About Us
At a Glance
Huntsworth is an international healthcare and communications group.Huntsworth is an international healthcare and communications group. The Group’s principal area of focus is health, which provides marketing and medical communications services to healthcare clients, which are primarily large and mid-size pharmaceutical and biotech companies. It also has a smaller Communications group, which provides a wide range of communications and advisory services including strategic communications, public affairs, investor relations and consumer marketing.
Huntsworth Health has three main divisions. Medical focuses on communicating evidence on new scientific and drug developments and educating healthcare professionals and payers on the appropriate use of therapy. Marketing focuses on post-approval marketing of drugs to payers, healthcare professionals and consumers, primarily in the US. Immersive provides live experiences, communications and interactive content.
Communications contains three main communication and advisory agencies. Grayling is a global integrated communications network, covering public relations and public affairs. Citigate Dewe Rogerson is an international financial and corporate public relations consultancy. Red is a strategic communications consultancy offering PR, digital and content expertise.
Our Market
The trends and drivers that influence our markets.
Macro developments
Read moreEconomic and political uncertainty
The Group is overwhelmingly weighted to lower risk jurisdictions, with over 90% of the Group’s revenues generated from the US, UK and western Europe. Despite some political uncertainties over the past couple of years, particularly in the UK, the wider economic and regulatory environment in our countries of operation has remained relatively stable. Nevertheless, significant policy changes may have an impact, whether in respect of US tax reform, healthcare reform in the US, the outlook of the UK’s future trading relationship with the EU and wider economic policy.
Exchange rate fluctuations
With a majority of profits earned in the US, and a c. £250k impact for each 1c movement in the exchange rate, fluctuations in exchange rates over the past 24 months have had a material impact on the Group’s results. In light of this, to enable a better understanding of the Group’s results, our like-for-like measures exclude the impact of exchange rate movements.
Healthcare
Read moreThe world is getting older
The global population is getting older all the time. Within 10 years there will be one billion individuals over the age of 60. Over the next 30 years the changes will be even more significant, with global life expectancy rising by eight years, the number of over-65 year olds doubling and the number of over-80 year olds tripling.
The world is needing more healthcare
Demand for healthcare is rising globally, and especially quickly in the US133 million Americans currently have at least one chronic disease, a number expected to rise to 164 million in the next 10 years. This is mirrored in the global demand for prescription drugs, which is expected to grow at an average annual rate of over 6% for at least the next five years.
Pharma growth is resilient
With increasing FDA drug approvals, the drug market is expected to grow at +6% through to 2024, supporting the growth of the healthcare communications market. The orphan drugs market, which is an area of strength for the Group and which is expected to grow at 12% CAGR to 2024, will require more specialist and scientific medical communications together with digitally targeted marketing campaigns.
Growth in biotech
Alongside our key pharmaceutical organisations the biotech landscape is dominating where investment is being made.
There is a growing financial interest in biotech from the venture capital and private equity marketplace. We need to remind ourselves that biotech products are expected to account for 29% of total drug sales by 2022, up from 26% in 2017. This creates additional opportunities for agencies which are best able to navigate the complex regulatory and institutional environment surrounding these drugs. Whilst many market players see the value of working with Biotech there are very few partners who know how to build out the requirements of a Biotech in launching its first commercial asset medically or preparing the organisation for IPO. Huntsworth is enjoying competitive advantage within the biotech space by delivering against a large proportion of the new molecules hitting the global marketplace.
Healthcare is becoming more digital
Pharma is embracing digital transformation as healthcare providers and consumers are both becoming increasingly digital. The ownership of data has changed as healthcare systems are becoming more effective at collecting and analysing data. The rise of on-demand healthcare, big data and predictive healthcare means that there are increasing opportunities to provide services in new ways. The pharmaceutical industry will need to work more closely with healthcare systems as the balance of data ownership keeps shifting. The convergence of marketing and technology creates further focus on innovation.
Healthcare professionals are twice as likely to use online sources than print when making clinical decisions. Globally, over 60% of people use the internet to search for advice on health, medicines or medical conditions, a figure which rises to 80% in the US.
The healthcare ecosystem is expanding through continued positive disruption
The advent of personalised medicine and the rise of genomics increasingly form the basis of asset development and provide solutions for smaller populations of patients.
New technological advances in AI, machine learning, voice, robotic, 3D printers, for example, and finally the powerhouses of e-commerce- Amazon and drone drug delivery for example. Our clients are changing and need support of specialist agencies like ours more than ever.
