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For the first half of fiscal year 2018, the Corporation's OIBA decreased by $9.4 million to $146.1 compared with $155.5 million for the same period of fiscal year 2017. For the first half of fiscal year 2017, a gain on the sale of property & equipment and investment property of $6.2 million was recorded. OIBA before this gain on the sale of property & equipment and investment property decreased by $3.2 million compared with the same period last year. This decrease is mainly due to the lower contribution of Pro Doc to the OIBA, partially offset by the increase in sales and royalty revenues. As a percentage of revenues, OIBA ended the first half of 2018 at 9.8% compared with 10.9% for the same period of the previous fiscal year.

Pro Doc

Gross sales of Pro Doc drugs amounted to $54.7 million for the quarter ended September 2, 2017, compared with $49.4 million for the quarter ended August 27, 2016. Pro Doc's contribution to the consolidated OIBA amounted to $7.5 million for the quarter ended September 2, 2017, compared with $17.9 million for the quarter ended August 27, 2016. This decrease is mainly attributable to the removal of the ceiling on professional allowances allowed by the regulation on benefits authorized to a pharmacist since January 28, 2017. Pro Doc's contribution to the consolidated OIBA as a percentage of gross sales ended the second quarter of fiscal year 2018 at 13.7% compared with 36.2% for the same period of the previous fiscal year.

Gross sales of Pro Doc drugs amounted to $104.8 million for the first half of fiscal year 2018, compared with $100.9 million for the same period of fiscal year 2017. Pro Doc's contribution to the consolidated OIBA amounted to $13.7 million for the first half of fiscal year 2018, compared with $39.2 million for the same period of fiscal year 2017. Pro Doc's contribution to the consolidated OIBA as a percentage of its gross sales ended the first half of fiscal year 2018 at 13.1% compared with 38.9% for the same period of the previous fiscal year.

Net profit

Net profit amounted to $47.8 million ($0.26 per share) for the quarter ended September 2, 2017, compared with $51.5 million ($0.28 per share) for the quarter ended August 27, 2016. This decrease is mainly due to the decrease of Pro Doc's contribution to the net profit.

Net profit for the first half of fiscal year 2018 amounted to $93.3 million ($0.51 per share) compared with $100.5 million ($0.54 per share) for the same period of fiscal year 2017.

Information on the PJC network of franchised stores

The Corporation carries on the franchising activity under the banners of PJC Jean Coutu, PJC Jean Coutu Santé and PJC Jean Coutu Santé Beauté, operates two distribution centers and coordinates several other services for the benefit of its franchisees.

For the quarter ended September 2, 2017, on a same-store basis, the PJC network's retail sales increased by 4.0%, pharmacy sales increased by 4.6% and front-end sales increased by 3.4%, compared with the corresponding period last year. Sales of non-prescription drugs, which represented 8.5% of total retail sales, increased by 5.5% compared with 5.1% for the corresponding period of fiscal year 2017.

For the first half of fiscal year 2018, on a same store basis, the PJC network's retail sales grew by 5.5%, pharmacy sales increased by 7.4% and front-end sales increased by 2.4%, compared with the same period last year. Sales of non-prescription drugs which represented 8.5% of total retail sales, increased by 3.8% compared with 4.5% for the same period of fiscal year 2017.

Generic drugs reached 72.0% of prescriptions during the second quarter of fiscal year 2018 compared with 71.3% of prescriptions for the comparable period of the previous fiscal year. The increase in the number of generic drugs prescriptions with lower selling prices than brand name drugs had a deflationary impact on the pharmacy's retail sales.

For the second quarter of fiscal year 2018, the introduction of new generic drugs reduced pharmacy's retail sales growth by 0.2% and price reductions of generic drugs reduced retail sales growth by an additional 0.5%. Furthermore, the abolition of periodical withdrawals by the Ministry of Health and Social Services ("MSSS") on April 12, 2017, increased the retail sales of the pharmaceutical section by 1.4% during the second quarter of fiscal year 2018.

