Business Wire India

Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE:TARO) (“Taro” or the “Company”) today provided unaudited financial results for the quarter and year ended March 31, 2018.

Quarter ended March 31, 2018 Highlights - compared to March 31, 2017

• Net sales of $175.2 million decreased $21.2 million, the result of continuing increased competition and the challenging pricing environment, particularly in the U.S.; despite an increase in overall volumes.
• Gross profit of $118.9 million decreased $24.9 million, and as a percentage of net sales was 67.9% compared to 73.2%.
• Research and development (R&D) expenses of $20.3 million increased slightly from the comparable quarter.
• Selling, marketing, general and administrative expenses (SG&A) increased $1.6 million to $23.8 million.
• Operating income of $74.8 million decreased $26.9 million and as a percentage of net sales was 42.7% as compared to 51.8%.
• Interest and other financial income increased $2.2 million to $5.9 million.
• Foreign Exchange (FX) income of $16.0 million compared to FX expense of $5.8 million - a favorable impact of $21.9 million, principally the result of the weakening of the Canadian dollar vs. the U.S. dollar.
• Tax expense decreased $6.6 million to $10.7 million resulting in an effective tax rate of 11.0% compared to 17.3%.
• Net income attributable to Taro was $86.3 million compared to $83.0 million, resulting in diluted earnings per share of $2.17 compared to $2.05 for the same period last year.

Year ended March 31, 2018 Highlights- compared to March 31, 2017

• Net sales of $661.9 million decreased $217.5 million, the result of continuing increased competition and the challenging pricing environment; despite an increase in overall volumes.
• Gross profit of $463.5 million decreased $207.7 million and as a percentage of net sales was 70.0% compared to 76.3%.
• R&D expenses of $70.4 million were relatively in line with the prior year.
• SG&A expenses of $88.2 million increased $2.5 million.
• Operating income of $303.0 million decreased $211.9 million, and as a percentage of net sales was 45.8% as compared to 58.6%.
• Interest and other financial income increased $5.5 million to $19.9 million.
• FX expense of $32.5 million compared to FX income of $20.2 million in 2017 - an unfavorable impact of $52.6 million, principally the result of the strength of the Canadian dollar vs. U.S. dollar.
• Other income of $1.9 million decreased $9.3 million, principally due to the sale of Keveyis in December 2016.
• Tax expense decreased $21.8 million to $82.0 million, however, the effective tax rate increased to 28.0% from 18.5%. During the third quarter, the Company recorded a $38.0 million expense for the impact of the re-measurement of the Company's estimated net deferred tax asset, as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Excluding the impact from the one-time re-measurement, tax expense would have been $44.0 million with an effective tax rate of 15.0%.
• Net income attributable to Taro was $211.2 million compared to $456.4 million, resulting in diluted earnings per share of $5.26 compared to $11.05. Excluding the impact of the one-time tax re-measurement, net income attributable to Taro would have been $248.0 million, or diluted earnings per share of $6.18.

Mr. Uday Baldota, Taro’s CEO stated, “Our results reflect the challenges that the entire U.S. generic industry has faced, and continues to encounter. While we continue to invest prudently in developing products, we have a reasonably good pipeline; some of which will come to market over the next 24 months. We also continue to look at initiatives and opportunities in areas of our core strengths and potentially some adjacent areas as well.”

Cash Flow and Balance Sheet Highlights

• Cash flow provided by operations for the year ended March 31, 2018, was $323.7 million compared to $437.5 million for the year ended March 31, 2017.
• As of March 31, 2018, cash, including short-term and long-term bank deposits and marketable securities, increased $190.8 million to $1.6 billion from March 31, 2017. Cash reflects the $107.0 million impact from the Company’s share repurchases during the current fiscal year.

FDA Approvals and Filings

The Company recently received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) for an Abbreviated New Drug Applications (“ANDA”): Clobetasol Propionate Spray, 0.05%. The Company currently has a total of thirty-two ANDAs awaiting FDA approval, including four tentative approvals. Taro's onychomycosis drug, Novexatin, did not meet the main goal of the Phase IIb study. The study data is being analyzed and we are evaluating the next course of action in the program.

Share Repurchase Program - Returning Capital to Shareholders

On November 23, 2016, the Company announced that its Board of Directors approved a $250 million share repurchase of ordinary shares. Under this authorization, repurchases may be made from time to time at the Company’s discretion, based on ongoing assessments of the capital needs of the business, the market price of its stock, and general market conditions. The repurchase authorization enables the Company to purchase its ordinary shares from time to time through open market purchases, negotiated transactions or other means, including 10b5-1 trading plans in accordance with applicable securities laws or other restrictions. On November 7, 2017, the Board extended the share repurchase program for one year.

During the year, the Company repurchased 1,085,694 shares at an average price of $102.52. Through May 1, 2018, in total under the authorization, the Company has repurchased 1,774,064 shares at an average price of $102.83; with $67.6 million remaining.

Earnings Call (8:00 am EDT, May 18, 2018)

As previously announced, the Company will host an earnings call at 8:00 am EDT on Friday, May 18, 2018, where senior management will discuss the Company’s performance and answer questions from participants. This call will be accessible through an audio dial-in and a web-cast. Audio conference participants can dial-in on the numbers below:

• Participant Toll-Free Dial-In Number: +1 (844) 421-0601 ID: 3249428
• Participant International Dial-In Number: +1 (716) 247-5800 ID: 3249428
• Web-cast: More details are provided on our website, www.taro.com

To participate in the audio call, please dial the numbers provided above five to ten minutes ahead of the scheduled start time. The operator will provide instructions on asking questions before the call. The transcript of the event will be available on the Company’s website at www.taro.com. An audio playback will be available for thirteen (13) days following the call.

About Taro

Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. is a multinational, science-based pharmaceutical company, dedicated to meeting the needs of its customers through the discovery, development, manufacturing and marketing of the highest quality healthcare products. For further information on Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., please visit the Company’s website at www.taro.com.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

The unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the annual consolidated financial statements and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. The unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F, as filed with the SEC.

Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements that do not describe historical facts or that refer or relate to events or circumstances the Company “estimates,” “believes,” or “expects” to happen or similar language, and statements with respect to the Company’s financial performance, availability of financial information, and estimates of financial results and information for fiscal year 2019. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements to be based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurances that its expectations will be attained. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include general domestic and international economic conditions, industry and market conditions, changes in the Company's financial position, litigation brought by any party in any court in Israel, the United States, or any country in which Taro operates, regulatory and legislative actions in the countries in which Taro operates, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s SEC reports, including its Annual Reports on Form 20-F.Forward-looking statements are applicable only as of the date on which they are made. The Company undertakes no obligations to update, change or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, additional or subsequent developments or otherwise.

**Financial Tables Follow**

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