.

Management Report of the Executive Board | Remuneration Report108

Presentation of Executive Board remuneration for financial year 2015

The Executive Board remuneration for financial year 2015 is subsequently presented separately in accordance with two different sets 

of  regulations:  the  German  Corporate  Governance  Code  on  the  one  hand  and  the  applicable  German  Accounting  Standard  17  

(DRS 17) on the other hand.

Executive Board remuneration for financial year 2015 in accordance with the German Corporate Governance Code 

(exemplary charts)

The following presentation of the Executive Board remuneration awarded and paid in financial year 2015 is in accordance with the 

recommendations of the German Corporate Governance Code, as published on May 5, 2015.

The  salaries  awarded  for  the  multi-year  variable  remuneration  component  (long-term  special  remuneration)  are  hereby  to  be  

disclosed using the target for an average probability scenario. This value is reported as a proportional value in accordance with the 

predetermined term of the long-term special targets calculated annually based on each financial year. The payment, to be  reported 

in accordance with the German Corporate Governance Code, represents the payment for the respective financial year – irrespective 

of the exact date of the actual payment.

The remuneration of the individual members of the Executive Board who were active for the Company in financial year 2015, in 

accordance with the German Corporate Governance Code, is as follows: 

in € 000s

Fixed remuneration

Fringe benefits

Total

One-year variable remuneration

Multi-year variable remuneration

• Long-term targets 2014

• Long-term targets 2016

Other 

Total

Service cost

Total remuneration

Hartmut Retzlaff, CEO (Chairman of the Executive Board since 1993)

Benefits granted

Allocation

2015

2,000

35

2,035

589

-

971

-

1,560

-

3,595

2014

2015 (min)

2015 (max)

2,000

142

2,142

848

1,244

-

-

2,092

-17,603

-13,369

2,000

35

2,035

0

-

0

-

0

-

2,035

2,000

35

2,035

850

-

1,323

-

2,173

-

4,208

2015

2,000

35

2,035

589

-

01)

-

589

-

2,624

2014

2,000

142

2,142

848

1,727

-

-

2,575

-17,603

-12,886

The benefits of the Chairman of the Executive Board from the multi-year variable remuneration “long-term targets 2014” amounted 

to a total of € 4,146,000 and were awarded for a term of 40 months (September 1, 2011 to December 31, 2014). In a pro rata 

 presentation in accordance with the regulations of the German Corporate Governance Code, for financial year 2014,  benefits in the 

amount of € 1,244,000 were granted as a result of the long-term targets 2014 (this corresponds to an amount of 12/40). Financial 

year 2014 was the target year for the “long-term targets 2014” and both the interim targets in the previous years and the long-term 

targets for 2014 were achieved.

1) Any amount paid out following the final statement of the long-term targets for 2016 will be 
disclosed in the 2016 Annual Report.  

Management Report of the Executive Board 
 
109

In accordance with the regulations of the German Corporate Governance Code, an allocation of € 1,727,000 was to be reported for 

the Chairman of the Executive Board for the long-term targets 2014 for financial year 2014. This amount represents the difference 

 between (i) the total awarded long-term special remuneration as regards the achievement of the “long-term targets 2014” for the 

relevant  40-month  period  of  € 4,146,000  less  (ii)  the  contractually  agreed  progress  payments  upon  achievement  of  the  interim 

 targets in the previous financial years in the amount of € 806,000 each.

For the remaining term of the current employment contract of Hartmut Retzlaff after the end of financial year 2014 until August 31, 

2016 (i.e. for 20 months), the targets for variable special remuneration were continued as regards the constantly increasing adjusted 

EBITDA following the long-term target 2014 as an interim target for financial year 2015 and a long-term target for target year 2016, 

so-called “long-term targets 2016”. 

Across  the  entire  period  of  20  months,  benefits  for  the  variable  special  remuneration “long-term  targets  2016”  are  expected  to 

amount to a total of € 1,618,000. For financial year 2015, benefits from the long-term targets 2016 in the amount of € 971,000 

were therefore to be reported (this represents an amount of 12/20) in the pro rata presentation in accordance with the regulations of 

the German Corporate Governance Code.1)

Income from past service cost in the amount of € 17.6 million resulted as service cost for the Chairman of the Executive Board for 

financial  year  2014  as  a  consequence  of  the  changes  in  the  plan  and  the  resulting  changes  as  compared  with  the  benefits  in 

 accordance with the former benefit plan. In addition, an expense from administrative costs for the benefit plan in the amount of 

€ 0.7 million and an expense from the adjustment of plan assets in the amount of € 1.0 million were incurred. Net earnings for the 

Group of € 15.9 million resulted, which were recorded in general and administrative expenses and reported as both a (negative) 

benefit and (negative) allocation for 2014 under service cost of the Chairman of the Executive Board.

in € 000s

Fixed remuneration

Fringe benefits

Total

One-year variable remuneration

Multi-year variable remuneration

• Long-term targets 2014

• Long-term targets 2018

Other 

Total

Service cost

Total remuneration

Helmut Kraft, Chief Financial Officer (on the Executive Board since 01/2010)

Benefits granted

Allocation

2015

2014

2015 (min)

2015 (max)

2015

2014

800

30

830

350

-

303

-

653

-

1,483

750

26

776

399

315

-

-

714

-

1,490

800

30

830

0

-

0

-

0

-

800

30

830

350

-

360

-

710

-

830

1,540

800

30

830

350

-

02) 

-

350

-

1,180

750

26

776

399

832

-

-

1,231

-

2,007

1) With the extension of the appointment of Hartmut Retzlaff as Chairman of the Executive Board 
for further five years until August 31, 2021 (see the Company’s press release of September 8, 
2015) a new Executive Board employment contract newly regulated the employment with effect 
from January 1, 2016. The regulations of the previous employment contract, which would have 
continued until August 31, 2016, were ended or replaced by the new contract. The long-term 
special remuneration in accordance with the old contract for the period January 1, 2015 to  
August 31, 2016 will be determined following conclusion of financial year 2016 as the target  
year for “long-term targets 2016” on the basis of the actual achievement of targets, however  
only a proportionate amount of 12/20 will be awarded for the period from January 1, 2015 to 
December 31, 2015.

2) Any amount paid out following the final statement of the long-term targets for 2018 will be 
disclosed in the 2018 Annual Report.  

Management Report of the Executive Board | Remuneration Report 
 
 
110

The salary of Helmut Kraft from the multi-year variable remuneration “long-term targets 2014” amounted to a total of € 1,575,000 

and was awarded for a term of 60 months, corresponding to his contract term at that time (January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2014). 

In a proportional presentation in accordance with the regulations of the German Corporate Governance Code, for financial year 2014 

an allocation in the amount of € 315,000 was awarded as a result of the long-term targets 2014 (this corresponds to an amount of 

12/60). Financial year 2014 was the target year for the “long-term targets 2014” and both the interim targets in the previous years 

and the long-term target for 2014 were achieved.

In accordance with the regulations of the German Corporate Governance Code, an allocation of € 832,000 was to be reported for 

the long-term targets 2014 for financial year 2014. This amount represents the difference between (i) the total awarded long-term 

special remuneration as regards the achievement of the “long-term targets 2014” for the relevant 60 month period of € 1,575,000 

less (ii) the contractually agreed progress payments upon achievement of the interim targets in the previous financial years in the 

total amount of € 743,000.

The  Executive  Board  contract  of  Helmut  Kraft  was  extended  until  December  31,  2018  on  January  17,  2014,  effective  from  

January 1, 2015.1) In this context, new long-term targets were set for the multi-year variable remuneration (so-called “long term 

targets 2018”) with corresponding annual interim targets, which are based on a constantly increasing adjusted EBITDA of the Group 

as compared to the long-term target 2014.

Across the entire contract period of 48 months, benefits for the variable special remuneration “long-term targets 2018” are expected 

to amount to a total of € 1,214,000. For financial year 2015, an allocation from the long-term targets 2018 in the amount of 

€ 303,000 was therefore to be reported (this represents an amount of 12/48) in the pro rata presentation in accordance with the 

regulations of the German Corporate Governance Code.2)

Dr. Matthias Wiedenfels,  
Chief Business Development & Central Services Officer (on the Executive Board since 05/2013)

Benefits granted

Allocation

2015

2014

2015 (min)

2015 (max)

2015

2014

750

33

783

350

394

-

744

-

750

27

777

300

394

-

694

-

750

33

783

0

0

-

0

-

750

33

783

350

495

-

845

-

750

33

783

350

03) 

-

350

-

750

27

777

300

200

-

500

-

1,527

1,471

783

1,628

1,133

1,277

in € 000s

Fixed remuneration

Fringe benefits

Total

One-year variable remuneration

Multi-year variable remuneration

• Long-term targets 2016

Other 

Total

Service cost

Total remuneration

1) See the Company’s press release of January 17, 2014.
2) With the extension of the appointment of Helmut Kraft as member of the Executive Board until 
December 31, 2019 (see the Company’s press release of November 11, 2015) a new Executive 
Board employment contract newly regulated the employment with effect from January 1, 2016. 
The regulations of the previous employment contract, which would have continued until December 
31, 2018, were ended or replaced by the new contract. The long-term special remuneration in 
accordance with the old contract for the period January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2018 will be 
determined following conclusion of financial year 2018 as the target year for “long-term targets 
2018” on the basis of the actual achievement of targets, however only a proportionate amount of 
12/48 will be awarded for the period from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015.

3) Any amount paid out following the final statement of the long-term targets for 2016 will be 
disclosed in the 2016 Annual Report.

Management Report of the Executive Board 
 
111

The  benefits  of  Dr.  Matthias Wiedenfels  from  the  multi-year  variable  remuneration  “long-term  targets  2016”  are  expected  to 

amount to a total of € 1,445,000 and relate to a term of 44 months, corresponding to the term of his current employment contract 

(May 3, 2013 to December 31, 2016). In a pro rata presentation in accordance with the regulations of the German Corporate Gover-

nance Code, for financial year 2014 benefits in the amount of € 394,000 were granted as a result of the long-term targets 2016 

(this corresponds to an amount of 12/44). 

In accordance with the regulations of the German Corporate Governance Code, an allocation of € 200,000 was to be reported for 

financial year 2014 for the long-term targets 2016. This amount corresponds to the contractually agreed progress payment upon 

achievement of the interim target for financial year 2014. 

The benefits for the variable special remuneration “long-term targets 2016” are expected to remain at a total of € 1,445,000 and 

relate to a period of 44 months. For financial year 2015, benefits from the long-term targets 2016 in the amount of € 394,000 

were to be reported (this represents an amount of 12/44) in the pro rata presentation in accordance with the regulations of the 

German Corporate Governance Code.1) 

Executive Board remuneration for financial year 2015 in accordance with DRS 17

The following details on the remuneration granted to Executive Board members in financial year 2015 are provided in accordance 

with the requirements of DRS 17. In contrast with the presented regulations of the German Corporate Governance Code, the dis-

closure of the payments for multi-year variable remuneration components in accordance with DRS 17 is made in full in the year the 

final target is reached, rather than on a pro rata basis. If a payment is made in the year before the final targets are achieved (e.g. as 

a progress payment), then the amount is to be recorded as an advance in the year of payment.

The remuneration of the individual members of the Executive Board who were active for the Company in financial year 2015, in 

accordance with DRS 17, is as follows: 

Hartmut Retzlaff, CEO  
(Chairman of the Executive Board since 1993)

Benefits granted

2015

2,000

35

2,035

589

-

-

-

589

-

2,624

2014

2,000

142

2,142

848

4,146

-

-

4,994

-17,603

-10,467

in € 000s

Fixed remuneration

Fringe benefits

Total

One-year variable remuneration

Multi-year variable remuneration

• Long-term targets 2014

• Long-term targets 2016

Other 

Total

Service cost

Total remuneration

1) With the extension of the appointment of Dr. Matthias Wiedenfels as member of the Executive 
Board until December 31, 2020 (see the Company’s press release of January 8, 2016) a new 
Executive Board employment contract newly regulated the employment with effect from January 1, 
2016. The regulations of the previous employment contract, which would have continued until 
December 31, 2016, were ended or replaced by the new contract. The long-term special remu- 
neration in accordance with the old contract for the period May 3, 2013 to December 31, 2016 
will be determined following conclusion of financial year 2016 as the target year for “long-term 
targets 2016” on the basis of the actual achievement of targets, however only a proportionate 
amount of 32/44 will be awarded for the period from May 3, 2013 to December 31, 2015.

Management Report of the Executive Board | Remuneration Report 
 
 
112

Because financial year 2014 corresponded to the target year defined in the context of the long-term targets 2014, benefits granted 

to the Chairman of the Executive Board as part of long-term special remuneration in 2014 were fully disclosed in financial year 2014. 

Accordingly, this also included the contractually agreed progress payments for the long-term special remuneration in the amount of 

€ 806,000 each upon achievement of the interim goals in the previous years.

The defined target year for the multi-year variable remuneration “long-term targets 2016” is financial year 2016, as a result of which 

benefits for this remuneration component are to be fully disclosed in the report on financial year 2016 in accordance with DRS 17.

in € 000s

Fixed remuneration

Fringe benefits

Total

One-year variable remuneration

Multi-year variable remuneration

• Long-term targets 2014

• Long-term targets 2018

Other 

Total

Service cost

Total remuneration

Helmut Kraft, Chief Financial Officer  
(on the Executive Board since 01/2010)

Benefits granted

2015

800

30

830

350

-

-

-

350

-

1,180

2014

750

26

776

399

1,575

-

-

1,974

-

2,750

Because financial year 2014 corresponded to the defined target year in the context of long-term targets 2014, payments made to 

Helmut Kraft as part of long-term special remuneration in 2014 were fully disclosed in financial year 2014. Accordingly, this also 

included the contractually agreed progress payments for the long-term special remuneration in the total amount of € 743,000 upon 

achievement of the interim goals in the previous years.

The defined target year for the multi-year variable remuneration “long-term targets 2018” is financial year 2018, as a result of which 

benefits for these remuneration components are to be fully disclosed in the corresponding financial year in accordance with DRS 17.

Management Report of the Executive Board 
 
 
113

Dr. Matthias Wiedenfels,  
Chief Business Development &  
Central Services Officer  
(on the Executive Board since 05/2013)

Benefits granted

2015

750

33

783

350

-

-

350

-

1,133

2014

750

27

777

300

-

-

300

-

1,077

in € 000s

Fixed remuneration

Fringe benefits

Total

One-year variable remuneration

Multi-year variable remuneration

• Long-term targets 2016

Other 

Total

Service cost

Total remuneration

The defined target year for the multi-year variable remuneration “long-term targets 2016” is financial year 2016, as a result of which 

benefits for these remuneration components are to be fully disclosed in the report on financial year 2016 in accordance with DRS 17.

In addition to the above-listed remuneration, the Executive Board members received performance related advances1) in the total 

amount of € 200,000 (previous year: € 1,206,250) in financial year 2015; thereof € 02) was attributable to Hartmut Retzlaff (previous 

year:  € 806,250),  € 02)  to  Helmut  Kraft  (previous  year:  € 300,000)  and  € 200,000  to  Dr.  Matthias  Wiedenfels  (previous  year: 

€ 100,000).

The percentage ratio between non-performance related and performance related remuneration of members of the Executive Board 

under consideration of advances ranged in the area of approx. 59% to approx. 78% non-performance related and approx. 22% to 

approx. 41% performance related remuneration.

Commitments to members of the Executive Board

Commitments to members of the Executive Board in case of premature or regular termination 

of their activity and any corresponding benefits 

The Chairman of the Executive Board, upon reaching the contractually agreed start of pension payments, is entitled to a lifelong 

pension in the form of a monthly guaranteed pension as well as a variable non-guaranteed participation feature from which a corre-

sponding benefit increase may result. The start of pension payments can in principle – with the corresponding change in the amount 

of  monthly  pension  payments  –  take  place  variably  within  a  defined  time  period.  In  addition,  a  lifelong  survivor’s  pension  and  a 

temporary orphan’s pension will be paid in case of death. 

The pension commitment for the Chairman of the Executive Board was transferred to a pension fund in full in financial year 2014. 

Despite the transfer, the necessity remains, due to the secondary liability of STADA, to treat the benefit plan as defined benefit plan 

in  accordance  with  IAS  19  and  measure  and  recognize  it  accordingly  in  the  balance  sheet.  The  present  value  of  the  pension  

1) Contractually agreed performance related progress payments of the long-term special 
remuneration upon achieving the respective interim goals.
2) Because financial year 2014 corresponded to the defined target year for the long-term special 
remuneration “long-term targets 2014”, the final amount was paid out in 2015, as a result of 
which no progress payments were made in 2015. No progress payments were made in 2015 for 
the long-term targets 2016 and 2018.

Management Report of the Executive Board | Remuneration Report 
 
 
114

commitments, in accordance with IFRS, was € 31.3 million as of December 31, 2015 (previous year: € 33.7 million). The existing 

plan assets led to a provision of zero due to the required offsetting. Because the pension commitment is fully funded, no further 

provisions are expected in the future.

The current Executive Board contracts also contain a severance payment regulation for a more closely defined change of control, 

which,  in  accordance  with  the  German  Corporate  Governance  Code,  is  not  higher  than  the  value  of  the  remaining  term  of  the 

 Executive Board contract, and is limited in amount to a maximum of three years’ remuneration.

Other commitments

The  Executive  Board  contracts  include  the  provision  that,  in  the  case  of  invalidity  due  to  illness  or  accident,  the  Company  will  

continue to pay the salary, whereby the amount of the continued payment in the first year after the occurrence of invalidity corre-

sponds to the fixed annual salary and, on a pro rata basis, the variable remuneration and, in the second and third year, to the fixed 

annual salary.

The Company has concluded an accident insurance for each of the three members of the Executive Board.

In the context of a group insurance for all three Executive Board members, there exists a so-called D&O insurance with a deductible 

for the Executive Board members within the legal framework.

Benefits from third parties outside the Group, which were promised or granted to members of the Executive Board

in the reporting year with regard to their position in the Executive Board

To the Company’s knowledge, third parties outside the Group have neither promised nor granted benefits to Executive Board mem-

bers with regard to their position in the Executive Board in financial year 2015.

Structure of the Executive Board remuneration system since January 1, 2016 

In financial year 2015, with the support of an independent external advisor, Ernst & Young GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft, 

Hamburg,  the  Supervisory  Board  of  STADA Arzneimittel AG  developed  and  agreed  a  new  remuneration  system  for  the  Executive 

Board, which particularly makes changes to the structure of the performance related remuneration. The revised remuneration system 

came into effect on January 1, 2016 for all Executive Board members and forms the basis of the new Executive Board contracts, 

which  came  into  effect  at  this  time,  and  replaces  the  current  regulations. This  system  will  be  presented  to  the Annual  General  

Meeting on June 9, 2016 for approval in accordance with Section 120 (4) AktG.

An  important  requirement  of  the  new  remuneration  system  was  to  make  it  simple,  transparent  and  attractive,  and  to  allow  the 

 Executive Board members appropriate participation in the continued increase in the enterprise value according to their personal tasks 

and performance, the overall performance of the Executive Board as well as the success-oriented management under consideration 

of the comparable environment. 

The remuneration of the Executive Board members continues to be made up of a non-performance related component and a per-

formance related component. The performance related remuneration comprises a 50% one-year part (annual bonus) and a 50% 

multi-year,  long-term  incentive-oriented  part  (LTIP1)  deferrals).  The  multi-year  part  is  hereby  determined  under  consideration  of  

1) “Long-term incentive plan”.

Management Report of the Executive Board115

share-oriented development. As previously, there are no stock option plans. The following presentation gives an overview of the new 

remuneration system of the Executive Board members:

Non- 
performance 
related 
component

Performance 
related 
component

Basic salary

Annual bonus

—

  One-year part  
(immediate payment)

LTIP deferrals

—

 Long-term multi-year part  
(deferred remuneration dependent  
on additional prerequisites)

Non-performance related components

As previously, the non-performance related remuneration consists of an agreed basic salary paid out in twelve equal monthly install-

ments. This annual fixed salary is determined in accordance with the requirements of stock company law under consideration of 

usual market remuneration.

The members of the Executive Board receive other remuneration in the form of fringe benefits, which consist for the most part only  

of  the  private  use  of  a  company  car,  contributions  to  health  and  nursing  care  insurance  and  other  insurance  services  (accident 

 insurance, among other things). The remuneration does not include any company-organized pension plans. 

Individual contractual commitments will continue to be fundamentally possible in future for individual Executive Board members, in 

accordance with the German Act on the Appropriateness of Executive Board Remuneration, regarding additional nonperformance 

related remuneration components, e.g. pension commitments or commitments in case of termination of activity.

Performance related components

As previously, performance related remuneration is structured similarly for all members of the Executive Board, however, it can differ 

as  a  result  of  individual  contractual  agreements  in  the  share  of  the  total  target  remuneration  and  the  amount  for  the  individual 

 Executive Board members.

The performance related remuneration is dependent on the achievement of the fixed targets set by the Supervisory Board for the 

Executive  Board  and  is  adjusted  depending  on  three  subcomponents  –  the  company  performance,  share  performance  and  

individual Executive Board performance. The performance related component comprises a one-year part (“annual bonus”) and a  

Management Report of the Executive Board | Remuneration Report116

multi-year, long-term incentive-oriented part (“LTIP deferrals”), which is also dependent on the performance of the STADA share as 

compared to the MDAX (share-oriented component). The determination of the amount of the performance related remuneration as 

well as the payment dates are discussed below.

Performance parameters and determination of the performance related remuneration awarded for a financial year

The  Supervisory  Board  defines  a  personal  target  amount  for  each  member  of  the  Executive  Board  for  the  performance  related 

 remuneration with full target achievement. The target amount specified in the new Executive Board contracts essentially corresponds 

to the fixed salary. Before each financial year begins, the Supervisory Board sets company performance targets for the upcoming 

financial year (“performance period”) for the entire Executive Board, upon which the performance related remuneration for this 

 financial year is based. The assessment basis for the performance related remuneration of a performance period is based on the 

adjusted net income, which is determined through the operative planning of the Executive Board for net income for this performance 

period, and is adjusted for extraordinary expenses and income. The performance related remuneration of a member of the Executive 

Board corresponds to the personal target amount, as set by the Supervisory Board, if the exact target is achieved. If the target is 

fallen short of by 25 percentage points or more, the performance related remuneration is reduced to 0% as a malus regulation and 

is dropped entirely for the respective financial year.1) If the target is exceeded by 20 or more percentage points, the performance 

 related remuneration amounts to 180% of the personal target amount, as part of a bonus regulation. Interim values are determined 

on a linear basis. 

Under  consideration  of  the  personal  performance  of  the  Executive  Board  member,  the  Supervisory  Board  has  the  possibility  of 

 increasing or decreasing the amount of the performance related remuneration by up to 20%, however the adjustment may not allow 

the remuneration of a member of the Executive Board to exceed 180% of the personal target value.

The following overview clarifies this:

Amount of the variable remuneration  
as % of the personal target amount

Personal 
target 
amount  
for variable 
remuneration

x

180%

100%

0%

75% 

100% 

120%

Target achievement

Company performance

x

=

Qualitative 
assessment 
by the 
Supervisory 
Board

(Adjustment of  
up to ±20%,  
cap at 180% of 
the target 
amount)

Performance related 
remuneration

Annual 
bonus 
(50%)

3 LTIP 
deferrals  
(50%)

%
7
.
6
1

%
7
.
6
1

%
7
.
6
1

1) In this case, the three LTIP deferrals for this financial year are also dropped for this financial 
year.

Management Report of the Executive Board 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
117

Payment of the one-year performance related remuneration (annual bonus)

Half of the above described amount is paid in the following year as an annual bonus for the financial year. The annual bonus of an 

Executive Board member may reach a maximum of 90% of the personal target amount (upper limit of the one-year performance 

related remuneration). 

Payment of the multi-year, long-term incentive-oriented performance related remuneration (LTIP deferrals)

The remaining half of the performance related remuneration awarded for this financial year (performance period) is divided into three 

equal initial values (“LTIP deferral 1”, “LTIP deferral 2” and “LTIP deferral 3”), whose payment is spread across a period of three 

years (multi-year, long-term, incentive-oriented performance related remuneration).

Each LTIP deferral is allocated a so-called deferral period. The deferral period for LTIP deferral 1 is the financial year following the 

performance period, the deferral period for LTIP deferral 2 is the period of the two financial years following the performance period 

and LTIP deferral 3 is the period of the three financial years following the performance period. 

The payment amount of an LTIP deferral is determined at the end of the associated deferral period. The stock yield of the STADA 

share1) during the deferral period in relation to the performance of the MDAX is set as a constant, neutrally determined performance 

index for medium-sized publicly listed companies such as STADA Arzneimittel AG. 

The payment amount for an LTIP deferral corresponds to the initial value, if the yield of the STADA share has developed in line with 

the MDAX in the underlying deferral period. If the development of the STADA share yield is 70% or less of the MDAX development, 

the LTIP deferral is dropped as part of a malus regulation and there is no payment made for this LTIP deferral. If the ratio is at least 

130%, the payment amount of a deferral is 130% of the initial value as part of a bonus regulation (upper limit for the multi-year 

performance  related  remuneration).  Interim  values  are  determined  on  a  linear  basis.  If  an  above-average  relative  stock  yield  is 

achieved in the performance period, meaning a higher percentage LTIP deferral payment amount is awarded, the actual payment 

amount of all LTIP deferrals may exceed half of the determined performance related remuneration for a financial year (i.e. up to 90% 

of the personal target amount, see above). 

The LTIP deferral payment amounts are due at the end of the respective deferral period at the end of the calendar month following 

the approval of the consolidated financial statements of the previous year by the Supervisory Board. This means that the actual 

payment of the LTIP deferral 1 in the third year, the payment of the LTIP deferral 2 in the fourth year and the payment of the LTIP 

deferral 3 in the fifth year are all based on the year of the performance period. 

1) The stock yield also considers distributed dividends in the LTIP deferral period, in addition to 
price changes. It is calculated as follows:

Stock yield =

Closing price + Dividends

Opening price

Management Report of the Executive Board | Remuneration Report118

The following graphic shows when the individual components of the performance related remuneration of a performance period 

(annual bonus and LTIP deferrals 1–3) are paid:

Financial year 2016

Financial year 2017

Financial year 2018

Financial year 2019

Financial year 2020

= Performance period 
2016

= Performance period 
2017

= Performance period 
2018

= Performance period 
2019

= Performance period 
2020

Annual bonus  
2016 due

+

+

+

Annual bonus  
2017 due

LTIP deferral 1  
for PP 2016 due

Annual bonus  
2018 due

LTIP deferral 1  
for PP 2017 due

LTIP deferral 2  
for PP 2016 due

Annual bonus  
2019 due

LTIP deferral 1  
for PP 2018 due

LTIP deferral 2  
for PP 2017 due

LTIP deferral 3  
for PP 2016 due

Summary

The revised Executive Board remuneration system links the remuneration of the Executive Board members with the (short and long-

term) development of STADA Arzneimittel AG and thereby creates an incentive for successful and sustainable corporate governance. 

The connection of the determination of the performance related remuneration with the adjusted net income takes into account an 

operating performance indicator, which both represents a key figure and plays an important role in external financial reporting. With 

the help of a simple and transparent translation of the deviation of the achieved result from the target, the overall performance of the 

Executive Board has a direct influence on the amount of remuneration. The fixed minimum and upper limits require constant devel-

opment of the company and appropriate maximum limits (caps) avoid an excessively strong incentive towards risk-oriented behavior. 

By forgoing the granting of shares or share options, the new Executive Board remuneration system avoids administrative expenses. 

Nevertheless it reflects the sustainable development of the company on the capital market.

Supervisory Board remuneration

Remuneration system for the Supervisory Board according to the Articles of Incorporation

The remuneration system of the Supervisory Board is governed by Section 18 of STADA Arzneimittel AG’s Articles of Incorporation.  

In accordance with this, the members of the Supervisory Board receive the following remuneration, in addition to the reimbursement 

of their expenses in the previous financial year:

• an annual fixed sum of € 48,000.00 and

• a remuneration based on the long-term success of the Company (long-term variable remuneration) in the amount of 0.02% of 

the average Group earnings before taxes as reported in the consolidated financial statements of the past three financial years. 

The annual cap for long-term variable remunerations is € 48,000.00.

Management Report of the Executive Board119

The Chairman of the Supervisory Board receives triple this amount and his deputy twice the amount. 

Supervisory Board members receive an annual fixed remuneration of € 15,000.00 for their committee activities for the past financial 

year. The Chairman of a committee receives twice this amount in remuneration. 

In addition, sales tax is payable on all Supervisory Board remuneration.

Remuneration of the Supervisory Board in financial year 2015

The remuneration of the individual members of the Supervisory Board who were active for the Company in financial year 2015 are 

as follows: 

• Dr. Martin Abend € 283,359.38 (thereof € 189,000.00 non-performance related and € 94,359.38 performance related) 

(previous year: € 278,900.00, thereof € 189,000.00 non-performance related and € 89,900.00 performance related)

• Carl Ferdinand Oetker € 188,906.26 (thereof € 126,000.00 non-performance related and € 62,906.26 performance related) 

(previous year: € 145,500.00, thereof € 101,100.00 non-performance related and € 44,400.00 performance related)

• Dr. Eckhard Brüggemann € 79,453.13 (thereof € 48,000.00 non-performance related and € 31,453.13 performance related) 

(previous year: € 77,900.00, thereof € 47,900.00 non-performance related and € 30,000.00 performance related)

• Halil Duru € 79,453.13 (thereof € 48,000.00 non-performance related and € 31,453.13 performance related)  

(previous year: € 44,800.00, thereof € 27,500.00 non-performance related and € 17,300.00 performance related)

• Dr. K. F. Arnold Hertzsch € 94,453.13 (thereof € 63,000.00 non-performance related and € 31,453.13 performance related) 

(previous year: € 85,200.00, thereof € 55,200.00 non-performance related and € 30,000.00 performance related)

• Dieter Koch € 94,453.13 (thereof € 63,000.00 non-performance related and € 31,453.13 performance related)  

(previous year: € 92,900.00, thereof € 62,900.00 non-performance related and € 30,000.00 performance related)

• Constantin Meyer € 94,453.13 (thereof € 63,000.00 non-performance related and € 31,453.13 performance related)  

(previous year: € 85,200.00, thereof € 55,200.00 non-performance related and € 30,000.00 performance related)

• Dr. Ute Pantke € 79,453.13 (thereof € 48,000.00 non-performance related and € 31,453.13 performance related)  

(previous year: € 44,800.00, thereof € 27,500.00 non-performance related and € 17,300.00 performance related)

• Jens Steegers € 79,453.13 € (thereof € 48,000.00 non-performance related and € 31,453.13 performance related)  

(previous year: € 44,800.00, thereof € 27,500.00 non-performance related and € 17,300.00 performance related)

Beyond this remuneration no additional monies or benefits have been granted to members of the Supervisory Board for personally 

rendered services in the context of their activities as Supervisory Board members; however, in the context of a group insurance, there 

exists a so-called D&O insurance for all members of the Supervisory Board, with a deductible for the Supervisory Board members, 

which reflects the legal framework of the deduction of the Executive Board members.

Remuneration of the Advisory Board

In accordance with Section 10 of the bylaws of the Advisory Board of STADA Arzneimittel AG, members of the Advisory Board receive 

a flat fee of € 600 per meeting plus expenses.

Management Report of the Executive Board | Remuneration Report120

SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT

No significant events have occurred since the reporting date that could have a significant effect on the STADA Group’s business, 

 financial and earnings situation.

Management Report of the Executive BoardManagement Report of the Executive Board | Supplementary Report | Opportunities Report

121

OPPORTUNITIES REPORT

Opportunities management

The  STADA  Group  has  an  established,  continuous  opportunities  management  in  order  to  secure  short,  medium  and  long-term 

 business success. In this context, STADA aims to determine and seize new growth potential and to secure and expand upon existing 

opportunities for growth.

The strategic success factors create the basis for utilizing growth opportunities that arise and thereby for securing sustainable Group 

success. They mainly include strong product development, an international sales structure, an active acquisition policy including 

 ex perienced integration management, a functionally organized Group with short decision-making processes and close-to-market 

sales companies, a culture of continuous cost optimization including efficient cost management and qualified employees.

Important strategic success factors of the STADA Group

Securing sustainable Group success

Taking advantage of growth potential

Strong product 
 development

International  
sales structure

Active acquisition 
policy

Functionally 
organized Group

Continuous cost 
optimization with 
efficient cost 
management 

Qualified  
employees 

The  regional  organizational  and  management  structure  in  the  sales-related  areas  of  the  STADA  Group,  which  is  organized  in  a 

 strategically centralized manner and managed decentrally, ensures that trends and requirements in the four market regions and the 

associated markets can be recognized and analyzed at an early stage so that arising opportunities can be used in a targeted manner. 

It is supported by intensive observations of both the market and the competition as well as close contact with important institutions. 

In addition, the Group has centrally organized processes for the identification of opportunities. This includes, among other things, the 

area of business development to identify suitable acquisition objects. 

122

In the future, STADA will also continue to expand its Group portfolio in the two core segments Generics and Branded Products. In 

addition to sales and earnings achieved in the context of new product launches, the opportunity exists to attain an improved margin 

mix as well as economy of scale effects insofar as the products can be launched with margins that are better than the Group average 

or that they can be launched within the scope of existing sales structures in the individual market regions. STADA can  hereby fall back 

on sustainable development and approval strength, which is evident in the large number of products launched every year and which 

will continue at a high level in future. In light of the fact that the branded products area is generally characterized by more attractive 

margins and is subject to less regulatory intervention than the generics area, STADA intends to particularly expand develop ment 

activities in the Branded Products core segment. This will take place in close cooperation with the “Center of OTC Excellence”, which 

will continue to support the increasing strategic orientation of the Group towards branded products, including as regards  further in-

ternationalization. With the “time and cheap to market” strategy STADA pursues the goals of launching new products on the market 

not only at the earliest possible time, but also at the best possible cost of sales. Furthermore, in the past STADA has continually 

 increased the number of in-house developments of strategically important and high-sale products with a view to cost savings. This 

will  continue  to  be  the  case  in  the  future. The  increasingly  important  field  of  biosimilars,  particularly  in  competitive  and  margin 

 aspects, also represents an important aspect of product development. In light of the existing potential in this area, STADA will con-

tinue to pursue the strategy of selectively in-licensing biosimilars from highly specialized partners and thereby deliberately avoiding 

in-house developments for risk and cost reasons. In order to expand the existing biosimilar portfolio in a targeted manner, STADA 

continuously reviews offers for in-licensing biosimilars for various indications, which meanwhile also cover biosimilars for monoclonal 

antibodies whose patents expire as from 2020.

The international sales structure in the four market regions defined by STADA is designed to market the products from the Group 

portfolio in a way which is adapted to the different regulatory and competitive framework conditions in the individual markets of the 

market regions. This allows STADA to orient the largely internationally coordinated sales activities towards each local market and to 

react to market changes in the short-term. STADA will continue to develop its internationalization and to expand the existing global 

sales network in order to optimally utilize the respective growth opportunities in the individual market regions.

In the course of the active acquisition policy, STADA intends to further expand the business activities within the Group to accelerate 

organic growth through external impulses. On the one hand, the emphasis is on the regional expansion of the business activities with 

a focus on high-growth emerging markets. On the other hand, the company focuses on the expansion and inter nationalization of the 

core segments – in particular Branded Products - also in markets not yet developed by STADA and in new areas of application. In 

light of increasing pressure to reduce costs to which the  individual national health care systems are exposed, the Executive Board 

sees further growth potential in branded products as they are generally characterized by better margins and less regulatory interven-

tion than generics.

With a view to further growth, functional reporting structures with short decision-making channels and simultaneous strong regional 

market presence will continue to be a high priority in the future. This particularly applies to sales activities, because the ability to adapt 

to structural, regulatory or competition-related changes in the short-term plays an essential role in both reducing risks and exploiting 

opportunities. In light of this, the Group will continue to pursue an aggressive pricing policy in individual cases, provided that this will 

enable the achievement of a better market position or a higher market share. The prerequisite for this approach, however, is that the 

business activities in the relevant market of a market region are profitable or become so within a foreseeable time period. 

Management Report of the Executive Board123

In consideration of earnings, efficient cost management will also be assigned an important function in the future. In the context of 

continued cost optimization, one focus will be cost of sales and all associated costs, as it represents by far the Group’s largest cost 

item. STADA is hereby relying on the continued expansion of the two procurement offices in Shanghai, China and Mumbai, India, 

because these markets represent important resources for the procurement of low-cost active ingredients. With the goal of taking 

advantage of opportunities to reduce costs, STADA will continue to involve suppliers in the market risks and hire suppliers from 

 low-cost countries. In addition, in future STADA will also expand the transfer of product manufacturing to Group-owned production 

facilities, where this contributes towards cost optimization.

The employees of the Group represent another substantial opportunity, since they will continue to have a significant share in the 

sustainable  success  of  the  Group  in  the  future  with  their  extensive  expertise,  their  long-standing  experience  and  their  strong 

 commitment. The  expansion  of  the  numerous  voluntary  benefits  such  as  the  planned  introduction  of  a  lifetime  working  account 

model, which significantly increases flexibility for employees and meets their modern requirements, results in a further increase of 

the attractiveness of STADA as an employer. This and further measures will continue to contribute towards gaining and maintaining 

qualified and committed employees for the company.

Management Report of the Executive Board | Opportunities Report124

RISK REPORT

As an internationally active pharmaceutical company STADA is part of a global business community and is thus exposed to a variety 

of risks in a dynamic market environment. STADA defines a risk as a potential future development or an event which could lead to a 

negative deviation from STADA’s projected business objectives. Taking this into consideration, STADA has installed instruments and 

processes with which risks can be recognized at an early stage.

STADA defines the management of risks as a permanent task of entrepreneurial activities. For this reason, STADA’s Executive Board 

implemented an ongoing risk management system which is integrated into the value-based management and existing  organizational 

structure of the Group and which is based on a globally recognized framework concept, the “Enterprise Risk Management –  Integrated 

Framework” (2004), developed by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The risk manage-

ment system is therefore an integral part of business processes and company decisions.

The risk strategy is based on STADA’s corporate strategy. It aims to put the Executive Board in the position to recognize risks at  

an  early  stage  so  they  can  take  control  of  them  in  due  time. The  risk  strategy  is  practiced  within  all  business  segments  of  the  

STADA Group.

Risk management

As a stock corporation based in Germany, STADA is subject to German risk management legislation such as Section 91 (2) of the 

German Stock Corporation Act. The Executive Board has established a Group-wide risk management system to ensure compliance 

with  the  relevant  legislation  as  well  as  to  guarantee  the  effective  management  of  risks. The  risk  management  system  aims  to 

 systematically  and  regularly  identify  risks  which  are  significant  for  STADA  and  which  may  jeopardize  its  continued  existence,  to 

 assess their effects on the Group and determine possible measures which can be initiated if necessary. At the same time, the risk 

management system is intended to guarantee sufficient security to ensure that STADA’s goals, particularly financial, operational and 

strategic goals, can be reached according to plan. STADA’ s risk management system represents a key element in the  entrepreneurial 

decision-making  process  and  has  therefore  been  implemented  as  an  integral  component  of  business  processes  throughout  the 

STADA Group. The company-wide standard and integrated approach to the management of risks is intended to ensure the effective-

ness of Group-wide risk management and make it possible to aggregate risks and provide transparent reporting.

