Taro Reports 4th Quarter and Full Year 2004 Results

    Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

    HAWTHORNE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 24, 2005--Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. ("Taro," the "Company," NASDAQ: TARO) today reported fourth quarter and full year results for 2004.

    Fourth Quarter 2004 Results

    Taro's fourth quarter sales were $77.7 million, compared with $88.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2003. Gross profit for the quarter was $42.3 million, compared with $62.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2003.
    Selling, general and administrative ("SGA") expenses were $29.0 million, compared with $32.1 million for the year-ago quarter. R&D expenses were $9.2 million, compared with $11.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2003.
    Net income for the quarter was $4.8 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, compared with $16.6 million, or $0.56 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2003.
    Sales in the United States continued to increase sequentially in the fourth quarter compared with the third and second quarters of 2004. Gross margin in the fourth quarter was affected by higher unit costs as the Company decreased production in line with the inventory reduction program initiated in the third quarter, and by price erosion, which is inherent in the generic pharmaceutical industry. Cost of goods was increased by several additional factors, including the decrease in value of the U.S. dollar, the cost of transferring production from the Company's Long Island, NY facility to its Toronto facility, and costs related to a reduction in manufacturing personnel.
    The decrease in SGA expenses compared with the year-ago quarter and the third quarter of 2004 primarily reflects the cost reduction measures implemented by Taro in 2004. The decrease in net income compared with the year-ago quarter primarily results from the decrease in revenues, the increase in unit costs, changes in product mix, and price erosion.

    Full Year 2004 Results

    Taro's sales were $284.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2004, compared with sales of $315.5 million for 2003. Gross profit for 2004 was $164.7 million, compared with $213.0 million for 2003.
    SGA expenses for the year were $123.4 million, compared with $97.7 million for 2003. R&D expenses were $41.9 million, compared with $40.6 million for 2003.
    Net income for 2004 was $11.1 million, or $0.37 per diluted share, compared with $61.2 million, or $2.06 per diluted share, for 2003.
    "Taro's performance in the second half improved compared to the first half of the year. Beginning in the first half of the year, Taro experienced an unexpected shortfall in U.S. sales at a time when the Company was undertaking a major initiative in the marketing of proprietary consumer products. These factors, combined with our continuing commitment to research, led to the decline in profits," said Barrie Levitt, M.D., Chairman of the Company. "Nevertheless, the improvement we witnessed in the second half came primarily from the corrective actions we took. Long-term, we continue to focus on the Company's prescription pharmaceutical business. We believe that our research and marketing initiatives, combined with our cost reduction measures, will return Taro to meaningful, sustainable and profitable growth."
    Prescriptions for Taro products grew more than 19 percent in the United States in 2004, according to industry sources.

    Balance Sheet

    At December 31, 2004, Taro's total assets were $695.0 million, an increase of $78.5 million, compared with $616.5 million at December 31, 2003. Included in Deferred Taxes and Other Assets is the value of the Company's product acquisitions. Total liabilities were $326.2 million, an increase of $58.8 million, compared with $267.4 million at the end of 2003.
    Shareholders' equity was $368.1 million at December 31, 2004, an increase of $20.7 million, compared with $347.4 million at the end of 2003.

    Proprietary Research

    T2000 is the first compound in a group of long-acting, non-sedating barbiturates under development at Taro. The Company is refining the study design for its Canadian Phase III trial of T2000 in essential tremor. There can be no assurance that T2000, or any members of its class, will be successful in any current or future clinical trials, or will be commercialized for any indication.

    4th Quarter FDA Approvals and Generic Elocon(R) Supply Agreement

    In the fourth quarter, Taro received final Abbreviated New Drug Application ("ANDA") approvals for five topical products: betamethasone dipropionate ointment (augmented), 0.05%, a generic version of Schering-Plough's Diprolene(R) ointment; halobetasol propionate ointment, 0.05%, a generic version of Bristol-Myers Squibb's Ultravate(R) ointment; hydrocortisone butyrate ointment, 0.1%, a generic version of Ferndale Laboratories' Locoid(R) ointment; and, mometasone furoate ointment, 0.1% and mometasone furoate cream, 0.1%, generic versions of Schering-Plough's Elocon(R) ointment and cream, respectively.
    In December 2004, Taro entered into a supply agreement with Agis Industries (1983) Ltd. ("Agis") regarding the generic Elocon(R) cream product. As part of the agreement with Taro, Agis relinquished its right to 180-day generic exclusivity, permitting the FDA to grant final approval for Taro's ANDA. Under the agreement, Taro is supplying the product to Agis. An Agis subsidiary, Clay Park Labs, Inc., is distributing the product in the U.S.

    U.S. FDA Filings

    During 2004, Taro filed 10 ANDAs and received approvals for 15 ANDAs and one New Drug Application. Six of the ANDA approvals were for first-to-market generics. Taro currently has 27 filings submitted to the FDA: 26 ANDAs, including two tentative approvals, plus one NDA for a NonSpil(TM)-related product. Fourteen of the filings are for topical products and 13 are for products in oral and other dosage forms. The ANDAs address markets with annual U.S. sales of more than one billion dollars. In addition, Taro has regulatory filings in Canada, Israel and other countries.

