BTG Share News (BTG)

Tate&Lyle surprised investors with its full-year pre-tax profit guidance. However, while management has drawn a line under a horrendous 2014 it has a lot of hard work ahead to shore-up investor confidence. The outfit now expects profits of between £230 to £245m, which is "modestly" lower than previous guidance. Significantly, managament hinted that a decision on its troubled Sucralose unit - which has been dogged by Chinese competition - is now imminent.This year the strengthening US dollar will contribute to net debt above the £466m which it was carrying at the end of 2014. Nonetheless, the new low-calorie sugar , Allulose, which it is adding to its product portfolio, has long-term potential. The final fate of Sucralose will be key for sentiment but hold onto the shares for the income they provide, writes The Times's Tempus.Healthcare outfit BTG is seeing better than expected progress at recently acquired PneumRx and its new foam to treat variose veins could double the company's entire annual revenue. The purchase of PneumRx was closed at the end of the year. While the purchase price $475m raised some eyebrows the firm's treatment for patients with serious lung sickness seems to be doing well. After 18 years of development, it remains to be seen whether doctors will endorse its new foam treatment, but according to some analysts annual sales could eventually reach $650m. Hence, recent softness in the shares represents an opportunity to buy them for the long-term, Tempus says.