Management Report of the Executive Board125

The fundamental components of the Group-wide risk management system are:

1. the Risk Management department, which is vertically and horizontally integrated in the Company and is responsible for the 

planning and further development of the risk management system (including the Group-wide establishment of the risk manage-

ment software “R2C – Risk to Chance”), as well as the methods and procedures used to identify and assess risks and support 

the local risk confidants;

2. the local risk confidants who identify and assess risks (including measures) and document and update them in the risk 

management system (bottom-up communication) and who are integrated in all corporate units and subsidiaries throughout  

the Group.

3. written and oral queries (top-down communication) sent to the responsible risk confidants by the Risk Management department 

on current topics and the risk situation in the individual areas of the Group;

4. the company-specific risk management guide, which defines the risk management terms, risk policy and the risk management 

system including the risk management process and responsibilities; 

5. risk reporting at Group level and individual-company level.

STADA’s Group-wide risk management covers STADA Arzneimittel AG and companies in which STADA holds a stake of at least 50% 

even if they are not consolidated. Insofar as identifiable risks to the Group arise at subsidiaries in which STADA holds a stake of less 

than 50%, these risks are also recorded in the Group’s risk management system.

Only risks are recorded in the risk management system. Opportunities are not recorded in the risk management system along the 

lines of risks. The identification and evaluation of opportunities takes place in the respective business environments. An overarching, 

systematic classification regarding the probability and effects of the opportunities is not performed. The opportunities can be found 

in the Management Report of this Annual Report in the chapter “Opportunities Report”.

Management Report of the Executive Board | Risk Report126

Risk management process

At STADA, the risk management process comprises the phases of risk identification, risk measurement, risk control, risk aggregation, 

risk monitoring and risk reporting.

Phase 1

Phase 2

Risk  
identification

Risk  
measurement

Phase 3

Risk  
control

Phase 4

Phase 5

Risk  
aggregation

Risk  
monitoring

Phase 6

Risk  
reporting

Phase 1: Risk identification

Within  the  “risk  identification”  phase,  all  of  STADA’s  corporate  units  and  subsidiaries  systematically  record  all  possible  future 

 developments  or  events  that  could  have  substantial  impact  on  STADA’s  business  model  or  change  STADA’s  risk  profile. These 

 possible future developments or events are allocated to a category in the company-specific risk atlas. These individual risks are 

identified, on the one hand, via self-assessment of the risk confidants (bottom-up) and, on the other hand, via written and verbal 

 inquiry of the Risk Management department (top-down). Close cooperation between the Risk Management department and the risk 

confidants in the individual business areas and worldwide locations should ensure that the individual risks are defined uniformly and 

that thorough risk management can be carried out throughout all departments and countries.

Phase 2: Risk measurement

In the “risk measurement” phase, the respective risk confidant analyzes the cause-and-effect structure and then, individually or in 

cooperation with the Risk Management department, an evaluation is prepared for every individual identified risk. The quantitative 

evaluation of individual risks is based on probability and impact; the evaluation should consider potential direct damage as well as 

indirect results caused by individual risks if they arise. In an additional step, each evaluated individual risk is subjected to a  plausibility 

test by the Risk Management department. Any inconsistencies uncovered by the plausibility test are discussed and resolved through 

cooperation between the Risk Management department and the responsible risk confidant.

Phase 3: Risk control

In the “risk control” phase, the risk confidants, individually or in cooperation with the Risk Management department, identify potential 

measures of risk avoidance, reduction, transfer and/or compensation. The measures identified can relate to the cause (preventative) 

as well as to the effect (reactive). In some cases, the acceptance of an individual risk can be approved as a measure. In an  additional 

step, each identified measure is subjected to a plausibility test by the Risk Management department. Any inconsistencies un covered 

by the plausibility test are discussed and resolved through cooperation between the Risk Management department and the respon-

sible risk confidant.

Management Report of the Executive Board127

Phase 4: Risk aggregation

In the “risk aggregation” phase, the causes of the individual risks are analyzed by the Risk Management department in an initial step. 

Following the analysis, individual risks with identical or similar causes are aggregated in order to increase transparency. The risk 

descriptions and probability of risks grouped into one risk aggregate item are closely analyzed and mutual compatibility is  ensured.

Phase 5: Risk monitoring

In the “risk monitoring” phase, the development of risks, as well as the implementation and effectiveness of the identified measures, 

are continuously monitored by the risk confidants, who are supported by the Risk Management department. For individual,  potentially 

high-risk business processes, the Risk Management department also accompanies the operational implementation in an observa-

tional role.

Phase 6: Risk reporting

In the “risk reporting” phase, the Risk Management department prepares separate, recipient-oriented quarterly risk reports based on 

the individual risks identified and the risk aggregates for the Executive Board, the Vice Presidents and the Managing Directors and 

makes  them  available  in  a  timely  manner. The  risk  report  for  the  Executive  Board  is  also  passed  on  to  the  Supervisory  Board. 

 Significant individual risks and risk aggregates indicated in the recipient-oriented report are jointly discussed by the Executive Board 

and the Supervisory Board and if required, measures to counter risks are addressed. Any new significant risks or risk aggregates that 

appear  between  reports  within  the  scope  of  the  risk  management  system  are  immediately  provided  via  ad-hoc  reporting  to  the 

 Executive Board and, if necessary, the Supervisory Board.

The risk management system run by STADA is regularly reviewed and evaluated by Internal Auditing for compliance with the  statutory 

framework conditions and Group-internal guidelines. In the scope of auditing the annual financial statements, STADA’s auditor also 

reviews and evaluates whether the early risk detection system, which is integrated in the risk management system, is generally 

suitable to recognize risks, which may jeopardize the company’s continued existence, at an early stage. The auditor has confirmed 

that STADA’s early risk detection system conforms to the legal requirements.

Significant features of the internal control and risk management system as relates to the Group accounting process

The Group-wide internal control and risk management system with regard to the financial reporting process (ICRMS) is a 

component  of  STADA’s  Group-wide  risk  management  system.  It  follows  the  objective  of  ensuring  the  accuracy  and  reliability  of 

 financial  reporting  (bookkeeping,  separate  and  consolidated  financial  statements  and  management  reports)  by   implementing 

 appropriate  and  effective  procedures  and  controls,  in  accordance  with  relevant  accounting  standards  and  in   compliance  with 

Group-internal guidelines. This involves the combination of central system organization and control as well as local  responsibility for 

individual sub-processes.

Responsibility for the introduction as well as the functionality of the ICRMS rests with the Executive Board of STADA Arzneimittel AG. 

The  appropriateness  and  effectiveness  of  the  ICRMS  is  assessed  by  the  Executive  Board  at  the  end  of  each  financial  year  at  a 

 minimum. 

The consolidated financial statements are prepared on the basis of Group uniform accounting guidelines laid down by the Corporate 

Accounting department and a Group-uniform accounting plan. New developments in the area of accounting standards are monitored 

on an ongoing basis. Insofar as these are relevant for STADA, the accounting guidelines and the chart of accounts are adjusted  

Management Report of the Executive Board | Risk Report128

 accordingly. The changes are communicated promptly to all companies included in the consolidated financial statements. In addition, 

supplementary process instructions, standardized reporting formats for Group-internal balances as well as IT-based coordination 

processes support the uniform and orderly preparation of the consolidated financial statements of the Group. In this context, STADA, 

if necessary, also relies on external experts, e.g. for the evaluation of pension obligations. The Corporate Accounting department 

hereby ensures uniform implementation Group-wide. 

The primary control functions for the significant accounting processes are carried out by the respective plausibility tests integrated in 

the programs. The software systems used are protected against unauthorized external access by appropriate IT systems. In addition, 

authorization procedures ensure that internally, only the relevant individuals in each case have access to the individual systems.

Outside the software-supported systems, manual plausibility tests and verification of the completeness and accuracy of data and 

calculations are carried out at all Group levels. All separate financial statements of Group companies, which are included in STADA’s 

consolidated financial statements, are generally subject once a year to an audit or review by the auditor. In addition, the auditor also 

carries out a review of the half-year reports of the significant consolidated Group companies.

The functions of the departments significantly involved in the financial reporting process – the Group Accounting department for the 

consolidated financial statements and the Accounting department for the separate financial statements – are organized separately 

within the finance department.

In  the  context  of  internal  auditing  activities  as  an  additional  component  of  the  internal  control  system,  the  appropriateness  and 

 effectiveness of the ICRMS is subjected to regular Group-wide audits, thus ensuring the reliability and functionality of the control 

mechanisms as well as the appropriateness and effectiveness of the risk management system and compliance with Group-internal 

guidelines.

As a controlling body by way of its Audit Committee, the Supervisory Board also regularly monitors the financial reporting process and 

the effectiveness of the control system, the risk management system, the internal auditing system and the audit of the financial 

 statements.

The extent and focus of the established ICRMS is thus fully in line with STADA’s company-specific requirements. In the view of the 

Executive Board, STADA has an appropriate and adequate monitoring system, which includes the necessary components of ICRMS 

for the Group. In the context of a cost benefit analysis of each ICRMS, however, limitations in relation to its effectiveness must be 

tolerated. In addition – even in the case of existing control mechanisms considered as effective – the possibility of errors or an 

 in correct assessment of risks cannot be completely excluded.

Period of assessment

The period of assessment for this Risk Report is generally 24 months in the future to the extent that no other period is stated in 

 individual cases. The assessment of the individual risks relates to December 31, 2015. There were no relevant changes after the 

balance sheet date, which would have required a change in the presentation of STADA’s risk situation. It can, however, on principle 

not be ruled out that further, also key individual risks will arise in the development of business during the risk assessment period, 

which can add to the individual risks stated below.

Management Report of the Executive Board129

Evaluation of risk categories

From  the  STADA  Executive  Board’s  current  perspective,  relevant  anticipated  risks  to  the  Group’s  business  activities  include  the 

 individual risks summarized according to risk categories below. By grouping together similar individual risks, the individual risks are 

aggregated to a greater extent than they are for the purpose of internal controlling with the help of risk-management software. Unless 

otherwise  indicated,  all  individual  risks  described  affect  all  company  segments  (Generics,  Branded  Products  and  Commercial 

 Business) to varying extents.

In order to determine which risk categories are most likely to endanger the continued existence of the STADA Group, individual risks 

are classified according to their estimated or derived probability and impact in relation to STADA’s business, financial and earnings 

situation. The scales used for the measurement of these two indicators are presented in the charts below:

Probability

0% <  

2% <  

10% < 

30% <  

50% < 

70% < 

Impact

€ 0 ≤ 

€ 800,000 <  

€ 2,500,000 <  

€ 5,000,000 < 

€ 10,000,000 < 

Probability 

Probability

Probability 

Probability 

Probability 

Probability 

Impact

Impact

Impact  

Impact

Impact

≤   2% 

≤ 10% 

≤ 30% 

≤ 50% 

≤ 70% 

≤      € 800,000 

≤   € 2,500,000 

≤   € 5,000,000 

≤ € 10,000,000

Description

very low

low

noticeable

reasonable

probable

high

Description

marginal

noticeable

moderate 

significant

serious

STADA only quantitatively evaluates and reports individual risks on the basis of probability and the risk’s potential impact, regardless 

of  the  risk  categorization.  For  this  reason,  internal  controlling  only  takes  place  at  the  individual  risk  level  and  not  the  level  of 

 aggregated risk categories. For presentation purposes within this Risk Report, the evaluated individual risks are converted into  annual 

figures. The converted individual risks are summarized by aggregated risk category and weighted by classification “high”, “moderate” 

and “low”.

The following risks are generally presented as net risks, that is, risks including the steps taken to counteract them.

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Environmental and industry risks

STADA is active in the health care and pharmaceuticals market in market regions and market segments which are characterized, 

among other things, by high price sensitivity, continued margin pressure, intense competition and continuously changing regulatory 

framework conditions. Of primary importance to STADA are risks related to changes in market conditions on the basis of intense 

competition or related to changes to structures and mechanisms outside of STADA’s influence in the individual national markets of 

the respective market regions or market segments. Particular attention in this regard is paid to the STADA core segments of Generics 

and Branded Products.

Some competitors, as a result of their financial or organizational resources, production capabilities, sales strength, and/or market 

power can influence market conditions in a negative manner for STADA. This relates in particular to such activities of competitors that 

influence pricing (for example in tenders for discount agreements), product range and scope of service and/or delivery and discount 

conditions, in order to secure or improve their own competitive position. This can also lead to a (partial) loss of previously awarded 

tenders. In addition, market conditions can also be influenced by the appearance of new competitors.

At the same time, a change in market conditions is also possible as a result of increased purchasing power of individual customers 

or customer groups (such as doctors, pharmacists, patients, health insurance organizations, buying groups, pharmacy chains, whole-

salers, mail-order companies), which could intensify competition regarding price, service, and condition terms as well as result in 

more unfavorable framework conditions of tenders for discount agreements.

STADA may therefore be faced, in individual national markets of the respective market regions, with the choice of either selling at 

prices, which do not cover costs, or foregoing substantial sales and accepting value adjustment and destruction of inventories that 

are no longer required. The loss of these sales may lead to a deterioration of the earnings situation for existing sales, for example due 

to a lower utilization of existing capacities or a worsened quantity scale in the case of external procurement.

To make use of opportunities, if necessary, STADA is principally willing to accept losses in individual markets of respective market 

regions and/or for selected products or product groups, for example in market regions with major growth potential for sales and/or 

earnings or in market regions with strategic and/or operating necessity to maintain or expand its own market position. These losses 

may also be higher than anticipated as a result of competition, customer behavior or government regulation.

STADA operates active risk minimization by comprehensively monitoring the market activity of all market participants and on the 

basis of the observations indicating courses of action.

STADA places this in the “moderate” risk category.

Corporate strategy risks

STADA’s corporate strategy is mainly focused on growth and internationalization in the health care and pharmaceutical market in the 

core segments Generics and Branded Products. With regard to costs and risks, STADA generally does not conduct any own research 

or marketing of new active pharmaceutical ingredients, but rather focuses on the development and marketing of products with active 

ingredients – generally active pharmaceutical ingredients – which are free from commercial property rights, particularly patents.

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STADA’s growth strategy is linked to the risk that STADA might encounter difficulties in connection with certain operational and/or 

financial requirements, which cannot, or not to a sufficient extent, operatively be met. In the event that the Group’s facilities, human 

resources, internal structures, management tools, or financial resources cannot keep pace with the Group’s growth, STADA may be 

affected in a materially adverse manner.

New companies and products acquired in the past or in the future or acquired or self-created other assets may not be integrated into 

the Group as planned, or only at higher costs than originally expected, and/or intended synergy effects may not be achieved, or not 

achieved in the intended amount. Furthermore, acquired companies and/or products may not generate the results anticipated in the 

market. Furthermore, there could be unexpected difficulties in introducing acquired products into new markets or in maintaining their 

existing market positions. Any of the above-mentioned issues can particularly lead to the impairment of assets.

The implementation of a fundamentally growth-oriented corporate strategy requires significant outside financing. In financing  ongoing 

business activities and, in particular, the intended future expansion, there is an inherent risk that the Group may only be able to obtain 

capital or loans under disadvantageous conditions, or not at all.

In principle, internationally active companies, such as STADA, face the risk of having to react differently, and possibly with substantial 

effort, to legal and fiscal conditions that vary from region to region or country to country and are subject to change, to the relevant 

specific market environment, as well as outside of the euro area to different currencies. 

It may be difficult for STADA to enforce its own claims under the law of a country where STADA undertakes business at affordable 

costs and without any materially adverse effects on business in this country. If, contrary to expectations, it turns out that this is not 

the case in a country where STADA undertakes business, this can have materially adverse effects not only for the business activity in 

this country, but also for the Group as a whole in the case of internationally linked business processes.

Moreover,  there  is  the  risk  that  conditions  which  are  relevant  for  the  Group’s  international  operating  activities  –  especially  the 

 conditions of fiscal laws – may be changed by national or supranational regulations in a way that affects STADA in a materially 

 adverse manner. In addition, in connection with the internationalization, there is the risk that the political conditions in individual 

countries generally and for STADA or the Group’s business activity specifically are changed in a materially adverse manner due, for 

example, to international tensions or internal political developments in individual countries where STADA does business. Furthermore, 

parts of STADA’s business activities, especially in the areas of product development and procurement, may be related to the USA and 

may, in the Company’s view, be subject to elevated legal risks there as compared to other countries, particularly in the areas of  liability 

and patent litigation. This may be associated there with substantial additional costs, in particular for legal counsel. The same applies 

to disputes in the USA resulting from agreements with third parties as well as a violation of confidentiality regarding company and 

trade secrets.

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Furthermore, a fundamental corporate strategic risk, thus also relating to STADA, is the fact that markets, market regions and market 

segments  on  which  a  company  strategically  focuses  develop  differently  to  expectations.  Even  if  STADA  undertakes  all  efforts  to 

carefully analyze these expectations in advance, thereby also relying partly on external data and evaluations, assessment errors by 

STADA, due, for example, to insufficient data available, unexpected regulatory or competitive influences, new technological develop-

ments or changed social and macro and/or micro economic trends cannot be ruled out, which may be associated with substantial, 

primarily adverse effects for the Group or individual Group companies.

STADA places this in the “low” risk category.

Regulatory risks

The health care and pharmaceuticals market is characterized by a large number of regulations. Changes to or the removal of existing 

regulations  or  the  passing  of  new  regulations  (in  particular,  regulations  on  a  national  or  supranational  level  relating  to  market 

 structure, pricing and/or approvals of public health care system products for example as a result of court decisions or legislative 

changes) can have significant economic and strategic effects on STADA’s business success. Of primary importance for STADA are 

regulations on a national or supranational level relating to market structure, pricing and/or approvals of public health care system 

products.

For this reason, the risk exists for STADA’s business model that investments that rely on the continuation of existing market structures 

may prove of no value after regulatory intervention or existing market positions may even be jeopardized. This relates for example to 

STADA’s  individual  national  sales  structures,  which  are  geared  to  the  different  national  regulatory  conditions  with  regard  to  the 

 marketing, as well as the sale and trade of pharmaceutical products, but also changes in the direct or indirect purchasing power of 

individual customers or customer groups or changed purchasing behavior.

In  many  markets  of  the  respective  market  regions,  the  prices  of  pharmaceutical  products  are  subject  to  state  supervision  and 

 regulation.  In  some  markets,  governments  also  exert  a  direct  influence  on  pricing.  This  can  mean  that  as  a  result  of  national 

 regulations, the prices of pharmaceutical products are regulated directly (for example through statutory price reductions) or  indirectly 

(for example through reference prices, mandatory discounts, terms and/or requirements concerning discounts, the creation of frame-

work conditions stimulating more intense competition) or influenced by supranational regulations. Pricing pressure as a result of state 

reimbursement systems can reduce the profitability of individual products and in individual cases make the market introduction of a 

new  product  unprofitable.  In  addition,  there  is  the  risk  that  total  government  expenditure  within  the  pharmaceutical  market  of  a 

 company could be capped at a maximum value and, if this value is exceeded, retrospective mandatory discounts will have to be 

granted directly or indirectly by all market participants, thereby also by STADA. This could reduce profitability in the affected countries. 

STADA assumes that the extent of price regulation and pricing pressure will continue or even increase.

Fundamentally, the risk exists for all products in the health care market, but for pharmaceutical products in particular, of exclusion or 

reduction of cost reimbursement as a result of regulatory intervention under the respective national health systems. This can result 

in the profitability of individual products being reduced and in individual cases, the market introduction of a new product becoming 

unprofitable.

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Moreover, the risk exists for pharmaceutical products that framework conditions in pharmaceutical legislation or provisions concern-

ing commercial property rights or other provisions that are relevant for the expansion of the product portfolio can be changed through 

national or supranational regulations in a way that affects STADA in a materially adverse manner. Similar risks also exist for other 

partially regulated product categories in the health care market such as, for example, medicinal products.

Exact predictions concerning the introduction and scope of potential changes in national or supranational regulations as well as their 

effects on the market structures and/or business processes which are of relevance for STADA are not possible since the introduction 

and  scope  of  such  regulations  depend  on  the  political  process  of  the  country  in  question  or  on  court  decisions  and  after  such 

 regulations have become effective, the consequences are also influenced to a large degree by the reactions of the market participants 

affected. Changes in the regulatory environment in STADA’s main markets by sales volume are continuously analyzed. Depending on 

the extent of state regulation, it could become necessary to adjust the business model.

STADA places this in the “moderate” risk category.

Product portfolio risks

The continuous expansion of the product portfolio plays an essential role for the competitive position and business success at STADA. 

Associated with this is the risk that due to unexpected events and/or the faulty implementation of activities preparing market entry 

– such as product development and approval – products to be added to STADA’s product portfolio are, contrary to plans, either not 

launched  on  the  market,  or  launched  belatedly,  or  only  launched  at  higher  development  and/or  production  costs  than  originally 

 assumed. Reasons for this can include additional requirements of approval authorities, direct government price controls or  additional 

approvals  for  reimbursement  via  the  relevant  national  health  system. The  risks  of  development  and  approval  processes  for  new 

products are continuously identified and evaluated.

In addition, meticulous observance of relevant legislation is extremely important for the development and approval of every  individual 

product. For generics, this also particularly applies to a great extent to the observance of commercial property rights (such as patents, 

SPCs and “data exclusivity”). If individual legislative requirements are violated, the result may be a delay or even prevention of the 

launch of a new product due to legal steps taken by competitors or rejection by the approval authorities. To the extent that STADA has 

offered products by assuming legal clearance and in the course of court decisions it turns out that this assumption was wrong, there 

is the risk that STADA has to take launched products at significant costs off the market, adjust the value of and destroy inventories 

which had existed already and those taken back as well as meet significant damage claim payments if, for example, commercial 

property rights were infringed. 

Despite intensive testing, it is possible that potential side effects or initially hidden defects of existing products are only uncovered 

after approval or during marketing or that new scientific findings or evaluations could lead to an unfavorable risk/benefit analysis 

which would result in the necessity to remove the product from the market either completely or in part. Such a sales stop can be a 

voluntary act of responsibility or also due to legal or government steps. Additionally, legal proceedings and associated damage claims 

as a result of possible side effects or initially hidden defects could significantly burden earnings.

STADA places this in the “low” risk category.

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Legal risks

STADA’s business activities are subject to risks resulting from existing or potential future legal disputes. Risks that occur in relation 

to legal disputes are identified, evaluated and communicated on a continuous basis.

STADA’s business activity, in particular in the core segment Generics, is associated with an elevated risk of legal disputes regarding 

commercial property rights (especially patents and SPCs) as well as allegations of violations of company or trade confidentiality and 

such disputes may be initiated by third parties with respect to STADA or by STADA with respect to third parties. In order to protect 

trade  and  business  secrets,  which  are  to  be  treated  with  confidentiality,  STADA  makes  use  of  confidentiality  agreements  with 

 employees, external alliance partners, service providers or certain other contractual partners. However, there is no guarantee that 

these agreements and other protective measures taken to ensure business and trade secrecy actually represent effective protection 

or  that  they  will  not  be  violated.  In  addition,  there  is  no  assurance  that  business  and  trade  secrets  will  not  become  known  to 

 com petitors by other means. Such events could result in considerable costs, in particular when such proceedings occur in the USA. 

Moreover,  they  could  result  in  significant  damage  claims  and/or  a  temporary  or  permanent  ban  on  the  marketing  of  particular 

 products.

If there is a serious risk of future claims, STADA creates product-specific provisions considered to be commensurate with potential 

damage claims, which amounted to a total volume of € 1.1 million for the Group as of December 31, 2015 (December 31, 2014: 

€ 0.3 million). In principle, STADA cannot guarantee that the provisions made will be sufficient for individual instances or in total.  

STADA’s business activities engender risks associated with liability claims. Should specific Group products prove to be defective and/

or to cause undesirable side effects or should individual services or activities of the Group be carried out in a faulty way, this could 

result in substantial damage claim liabilities and in the restriction or withdrawal of the product approvals concerned or in the with-

drawal of the service approvals. There is, in principle, no assurance that the insurance policies maintained by the Group, depending 

on type and scope, will offer sufficient protection against all possible damage claims or losses.

In addition, STADA is subject to a jurisdiction risk, which can turn out to be considerably more adverse than initially expected by 

STADA. This risk relates to both those trials in which STADA itself is a participant as well as third-party trials in which judgments could 

have an indirect, materially adverse impact on STADA and/or the market environment that is relevant for STADA. This applies in 

particular to decisions relating to competition law and anti-trust law, tax law, patent law and to the implementation of individual 

regulatory requirements in the provision of health care at a national and/or supranational level. 

STADA places this in the “moderate” risk category.

Performance-related risks

The Group’s own production facilities are subject to the risk of defective or inefficient planning and production processes as well as 

to production faults and breakdowns as a result of this or external influence. This could have a materially adverse effect on costs, 

competitiveness, supply availability and the associated expectations regarding units sold, sales and earnings as well as the image 

with clients.

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Although STADA undertakes all efforts to carry out exclusively safe business processes – particularly in the areas of product devel-

opment, production and logistics – the occurrence of unexpected disruptions in the context of such processes, possibly endangering 

the health of employees from STADA or third parties and/or resulting in environmental damage cannot be ruled out, since STADA 

regularly works with hazardous substances in the development, production and examination of products from the Group portfolio, 

especially in case of drugs. Furthermore, it cannot be ruled out that the preventive measures and insurances taken do not provide 

sufficient coverage in the case of a damaging event.

In the core segment Generics, individual national markets are increasingly characterized by very large volume fluctuation that  regularly 

arises in the context of tenders by governmental institutions or public health insurance organizations. Even though STADA undertakes 

every effort to avoid delivery bottlenecks and/or an unintentional increase in inventories (e.g. via scenario calculations and a specific 

operational positioning of the respective supply chain), such events cannot generally be ruled out in consideration of the comprehen-

sive portfolio. 

External  suppliers,  contract  manufacturers,  sales  licensees  and  other  contractors  have  been  integrated  into  STADA’s  business 

 processes  to  a  considerable  extent,  particularly  in  the  areas  of  product  development,  procurement,  production,  and  packaging, 

 logistics as well as sales, though also to an increasing extent in other areas. Furthermore, the Group is taking increasing advantage 

of the opportunity of having services, which are essential for the Group’s success performed by third parties, with whom  cooperations 

are entered into. In addition, STADA has specifically licensed German pharmacies to undertake the final packaging of partially packed 

products delivered by STADA in their own pharmacies. This license currently applies to two branded products. When third parties are 

incorporated into the Company’s business processes, the risk arises that individual business or cooperation partners may not comply 

properly or at all with their obligations or that they may terminate their agreements with the Company, resulting in material adverse 

effects for STADA. Moreover, STADA could become liable for infringements on the part of business or cooperation partners.

STADA is dependent on global developments with respect to purchase prices for active ingredients or auxiliary materials required as 

well as on the prices negotiated with contract manufacturers in the case of products produced by these companies; these prices may 

fluctuate significantly, also depending on the product. To limit the risk of market-related margin losses due to falling selling prices, 

STADA partly makes use of instruments with suppliers that involve them in the market price risk such as price escalation clauses 

linking  procurement  prices  to  current  selling  prices,  retroactive  negotiations  or  the  agreement  of  special  procurement  prices  for 

special sales volumes, in the context of tenders, for example. However, it cannot be ruled out that procurement cost increases and/

or supply shortages in the case of individual products will have materially adverse effects on the Group’s sales and/or profit margins.

Numerous contracts in the STADA Group include – especially in the areas of product development and production as well as for 

distribution rights – so-called “Change of Control” clauses, which usually provide both contracting parties, as is usual in the industry, 

with  reciprocal  extraordinary  termination  rights  for  agreements  concluded  by  the  parties  in  the  case  that  one  of  the  contracting 

 partners becomes subject to a so-called change of control (change of majority shareholder), e.g. after a successful takeover offer. In 

the case of a change of control in the STADA Group this could result in material adverse effects for STADA if contracting parties make 

use of such extraordinary termination rights, in particular if the extent of these terminations is beyond individual cases.

STADA places this in the “moderate” risk category.

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Human resources risks

STADA depends to a large extent on the commitment, motivation and abilities of its employees. The loss of specialists and managers 

in key positions could have significant adverse effects on the development of the Group. The Group’s continued success also depends 

on its ability, in competition with other companies, to attract and keep qualified employees in the future for the long term regardless 

of demographic challenges. Country and industry-specific fluctuation risks must be proactively identified and addressed specifically 

to  maintain  success  and  critical  skills  and  competencies  within  the  company.  STADA  counters  these  risks  through  global  staff 

 development and succession processes through which the potential of the employees is systematically identified and promoted. In 

addition, STADA uses targeted development activities to support both young and experienced, highly qualified  employees in their 

career development and to develop and retain performance-critical skills in the company.

It is STADA’s expressed goal that all business processes and Group activities be carried out exclusively within the framework of 

 respective laws in force. To this end, within the scope of the compliance system established at STADA, all employees are regularly 

trained and instructed, to an extent adjusted to the scale of their individual areas of responsibility. It can, however, not be completely 

ruled out that employees, in the execution of business processes deviating from the Group regulation of full compliance, act  negligently 

or intentionally in breach of legal regulations and that such breaches affect the business activities of the Group and/or individual 

subsidiaries or the business, financial and earnings situation of STADA in a materially adverse manner, e.g. following the discovery of 

such legal breaches through the imposition of damages and/or compensation and/or the payment of fines, exclusion from tenders or 

damage to reputation.

STADA places this in the “low” risk category.

Risks in relation to information technology

STADA’s  strategic  goals  can  only  be  achieved  by  optimal  alignment  and  appropriate  support  using  a  variety  of  IT  systems  and 

 processes. Therefore, the Group has to make continuous investments to appropriately adapt these complex and high-performing 

systems to changing business processes. 

Global IT applications in process control thereby form the basis for the delivery of products to the global customers of the STADA 

Group as agreed upon. In the event that information technology processes of the Group are insufficient and/or inefficient, despite all 

precautions,  this  could  have  materially  adverse  effects  on  business  processes  at  STADA. Variations  in  the  quality  of  internal  IT 

 services can also lead to failure of business-critical IT applications that would have a direct impact on STADA’s ability to deliver. 

Similarly, the failure of a data center could affect the quality of service or lead to a complete failure of critical applications.

The abuse of digital technology and the Internet as a means to perpetrate new types of crime, i.e. cybercrime as a whole (e-crime), 

is developing at great speed and represents a further challenge. This can result in threats such as the failure of central IT systems, 

the  disclosure  of  confidential  data  from  development  and  business  activities,  manipulation  of  IT  systems  in  process  control  or 

 increased strain on and/or impairment of IT systems through virus attacks. This scenario also includes the temporary takeover of 

exposed systems by hackers and consequently the possible revocation of pharmaceutical approval due to the deficient validation of 

relevant IT systems. Such unauthorized data access, misuse or loss of data could also have materially adverse effects on the Group.

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Currently, the gradual conversion of various information technology systems (IT systems) to an integrated SAP system is being carried 

out in the Group. Generally, when introducing new or converting existing IT systems, there is an elevated risk that unanticipated 

events occur which, during the initial phase and also during the integration and expansion phase, can have materially adverse effects 

on the course of business processes and thus could influence business activities of the Group and/or of individual Group companies 

in a materially adverse manner.

STADA places this in the “low” risk category.

Economic risks

STADA’s  business  success  is  also  generally  dependent  on  economic  influences  because  an  economic  downturn  can  regularly 

 intensify the already prevalent cost pressure in national health care systems. It could thereby potentially significantly increase the 

speed and extent of regional regulatory measures to contain costs. As a result, adverse characteristics for STADA such as state- 

required price reductions, particularly for prescription drugs, cannot be ruled out.

Moreover, sales volume and sales of Group products or product lines are particularly sensitive to changes in the economic environ-

ment, for which the consumer is not reimbursed as part of the individual national health insurance system but must bear a major part 

or all of the costs. In the scope of STADA’ s product portfolio this is true in particular for drugs used for self-medication, for products 

without a pharmaceutical character as well as for services offered and for prescription drugs in market regions containing countries 

without a comprehensive state health care system, such as Russia in the market region CIS/Eastern Europe.

Another material risk for STADA lies in the area of corporate finance. Parameters in this area significantly influencing Group success 

such as financing possibilities, interest rates, inflation rate, currency ratios and client liquidity can be subject to distinct economic 

influences and thereby also have a material adverse effect on STADA’s business success in case of an economic downturn. Further-

more, liquid financial markets for refinancing are an important precondition for STADA’s acquisition policy. In case of disruptions of 

the financial markets – no matter whether globally or regionally in market regions that are important for STADA – materially adverse 

effects for the Group cannot be ruled out.

Since the beginning of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine in 2014, the development of STADA, particularly in the Russian 

market, which is part of the market region CIS/Eastern Europe, has been burdened by this conflict. In financial year 2015, this had a 

negative impact on STADA, on the one hand, through a reluctance to buy among Russian consumers and wholesalers. On the other 

hand, it led to a partially significant devaluation of the Russian ruble, the Ukrainian hryvnia and the Kazakhstani tenge. In addition, the 

continued unrest in the MENA region had a negative effect on the export business in financial year 2015. On the one hand, a reluc-

tance to buy due to the political uncertainty was noticeable, on the other hand, contract conclusions with governments and/or whole-

salers were delayed. It is currently unclear how long the political upheaval will last. If these crises continue, this could have further 

negative impacts on the earnings situation and financial performance of the STADA Group (see “Financial Risks”).

Another risk lies in the value of the assets in the consolidated balance sheet, in particular goodwill and other intangible assets. They 

are subject to thorough and detailed reviews. Within the scope of an annual impairment test, the value of goodwill as well as other 

intangible assets with determinable and indeterminable useful lives is reviewed. In addition, in the case of specific indications, both 

intangible assets as well as property, plant and equipment are subject to a case-related impairment test. Generally, it cannot be ruled 

out here that in the annual impairment tests or in the case-related impairment tests carried out over the course of the year that, for  

Management Report of the Executive Board | Risk Report138

example, as a result of new findings in approvals or of changes to the market conditions in individual market regions or  individual 

countries of a market region, a relevant impairment may occur.

In the case of a global financial and economic crisis, the economic-related cyclical risks indicated above can increase considerably.

STADA places this in the “low” risk category.

Financial risks

To the extent that it is possible, STADA counters financial risks with finance policy methods and specific risk management.

The basic principles of financial policy and of financial risk management are determined or confirmed at least once annually by the 

Executive Board in the context of the budget process. Furthermore, all transactions above a certain limit determined to be relevant by 

the Executive Board must first be approved by the Executive Board. The Executive Board is also regularly informed of the nature, 

scope  and  amount  of  current  risks. With  a  view  to  assets,  liabilities  and  planned  transactions,  these  risks  relate  in  particular  to 

 changes in exchange rates and interest rates. It is the objective of financial risk management to limit these market risks of ongoing 

operative and finance-related activities. For this purpose, depending on the assessment of the financial risk, selected derivative and 

non-derivative hedging instruments are used. However, on principle only financial risks are hedged which have significant conse-

quences on the Group’s cash flow.

Liquidity risks result if STADA does not hold sufficient liquidity. They may result, for example, from the loss of existing cash items, lack 

of availability of credit, reduced access to financing markets or fluctuation in the operational development of business. The goal of 

the liquidity management is to ensure solvency and financial flexibility of the STADA Group at all times by way of main taining a suf-

ficient supply of liquidity reserves and having free credit lines. STADA finances itself with short-term and long-term borrowings from 

banks, promissory note loans, bonds and factoring. Furthermore, STADA has solid operating cash flow and further bilateral credit 

contracts with various banks (credit lines), which can be utilized as needed.

STADA’s Group and balance sheet currency is euro. Due to the international alignment of business activities, STADA is, however, 

subject to risks arising from exchange rate fluctuations. 

These risks consist of potential changes in value, especially of receivables and liabilities in a currency other than the respective 

functional currency or as a result of exchange rate fluctuation (transaction risk). 

STADA counters risks from currency related cash flow fluctuations with derivative financial instruments, which are exclusively used 

to hedge currency risks resulting from operating activities, financial transactions and investments. Derivative financial instruments are 

neither held nor issued for speculation purposes.

In addition to natural hedges, STADA generally employs different financial derivatives to counter the risks associated with assets, 

 liabilities  and  anticipated  future  cash  flows  denominated  in  foreign  currency.  In  the  reporting  year,  STADA  made  use  of  foreign- 

exchange futures contracts and interest / currency swaps. The maturity dates of futures contracts are thereby selected to match the 

Company’s anticipated cash flows. The remaining term of the contracts is currently up to two years.

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Additional risks exist due to the fact that exchange rate fluctuations in the consolidated financial statements lead to an accounting 

effect as a result of the conversion of a balance sheet items as well as the conversion of earnings and expenses of international Group 

 companies with a different functional currency than euro (translation risk). In this connection, the current political conflict between 

Ukraine and the Russian Federation could indirectly continue to have a negative influence on the earnings situation and exchange 

rates. The  appreciation of the euro as compared to the other currencies is generally negative and devaluation is generally positive. 

Currency  risks  primarily  stem  from  business  transactions  in  the  following  currencies:  Russian  ruble,  British  pound  sterling  and 

 Serbian dinar. This risk is not hedged.

According to a currency sensitivity analysis within the scope of regulations of IFRS 7 based on the foreign currency items outstanding 

as of the balance sheet date, an appreciation or devaluation of the corresponding functional currency compared to the transaction 

currency relevant for the Group of 10% would have led to an effect on earnings of expenses in the amount of € 6.8 million (previous 

year: € 7.1 million) or of income in the amount of € 6.8 million (previous year: € 7.1 million). Of these effects on earnings, € -1.3 mil-

lion  or  € 1.3 million  relate  to  the  Russian  ruble,  € -1.7 million  or  € 1.7 million  relate  to  the  Kazakhstani  tenge,  € -3.7 million  or 

€ 3.7 million to the Ukrainian hryvnia.

In principle, it cannot be ruled out that hedging strategies against currency risks turn out to be insufficient, wrong or suboptimal.

STADA is subject to interest rate risks from financial assets and financial debts, primarily in the Euro zone and Russia.

In order to minimize the effects of significant interest rate fluctuations, STADA manages the interest rate risk for the financial liabilities 

denominated in euro with derivative hedging transactions. STADA calculates existing interest rate risks using sensitivity analyses, 

which show the effects of changes in market interest rates on interest payments, interest income and expenses as well as equity.

A sensitivity analysis according to the regulations of IFRS 7 has shown that an increase in market interest rates of 100 basis points 

in financial year 2015 would have led to a burden on earnings in the amount of € 0.7 million (previous year: € 0.5 million) and a 

decrease in market interest rates of 100 basis points would have also led to a burden on earnings in the amount of € 0.7 million 

(previous year: relief on earnings of € 0.4 million).

In financial year 2015, to hedge the interest rate risk, there were cash flow hedges in the form of interest-rate swaps.

Derivative financial instruments are neither held nor issued for speculation purposes.

In addition, STADA may be exposed to a default risk in its operating business or as a result of financing activities if contracting parties 

fail to meet their obligations. 