    Acquisition of New York Facility

    In February 2005, Taro completed the acquisition of 3 Skyline Drive, the 124,000 square foot building in which the Company had initially acquired a 32% interest in 2002. The Company is consolidating its New York operations into this laboratory and office building.

    Conference Call

    The Company will conduct a conference call to discuss fourth quarter and year-end results on Thursday, February 24, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time (8:00 a.m. Pacific Time).
    The call will be available live via the Internet by accessing www.taro.com.
    Online and telephone replays of the call will be available from approximately 1:00 p.m. on February 24th through March 3, 2005. The online replay can be accessed at www.taro.com. The telephone replay can be heard by dialing 888-286-8010 (domestic U.S.) or +617-801-6888 (international) and providing the passcode 77052125 when prompted.
    Taro is a multinational, science-based pharmaceutical company, dedicated to meeting the needs of its customers through the discovery, development, manufacturing and marketing of the highest quality healthcare products.
    For further information on Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., please visit the Company's website at www.taro.com.

    SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

    Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements that do not describe historical facts and statements that refer or relate to events or circumstances the Company "believes" may happen. Although Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements to be based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurances that its expectations will be attained. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include general economic conditions, industry and market conditions, slower than anticipated penetration of new markets, changes in the Company's financial position, regulatory actions and legislative actions in the countries in which Taro operates, future demand and market size for products under development, marketplace acceptance of new or existing products, either generic or proprietary, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including its Annual Reports on Form 20-F. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made. The Company undertakes no obligations to update, change or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, additional or subsequent developments or otherwise.

TARO PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES LTD. SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (US dollars in thousands)

DECEMBER DECEMBER 31, 31, 2004 2003 --------- --------- ASSETS

Current Assets: Cash and Cash Equivalents $ 98,630 $ 159,121 Restricted short-term bank deposits 6,598 2,518 Accounts Receivable - Trade 122,847 120,522 Accounts Receivable - Other and prepaid expenses 16,621 17,046 Inventories 86,591 84,486 ------------------------------------- --------- --------- Total Current Assets 331,287 383,693

Long Term Investments 19,836 2,888 Property, Plant and Equipment, net 241,966 182,306 Deferred Taxes and Other Assets 101,930 47,636 ------------------------------------- --------- --------- TOTAL ASSETS $ 695,019 $ 616,523 ===================================== ========= ========= LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current Liabilities: Short-Term Bank Credits $ 64,961 $ 19,124 Current Maturities of Long-Term Liabilities 16,944 24,420 Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses 47,796 60,194 ------------------------------------- --------- --------- Total Current Liabilities 129,701 103,738

Long-Term Liabilities 187,346 156,937 Other Liabilities 9,159 6,737 ------------------------------------- --------- --------- TOTAL LIABILITIES 326,206 267,412

Minority Interest 694 1,711 Shareholders' Equity 368,119 347,400 ------------------------------------- --------- --------- TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY $ 695,019 $ 616,523 ===================================== ========= =========

TARO PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES LTD. SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (US dollars in thousands, except per share data)

Three Months Ended Year Ended December 31, December 31, 2004 2003 2004 2003 -------- -------- --------- ---------

SALES $ 77,668 $ 88,621 $ 284,130 $ 315,458 Cost of Sales 35,334 26,561 119,404 102,454 -------- -------- --------- --------- Gross Profit 42,334 62,060 164,726 213,004 Operating Expenses: Selling and Administrative 29,036 32,097 123,387 97,718 -------- -------- ---------- --------- Operating Income before Research and Development 13,298 29,963 41,339 115,286

Research and Development 9,211 11,062 41,943 40,601 -------- -------- ---------- --------- Operating Income (loss) 4,087 18,901 (604) 74,685 Financial and Other Expenses - net 684 561 6,329 1,729 -------- -------- ---------- --------- 3,403 18,340 (6,933) 72,956 Taxes on Income (1,340) 1,730 (16,991) 11,475 -------- -------- ---------- --------- 4,743 16,610 10,058 61,481 Minority Share in Profit (Loss) of Subsidiary (43) (3) (1,017) 326 -------- -------- ---------- --------- NET INCOME $ 4,786 $ 16,613 $ 11,075 $ 61,155 ======== ======== ========== =========

Earnings per Ordinary Share $ 0.16 $ 0.57 $ 0.38 $ 2.12 Diluted Earnings per Ordinary Share $ 0.16 $ 0.56 $ 0.37 $ 2.06

Weighted Average Number of Shares BASIC EPS 29,146,349 28,934,811 29,057,564 28,872,839 DILUTED EPS 29,618,811 29,817,095 29,657,486 29,674,148

--30--NB/ny*

CONTACT: Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. Daniel Saks, 914-345-9000 ext. 6208 or Kevin Connelly, 914-345-9000 ext. 6338

KEYWORD: NEW YORK INDUSTRY KEYWORD: MEDICAL PHARMACEUTICAL BANKING EARNINGS CONFERENCE CALLS SOURCE: Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

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