Communications
Read moreConsolidation of agencies driving efficiencies
Clients increasingly demand an integrated offering, to avoid the friction and inefficiencies of working with multiple agencies. There is increasing focus on providing multiple offerings between agencies within the Group to foster cross-client workings and opportunities. Within this context it is important to shift away from siloed thinking and to focus on the wider client needs to determine how best to achieve their goals. Increasingly, clients are looking for opportunities to work with fewer agency partners on larger remits – consolidating business to those with proven and differentiated credentials and expertise in all key brand areas.
Increasing pressure on client budgets
Pressures on marketing budgets continue to intensify and there is increasing pressure to justify spend. As a result, there is a demand for better measurement to quantify success and a need to see new ideas and new ways of solving problems.
Disruption of traditional marketing and consultancy
The lines between traditional marketing, advertising, communications and public relations are becoming increasingly blurred. This has led to intensifying competition from new entrants and established players, leading clients to more frequently review the solutions available to them. In this environment, innovative offerings are increasingly rewarded over established ways of doing things.
Economic and political uncertainty
The Group is overwhelmingly weighted to lower risk jurisdictions, with over 90% of the Group’s revenues generated from the US, UK and western Europe. Despite some political uncertainties over the past couple of years, particularly in the UK, the wider economic and regulatory environment in our countries of operation has remained relatively stable. Nevertheless, significant policy changes may have an impact, whether in respect of US tax reform, healthcare reform in the US, the outlook of the UK’s future trading relationship with the EU and wider economic policy.
Exchange rate fluctuations
With a majority of profits earned in the US, and a c. £250k impact for each 1c movement in the exchange rate, fluctuations in exchange rates over the past 24 months have had a material impact on the Group’s results. In light of this, to enable a better understanding of the Group’s results, our like-for-like measures exclude the impact of exchange rate movements.
The world is getting older
The global population is getting older all the time. Within 10 years there will be one billion individuals over the age of 60. Over the next 30 years the changes will be even more significant, with global life expectancy rising by eight years, the number of over-65 year olds doubling and the number of over-80 year olds tripling.
The world is needing more healthcare
Demand for healthcare is rising globally, and especially quickly in the US133 million Americans currently have at least one chronic disease, a number expected to rise to 164 million in the next 10 years. This is mirrored in the global demand for prescription drugs, which is expected to grow at an average annual rate of over 6% for at least the next five years.
Pharma growth is resilient
With increasing FDA drug approvals, the drug market is expected to grow at +6% through to 2024, supporting the growth of the healthcare communications market. The orphan drugs market, which is an area of strength for the Group and which is expected to grow at 12% CAGR to 2024, will require more specialist and scientific medical communications together with digitally targeted marketing campaigns.
Growth in biotech
Alongside our key pharmaceutical organisations the biotech landscape is dominating where investment is being made.
There is a growing financial interest in biotech from the venture capital and private equity marketplace. We need to remind ourselves that biotech products are expected to account for 29% of total drug sales by 2022, up from 26% in 2017. This creates additional opportunities for agencies which are best able to navigate the complex regulatory and institutional environment surrounding these drugs. Whilst many market players see the value of working with Biotech there are very few partners who know how to build out the requirements of a Biotech in launching its first commercial asset medically or preparing the organisation for IPO. Huntsworth is enjoying competitive advantage within the biotech space by delivering against a large proportion of the new molecules hitting the global marketplace.
Healthcare is becoming more digital
Pharma is embracing digital transformation as healthcare providers and consumers are both becoming increasingly digital. The ownership of data has changed as healthcare systems are becoming more effective at collecting and analysing data. The rise of on-demand healthcare, big data and predictive healthcare means that there are increasing opportunities to provide services in new ways. The pharmaceutical industry will need to work more closely with healthcare systems as the balance of data ownership keeps shifting. The convergence of marketing and technology creates further focus on innovation.
Healthcare professionals are twice as likely to use online sources than print when making clinical decisions. Globally, over 60% of people use the internet to search for advice on health, medicines or medical conditions, a figure which rises to 80% in the US.
The healthcare ecosystem is expanding through continued positive disruption
The advent of personalised medicine and the rise of genomics increasingly form the basis of asset development and provide solutions for smaller populations of patients.
New technological advances in AI, machine learning, voice, robotic, 3D printers, for example, and finally the powerhouses of e-commerce- Amazon and drone drug delivery for example. Our clients are changing and need support of specialist agencies like ours more than ever.