To avoid default risks in financing activities, on the one hand respective credit management processes are in place, and on the other 

hand such transactions are generally only concluded with counterparties of impeccable financial standing. 

Risks of default also exist as a result of the supply of goods and services. STADA generally conducts business transactions not against 

cash payment, but on an invoicing basis to numerous debtors. The fundamental, partly also cyclical commercial risk of debtor default 

is associated with this. STADA therefore strives to maintain business relations only with partners of impeccable financial standing. In 

addition, STADA partly uses suitable measures such as guarantees, loan insurances or the transfer of assets to safeguard itself 

against default risk. However, it cannot be ruled out that these measures are insufficient and non-payments of individual  debtors,  

and therefore burdens from one-time special effects, arise to a significant extent. Past due receivables in the operating area are  

Management Report of the Executive Board | Risk Report140

continuously monitored and potential default risks are anticipated through value adjustments. In addition, there is the risk that in a 

 difficult economic and financial environment, national health care systems delay or fail to make payments to STADA or business 

partners of STADA and that, as a result, directly or indirectly increased default risks arise.

In the context of a hypothetical risk assessment, there are also other price change risks related to market prices. However, as of the 

balance sheet date, STADA does not recognize any more available-for-sale financial assets, whose fair values are determined based 

on market prices.

STADA takes advantage of an international network and carries out strategic Group functions centrally through STADA Arzneimittel 

AG.  Thus  an  overarching  tax  transfer  pricing  model  for  the  billing  of  the  corresponding  intercompany  services  is  of  increasing 

 importance. Potential risks of non-recognition of these transfer prices for tax purposes, for example from retroactive tax claims of the 

local tax authorities against a subsidiary of the STADA Group, are limited by way of the introduction of  corresponding agreement 

procedures and a comprehensive definition of transfer prices in the form of a Group guideline. However, non-recognition of transfer 

prices can not be completely ruled out.

Furthermore, STADA has obligations in connection to pension plans. The present value of benefit obligations according to IFRS is 

influenced by changes in relevant valuation parameters, for example, interest rate changes or future salary increases. Thus, there is 

a risk of relevant valuation parameters changing in a way that is unfavorable for STADA and as a result, the present value of the 

 retirement benefits increases significantly.

In general, it cannot be ruled out that the financial policy methods and the specific financial risk management implemented by STADA 

and described above, prove insufficient to avoid all financial risks and the materially adverse effects for STADA that are potentially 

associated with them.

STADA places this in the “moderate” risk category.

Other risks

STADA as a Group and the STADA subsidiaries in the market regions or markets, like any company, are subject to additional general 

business risks such as unexpected disruptions in infrastructure, strikes, accidents, natural disasters, sabotage, criminal activities, 

terrorism, war and other unforeseeable materially adverse influences. STADA protects itself against such risks to the extent possible 

and  financially  reasonable  through  appropriate  insurance  policies.  However,  it  cannot  be  ruled  out  that  these  insurances  are  in-

sufficient.

Should STADA no longer meet the necessary criteria according to IFRS 10 (“Consolidated Financial Statements”) for control, and 

thereby for consolidation, of subsidiaries due to particular capital constraints or other measures – such as may come as a result of 

political or military conflict – STADA would have to deconsolidate these companies. The resulting effects depend on the significance 

of the affected companies for STADA and could result in materially adverse effects for the Group.

STADA places this in the “low” risk category.

Management Report of the Executive BoardSummary evaluation of risks

Risk category

Environmental and industry risks 

Corporate strategy risks 

Regulatory risks 

Product portfolio risks 

Legal risks 

Performance-related risks 

Human resources risks 

Risks in relation to information technology

Economic risks

Financial risks 

Other risks 

141

Risk classification by STADA

moderate

low

moderate

low

moderate

moderate

low

low

low

moderate

low

In the event that one or more of the above-mentioned risks should materialize or newly occur in the development of business, this 

could respectively have materially adverse effects on the Group’s business activities. In particular, respective material adverse  effects 

on STADA’s business, financial and earnings situation could be associated with this. 

The assessment of the overall risk situation is the result of the consolidated consideration of all significant individual risks on the 

basis of the applied risk management. As a result of the continued tense geopolitical situation in the CIS region, the risk environment 

of STADA is unchanged. From today’s perspective, however, no risks are discernible which, individually or as a whole, could  jeopardize 

the continuance of the Group.

Management Report of the Executive Board | Risk Report142

TAKEOVER-RELEVANT INFORMATION

In accordance with Section 315 (4) HGB, STADA is obligated to disclose the following information in the Annual Report:

Composition of share capital, rights and obligations/restrictions associated with shares, 

which affect the transfer of shares

Share capital amounted to € 162,090,344.00 as of December 31, 2015, divided into 62,342,440 registered shares with restricted 

transferability with an  arithmetical share in share capital of € 2.60 per share. 

The shares of STADA Arzneimittel AG are exclusively registered shares with restricted transferability, which, under the Articles of 

 Incorporation, can only be transferred and entered into the share registry with the approval of the Executive Board of the Company 

and which, in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation, grant one vote each in the Annual General Meeting. Shareholders are only 

those who are registered as such in the share registry and only such persons are authorized to participate in the Annual General 

Meeting and to exercise voting rights. No shareholder and no shareholder group shall have any special rights.

Shares acquired by employees within the scope of the employee stock option program are subjected to a three-year lockup period.

Appointment and dismissal of Executive Board members / Amendments to the Articles of Incorporation

The Executive Board is appointed and dismissed exclusively in accordance with legal regulations (Sections 84, 85 AktG). 

The Articles of Incorporation do not provide special provisions on the appointment or dismissal of individual and all members of the 

Executive Board. Only the Supervisory Board is responsible for the appointment and dismissal. It appoints members of the Executive 

Board for a maximum of five years. A repeated appointment or extension of the term is allowed, for a maximum of five years each, in 

accordance with the legal regulations. In accordance with Section 9 of the Articles of Incorporation, the Executive Board consists of 

two or more persons. In addition, the Supervisory Board determines the number of Executive Board Members and may appoint  deputy 

Executive Board Members.

The Articles of Incorporation may generally be amended through a resolution of the Annual General Meeting. 

The amendment takes effect with the entry of the amendment to the Articles of Incorporation into the commercial register. Amend-

ments to Articles of Incorporation require, according to Section 179 (1) of the German Stock Corporation Act (AktG), a resolution of 

the  Annual General Meeting, provided no other majority is foreseen, a majority of three-fourths of the share capital represented in the 

vote pursuant to Section 179 (2) AktG. Insofar as a change to the purpose of the company is affected, the Articles of Incorporation 

may call for a large majority. The Articles of Incorporation exercises in Section 23 (1) the possibility of a deviation pursuant to Section 

179 (2) AktG and stipulate that, unless otherwise provided by mandatory provisions of the German Stock Corporation Act, resolutions 

shall be passed by a simple majority of the votes cast and, insofar as a majority of the share capital is  represented at the time the 

resolution is passed, with a simple majority of the capital present insofar as this is legally permissible. In case of a tie, a motion shall 

be deemed denied. 

Furthermore, the Supervisory Board is authorized in accordance with Section 32 of the Articles of Incorporation to resolve on amend-

ments and additions to the Articles of Incorporation which relate only to their wording.

Management Report of the Executive Board143

Authorizations of the Executive Board to issue or buy back shares

On June 5, 2013 the Annual General Meeting authorized the Executive Board, with the approval of the Supervisory Board, to increase 

the share capital of the Company on one or more occasions by June 4, 2018, by up to € 77,134,304.00 through the issue of up to 

29,667,040 registered shares with restricted transferability against contributions in cash and/or in kind (authorized capital). Share-

holders have statutory subscription rights. The Executive Board is nevertheless authorized, with the approval of the Supervisory Board, 

to exclude the statutory rights of the shareholders in the cases described in the authorization. The Executive Board is authorized, with 

the approval of the Supervisory Board, to determine the content of the share rights, the individual details of the capital increase as 

well as the conditions of the share issue, in particular the issue price. The Executive Board has not made use of this authorization to 

date.

On June 5, 2013, furthermore, the Annual General Meeting authorized the Executive Board, on one or more occasions until June 4, 

2018, to issue bearer and/or registered bonds with warrants and/or convertible bonds, participation rights and/or participating bonds 

(or a combination of these instruments) (collectively “bonds”) in an aggregate nominal amount of up to € 1,000,000,000.00 with or 

without limiting the term, and to grant the holders or creditors of the bonds with warrants and/or convertible bonds a proportionate 

amount of the share capital of up to € 69,188,340.00 for a total of up to 26,610,900 of the Company’s registered shares with 

 restricted transferability in accordance with the more detailed provisions of the terms of the bonds. For the purposes of servicing 

these bonds, the Annual General Meeting on June 5, 2013 conditionally increased the share capital by up to € 69,188,340.00 by 

issuing up to 26,610,900 registered shares with restricted transferability and carrying a dividend right as of the beginning of the 

 financial year in which they are issued. The Executive Board, with approval of the Supervisory Board, is authorized to determine the 

further details of implementation of the conditional capital increase (Conditional Capital 2013). The Executive Board has not made 

use of this authorization to date.

The Company also had Conditional Capital 2004/l, from which a total of 1,715,740 preference shares with an arithmetical share in 

share capital of € 2.60 per preference share – which represents a total of € 4,460,924.00 – were issued in financial year 2015. 

Because the Conditional Capital increase 2004/l will only be effected insofar as the holders of warrants exercise their option rights, 

and because June 26, 2015 was the deadline for option exercise (held-to-maturity), the remaining Conditional Capital 2004/l has lost 

its purpose and was therefore removed from the Articles of Incorporation.

Following the resolution adopted at the Annual General Meeting on June 5, 2013, in accordance with Section 71 (1) No. 8 AktG,  

the Company is authorized from June 6, 2013 until June 5, 2018 to acquire own shares of up to 10% of the share capital. The 

 Executive Board has not made use of this authorization to date.

Significant agreements on condition of a change of control

In  case  of  a  change  of  control  resulting  from  a  takeover  offer  to  the  company,  there  are,  in  accordance  with  common  business 

 practice, possibilities of termination for certain supply contracts, the lenders of several credit contracts, the issued corporate bonds 

and of the issued promissory note loans (see “Economic Report – Business Development and Situation – Financial Situation”).

For the agreement of the company with members of the Executive Board in the case of a change of control, please refer to the 

 Remuneration Report in this Annual Report.

Management Report of the Executive Board | Takeover-Relevant Information144

PROGNOSIS REPORT

Proven business model with sustainable growth possibilities

STADA’s  business  model  has  been  characterized  by  constancy  and  sustainability  for  decades.  In  light  of  the  overall  successful 

 development, the Executive Board will also maintain the strategic orientation of the Group in the future. The STADA business activities 

will  therefore  continue  to  be  focused  on  products  with  off-patent  pharmaceutical  active  ingredients  in  selected  segments  of  the 

pharmaceutical market. The core segments in this regard will remain Generics and Branded Products. In the generics area, the Group 

will continue to accelerate the expansion of its biosimilar activities in view of the growth and margin prospects. In the area of  branded 

products, the main focus continues to be on expansion and internationalization.

In view of the Executive Board, the Group activities thereby also remain focused on market regions with long-term growth potential 

in future. In view of the fact that these can vary depending on economic, regulatory and competitive framework conditions in the 

 individual market regions from year to year, the sales and earnings development will continue to be influenced by various and, in part, 

opposing influencing factors in financial year 2016. Details on the expectations of the Executive Board as regards the opportunities 

and risks in the individual market regions can be found in the Management Report of this Annual Report in the chapter “Segment 

Development” (see “Economic Report – Business Development and Situation – Earnings Situation – Development of  Segments – 

Information by Market Region”). 

Even though a slowdown or temporary decline in growth cannot be ruled out if difficult framework conditions accumulate, with a view 

to the strategic success factors, the Executive Board sees the opportunity, however, to also be able to generate further growth in the 

future. 

Overall economic outlook

For 2016, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects a moderate increase in economic activity with a rise in global economic 

growth in the amount of 3.4%.1) Estimates show economic development for emerging markets at 4.3%, whilst growth of 6.3% is 

expected in China.1) The IMF forecasts growth of 2.1% for advanced economies.1) In this context, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 

the USA is forecast to grow by 2.6%, while forecasts for economic development for countries in the Euro zone assume an increase 

of  1.7%.1) According  to  estimates,  GDP  will  grow  by  1.7%  in  Germany,  by  1.3%  in  France  and  Italy,  by  2.7%  in  Spain.1)  In  the 

 so-called CIS countries (Commonwealth of Independent States), GDP could stagnate in 2016, while Russia’s GDP is expected to 

 decrease by 1.0%. For the region Emerging and Developing Europe2), experts anticipate growth of 3.1% with a plus of 1.5% in 

 Serbia1). 

The European Central Bank (ECB) also anticipates continued economic recovery in the Euro zone – however, slightly more slowly than 

previously expected. The main reason for this is the slowdown of growth in the emerging economies, which will dampen the devel-

opment of global economies and thus the demand for exports from the Euro zone. Domestic demand should continue to benefit from 

the ECB’s monetary policy measures and its positive effect on the financing conditions and also from the progress in balancing 

budgets and the structural reforms. Furthermore, the lower oil price should have a positive effect on real disposable income of private 

households as well as the profitability of companies and thus should provide additional support for private consumer spending and 

investments. Meanwhile, the economic upswing in the Euro zone is anticipated to be hampered by the required balance sheet adjust-

ments in a number of sectors as well as the slow implementation of structural reforms.3) 

1) Source: International Monetary Fund: World Economic Outlook of January 2016.
2) Including Bulgaria, Croatia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Turkey and Hungary.
3) Source: ECB: Economic Bulletin, issue 8/2015.

Management Report of the Executive Board145

The STADA Executive Board continuously monitors the development of the global economy – with a consistent view to the resulting 

opportunities and risks for the Group. From today’s perspective, the Executive Board sees no reason to question STADA’s business 

model.

Industry specific outlook

On the basis of both on general as well as generics-specific growth drivers, numerous national health care and, in particular, pharma-

ceutical markets will continue to be characterized in the future by high growth potential that is relatively independent of  economic 

activity, in the Executive Board’s assessment. These opportunities are based, on the one hand, on general growth drivers such as the 

global population growth, an aging society in industrialized countries as well as further medical progress. On the other hand, there 

will be a progressive generics penetration as a result of increasing spending restraints in individual national health care systems as 

well as the continuous expiration of patents and other commercial property rights. The latter also applies to the promising field of 

bio pharmaceuticals with high sales and earnings potential. 

In view of the continually rising demand in the health care market and the fact that drugs continue to offer a relatively high level of 

efficiency as compared to other forms of treatment, further growth is also expected for the global pharmaceutical market in future, 

as well. According to forecasts, sales in the international pharmaceutical market will increase by 5% to 7% per year until 2020.1) 

For  the  global  generics  market,  IMS  Health  expects  annual  growth  of  up  to  7.9%1)  until  2020.  It  should,  however,  be  taken  into 

 account that the actual growth rates of reported sales in markets where significant discounts must be granted, should be substan-

tially below gross sales generally recorded by the market research institutions before discounts.

In view of the sales volume for active pharmaceutical ingredients becoming available for generics competition between 2016 and 

2019 in the largest pharmaceutical markets in Europe according to sales – Germany, France, Italy, the United Kingdom and Spain 

within the two STADA market regions Germany and Central Europe – which, according to market research forecasts, amounts to 

more than € 12.2 billion, the STADA Executive Board expects further growth potentials in the EU generics market.2) 

This  assumption  is  also  supported  by  estimates  from  IMS  Health,  according  to  which  annual  generics  growth  in  the  EU  (EU  28) 

amounts to an average of 5.1%1) from 2016 to 2018. For selected markets in Eastern Europe3), IMS Health expects annual average 

generics growth of 6.0%1) from 2016 until 2020. For Russia, IMS Health anticipates average annual generics growth of 7.3%1) from 

2016 to 2020. 

In the Generics area, biosimilars in particular will play an increasingly important role in the future, since they can contribute signifi-

cantly to containing costs in the individual national health care markets. Already in 2014, a paradigm shift took place, as, for the first 

time ever, there were more patent expirations among biopharmaceutical products than chemical-synthetic products. Overall, twelve 

of the strongest biopharmaceutical products in terms of sales will have lost their patent protection by 20204). By 2018, biopharma-

ceuticals  valued  at  a  total  of  around  € 51 billion  will  have  lost  their  patent  worldwide.5)  In  light  of  this  growth  potential,  STADA 

 consistently continues to pursue its strategy of in-licensing biosimilars specifically from highly specialized suppliers, since this rep-

resents the course with a lower risk and lower costs than relying on in-house developments.

1) IMS Market Prognosis, September 2015; IMS Market Prognosis Global, September 2015;  
IMS Syndicated Analytics Service (September) 2015; prepared for STADA February 2016.
2) STADA estimate of sales volumes in 2015 at ex-factory prices for active pharmaceutical 
ingredients for which STADA from today’s perspective expects the patents or other commercial 
property rights relevant for generics competition to expire by 2019, based on data provided by 
various international market research institutes. STADA’s expectations as to the date of availability 
of active pharmaceutical ingredients for generics competition are continuously being reviewed 
from a legal perspective and may in the future significantly differ from today’s expectations (as of 
March 1, 2016) as expressed in this data. The actual sales volumes becoming available for 
generics competition at the respective dates are subject to fluctuations as a result of changing 
market success, legal situations or market structures, among other factors.

3) Russia, Serbia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Bosnia-Herzegovina.
4) Source: “Deutsches Ärzteblatt” (a German medical journal) of March 14, 2014; 111 (11):  
A-452 / B-388 / C-372: Biosimilars: Das Wettrennen ist in vollem Gange (Biosimilars:  
The race is well underway).
5) Source: Pro Generika – Generika und Biosimilars in Deutschland, Marktdaten Pro Generika 
2013 (Pro Generics – generics and biosimilars in Germany, market data Pro Generics 2013).

Management Report of the Executive Board | Prognosis Report146

With a view to further growth, STADA further promotes the expansion and internationalization of the core segment Branded Products, 

as it is generally subject to less regulatory intervention and is characterized by more attractive margins than the  Generics segment. 

This is due to the fact that non-prescription drugs are, with only a few exceptions, not reimbursable and thus relieve the global health 

care systems. It is also due to the fact that the number of so-called “self-improvers”, who rely on self- medication in health care and, 

with a growing tendency, spend an increasing amount of money on this, particularly in the Western industrialized nations.

For the global OTC market, IMS Health expects annual growth of up to 3.6%1) by 2020. For the European OTC market, experts fore-

cast an increase of up to 2.5%.1) 

In consideration of the above-average growth potential shown by the global market for aesthetic medicine, STADA will further expand 

its business activities in the area of dermatologic treatments in the future. The cooperation with CROMA-PHARMA forms a good 

basis for this.2) 

Challenges and risks

In addition to the growth opportunities presented in this Annual Report, the Group is also confronted with operating challenges and 

risks which are detailed in the segment reporting and the regional development in individual markets of the respective market regions 

as a well as in the Risk Report, among others. Many of these challenges and risks are based, in the view of the Executive Board, on 

structures and mechanisms of the market segments and market regions, which are relevant for the development of the Group, upon 

which,  STADA,  however,  has  no  influence.  In  light  of  the  fact  that  these  are,  however,  to  large  extent  inseparably  linked  to  the 

 structural growth opportunities, it will remain impossible to avoid them in future in order to utilize these growth opportunities (see 

“Basis of the Group – Business Model” and “Risk Report”).

The  business  model  of  STADA  is  generally  oriented  toward  the  health  care  market,  which  is  characterized  by  a  demand  that  is 

 relatively independent of the economy, so that the worldwide economic conditions generally have less of a direct influence on the 

business development of the Group than the respective regulatory environment in the individual markets of the four STADA market 

regions. Despite this, the Group will continue to have to deal with specific consequences of economic effects in the future in addition 

to the general challenges and risks associated with the business model (see “Risk Report”). 

However,  from  today’s  perspective,  the  Executive  Board  identifies  no  challenges  or  risks  which  could  jeopardize  the  continued 

 existence of the Group. 

Basis of the prognosis

The outlook for financial year 2016 takes account of the events known when this Annual Report was prepared that could have an 

effect on the business development of the STADA Group. It is also supported by the details on the overall economic outlook and the 

industry-specific outlook.

1) IMS Market Prognosis, September 2015; IMS Market Prognosis Global, September 2015;  
IMS Syndicated Analytics Service (September) 2015; prepared for STADA February 2016.  
IMS MIDAS (September) 2015.
2) See the Company’s press release of December 17, 2015.

Management Report of the Executive Board147

Furthermore, the forecast is particularly based on the following assumptions:

• Predominately unchanged regulatory market conditions in the most important markets of each market region, not including  

the regulatory changes and market assessments known at the time the forecast was prepared 

• Optimization of procurement prices for primary materials

• The continued possibility of immediately launching new products upon patent expiration

• Largely unchanged tax situation in the countries where STADA has Group companies

• Application of forward rates at the time the forecast was prepared for the conversion of important subsidiaries with a reporting 

currency other than the Group currency euro

Summarizing outlook

STADA’s business model is generally geared towards markets with long-term growth potential in the health care and pharmaceutical 

markets. Inseparably linked to this, however, are also risks and challenges resulting from changed or additional state regulation and 

intensive competition. In view of this, STADA can also be exposed to far-reaching regulatory interventions, a high level of competition, 

default risks and significant margin pressure in the individual markets of its four market regions in the future. The latter applies 

 particularly to the increasing volume of business activities in the core segment Generics, which are subject to tenders.

In addition, the Group will continue to be confronted by non-operational influence factors in the future. As a consequence, relevant 

Group currency relations – in particular of the Russian ruble, the Ukrainian hryvnia, the Kazakhstani tenge and the British pound 

sterling to the euro – will affect the Group’s development. In addition, STADA will continue to be exposed to the effects of the CIS 

crisis. The Group certainly continues to prepare itself, within the realms of possibility, for potential risks in this regard, such as a 

 significantly  increased  default  risk  of  business  partners,  subsidies  to  crisis-prone  competitors  that  distort  competition  or  strong 

 volatility in interest rate levels and currency relations that are relevant for the Group. However, in view of the effects of the CIS crisis 

and the resulting burdens such as one-time special effects from impairment losses on intangible assets and property, plant and 

equipment, payment defaults, non-operational burdens on earnings from currency influences – in particular from the devaluation of 

the Russian ruble, the Ukrainian hryvnia and the Kazakhstani tenge – as well as curbed or further decreasing demand in the Russian 

pharmaceuticals market cannot be ruled out. With regard to the existing sanctions against Russia, STADA, however, does not current-

ly see any  significant direct effects on the Group’s business activities.

Overall, the future sales and earnings development of the Group will be characterized both by growth-stimulating and challenging 

framework conditions in the individual markets of STADA’s four market regions. In the overall assessment of opposing influence 

factors, however, the positive prospects are expected to prevail in financial year 2016. In light of this, the Executive Board anticipates 

slight growth in Group sales adjusted for currency and portfolio effects, adjusted EBITDA as well as adjusted net income in 2016. The 

Executive Board expects the ratio of net debt excluding further acquisitions to adjusted EBITDA to be at a level of nearly 3.

Management Report of the Executive Board | Prognosis Report148

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements149

STADA CONSOLIDATED  
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

2015

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT  

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT  

OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME  

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET  

CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT  

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF  

CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY  

NOTES TO THE  

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  

General Information  

Notes to the Consolidated Income Statement  

Notes to the Consolidated Balance Sheet  

Other Disclosures  

150

151

152

153

154

156

156

185

197

228

RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT  

AUDITOR’S REPORT  

GLOSSARY FROM A TO Z  

FINANCIAL CALENDAR  

PUBLISHING INFORMATION  

OVERVIEW OF SALES  

FIVE-YEAR CONSOLIDATED  
FINANCIAL SUMMARY  

251

252

253

255

256

258

259

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Table of Contents150

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT

Consolidated Income Statement 
for the period from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 in € 000s

2015

Previous year

Note

Sales

Cost of sales

Gross profit

Selling expenses

General and administrative expenses

Research and development expenses

Other income

Other expenses

Operating profit

Result from investments measured at equity

Investment income

Financial income 

Financial expenses

Financial result

Earnings before taxes

Income taxes

Earnings after taxes

thereof

• distributable to shareholders of STADA Arzneimittel AG (net income)

• distributable to non-controlling shareholders

Earnings per share in € (basic)

Earnings per share in € (diluted)

2,115,129

1,101,709

1,013,420

482,643

178,364

64,993

20,032

83,709

223,743

1,419

138

1,170

68,667

-65,940

157,803

40,638

117,165

110,404

6,761

1.79

1.79

2,062,247

1,070,441

991,806

458,381

152,817

56,905

20,067

155,243

188,527

1,595

132

4,833

70,393

-63,833

124,694

54,586

70,108

64,562

5,546

1.07

1.05

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

21.

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
 
STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Consolidated Income Statement | Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

151

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income  
in € 000s

2015

Previous year

Note

Earnings after taxes

117,165

70,108

Items to be recycled to the income statement in future:

Currency translation gains and losses

8,928

-125,206

thereof

• income taxes

Gains and losses on available-for-sale financial assets

thereof

• income taxes

Gains and losses on hedging instruments (cash flow hedges)

thereof

• income taxes

Items not to be recycled to the income statement in future:

352

-22

5

1,054

-338

1,613

0

0

1,519

-563

34.

45.

45.

Revaluation of net debt from defined benefit plans

2,822

-15,617

35.

thereof

• income taxes

Other comprehensive income

Consolidated comprehensive income

thereof

• distributable to shareholders of STADA Arzneimittel AG

• distributable to non-controlling shareholders

-23

5,294

12,782

-139,304

129,947

-69,196

120,584

9,363

-81,555

12,359

 
 
 
152

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

Consolidated Balance Sheet as of Dec. 31 in € 000s  
Assets

Dec. 31, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

Note

Non-current assets

Intangible assets

Property, plant and equipment

Financial assets

Investments measured at equity

Other financial assets

Other assets

Deferred tax assets

Current assets

Inventories

Trade accounts receivable 

Income tax receivables

Other financial assets

Other assets

Non-current assets and disposal groups held for sale

Cash and cash equivalents 

Total assets

Equity and liabilities

Equity

Share capital

Capital reserve

Retained earnings including net income

Other provisions

Treasury shares

Equity attributable to shareholders of the parent

Shares relating to non-controlling shareholders

Non-current borrowed capital

Other non-current provisions

Financial liabilities

Other financial liabilities

Other liabilities 

Deferred tax liabilities

Current borrowed capital

Other provisions

Financial liabilities

Trade accounts payable

Income tax liabilities

Other financial liabilities

Other liabilities

Total equity and liabilities

2,032,309

1,649,020

321,617

1,339

13,168

8,718

4,374

34,073

2,013,819

1,631,516

305,430

2,036

10,569

11,729

3,130

49,409

1,255,106

1,321,639

501,520

485,901

21,182

74,279

29,046

0

143,178

3,287,415

498,785

502,794

30,711

86,943

37,866

331

164,209

3,335,458

Dec. 31, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

1,018,530

162,090

514,171

635,344

-364,105

-1,458

946,042

72,488

1,282,577

28,869

1,084,213

7,201

2,053

160,241

986,308

22,532

274,672

328,487

39,444

218,792

102,381

903,339

157,629

490,401

561,376

-371,851

-1,504

836,051

67,288

1,246,693

30,097

1,042,998

5,259

1,640

166,699

1,185,426

17,442

448,703

340,847

33,726

257,403

87,305

3,287,415

3,335,458

24.

25.

26.

27.

29.

30.

19.

31.

28.

19.

29.

30.

32.

33.

Note

34.

35.

36.

38.

39.

19.

40.

36.

37.

19.

38.

39.

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
153

CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT

Consolidated Cash Flow Statement in € 000s 

Dec. 31, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

Note

Net income

Depreciation and amortization net of write-ups of non-current assets

Income taxes

Interest income and expenses

Result from investments measured at equity

Result from the disposals of non-current assets

Additions to/reversals of other non-current provisions

Currency translation income and expenses

Other non-cash expenses and gains

Gross cash flow

Changes in inventories

Changes in trade accounts receivable

Changes in trade accounts payable

Changes in other net assets, unless attributable to investing or financing activities

Interest and dividends received

Interest paid

Income tax paid

Cash flow from operating activities

Payments for investments in

• intangible assets

• property, plant and equipment

• financial assets

• business combinations according to IFRS 3

Proceeds from the disposal of

• intangible assets

• property, plant and equipment

• financial assets

• shares in consolidated companies

Cash flow from investing activities

Borrowing of funds

Settlement of financial liabilities

Dividend distribution

Capital increase from share options

Changes in non-controlling interests

Changes in treasury shares

Cash flow from financing activities

Changes in cash and cash equivalents

Changes in cash and cash equivalents due to the scope of consolidation

Changes in cash and cash equivalents due to exchange rates

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

Balance at beginning of the period

Balance at end of the period

23.

19.

18.

18.

16.

35.

17.

18.

31.

28.

37.

41.

24.

25.

26.

8. / 41.

24.

25.

26.

41.

36.

36.

34.

34.

34.

34.

41.

117,165

151,848

40,638

64,434

-1,419

-2,317

6,125

19,549

229,469

625,492

-52,918

-12,889

-25,765

-127,020

4,674

-69,886

-29,940

311,748

-81,410

-51,230

-615

-56,778

4,689

832

498

5,797

-178,217

677,316

-816,727

-47,873

28,224

3,918

53

-155,089

-21,558

228

299

-21,031

164,209

143,178

70,108

228,521

54,586

69,151

-1,595

-43

-17,039

29,415

214,001

647,105

-57,959

629

-18,339

-237,705

4,709

-66,275

-48,355

223,810

-181,397

-37,453

-65

-55,054

8,007

3,953

29

-

-261,980

734,224

-612,098

-42,495

3,029

1,006

45

83,711

45,541

2,116

-9,611

38,046

126,163

164,209

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Consolidated Balance Sheet | Consolidated Cash Flow Statement154

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity  
in € 000s 

2015

Balance as of Dec. 31, 2015

Dividend distribution

Capital increase from share options

Changes in treasury shares

Adjustments of the previous year

Changes in retained earnings

Changes in non-controlling interests

Changes in the scope of consolidation

Other income

Net income

Number of 
shares

Share  
capital

Capital 
reserve

62,342,440

162,090

514,171

1,715,740

4,461

23,763

7

Balance as of Jan. 1, 2015

60,626,700

157,629

490,401

Previous year

Balance as of Dec. 31, 2014

Dividend distribution

Capital increase from share options

Changes in treasury shares

Changes in retained earnings

Changes in non-controlling interests

Changes in the scope of consolidation

Other income

Net income

60,626,700

157,629

490,401

184,200

478

2,551

7

Balance as of Jan. 1, 2014

60,442,500

157,151

487,843

Retained 
earnings 
including  
net income

635,344

-39,955

1,177

-92

2,434

110,404

561,376

561,376

-39,832

-254

-15,763

64,562

552,663

Provisions  

for currency 

translation

Provisions 

available  

for sale

Provisions  

for cash flow 

hedges

Treasury 

shares

-363,192

0

-913

-1,458

Equity  

attributable to 

shareholders  

of the parent

Shares  

relating to 

non-controlling 

shareholders

46

38

946,042

-39,955

28,224

53

1,177

-92

10,180

110,404

836,051

836,051

-39,832

3,029

45

-

-

-254

-146,117

64,562

954,618

72,488

-7,919

3,756

2,602

6,761

67,288

67,288

-2,663

2,111

6,813

5,546

55,481

Group 

equity

1,018,530

-47,874

28,224

53

1,177

3,756

-92

12,782

117,165

903,339

903,339

-42,495

3,029

45

-

2,111

-254

-139,304

70,108

1,010,099

6,714

-369,906

1,054

-1,967

-1,504

-369,906

22

-1,967

-1,504

-131,860

-238,046

1,519

-3,486

-1,542

-22

22

-13

35

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity

155

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity  

Provisions  
for currency 
translation

Provisions 
available  
for sale

Provisions  
for cash flow 
hedges

Treasury 
shares

Equity  
attributable to 
shareholders  
of the parent

Shares  
relating to 
non-controlling 
shareholders

62,342,440

162,090

514,171

-363,192

0

-913

-1,458

46

6,714

-369,906

-22

22

1,054

-1,967

-1,504

60,626,700

157,629

490,401

-369,906

22

-1,967

-1,504

184,200

478

2,551

7

38

Balance as of Jan. 1, 2014

60,442,500

157,151

487,843

-131,860

-238,046

-13

35

1,519

-3,486

-1,542

946,042

-39,955

28,224

53

1,177

-92

10,180

110,404

836,051

836,051

-39,832

3,029

45

-

-

-254

-146,117

64,562

954,618

72,488

-7,919

3,756

2,602

6,761

67,288

67,288

-2,663

2,111

6,813

5,546

55,481

Number of 

shares

Share  

capital

Capital 

reserve

1,715,740

4,461

23,763

7

Balance as of Jan. 1, 2015

60,626,700

157,629

490,401

in € 000s 

2015

Balance as of Dec. 31, 2015

Dividend distribution

Capital increase from share options

Changes in treasury shares

Adjustments of the previous year

Changes in retained earnings

Changes in non-controlling interests

Changes in the scope of consolidation

Other income

Net income

Previous year

Balance as of Dec. 31, 2014

Dividend distribution

Capital increase from share options

Changes in treasury shares

Changes in retained earnings

Changes in non-controlling interests

Changes in the scope of consolidation

Other income

Net income

Retained 

earnings 

including  

net income

635,344

-39,955

1,177

-92

2,434

110,404

561,376

561,376

-39,832

-254

-15,763

64,562

552,663

Group 
equity

1,018,530

-47,874

28,224

53

1,177

3,756

-92

12,782

117,165

903,339

903,339

-42,495

3,029

45

-

2,111

-254

-139,304

70,108

1,010,099

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
156

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
General Information

1. Corporate information

STADA Arzneimittel Aktiengesellschaft (STADA Arzneimittel AG) as parent company of the STADA Group (hereafter referred to as 

“STADA”), based at Stadastrasse 2–18, 61118 Bad Vilbel, is an internationally oriented company based in Germany, which is active 

worldwide in the health care and pharmaceuticals market, especially in the core segments of Generics and Branded Products.

The consolidated financial statements of STADA Arzneimittel AG for financial year 2015 were approved for publication by the  Executive 

Board on March 21, 2016. 

2. Basis of preparation

The  consolidated  financial  statements  prepared  for  STADA Arzneimittel AG  as  parent  company  as  of  December  31,  2015,  were 

prepared  in  accordance  with  the  International  Financial  Reporting  Standards  (IFRS)  published  by  the  International  Accounting 

 Standards Board (IASB) and the International Financial Reporting Standards Committee (IFRIC), as applicable in the  European Union 

(EU), as well as in accordance with the supplementary provisions pursuant to Section 315a (1) of the German  Commercial Code 

(HGB).

The financial year corresponds to the calendar year. The individual financial statements of the companies included in the scope of 

consolidation are prepared as of the same date as the consolidated financial statements.

The  structure  of  the  consolidated  income  statement  follows  the  cost-of-sales  method,  according  to  which  expenses  incurred  in 

generating sales are divided into functional areas. In the statement of comprehensive income, use was made of the option to present 

this separately from the consolidated income statement. The balance sheet classification distinguishes between non-current and 

current assets and liabilities, some of which are presented in detail in the notes according to their maturities.

The  consolidated  financial  statements  are  prepared  in  euro.  Unless  otherwise  indicated,  figures  in  the  notes  are  shown  in  euro 

 thousands (€ 000s). Rounding is thus necessary, although this of course is not significant in its nature.

3. Consequences of new or amended standards and interpretations

In financial year 2015, STADA has implemented the following change from the pronouncements and amendments to pronounce-

ments of the IASB published by the IASB and endorsed by the EU which were first applicable as of January 1, 2015, which did not 

have any significant impact on the presentation of the business, financial and earnings situation or cash flow of STADA: 

• Amendments in the course of the “Annual Improvements to IFRSs 2010 – 2012 Cycle”: 

IFRS 8 “Operating Segments”: If business segments are aggregated to reportable segments, the judgments made by 

 management for the identification of the reportable segments shall be disclosed. Furthermore, there was a clarification that  

a reconciliation of segment assets to the amounts recognized in the balance sheet shall only be carried out if this information  

is regularly reported to the chief operating decision maker.

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements157

The following IFRS standards, which are not yet applicable, have been published by the IASB. The adoption into European 

law is still pending:

In July 2014, IASB published the standard IFRS 9 “Financial Instruments”. IFRS 9 replaces IAS 39 and includes guidelines for the 

classification, recognition and valuation of financial instruments. Furthermore, IFRS 9 also includes guidelines on the accounting of 

hedging transactions. IFRS 9 is to be applied for financial years beginning on or after January 1, 2018. Earlier application is permitted. 

An examination of the impact of the application of IFRS 9 on the consolidated financial statements has not yet been completed. As a 

result of the new guidelines for the impairment of financial instruments, in some cases expected future losses can lead to earlier 

recognition of expenses. 

In May 2014, IASB published the new standard IFRS 15 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”. IFRS 15 governs the revenue 

recognition for contracts with customers in a 5-step model and in particular replaces the existing standards IAS 11 “Construction 

Contracts” and IAS 18 “Revenue”. IFRS 15 is to be applied for financial years beginning on or after January 1, 2018. Earlier applica-

tion is permitted. An examination of the impact of the application of IFRS 15 on the consolidated financial statements has not yet been 

completed. Impacts are possible for the measurement dates of revenue in connection with licensing agreements.

In  January  2016,  the  IASB  published  the  new  IFRS  16 “Leases”  standard,  which  determines  the  recording  of  contractual  rights 

 (assets) and obligations (liabilities) associated with leases in the balance sheet for lessees. Lessees must therefore no longer  classify 

leases as finance leases or operating leases. IFRS 16 is to be applied for financial years beginning on or after January 1, 2019. 

Earlier application is permitted. An  examination of the impact of the application of IFRS 16 on the consolidated financial statements 

has not yet been completed. As a result of the accounting of assets and liabilities in the lessee’s balance sheet, as required by IFRS 

16, an increase of the balance sheet total is expected at the point of initial application. Instead of leasing expenses, as a result of 

amendments to IFRS 16, future depreciation and amortization and interest expenses will be recorded in the income statement – with 

a corresponding positive impact on the EBITDA.

From today’s perspective no or no significant effects on the consolidated financial statements are expected from the future  application 

of the further standards and interpretations not yet applied.

4. Changes in accounting policies

With the exception of the changed accounting policies listed in Note 3., there were no changes to accounting policies with significant 

consequences for the presentation of STADA’s business, financial and earnings situation or cash flow in financial year 2015.

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements158

5. Scope of consolidation

All significant subsidiaries, joint ventures and associated companies are included in the consolidated financial statements.  Subsidiaries 

are  companies  that  are  directly  or  indirectly  controlled  by  STADA  and  are  therefore  fully  consolidated.  Control  exists  if  STADA 

Arzneimittel AG or its subsidiaries are in control of an investee, are exposed to variable backflows and, due to control over existing 

rights, are able to substantially influence the investee’s variable backflows. Control is usually substantiated by a share of voting rights 

of more than 50%.

