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CSL Acknowledges Shareholder Frustration, Says Company Was Slow in Adapting to Competitive Pressures

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CSL's (ASX:CSL) board acknowledged shareholder frustration over the company's "disappointing" commercial and financial performance, saying it aims to win back their trust by delivering results, according to a Thursday filing with the Australian bourse.

The company pointed to a multibillion-dollar statutory loss driven by restructuring, a pending leadership transition, and the recognition of substantial non-cash balance sheet impairments as issues that have vexed shareholders.

"We built up substantial fixed costs, we were slow to adapt to competitive pressures, our research and development efforts didn't deliver and some investments the company made did not perform," the biotechnology company said in a notice for its annual general meeting scheduled for Oct. 27.

CSL leadership is "acting with urgency" to address these issues through a strategy to invest in the core of its plasma business, with only selective investment beyond that area.

"We must adapt more rapidly as markets evolve and ensure our investments are based on strong foundations," the company said, adding that a search for its next CEO is well advanced.

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