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Philips reports a 19% improvement in Adjusted EBITA to EUR 1 billion, net income of EUR 640 million and sales of EUR 7.2 billion in Q4, with the HealthTech portfolio growing at 5%. But still, there are worries about an investigation by the American Department of Justice representing the US Food and Drug Administration, arising from past inspections in and before 2015, focusing primarily on our external defibrillator business in the US. CEO Frans van Houten: “While discussions have not yet concluded, we anticipate a meaningful impact on the operations of this business.”

Van Houten remains optimistic: “Despite this matter and elevated uncertainty in the markets in which we operate, we will continue to improve our underlying performance and target to deliver 4-6% comparable sales growth and, on average, a 100-basis-point improvement in Adjusted EBITA per year for the next three to four years.”

The main results:

  • Sales increased to EUR 24.5 billion, with comparable sales growth of 5% in the HealthTech portfolio and Group consolidated comparable sales growth of 3%
  • Income from operations amounted to EUR 1.9 billion, compared to EUR 992 million in 2015
  • Net income amounted to EUR 1.5 billion, compared to EUR 659 million in 2015

Van Houten: “Our HealthTech portfolio‘s performance in the fourth quarter of 2016 demonstrates our strategic focus is delivering results. I am pleased with the 5% comparable sales growth and 190-basis-point improvement in the Adjusted EBITA margin to 15.3%, with growth and margin improvements in all segments of our HealthTech portfolio. Overall, 2016 was a defining year in which we successfully executed on our major strategic initiatives in the transformation of Philips into a focused leader in health technology, including the successful listing of Philips Lighting and securing a good future for the combined Lumileds and Automotive businesses.”

Philips Health care

Van Houten sees ‘many more opportunities for Philips to grow’, by leveraging Philips’ deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver innovative healthcare solutions to our customers. “Philips’ transformation into a global leader in health technology is acknowledged by FTSE Group’s Industry Classification Benchmark’s recent reclassification of our share to the Health Care industry.”