Joint arrangements are characterized by joint control by two or more parties and should be classified as either joint operations or as 

joint ventures. In joint operations, the parties that exercise joint control possess the rights to assets and liabilities included in the 

agreement. In joint ventures, however, the parties involved possess rights to the company’s net assets. Joint ventures are to be 

 included in the consolidated financial statements using the equity method. 

Associated companies are companies over which STADA is able to exercise significant influence and which are not subsidiaries or 

joint ventures. They are included in the consolidated financial statements using the equity method. 

Subsidiaries, joint ventures and associated companies whose influence, both individually and as a whole, on the business, financial 

and earnings situation of the STADA Group is insignificant, are not consolidated or accounted for using the equity method. Invest-

ments in these companies are accounted for either at fair value or at amortized cost under financial assets. Accumulated, the sales 

and balance sheet total of these companies make up less than 1% of total Group sales and/or the balance sheet total.

Changes  in  the  scope  of  consolidation  resulted  regarding  the  number  of  subsidiaries,  joint  ventures  and  associated  companies 

 included in financial year 2015 and are as follows:

Number of companies in the scope of consolidation

January 1, 2015

Acquisitions

Disposals

December 31, 2015

Germany

Outside  
Germany

12

-

-

12

67

10

2

75

Total

79

10

2

87

As of January 1, 2015, the subsidiary located in the United Arab Emirates, STADA MENA DWC-LLC, Dubai, as well as the Egyptian 

subsidiary STADA Egypt Ltd., Cairo, were included in STADA’s scope of consolidation. 

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
 
159

In  financial  year  2015  there  were  also  changes  in  the  scope  of  consolidation  due  to  the  merger  of  the  consolidated  subsidiary  

Hemofarm Sabac d.o.o, Sabac, Serbia, with Hemofarm A.D., Vrsac, Serbia, also a consolidated subsidiary. 

In addition, the acquisition of the Austrian company SCIOTEC Diagnostic Technologies GmbH was completed in accordance with 

corporate law in the third quarter of 2015. The initial consolidation of the acquired company as a subsidiary occurred on Septem- 

ber 1, 2015. The initial inclusion of the Russian Dialogfarma LLC as an associated company took place as of August 1, 2015.

In the fourth quarter of 2015, British STADA UK Holdings, with its headquarters in Reading, United Kingdom, was able to expand its 

OTC business with the acquisition of six additional companies, which represent a business operation as defined in IFRS 3.

December 2015 saw the sale and therefore deconsolidation from the STADA scope of consolidation of the French STADA subsidiary 

Laboratoires d’études et de recherches en oligo éléments thérapie SA, Boulogne-Billancourt, France.

In the consolidated interim financial statements of the STADA Group, 83 companies were thereby consolidated as subsidiaries and 

four companies as associated companies as of the balance sheet date on December 31, 2015.

As in the previous year, the aforementioned chart includes BIOCEUTICALS Arzneimittel AG, which is included in the consolidated 

 financial statements as an associated company according to the equity method. STADA holds 15.86% of the shares in this company. 

The significant influence is therefore not directly due to the amount of shares held, but instead is a result of STADA’s representation 

in  the  supervisory  body  of  BIOCEUTICALS  as  well  as  distribution  rights  granted  for  Epo-zeta  in  Germany  through  cell  pharm 

 Gesellschaft für pharmazeutische Präparate mbH and the associated significant business transactions.

As in the previous year, the aforementioned chart also includes both French companies Pharm Ortho Pedic SAS and AELIA SAS, 

pursuant to shareholdings of 25.0% and 20.0% acquired by STADA, which are included in the consolidated financial statements as 

associated companies in accordance with the equity method. The initial inclusion of the Russian company Dialogfarma LLC as an 

associated company took place as of August 1,2015. The following condensed financial information is given for these four associates:

in € million

Share of result from continuing operations

Share of result from discontinued operations

Share of other comprehensive income

Share of comprehensive income

Aggregate carrying amount

2015

1.4

-

-

1.4

13.2

2014

1.6

-

-

1.6

10.6

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements160

There are significant non-controlling interests in the Vietnamese subsidiaries Pymepharco Joint Stock Company and STADA Vietnam 

J.V. Co. of the STADA Group.

In the following, the influence of other shareholders in these subsidiaries as of December 31, 2015 is presented:

Name of subsidiary

Pymepharco

STADA Vietnam

Headquarters/ 
place of founding

Vietnam

Vietnam

The disclosures for the previous year are as follows:

Share in  
voting rights of 
non-controlling 
interests

Result of 
non-controlling 
interests in 2015  
in € 000s

Accumulated 
non-controlling 
shares as of  
Dec. 31, 2015  
in € 000s

41%

50%

2,185

3,633

27,983

31,137

Name of subsidiary

Pymepharco

STADA Vietnam

Headquarters/ 
place of founding

Vietnam

Vietnam

Share in  
voting rights of 
non-controlling 
interests

Result of 
non-controlling 
interests in 2014  
in € 000s

Accumulated 
non-controlling 
shares as of  
Dec. 31, 2014  
in € 000s

41.0%

50.0%

1,570

3,196

24,730

30,996

In the following, the financial information of both subsidiaries as of December 31, 2015 and for financial year 2015 is summarized:

in € 000s

Pymepharco

STADA Vietnam

in € 000s

Pymepharco

STADA Vietnam

Assets as of December 31, 2015

Liabilities as of December 31, 2015

current

non-current

current

non-current

57,079

45,771

40,712

36,466

8,743

6,281

10,159

8,558

Earnings after taxes in 2015 

distributable to 
STADA

distributable to 
non-controlling 
interests

Total earnings  
in 2015

Dividends to 
non-controlling 
interests in 
2015

3,033

3,594

2,185

3,633

8,192

9,982

2,249

4,863

Sales

53,849

55,827

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
161

The result of Pymepharco and STADA Vietnam distributable to STADA contains impairments on goodwill which have been accounted 

for in accordance with the partial goodwill method in the context of achieving control.

For the previous year, the following disclosures are made regarding the summarized financial information:

in € 000s

Pymepharco

STADA Vietnam

in € 000s

Pymepharco

STADA Vietnam

Assets as of December 31, 2014

Liabilities as of December 31, 2014

current

non-current

current

non-current

52,921

46,453

35,055

32,332

8,947

6,258

8,411

5,609

Earnings after taxes in 2014 

distributable to 
STADA

distributable to 
non-controlling 
interests

Total earnings  
in 2014

Dividends to 
non-controlling 
interests in 
2014

656

2,634

1,570

3,196

10,896

14,035

384

2,143

Sales

41,348

43,304

Subsidiaries, joint ventures and associated companies as well as all non-consolidated and other investments are included in the 

consolidated financial statements as investments and listed below.

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
162

Direct investments of STADA Arzneimittel AG:

Name of the company, registered office

AO Nizhpharm, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia

BEPHA Beteiligungsgesellschaft für Pharmawerte mbH, Bad Vilbel, Germany

BIOCEUTICALS Arzneimittel AG, Bad Vilbel, Germany

Ciclum Farma, Unipessoal, LDA, Paco de Arcos, Portugal

Crinos S.p.A., Milan, Italy

EG Labo - Laboratoires Eurogenerics SAS, Boulogne-Billancourt, France

EG S.p.A., Milan, Italy

Grunenthal Ukraine LLC., Kiev, Ukraine1) 

Laboratorio STADA, S.L., Barcelona, Spain

Mobilat Produktions GmbH, Pfaffenhofen, Germany

OOO Hemofarm, Obninsk, Russia

OOO STADA Marketing, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia

Oy STADA Pharma Ab, Helsinki, Finland

SCIOTEC Diagnostics Technologies GmbH, Tulln, Austria

STADA Arzneimittel Gesellschaft m.b.H., Vienna, Austria

STADA d.o.o., Ljubljana, Slovenia

STADA d.o.o., Zagreb, Croatia

STADA Egypt Ltd., Cairo, Egypt

STADA (Shanghai) Company Management Consulting Co. Ltd., Shanghai, China

STADA GmbH, Bad Vilbel, Germany

STADA LUX S.à R.L., Luxembourg, Luxembourg

STADA PHARMA Bulgaria EOOD, Sofia, Bulgaria

STADA PHARMA CZ, s.r.o., Prague, Czech Republic

STADA Pharma International GmbH, Bad Vilbel, Germany

STADA Pharma Services India Private Ltd., Mumbai, India

STADA PHARMA Slovakia s.r.o., Bratislava, Slovakia

STADA Pharmaceuticals (Asia) Ltd., Hong Kong, China

STADA Pharmaceuticals Australia Pty Ltd., Sydney, Australia

STADA Poland Sp. z o.o., Piaseczno, Poland

STADA Service Holding B.V., Etten-Leur, The Netherlands 

STADApharm GmbH, Bad Vilbel, Germany

STADA UK Holdings Ltd., Reading, United Kingdom

Share in capital

Form of consolidation

100%

100%

15.86%

100%

96.77%

100%

98.87%

100%

100%

100%

10%

10%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

83.33%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

85%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

subsidiary

subsidiary

associated company

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

not included

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

not included

subsidiary

not included

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

not included

subsidiary

subsidiary

not included

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

1) Currently in the process of liquidation.

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements163

Indirect investments of STADA Arzneimittel AG through EG Labo - Laboratoires Eurogenerics SAS:

Name of the company, registered office

Share in capital

Form of consolidation

AELIA SAS, Saint Brieuc, France

Pharm Ortho Pedic SAS, Trélazé, France

20%

25%

associated company

associated company

Indirect investments of STADA Arzneimittel AG through STADA UK Holdings Ltd.:

Name of the company, registered office

Clonmel Healthcare Ltd., Clonmel, Ireland

Fresh Vape Electronic Cigarettes Ltd., Chesterfield, United Kingdom

Internis Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Huddersfield, United Kingdom

Lowry Solutions Ltd., Huddersfield, United Kingdom

Pegach AG, Egerkingen, Switzerland

Slam Trading Ltd., Huddersfield, United Kingdom

Socialites E-Commerce Ltd., Huddersfield, United Kingdom

Socialites Retail Ltd., Chesterfield, United Kingdom

Sundrops Ltd., Huddersfield, United Kingdom

Thornton & Ross Ltd., Huddersfield, United Kingdom

Share in capital

Form of consolidation

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

Indirect investments of STADA Arzneimittel AG through STADA UK Holdings Ltd. and through Thornton & Ross Ltd.:

Name of the company, registered office

Share in capital

Form of consolidation

LCM Ltd., Huddersfield, United Kingdom

Thornton & Ross Ireland Ltd., Clonmel, Ireland

Zeroderma Ltd., Huddersfield, United Kingdom

100%

100%

100%

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

Indirect investments of STADA Arzneimittel AG through STADA UK Holdings Ltd. and through Slam Trading Ltd.:

Name of the company, registered office

Share in capital

Form of consolidation

LAS Trading Ltd., Chesterfield, United Kingdom

100%

subsidiary

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements164

Indirect investments of STADA Arzneimittel AG through BEPHA Beteiligungsgesellschaft für Pharmawerte mbH:

Name of the company, registered office

Share in capital

Form of consolidation

ALIUD PHARMA GmbH, Laichingen, Germany 

Blitz F15-487 GmbH, Bad Vilbel, Germany

cell pharm Gesellschaft für pharmazeutische und diagnostische Präparate mbH,  
Bad Vilbel, Germany

Crinos S.p.A., Milan, Italy

Croma Medic, Inc., Manila, The Philippines

EG S.p.A., Milan, Italy

Grippostad GmbH, Bad Vilbel, Germany

Millipharma Produtos Médicos e Farmacêuticos Ltda., Vargem Grande Paulista, Brazil

STADA Aesthetics AG, Bottighofen, Switzerland

STADA CEE GmbH, Bad Vilbel, Germany 

STADA Egypt Ltd., Cairo, Egypt

STADA Nordic ApS, Herlev, Denmark

STADA Pharma Services India Private Ltd., Mumbai, India

STADA (Thailand) Company, Ltd., Bangkok, Thailand

STADAvita GmbH, Bad Homburg, Germany

100%

100%

100%

3.23%

100%

1.13%

100%

1%

100%

100%

16.67%

100%

15%

60%

100%

subsidiary

not included

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

not included

not included

not included

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

not included

subsidiary

subsidiary

Indirect investments of STADA Arzneimittel AG through BEPHA Beteiligungsgesellschaft für Pharmawerte mbH 

and through Blitz F15-487 GmbH:

Name of the company, registered office

Share in capital

Form of consolidation

Millipharma Produtos Médicos e Farmacêuticos Ltda., Vargem Grande Paulista, Brazil

99%

not included

Indirect investments of STADA Arzneimittel AG through STADA GmbH:

Name of the company, registered office

STADA Medical GmbH, Bad Vilbel, Germany

Share in capital

Form of consolidation

100%

subsidiary

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
165

Indirect investments of STADA Arzneimittel AG through STADA Service Holding B.V.:

Name of the company, registered office

Share in capital

Form of consolidation

Centrafarm Nederland B.V., Etten-Leur, The Netherlands

Hemofarm A.D., Vrsac, Serbia

Pymepharco Joint Stock Company, Tuy Hoa, Vietnam

S.A. Eurogenerics N.V., Brussels, Belgium

STADA MENA DWC-LLC, Dubai, United Arab Emirates 

100%

100%

49%

90%

100%

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

Indirect investments of STADA Arzneimittel AG through STADA Service Holding B.V. and through Centrafarm Nederland B.V.:

Name of the company, registered office

Share in capital

Form of consolidation

Centrafarm Services B.V., Etten-Leur, The Netherlands

Healthypharm B.V., Etten-Leur, The Netherlands

HTP Huisapotheek B.V., Etten-Leur, The Netherlands

Neocare B.V., Etten-Leur, The Netherlands

Quatropharma Holding B.V., Etten-Leur, The Netherlands

S.A. Eurogenerics N.V., Brussels, Belgium

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

10%

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

Indirect investments of STADA Arzneimittel AG through STADA Service Holding B.V., through Centrafarm Nederland B.V. 

and through Quatropharma Holding B.V.:

Name of the company, registered office

Share in capital

Form of consolidation

Centrafarm B.V., Etten-Leur, The Netherlands

100%

subsidiary

Indirect investments of STADA Arzneimittel AG through STADA Pharmaceuticals (Asia) Ltd.:

Name of the company, registered office

Share in capital

Form of consolidation

CIG (Hong Kong) Ltd., Hong Kong, China 

STADA Import/Export International Ltd., Hong Kong, China

STADA Pharmaceuticals (Beijing) Ltd., Beijing, China

STADA Vietnam J.V. Co., Ltd., Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Well Light Investment Services JSC, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

70%

51%

83.35%

50%

49%

not included

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements166

Indirect investments of STADA Arzneimittel AG through STADA Pharmaceuticals (Asia) Ltd. 

and through Well Light Investment Services JSC:

Name of the company, registered office

Share in capital

Form of consolidation

Pymepharco Joint Stock Company, Tuy Hoa, Vietnam

10%

subsidiary

Indirect investments of STADA Arzneimittel AG through STADA Service Holding B.V. and through Pymepharco JSC and/or  indirect 

investments of STADA Arzneimittel AG through STADA Pharmaceuticals (Asia) Ltd., through Well Light Investment Services JSC and 

through Pymepharco JSC:

Name of the company, registered office

Share in capital

Form of consolidation

Dak Nong Pharmaceutical JSC, Dak Nong, Vietnam 

Phu Yen Export Import Pharmaceutical JSC, Phu Yen, Vietnam

Quang Tri Pharmaceutical JSC, Quang Tri, Vietnam

43%

20%

22%

not included

not included

not included

Indirect investments of STADA Arzneimittel AG through STADA UK Holdings Ltd. and through Clonmel Healthcare Ltd.:

Name of the company, registered office

CNRD 2009 Ireland Ltd., Dublin, Ireland

Crosspharma Ltd., Belfast, United Kingdom

Genus Pharmaceuticals Holdings Ltd., Huddersfield, United Kingdom

STADA Financial Investments Ltd., Clonmel, Ireland

Share in capital

Form of consolidation

50%

100%

100%

100%

not included

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

Indirect investments of STADA Arzneimittel AG through STADA UK Holdings Ltd., through Clonmel Healthcare Ltd. 

and through Genus Pharmaceuticals Holdings Ltd.:

Name of the company, registered office

Share in capital

Form of consolidation

Britannia Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Reading, United Kingdom

Genus Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Huddersfield, United Kingdom

100%

100%

subsidiary

subsidiary

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements167

Indirect investments of STADA Arzneimittel AG through STADA UK Holdings Ltd., through Clonmel Healthcare Ltd., 

through Genus Pharmaceuticals Holdings Ltd. and through Britannia Pharmaceuticals Ltd.:

Name of the company, registered office

Brituswip Ltd., Newbury, United Kingdom

Share in capital

Form of consolidation

50%

not included

Indirect investments of STADA Arzneimittel AG through AO Nizhpharm:

Name of the company, registered office

Share in capital

Form of consolidation

Dialogfarma LLC, Moscow, Russia

Nizhpharm-Kazakhstan TOO DO, Almaty, Kazakhstan

Nizhpharm-Ukraine DO, Kiev, Ukraine

OOO Aqualor, Moscow, Russia

OOO Hemofarm, Obninsk, Russia

OOO STADA CIS, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia

OOO STADA Marketing, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia

OOO STADA PharmDevelopment, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia

STADA M&D S.R.L., Bucharest, Romania

UAB STADA-Nizhpharm-Baltija, Vilnius, Lithuania

ZAO Makiz-Pharma, Moscow, Russia

ZAO Skopinpharm, Ryazanskaya obl., Russia

50%

100%

100%

100%

90%

100%

90%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

associated company

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

subsidiary

Indirect investments of STADA Arzneimittel AG through Ciclum Farma, Unipessoal, LDA:

Name of the company, registered office

Share in capital

Form of consolidation

STADA, LDA, Paco de Arcos, Portugal

98%

not included

Indirect investments of STADA Arzneimittel AG through Laboratorio STADA, S.L.:

Name of the company, registered office

Share in capital

Form of consolidation

STADA Genericos, S.L., Barcelona, Spain

STADA, LDA, Paco de Arcos, Portugal

100%

2%

not included

not included

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements168

Indirect investments of STADA Arzneimittel AG through STADA Service Holding B.V. and through Hemofarm A.D.:

Name of the company, registered office

Hemofarm Arabia Ltd., Damascus, Syria

Hemofarm Banja Luka d.o.o., Banja Luka, Bosnia-Herzegovina

Hemofarm Komerc d.o.o., Skopje, Macedonia1)

Hemofarm S.a.r.l., Constantine, Algeria

Hemomont d.o.o., Podgorica, Montenegro

Hemopharm GmbH Pharmazeutisches Unternehmen, Bad Homburg, Germany

Jinan Pharmaceuticals Co., Jinan, China

STADA HEMOFARM S.R.L., Temeswar, Romania

STADA IT Solutions d.o.o., Belgrade, Serbia

Velefarm A.D., Belgrade, Serbia

Vetfarm A.D., Belgrade, Serbia

Share in capital

Form of consolidation

50%

91.50%

99.18%

40%

71.02%

100%

35.50%

100%

100%

19.65%

15%

not included

subsidiary

not included

not included

subsidiary

subsidiary

not included

subsidiary

subsidiary

not included

not included

Indirect investments of STADA Arzneimittel AG through STADA Service Holding B.V., through Hemofarm A.D. 

and through  Hemopharm GmbH Pharmazeutisches Unternehmen:

Name of the company, registered office

Share in capital

Form of consolidation

PharmaSwyzz Germany GmbH, Bad Homburg, Germany

100%

not included

Indirect investments of STADA Arzneimittel AG through STADA UK Holdings Ltd. and through Pegach AG:

Name of the company, registered office

Share in capital

Form of consolidation

Spirig HealthCare AG, Egerkingen, Switzerland

100%

subsidiary

The  exemption  rule  stated  in  Section  264  (3)  HGB  was  applied  to  ALIUD  PHARMA  GmbH,  BEPHA  Beteiligungsgesellschaft  für 

 Pharmawerte mbH, cell pharm Gesellschaft für pharmazeutische und diagnostische Präparate mbH, STADA GmbH, STADA Medical 

GmbH,  STADA  CEE  GmbH,  STADApharm  GmbH,  STADAvita  GmbH,  STADA  Pharma  International  GmbH  and  Mobilat  Produktions 

GmbH.

1) Currently in the process of liquidation.

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements169

6. Principles for the consolidation of subsidiaries, joint ventures and associated companies

According to IFRS, business combinations are to be accounted for using the acquisition method. Assets, liabilities and contingent 

 liabilities from business combinations are generally recognized in full – irrespective of the amount of the shareholding – as of the 

acquisition date at their fair values. If the acquisition costs of the subsidiary acquired exceed the proportionate newly measured net 

assets of the acquiree, STADA recognizes the positive difference as goodwill. After critical examination of the premises underlying the 

purchase price allocation, a negative difference is recognized in income in the period of the acquisition. In a business combination 

achieved in stages, it is necessary to carry out a revaluation through profit or loss of the shares previously held at the date control 

was achieved. The shares of non-controlling interests are disclosed in the amount of their share in net assets of the subsidiary. 

The acquisition of additional shares from an existing controlling position in a subsidiary is recognized directly in equity in accordance 

with IFRS 10, as it is a transaction between the equity investors.

Subsidiaries are generally included in the consolidated financial statements from the acquisition date to the end of control by the 

parent  company.  Receivables  and  payables,  expenses  and  income,  as  well  as  earnings  between  the  companies  included  in  the 

consolidated financial statements are eliminated, intercompany value adjustments and provisions are released. If these consolidation 

measures result in deviations between the IFRS carrying amounts and the tax base of assets and liabilities, deferred tax liabilities are 

recognized.

Shares in associated companies are recognized according to the equity method at acquisition cost on the date when joint control is 

established (joint ventures) or when significant influence was established (associated company) and carried forward from this date in 

the amount of the proportionate share of earnings in the financial year. A positive difference determined during the purchase price 

allocation is recognized as goodwill in the carrying amount of the investment in the associated company. A negative difference is 

recognized in income in the period of the acquisition in the results from associated companies. Profit and loss from transactions with 

associated companies is recognized in the consolidated financial statements only according to the share of minority interests.

If indications arise from the application of IAS 39 that the carrying amount determined using the equity method might be impaired, 

an impairment test is carried out and, if applicable, an impairment loss in the amount of the difference between the carrying amount 

and the recoverable amount is recognized. The recoverable amount is the higher of the fair value less cost to sell and the value in use 

of the shares in an associated company.

7. Currency translation

The functional currency of STADA Arzneimittel AG is the euro and represents the reporting currency of the Group.

In the separate financial statements of companies included in the consolidated financial statements, foreign currency transactions 

are translated into the functional currency at the exchange rate applicable at the time of the transactions. On every balance sheet 

date, monetary items are translated using the closing rate and non-monetary items are translated using the transaction rate.  Resulting 

currency translation differences are recognized in income as exchange gains or losses. 

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements170

The translation of the companies included in the consolidated financial statements with a functional currency other than the euro into 

the Group functional currency is carried out using the closing rate method. Assets and liabilities are generally translated using the 

closing rate, while individual components of equity are translated using the historical rates at their respective dates of inflow from the 

Group’s perspective. The income and expenses of the income statements are translated – and thereby also the resulting translation 

of the annual results to be entered in equity – using the average exchange rate of the period.

Currency translation differences arising from the use of different exchange rates are recognized directly in equity in the “Provisions 

for currency translation”. These provisions are released and recognized in income if Group companies leave the scope of  consolidation.

The exchange rate development of currencies important to STADA to the euro can be seen in the following chart:

Closing rate on Dec. 31 in local currency 

Average rate for the reporting period 

2015

2014

0.73390

1.08350

0.77890

1.20240

80.67360

72.35890

121.62610

120.91898

26.05560

19.23447

1.08870

1.21409

±%

-6%

-10%

+11%

+1%

+35%

-10%

2015

2014

0.72604

1.06764

0.80640

1.21480

68.01339

52.56082

120.75718

117.23329

24.22888

15.40541

1.10970

1.32989

±%

-10%

-12%

+29%

+3%

+57%

-17%

Significant currency relations  
in local currency to € 1

Pound sterling

Swiss franc

Russian ruble

Serbian dinar

Ukrainian hryvnia

US dollar

8. Business combinations

In financial year 2015, the following significant business combinations in the sense of IFRS 3 occurred, for which the preliminary 

purchase price allocation is described in more detail below.

In the fourth quarter of 2014, STADA acquired the British company Internis Pharmaceuticals Ltd., London, United Kingdom, which is 

active in the prescription area of therapeutic treatment of vitamin D3 deficiency. STADA achieved control upon conclusion of the 

contract on December 19, 2014. The company has been consolidated since this time.

The  purchase  price  amounted  to  GBP 49.0 million  and  was  completely  paid  in  cash  or  cash  equivalents.  It  contained  certain 

 contingent purchase price components. The conditional purchase price components amounted to a total of GBP 20.0 million and 

divided equally into two purchase price conditions. The first purchase price condition was to obtain a regulatory drug approval. The 

final purchase price was determined by the date of achieving the approval. The determination of the final purchase price of the 

 second contingent purchase price component depended on certain changes regarding competitive parameters and determined sales 

targets. The amount recognized as of the acquisition date for the conditional consideration amounted to GBP 19.8 million. Due to the 

achievement of the regulatory drug approval at an early date and to unchanged competition parameters, the final purchase price 

amounted to GBP 49.0 million and included conditional purchase price components in the amount of GBP 20.0 million. The  difference 

between the amount recognized for the conditional consideration and the final value of the conditional purchase price components 

in the amount of GBP 0.2 million was recognized under other expenses in the income statement.

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements 
171

In the context of the final purchase price allocation, goodwill in the amount of € 7.9 million resulted from this business combination 

and was broken down as follows:

in € million

Purchase price for 100% of the shares in the company approx.

Proportionate fair values of the assets and liabilities acquired approx.

Goodwill

62.0

54.1

7.9

Goodwill here resulted primarily from the expansion of the presence and the sales activities in the market region Central Europe, as 

well as from the takeover of a highly qualified workforce.

For the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the context of the business combination, the following fair values were recognized 

at the acquisition date:

Fair values in € million

Intangible assets

Other non-current assets

Trade accounts receivable

Other current assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Assets

Deferred tax liabilities

Other non-current liabilities

Other current liabilities

Liabilities

64.5

1.2

2.6

1.2

4.9

74.4

12.5

2.8

5.0

20.3

Fair values were determined on the basis of observable market prices. To the extent that market prices could not be determined, 

income or cost-oriented procedures were used for the measurement of assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

Sales generated in the market region Central Europe with the company Internis Pharmaceuticals amounted to approx. € 24 million in 

financial year 2015. The operating profit of this business combination adjusted for the effects of the purchase price allocation (approx. 

€ 2 million) amounted to approx. € 9 million in the reporting period. 

Moreover, in financial year 2015, there was an additional significant business combination in the context of the purchase of SCIOTEC 

Diagnostic Technologies, an Austrian pharmaceuticals company based in Tulln, which is primarily specialized in the development and 

marketing of non-prescription (OTC) products against enzymatic food intolerances, including relevant sales structures in order to 

strengthen STADA’s branded product portfolio. The purchase price for this business was € 16.9 million.

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements172

In the context of the final purchase price allocation, goodwill in the amount of € 6.6 million resulted from this business combination 

and was broken down as follows:

in € million

Purchase price for 100% of the shares of the company approx.

Proportionate fair values of the assets and liabilities acquired approx.

Goodwill

16.9

10.3

6.6

Goodwill thereby resulted primarily from strengthening the sales presence in the Austrian market, which belongs to the market region 

Central Europe, particularly in the area of branded products and the entry into a new field of activity.

For the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the context of the business combination, the following fair values were recognized 

at the acquisition date:

Fair values in € million

Intangible assets

Other non-current assets

Other current assets

Assets

Deferred tax liabilities

Other non-current liabilities

Other current liabilities

Liabilities

11.8

0.2

2.7

14.7

2.9

0.5

1.0

4.4

Fair values were determined on the basis of observable market prices. To the extent that market prices could not be determined, 

income or cost-oriented procedures were used for the measurement of assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

Sales achieved with the company SCIOTEC Diagnostic Technologies in the market region Central Europe have amounted to approx. 

€ 2 million since September 1, 2015. The operating profit of this business combination adjusted for effects from purchase price 

 allocations  (approx.  € 0.2 million)  amounted  to  approx.  € 0.2 million  in  the  reporting  period.  If  STADA  had  already  purchased  

SCIOTEC Diagnostic  Techno logies as of January 1, 2015, sales of approx. € 6 million and operating profit, adjusted for effects from 

the preliminary  purchase price allocation (approx. € 1 million), of approx. € 1 million would have been achieved in 2015 assuming a 

linear  development.

In  the  fourth  quarter  of  2015,  STADA  acquired  the  British  Socialites  group,  based  in  Chesterfield.  STADA  achieved  control  upon 

conclusion of the contract on December 4, 2015. The purchase price amounted to GBP 21.0 million and will be/was completely paid 

in cash or cash equivalents. 

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements173

In  the  context  of  a  preliminary  purchase  price  allocation,  goodwill  in  the  amount  of  € 12.2 million  resulted  from  this  business 

 combination and was broken down as follows:

in € million

Purchase price for 100% of the shares of the company approx.

Proportionate fair values of the assets and liabilities acquired approx.

Goodwill

29.5

17.3

12.2

Goodwill thereby primarily resulted from an expansion of presence and sales activities in the Central European market region and in 

the British market in particular.

The following fair values were applied at the acquisition date for the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the context of business 

combinations:

Fair values in € million

Intangible assets

Other non-current assets

Inventories

Other current assets

Assets

Deferred tax liabilities

Other non-current liabilities

Trade accounts payable

Other current liabilities

Liabilities

20.1

0.4

1.3

1.9

23.7

3.7

0.0

2.1

0.6

6.4

Fair values were determined on the basis of observable market prices. To the extent that market prices could not be determined, 

income or cost-oriented procedures were used for the measurement of assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

Sales generated in the market region Central Europe with the Socialites group amounted to approx. € 1 million in financial year 2015. 

The operating profit of this business combination adjusted for the effects of the purchase price allocation (approx. € 0.0 million) 

amounted to approx. € 0.2 million in the reporting period. If STADA had acquired the Socialites group on January 1, 2015, sales of 

approx.  € 12 million  and  operating  profit,  adjusted  for  effects  from  the  purchase  price  allocation  (around  € 1 million),  of  approx. 

€ 2 million would have been achieved on linear extrapolation in 2015.

For the strengthening of the core segment Generics, STADA and STADA subsidiary BEPHA Beteiligungsgesellschaft für Pharmawerte 

mbH signed a contract in the fourth quarter of 2015 to purchase the Argentinian generics producer Laboratorio Vannier S.A., which 

sells its products in niches which are subject to few price regulations, particularly in the area of CNS (conditions of the central nervous 

system), cardiology and diabetes.1) The purchase price amounted to USD 13.0 million (according to the exchange rate at the date of  

1) See the Company’s press release of December 10, 2015.

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements174

acquisition approx. € 11.9 million) and was to be paid in cash or cash equivalents. The seller was a private individual. The purchase 

was completed in the first quarter of 2016. Through the acquisition, STADA also expanded its international sales network in a  country, 

where the Group had not yet been represented with its own sales company. 

With the goal of expanding its business activities in the area of dermatological treatments, STADA Arzneimittel AG started a co-

operation with the Austrian company CROMA-PHARMA GmbH through its subsidiary STADA Aesthetics AG1), as part of which two 

sales companies were acquired on January 31, 2015. The long-term cooperation relates to the existing product portfolio as well as 

the CROMA-PHARMA product pipeline. Exclusive brand licensing rights and other distribution rights for STADA currently apply to 

Germany, Belgium, Italy, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Hungary, Croatia and Hong Kong. In Germany and 

Belgium, STADA purchased the existing sales companies of CROMA-PHARMA with a total of five employees. It also includes the 

well-filled product pipeline, with products containing the active ingredient Botulinumtoxin A, which is currently in the clinical study 

phase 3 for application in cosmetic dermatology. The purchase price paid by STADA for the existing products and the pipeline as  

well as the two purchased sales companies in Germany and Belgium is in the single-digit million euro area. Once an approval of 

 botulinum toxin A has been issued, a further payment in the single-digit million euro range will be due.

9. Accounting policies

STADA’s  consolidated  financial  statements  are  based  on  uniform  accounting  policies.  The  basis  for  these  are  the  accounting 

 requirements which are mandatory for all companies included in the consolidated financial statements and which are described in 

more detail below. 

Sales are recognized when goods have been delivered or services rendered, provided that it is reasonably probable that measurable 

economic benefits will flow to the entity and that the substantial risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred to the buyer. 

It must also be possible to reliably measure the Company’s own costs incurred or to be incurred. 

Sales are recognized before taxes and after deduction of revenue reductions (rebates or discounts) at fair value of the consideration 

received or receivable. Expenses from the creation of provisions for warranties are deducted from sales on the basis of estimated 

amounts. The estimates are based on experience regarding amounts used in the past. The estimated expense from the creation of 

provisions is determined as a percentage of sales. Discounts to health insurance organizations are also recognized with a reduction 

on sales based on the respective contract in force.

Income and expenses from the same transactions are generally recognized in the same period. Expenses related to accruals for 

 future revenue reductions are thus recorded in the period in which the sales are realized. 

Cost of sales includes the costs of conversion of the products sold and the purchase price of commercial goods sold or given free 

of charge. The expense is recognized in the period in which the associated income is realized. In addition, cost of sales also includes 

costs directly attributable to the commercial goods (e.g. cost of materials and personnel expenses), overhead costs (e.g. depreciation 

of production equipment and regulatory drug approvals and licenses) as well as value adjustments of excess or obsolete inventories.

1) See the Company’s press release of December 17, 2015.

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements175

Research expenses are costs that are incurred in relation to the research activity of a company that aims to provide new scientific 

or technical findings. The product portfolio of the STADA Group continues to focus on products that do not require the Group to 

 conduct its own research. Just as in previous years, no research expenses were thus incurred in financial year 2015. 

Development expenses consist of expenses involved initially in the technical implementation of theoretical discoveries in production 

and production processes and ultimately their commercial implementation. 

As a rule, the objective of a development process at STADA is to obtain national or multinational regulatory drug approval. Develop-

ment costs relative to approvals for new drugs obtained by STADA result in capitalization as intangible assets if all the following 

preconditions are met:

• It is technically possible to complete the asset (generally, achieve regulatory approval), enabling it to become  

available for use or sale.

• The intention and ability exist as well as the necessary resources to complete the asset and to use or sell it in the future.

• The intangible asset provides the Group with a future economic benefit.

• It must be possible to reliably calculate the development costs of the intangible asset.

STADA immediately recognizes development costs not eligible for capitalization as expense in the periods in which they are incurred. 

These include expenses for technical and regulatory maintenance of products sold.

Interest income is reported in the income statement as a component of financial income. In this regard, both interest income and 

interest expenses for all financial instruments measured at amortized cost as well as interest-bearing financial assets classified as 

available for sale are recognized on the basis of the effective interest rate.

Dividends received from companies not included in the consolidated financial statements are disclosed within the investment income. 

This shall be recognized when the shareholder’s right to receive payment is established. 

Income taxes include actual taxes on income as well as deferred taxes. The tax receivables and liabilities recognized in the balance 

sheet include demands or liabilities for income taxes in Germany and outside Germany from financial year 2015 as well as from 

previous years, if applicable. The tax receivables and liabilities are calculated on the basis of tax rates effective as of the balance sheet 

date or known and already concluded for the future in the countries in which the taxable income is generated. 

Deferred taxes are created for temporary differences between the tax base of the assets or liabilities and their valuation rate in the 

IFRS financial statements as well as for tax loss carryforwards. Deferred tax assets are recognized to the extent that it is probable 

that  a  taxable  profit  will  result  against  which  the  temporary  difference  can  be  utilized.  Deferred  tax  liabilities  are  recognized  for 

 temporary differences taxable in the future. STADA determines deferred taxes on the basis of tax rates applicable at the balance sheet 

date or those that have already been resolved and communicated for the future. Deferred tax receivables and liabilities are offset if 

these relate to the same taxation authority. 

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements176

The tax expense in the period is recognized in the income statement, provided the changes in value that are recognized directly in 

equity are not affected. To the extent that there are changes in the tax rate with an effect on deferred taxes, the resulting effects are 

recognized in the period in which they arise.

Goodwill is not amortized over the period of useful life. Instead, an impairment test is performed at least once per year (impairment- 

only approach). For this purpose, goodwill is allocated to cash-generating units aggregated into market regions below the segment 

level, where a cash-generating unit corresponds to a market region within the three operating segments of the STADA Group for the 

purpose of an impairment test of goodwill.

STADA carries out impairment tests for capitalized goodwill at least once a year. Additional reviews also take place if indications of 

impairment become apparent. During the impairment test, the carrying amount of each cash-generating unit is compared with its 

recoverable  amount. The  carrying  amount  of  a  cash-generating  unit  comprises  the  carrying  amounts  of  all  assets  and  liabilities 

 attributable  to  the  valuation  unit  including  the  carrying  amount  of  goodwill  to  be  tested.  If  the  recoverable  amount  of  a  cash- 

generating unit is lower than the carrying amount, an impairment loss results. The recoverable amount is generally defined as the 

higher of the fair value less costs to sell, if measurable, and the value in use of the cash-generating unit. The discounted cash flow 

method  is  used  to  determine  the  value  in  use,  applying  an  individual  interest  rate  for  each  cash-generating  unit  and  a  detailed 

 planning period of three years. For the period after this three-year detailed planning horizon, a specific estimated growth rate in the 

amount of the expected long-term inflation rate is assumed. Significant assumptions which are taken in order to determine the value 

in use include assumptions regarding sales development, regulatory conditions, investments, the discount rate, currency relations as 

well as the growth rate. These assumptions are taken individually according to the individual situations for every cash-generating unit 

and are partly based on internally determined assumptions which reflect both past experience and include external market data.

Other intangible assets with determinable useful lives are recognized at cost and amortized on a straight-line basis over the period 

of their useful life. Amortization shall begin when the asset is available for use, i.e. when it is in the condition necessary for it to be 

capable of operating in the intended manner. The useful life of regulatory drug approvals, trademarks, licenses, dossiers with data for 

drug approvals or in preparation of drug approvals, software, concessions, property rights and similar rights is between three and 

30 years. If on the balance sheet date, there are indications that these assets are impaired, the recoverable amount of the asset is 

re-evaluated and impairment losses are recognized according to the difference to the carrying amount. If the reasons for recognizing 

an impairment loss cease to exist, corresponding write-ups are carried out up to a maximum of the amortized cost. 

Intangible assets with indeterminable useful lives are not amortized. In the context of annual impairment tests and additionally in all 

cases where there are indications of impairment, the recoverable amounts of these assets are compared with their carrying amounts 

and if necessary, an impairment loss is recognized. For this purpose, the fair value of the asset less costs to sell was determined 

using the relief from royalty method. At STADA, this affects the umbrella brand Hemofarm capitalized in the context of the acquisition 

of the Hemofarm group, as well as the umbrella brand Pymepharco capitalized in the context of achieving control over Pymepharco. 

