DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Covidien plc (NYSE: COV) today reported results for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012 (July - September 2012). Fourth-quarter net sales of $3.00 billion were 3% lower than the $3.08 billion reported in the fourth quarter last year. The reported quarterly sales growth rate reflected unfavorable foreign exchange rate movement, which decreased the rate by about three percentage points, and the inclusion of an extra selling week in the fourth quarter of 2011, which reduced the rate by seven to eight percentage points. Fourth-quarter 2012 gross margin of 55.6% declined 0.9 percentage points from the 56.5% of the prior-year period. On an adjusted basis, excluding the specified items shown on the attached quarterly Non-GAAP reconciliations table, fourth-quarter 2012 gross margin of 56.5% was 0.2 percentage points below that of a year ago. The decline was largely due to unfavorable foreign exchange rate movement, partially offset by positive business mix and manufacturing cost reduction activities.