PJC network of franchised stores expansion

During the second quarter of fiscal year 2018, there was 1 store relocation in the PJC network of franchised stores.

As at September 2, 2017, total selling square footage of the PJC network amounted to 3,305,000 square feet compared with 3,257,000 square feet as at August 27, 2016.

Dividend

The Board of the Jean Coutu Group declared a quarterly dividend of $0.13 per share. This dividend will be paid on November 10, 2017, to all holders of Class "A" Subordinate Voting Shares and holders of Class "B" Shares listed in the Corporation's shareholder ledger as at October 27, 2017.

Regulatory changes

On June 10, 2016, the Québec National Assembly adopted the proposed Bill 81 An act to reduce the cost of certain medications covered by the basic prescription drug insurance plan by allowing calls for tender allowing the Minister of Health and Social Services to issue a call for tenders to add drugs to the Drugs List as well as, in relation to drugs having been the object of such a call for tenders, for the services of a wholesaler to supply the pharmacist owners. The regulation to determine the conditions and applicable mechanisms to any call for tenders was published in the "Gazette officielle du Québec" on April 5, 2017. This regulation has been in effect since April 20, 2017.

The Bill 92 entitled «An Act to extend the powers of the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec, regulate commercial practices relating to prescription drugs and protect access to voluntary termination of pregnancy services» is assented by the National Assembly of Quebec since December 7, 2016. Some of its provisions seek to constrict commercial practices of all stakeholders regarding the commercialization of medication to strengthen the professional independence of the pharmacist, the freedom of choice of the patient and encourage more competitive conditions on the market. Other provisions of the Bill requiring detailed billing for medication came into force on September 15, 2017.

On April 12, 2017, the members of the "Association Québécoise des pharmaciens propriétaires" ("AQPP") ratified an agreement in principle with the Ministry of Health and Social Services ("MHSS"). Under this agreement, the government canceled the periodical withdrawals recorded and unpaid as of that date and ends the periodical withdrawals on pharmacists' fees that were supposed to continue until 2019. Furthermore, the agreement stipulates that the government will introduce a modification to the regulation on the benefits authorized to a pharmacist restoring to 15% the ceiling on professional allowances that may be paid by generic manufacturers to a pharmacist. This regulation modification will become in effect on October 19, 2017 and will put an end to the removal of the ceiling on professional allowances in effect since January 28, 2017.

On July 16, 2017, the Quebec Government and the Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association announced the conclusion of an Agreement in Principle by virtue of which the Quebec Government will reach targeted savings of $1.5 billion over a 5-year period. These savings will be achieved through additional price reductions and the launch of new generic drugs. This Agreement will allow the Quebec Government, during those five years, to prevent the application of the calls for tender process permitted by law. Details of the implementation of this Agreement are not public.

On October 5, 2017, Bill 148 entitled «An Act to regulate generic medication procurement by owner pharmacists and to amend various legislative provisions» was introduced to the National Assembly of Quebec. The bill provides that an owner may not, in a calendar year, procure generic medications entered on the list of medications from the same manufacturer in excess of 50% of the monetary value of all the generic medications purchased by the pharmacist during that year. The implementation date remains to be determined.

Combination of the Jean Coutu Group and METRO

On October 2, 2017, METRO inc. ("METRO") and the Corporation announced that they have entered into a definitive combination agreement pursuant to which METRO will acquire all of the outstanding Corporation Class "A" Subordinate Voting Shares and all of the outstanding Corporation Class "B" Shares for $24.50 per share, representing a total consideration of approximately $4.5 billion, subject to regulatory and Corporation shareholders' approval. For further details, readers are referred to the press release of October 2, 2017.