Intangible assets that are not yet available for use are also generally put through annual impairment tests. Furthermore, in each 

 reporting period, an audit is carried out to check whether the reasons for recognizing an indefinite useful life continue to exist.

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements177

Internal development costs are capitalized in accordance with the criteria in IAS 38. Capitalized development costs consist mainly of 

costs that can be allocated to the projects, such as the costs of individuals working in development, material costs, external services 

and directly allocable overhead costs. Internally created intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their useful life 

(generally 20 years). 

Property, plant and equipment is reported at cost less depreciation and any impairment losses plus write-ups. Depreciation shall 

begin when the asset is available for use and is accordingly in the condition necessary for it to be capable of operating. Subsequent 

acquisition costs are capitalized. Capitalization requires that a future economic benefit will flow to the company and that the cost of 

the asset can be reliably measured. Expenses for repairs and maintenance which do not represent significant replacement invest-

ments are recognized as expenses in the financial year in which they are incurred. 

Items of property, plant and equipment are depreciated according to their useful life using the straight-line method. The depreciation 

period may be up to 50 years in the case of buildings, eight to 20 years in the case of technical facilities and three to 14 years for 

other plant and office furniture and equipment. The component approach, according to which every significant component of  property, 

plant and equipment with different useful lives must be depreciated separately, is not applied at STADA due to a lack of relevance. 

To the extent necessary, impairment losses are recognized pursuant to IAS 36; these are reversed if the reasons for the original 

recognition of an impairment loss no longer exist. 

Borrowing costs that are directly attributable to the acquisition or production of a qualifying asset are capitalized as part of the cost 

of the intangible asset and property, plant and equipment. Other borrowing costs are not capitalized. Where acquisitions are made in 

a currency other than the respective functional currency, subsequent changes in exchange rates have no impact on the recording of 

original costs.

Impairments on other intangible assets and property, plant and equipment exist when the recoverable amount of an asset is 

lower that its carrying amount. At each balance sheet date, STADA assesses whether indications for impairment are apparent. If this 

is the case, e.g. if certain defined critical values are exceeded, the asset’s recoverable amount is determined. The recoverable amount 

is the higher of the asset’s fair value less costs to sell and its value in use, where the value in use is calculated with a discounted 

cash  flow  method.  Under  this  procedure,  future  cash  flows  of  intangible  assets  are  discounted  at  the  weighted  average  cost  of  

capital, which is determined individually for various market regions with specific parameters. Expenses arising from impairments are 

 recognized under “Other expenses”. 

For the purpose of impairment tests of other intangible assets and property, plant and equipment, cash-generating units within the 

STADA  Group  are  defined  at  the  level  of  individual  assets  within  the  reportable  segments  of  Branded  Products,  Generics  and 

 Commercial Business.

If  the  reasons  for  an  impairment  no  longer  exist,  the  corresponding  write-ups  are  carried  out  up  to  a  maximum  of  the  carrying 

amounts determined at amortized cost. Income from write-ups is reported under the item “Other income”.

Leases are classified either as operating leases or as finance leases, depending on whether the significant risks and rewards of 

 ownership remain with the lessor or with the lessee. The lease is not recognized in the lessee’s balance sheet in case of operating 

leases. STADA records the lease payments for these leases in the income over the lease term. Assets from finance leases are, on  

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements178

initial recognition, recognized at the lower of the fair value of the lease and the present value of minimum lease payments, and are 

depreciated according to their estimated useful lives or shorter contractual period. An amount is reported as lease liability, when, on 

initial recognition, it corresponds to the lease’s carrying amount and is extinguished and carried forward in subsequent periods with 

a constant effective interest rate. The interest that is part of the lease installment is recognized as an expense. 

In addition, in case of sale and leaseback transactions that represent a finance lease, any excess of sales proceeds over the carrying 

amount is deferred and recognized in the income statement over the lease term.

The total value of capitalized leases is not of material significance for STADA when compared with the total volume of fixed assets.

Under financial assets, STADA recognizes shares in non-consolidated, affiliated companies and other investments. Shares in asso-

ciated companies and other investments are classified as available-for-sale financial assets and are generally reported at fair value 

with no effect on income. If no quoted market prices in an active market are available to measure these shares and their fair value 

therefore cannot be determined reliably, they are measured at amortized cost. If any objective  indications of impairment are deter-

mined, these are quantified by means of an impairment test and recognized in profit or loss in accordance with IAS 39. 

Inventories include such assets that are held for sale in the ordinary course of business (finished goods), that are in the process of 

production  for  such  sale  (work  in  progress),  and  that  are  consumed  in  the  production  process  or  in  the  rendering  of  services 

 (materials  and  supplies).  Inventories  are  measured  at  the  lower  of  cost  and  net  realizable  value.  Costs  are  calculated  based  on 

weighted average costs. Costs of sales include both costs that are directly incurred in production and overheads that can be  allocated 

to the production process, including reasonable depreciation on production facilities. Financing costs are not included, but are instead 

recognized as an expense in the period in which they occur. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course 

of business less the estimated costs of completion and the estimated costs necessary to make the sale.

Financial assets can be broken down into the following categories in accordance with IAS 39: loans and receivables, financial assets 

at fair value through profit or loss, available-for-sale financial assets and held-to-maturity investments. Financial assets are  accounted 

for and measured pursuant to IAS 39. Accordingly, financial assets are, as a rule, initially recognized at fair value. In addition, for 

 financial assets which are subsequently measured at amortized cost, transaction costs directly attributable to the acquisition are to 

be  taken  into  account.  Different  measurement  policies  apply  for  subsequent  measurement  in  accordance  with  the  applicable 

 categories for financial assets pursuant to IAS 39.

Loans and receivables are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active 

market. They are allocated to current assets to the extent that they are due for settlement within twelve months after the balance 

sheet date. STADA reports loans and receivables under “Trade accounts receivable”, “Other financial assets” and “Cash and cash 

equivalents”. They are measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method.

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements179

STADA reports receivables from derivatives which, if applicable, may also be part of hedge accounting, as financial assets at fair 

value through profit or loss. Assets in this category are reported under the “Other financial assets” item. They are measured at fair 

value. If these assets do not have a quoted market price in an active market, fair value is determined with appropriate measurement 

models. This includes the application of discounted cash flow methods, which are largely based on input parameters observable in 

the market. Changes in the fair values are recognized in profit and loss at the time of the increase or decrease in value.

Held-to-maturity financial investments include non-derivative assets with fixed or determinable payments and a fixed term that 

STADA intends to hold to maturity. They are measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method. STADA reports these 

assets in financial assets under the item “Other financial assets”.

Available-for-sale financial assets are non-derivative assets that are not allocated to any of the above categories. In particular, they 

comprise, in addition to shares in affiliated companies and other investments included in financial assets, equity securities which are 

recognized under “Other financial assets”. They are measured at fair value, with recognition of changes under “Provisions available 

for sale” directly in equity. These measurement results are reclassified through profit and loss upon sale or valuation allowance of 

these assets. There must be objective evidence that there is a significant or continuing decrease in fair value below cost. Published 

price quotations usually can be used for determining fair value.

Trade accounts receivable are measured at amortized cost less impairments using the effective interest rate method. Impairments 

are made in the form of individual impairments and general individual impairments for specific defaults and expected default risks 

resulting from the insolvency of customers. To quantify the expected default risk, STADA determines the expected future cash flows 

from receivables grouped by debtor. To this end, the maturity structures of net receivables and experience relating to derecognition 

of receivables in the past, the creditworthiness of the customers as well as changes in payment conditions are taken into account. In 

addition, a trade credit insurance that covers part of the loss in case of default is to be taken into consideration for various Group 

companies. The required impairment thus determined reduces the assets’ carrying amounts through recognition of an impairment 

account. 

The  loss  is  recognized  in  profit  and  loss  under “Other  expenses”.  Bad  debts  are  derecognized  against  the  impairment  account. 

 Subsequent cash receipts for receivables already derecognized are presented net of expenses.

Non-current  assets  and  disposal  groups  held  for  sale  are  classified  as  held  for  sale,  if  the  related  carrying  amount  will  be 

 recovered principally through a sale transaction rather than through continuing use, and if the sale is regarded as highly probable. 

Measurement of these assets is based on the lower of carrying amount and fair value less costs to sell.

Cash and cash equivalents include cash and call deposits as well as short-term and highly liquid financial investments with a 

maximum term of 90 days from the purchase date, which can be converted to cash immediately and are subject only to minor price 

fluctuation risks. They are measured at amortized cost. Cash and cash equivalents are reported in accordance with their definition in 

IAS 7.

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements180

Other assets, which are not based on any contractual rights involving the direct or indirect exchange of cash, are recognized under 

the item Other assets.

STADA maintains defined benefit plans in various countries, according to which the amount of pension benefits depends on the 

employees’  pensionable  remuneration  and  the  length  of  their  service  or  which  contain  guarantees  not  permitting  recognition  as 

 defined contribution plan. Pension obligations are measured in accordance with actuarial principles using the projected unit credit 

method. The pension provisions recognized in the balance sheet correspond to the present value of the defined benefit obligation on 

the balance sheet date less the fair value of plan assets adjusted for the effect resulting from any effect of limiting the benefit asset. 

In addition to earned pensions and entitlements, the calculation also includes future salary and pension increases. For German Group 

companies, pension obligations are calculated based on the biometric accounting principles of the Heubeck 2005G mortality tables. 

Outside Germany, country-specific mortality tables are used. Future pension benefits are subject to individual pension agreements. 

The discount rate shall be based on long-term market yields on high quality corporate bonds with fixed interest rates at the end of 

the reporting period. In countries where there is no liquid market in such corporate bonds, the discount rate is determined on the 

basis of market yields on government bonds.

The standard IAS 19 only permits actuarial gains and losses to be recognized directly in equity. It differentiates between gains and 

losses due to changes in demographic assumptions, due to changes in financial assumptions as well as due to experience-based 

amendments. They are recognized directly in equity in the period in which they occur (“other comprehensive income, OCI”). The 

relevant amounts are reported separately in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income. For the calculation of the portion 

of the interest income on plan assets recognized through profit or loss, the standard IAS 19 requires the application of the discount 

rate underlying the obligation. The remainder of the actual income from plan assets is to be recognized directly in other comprehen-

sive income. The current service cost is recorded in staff costs of the individual functional areas. All past service cost that arises in 

the financial year shall be recognized immediately through profit or loss. 

Various  Group  companies  additionally  grant  their  employees  defined  contribution  plans.  Here,  Group  companies  pay  defined 

 contributions to independent institutions due to legal or contractual requirements or on a voluntary basis; liabilities beyond this do not 

exist. Contributions to be paid for the respective plans are recognized as expense in the respective period in the relevant functional 

areas. 

The other non-current provisions contain anniversary provisions as other long-term employee benefits. Commitments to anni-

versary payments are recognized in accordance with the guidelines in IAS 19 as other long-term employee benefits. In contrast to 

pension provisions, actuarial gains and losses are not recognized without an effect on the income statement. Such potential gains 

and losses are immediately recognized as income or expenditure in the relevant functional area. Furthermore, there is a working time 

accounts plan which is accounted for in the same way as commitments to anniversary payments.

Other provisions are made by STADA if there are current legal or constructive obligations to third parties arising from past events,  

which will probably lead to an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits that can be reliably determined. An outflow of 

 resources embodying economic benefits is considered probable if it is more likely than not. Other provisions are recognized in an 

amount  that,  taking  into  account  all  recognizable  risks,  offers  the  best  possible  estimate  of  expenditures  necessary  to  fulfill  the 

 obligations. Any existing reimbursement claims by third parties are not netted with other provisions. Expenses from the creation of  

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements181

provisions  are  allocated  to  functional  costs  according  to  where  they  arise.  If  changes  in  estimates  result  in  a  reduction  of  the 

 obligation, the other provisions are reversed on a pro rata basis and recognized in profit and loss under the item where the original 

expense was recognized.

STADA  reports  all  other  provisions  as  current  liabilities,  because  a  settlement  date  within  twelve  months  of  the  balance  date  is 

 expected. The amounts recognized are not discounted. Liabilities incurred due to outstanding accounts or obligations to  personnel 

and tax authorities, as well as other liabilities are not recorded as provisions, but under “Trade accounts payable” or  “Other liabilities”. 

Differentiated  from  provisions,  there  are  contingent  liabilities  for  possible  obligations  based  on  past  events  but  which  will  

not become manifest until the occurrence of one or more uncertain future events, which are not under STADA’s control. In addition, 

there are also contingent liabilities for current obligations, for which however the associated outflow of resources is not considered 

probable or the amount of the obligation cannot be adequately estimated. In accordance with IAS 37, such contingent liabilities are 

not recognized.

Financial liabilities are measured on initial recognition at fair value plus transaction costs directly attributable to the acquisition. For 

financial liabilities that subsequently continue to be measured at fair value, any transaction costs are recognized as an expense in the 

period in which they occur. This relates to the accounting of derivative financial instruments with negative market values that are not 

part of an effective hedging relationship and allocated to the category “at fair value through profit or loss” in accordance with IAS 39. 

STADA reports these liabilities in the “Other financial liabilities” item. Here, those derivative financial instruments are also included 

which serve to hedge interest rate and currency risks resulting from operating activities, financial transactions and investments, and  

which are also measured at fair value in accordance with the regulations of IAS 39 on hedge accounting. Unless market prices are 

available, fair value is determined with measurement models based on discounted cash flow models. 

Derivative financial instruments exist at STADA in the context of derivatives measured at fair value with an effect on income as 

well as in the context of derivative hedging instruments. In each case, depending on whether the market value of the derivatives is 

positive or negative, they are recognized under the item “Other financial assets” or “Other financial liabilities” (see accounting policies 

for financial assets and financial liabilities). Cash flow hedges, fair value hedges and hedges of net investments in a foreign operation 

can generally be recognized as derivative hedging instruments in the context of hedge accounting in accordance with IAS 39.

At STADA, cash flow hedges are used to hedge against fluctuations of cash flows associated with a recognized asset or a recognized 

liability or a highly probable planned transaction. Changes in the fair value of these hedging instruments are recognized in the amount 

of the effective part of the hedging relationship directly in equity under “Provisions for cash flow hedges”. A transfer to the income 

statement takes place in the period when the underlying hedged item becomes effective. The ineffective part of the changes in value 

is, however, recognized directly in the income statement.

In the context of fair value hedges, the risk of a change in fair value of recognized assets or recognized liabilities or fixed off balance 

liabilities is hedged. Changes in the fair value of these hedging transactions are recorded in profit and loss like changes in the fair 

value of the underlying hedged items. If the requirements for hedge accounting are no longer met, the carrying amounts of the   

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements182

previously hedged items are adjusted on the basis of their remaining terms. Hedges of net investments in a foreign operation are 

treated according to the same accounting policies as cash flow hedges.

STADA regularly reviews the effectiveness of the hedging relationships as a prerequisite for hedge accounting pursuant to IAS 39.  

A hedging transaction is in general considered to be effective, if changes in fair value of the hedging transaction are both prospec-

tively and retrospectively within a range of 80% to 125% of the offsetting changes in fair value of the hedged item.

STADA measures all other financial liabilities, in particular trade accounts payable as well as financial liabilities, at amortized cost 

using the effective interest method. 

STADA  has  so  far  not  made  use  of  the  option  to  designate  financial  liabilities  on  initial  recognition  as  financial  liabilities  to  be 

 recognized at fair value through profit or loss.

Other liabilities, which are not based on any contractual rights involving the direct or indirect exchange of cash, are recognized under 

the item “Other liabilities”.

10. Estimates, assumptions and discretion in the application of accounting principles

The presentation of the business, financial and earnings situation in the consolidated financial statements is determined by  recognition 

and valuation methods. To a certain extent, STADA makes estimates and assumptions relating to the future that are based on past 

experience as well as other factors that are considered to be appropriate in the particular circumstances. Although the estimates and 

assumptions  are  constantly  re-evaluated,  estimates  derived  in  this  way  may  differ  from  actual  circumstances.  The  significant 

 estimates, accounting judgments and related assumptions for the accounting issues concerned are detailed below.

As part of purchase price allocations in business combinations, goodwill is the difference between the acquired net assets evaluated 

according to IFRS 3 and the consideration transferred plus the fair value of the previously held shares and the amount recognized of 

non-controlling shareholders. Various valuation methods are used for this, which are primarily based on estimates and assumptions. 

STADA  carries  out  an  impairment  test  for  capitalized  goodwill  at  least  once  a  year.  The  discounted  future  cash  flows  of  the 

 cash- generating units aggregated to market regions below the segment level, which are based on certain assumptions, are to be 

determined for this purpose. The discounted cash flow method is used to determine the value in use, applying an individual interest 

rate for each cash-generating unit and a detailed planning period of three years based on approved budgets. For the period after this 

three-year  detailed  planning  horizon,  a  specific  estimated  growth  rate  in  the  amount  of  the  expected  long-term  inflation  rate  is 

 assumed. The  budget  values  for  future  financial  years,  which  are  subject  to  some  uncertainty  due  to  unforeseeable  future  legal 

 developments and developments in the health care market, as well as the parameters determined in the context of current market 

information but also as a best possible estimate mean that the assessment of impairment may differ from actual circumstances, and 

despite good forecasts in the reporting year an impairment may be necessary in subsequent years.

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements183

For items of property plant and equipment and intangible assets, the expected useful lives and associated amortization or deprecia-

tion expenses are determined on the basis of the expectations and assessments of management. If the actual useful life is less than 

the expected useful life, the amount of depreciation or amortization is adjusted accordingly. As part of the determination of impair-

ment losses on fixed assets, estimates relating to the cause, timing and amount of the impairments are also made. Particularly in the 

context of impairment tests for yet unused approvals, which are recognized as advance payments, the growth rates applied for the 

present  value  test  as  well  as  the  long-term  price  and  cost  development  of  active  pharmaceutical  ingredients  are  based  on  best 

 possible estimates. This also applies to the impairment tests of other intangible assets with indefinite useful lives.

Development costs are capitalized based on the assessment of whether the capitalization requirements of IAS 38 are met. Planning 

calculations are necessary to determine the future economic benefit, which are by their nature subject to estimates and may there-

fore deviate from actual circumstances in the future.

STADA makes valuation allowances on receivables in order to anticipate losses expected in relation to insolvency of customers. The 

maturity structure of the net receivables and past experience in relation to bad debts as well as the customers’ creditworthiness are 

used as the criteria for evaluating the appropriateness of the valuation allowances. This does not, however, exclude the possibility that 

the actual derecognitions will exceed the expected valuation allowances due to a significant worsening in the financial situation of the 

customer. Accounting judgments and estimates regarding the assessment of the value of receivables relate particularly to impaired 

receivables from debtors in CEE countries. 

STADA operates in various countries and is obliged to pay respective income taxes in each tax jurisdiction. In order to calculate the 

income tax provisions and the deferred taxes in the Group, the expected income tax as well as the temporary differences resulting 

from  the  different  treatment  of  certain  items  according  to  IFRS  and  their  accounting  in  accordance  with  tax  law  are  each  to  be 

 determined on the basis of assumptions. If the final taxation imposed deviates from the assumed values, this has a corresponding 

effect on actual and deferred taxes and thus on the business, financial and earnings situation of the Group in the respective period. 

Furthermore, increasing importance within the STADA Group is being allotted to a comprehensive tax transfer-pricing model for the 

payment of intercompany services. Possible risks of non-recognition of these transfer prices for tax purposes are limited by the 

 introduction of appropriate communication methods and an overarching definition of transfer prices in the form of a Group guideline.

When determining the fair values of derivatives and other financial instruments, for which no market price in an active market is 

available, valuation models based on input parameters observable in the market are applied. The cash flows, which are already fixed 

or calculated by means of the current yield curve using so-called “forward rates”, are discounted to the measurement date with the 

discount factors determined by means of the yield curve valid on the balance sheet date.

The amount of pension obligations from defined benefit plans is calculated using actuarial methods. This procedure is based upon 

assumptions, among other things, regarding the discount rate, life expectancy and future salary and pension increases. Changes to 

these assumptions can significantly influence the amount of future pension expenses.

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements184

The creation of other provisions is based on the assessment of management regarding the probability and amount of an outflow of 

resources. STADA creates provisions if there is a present external obligation and a probable outflow of resources, i.e. if it is more 

likely to occur than not. Provisions in relation to pending legal disputes are created based on how STADA estimates the prospects of 

success of these methods. The determination of provisions for damages is also associated with substantial estimates, which can 

change due to new information. The same applies for the recognition of the amount of contingent liabilities.

Expenses from the creation of provisions for warranties are considered in sales and charged against income. Estimated values based 

on past experience are used for this purpose. This means that the actual expenses for warranties may differ from the estimate and 

sales would accordingly turn out to be higher or lower. The same applies for the consideration of discounts (e.g. discounts to health 

insurance organizations) prescribed by law and due to other regulatory requirements, which are recognized with a reduction on sales 

based on the respective underlying contract with an estimated amount in expectation of probable sales.

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements185

Notes to the Consolidated Income Statement

11. Sales

STADA’s  sales  primarily  result  from  the  supply  of  products.  For  information  on  the  reporting  of  sales,  please  refer  to  the  details 

 included in Accounting Policies.

In 2015, the increase in sales compared to 2014 was primarily based on the good sales development in the market regions Central 

Europe and Asia/Pacific & MENA. This development was mainly characterized by the acquisition of the British company Internis as 

well as an increase in sales in the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy and Vietnam. Exchange rate effects and portfolio changes had a total 

influence of € 28.7 million on sales in the reporting year. For information on how sales are broken down according to segments and 

market regions, please refer to the Segment Reporting in Note 42.

12. Cost of sales

Cost of sales is divided into the following items:

in € 000s

Material expenses

Impairment, depreciation and amortization

Expenses from inventory write-downs

Remaining cost of sales

Total

2015

2014

874,066

101,497

36,545

89,601

853,464

100,779

33,747

82,451

1,101,709

1,070,441

Impairment, depreciation and amortization in the amount of € 101.5 million (previous year: € 100.8 million) mainly includes amorti-

zation on intangible assets, the ownership of which represents a necessary condition for the marketing of the products manufactured 

– in particular drug approvals.

Expenses from inventory write-downs included inventories written down to net realizable value netted with reversals. The reversals 

amounted to € 7.2 million in financial year 2015 (previous year: € 9.3 million).

13. Selling expenses

In addition to the costs for sales departments and sales force, selling expenses also comprise the costs for advertising and marketing 

activities including samples for doctors. They also include all costs for logistics that occur for completed final products. Discounts in 

the form of free retail packages, so-called discounts in kind, – if possible under the legal regulations in a national market – are not 

included. The resulting expenses are recognized as a part of cost of sales. 

In the reporting year, marketing expenses in the amount of € 210.0 million (previous year: € 186.4 million) corresponded to a share 

of 44% in selling expenses (previous year: 41%). In addition, selling expenses included depreciation in the amount of € 7.1 million 

(previous year: € 7.4 million). 

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements186

14. General and administrative expenses

Personnel and material costs of service and administrative units are reported under general and administrative expenses, unless they 

have been charged to other functional areas as internal services.

In 2015, the general and administrative expenses included depreciation in the amount of € 7.9 million (previous year: € 10.2 million).

General and administrative expenses increased in the reporting year by a total of € 25.5 million. The increase primarily resulted from 

net  earnings in the amount of € 15.9 million from 2014, mainly from past service cost in connection with a change in the defined  

benefit plan for the Chairman of the Executive Board and the resulting changes with regard to the benefits awarded in accordance 

with the former benefit plan.

15. Research and development expenses

For information on the composition of research and development expenses, please refer to the details included in Accounting Policies.

In financial year 2015, research and development expenses increased by € 8.1 million compared to the previous year.

The research and development expenses include depreciation in the amount of € 2.1 million (previous year: € 2.6 million). Develop-

ment costs for new products in the amount of € 26.1 million (previous year: € 27.5 million) were capitalized in financial year 2015 

(see the note on the item “Intangible assets”).

16. Other income

Other income is divided into the following items:

in € 000s

Income from disposals

Remaining other income

Total

2015

2,317

17,715

20,032

2014

43

20,024

20,067

The income from disposals mainly resulted from the deconsolidation of the French subsidiary Laboratoires d’études et de recherches 

en oligo éléments thérapie SA.

The remaining other income includes such items as income from damage claim payments received and other income not directly 

associated with functional costs, which comprises many insignificant individual items in the Group companies.

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements17. Other expenses

Other expenses are broken down as follows:

in € 000s

Expenses from valuation allowances on accounts receivable 

Currency translation expenses

Impairment losses on non-current assets excluding goodwill

Impairment losses on goodwill

Remaining other expenses

Total

187

2015

9,367

19,549

32,790

410

21,593

83,709

2014

3,809

29,415

47,723

59,808

14,488

155,243

Expenses for valuation allowances on accounts receivable were recognized netted with the corresponding income from their reversal.

Other expenses include impairment losses on non-current assets excluding goodwill in the amount of € 32.8 million (previous year: 

€ 47.7 million). In addition, impairment losses on goodwill regarding the market region Asia/Pacific & MENA were recorded in the 

reporting year. These impairment losses were considered by STADA as a special effect of financial year 2015.

The  item  also  included  net  currency  translation  expenses  in  the  amount  of  € 19.5 million  in  the  reporting  year  (previous  year: 

€ 29.4 million). This development is especially attributable to the strong devaluation of the significant currencies of the market region 

CIS/Eastern Europe and the resulting currency translation expenses.

Within remaining other expenses, personnel expenses are recognized in the amount of € 4.4 million (previous year: € 5.8 million).

18. Financial result

The result from investments measured at equity in financial year 2015 relates to the companies BIOCEUTICALS Arzneimittel AG, 

Pharm Ortho Pedic SAS and AELIA SAS as well as Dialogfarma LLC for the first time this year, which are accounted for using the 

equity method.

Investment income primarily relates to profit distributions from companies not included in the consolidated financial statements.

Financial  income  and  financial  expenses  are  composed  of  the  interest  result  and  other  financial  income  and  other  financial 

 expenses.

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements188

The interest result developed as follows:

in € 000s

Interest income

Interest expense

Interest result

thereof: from financial instruments of the valuation categories in accordance with IAS 39:

• Loans and receivables

• Financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit and loss

• Held-to-maturity investments

• “Available-for-sale” financial assets

• Financial liabilities measured at amortized costs

2015

1,142

65,576

64,434

1,142

-18,213

-

-

2014

1,242

70,393

-69,151

1,242

-

-

-

-46,349

-68,431

As part of a change in reporting, interest rate expenses from currency swaps are reported as part of the interest result for the first 

time in financial year 2015. If this reporting had been implemented in the previous year, the interest expense would have increased 

by € 2.7 million.

In addition, the interest result in financial year 2015 includes an interest expense from other non-current provisions, which  comprises 

interest income on plan assets as well as interest expenses from pension obligations and other non-current provisions, in the amount 

of € 1.0 million (previous year: € 2.0 million).

In financial year 2015, the Group refinanced itself at interest rates of between 0.7% p.a. and 16.6% p.a. (previous year: between 

0.9% p.a. and 12.0% p.a.). On the balance sheet date of December 31, 2015, the weighted average interest rate for non-current 

financial liabilities was approx. 2.0% p.a. (previous year: approx. 3.3% p.a.) and for current financial liabilities approx. 5.1% p.a. 

(previous  year:  approx.  4.6%  p.a.).  For  all  of  the  Group’s  financial  liabilities  the  weighted  average  interest  amounted  to  approx.  

2.6% p.a. (previous year: approx. 3.7% p.a.).

Interest payments partially resulting from interest rate swaps designated by STADA as hedging instruments in cash flow hedges  

are not netted for each swap contract and are recognized as interest income or interest expense in the valuation category of the 

associated  underlying  hedged  item.  For  the  reporting  period,  this  exclusively  concerns  financial  liabilities  which  were  valued  at 

 amortized costs.

Borrowing costs capitalized as part of the cost of qualifying assets amounted to € 1.0 million in financial year 2015 (previous year: 

€ 0.7 million). A capitalization rate of 2.3% for intangible assets (previous year: 3.1%) was taken as a basis. 

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements189

Other financial income and other financial expenses consist of the following:

in € 000s

Other financial income

thereof

• from the measurement of financial instruments

• from the disposal of financial instruments

Other financial expenses

thereof

• from the measurement of financial instruments

• from the disposal of financial instruments

2015

28

-

28

3,091

3,087

4

2014

3,591

3,591

-

-

-

-

The  result  from  the  measurement  of  financial  instruments  in  the  reporting  period  resulted  from  interest  rate  swaps  and  interest 

rate / currency swaps measured at fair value through profit or loss. There was a net burden on earnings in the amount of € 3.1 million 

before or € 3.1 million after taxes. In the previous year, there was a net relief on earnings from the measurement of derivative finan-

cial  instruments in the amount of € 3.6 million before or € 3.6 million after taxes. The measurement of interest rate hedge transac-

tions thereby depends on the development of the money market interest rate.

19. Income taxes

Actual income taxes in the income statement relate to taxes in Germany and abroad as follows:

in € 000s

Actual taxation

Germany

Outside Germany

Deferred taxes

Germany

Outside Germany

2015

43,591

-2,340

45,931

-2,953

7,373

-10,326

2014

46,032

872

45,160

8,554

12,046

-3,492

The item income taxes includes taxes on income and earnings paid or owed in the individual countries as well as deferred taxes. 

Other taxes that cannot be meaningfully attributed to the sales, administration or research and development functions are included 

in other expenses.

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements190

Actual income taxes can be divided according to timing as follows:

in € 000s

Actual income taxes

Tax expense in the current period

Tax expense from previous periods

Tax income from previous periods

The deferred taxes are as follows:

in € 000s

Deferred taxes

from temporary differences

from interest carryforwards

from loss carryforwards

from tax credits

from others

2015

43,591

48,569

546

5,524

2015

-2,953

-2,808

-

-145

-

-

2014

46,032

49,159

2,371

5,498

2014

8,554

10,726

-

-2,172

-

-

The effective income tax rate amounted to 25.8% for financial year 2015. The effective income tax rate in the previous year was 

43.8%. The nominal income tax rate amounted to 27.4% in financial year 2015 for STADA Arzneimittel AG in Germany, this includes 

corporation tax with a tax rate of 15.0% and the solidarity surcharge in the amount of 5.5% as well as trade income tax with an 

assessment rate of 330%. In the previous year, the nominal income tax rate of STADA Arzneimittel AG amounted to 26.3%. The 

 difference mainly results from an increase of the assessment rate for the trade income tax in the amount of 30 percentage points in 

Bad Vilbel.

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements191

The  following  overview  explains  how  the  effective  income  tax  expense  reported  in  the  income  statement  was  derived  from  the 

 expected income tax expense. The expected income tax expense is calculated by applying the nominal tax rate of a corporation 

headquartered in Bad Vilbel to earnings before taxes. The tax effects of the respective tax rates to be applied locally depending on 

their applicable national and legal forms are reported in a separate reconciliation.

in € 000s

Earnings before taxes

Nominal income tax rate of STADA Arzneimittel AG (in %)

Expected income tax expense

Deviation in local tax rate

Tax effects from non-deductible impairment on investments and goodwill

Tax effects from loss carryforwards

Tax effects from previous years

Effects from tax rate changes

Tax effects from non-deductible expenses and tax-free earnings

Other tax effects

Income tax expense shown on the income statement

Effective income tax rate (in %)

2015

2014

157,803

124,694

27.4%

43,207

-4,779

28

-6,582

-4,910

-7,495

21,376

-207

40,638

25.8%

26.3%

32,832

-2,608

9,635

88

-3,127

-214

21,857

-3,877

54,586

43.8%

Tax effects from non-deductible impairments of investment and goodwill in the previous year hereby resulted mainly from impair-

ments of goodwill in the market regions CIS/Eastern Europe and Asia/Pacific & MENA.

Tax effects from loss carryforwards mainly result from the utilization of tax loss carryforwards for which no deferred tax assets have 

been recognized so far.

The effects from tax rate changes mainly result from a reduction of the tax rate in the United Kingdom and the corresponding re-

measurement of deferred taxes.

The actual income taxes and deferred taxes recognized in the balance sheet were as follows:

in € 000s

Income tax receivables

Income tax liabilities

Dec. 31, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

21,182

39,444

30,711

33,726

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements192

in € 000s

Deferred tax assets

Deferred tax liabilities

Deferred taxes as of December 31

Difference compared to previous year

thereof

• recognized in income

• recognized directly in equity

• acquisitions/disposals/changes in the scope of consolidation

• currency translation differences

Dec. 31, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

34,073

160,241

-126,168

-8,878

2,953

-4

-6,648

-5,179

49,409

166,699

-117,290

-17,468

-8,554

6,344

-11,257

-4,001

Deferred taxes result from the following balance sheet items and loss carryforwards:

in € 000s

Intangible assets

Property, plant and equipment

Financial assets

Inventories

Receivables

Other assets

Other non-current provisions

Other provisions

Liabilities

Loss carryforwards

Total

Offsetting

Deferred taxes as per balance sheet

Dec. 31, 2015 
Deferred  
tax assets

Dec. 31, 2014 
Deferred  
tax assets

Dec. 31, 2015 
Deferred  
tax liabilities

Dec. 31, 2014 
Deferred  
tax liabilities

2,244

1,423

981

10,948

5,144

3,006

3,631

1,555

3,541

15,843

48,316

-14,243

34,073

1,811

1,260

1,704

16,835

12,036

1,309

4,540

3,955

299

15,728

59,477

-10,068

49,409

153,077

147,438

6,009

617

1,317

4,325

5

58

8,102

974

-

174,484

-14,243

160,241

7,944

21

2,110

370

8,869

172

5,035

4,808

-

176,767

-10,068

166,699

Deferred tax liabilities reported by STADA resulted, among other things, from deferred taxes in the context of purchase price  allocations 

carried out under IFRS 3. Deferred tax liabilities decreased as compared to the previous year primarily as a result of a reduction of 

the tax rate in the United Kingdom and the corresponding remeasurement of deferred taxes.

Tax  advantages  that  are  highly  probable  and  expected  from  the  future  utilization  of  tax  loss  carryforwards  are  recognized  under 

“Deferred taxes from loss carryforwards”.

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
193

Tax loss carryforwards are only capitalized if their future utilization is highly probable. Tax loss carryforwards capitalized as of the 

December 31, 2015 reporting date amounted to € 73.2 million in financial year 2015 (previous year: € 60.1 million).

Income  taxes  decreased  by  a  total  of  € 6.6 million  (previous  year:  increase  of  income  tax  expense  by  € 0.1 million)  through  the 

 utilization of previously unrecognized tax loss carryforwards from previous years for which no deferred taxes have been recognized 

so far and through tax loss carryforwards from the current financial year for which no deferred taxes have been recognized.

The future usable tax loss carryforwards and similar items are listed in the following chart according to their expiry date:

in € 000s

Loss carryforward expiry date within

• 1 year

• 2 years

• 3 years

• 4 years

• 5 years

• more than 5 years

• unlimited carryforward

Dec. 31, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

707

-

799

-

141

5,966

65,594

-

1,427

-

779

0

1,062

56,836

No deferred taxes were recognized for the following tax loss carryforwards and similar items as it is not probable that they will be 

realized in the foreseeable future:

in € 000s

Loss carryforward expiry date within

• 1 year

• 2 years

• 3 years

• 4 years

• 5 years

• more than 5 years

• unlimited carryforward

Temporary differences

Dec. 31, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

182

-

-

-

-

24,420

98,650

123,252

-

1,163

-

-

-

14,955

107,695

123,813

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements194

20. Income distributable to non-controlling interests

in € 000s

Earnings after taxes

• thereof distributable to shareholders of STADA Arzneimittel AG (net income)

• thereof distributable to non-controlling interests

Dec. 31, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

117,165

110,404

6,761

70,108

64,562

5,546

Net income related to non-controlling interests pertains to the subsidiaries STADA Thailand, STADA Import/Export International, STA-

DA Vietnam J.V., Pymepharco, STADA Pharmaceuticals (Beijing), Hemomont and Hemofarm Banja Luka.

21. Earnings per share

The basic and diluted earnings per share are as follows:

Basic earnings per share

Net income (in € 000s)

Adjustment

Adjusted net income (basic) (in € 000s)

Average number of registered shares with restricted transferability issued (in unit shares)

Average number of treasury shares (in unit shares)

Adjusted average number of shares (basic) (in unit shares)

Basic earnings per share (in €)

2015

110,404

-

110,404

2014

64,562

-

64,562

61,725,885

60,499,412

88,264

90,911

61,637,621

60,408,501

1.79

1.07

Basic earnings per share are calculated by dividing the adjusted net income distributable to the shareholders of STADA Arzneimittel 

AG by the time-weighted average number of registered shares with restricted transferability outstanding.

Diluted earnings per share

Adjusted net income (basic) (in € 000s)

Dilutive effects on profit from share options (after taxes) (in € 000s)

Adjusted net income (diluted) (in € 000s)

Adjusted average number of shares (in unit shares)

Potentially dilutive shares from share options (in unit shares) 

Average number of shares (diluted) (in unit shares)

Diluted earnings per share (in €)

2015

110,404

-

110,404

2014

64,562

-

64,562

61,637,621

60,408,501

10,635

860,909

61,648,256

61,269,410

1.79

1.05

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements195

Diluted earnings per share are generally calculated with the formula used to calculate the basic earnings per share. They are also 

adjusted for the effect of outstanding share options on the basis of the average share price of the financial year. This is carried out 

based on the assumption that all potentially dilutive share options are exercised. Details on currently valid equity instruments are 

included in the Notes on equity. The share options from the STADA warrants mentioned had expired as of June 26, 2015.

22. Number of employees and personnel expenses

The average number of employees at STADA by functional area and functional sub-area is as follows:

Marketing/Sales

Logistics

Finance/IT

Production/Quality management

Procurement/Supply chain

Product development

Administration

Entire Group

Personnel expenses (in € million)

2015

3,012

299

684

4,644

333

594

875

10,441

342.7

2014

2,938

400

670

4,442

311

571

877

10,209

305.1

The average number of employees in the reporting year was above the level of the previous year at 10,441 (previous year: 10,209). 

The most substantial reasons for the increase in the number of employees include the consolidation as of January 1, 2015 of the 

subsidiary STADA Egypt Ltd., the acquisition of British company Internis Pharmaceuticals Ltd. and the purchase of Austrian company 

SCIOTEC Diagnostic Technologies with a total of 52 employees. On the balance sheet date, the STADA Group’s number of employees 

in 2015 totaled 10,532 (previous year: 10,363). 

Personnel  expenses,  which  are  included  in  expenses  of  the  individual  functional  areas  according  to  their  functional  relevance, 

 increased in financial year 2015 to € 342,7 million (previous year: € 305.1 million). The increase was primarily a result of earnings 

recorded in the previous year within personnel expenses from past service cost in connection with a change in the defined benefit 

plan for the Chairman of the Executive Board and the resulting changes with regard to the benefits awarded according to the former 

benefit plan.

