Grifols takes $494 mln writedown on Chinese investment
Adds trading resumes in para 3, results in paragraphs 6-9
By Inti Landauro
MADRID, July 30 (Reuters) -Spanish drugmaker Grifols GRLS.MC has taken a 457 million euros ($494 million) writedown on its accounts for 2020 through 2023, to reflect what it says was a previously incorrect accounting treatment of its stake in China's Shanghai RAAS 002252.SZ.
Spain's stock market regulator CNMV had earlier suspended trading in Grifols shares after Bloomberg reported the revision, citing an unidentified source familiar with the matter, on the day Grifols was due to report earnings.
As trading was allowed to resume after Grifols released a statement on the writedown and posted a first-half profit, its shares were 0.2% down on the day.
"Despite this correction resulting in a reduction of equity by 457 million euros, it has had no impact on the income statement; it represents an incorrect accounting treatment without affecting the correct results for each affected financial year," Grifols said.
Grifols sold the 20% stake it held in Shanghai RAAS earlier this year to Haier Smart Home 600690.SS for $1.8 billion.
Grifols, which produces drugs made with blood plasma, had said it would use the proceeds to reduce its debt.
The company swung to a net profit of 36 million euros ($39 million) in the first half of 2024 from a year-ago loss of 70 million euros, on revenue of 3.4 billion, and reiterated its full-year guidance of revenue above 7 billion euros and adjusted core earnings or EBITDA above 1.8 billion euros.
Adjusted EBITDA rose 22% to 791 million euros in the first half, while Grifols' leverage ratio fell to 5.5 times from 8.9 times at end-2023.
The company has lost almost 40% of its market capitalisation since early January when short-seller fund Gotham City Research issued a report questioning its accounting and debt levels. Grifols has dismissed the report, insisting its data were correct, and has sued Gotham City.
The short-seller's report prompted the company to change auditor, review its corporate structure and reshuffle its top management.
Earlier this month, the Grifols family said it had teamed up with Canadian fund Brookfield BN.TO to evaluate a possible joint takeover bid for the company, now worth about 5.7 billion euros.
($1 = 0.9255 euros)
Reporting by Inti Landauro and Emma Pinedo; Editing by Sarah Young and David Holmes
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