2025 Outlook
The Company expects Continuing Operations revenue to resume double-digit growth of 10-15% YoY in 2025, targeting to deliver a total revenue of RMB41.5-43.0 billion. The Company will continue to focus on the core CRDMO business, and to improve operating efficiency amid ongoing new capacity release. Adjusted non-IFRS Net Profit Margin expects to further improve in 2025. With the acceleration of global D&M capacity expansion, capex expects to reach RMB7.0-8.0 billion in 2025. Together with business growth and efficiency improvement, free cash flow expects to reach RMB4.0-5.0 billion.
While continuously building capacity and capabilities, we remain committed to rewarding shareholders by maintaining an annual cash dividend payout ratio of 30% of net profit attributable to the owners of the Company (~RMB2.8 billion). In appreciation of shareholders’ support for our strategic adjustments in challenging times, we propose an additional one-time special cash dividend of RMB1.0 billion and an increased interim dividend in 2025. In addition, the Company plans to repurchase RMB1.0 billion A-share when appropriate. Meanwhile, the Company will continue to invest in talent retention for long-term shared growth. The Company plans to launch the 2025 H-share Incentive Trust Plan, which will grant HKD1.5 billion H-shares upon achieving RMB42.0 billion revenue in 2025, and an additional HKD1.0 billion H-shares upon reaching RMB43.0 billion and above in revenue. H-shares under this plan will be purchased through open market at prevailing market prices (no dilution to existing shareholders).
Management Comment
Dr. Ge Li, Chairman and CEO of WuXi AppTec, said,
“
The Company remains steadfast in ‘doing the right thing and doing it right’. In 2024, we achieved 5.2% year-over-year revenue growth (excluding COVID-19 commercial project of 2023), with all revenue, profit and free cash flow meeting the targets set in our annual guidance. Meanwhile, the backlog for Continuing Operations reached a record high of RMB49.3 billion, representing a 47.0% year-over-year growth.”
“The Company continues to focus on our unique CRDMO business model, delivering efficient and exceptional services to our global customers and benefiting patients worldwide. Our CRDMO business model enables the Company to generate distinct industry insights and respond promptly to new molecule demands from customers, ensuring the Company’s long-term business growth and sustainable returns to shareholders. Entering 2025, the Company will resume its growth trajectory, with Continuing Operations revenue expected to achieve a year-over-year double-digit growth of 10-15%, and the adjusted non-IFRS net profit margin expected to further improve.”
“Thanks to the enduring trust and support from our global customers, the Company will continue to enhance our capabilities, capacity and operating efficiency, while retaining and attracting top talent to support our customers’ growing efforts to bring groundbreaking therapies to patients. Together, we can realize our vision that ‘every drug can be made and every disease can be treated’.”
About WuXi AppTec
As a global company with operations across Asia, Europe, and North America, WuXi AppTec provides a broad portfolio of R&D and manufacturing services that enable the global pharmaceutical and life sciences industry to advance discoveries and deliver groundbreaking treatments to patients. Through its unique business models, WuXi AppTec's integrated, end-to-end services include chemistry drug CRDMO (Contract Research, Development and Manufacturing Organization), biology discovery, preclinical testing and clinical research services, helping customers improve the productivity of advancing healthcare products through cost-effective and efficient solutions. WuXi AppTec received an AA ESG rating from MSCI for the fourth consecutive year in 2024 and its open-access platform is enabling around 6,000 customers from over 30 countries to improve the health of those in need – and to realize the vision that "every drug can be made and every disease can be treated."
Please visit: http://www.wuxiapptec.com
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain certain statements that are or may be forward looking, which can be recognized by the use of words such as “expects”, “plans”, “will”, “estimates”, “projects”, “intends”, or words of similar meaning. Such forward-looking statements are not historical facts, but instead are predictions about future events based on our beliefs, development strategy, business plan as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to our management. Although we believe that our predictions are reasonable, future events are inherently uncertain and our forward-looking statements may turn out to be incorrect. Our forward-looking statements are subject to risks relating to, among other things, the ability of our service offerings to compete effectively, our ability to meet timelines for the expansion of our service offerings or production capacity, our ability to reach the scale of our production capacity expansion plans, our ability to protect our clients’ intellectual property, competition, unforeseeable change of international policy, the impact of emergencies and other force majeure. Our forward-looking statements do not constitute any profit forecast by our management nor a undertaking by WuXi AppTec Co., Ltd. (“WuXi AppTec” or the “Company”) to our investors. ACCORDINGLY, YOU ARE STRONGLY CAUTIONED THAT RELIANCE ON ANY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS INVOLVES KNOWN AND UNKNOWN RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES. All forward-looking statements contained herein are qualified by reference to the cautionary statements set forth in this section. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release and are based on assumptions that we believe to be reasonable as of this date, and we do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement or information in this press release to reflect future events or circumstances, except as required under applicable law.
