Ljubljana - Salus, the Ljubljana-based pharmaceutical wholesaler, generated EUR 247 million in sales revenue in the first half of the year, an increase of 14% on the same period a year ago. Net profit was down by 13% to EUR 6.4 million, which the company linked to a successfully settled lawsuit against a pharmacy in receivership.

According to a regulatory filing with the Ljubljana Stock Exchange on Friday, Salus saw its group net profit from regular operations drop to EUR 7.9 million in the January-June period this year from EUR 8.4 million in the same period a year ago. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) fell to 10.2 million from EUR 10.5 million.

The parent company generated a loss of EUR 416,000 from regular operations and a net profit of almost EUR 7 million.

The group performance was slightly below the projections. This year, the net sales revenue target is EUR 449.4 million with the earnings before interest and taxes projected at EUR 15 million, EBITDA at EUR 19.2 million and net profit at EUR 12.7 million.

Last year Salus posted a record EUR 458.28 million in sales revenue and EUR 13 million in net profit.