REUTERS/Denis Balibouse Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Sept 18 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Lonza’s (LONN.S) new broom will face even more challenges than its old one.
Since he was appointed CEO in 2020, the Swiss group has increased capital expenditure as a percentage of revenue from 20% to 30% last year.
Even before Monday’s fall, the stock was trading at 32 times its forward earnings, around the same level as before its pandemic surge.
The disruption of another CEO exit, without a clear explanation, means that the hoped-for growth will take even longer to arrive.
They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.
Persons:
Denis Balibouse, Pierre, Alain Ruffieux, Albert Baehny, Aimee Donnellan, Neil Unmack, Streisand Neto
Organizations:
REUTERS, Reuters, Swiss, X, Thomson
Locations:
Lonza, Visp, Switzerland, Swiss