Zur Rose vindicated after court finds CEO Walter Oberhänsli not guilty

Press release

Zur Rose vindicated after court finds CEO Walter Oberhänsli not guilty

The Frauenfeld district court today found Walter Oberhänsli not guilty on all charges in connection with the prosecution for mail-order distribution of non-prescription drugs and rewarding doctors for issuing electronic prescriptions. The prosecution was based on a report of a criminal offence lodged by PharmaSuisse, the Swiss Pharmacists Association.

"I am delighted at the verdict from the Frauenfeld district court", said Walter Oberhänsli. "But actually there is much more at stake here: as a company we feel vindicated by this ruling in our ambition to make healthcare cheaper, more accessible and safer with digitalisation. The urgent need for further digitalisation in the Swiss healthcare system was made very apparent during the coronavirus crisis. The effective ban on mail-order distribution of non-prescription drugs is increasingly becoming a historical relict that has to be seen as anachronistic in the current environment and positively harmful to health when the coronavirus is rampant. What is urgently required now is the mandatory introduction of electronic prescriptions; numerous studies have shown that these increase patient safety and avoid the follow-up costs incurred as a result of media breaks and the absence of digital processes. For all these reasons we will continue to work for high-quality, safe and low-cost supply of pharmaceuticals."

Investors and analyst contact
Christoph Herrmann, Head of Investor Relations
Email: ir@zurrose.com, phone: +41 58 810 11 49

Media contact
Lisa Lüthi, Head of Group Communications
Email: media@zurrose.com, phone: +41 52 724 08 14

Agenda
21 January 2021 Sales 2020
18 March 2021 2020 Full-Year Results
20 April 2021 First Quarter Trading Update
29 April 2021 Annual General Meeting
19 August 2021 Half-Year Results
21 October 2021 Q3 Trading Update

Zur Rose Group

The Swiss Zur Rose Group is Europe's largest e-commerce pharmacy and one of the leading medical wholesalers in Switzerland. It also operates the leading marketplace in southern Europe for consumer health, beauty and personal care products commonly sold in pharmacies. The company is internationally present with strong brands, including Germany's best-known pharmacy brand DocMorris. Zur Rose employs more than 1,800 people at sites in Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and France. In 2019 it generated revenue of CHF 1,569 million (including medpex) and currently has around ten million active customers in core European markets.

With its business model, the Zur Rose Group offers high-quality, safe and cost-effective pharmaceutical care. It is also characterized by the continuous further development of digital services in the field of drug management using AI-supported applications and new technology. Zur Rose is furthermore actively driving ahead its positioning as a comprehensive provider of healthcare services. By creating a digital healthcare platform - the Zur Rose ecosystem - it networks products and digital services from qualified providers. The contribution made by Zur Rose will be to take these offerings to customers and patients and to make a relevant selection. The aim is to provide people with a seamless accompaniment and empower them to manage their own health optimally using products and digital solutions.

The shares of Zur Rose Group AG are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (securities number 4261528, ISIN CH0042615283, ticker ROSE). For further information please see zurrosegroup.com.