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements196

23. Depreciation, amortization and impairment losses

Depreciation,  amortization  and  impairment  losses  are  included  in  expenses  of  the  individual  functional  areas  according  to  their 

 functional relevance and can be attributed to intangible assets, property, plant and equipment as follows:

in € 000s

Depreciation/amortization

Intangible assets

Property, plant and equipment

Impairment losses

Intangible assets

thereof:

• goodwill

Property, plant and equipment

thereof:

• land and buildings

• plant and machinery

• other fixtures and fittings, tools and equipment

Financial assets

thereof:

• investments

2015

2014

118,648

84,429

34,219

33,200

32,948

410

161

-

118

43

91

91

120,990

87,694

33,296

107,531

104,781

59,808

136

136

-

-

2,614

2,614

The impairment of intangible assets concerns various drug approvals and trademarks.

The impairments on goodwill recorded in the previous year relate to goodwill of the market region CIS/Eastern Europe as well as of 

the market region Asia/Pacific & MENA.

The impairments of financial assets in the reporting year primarily relate to the carrying amounts of Hetmak FZCO in Dubai. The 

impairments in the previous year primarily related to the carrying amounts of STADApharm AB in Sweden.

Depreciation and amortization decreased by 1.9% compared to the previous year. More information on amortization, depreciation and 

impairment losses is included in the Notes on non-current assets.

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements 
Notes to the Consolidated Balance Sheet

24. Intangible assets

Intangible assets developed as follows in financial year 2015:

Regulatory drug 
approvals, 
trademarks, 
customer 
relationships, 
software, 
licenses and 
similar rights

Advance 
payments made 
and capitalized 
development 
costs for current 
projects

Goodwill

2015 
in € 000s

Cost as of Jan. 1, 2015

Currency translation

Changes in the scope of consolidation

Additions

Additions from business combinations according to IFRS 3

Disposals

Transfers

1,744,755

445,874

7,752

37

14,889

33,316

10,748

64,399

2,172

1,087

-

17,728

1,827

-

Cost as of Dec. 31, 2015

1,854,400

465,034

Accumulated amortization as of Jan. 1, 2015

Currency translation

Changes in the scope of consolidation

Amortization 

Impairment losses

Disposals

Write-ups

Transfers

Accumulated amortization as of Dec. 31, 2015

Residual carrying amounts as of Dec. 31, 2015

Residual carrying amounts as of Dec. 31, 2014

635,523

-3,627

-

84,429

28,736

6,361

-

359

739,059

1,115,341

1,109,232

73,571

-559

-

-

410

-

-

-

73,422

391,612

372,303

207,121

2,534

-

56,912

70

585

-64,399

201,653

57,140

-434

-

-

3,802

563

-

-359

59,586

142,067

149,981

197

Total

2,397,750

12,458

1,124

71,801

51,114

13,160

0

2,521,087

766,234

-4,620

-

84,429

32,948

6,924

-

0

872,067

1,649,020

1,631,516

Additions from business combinations according to IFRS 3, which relate to the fair values determined in the context of the purchase 

price allocations, mainly resulted from the acquisition of the British Socialites Group with € 32.3 million and with € 18.4 million from 

the purchase of the Austrian company SCIOTEC Diagnostic Technologies GmbH. 

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
198

The umbrella brand Hemofarm capitalized in 2006 in the context of the acquisition of the Hemofarm group is included in recognized 

trademarks as an intangible asset with an indefinite useful life, as STADA intends to make continuing use of it. As at December 31, 

2015, this umbrella brand has a carrying amount of € 45.4 million (previous year: € 47.6 million). In the context of the impairment 

test of December 31, 2015, a royalty rate of 2% and a discount rate of 13.0% was used. This resulted in a necessity for impairment 

in the amount of € 2.0 million for the reporting year. In addition, the change compared to the previous year figure of € 0.2 million is 

a result of different exchange rates.

Furthermore, in the context of the control achieved over Pymepharco in 2013, the umbrella brand Pymepharco was  capitalized as an 

intangible asset with an indefinite useful life as a trademark, as STADA intends to continue to use the trademark. As of December 31, 

2015, it has a carrying amount of € 9.5 million (previous year: € 9.1 million). The change is a result of different  exchange rates. In 

the context of the impairment test of December 31, 2015, a royalty rate of 2% and a discount rate of 14.9% were used. There was 

no necessity for impairment for the reporting year.

Borrowing costs capitalized in 2015 for intangible assets and directly attributable to the acquisition or the production of a qualifying 

asset amounted to € 1.0 million (previous year: € 0.7 million). In financial year 2015, the capitalization rate taken as a basis for 

 determining borrowing costs eligible for capitalization was 2.3% (previous year: 3.1%).

Development costs of € 27.5 million were capitalized in the reporting year (previous year: € 28.7 million). Capitalized development 

costs consist mainly of costs that can be allocated to the projects, such as the costs of individuals working in development, material 

costs and external services, together with directly allocable overhead costs. Internally created intangible assets are amortized on a 

straight-line basis over their useful life, generally 20 years. STADA immediately recognizes development costs that do not qualify for 

capitalization as expense in the period in which they are incurred (see Note 15.). In financial year 2015, these development costs 

amounted to € 65.0 million (previous year: € 56.9 million). 

Amortization on intangible assets mainly relates to regulatory drug approvals as well as trademarks and is recognized in the income 

statement primarily under cost of sales. In the reporting year, this related to an amount of € 84.4 million (previous year: € 87.7 mil-

lion).

In  financial  year  2015,  impairments  on  intangible  assets  were  recognized  in  the  total  amount  of  € 32.9 million  (previous  year: 

€ 104.8 million). These include value adjustments of goodwill in the market region Asia/Pacific & MENA in the amount of € 0.4 mil-

lion, which resulted in the context of the impairment test carried out in the reporting year due to the existing knowledge and ex-

pectations related to the market and competitive environment. In addition, further intangible assets in the amount of € 32.5 million 

were impaired, mainly as a result of unchanged higher risks in the market region CIS/Eastern Europe.

Details on changes in the scope of consolidation can be found in the Note on the scope of consolidation (see Note 5.). 

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements199

Intangible assets developed as follows in the previous year:

2014 
in € 000s

Cost as of Jan. 1, 2014

Currency translation

Changes in the scope of consolidation

Additions

Additions from business combinations according to IFRS 3

Disposals

Transfers

Regulatory drug 
approvals, 
trademarks, 
customer 
relationships, 
software, 
licenses and 
similar rights

1,619,982

-37,342

-

113,366

36,691

16,160

28,218

Goodwill

470,770

-34,756

-

825

9,035

-

-

Cost as of Dec. 31, 2014

1,744,755

445,874

Accumulated amortization as of Jan. 1, 2014

Currency translation

Changes in the scope of consolidation

Amortization 

Impairment losses

Disposals

Write-ups

Transfers

Accumulated amortization as of Dec. 31, 2014

Residual carrying amounts as of Dec. 31, 2014

Residual carrying amounts as of Dec. 31, 2013

539,239

-24,293

-

87,694

42,366

10,057

-

574

635,523

1,109,232

1,080,743

12,776

987

-

-

59,808

-

-

-

73,571

372,303

457,994

Advance 
payments made 
and capitalized 
development 
costs for current 
projects

160,209

-5,282

-

41,317

39,796

701

-28,218

207,121

57,323

-2,146

-

-

2,607

70

-

-574

57,140

149,981

102,886

The following amortization expense is expected for the intangible assets in the next five years:

in € 000s

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

Total

2,250,961

-77,380

-

155,508

85,522

16,861

0

2,397,750

609,338

-25,452

-

87,694

104,781

10,127

-

0

766,234

1,631,516

1,641,623

Expected 
amortization

86,025

87,106

87,267

86,152

87,731

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
200

The following table shows which cash-generating units the capitalized goodwill can be attributed to:

in € million

Market region Germany

Market region Central Europe

Market region CIS/Eastern Europe

Market region Asia/Pacific & MENA 

Total

Residual  
carrying amount  
Generics  
segment  
Dec. 31, 2015

Residual  
carrying amount  
Branded Products 
segment 
Dec. 31, 2015

Residual  
carrying amount 
Commercial 
Business 
segment  
Dec. 31, 2015

Residual  
carrying amount 
total 
Dec. 31, 2015

12.4

130.5

31.0

13.1

187.0

15.1  

115.2

62.7

10.8

203.8

-

0.0

-

0.8

0.8

27.5

245.7

93.7

24.7

391.6

In the previous year, the capitalized goodwill for cash-generating units was as follows:

in € million

Market region Germany

Market region Central Europe

Market region CIS/Eastern Europe

Market region Asia/Pacific & MENA 

Total

Residual  
carrying amount  
Generics  
segment  
Dec. 31, 2014

Residual  
carrying amount  
Branded Products 
segment  
Dec. 31, 2014

Residual  
carrying amount 
Commercial 
Business 
segment  
Dec. 31, 2014

Residual  
carrying amount 
total  
Dec. 31, 2014

12.4

126.8

31.9

11.5

182.6

15.1

97.1

66.5

10.2

188.9

-

0.0

-

0.8

0.8

27.5

223.9

98.4

22.5

372.3

For the purposes of impairment tests for capitalized goodwill, STADA defines cash-generating units as the respective market regions 

within the operating segments in accordance with the strategic planning and control of the Group. 

In comparison with the previous year, there were the following significant changes in the carrying amounts of goodwill:

• The increase in goodwill of the cash-generating unit market region Central Europe, Branded Products segment, primarily resulted 

from the acquisitions of the Austrian company SCIOTEC and the British Socialites group. 

• The increase in goodwill of the cash-generating unit market region Asia/Pacific & MENA, Branded Products segment, primarily 

resulted from the appreciation of the Vietnamese dong. In opposition, an impairment in the amount of € 0.4 million resulted from 

the impairment tests carried out in the reporting year due to existing knowledge and expectations related to the market and 

competitive environment. The value in use of the cash-generating unit as of September 30, 2015 was at € 73.5 million. 

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
201

In the context of the regular impairment tests for capitalized goodwill of September 30, 2015, the discounted cash flow method is 

used  to  determine  anticipated  cash  inflows,  applying  the  following  parameters  defined  for  the  individual  cash-generating  units 

 according to segment:

According to segment,  
defined as cash-generating unit 

Market region Germany

Market region Central Europe

Market region CIS/Eastern Europe

Market region Asia/Pacific & MENA

Growth rates of 
forward-projection 
phase 2015 
in %

WACCs 2015  
Generics  
segment  
in %

WACCs 2015  
Branded Products  
segment 
in %

1.9%

1.9%

4.1%

4.4%

7.9%

9.5%

15.5%

16.3%

7.9%

9.4%

15.6%

16.3%

In the previous year, the applied parameters were as follows:

According to segment,  
defined as cash-generating unit 

Market region Germany

Market region Central Europe

Market region CIS/Eastern Europe

Market region Asia/Pacific & MENA

Growth rates of 
forward-projection 
phase 2014 
in %

WACCs 2014  
Generics  
segment  
in %

WACCs 2014  
Branded Products  
segment 
in %

1.7%

1.7%

4.0%

4.2%

8.8%

11.1%

16.1%

20.2%

8.9%

10.9%

16.0%

20.2%

WACCs 2015  
Commercial 
Business  
segment  
in %

-

-

-

16.4%

WACCs 2014  
Commercial 
Business  
segment  
in %

-

-

-

20.6%

The discounted cash flow method is used to determine the value in use of the cash-generating units, applying an individual interest 

rate for each cash-generating unit and a detailed planning period of three years. This detailed planning period reflects the assump-

tions  for  short  and  medium-term  market  developments.  For  the  period  after  this  three-year  detailed  planning  horizon,  a  specific 

 estimated  growth  rate  in  the  amount  of  the  expected  long-term  inflation  rate  is  assumed. The  detailed  planning  period  for  the 

 determination of the value in use is based on assumptions in light of past experience, supplemented by current internal developments 

and verified through external market data and analyses. The most important assumptions include the development of future sales 

prices, amounts and costs, the influence of the regulatory market environment, investments, market shares, exchange rates and 

growth rates.  Significant changes to the above-described assumptions would influence the determination of the value in use of the 

cash- generating units. Possible changes to these assumptions would negatively influence the cash-generating units as a result of 

continued strong competition and regulatory interventions. The discount rates applied are determined on the basis of external factors 

derived from the market and adjusted for the respective predominant risks of the cash-generating units. 

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
202

Changes in the calculation parameters used for the impairment tests may influence the fair values of cash-generating units. The 

following table shows what additional impairments would have come for the different cash-generating units as a result of a 1.0 per-

centage points higher discount rate, a decrease in the growth rate of 0.5 percentage points and a decrease in EBIT of 10.0 percentage 

points:

Generics segment sensitivity analysis  
Effects on impairment in € million

WACC
+1.0 percentage points

Growth rate 
-0.5 percentage points

EBIT 
-10.0 percentage points

Market region Germany

Market region Central Europe

Market region CIS/Eastern Europe

Market region Asia/Pacific & MENA

-

-

-

5.8

-

-

-

1.0

-

-

-

6.8

Branded Products segment sensitivity analysis  
Effects on impairment in € million

WACC
+1.0 percentage points

Growth rate 
-0.5 percentage points

EBIT 
-10.0 percentage points

Market region Germany

Market region Central Europe

Market region CIS/Eastern Europe

Market region Asia/Pacific & MENA

-

-

31.1

6.1

-

-

0.6

2.3

-

-

37.1

6.8

For  the  Commercial  Business  segment,  there  would  have  been  no  impairment  in  any  of  the  market  regions  as  a  result  of  the 

 sensitivity analysis. 

With a reduction in discount rates of 1.0 percentage points, an increase in the growth rate of 0.5 percentage points and an increase 

in EBIT of 10.0 percentage points, impairments in the market region Asia/Pacific & MENA, Branded Products segment, would have 

been € 0.4 million lower.

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements203

25. Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment developed as follows in financial year 2015:

2015 
in € 000s

Cost as of Jan. 1, 2015

Currency translation

Changes in the scope of consolidation

Additions

Additions from business combinations according to IFRS 3

Disposals

Reclassification from non-current assets  
and disposal groups held for sale

Transfers

Cost as of Dec. 31, 2015

Accumulated depreciation as of Jan. 1, 2015 

Currency translation

Changes in the scope of consolidation

Depreciation

Impairments

Disposals

Write-ups

Reclassification from non-current assets  
and disposal groups held for sale

Transfers

Land, 
leasehold 
rights and 
buildings 
including 
buildings on 
third-party 
land

255,066

-828

47

2,698

36

801

482

7,106

263,806

88,738

-763

-

7,461

-

189

-

155

8

Accumulated depreciation as of Dec. 31, 2015

95,410

132,349

Residual carrying amounts as of Dec. 31, 2015

Residual carrying amounts as of Dec. 31, 2014 

168,396

166,328

93,095

83,828

Plant and 
tools and 
machinery 
equipment

Other 
fixtures and 
fittings, 
tools and 
equipment

Advance 
payment and 
construction 
in progress

Total

202,977

-1,923

1

10,110

523

1,748

-

15,504

225,444

119,149

-2,035

-

16,685

118

1,638

-

-

70

99,965

-1,398

82

5,542

87

5,962

-

4,073

102,389

65,961

-654

-

10,073

43

5,302

-

-

-78

70,043

32,346

34,004

21,270

579,278

-961

-

34,521

-

367

-

-26,683

27,780

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

27,780

21,270

-5,110

130

52,871

646

8,878

482

0

619,419

273,848

-3,452

-

34,219

161

7,129

-

155

0

297,802

321,617

305,430

Property, plant and equipment included assets from finance leases, primarily relating to cars and vehicles, in the amount of € 2.8 mil-

lion (previous year: € 1.5 million), which, in accordance with IAS 17, were recognized at the present value of minimum lease  payments 

and have since been subjected to depreciation.

As in the previous year, no borrowing costs were capitalized in financial year 2015 for property, plant and equipment.

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
204

Property, plant and equipment developed as follows in the previous year:

2014 
in € 000s

Cost as of Jan. 1, 2014

Currency translation

Changes in the scope of consolidation

Additions

Additions from business combinations according to IFRS 3

Disposals

Reclassification from non-current assets  
and disposal groups held for sale

Transfers

Cost as of Dec. 31, 2014

Accumulated depreciation as of Jan. 1, 2014 

Currency translation

Changes in the scope of consolidation

Depreciation

Impairments

Disposals

Write-ups

Reclassification from non-current assets  
and disposal groups held for sale

Transfers

Accumulated depreciation as of Dec. 31, 2014

Residual carrying amounts as of Dec. 31, 2014

Residual carrying amounts as of Dec. 31, 2013 

Land, 
leasehold 
rights and 
buildings 
including 
buildings on 
third-party 
land

Plant and 
tools and 
machinery 
equipment

260,684

-10,478

4,449

1,143

-

8,393

1,141

6,520

255,066

88,107

-3,570

-

7,287

136

3,330

-

-

108

88,738

166,328

172,577

199,611

-15,583

556

7,790

68

1,101

-

11,636

202,977

115,832

-11,104

-

15,364

-

1,049

-

-

106

119,149

83,828

83,779

Other 
fixtures and 
fittings, 
tools and 
equipment

105,510

-7,282

204

4,284

10

4,503

-

1,742

99,965

62,604

-3,360

-

10,645

-

3,714

-

-

-214

65,961

34,004

42,906

Advance 
payment and 
construction 
in progress

19,166

-2,577

-

24,653

-

74

-

-19,898

21,270

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

21,270

19,166

Total

584,971

-35,920

5,209

37,870

78

14,071

1,141

0

579,278

266,543

-18,034

-

33,296

136

8,093

-

- 

0

273,848

305,430

318,428

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
205

26. Financial assets

Financial assets developed as follows in financial year 2015:

2015 
in € 000s

Cost as of Jan. 1, 2015

Currency translation

Changes in the scope of consolidation

Additions

Disposals

Reclassification from non-current assets and disposal groups held for sale

Transfers

Cost as of Dec. 31, 2015

Accumulated impairments as of Jan. 1, 2015 

Currency translation

Changes in the scope of consolidation

Impairments

Disposals

Write-ups

Reclassification from non-current assets and disposal groups held for sale

Transfers

Accumulated impairments as of Dec. 31, 2015

Residual carrying amounts as of Dec. 31, 2015

Residual carrying amounts as of Dec. 31, 2014

Shares in 
associated 
companies  
and other 
investments 

Other  
financial assets

18,859

-58

-1,092

615

2,235

-

-4

16,085

16,823

-3

-

91

2,165

-

-

-

14,746

1,339

2,036

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Total

18,859

-58

-1,092

615

2,235

-

-4

16,085

16,823

-3

-

91

2,165

-

-

-

14,746

1,339

2,036

Financial assets are primarily the carrying amounts of those shares in non-consolidated investments which are entirely measured  

at amortized cost for lack of available market prices. There is currently no intention to sell these financial assets. Held-to-maturity 

financial investments were included under other financial assets.

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
206

Financial assets developed as follows in the previous year:

2014 
in € 000s

Cost as of Jan. 1, 2014

Currency translation

Changes in the scope of consolidation

Additions

Disposals

Reclassification from non-current assets and disposal groups held for sale

Transfers

Cost as of Dec. 31, 2014

Accumulated impairments as of Jan. 1, 2014 

Currency translation

Changes in the scope of consolidation

Impairments

Disposals

Write-ups

Reclassification from non-current assets and disposal groups held for sale

Transfers

Accumulated impairments as of Dec. 31, 2014

Residual carrying amounts as of Dec. 31, 2014

Residual carrying amounts as of Dec. 31, 2013 

Shares in 
associated 
companies  
and other 
investments 

Other  
financial assets

26,956

-630

-4,397

65

3,135

-

-

18,859

17,976

-656

-

2,622

3,119

-

-

-

16,823

2,036

8,980

14

-

-

-

14

-

-

-

3

-

-

-

3

-

-

-

-

-

11

Total

26,970

-630

-4,397

65

3,149

-

-

18,859

17,979

-656

-

2,622

3,122

-

-

-

16,823

2,036

8,991

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
207

27. Investments measured at equity

The disclosure relates to the accounting of shares in the associated companies BIOCEUTICALS Arzneimittel AG, as well as Pharm 

Ortho Pedic SAS, AELIA SAS and Dialogfarma LLC using the equity method. Investments measured at equity developed as follows in 

financial year 2015 compared with the previous year:

in € 000s

As of Jan. 1

Increase in investment share

Result from associates

Adjustments previous year

Elimination of dividend income

Currency translation differences

As of Dec. 31

2015

10,569

3

1,419

1,177

-

-

2014

8,974

-

1,595

-

-

-

13,168

10,569

In financial year 2015, the increase of the investment share in associates particularly resulted from the income from associates. In 

addition, the investment share in associates increased due to an adjustment of the previous year recognized directly in equity on 

current account in the amount of € 1.2 million.

28. Trade accounts receivable

Trade accounts receivable are composed as follows:

in € 000s

Trade accounts receivable from third parties

Trade accounts receivable from non-consolidated companies

Valuation allowances vis-à-vis third parties

Total

Dec. 31, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

589,664

1,298

-105,061

485,901

619,433

791

-117,430

502,794

As of December 31, 2015, there are trade accounts receivable due after one year in the amount of € 1.1 million (previous year: 

€ 1.4 million). 

Collateral exists for a portion of trade accounts receivable whose value was not impaired in the form of mortgages, bank or corporate 

guarantees, assignments of receivables as well as pledged inventories. Furthermore, there is commercial credit insurance for certain 

markets and customers.

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements208

The following non-impaired trade accounts receivable were past due at the balance sheet date: 

thereof:  
neither 
impaired nor 
past due as at 
the balance 
sheet date

443,106

448,358

Carrying 
amount

485,901

502,794

thereof: not impaired as at the balance sheet date  
and past due in the following time band

up to  
30 days

20,081

25,619

between  
31 and 90 
days

between  
91 and 180 
days

14,286

19,905

7,717

5,569

more than 
180 days

711

3,343

in € 000s

Dec. 31, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

There were no recognizable indications as of the balance sheet date that the debtors would not meet their payment obligations. 

Therefore, the trade accounts receivable which are not impaired and not past due are considered to be unconditionally recoverable. 

There are also no indications of impairment for the overdue receivables that have not been impaired.

Overall, valuation allowances on trade accounts receivable developed as follows:

in € 000s

As of Jan. 1

Added

Utilized

Reversed

Changes in the scope of consolidation

Currency translation differences

As of Dec. 31

29. Other financial assets

Other financial assets are composed as follows:

in € 000s

Loan receivables

Outstanding purchase price receivables

Derivative financial assets

Available-for-sale financial assets

Other financial assets 

Total

2015

2014

117,430

126,007

2,818

12,866

1,047

-19

-1,255

105,061

9,796

9,037

2,625

-

-6,711

117,430

Dec. 31, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

Total

6

4,024

27,461

-

51,506

82,997

thereof:  
current

6

3,559

26,702

-

44,012

74,279

Total

4,882

2,870

33,250

29

57,641

98,672

thereof: 
current

4,882

1,810

29,551

29

50,671

86,943

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
209

The outstanding purchase price receivables in financial year 2015 and also primarily in the previous year relate to the still out standing 

installments from the sale of a product portfolio in Italy. In addition, there is an outstanding purchase price receivable from the sale 

of the French company Laboratoires d’études et de recherches en oligo éléments thérapie SA.

The derivative financial assets include the positive market values of cross-currency swaps as well as of currency futures contracts 

(see Note 47.7.). Available-for-sale financial assets are shares that are measured at fair value based on market prices.

The  remaining  financial  assets  include  accruals  for  price  compensations  in  connection  with  tender  contracts  in  the  amount  of 

€ 23.4 million, receivables from the German factoring business in the amount of € 6.2 million and also comprise many insignificant 

individual items in the Group companies.

As of December 31, 2015, other financial assets did not include any impairments (previous year: € 0.6 million). There are no out-

standing amounts for non-impaired other financial assets as in the previous year.

30. Other assets

Other assets are composed as follows:

in € 000s

Other receivables due from the tax authorities

Prepaid expenses / deferred charges

Assets from overfunded pension plans

Remaining assets 

Total

Dec. 31, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

Total

13,085

14,342

63

5,930

33,420

thereof:  
current

12,842

11,039

-

5,165

29,046

Total

16,239

13,389

109

11,259

40,996

thereof: 
current

16,239

11,252

-

10,375

37,866

Remaining assets comprise many insignificant individual items in the Group companies.

Remaining assets are impaired in the amount of € 5.5 million (previous year: € 7.1 million).

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
 
210

31. Inventories

Inventories can be subdivided as follows:

in € 000s

Materials and supplies

Work in progress

Finished goods

Advance payments

Total

Dec. 31, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

97,992

25,522

372,778

5,228

501,520

93,958

24,858

374,986

4,983

498,785

In financial year 2015, impairments netted with reversals were made on the net realizable value of inventories in the amount of 

€ 36.5 million (previous year: € 33.7 million), which were already deducted from the amounts shown above through profit and loss. 

In financial year 2015, reversals here amounted to € 7.2 million (previous year: € 9.3 million).

32. Non-current assets and disposal groups held for sale

As of December 31, 2015, there were no non-current assets held for sale in the STADA Group. In the previous year, assets held  

for sale in the amount of € 0.3 million included real estate of a STADA subsidiary in Serbia, which were reclassified to non-current 

assets in financial year 2015. € 0.2 million thereof was allocated to the Generics operating segment and € 0.1 million to the  Branded 

Products operating segment.

33. Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and call deposits as well as short-term and highly liquid financial investments with 

a maximum term of 90 days from the purchase date. In certain countries, specific transactions are subjected to special monitoring 

in the context of the requirements of the respective national bank or foreign exchange acts in force. Restrictions on disposal for cash 

and cash equivalents amount to € 2.3 million (previous year: € 1.7 million) and, as in the previous year, exclusively relate to cash and 

cash equivalents in China.

The decrease in cash and cash equivalents from € 164.2 million as of December 31, 2014 to € 143.2 million as of December 31, 

2015 is primarily due to reporting date effects. Further details on the development of cash and cash equivalents can be found in the 

consolidated cash flow statement.

34. Equity and liabilities

Group equity amounted to € 1,018.5 million as of the balance sheet date (previous year: € 903.3 million). This corresponds to an 

 equity-to-assets ratio of 31.0% (previous year: 27.1%).

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements211

34.1. Share capital

As of December 31, 2015, share capital amounted to € 162,090,344.00 (December 31, 2014: € 157,629,420.00) and was divided 

into 62,342,440 registered shares with restricted transferability (December 31, 2014: 60,626,700), each with an arithmetical share 

of share capital of € 2.60 per share, and is fully paid. Each registered share grants one vote in the Annual General Meeting.

The increase in the number of shares in 2015 was due to the exercise of 85,787 options from STADA warrants 2000/2015 in 2015. 

The number of shares as of December 31, 2015 thereby increased by 1,715,740 to 62,342,440 and the share capital of STADA 

Arzneimittel AG increased by € 4,460,924.00 to € 162,090,344.00. The exercise period of the warrants expired at the end of June 

26, 2015, therefore there were no more warrants outstanding for subscription as of December 31, 2015.

As of December 31, 2015, authorized share capital and conditional capital were comprised as follows:

Registered shares 
with restricted 
transferability

Amount in €

Purpose

Authorized capital 

77,134,304.00

29,667,040

Increase of share capital (until June 4, 2018)

Conditional Capital 2013 

Settlement of options and/or conversion rights (until June 4, 
2018) in connection with issued bonds with warrants and/or 
convertible bonds, participation rights and/or participating 
bonds in the total nominal amount of up to € 1.0 billion, or in 
the scope of a guarantee assumed for bonds with warrants 
and/or convertible bonds, participation rights and/or 
participating bonds issued by subordinate Group companies

69,188,340.00

26,610,900

34.2. Capital reserve

Changes in the capital reserve of the Group are shown in the consolidated statement of changes in equity and particularly include the 

capital reserve of STADA Arzneimittel AG. Differences from the capital reserve determined according to the provisions of German 

commercial law primarily result from the recognition at their market value of the shares of STADA Arzneimittel AG newly issued in 

2003 as well as the associated treatment of issuing costs, which were deducted from the capital reserve. 

The increase of the capital reserve in the financial year by € 23,770,371.60 to € 514,171,360.77 also primarily results from the 

exercise of 85,787 options from STADA warrants 2000/2015 described in Note 34.1. 

34.3. Retained earnings including net income

Retained earnings including net income comprise net income for the financial year as well as earnings generated in previous periods, 

provided these were not distributed, including amounts transferred to retained earnings. In addition, revaluations of net debt from 

defined benefit plans that were recognized directly in equity are reported under this item, taking deferred taxes into account.

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
212

In the context of measuring the defined benefit obligations as of December 31, 2015, net income in the amount of € 2.7 million after 

deferred taxes – not considering amounts attributable to non-controlling interests – resulted from the remeasurement. It is mainly 

based on the increase in the discount rate for various defined benefit plans in the STADA Group underlying the measurement of 

December 31, 2015 in comparison with December 31, 2014.

Furthermore, retained earnings include an adjustment of the previous year recognized directly in equity in the amount of € 1.2 million 

in connection with a company accounted for at equity.

34.4. Other provisions

Other provisions include results recognized directly in equity. This relates, among other things, to foreign exchange gains and losses 

resulting from the currency translation with no effect on income of financial statements of companies included in the Group, which 

are recognized in the statement of changes in equity under the currency translation reserve. The provision “available for sale” and the 

provision  for  cash  flow  hedges  include  the  results  from  the  measurement  at  fair  value  of  financial  instruments  categorized  as 

 available for sale, and the measurement results from cash flow hedges from the effective portion of the hedge, allowing for respective 

deferred taxes.

The growth in other provisions as compared to the previous year is primarily composed of the following opposing effects: On the one 

hand, the devaluation of the Russian ruble since December 31, 2014 led to expenses recognized directly in equity from the currency 

translation  of  financial  statements  of  companies  reporting  in  Russian  ruble.  On  the  other  hand,  due  to  the  appreciation  of  the 

 currencies British pound sterling and Swiss franc since December 31, 2014, income recognized directly in equity from the currency 

translation of financial statements of companies reporting in these currencies was recorded.

34.5. Treasury shares

As of the balance sheet date, the Company held 87,259 treasury shares (previous year: 89,835), each with an arithmetical par value 

of € 2.60 per share, which is equivalent to 0.14% (previous year: 0.15%) of the share capital. In financial year 2015, 2,576 treasury 

shares were sold at an average price of € 29.78 per share within the scope of an employee stock option program.

34.6. Shares relating to non-controlling shareholders

Shares  of  non-controlling  shareholders  relate  to  minority  interests  of  other  shareholders  in  the  subsidiaries  STADA  Thailand,  

STADA Import/Export International, STADA Vietnam, Pymepharco, STADA Pharmaceuticals (Beijing), Well Light Investment Services, 

 Hemomont and Hemofarm Banja Luka.

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements213

35. Other non-current provisions

Other  non-current  provisions  made  by  STADA  as  of  the  balance  sheet  date  in  Germany  and  outside  Germany  include  pension 

 provisions and other non-current provisions in the form of anniversary provisions and provisions for working time accounts as follows:

in € 000s

Germany

Outside Germany

Total

Dec. 31, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

11,464

17,405

28,869

13,155

16,942

30,097

In Germany, STADA has plan assets in the form of reinsurance policies, which are used to serve the pension entitlements of a small 

number of former employees. In addition, there are plan assets for a pension obligation which was outsourced to a pension fund. All 

further pension entitlements are financed internally in the scope of pension provisions. In addition, there are plan assets in a few 

foreign subsidiaries in the form of, among others, government bonds and securities funds. 

In financial year 2015, the plan assets of one German and one international subsidiary exceeded their pension obligations, with the 

result  that  these  assets  in  excess  were  reported  under  other  assets  as  assets  from  overfunded  pension  plans  in  the  amount  of 

€ 0.1 million (previous year: € 0.1 million).

Plan assets were divided according to investment type as follows:

Share of plan assets in € 000s

Cash and cash equivalents

Equity securities

Debt securities

Real estate

Derivatives

Shares in investment funds

Insurance policies

Other

Total

2015

682

5,279

13,811

1,359

-

18,475

64,990

363

2014

3,179

4,612

13,891

1,441

-

15,273

62,604

348

104,959

101,348

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 
214

The plan assets, which have a quoted market price, consist of the following:

Share of plan assets (quoted market price) in € 000s

Cash and cash equivalents

Equity securities

Debt securities

Real estate

Derivatives

Shares in investment funds

Insurance policies

Other

Total

2015

682

5,279

13,811

1,359

-

16,235

-

363

37,729

2014

3,179

4,612

13,891

1,441

-

12,990

-

348

36,461

Cash and cash equivalents reported in the United Kingdom at the end of financial year 2014 in the amount of € 2.7 million were 

invested in shares in investment funds in the current financial year.

For German Group companies, pension obligations developed as follows:

Projected benefit obligations for pension commitments in € 000s

As of Jan. 1

Current service cost 

Past service cost

Plan settlements

Interest cost 

Benefits paid from plan assets

Benefits paid by employer

Revaluations:

• Gains (-) / losses (+) due to changed demographic assumptions

• Gains (-) / losses (+) due to changed financial assumptions

• Gains (-) / losses (+) due to experience-based changes

As of Dec. 31

2015

52,474

38

-

-

1,043

-116

-477

-

-4,291

77

48,748

2014

49,794

29

-17,603

-

1,640

-112

-488

-

15,411

3,803

52,474

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements215

For international Group companies, pension obligations developed as follows:

Projected benefit obligations for pension commitments in € 000s

As of Jan. 1

Current service cost

Past service cost

Plan settlements

Interest cost

Benefits paid from plan assets

Benefits paid by employer

Employee contributions

Insurance premiums for death and disability benefits

Business combinations

Changes in the scope of consolidation

Reclassifications

Revaluations:

• Gains (-) / losses (+) due to changed demographic assumptions

• Gains (-) / losses (+) due to changed financial assumptions

• Gains (-) / losses (+) due to experience-based changes

Currency changes

Other

As of Dec. 31

2015

75,462

1,829

1,246

-36

2,084

-2,793

-615

490

-181

-

-278

4,776

31

-3,899

774

2,699

-6

81,583

2014

61,395

1,559

-1,500

-379

2,564

-2,648

-586

457

-142

-

-

864

108

12,606

-13

1,182

-5

75,462

In  the  Gulf  region  and  in  Egypt  there  are  legally  required  defined  benefit  plans  for  termination  benefits,  which  have  been  newly 

 included in the scope of consolidation in the current reporting period. Past service costs mainly result from the inclusion of these 

plans. Furthermore, a plan curtailment was carried out in the Netherlands, which was recognized as past service cost in accordance 

with IAS 19.

In Belgium, the general market assessment has changed substantially, so that pension plans formerly regarded as defined contribu-

tion plans must now be regarded as defined benefit plans. Reclassifications carried out in the amount of € 4.8 million relate to these 

new classifications as defined benefit plans. Furthermore, one plan was removed from the scope of consolidation due to the sale of 

a French company.

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements216

The fair value of plan assets underlying the pension obligations developed as follows for German group companies:

Fair value of plan assets in € 000s

As of Jan. 1

Interest income

Employer contributions

Employee contributions

Pension payments

Actuarial gains (+) / losses (-) on plan assets (not included in interest result)

Other

As of Dec. 31

2015

39,319

660

338

-

-116

-2,887

-

37,314

The fair value of plan assets underlying the pension obligations developed as follows for international Group companies:

Fair value of plan assets in € 000s

As of Jan. 1

Interest income

Employer contributions

Employee contributions

Pension payments

Insurance premiums for death and disability benefits

Business combinations

Disposals

Reclassifications

Actuarial gains (+) / losses (-) on plan assets (not included in interest result)

Currency changes

Other

As of Dec. 31

2015

62,029

1,667

1,422

490

-2,793

-181

-

-

4,454

-1,722

2,453

-174

67,645

2014

12,011

408

25,188

-

-112

3,076

-1,252

39,319

2014

51,720

2,062

1,168

457

-2,648

-142

-

-

76

7,832

1,642

-138

62,029

Recognition of reclassifications in the amount of € 4.5 million is the result of the inclusion of the plan assets of the former defined 

contribution plans in Belgium.

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements217

The amount of the pension provisions recognized as of the balance sheet date for companies with plan assets is therefore as follows:

in € 000s

Projected benefit obligations for pension commitments

Fair value of plan assets

Net obligation

Effect from the limit on a defined benefit asset according to IFRIC 14

Net liability recognized in balance sheet

2015

2014

118,991

104,959

14,032

-

14,032

117,152

101,348

15,804

157

15,961

The amount of the pension provisions recognized as of the balance sheet date for companies without plan assets is therefore as 

follows:

in € 000s

Projected benefit obligations for pension commitments

Net liability recognized in balance sheet

2015

11,340

11,340

2014

10,784

10,784

Expenses for defined benefit plans amounted to net expenses in the total amount of € 4.0 million in financial year 2015 (previous 

year: income in the amount of € 15.1 million) and consisted of the following components:

in € 000s

Current service cost

Past service cost

Plan settlements

Net interest expense:

• Interest expense (DBO)

• Interest income (plan assets)

• Interest income from reimbursement

• Interest expense (+) / interest income (-) from the limit on an asset

Administration costs

Other

Total

2015

1,867

1,246

-36

3,127

-2,327

-

7

131

0

4,015

2014

1,588

-19,103

-379

4,204

-2,470

-

10

117

954

-15,079

The expenses from plan assets amounted to € 2.2 million in financial year 2015 (previous year: income in the amount of € 3.5 mil-

lion)  for  German  group  companies  and  € 0.1 million  for  international  group  companies  (income  in  the  amount  of  previous  year: 

€ 9.9 million).

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements218

The following actuarial parameters were used as a basis for measuring the German pension obligations and pension costs:

Parameters for pension obligations for German Group companies (weighted)

Dec. 31, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

Discount rate

Salary trend 

Benefits trend

Inflation

2.4%

1.9%

1.4%

1.8%

2.0%

1.9%

1.4%

1.8%

The following actuarial parameters were used as a basis for measuring the international pension obligations and pension costs:

Parameters for pension obligations for international Group companies (weighted)

Dec. 31, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

Discount rate

Salary trend 

Benefits trend

Inflation

3.0%

2.6%

0.9%

1.9%

2.71%

2.5%

0.8%

1.9%

A sensitivity analysis was carried out in which only one assumption was changed in each case and all other assumptions were not 

changed. In the following, the change in the defined benefit obligation of the pension obligations (DBO) for German Group companies 

is presented according to a change in the discount rate, salary trends and pension trends.

Change in the defined benefit obligation for pension obligations (DBO)  
as of December 31, 2015 (€ 48,748,000) according to changed assumptions in € 000s

Discount rate +0.5%

Discount rate -0.5%

Salary trend +0.5%

Salary trend -0.5%

Pension trend +0.5%

Pension trend -0.5%

2015

-4,691

5,448

4,051

-3,480

5,236

-4,556

2014

-5,355

6,261

4,696

-4,005

5,975

-5,164

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
219

In the following, the change in the defined benefit obligation of the pension obligations (DBO) for international Group companies is 

presented according to a change in the discount rate, salary trends and pension trends.

Change in the defined benefit obligation for pension obligations (DBO)  
as of December 31, 2015 (€ 81,583,000) according to changed assumption in € 000s

Discount rate +0.5%

Discount rate -0.5%

Salary trend +0.5%

Salary trend -0.5%

Pension trend +0.5%

Pension trend -0.5%

2015

-6,599

7,532

793

-767

4,033

-1,132

2014

-6,470

7,530

809

-623

3,509

-1,826

As of December 31, 2015, the weighted duration of the pension obligations amounts to 21 years (previous year: 23 years) for German 

Group companies and 17 years (previous year: 19 years) for international Group companies.