Strategies and outlook

With its operations and financial flexibility, the Corporation is very well positioned to capitalize on the growth in the drugstore retail industry. Demographic trends are expected to contribute to the growth in prescription drugs consumption and to the increased use of pharmaceuticals as the primary intervention in individual healthcare. Management believes that these trends will continue and that the Corporation will maintain its growth in revenues through differentiation and quality of offering and service levels to its network of franchised stores, with a focus on its real estate program and operating efficiency. The growth in the number of generic drugs prescriptions, with lower selling prices than the branded name drugs, would, however, have a deflationary impact on retail sales in pharmacy. Additional generic drugs price decreases will reduce the profitability of the subsidiary Pro Doc. The removal of the ceiling on professional allowances allowed will also reduce the profitability of Pro Doc until the reinstatement of the 15% ceiling when a new regulation comes into force as per the April 12, 2017 agreement between the ("AQPP") and the ("MHSS").

Conference call

Financial analysts and investors are invited to attend the conference call on the second quarter of fiscal year 2018 financial results to be held on October 12, 2017, at 9:00 AM (ET). The call-in number is 514-392-1478 or toll free at 1-866-225-0198. Media and other interested individuals are invited to listen to the live or deferred broadcast on The Jean Coutu Group corporate website at www.jeancoutu.com. A full replay will also be available by dialing 514-861-2272 or toll free at 1-800-408-3053 until November 11, 2017. The access code is 6716268 followed by pound sign (#).

Supporting documentation (Management's discussion and analysis and investor presentation) is available at www.jeancoutu.com using the investors' link. Readers may also access additional information and filings related to the Corporation using the following link to the www.sedar.com website.

About The Jean Coutu Group

The Jean Coutu Group is one of the most trusted names in Canadian pharmacy retailing. The Corporation operates a network of 419 franchised stores in Québec, New Brunswick and Ontario under the banners of PJC Jean Coutu, PJC Santé and PJC Santé Beauté, which employs over 20,000 people. Furthermore, the Jean Coutu Group owns Pro Doc Ltd ("Pro Doc"), a Québec-based subsidiary and manufacturer of generic drugs.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, and which are based on the Corporation's current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions that were made by the Corporation in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends. All statements that address expectations or projections about the future, including statements about the Corporation's strategy for growth, costs, operating or financial results, are forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release, including statements regarding the prospects of the Corporation's industry and the Corporation's prospects, plans, financial position and business strategy may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Canadian securities legislation and regulations. Some of the forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "project", "could", "should", "would", "anticipate", "plan", "foresee", "believe" or "continue" or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology. Although the Corporation believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to have been correct.
These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. These statements do not reflect the potential impact of any nonrecurring items or of any mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, asset write-downs or other transactions or charges that may be announced or that may occur after the date hereof. While the list below of cautionary statements is not exhaustive, some important factors that could affect the Corporation's future operating results, financial position and cash flows and could cause its actual results to differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements are changes in the legislation or the regulatory environment as it relates to the sale of prescription drugs and the pharmacy exercise, the success of the Corporation's business model, changes in laws and regulations, or in their interpretations, changes to tax regulations and accounting pronouncements, the cyclical and seasonal variations in the industry in which the Corporation operates, the intensity of competitive activity in the industry in which the Corporation operates, the supplier and brand reputations, the Corporation's ability to attract and retain pharmacists, labour disruptions, including possibly strikes and labour protests, the accuracy of management's assumptions and other factors that are beyond the Corporation's control. These and other factors could cause the Corporation's actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any estimates or projections of future performance or results expressed or implied in those forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of assisting in understanding the Corporation's financial position and results of operation and to present information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Investors and others are thus cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes and they should not place undue reliance on them. For more information on the risks, uncertainties and assumptions that would cause the Corporation's actual results to differ from current expectations, please also refer to the Corporation's public filings available at www.sedar.com and www.jeancoutu.com. Further details and descriptions of these and other factors are disclosed in the Corporation's Annual Information Form under "Risk Factors" and also in the "Critical accounting estimates", "Risks and uncertainties" and "Strategies and outlook" sections of the Corporation's annual management's discussion and analysis for fiscal year ended March 4, 2017. The forward-looking statements in this press release reflect the Corporation's expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to change after such date. The Corporation expressly disclaims any obligation or intention to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by the applicable securities laws.