SYDNEY, Australia - Global biotechnology leader, CSL, will today celebrate the Company's 25th Anniversary of listing on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), commemorating the occasion with a ceremonial bell ring at market open.
In 1994, CSL's shares were issued at $2.30 and in the 25 years that followed, the share price has grown at a compound average rate of 25.2% per annum1.
"Staying true to our values has paid dividends for the business, our investors and the people that have benefited from the therapies we make. Many of our shareholders have had a long relationship with us and been able to share in the Company's success," said Dr Brian McNamee, CSL Chairman.
CSL Limited CEO and Managing Director Paul Perreault said, "While the Company has evolved over the past 25 years, the one constant remains our commitment to delivering on our promise to patients and protecting public health around the world. Every day, our 25,000-plus employees are driven by our ability to improve the quality of people's lives in nearly 70 countries."
CSL, originally the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories, was established by the Australian Government in 1916 to service the needs of the Australian people. In 1991, paving the way for listing, the organisation was converted to a public company, 100% owned by the Federal Government and renamed CSL Limited. The Keating Government announced the sale of CSL in the 1993 Federal Budget and the company was listed on the ASX in 1994.
Upon listing, the company had 38,000 shareholders – approximately 70% were private investors, 20% global institutions and 10% Australian institutions. CSL now has over 160,000 shareholders.
"The IPO was a win-win. It was a mechanism to return funding to the Commonwealth and at the same time, gave us the freedom to chart our own path with a clear mandate to make CSL a commercially relevant organisation," said Dr McNamee.
"We have been exceptionally fortunate to have benefitted from the incredible talent, expertise and commitment of so many people over the years who have collectively made the Company what it is today."
The transformation of the Company has been significant over the past 25 years; from expanding globally through organic growth and major acquisitions to advancing world-class research capabilities and developing innovative medicines that help people with life-threatening medical conditions live full lives.
When the company listed, it had revenue of A$193 million compared with US$8.5 billion in revenue in 2019. CSL is now the third largest publicly listed company in Australia and fifth largest biotech company globally with a market cap of $A111 billion2 and more than 25,000 employees and sales in nearly 70 countries. Since listing, the company has returned US$7 billion in cash to shareholders via share buy backs representing 29% of issued capital.
Mr Perreault said, "Focused execution of our strategy has delivered strong and consistent growth, enabling us to provide outstanding shareholder value as well as reinvesting into the business for sustainable growth. CSL is well positioned to continue delivering shareholder value and sustainable growth. The future of CSL and the stakeholders that we serve has never been brighter".
1 Takes into account a three-for-one share split in 2007.
2 As of 11.10.19
About CSL