In the coming financial years, the following payments from the Company and from plan assets overall are expected for defined  benefit 

plans:

Expected pension payments according to maturity dates in € 000s 

Germany

Outside Germany

Less than 1 year

Between 1 and 2 years

Between 2 and 3 years

Between 3 and 4 years

Between 4 and 5 years

Between 5 and 10 years

582

587

638

897

897

2,092

2,242

3,732

2,198

2,209

9,519

15,852

For  the  coming  financial  year,  employer  contributions,  consisting  of  direct  pension  payments  and  contributions  to  the  plan,  are 

 expected in the amount of € 0.8 million for German Group companies and € 2.7 million for international Group companies.

The regulations of IAS 19 require a presentation of the benefit plans that generate obligations for the company. For the STADA Group, 

pension plans in Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Switzerland account for the largest share of total obligations with 

83%. Accordingly, the following details focus more on these countries.

In  Germany,  the  legal  framework  for  company  pension  plans  is  provided  by  the  Company  Pensions Act  (Betriebsrentengesetz  – 

BetrAVG), in which the minimum legal requirements for company pension plans are embedded. Regulation and legal precedents 

within labor law must also be followed. The pension plans are predominantly based upon the final salary and are concluded with 

newly hired employees. Plan participants are primarily beneficiaries. Benefits are paid out in the form of a pension. 

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
220

In Germany, STADA has plan assets in the form of reinsurance policies and in the form of assets in a pension fund. As of December 

31, 2015, plan assets amounted to € 37.3 million and were composed of three different plans. There are no plan assets for two 

additional plans.

In the context of risk assessment, the life expectancy of plan participants plays a smaller role in Germany, as the material obligation 

regarding its amount and including associated risks was outsourced in financial year 2014. Furthermore, there is also the common 

risk of the interest rate development and the risk that the real future salary development exceeds the salary development derived from 

assumptions taken in the evaluation.

The pension commitment for the Chairman of the Executive Board was transferred to a pension fund in full in financial year 2014. 

Despite the transfer, the necessity remains, due to the secondary liability of STADA, to treat the benefit plan as a defined benefit plan 

in accordance with IAS 19 and measure and recognize it accordingly. The existing plan assets  lead to a provision of zero due to off-

setting that must be carried out at the time of the plan amendment for this benefit plan. Because the pension commitment is fully 

funded, no further provisions are expected in the future.

Pension legislation in the Netherlands requires pension plans to be backed by assets to such an extent that the vested benefits are 

 completely covered. The underlying average career pension plan in the Netherlands is, in part, financed via insurance contributions 

that are designed to fulfill the aforementioned requirement. The plan is open for new employees and contains benefits that fall due 

in case of retirement or early death. 

In the Netherlands, the pension plan is partially financed via contributions to an insurance company. Assets received by the insurance 

company  thereby  cannot  be  allocated  to  specific  participating  companies. The  assets  cannot  be  determined  by  a  quoted  active 

 market price, instead they are determined according to the amount of vested benefit obligations. In practice, the assets are  estimated 

according to the amount of vested benefit obligations. As of December 31, 2015, plan assets amounted to € 22.7 million.

The Dutch company pays annual pension contributions. In the process, life expectancy risk and interest rate risk are transferred to 

the insurance company. The insurance company also assumes the risk of investing the contributions. These risks are assumed by the 

insurance  company  for  the  entire  term  of  the  contract.  If,  for  example,  the  discount  rate  used  by  the  insurance  company  in  its 

 calculations should change, a new contract could be concluded that applies the new discount rate to underlie only future contribu-

tions received.

Not all risks have been transferred to the insurance company. Dutch law specifies that former employees have the right to transfer 

their pension entitlements to the pension plan of a new employer. If the evaluation assumptions applied in the transfer differ from the 

originally applied assumptions of the insurance, the company could be required to pay an additional contribution payment.

In the United Kingdom, STADA provides its employees with defined benefit plans that are concluded for new hires. The employees 

can also no longer earn an additional increase in their entitlements. The pension plan plans are subject to the UK Trust Law and the 

UK Pension Regulator. The pension plans are monitored by trustees who determine the investment strategy. The trustees are also 

responsible  for  fulfilling  the  legally  required  pension  plan  funding  and  thereby  ensuring  sufficient  assets  to  cover  the  technical   

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements221

provisions of the plan. The pension plan is subject to risks relating to the discount rate and participant life expectancy as well as 

 inflation risk, if these values develop contrary to expectations. If the discount rate is low, the level of funding decreases, which may 

require the payment of  additional contributions. There is a financing risk in plan assets in that plan assets could develop contrary to 

expectations and plan assets could therefore only compensate in part for changes in the obligations. 

In the long-term, 40% of the plan assets in the United Kingdom should be invested in so-called matching assets, which guarantee 

the fulfillment of future pension obligations under changing market conditions. In accordance with target allocation, the remaining 

60% should be invested in so-called growth assets, for which an above-average return is expected in comparison with the obligation 

development. As of December 31, 2015, plan assets amounted to € 24.1 million. All assets have quoted market prices on an active 

market.

In Switzerland, every employer must offer its employees a pension plan according to federal pension law (Bundesgesetz über die 

berufliche Alters-, Hinterlassenen- und Invalidenvorsorge – BVG). Employees whose salary exceeds the entry limit are obliged to be 

insured – this is re-determined periodically. The BVG requires a minimum plan (the “BVG minimum”) that must always be covered. 

STADA’s Swiss benefit plan includes benefits in case of death, disability, departure and upon reaching retirement age. The annual 

pension is calculated based on a savings account and conversion rate determined according to the age of retirement. Plan  participants 

can opt for a capital option.   

The contributions for defined contribution plans, which are reported as expense in the respective period in the relevant functional 

areas, amounted to € 22.4 million in financial year 2015.

The other non-current provisions developed as follows:

Other non-current provisions in € 000s

As of Jan. 1

Current service cost

Past service cost

Plan settlements

Interest cost

Benefits paid

Business combinations

Revaluations

• Gains (-) / losses (+) due to changed demographic assumptions

• Gains (-) / losses (+) due to changed financial assumptions

• Gains (-) / losses (+) due to experience-based changes

Currency changes

Reclassifcations

As of Dec. 31

2015

3,243

282

1

-

207

-443

-

19

-1

132

-6

-

3,434

2014

3,104

315

-59

-

218

-324

-

75

63

-7

-257

115

3,243

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements222

The following actuarial parameters were used as a basis for measuring the other long-term provisions:

Parameters for other long-term provisions for international Group companies (weighted)

Dec. 31, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

Discount rate

Salary trend 

Inflation

36. Financial liabilities

6.7%

4.0%

3.3%

6.5%

4.0%

3.2%

Financial liabilities are comprised as follows in accordance with their remaining terms as of the balance sheet date:

Liabilities  
promissory note loans

Amounts  
due to banks

Liabilities  
from bonds

Total

Dec. 31, 
2015

Dec. 31, 
2014

Dec. 31, 
2015

Dec. 31, 
2014

Dec. 31, 
2015

Dec. 31, 
2014

Dec. 31, 
2015

Dec. 31, 
2014

187,734

50,487

86,938

48,336

-

349,880

274,672

448,703

43,935

231,330

80,353

103,107

348,149

-

472,437

334,437

314,252

269,017

-

-

-

-

52,161

39,992

-

347,391

314,252

668,569

297,524

645,673

-

297,524

39,992

697,271

1,358,885

1,491,701

Financial liabilities

545,921

550,834

167,291

243,596

in € 000s

Remaining terms  
up to 1 year

Remaining terms over  
1 year up to 3 years

Remaining terms over  
3 years up to 5 years

Remaining terms  
over 5 years

The change in financial liabilities was mainly based on the placement of another bond in the first quarter of 2015 with a nominal 

value in the amount of € 300 million for the refinancing of a corporate bond with a nominal value of € 350 million which reached 

maturity in April 2015. In addition, two new loans were taken out in the third quarter of 2015. In opposition, financial liabilities were 

repaid in the current financial year.

The contractually agreed undiscounted cash flows, as of the balance sheet date December 31, 2015, from interest payments and 

repayment of financial liabilities for the coming years can be seen in the following chart:

2016

Interest 
rate 
variable

Interest 
rate  
fixed

Repay-
ment

Interest 
rate  
fixed

2017

Interest 
rate 
variable

Repay-
ment

Interest 
rate  
fixed

> 2018

Interest 
rate 
variable

Repay-
ment

30,295

3,856

248,978

19,167

2,188

94,352

42,164

2,377

990,142

in € 000s

Cash flows  
from financial liabilities

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
223

The following projection of cash flows from financial liabilities was generated in the previous year:

2015

Interest 
rate 
variable

Interest 
rate  
fixed

Repay-
ment

Interest 
rate  
fixed

2016

Interest 
rate 
variable

Repay-
ment

Interest 
rate  
fixed

> 2016

Interest 
rate 
variable

Repay-
ment

38,676

14,274

453,786

20,376

11,731

223,764

52,244

27,203

818,516

in € 000s

Cash flows  
from financial liabilities

For the financial liabilities existing as of the balance sheet date, a repayment in accordance with the maturity disclosed in the balance 

sheet was generally assumed. For current liabilities due to banks, an extension of existing credit lines was partly assumed. The 

variable interest payments from the promissory note loans were determined based on the interest rate last fixed before December 

31, 2015.

Internal  measures  to  ensure  the  necessary  liquidity  for  repayment  of  financial  liabilities  are  detailed  in  the  Notes  on  the  capital 

 management of liquidity risk (see Note 46.5.). 

37. Trade accounts payable

Trade accounts payable are composed as follows:

in € 000s

Dec. 31, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

Trade accounts payable to third parties 

Trade accounts payable to non-consolidated Group companies

Advances received on orders from third parties

Liabilities from outstanding accounts

Total

252,278

115

1,618

74,476

328,487

271,765

200

1,660

67,222

340,847

Of the total amount of trade accounts payable, € 0.0 million (previous year: € 0.1 million) is due after one year. 

The change in trade accounts payable was primarily based on lower liabilities of STADApharm to health insurance organizations due 

to reduced business activities as well as reduced business in Belgium. 

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
224

38. Other financial liabilities

Other financial liabilities are broken down as follows:

in € 000s

Outstanding purchase price liabilities

Finance lease liabilities

Liabilities from derivative financial instruments

Other financial liabilities

Total

Dec. 31, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

Total

3,972

2,211

4,611

215,199

225,993

thereof:  
current

1,545

1,010

4,283

215,199

222,037

Total

32,233

3,081

3,124

224,224

262,662

thereof: 
current

32,233

1,056

348

223,766

257,403

As of December 31, 2015 the outstanding purchase price liabilities were mainly based on amounts from the acquisition of the British 

Socialites group and various products in the United Kingdom, which were not yet due. As of December 31, 2014, the outstanding 

purchase price liabilities had primarily resulted from installments which were not yet due for the acquisition of branded products in 

Russia as well as the outstanding contingent purchase price payment for the acquisition of the British company Internis.

Finance  lease  liabilities,  such  as  for  vehicles  and  passenger  vehicles,  amount  to  € 2.2 million  (previous  year:  € 3.1 million). 

 Considering interest in the amount of € 0.3 million (previous year: € 0.6 million), lease  installments payable in subsequent years total 

€ 2.5 million (previous year: € 3.7 million). The lease liabilities are due as follows:

Lease installments

Interest

Finance lease liabilities

in € 000s

Dec. 31, 2015 Dec. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2015 Dec. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2015 Dec. 31, 2014

Remaining terms up to 1 year

Remaining terms over 1 year up to 3 years

Remaining terms over 3 years up to 5 years

Remaining terms over 5 years

1,214

1,294

22

1,371

2,335

-

-

Total

2,530

3,706

204

113

2

319

315

310

-

-

625

1,010

1,181

20

1,056

2,025

-

-

2,211

3,081

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
 
 
 
 
225

In addition, the negative market values of derivatives measured at fair value through profit or loss were reported in liabilities from 

derivative financial instruments. In financial year 2015, as in the previous year, this continued to relate to interest rate swaps, which 

are used as hedging instruments as well as cross-currency swaps and currency forwards (see Note 46.7.). Within the scope of the 

maturity date analysis, the following contractually agreed remaining terms result for these derivative financial liabilities:

in € 000s

Remaining terms up to 1 year

Remaining terms over 1 year up to 3 years

Remaining terms over 3 years up to 5 years

Remaining terms over 5 years

Total

Derivative financial liabilities 

Dec. 31, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

1,283

3,328

-

-

348

2,776

-

-

4,611

3,124

Remaining financial liabilities include liabilities from discount agreements of German STADA companies in the amount of € 178.3 mil-

lion  (previous  year:  € 192.1 million)  and  furthermore  comprise  many  insignificant  individual  items  in  the  Group  companies. The 

 remaining financial liabilities fall due in the amount of € 202.5 million (previous year: € 223.8 million) within one year, in the amount 

of € 3.2 million after one year and up to five years (previous year: € 0.5 million).

The contractually agreed undiscounted cash flows, as of the balance sheet date December 31, 2015, from interest payments and 

repayment of finance lease liabilities and for the liabilities from derivative financial instruments for the coming years can be seen in 

the following table:

in € 000s

Cash flows from  
finance lease liabilities

Cash flows from derivatives

Interest 
rate  
fixed

204

1,465

2016

Interest 
rate 
variable

Repay-
ment

Interest 
rate  
fixed

2017

Interest 
rate 
variable

2018 – 2020

Repay-
ment

Interest 
rate  
fixed

Interest 
rate 
variable

Repay-
ment

-

-

1,010

-

96

107

-

-

883

-

19

-

-

-

318

-

The following projection of cash flows from finance lease liabilities as well as derivatives was generated in the previous year:

in € 000s

Cash flows from  
finance lease liabilities

Cash flows from derivatives

Interest 
rate  
fixed

315

2,185

2015

Interest 
rate 
variable

Repay-
ment

Interest 
rate  
fixed

2016

Interest 
rate 
variable

2017 – 2019

Repay-
ment

Interest 
rate  
fixed

Interest 
rate 
variable

Repay-
ment

-

-

1,056

-

206

1,187

-

-

956

-

104

1,185

-

-

1,069

-

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
226

Included were all financial instruments used by STADA which existed as of December 31, 2015 and for which payments had already 

been contractually agreed.

Further details on liabilities from derivative financial instruments can be found in the Notes on financial instruments (Note 45. and 

Note 46.7.).

39. Other liabilities

Other liabilities were comprised as follows: 

in € 000s

Tax liabilities

Personnel related liabilities

Other liabilities

Total

Dec. 31, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

Total

12,499

47,387

44,548

104,434

thereof:  
current

12,499

47,254

42,628

102,381

Total

1,949

46,521

40,475

88,945

thereof: 
current

1,949

46,145

39,211

87,305

Personnel-related liabilities relate to € 0.1 million in accruals in connection with partial retirement agreements as of December 31, 

2015 (previous year: € 0.4 million).

Remaining liabilities comprise many insignificant individual items in the Group companies.

40. Other provisions

Other provisions are composed as follows:

in € 000s

Provisions set aside for damages

Warranties

Total

Dec. 31, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

1,082

21,450

22,532

343

17,099

17,442

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
 
227

Provisions set aside for damages include possible utilization from pending legal disputes including the associated legal costs and 

developed as follows:

in € 000s

As of Jan. 1

Added

Utilized

Reversed

Currency translation differences

As of Dec. 31

Utilization is expected within the next twelve months.

Provisions for warranties developed as follows:

in € 000s

As of Jan. 1

Added

Utilized

Reversed

Changes in the scope of consolidation

As of Dec. 31

Dec. 31, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

343

739

-

-

-

1,082

604

1,721

1,964

18

-

343

Dec. 31, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

17,099

13,046

8,632

63

-

21,450

16,932

5,138

3,897

1,074

-

17,099

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 
228

Other Disclosures

41. Notes to the cash flow statement

Cash flow from operating activities consists of changes in items not covered by capital expenditure, financing, changes in exchange 

rates from the conversion of foreign financial statements or transactions in foreign currencies or through changes in the scope of 

consolidation and measurement. Cash flow from operating activities amounted to € 311.7 million in the reporting year (previous year: 

€ 223.8 million). The increase in cash flow from operating activities of € 87.9 million compared to the previous year is primarily  

due to a decreased cash-efficiency in the area of other net assets. The resulting positive effects on operating cash flow were, on the 

one  hand,  reinforced  by  lower  income  tax  payments  than  in  the  previous  year  and,  on  the  other  hand,  only  partly  compensated 

through a cash-effective increase in trade receivables. 

Cash flow from investing activities reflects the cash outflows for investments reduced by the inflows from disposals. It amounted to 

€ -178.2 million in the reporting year (previous year: € -262.0 million).

In financial year 2015, payments for investments in intangible assets in the amount of € 81.4 million (previous year: € 181.4 million) 

were made, of which € 32.3 million (previous year: € 147.5 million) related to significant investments in intangible assets for the 

short-term expansion of the product portfolio. Acquisition-related sales growth was generally associated with these investments in 

the reporting year. Proceeds from the disposal of non-current assets in the financial year amounted to € 11.8 million (previous year: 

€ 12.0 million).

In financial year 2015, cash flow from investing activities was particularly influenced by the settlement of outstanding payments for 

the acquisition of the Russian branded product portfolio Aqualor®, the Russian branded products AndroDoz® and NeroDoz®, as well 

as the British company Internis Pharmaceuticals. Furthermore, purchase price payments from the acquisition of the Austrian  company 

SCIOTEC Diagnostic Technologies as well as the British Socialites group are included in cash flow from investing activities. Proceeds 

from the disposal of shares in consolidated companies exclusively relate to the deconsolidation of the French subsidiary Laboratoires 

d’études et de recherches en oligo éléments thérapie SA. The sales price amounted to € 7.3 million and was/is to be paid in cash or 

cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents in the amount of € 0.6 million, assets in the amount of € 6.2 million and liabilities in the 

amount of € 2.1 million were thereby disposed of. Proceeds from the  disposal of intangible assets mainly resulted from the sale of 

approvals and trademarks in France and Italy. In the previous year, payments for investments in intangible assets primarily related to 

the purchase of the Russian branded product portfolio  Aqualor®. Furthermore, there were payments for business  combinations from 

the purchase of the branded product portfolio Flexitol® and the acquisition of the British company Internis in the previous year. 

Cash flow from financing activities amounts to € -155.1 million in financial year 2015 (previous year: € 83.7 million) and  encompasses 

payments from changes in financial liabilities, dividend distribution payments and payments for treasury shares as well as additions 

to shareholders’ equity. This development is primarily attributable to proceeds from the placement of a corporate bond with a nominal 

value in the amount of € 300 million for the refinancing of a corporate bond with a nominal value of € 350 million which reached 

maturity in April 2015. Furthermore, two new loans were taken out in financial year 2015 in the amount € 20 million and € 25 million 

respectively. In the previous year, there were proceeds from  securing financial  liabilities, among other things, in connection with 

promissory  note  loans  secured  in  financial  year  2014  in  the  total  amount  of  € 270 million  and  a  loan  in  the  amount  of  approx. 

€ 121 million for  financing the purchase of the branded product portfolio Aqualor®. Furthermore, more financial liabilities were repaid 

in the reporting period than in the previous year.

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements229

Dividend distribution payments of € 40.0 million primarily related to the dividend paid to the shareholders of STADA Arzneimittel AG 

for financial year 2014. 

Proceeds from the capital increase are the result of the exercise of STADA warrants 2000/2015 (see Note 34.1. and 34.2.).  

Free cash flow as the sum of cash flow from operating activities and cash flow from investing activities amounted to € 133.5 million 

in financial year 2015 (previous year: € -38.2 million) and is therefore still significantly characterized by a high volume of acquisitions. 

Free  cash  flow,  adjusted  for  effects  from  payments  for  significant  investments  and  acquisitions  and  effects  of  proceeds  from 

 significant disposals is calculated as follows:

in € 000s

Cash flow from operating activities

Cash flow from investing activities

+ Payments for investments in business combinations according to IFRS 3

+  Payments for significant investments in intangible assets for the short-term expansion of the product 

portfolio

˙∕. Proceeds from disposals in significant disinvestments

Adjusted free cash flow

2015

2014

311,748

-178,217

56,778

32,256

10,207

212,358

223,810

-261,980

55,054

147,487

6,960

157,411

42. Segment information

The  measurement  approaches  for  segment  reporting  are  in  accordance  with  the  financial  reporting  methods  used  in  the  IFRS 

 consolidated financial statements. Services between the segments are charged based on market prices. 

Segmentation within the STADA Group is based on sales differentiation. Thus, the allocation to the individual segments is determined 

to a large extent by the sales positioning. If this positioning changes for parts of the product portfolio, associated sales are  reallocated.

Generally, STADA’s operating segments are divided into the two core segments Generics and Branded Products, as well as into the 

non-core segment Commercial Business.

Pursuant to STADA’s segment definition, which has been used since 2006, Generics are products for the health care market –  usually 

with a drug character – which contain one or several active ingredients whose commercial property rights have expired or will expire 

shortly and whose sales positioning complies with one of the two following criteria:

• The product is offered by emphasizing its low price, usually in contrast to the product of another supplier which contains the 

identical active pharmaceutical ingredient,

or

• the product is an integral part of a marketing concept targeting more than one product and indication for primarily prescription 

products with active ingredients whose commercial property rights have usually expired.

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
230

According to STADA’s segment definition, which has been used since 2006, Branded Products are products for the health care 

market which contain one or several active ingredients whose commercial property rights have usually expired and whose sales 

positioning complies with one of the two following criteria:

• The product is sold under a product-specific brand name and with emphasis on specific product characteristics which aim at a 

unique position of the product in contrast to competitive products and other Group products,

or

• the product is part of a marketing concept for primarily non-prescription products which are mainly sold under a product-specific 

brand name and with emphasis on different specific product characteristics which aim at a unique position of the product in 

contrast to competitive products and other Group products.

STADA also conducts business and has equity interests in fields outside the core segments. As a rule, the objective of these activities 

is to supplement and support the Group’s activities in the core segments. Transactions that mainly involve trading and selling – such 

as in wholesaling activities – are grouped together in the Commercial Business segment. All other income, expenses and assets, 

which cannot be directly allocated to the segments, as well as the elimination of sales between segments are recognized under the 

reconciliation Group holdings/other and consolidation.

STADA  aggregates  business  segments  into  the  reportable  segments  of  Generics,  Branded  Products  and  Commercial  Business, 

 because the type of products, the sales methods and the regulatory framework conditions are largely comparable across market 

regions.

Disclosures on significant non-cash items include impairments on inventories and receivables; they do not, however, include de-

preciation and amortization as well as the offsetting of impairments and write-ups. In addition, further non-cash items, particularly 

non-cash effects from accruals for health insurance organization billings are included here. Reporting of the segment liabilities and 

non-current segment assets is waived, as this is without relevance for Group monitoring and for Group reporting.

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements231

42.1. Information by operating segment

in € 000s

Generics

External sales

Sales with other segments

Total sales

Operating profit

Depreciation/amortization

Impairment losses

Reversals

2015

2014

1,217,537

1,217,729

398

1,217,935

178,528

49,618

5,476

-

571

1,218,300

108,314

50,743

63,924

-

Branded Products

External sales

853,598

800,558

Other significant non-cash items within operating result

-192,190

-221,153

Sales with other segments

Total sales

Operating profit

Depreciation/amortization

Impairment losses

Reversals

Commercial Business

External sales

Other significant non-cash items within operating result

Sales with other segments

Total sales

Operating profit

Depreciation/amortization

Impairment losses

Reversals

Other significant non-cash items within operating result

Reconciliation Group holdings/other 
and consolidation

External sales

Group

Sales with other segments

Total sales

Operating profit

Depreciation/amortization

Impairment losses

Reversals

Other significant non-cash items within operating result

External sales

Sales with other segments

Total sales

Operating profit

Depreciation/amortization

Impairment losses

Reversals

-

853,598

130,043

60,704

20,970

-

-32,466

43,907

-

43,907

-860

151

4

-

-169

87

-398

-311

-83,968

8,175

6,750

-

-1,404

-

800,558

138,206

59,444

33,896

-

-32,430

43,960

-

43,960

871

139

-

-

-170

-

-571

-571

-58,864

10,664

9,711

-

16,418

2,115,129

2,062,247

-

-

2,115,129

2,062,247

223,743

118,648

33,200

-

188,527

120,990

107,531

-

Other significant non-cash items within operating result

-226,229

-237,335

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
 
232

42.2. Reconciliation of segment results to net profit

in € 000s

Operating segment profit

Reconciliation Group holdings/other and consolidation

Result from investments measured at equity

Investment income

Financial income

Financial expenses

Earnings before taxes, Group

42.3. Reconciliation of segment assets to Group assets

in € 000s

Segment assets

Reconciliation Group holdings/other and consolidation

Other non-current assets

Current assets

Total assets, Group

2015

2014

307,711

-83,968

1,419

138

1,170

68,667

157,803

247,391

-58,864

1,595

132

4,833

70,393

124,694

Dec. 31, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

1,868,754

1,863,967

103,223

60,332

1,255,106

3,287,415

75,015

74,837

1,321,639

3,335,458

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements233

42.4. Information by country

in € 000s

Germany

Russian Federation

United Kingdom

Italy

Spain

Other regions

Total, Group

Development of sales  
by the company’s registered office

Non-current  
assets

2015

2014

Dec. 31, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

482,838

315,755

252,383

189,183

117,190

757,780

462,565

381,958

185,179

180,895

109,548

742,102

577,247

192,230

525,101

38,414

61,687

575,958

2,115,129

2,062,247

1,970,637

599,702

221,847

468,059

43,955

61,529

541,854

1,936,946

In the presentation of sales by the company’s registered office, sales to third parties are shown according to the invoicing company’s 

registered office of the countries listed.

Disclosures on assets by country relate to parts of the non-current assets (intangible assets, property, plant and equipment). 

42.5. Information about major customers

In  accordance  with  IFRS  8.34,  a  company  must  provide  notification  when  sales  revenues  from  business  activities  from  a  single 

 external customer amount to at least 10% of the company’s total sales revenues. As in the previous year, this related to no  customer 

in the reporting year.

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
 
234

43. Contingent liabilities

Contingent liabilities describe possible obligations with respect to third parties which result from past events and which may lead to 

a future outflow of resources depending on specific events. As of the balance sheet date, these contingent liabilities were considered 

improbable and are therefore not recognized.

STADA has contingent liabilities, among other things, in connection with patent risks for certain active pharmaceutical ingredients and 

associated pending or impending proceedings. The resulting possible obligations amounted to approx. € 12.4 million (previous year: 

€ 18.9 million). The reduction of contingent liabilities compared with the previous year is mainly due to a changed assessment of 

possible obligations as of the balance sheet date in the market region Central Europe. Potential obligations from the previous year in 

the amount of € 2.8 million in the market region CIS/Eastern Europe no longer exist. Provisions were not created for contingent 

 liabilities as the probability of an outflow of assets is under 50%. Outflows potentially resulting from these risks would generally be 

short-term.

The lawsuit that the insolvency administrator of Velefarm Holding and Velefarm VFB had submitted to Belgrade’s commercial court 

against Hemofarm A.D., a subsidiary of STADA Arzneimittel AG, and Velefarm Prolek, a company of the Velefarm group, in the first 

quarter of 2014 was settled on December 18, 2015.1) Within the scope of the settlement, the insolvency administrator waives his 

original claim in the amount of approx. € 54.2 million (in local currency translated using the currency exchange rate at that time), 

which he had filed in court. In return, Hemofarm waives most of a claim in the single-digit million euro range which was already fully 

impaired by STADA in 2010. Hemofarm and STADA believed that the lawsuit is unfounded and for this reason, no provisions were 

made for this purpose.

44. Other financial obligations

In addition to the contingent liabilities, there were other future financial obligations, which can be broken down as follows:

in € 000s

Operating lease liabilities

Other financial obligations

Total

Dec. 31, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

81,288

33,634

114,922

72,892

31,536

104,428

Liabilities from operating leases relate particularly to IT equipment and vehicles. In addition, there are liabilities from long-term  rental 

agreements for office buildings with an average contract term of five years.

1) See the Company’s ad hoc release of February 14, 2014 and ad hoc update of  
December 18, 2015.

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements235

The total of future minimum lease payments under operating leases amounted to € 81.3 million as of the end of the financial year 

(previous year: € 72.9 million) and can be broken down according to remaining term as follows:

in € 000s

Remaining terms up to 1 year

Remaining terms over 1 year to 5 years

Remaining terms over 5 years

Total

Operating leases

Dec. 31, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

32,151

39,473

9,664

81,288

25,280

36,909

10,703

72,892

Lease payments in the amount of € 30.5 million (previous year: € 29.2 million) were recognized as an expense in financial year 2015. 

There is still a guarantee amounting to € 25.0 million towards Hospira Inc., Lake Forest, Illinois, USA, in connection with a supply 

agreement between Hospira and the shares in the associated company BIOCEUTICALS Arzneimittel AG which are recognized under 

the equity method.

STADA, as guarantor, has recognized this guarantee in the reporting year as financial guarantee in accordance with IAS 39 at its fair 

value in the amount of € 0.3 million (previous year: € 0.3 million). Utilization of this guarantee granted is currently not expected.

Furthermore, additional guarantees assumed by the STADA Group are included in other financial liabilities, among other things.

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
236

45. Disclosures about financial instruments

45.1. Carrying amounts, valuation rates and fair values according to valuation categories

The following disclosures are made on carrying amounts, valuation rates and fair values by valuation category, whereby the following 

 abbreviations are used for the valuation categories pursuant to IAS 39: LaR (loans and receivables), HtM (held-to-maturity invest-

ments), AfS (available-for-sale financial assets), FAHfT (financial assets held for trading), FLHfT (financial liabilities held for trading) 

and FLAC (financial liabilities measured at amortized cost).

Valuation rate balance sheet 
in accordance with IAS 39

Carrying 
amount  
Dec. 31, 
2015

Valuation 
category 
pursuant to 
IAS 39

Amortized 
cost

Fair value 
not included 
in the 
income 
statement

Fair value 
included in 
the income 
statement

Valuation 
rate in 
accordance 
with IAS 17

143,178

485,901

1,339

27,461

55,536

326,869

167,290

545,921

645,673

2,211

1,274

3,338

219,171

684,615

1,339

27,461

1,904,924

3,338

LaR

LaR

AfS

FAHfT

LaR

FLAC

FLAC

FLAC

FLAC

n/a

n/a

FLHfT

FLAC

LaR

AfS

FAHfT

FLAC

FLHfT

143,178

485,901

1,339

-

55,536

326,869

167,290

545,921

645,673

-

-

-

219,171

684,615

1,339

-

1,904,924

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1,274

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

27,461

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

3,338

-

-

-

27,461

-

3,338

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2,211

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

in € 000s

Assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Trade accounts receivable

Available-for-sale financial assets

Derivative financial assets without hedging relationship

Other financial assets

Equity and liabilities

Trade accounts payable

Amounts due to banks

Promissory note loans

Bonds

Liabilities financial leasing

Derivative financial liabilities with hedging relationship

Derivative financial liabilities without hedging relationship

Other financial liabilities

Thereof aggregated according to valuation categories 
in accordance with IAS 39:

Loans and receivables

Available-for-sale financial assets

Financial assets held for trading

Financial liabilities measured at amortized cost

Financial liabilities held for trading

Valuation rate balance sheet 

in accordance with IAS 39

Carrying 

amount 

previous 

year

Fair value 

not included 

in the 

income 

Amortized 

cost

statement

Fair Value 

Dec. 31, 

2015

Fair value 

included in 

the income 

statement

Valuation 

rate in 

accordance 

with IAS 17

Fair value 

Dec. 31, 

2014

143,178

485,901

1,339

27,461

55,536

326,869

165,045

577,812

659,125

2,211

1,274

3,338

164,209

502,794

2,065

33,250

65,393

339,187

243,596

550,834

697,271

3,081

2,666

458

29

33,250

164,209

502,794

2,036

65,393

339,187

243,596

550,834

697,271

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

3,081

2,666

458

219,171

256,457

256,457

684,615

732,396

732,396

1,339

27,461

2,065

33,250

2,036

29

1,948,022

2,087,345

2,087,345

3,338

458

33,250

458

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

164,209

502,794

2,065

33,250

65,393

339,187

245,914

592,749

715,750

3,081

2,666

458

256,457

732,396

2,065

33,250

2,150,057

458

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
45. Disclosures about financial instruments

45.1. Carrying amounts, valuation rates and fair values according to valuation categories

The following disclosures are made on carrying amounts, valuation rates and fair values by valuation category, whereby the following 

 abbreviations are used for the valuation categories pursuant to IAS 39: LaR (loans and receivables), HtM (held-to-maturity invest-

ments), AfS (available-for-sale financial assets), FAHfT (financial assets held for trading), FLHfT (financial liabilities held for trading) 

and FLAC (financial liabilities measured at amortized cost).

Derivative financial assets without hedging relationship

27,461

Valuation rate balance sheet 

in accordance with IAS 39

Valuation 

category 

Carrying 

amount  

Dec. 31, 

2015

pursuant to 

Amortized 

IAS 39

cost

statement

Fair value 

not included 

in the 

income 

Fair value 

included in 

the income 

statement

Valuation 

rate in 

accordance 

with IAS 17

143,178

485,901

1,339

27,461

55,536

326,869

167,290

545,921

645,673

2,211

1,274

3,338

219,171

684,615

1,339

27,461

1,904,924

3,338

LaR

LaR

AfS

FAHfT

LaR

FLAC

FLAC

FLAC

FLAC

n/a

n/a

FLHfT

FLAC

LaR

AfS

FAHfT

FLAC

FLHfT

143,178

485,901

1,339

55,536

326,869

167,290

545,921

645,673

219,171

684,615

1,339

1,904,924

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

27,461

3,338

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2,211

1,274

3,338

in € 000s

Assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Trade accounts receivable

Available-for-sale financial assets

Other financial assets

Equity and liabilities

Trade accounts payable

Amounts due to banks

Promissory note loans

Bonds

Liabilities financial leasing

Derivative financial liabilities with hedging relationship

Derivative financial liabilities without hedging relationship

Other financial liabilities

Thereof aggregated according to valuation categories 

in accordance with IAS 39:

Loans and receivables

Available-for-sale financial assets

Financial assets held for trading

Financial liabilities measured at amortized cost

Financial liabilities held for trading

237

Valuation rate balance sheet 
in accordance with IAS 39

Fair Value 
Dec. 31, 
2015

Carrying 
amount 
previous 
year

Amortized 
cost

Fair value 
not included 
in the 
income 
statement

Fair value 
included in 
the income 
statement

Valuation 
rate in 
accordance 
with IAS 17

Fair value 
Dec. 31, 
2014

143,178

485,901

1,339

27,461

55,536

326,869

165,045

577,812

659,125

2,211

1,274

3,338

164,209

502,794

2,065

33,250

65,393

339,187

243,596

550,834

697,271

3,081

2,666

458

164,209

502,794

2,036

-

65,393

339,187

243,596

550,834

697,271

-

-

-

219,171

256,457

256,457

684,615

732,396

732,396

1,339

27,461

2,065

33,250

2,036

-

1,948,022

2,087,345

2,087,345

3,338

458

-

-

-

29

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2,666

-

-

-

29

-

-

-

-

-

-

33,250

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

458

-

-

-

33,250

-

458

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

3,081

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

164,209

502,794

2,065

33,250

65,393

339,187

245,914

592,749

715,750

3,081

2,666

458

256,457

732,396

2,065

33,250

2,150,057

458

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
238

Since cash and cash equivalents as well as trade accounts receivable mainly have short remaining terms, their carrying amounts as 

of the closing date correspond approximately to the fair value.

Deviations of the fair values from the carrying amounts occur as shown in the chart above in the case of promissory note loans, 

bonds, as well as liabilities to banks. The cash flows calculated by means of the current yield curve were discounted to the measure-

ment date to determine the fair values.

Available-for-sale financial assets are primarily the carrying amounts of those shares in non-consolidated investments which are 

entirely measured at amortized cost for lack of available market prices. 

The fair values of remaining financial receivables as well as of held-to-maturity financial investments with remaining terms of more 

than a year correspond to the present values of the payments connected with the assets taking into consideration the respectively 

current  interest  parameters  that  reflect  market  and  partner-related  changes  in  the  conditions  and  expectations. Trade  accounts 

payable as well as remaining financial liabilities also regularly have short remaining terms so that the recognized values approximate 

the fair values.

For the disclosures according to class of financial instrument necessary in accordance with IFRS 7, STADA defines each valuation 

category as a class.

The chart below shows how the valuation rates of financial instruments measured at fair value were determined for the respective 

classes of financial instruments:

Fair values by levels of hierarchy in 
€ 000s on a recurring basis

Available-for-sale financial assets (AfS)

• Securities

Financial assets held for trading (FAHfT)

• Currency forwards

• Interest rate/currency swaps

Financial liabilities held for trading (FLHfT)

• Currency forwards

• Interest rate/currency swaps

Derivative financial liabilities  
with hedging relationship

• Cash flow hedges

Level 1

Quoted prices 
in active markets

Level 2
Valuation methods 
with input parameters 
observable in the market

Level 3
Valuation methods 
with input parameters 
not observable in the market

Dec. 31, 2015 Dec. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2015 Dec. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2015 Dec. 31, 2014

-

-

-

-

-

-

29

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

3,118

24,343

9

3,329

749

32,501

5

453

1,274

2,666

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
 
 
239

In the context of the preparation of the financial statements, STADA reviews the allocation to the respective hierarchy levels according 

to information available on the determination of the fair values. If the need for reclassification is determined, the reclassification is 

carried out as of the beginning of the reporting period. In the financial year, there were no reclassifications among the respective 

hierarchy levels. 

The fair values are analyzed in the context of the preparation of the financial statements. For this purpose, market comparisons and 

change analyses are carried out. 

Available-for-sale financial assets (AfS) of the previous year related to shares for which market prices were available for measure-

ment.  Derivative  financial  assets  (FAHfT)  and  derivative  financial  liabilities  (FLHfT)  include  positive  or  negative  market  values  of 

 derivative financial instruments (interest rate/currency swaps and foreign exchange swaps) not part of a hedging relationship. The fair 

values were determined using appropriate valuation models by external third parties. This includes the application of discounted cash 

flow methods, which are largely based on input parameters observable in the market. The cash flows which are already fixed or 

calculated by means of the current yield curve are discounted to the measurement date with the discount factors determined by 

means of the yield curve valid on the balance sheet date. The same applies for the calculation of the fair values of the derivative 

 financial liabilities with a hedging relationship, which reflect the negative market values of the interest rate swaps used as hedging 

instruments.

The subsequent chart shows how the valuation rates of assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis were determined:

Fair values by levels of hierarchy  
in € 000s on a non-recurring basis

Non-current assets and  
disposal groups held for sale

Level 1

Quoted prices 
in active markets

Level 2
Valuation methods 
with input parameters 
observable in the market

Level 3
Valuation methods 
with input parameters 
not observable in the market

Dec. 31, 2015 Dec. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2015 Dec. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2015 Dec. 31, 2014

-

-

-

331

-

-

The assets held for sale of the previous year comprised real estate held by a STADA subsidiary in Serbia, which was reclassified to 

non-current assets as of the balance-sheet date. The non-recurring basis for the determination of fair value was based on an ap-

praisal prepared by an independent expert and was largely determined based on input parameters  observable in the market.