Consolidation of agencies driving efficiencies
Clients increasingly demand an integrated offering, to avoid the friction and inefficiencies of working with multiple agencies. There is increasing focus on providing multiple offerings between agencies within the Group to foster cross-client workings and opportunities. Within this context it is important to shift away from siloed thinking and to focus on the wider client needs to determine how best to achieve their goals. Increasingly, clients are looking for opportunities to work with fewer agency partners on larger remits – consolidating business to those with proven and differentiated credentials and expertise in all key brand areas.
Increasing pressure on client budgets
Pressures on marketing budgets continue to intensify and there is increasing pressure to justify spend. As a result, there is a demand for better measurement to quantify success and a need to see new ideas and new ways of solving problems.
Disruption of traditional marketing and consultancy
The lines between traditional marketing, advertising, communications and public relations are becoming increasingly blurred. This has led to intensifying competition from new entrants and established players, leading clients to more frequently review the solutions available to them. In this environment, innovative offerings are increasingly rewarded over established ways of doing things.
Our Business Model
Huntsworth generates value through a network of specialist agencies.
Resources and relationships
Read moreStrong brands
Huntsworth’s businesses, in both the Healthcare and Communications divisions, operate under a range of strong, well-respected brands. Brands continue to be essential in a market which places a premium on trustworthy, quality businesses.
Experienced talent
The experience, knowledge and creativity of our people is integral to the success of our business. We have in place employment policies and practices that enable us to attract, retain and develop our talent and ensure the Group retains its market-leading position.
Robust client base
Huntsworth works with a range of longstanding clients, big and small; nearly two thirds of our clients have been a customer for more than 5 years. In our Healthcare divisions we work with the biggest pharma companies in the world, including all of the top 20, as well as a number of smaller, nimble biotech companies. In our Communications division, we work with a range of blue-chip companies and household names.
Global network
All of our businesses operate globally, which means that we can be where our clients are. Whilst each business is focused on the specific needs of its clients, we can create integrated teams – within or across our divisions – to address challenges that require a multidisciplinary solution.
Enabling growth
Huntsworth the Parent Company enables innovation and growth in the agencies, by taking on much of the administrative burden in areas such as financial control, treasury, tax, M&A, investor relations, legal services and internal audit. This frees up the agencies to provide better quality service to their clients.
Returns generated
Read moreRevenue growth
Our strong brands, quality people and global network combine to support revenues which are both resilient and which can grow sustainably. Growth in revenue sustains the long-term growth in the earnings of the business. Whilst we continue to remove unprofitable revenues in the Communications division, our Healthcare divisions saw good growth in aggregate.
+6% like-for-like revenue growth in Healthcare
Profit growth
Growth in profits is driven by both revenue growth and a continued focus on operational and cost efficiencies. Over the past two years we have reorganised our business in order to maximise the efficiency in the way that we operate and we continually review how, when and why we do things in order to identify further improvements.
+15% like-for-like headline profit growth
Cashflow
Strong cash flows are underpinned by good profit generation, combined with sensible working capital management. Our businesses deliver to sustainable but tightly managed working capital targets, which delivers both visibility over cash flows and ensures that we minimise our debt requirements. Short and long term cash flow forecasting also ensures that we continue to operate well within our facility limits whilst delivering an optimum capital structure. Whilst cash flows were impacted by one-off factors in the first half of 2018, the Group’s balance sheet remains strong.
1.9x net debt to pro-forma EBITDA
Stakeholder outcomes
Read moreCustomers
We help our customers engage, adapt and evolve in fast-changing landscapes, building brand resilience and creating measurable advantage to achieve their business objectives – whether that’s building awareness, affinity or improving reputation leading to increased sales, visits or sign-ups.
Employees
Our employees benefit from working in a stimulating and rewarding environment, doing high-quality work alongside talented colleagues. Our employees have access to a number of training initiatives, as well as an annual appraisal and performance evaluation, to further their development.
Investors
We aim to maximise value for our shareholders and other investors through sustainable growth in earnings and cash flows.
+24% growth in headline diluted EPS
Unique Culture
Read moreFreedom is our DNA enabling us to:
Create
Launch of Medistrava consulting in Medical + Forty1 employee engagement in Immersive
Challenge
Our depth of experience across clients and therapeutic areas means we are not afraid to challenge our clients and ourselves to come up with new ideas and new approaches
Transform
Acquisitions of KYNE and Creativ-Ceutical
Innovate
Innovation is at the heart of what our clients do, and we mirror this by offering novel solutions, for example by embedding digital and data into the work we do.