As STADA utilizes pricing information from external third parties without further correction in the determination of the fair value, and 

therefore does not produce any quantitative, non-observable input factors, the option of IFRS 13 to waive the disclosure of  quantitative 

information on such input factors is taken.

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
240

Financial assets and liabilities allocated to hierarchy level 3 and measured at fair value developed as follows in financial year 2015:

in € 000s

as of Jan. 1, 2015

Reclassification from level 2

Currency changes

Total result

• in the income statement

• directly in equity

Additions

Realizations

Reclassification in level 2

Balance at December 31, 2015

Income recognized in the income statement

Other earnings/other expenses

thereof

• attributable to assets / liabilities held as of the balance sheet date

Financial result

thereof

• attributable to assets / liabilities held as of the balance sheet date

Financial assets 
measured at fair value

Financial liabilities 
measured at fair value

33,250

-

-

-782

-782

-

-

-5,007

-

27,461

-12,804

6,826

8,302

-7,609

-7,332

-3,124

-

-

-1,728

-3,120

1,393

-

241

-

-4,611

-3,120

-2,890

-2,653

-230

-231

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements 
241

Financial assets and liabilities allocated to hierarchy level 3 and measured at fair value developed as follows in the previous year:

in € 000s

as of Jan. 1, 2014

Reclassification from level 2

Currency changes

Total result

• in the income statement

• directly in equity

Additions

Realizations

Reclassification in level 2

Balance at December 31, 2014

Income recognized in the income statement

Other earnings / other expenses

thereof

• attributable to assets/liabilities held as of the balance sheet date

Financial result

thereof

• attributable to assets/liabilities held as of the balance sheet date

Financial assets 
measured at fair value

Financial liabilities 
measured at fair value

10,520

-

-

24,698

24,698

-

-

-1,967

-

33,250

20,818

21,314

21,304

3,384

3,384

-5,619

-

-

3,582

1,500

2,082

-

-1,087

-

-3,124

1,500

1,296

-196

204

-262

45.2. Net earnings from financial instruments by valuation category

Net earnings recognized in income from financial assets and liabilities can be broken down as follows: 

Net earnings by  
valuation category  
in € 000s

from 
interest and 
dividends

At  
fair value

Currency 
translation

Valuation 
allowance

From 
disposals

Dec. 31, 
2015

Dec. 31, 
2014

from subsequent measurement

Net earnings

Loans and receivables (LaR)

Available-for-sale financial assets (AfS)

Financial assets held for trading (FAHfT)

1,142

162

-1,758

-

-

970

-37,860

-

-

Financial liabilities measured at 
amortized cost

Financial liabilities held for trading 
(FLHfT)

Total

-48,381

-

-6,033

-98

-48,933

-2,885

-1,915

-

-43,893

-9,526

-9,367

-159

-

-

-

-

-

-46,085

3

19,448

-5,789

-8,598

-2,490

22,730

-

-54,414

-111,371

-12,634

6,814

-15,617

-97,453

413

-99,316

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
242

The  disclosure  of  interest  from  financial  instruments  is  made  in  financial  income  and  financial  expenses  in  the  interest  result. 

 Dividends received are disclosed in investment income. With the exception of the valuation results from interest rate/currency swaps 

and/or currency swaps recognized at fair value with an effect on income, which are reported under financial income or financial 

 expenses and partially also in the currency translation result, disclosure of the remaining components of net earnings is made in 

other income or other expenses. Earnings from the disposal of financial instruments relate to currency swaps expired in financial year 

2015 and the partial fulfillment of cross-currency swaps. 

Valuation results from financial assets held for sale and cash flow hedges, which are reported under other comprehensive income in 

equity, are not included in this presentation as they had no effect on income.

46. Risk management, derivative financial instruments and disclosures on capital management

46.1. Principles of risk management 

The basic principles of financial policy and of financial risk management are determined or confirmed at least once annually by the 

Executive Board in the context of the budget process. Furthermore, all transactions above a certain limit determined to be relevant by 

the Executive Board must first be approved by the Executive Board. The Executive Board is also regularly informed of the nature, 

scope  and  amount  of  current  risks. With  a  view  to  assets,  liabilities  and  planned  transactions,  these  risks  relate  in  particular  to 

 changes in exchange rates and interest rates. It is the objective of financial risk management to limit these market risks of ongoing 

operative and finance-related activities. For this purpose, depending on the assessment of the financial risk, selected derivative and 

non-derivative hedging instruments are used.

However, in principle only financial risks which have significant consequences on the Group’s cash flow are hedged.

46.2. Currency risks

STADA’s Group and balance sheet currency is the euro. Due to the international alignment of business activities, STADA is subject to 

risks arising from exchange rate fluctuations.

On the one hand, these risks consist of potential changes in value, especially of receivables and liabilities in a currency other than the 

respective functional currency as a result of exchange rate fluctuation (transaction risk).

STADA counters risks from currency-related cash flow fluctuations with derivative financial instruments, which are exclusively used 

to hedge currency risks resulting from operating activities, financial transactions and investments. Derivative financial instruments are 

neither held nor issued for speculation purposes.

In addition to natural hedges, STADA generally employs different financial derivatives to hedge assets, liabilities and anticipated future 

cash flows denominated in foreign currency. In the reporting year 2015, STADA made particular use of foreign-exchange futures 

contracts  and  interest/currency  swaps.  The  maturity  dates  of  futures  contracts  are  thereby  selected  to  match  the  Company’s 

 anticipated cash flows. These contracts are currently valid for up to two years.

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements243

In the context of consolidated financial statements, on the other hand, exchange rate fluctuations lead to an accounting effect as a 

result  of  the  conversion  of  the  balance  sheet  items  as  well  as  the  conversion  of  earnings  and  expenses  of  international  Group 

 companies with a different functional currency than euro (translation risk). The appreciation of the euro as compared to the other 

currencies is generally negative and depreciation is generally positive. Currency risks primarily stem from business transactions in 

the following currencies: Russian ruble, pound sterling and Serbian dinar. This risk is not hedged.

It cannot be ruled out, however, that hedging strategies against currency risks turn out to be insufficient, wrong or suboptimal.

STADA determines quantitative disclosures on risks in connection with currency changes by means of aggregating all of the Group 

companies’  foreign  currency  items  that  are  not  denominated  in  the  respective  Group  company’s  functional  currency.  In  case  of 

hedging transactions they are compared with the positive or negative balances from the aggregation. This results in the subsequent 

material  outstanding  foreign  currency  items  as  of  the  respective  balance  sheet  dates,  which  in  case  of  a  change  to  the  foreign 

 currency item due to a 10% appreciation or a 10% depreciation of the respective functional currency are as follows:

Dec. 31, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

in € 000s

Kazakh- 
stani tenge

Russian 
ruble

Ukrainian 
hryvnia

Kazakh- 
stani tenge

Ukrainian 
hryvnia

Serbian 
dinar

Russian 
ruble

Outstanding foreign currency item

-16,944

+45,441

-17,117

-14,866

-28,117

+12,322

+7,932

Income (+) / expense (-)  
from an appreciation of the respective 
functional currency by 10%

Income (+) / expense (-)  
from a depreciation of the respective 
functional currency by 10%

Equity increase (+) / equity reduction (-) 
from an appreciation of the respective 
functional currency by 10%

Equity increase (+) / equity reduction (-) 
from a depreciation of the respective 
functional currency by 10%

-1,694

+1,341

-3,721

-1,487

-2,812

+1,343

-588

+1,694

-1,341

+3,721

+1,487

+2,812

-1,343

+588

-2,053

-2,054

-3,740

-1,510

-2,425

-5,301

-15,890

+2,053

+2,054

+3,740

+1,510

+2,425

+5,301

+15,890

Here, any currency risk is isolated, i.e. it is taken into account without mutual dependencies. 

The outstanding foreign currency items in Russian ruble and Ukrainian hryvnia relate to a balance from foreign currency reserves at 

international  Group  companies  in  euro  and  outstanding  foreign  currency  reserves  in  Russian  ruble  and  Ukrainian  hryvnia.  The 

 reported  outstanding  foreign  currency  items  in  Kazakhstani  tenge  exclusively  relate  to  foreign  currency  reserves  at   international 

Group companies in euro. The risk in connection with the outstanding foreign currency reserves in euro, from the Group’s perspective, 

results from the functional currency of the respective international Group company. Overall, based on outstanding foreign currency 

items as of the balance sheet date, an appreciation or a devaluation of the respective functional currency by 10% compared to the 

 currencies of relevance for the Group would have led to an effect on earnings in the amount of an expense of € 6.8 million (previous 

year: € 7.1 million) or in the amount of earnings of € 6.8 million (previous year: € 7.1 million).

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
244

46.3. Interest rate risks

STADA is subject to interest risks from financial assets as well as financial debts, primarily in the Euro zone and Russia. 

In order to minimize the effects of significant interest rate fluctuations, STADA manages the interest rate risk, to the extent possible, 

for the financial liabilities denominated in euro with hedging transactions. In financial year 2015, to hedge the interest rate risk, there 

were  cash  flow  hedges  in  the  form  of  interest-rate  swaps. Taking  into  account  these  hedging  transactions,  an  average  of  85% 

 (previous year: 85%) of financial liabilities denominated in euro and 100% (previous year: 41%) of those denominated in ruble had 

fixed interest rates in 2015.

STADA calculates existing interest rate risks using sensitivity analyses, which show the effects of changes in market interest rates on 

interest payments, interest income and expenses as well as equity. The following factors are generally included in the calculation:

• changes in the market interest rate of interest rate derivatives designated as hedging instruments in the context of  

cash flow hedges, 

• changes in the market interest rate of original financial liabilities with variable interest rates that are not hedged against  

interest rate risks, and

• changes in the market interest rate of interest rate derivatives not part of a hedging relationship.

in € million

Dec. 31, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

Income (+) / expense (-) from an increase in the market interest rate level of 100 basis points

Income (+) / expense (-) from a decrease in the market interest rate level of 100 basis points

Equity increase (+) / equity reduction (-) from an increase in the market interest rate level  
of 100 basis points

Equity increase (+) / equity reduction (-) from a decrease in the market interest rate level  
of 100 basis points

-0.7

-0.7

+0.3

-0.3

-0.5

+0.4

+1.0

-1.0

46.4. Default risks

In addition, STADA may be exposed to a default risk in its operating business or as a result of financing activities if contracting parties 

fail to meet their obligations.

To avoid default risks in financing activities respective credit management processes are in place and such transactions are  generally 

only concluded with counterparties of impeccable financial standing.

Risks of default exist as a result of the supply of goods and services. In addition, there is the risk that in a difficult economic and 

 financial environment, national health care systems delay or fail to make payments to STADA or business partners of STADA and that, 

as a result, directly or indirectly increased default risks arise.

STADA therefore strives to maintain business relations only with business partners of impeccable financial standing and in addition, 

partly uses suitable measures to safeguard itself against default risk, such as guarantees, letters of credit, credit insurance or the 

transfer of assets. However, it cannot be ruled out that these measures are insufficient and non-payments of individual debtors, and  

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
 
 
245

therefore  burdens  from  one-time  special  effects,  arise  to  a  significant  extent.  Past  due  receivables  in  the  operating  area  are 

 con tinuously monitored and potential default risks are anticipated through the creation of valuation adjustments.

The supply of goods and services to international wholesalers is subject to special monitoring. Concentrations of risk are assumed if 

debtors exceed a particular credit volume, for which no securities were transferred. As of the balance sheet date, however, there are 

no significant concentrations of risks at STADA.

STADA’s maximum credit default risk is calculated from the carrying amounts of the financial assets recognized. In addition, STADA 

granted guarantees, which amounted to a total nominal volume of € 25.3 million (previous year: € 25.3 million) as of the balance 

sheet date (see Note 43.). STADA has various forms of collateral for credit securities such as mortgages, bank or corporate  guarantees, 

assignments  of  receivables  and  pledged  inventories.  Furthermore,  there  is  commercial  credit  insurance  for  certain  markets  and 

customers.

46.5. Liquidity risks

The Group’s liquidity was guaranteed at all times in financial year 2015. In the context of continuous liquidity planning, the cash flows 

of all companies are regularly monitored. In order to secure the financial flexibility and financial security of STADA, a liquidity reserve 

in  the  form  of  cash  is  held  and  supplemented  by  free  credit  lines.  For  this  purpose,  STADA  regularly  concludes  bilateral  credit 

 contracts for a period of at least 12 months with various banks. The refinancing of the financial liabilities is consequently monitored 

in the context of continuous liquidity planning. 

46.6. Other price risks

In the context of a hypothetical risk assessment, there are also other price change risks related to market prices. However, as of the 

balance sheet date, STADA does not recognize available-for-sale financial assets, whose fair values are determined based on market 

prices, anymore.

46.7. Derivative financial instruments and hedging instruments

STADA counters risks from fluctuations in cash flow with derivative financial instruments, which are exclusively used to hedge  interest 

and currency risks resulting from operating activities, financial transactions and investments. Derivative financial instruments are 

neither held nor issued for speculation purposes.

In  financial  year  2015,  there  are  cash  flow  hedges  exclusively  in  the  form  of  payer  interest  rate  swaps.  Here,  variable  interest 

 payments are transformed into fixed interest payments and the cash flow risk of variable interest liabilities is thus hedged. In the 

context of these hedging relationships, interest rate related cash flow changes of the hedged items are netted with cash flow  changes 

of interest rate swaps.

In financial year 2015, no new payer interest-rate swaps were designated as cash flow hedges in order to secure interest payments 

from promissory note loans.

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements246

The total volume of currency and interest rate related derivatives is comprised as follows:

in € 000s

Nominal value

Fair value

Nominal value

Fair value

Dec. 31, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

Derivatives without hedging relationship

Interest rate/currency swaps

Currency swaps

Derivatives with hedging relationship

Interest rate swaps

thereof

• fixed rate payer

• fixed rate recipient

Total

69,337

151,540

21,015

3,109

86,346

17,335

32,048

744

66,500

-1,273

117,000

-2,666

66,500

-

287,377

-1,273

-

22,851

117,000

-

220,681

-2,666

-

30,126

The terms of the cash flow hedges existing as of the balance sheet date end in 2016.

All hedges are assumed to be highly effective as the important features are nearly identical (critical terms match). As of the  balance 

sheet date, all of the hedging relationships presented above were effective. All changes in the fair value of the derivative hedging 

instruments were therefore recognized directly in equity under “Provisions for cash flow hedges”. In financial year 2015, the resulting 

earnings amounted to € 1.1 million after consideration of deferred taxes (previous year: € 1.5 million).

46.8. Disclosures on capital management

The objectives of the STADA capital management are the safeguarding of the business operation, the creation of a solid equity base 

for  financing  profitable  growth  as  well  as  guaranteeing  attractive  dividend  payments  and  the  capital  service. The  STADA  capital 

management consistently aims for the Group companies to have an equity basis that corresponds to the local requirements. When 

 implementing and checking the Group’s capital and liquidity the legal requirements are taken into account. 

Capital is monitored on the basis of net debt, which results from current and non-current financial liabilities minus cash and cash 

equivalents as well as available-for-sale securities. An important key figure for capital management at STADA is the net debt to 

 adjusted EBITDA ratio, which amounted to 3.1 in financial year 2015 (previous year: 3.1). 

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements247

Dec. 31, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

1,084,213

274,672

1,358,885

143,178

1,215,707

389,385

3.1

1,042,998

448,703

1,491,701

164,238

1,327,463

431,888

3.1

In this connection, the net debt and net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio were as follows:

in € 000s

Non-current financial liabilities

Current financial liabilities

Gross debt

Cash, cash equivalents and available-for-sale securities

Net debt

EBITDA (adjusted)

Net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio

47. Related party transactions

In the scope of the ordinary course of business, STADA Arzneimittel AG and/or its consolidated companies have entered into related 

party transactions. In accordance with IAS 24, “related parties” refers to directly or indirectly controlled subsidiaries that are not 

consolidated due to lack of material significance, associates and joint ventures as well as persons in key positions and their close 

relatives. In principle, all trades are settled with related companies and natural persons at market-rate conditions.

47.1. Transactions with related persons

Persons in key positions are the board members of STADA Arzneimittel AG, the remuneration of whom, including further information 

on the principles of the remuneration system, is presented in detail in the Management Report (see “Remuneration Report”), as well 

as the summary in Note 47. in relation to quantitative disclosures.

In  the  course  of  their  normal  professional  activities,  individual  members  of  the  Supervisory  and  Advisory  Boards  who  are  self- 

employed have business relations with STADA. These are not significant as regards volume and nature. 

In financial year 2015, Steffen Retzlaff, the son of the Chairman of the Executive Board, Hartmut Retzlaff, was active as Managing 

Director of Hemopharm GmbH Pharmazeutisches Unternehmen, STADAvita GmbH, PharmaSwyzz Deutschland GmbH and STADA 

PHARMA Bulgaria EOOD, as member of the Board of Directors of STADA MENA DWC-LLC and STADA Pharmaceuticals (Asia) Ltd., 

as Chairman of the Administrative Board of STADA Aesthetics AG as well as Vice President of the market region Asia/Pacific & MENA 

of the STADA Group. 

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements248

47.2. Transactions with related companies

in € 000s

Dec. 31, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

Trade accounts receivable

Non-consolidated subsidiaries/joint ventures

Associates

Joint ventures

Other investors

Trade accounts payable

Non-consolidated subsidiaries/joint ventures

Associates

Joint ventures

Other investors

Expenses and income essentially relate to related party transactions as follows:

in € 000s

Sales

Non-consolidated subsidiaries/joint ventures

Associates

Joint ventures

Other investors

Interest income

Non-consolidated subsidiaries/joint ventures

Associates

Joint ventures

Other investors

Interest expense

Non-consolidated subsidiaries/joint ventures

Associates

Joint ventures

Other investors

372

202

-

745

113

1

-

-

44

309

-

739

62

547

-

-

2015

2014

-

62

-

-

-

-

1,575

1,427

3

8

-

-

-

1

-

-

64

447

-

-

-

-

-

-

In addition, the following disclosures on related party transactions are made:

STADA continues to provide the associated company BIOCEUTICALS Arzneimittel AG with a credit line facility with an interest rate that 

is partly usual for risk capital and which was not utilized as of December 31, 2015 (previous year: € 3.3 million). 

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements249

There is a service contract with BIOCEUTICALS Arzneimittel AG, as well as distribution rights for Epo-zeta in Germany granted by 

BIOCEUTICALS Arzneimittel AG to, among others, cell pharm Gesellschaft für pharmazeutische und diagnostische  Präparate mbH. In 

some other European countries (such as Serbia or Russia, for example), a local STADA-owned subsidiary can  receive or has already 

received at the same time a local sales license as well. 

Furthermore, STADA also has business relations with its fellow partner of the Chinese subsidiary STADA Import/Export International 

Ltd. As of the balance sheet date, outstanding loan liabilities in the amount of € 0.6 million resulted from this business relationship.

48. Remuneration of the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board

The aggregate remuneration of the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board including further information on the principles of the 

remuneration system are presented in detail in the Management Report (see “Remuneration Report”).

In summary, the following disclosures regarding the remuneration of the Executive Board and Supervisory Board at STADA Arznei-

mittel AG are made according to IAS 24 in consideration of the disclosure requirements of Section 314 (1) no. 6a sentence 1–4 of 

the German Commercial Code:

Fixed and  
variable current remuneration

Expenses  
for pension commitments earned  
in the current year

Total remuneration 
in accordance with IFRS

in € 000s

2015

2014

2015

2014

2015

2014

Members of the Executive Board

4,9371)

8,0012)

Members  
of the Supervisory Board

1,073

1,045

-

-

-17,6033)

-

4,937

1,073

-9,602

1,045

Remuneration to former members of the Executive Board amounted to a total of € 297,000 in financial year 2015. The fair value of 

pension commitments for former Executive Board members amounted to € 11,669,000 as of December 31, 2015.

There were no loans granted to members of the Executive Board and Supervisory Board at STADA Arzneimittel AG as of the balance 

sheet date. Nor has STADA taken on any contingent liabilities for the benefit of the board members of STADA Arzneimittel AG.

49. Fees for the auditor

In  financial  year  2015,  the  following  professional  fees  were  recognized  as  expenses  for  services  rendered  by  the  auditor  of  the 

 consolidated financial statements, PKF Deutschland GmbH:

in € 000s

Fees for the auditor

• thereof for audits

• thereof for other confirmation services

• thereof for other services

2015

2014

506

348

142

16

475

348

92

35

1) No progress payments on the variable long-term special remuneration were made for financial 
year 2015.
2) Thereof final payments and payments on variable long-term special remuneration in the total 
amount of € 2,759,275 as a result of achieving the year-end and annual interim goals in the 
respective individual contracts for financial year 2014.

3) In the context of the changed plan and the resulting changes with regard to the benefits 
awarded according to the former benefit plan there were earnings from past service cost in the 
amount of € 17.6 million. In addition, an expense from administrative costs for the benefit plan in 
the amount of € 0.7 million and an expense from the adjustment of plan assets in the amount of 
€ 1.0 million were incurred. The balance of the two items were earnings of € 15.9 million, which 
were recorded in general and administrative expenses.

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements | Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
250

The  fees  for  audits  relate  to  payment  for  the  audit  of  the  consolidated  financial  statements  as  well  as  the  audit  of  the  financial 

 statements of STADA Arzneimittel AG and its German subsidiaries, each at the end of the financial year.

Other confirmation services include the review of the interim consolidated financial statements of June 30 of the corresponding 

 financial year, the granting of a comfort letter in the context of issuing the corporate bond as well the examination whether certain 

obligations arising from EU Regulation No. 648/2012 have been met.

50. Corporate governance

The declaration on the German Corporate Governance Code prescribed by Section 161 of the German Stock Corporation Act (AktG) 

was last issued by the Executive Board and Supervisory Board on October 8, 2015. The declaration is publicly available via the 

 Company’s website (www.stada.de in German or www.stada.com in English) and is also presented in the Annual Report.

51. Events after balance sheet date 

No material events have occurred since the reporting date that could have a significant effect on the business, financial and earnings 

situation of the STADA Group.

52. Dividend

According to the German Stock Corporation Act, the distributable dividend is determined according to the distributable profit reported 

by STADA Arzneimittel AG in its annual financial statements prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the German 

Commercial Code. This amounted to € 59,139,388.83 as of December 31, 2015. The Executive Board of STADA Arzneimittel AG 

proposes that a dividend of € 0.70 per STADA share be appropriated from this distributable profit for financial year 2015. In financial 

year 2015, a dividend in the amount of € 0.66 per STADA share was distributed to shareholders from the  distributable profit of 

 financial year 2014.

Bad Vilbel, March 21, 2016

H. Retzlaff  

H. Kraft  

Dr. M. Wiedenfels

 Chairman of the Executive Board 

Chief Financial Officer 

Chief Business Development & Central Services Officer 

STADA Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
 
 
251

RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT

To  the  best  of  our  knowledge  and  in  accordance  with  the  applicable  reporting  principles  for  consolidated  financial  statements 

 reporting, the consolidated financial statements give a true and fair view of the business, financial position and results of operations 

and profit or loss of the Group, and the Group Management Report includes a fair review of the development and performance of the 

business and the position of the Group, together with a description of the principal opportunities and risks associated with the Group’s 

expected development.

Bad Vilbel, March 21, 2016

 H. Retzlaff  

 Chairman  

H. Kraft  

Dr. M. Wiedenfels

Chief Financial Officer  

Chief Business Development & 

Central Services Officer

Responsibility Statement 
 
 
 
 
 
252

AUDITOR’S REPORT

We have audited the consolidated financial statements prepared by STADA Arzneimittel Aktiengesellschaft, Bad Vilbel, comprising the 

 balance sheet, the income statement, statement of comprehensive income, statement of changes in equity, the cash flow statement 

and  the  notes  to  the  consolidated  financial  statements,  together  with  the  group  management  report  for  the  business  year  from 

 January 1 to December 31, 2015. The preparation of the consolidated financial statements and the group management report in 

accordance  with  IFRSs,  as  adopted  by  the  EU,  and  the  additional  requirements  of  German  commercial  law  pursuant  to  §  315a 

Abs. (paragraph) 1 HGB (“Handelsgesetzbuch”: German Commercial Code) are the responsibility of the legal representatives of the 

company. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and on the group management report 

based on our audit.

We conducted our audit of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with § 317 HGB and German generally accepted 

standards  for  the  audit  of  financial  statements  promulgated  by  the  Institut  der  Wirtschaftsprüfer  (Institute  of  Public  Auditors  in 

 Germany)  (IDW). Those  standards  require  that  we  plan  and  perform  the  audit  such  that  misstatements  materially  affecting  the 

 presentation of net assets, financial position and results of operations in the consolidated financial statements in accordance with the 

applicable financial reporting framework and in the group management report are detected with reasonable assurance. Knowledge 

of the business activities and the economic and legal environment of the Group and expectations as to possible misstatements are 

taken into account in the determination of audit  procedures. The effectiveness of the accounting related internal control system and 

the evidence supporting the disclosures in the con solidated financial statements and the group management report are examined 

primarily on a test basis within the framework of the audit. 

The audit includes assessing the annual financial statements of those entities included in consolidation, the determination of the 

entities to be included in consolidation, the accounting and consolidation principles used and significant estimates made by manage-

ment, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements and the group management report.

We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Our audit has not led to any reservations.

In our opinion based on the findings of our audit the consolidated financial statements comply with the IFRSs as adopted by the EU, 

the additional requirements of German commercial law pursuant to § 315a Abs. 1 HGB and give a true and fair view of the net assets, 

financial position and results of operations of the Group in accordance with these requirements. The group management report is 

consistent with the consolidated financial statements and as a whole provides a suitable view of the Group’s position and suitably 

presents the opportunities and risks of future development.

Frankfurt, March 21, 2016

PKF Deutschland GmbH

Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft

Annika Fröde 

Santosh Varughese

 German Public Accountant  

German Public Accountant

Auditor’s Report  
 
 
 
 
253

GLOSSARY A – Z

Active pharmaceutical ingredient: In the pharmaceutical market: the pharmaceutically effective component of a drug (also API).

Adalimumab: Adalimumab is the first entirely human monoclonal antibody (against the tumor necrosis factor 

, TNF ). Adalimumab 

is used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and Crohn’s disease.

Approval: Permission under drug laws to market a drug in a national market.

Audit: In the pharmaceutical market: control of equipment and documentation of manufacturers or their suppliers.

Biosimilar: A biosimilar is a drug with an active pharmaceutical ingredient produced in a biotechnological process, which has been 

developed in comparison with an original product already on the market. It is so similar to the original product that it has proven 

therapeutic equivalence and is comparable in terms of safety and quality. Therefore, a biosimilar is an equivalent successor product 

of an off-patent biopharmaceutical product.

Commercial Business: Purchase and subsequent sale of third-party products; in the pharmaceutical market this frequently refers 

to wholesale business or parallel imports.

Commercial property rights: Provide inventors or companies with protection against competition for an invention for a limited time 

period. The best-known commercial property right is the patent. In addition, Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPC) play an 

important role in the pharmaceutical market.

Dossier: Includes all scientific and technical documentation required for an application for drug approval that describes the quality, 

safety, and efficacy of that drug.

Epoetin or Erythropoietin: Epoetin or erythropoietin is a biopharmaceutical active ingredient in protein form that is produced by 

living cell lines. The erythropoietin biosimilar developed by BIOCEUTICALS is epoetin zeta. Erythropoietin is used, among other things, 

in nephrology for dialysis patients to stimulate hematopoieses as well as in cancer therapy.

Filgrastim: Filgrastim is the form of the human granulocytes colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) which is produced by using bio-

technology. Filgrastim is, among others, used for the treatment of neutropenia, a low count of a special type of white blood cells. 

Neutropenia can arise e.g. after a cytotoxic chemotherapy or a bone marrow transplantation.

GMP: Good Manufacturing Practice – international production standard in the pharmaceutical industry.

Indication: Diseases for which a certain drug is used.

Monoclonal antibodies: Monoclonal antibodies are immunologically active proteins which are used against an individual epitope 

(surface structure) of an antigen (infectious substances or certain molecules) and specifically bind to that substance. Monoclonal 

antibodies  are  generated  with  molecular  biological  methods  and  produced  biotechnologically  through  genetically  engineered  cell 

lines. 

Glossary A – Z254

Nephrology: Branch of internal medicine dealing with diagnostics and non-surgical therapy of kidney diseases.

Oncology: Branch of internal medicine dealing with cancer.

Patent: In the pharmaceutical market: commercial property right granting active pharmaceutical ingredients market exclusivity for a 

limited period (in the EU 20 years, for example).

Patient compliance (including adherence): Within medicine, this term refers to treatment adherence. This refers to the cooperative 

behavior of the patient as regards the treatment, intake of medication or other medical measures such as, for example, physio therapy 

but also the observance of medical advice, for example for a change in lifestyle, the observance of diet and examination appointments 

as a basis for successful treatment. Patient compliance is particularly important for the treatment of chronic conditions.

Prescription obligation: The legal requirement specifying that, depending on the potential risk involved, drugs may be dispensed to 

patients on prescription only.

Rituximab: Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody used in the treatment of various forms of cancer, such as non-Hodgkin lymphomas, 

as well as various auto-immune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis. 

Teriparatid: Teriparatid is a fragment of the human parathormone for hypodermic injection which is recombinantly manufactured. 

 Teriparatid is used for the treatment of post-menopausal women with manifest osteoporosis and a high fracture risk, of men with 

osteoporosis and a high fracture risk, as well as for glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis of adults with an elevated fracture risk.

Glossary A – Z255

FINANCIAL CALENDAR

2016

  March 23, 2016   Publication of 2015 results with analysts’ and press conference

May 12, 2016   Publication of the results of the first three months of 2016

June 9, 2016   Annual General Meeting 2016

August 4, 2016   Publication of the results of the first six months of 2016

 November 10, 2016   Publication of the results of the first nine months of 2016

2017

  March 23, 2017   Publication of 2016 results with analysts’ and press conference

May 11, 2017   Publication of the results of the first three months of 2017

June 8, 2017   Annual General Meeting 2017

August 3, 2017   Publication of the results of the first six months of 2017

  November 9, 2017   Publication of the results of the first nine months of 2017

Status at time of going to print; STADA reserves the right to change these dates. The current financial calendar can be found on the 

Internet at: www.stada.de and www.stada.com.

The Annual Report and the interim reports will be published on the dates listed above on the Company website (www.stada.de and 

www.stada.com), usually before trading begins on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Shareholders may receive printed copies of the 

reports on request.

Financial Calendar 
 
 
 
 
 
256

PUBLISHING INFORMATION

Publisher 

STADA Arzneimittel AG 

Stadastraße 2–18 

61118 Bad Vilbel, Germany

Phone: +49 (0) 61 01/6 03-0

Fax: +49 (0) 61 01/6 03-2 59

E-mail: info@stada.de

Website: www.stada.de and www.stada.com

Contact 

STADA Arzneimittel AG 

STADA Corporate Communications

Phone: +49 (0) 61 01/6 03-1 13 

Fax: +49 (0) 61 01/6 03-2 15

E-mail: communications@stada.de 

Text 

STADA Arzneimittel AG, Bad Vilbel, Germany

This Annual Report is published in German (original version) and English (non-binding translation) and is subject 

to German law alone. 

Publication 

The complete annual report as well as current information on the STADA Group can be found on the Internet at 

www.stada.de and www.stada.com. 

Design and 

realization 

wagneralliance Kommunikation GmbH, Offenbach am Main, Germany

Translation 

MBETraining & Translations, Wiesbaden, Germany

Photography 

Andreas Pohlmann, Munich, Germany

shutterstock, New York, USA

Fotolia, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

STADA archive

Printing 

Grafik & Druck Steiner oHG, Alzenau, Germany

Publishing Information 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
257

Forward-looking statements 

This STADA Arzneimittel AG (hereinafter “STADA”) annual report contains certain statements regarding future events that are based 

on the current expectations, estimates and forecasts on the part of the company management of STADA as well as other currently 

available  information. They  imply  various  known  and  unknown  risks  and  uncertainties,  which  may  result  in  actual  earnings,  the 

 business, financial and earnings situation, growth or performance to be materially different from the estimates expressed or implied 

in the forward-looking statements. Statements with respect to the future are characterized by the use of words such as “expect”, 

“intend”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”  and  similar  terms.  STADA  is  of  the  opinion  that  the  expectations  reflected  in 

 forward-looking  statements  are  appropriate;  however,  it  cannot  guarantee  that  these  expectations  will  actually  materialize.  Risk 

 factors include in particular: The influence of regulation of the pharmaceutical industry; the difficulty in making predictions concerning 

approvals by the regulatory authorities and other supervisory agencies; the regulatory environment and changes in the health-care 

policy and in the health care system of various countries; acceptance of and demand for new drugs and new therapies; the results 

of clinical studies; the influence of competitive products and prices; the availability and costs of the active ingredients used in the 

production  of  pharmaceutical  products;  uncertainty  concerning  market  acceptance  when  innovative  products  are  introduced, 

 presently being sold or under development; the effect of changes in the customer structure; dependence on strategic alliances; 

 exchange rate and interest rate fluctuations, operating results, as well as other factors detailed in the annual reports and in other 

Company statements. STADA does not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. 

Rounding

In the general portion of this Annual Report, STADA key figures are, as a rule, rounded to millions of euro, while the Notes present 

these  figures,  as  a  rule,  with  greater  accuracy  in  thousands  of  euro.  Due  to  rounding  of  these  figures,  differences  may  arise  in 

 individual figures between the general portion and the Notes, as well as from figures actually achieved in euro; these differences 

cannot be considered material.

Publishing Information258

OVERVIEW OF SALES

Group sales in € million

Total Group sales

• Core segment Generics

• Core segment Branded Products

• Commercial Business

• Group holdings/other

Sales by market regions in € million

Central Europe

• United Kingdom

• Italy

• Spain

• Belgium

• France

• Switzerland

• The Netherlands

• Ireland

• Poland

• Austria

• Other/rest of Central Europe

• Export sales of the market region Central Europe

CIS/Eastern Europe

• Russia

• Serbia

• Ukraine

• Kazakhstan

• Bosnia-Herzegovina

• Other/rest of CIS/Eastern Europe

• Export sales of the market region CIS/Eastern Europe

Germany

• Germany

• Export sales of the market region Germany

Asia/Pacific & MENA

• Vietnam

• China

• Saudi Arabia

• The Philippines

• United Arab Emirates

• Other/rest of Asia/Pacific & MENA

• Export sales of the market region Asia/Pacific & MENA

2015

2,115.1

1,217.5

853.6

43.9

0.1

2014

2,062.2

1,217.7

800.5

44.0

-

2015

999.4

194.9

189.2

120.4

103.9

90.2

57.4

44.3

24.8

23.5

20.9

83.9

46.0

509.9

295.8

93.7

25.4

23.8

16.4

45.2

9.6

459.6

428.9

30.7

146.2

93.7

15.8

7.6

7.0

6.2

15.6

0.3

2014

956.3

135.2

181.2

113.0

150.2

95.4

52.2

39.5

22.9

25.8

19.5

82.9

38.5

564.5

360.7

93.4

27.1

13.4

 15.4

45.0

9.5

447.3

389.3

58.0

94.1

73.3

11.8

-

3.9

-

5.0

0.1

Overview of Sales259

FIVE-YEAR CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL SUMMARY

Financial key figures in € million 

Total Group sales 

• Core segment Generics

• Core segment Branded Products

Operating profit

EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA 

EBIT

Earnings before taxes (EBT)

Net income

Adjusted net income 

Cash flow from operating activities

Asset /capital structure in € million

Balance sheet total

Non-current assets

Current assets

Equity

Equity-to-assets ratio in percent

Non-current liabilities

Current liabilities

Net debt

Capital expenditure/depreciation and amortization  
in € million

Total capital expenditure

• on intangible assets

• on property, plant and equipment

• on financial assets/associates

Total depreciation and amortization

• on intangible assets

• on property, plant and equipment

• on financial assets

Employees

Average number per year

Number as of the balance sheet date

Key figures per STADA share

Market capitalization (year-end) in € million

Year-end closing price in € 

2015

2,115.1

1,217.5

853.6

223.7

377.1

389.4

225.3

157.8

110.4

165.8

311.7

2015

3,287.4

2,032.3

1,255.1

1,018.5

31.0%

1,282.6

986.3

1,215.7

2015

177.0

122.9

53.5

0.6

151.9

117.4

34.4

0.1

2015

10,441

10,532

2015

2,327.9

37.34

2014

2,062.2

1,217.7

800.5

188.5

418.8

431.9

190.3

124.7

64.6

186.2

223.8

2014

3,335.5

2,013.8

1,321.7

903.4

27.1%

1,246.7

1,185.4

1,327.5

2014

279.0

241.0

37.9

0.1

228.5

192.5

33.4

2.6

2014

10,209

10,363

2014

1,530.8

25.25

2013

2,003.9

1,227.9

704.4

248.3

382.6

414.3

252.4

189.3

121.4

160.6

203.7

2013

3,413.2

2,060.0

1,353.2

1,010.1

29.6%

1,358.4

1,044.7

1,306.8

2013

365.0

285.4

78.7

0.9

130.7

100.7

29.1

0.9

20131)

8,841

9,825

2013

2,171.7

35.93

2012

1,837.5

1,213.1

596.2

202.1

323.7

367.4

205.9

135.6

86.5

147.9

212.7

2012

2,982.8

1,802.2

1,180.6

910.3

30.5%

1,102.9

969.6

1,177.3

2012

401.0

367.1

30.3

3.6

123.3

88.8

33.3

1.2

20121)

7,814

7,761

2012

1,448.3

24.41

2011

1,715.4

1,188.3

471.9

120.1

223.2

337.2

121.2

69.5

22.0

146.6

169.0

2011

2,799.8

1,532.7

1,267.1

863.9

30.9%

1,254.9

681.0

900.3

2011

286.6

237.3

31.7

17.6

107.4

73.5

29.3

4.6

20111)

7,826

7,900

2011

1,135.1

19.25

Average number of shares (without treasury shares)

61,637,621

60,408,501

59,571,959

59,059,393

58,830,209

Basic earnings per share in €2)

Adjusted earnings per share in €

Diluted earnings per share in €3) 

Adjusted diluted earnings per share in €

Dividend per share in €

Total dividend payments in € million

Distribution ratio in percent

1.79

2.69

1.79

2.69

0.704)

43.64)

39%4)

1.07

3.08

1.05

3.04

0.66

40.0

62%

2.04

2.70

2.00

2.65

0.66

39.8

33%

1.46

2.50

1.44

2.47

0.50

29.6

34%

0.37

2.49

0.37

2.44

0.37

21.8

99%

1) Employees of companies consolidated at only 50% have been included in accordance with their 
respective consolidation rate.  
2) In accordance with IAS 33.10.

3) In accordance with IAS 33.31.
4) Proposed.

Five-year consolidated financial summarywww.stada.de
www.stada.com