Unlocking the potential for our clients
Strong brands
Huntsworth’s businesses, in both the Healthcare and Communications divisions, operate under a range of strong, well-respected brands. Brands continue to be essential in a market which places a premium on trustworthy, quality businesses.
Experienced talent
The experience, knowledge and creativity of our people is integral to the success of our business. We have in place employment policies and practices that enable us to attract, retain and develop our talent and ensure the Group retains its market-leading position.
Robust client base
Huntsworth works with a range of longstanding clients, big and small; nearly two thirds of our clients have been a customer for more than 5 years. In our Healthcare divisions we work with the biggest pharma companies in the world, including all of the top 20, as well as a number of smaller, nimble biotech companies. In our Communications division, we work with a range of blue-chip companies and household names.
Global network
All of our businesses operate globally, which means that we can be where our clients are. Whilst each business is focused on the specific needs of its clients, we can create integrated teams – within or across our divisions – to address challenges that require a multidisciplinary solution.
Enabling growth
Huntsworth the Parent Company enables innovation and growth in the agencies, by taking on much of the administrative burden in areas such as financial control, treasury, tax, M&A, investor relations, legal services and internal audit. This frees up the agencies to provide better quality service to their clients.
Revenue growth
Our strong brands, quality people and global network combine to support revenues which are both resilient and which can grow sustainably. Growth in revenue sustains the long-term growth in the earnings of the business. Whilst we continue to remove unprofitable revenues in the Communications division, our Healthcare divisions saw good growth in aggregate.
+6% like-for-like revenue growth in Healthcare
Profit growth
Growth in profits is driven by both revenue growth and a continued focus on operational and cost efficiencies. Over the past two years we have reorganised our business in order to maximise the efficiency in the way that we operate and we continually review how, when and why we do things in order to identify further improvements.
+15% like-for-like headline profit growth
Cashflow
Strong cash flows are underpinned by good profit generation, combined with sensible working capital management. Our businesses deliver to sustainable but tightly managed working capital targets, which delivers both visibility over cash flows and ensures that we minimise our debt requirements. Short and long term cash flow forecasting also ensures that we continue to operate well within our facility limits whilst delivering an optimum capital structure. Whilst cash flows were impacted by one-off factors in the first half of 2018, the Group’s balance sheet remains strong.
1.9x net debt to pro-forma EBITDA
Customers
We help our customers engage, adapt and evolve in fast-changing landscapes, building brand resilience and creating measurable advantage to achieve their business objectives – whether that’s building awareness, affinity or improving reputation leading to increased sales, visits or sign-ups.
Employees
Our employees benefit from working in a stimulating and rewarding environment, doing high-quality work alongside talented colleagues. Our employees have access to a number of training initiatives, as well as an annual appraisal and performance evaluation, to further their development.
Investors
We aim to maximise value for our shareholders and other investors through sustainable growth in earnings and cash flows.
+24% growth in headline diluted EPS
Freedom is our DNA enabling us to:
Create
Launch of Medistrava consulting in Medical + Forty1 employee engagement in Immersive
Challenge
Our depth of experience across clients and therapeutic areas means we are not afraid to challenge our clients and ourselves to come up with new ideas and new approaches
Transform
Acquisitions of KYNE and Creativ-Ceutical
Innovate
Innovation is at the heart of what our clients do, and we mirror this by offering novel solutions, for example by embedding digital and data into the work we do.
Unlocking the potential for our clients
Our Strategy & Objectives
Huntsworth acquires, creates and develops specialist agencies that deliver marketing and communication services.
The shared objective of all of our Group agencies is to deliver high-value solutions to clients through the integration of our creative and technical expertise along with the quality and speed of our implementation. In so doing we aim to gain further market share.
When this is optimised the result is a faster-growing, higher-margin business, which generates a better return for shareholders.
Strengthen the Group’s focus on Healthcare marketing services
The healthcare industry has a good long-term outlook, underpinned by strong fundamentals, including an ageing population and a rise in chronic health conditions. At the same time it is becoming increasingly competitive, with the established pharma companies facing challenges from small biotech firms and other niche players. In this environment, healthcare marketing services have an increasingly important role to play.
Extend and grow our capabilities and services
The lines between traditional marketing, advertising, communications and public relations are becoming increasingly blurred. With clients critically reviewing the solutions available to them and with a premium placed on innovative solutions, it is important to continually review our service offering and to extend and develop new capabilities and services.
Improve profitability across the Group
The Group has made significant progress over the past two years in improving its profitability, but we aim to drive further operational and cost efficiencies, as well as focusing on higher value-add services, in order to deliver market-leading margins.