Plant Health Regulatory News (PHC)

RNS

14th September 2016

INTERIM RESULTS 2016

Plant Health Care (AIM: PHC.L), a leading provider of novel patent-protected biological products to global agriculture markets, announces its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2016.

Financial Highlights

- Revenue was $2.9 million versus $3.2 million for the six months ended 30 June 2015. Excluding a one-time milestone payment in 2015, revenue was flat in spite of a strong US dollar.

- Sales of Harpin 𝜶β increased by 30%

- Gross margin decreased to 59% from 63%

- Operating expenses increased due to the one-time costs related to a potential US listing ($1.1m), increased investment in New Technology ($0.9m) and a (non-cash) decrease in the value of Sterling loans from our UK subsidiary.

- Operating loss increased to $6.6 million versus $3.1 million for the same period last year

- Successful capital raise of $10.0 million completed in August 2016

Operational Highlights

- Continued strong growth of Harpin 𝜶β sales, with greater than 30% CAGR over past three and a half years

- Successful launch of Harpin 𝜶β in Mexico

- Continued evaluation of Innatus 3G by four major industry players

- Continued substantial New Technology progress, including the characterisation of two platforms in addition to Innatus 3G

- Further positive field trial results with Harpin 𝜶β, including on sugar cane in Brazil, as well as with various PREtec peptide candidates on a number of crops

Dr. Christopher Richards, Executive Chairman, commented:

"During the first six months of 2016, we have made further solid progress in building the sales momentum of Commercial Products; trading conditions have recently become increasingly challenging and we expect headwinds in the second half, with continuing revenue growth anticipated in 2017. We are also making great strides in the development of our PREtec New Technology. With the completion of the $10 million placement in August 2016, we are now confident of delivering first revenues from our PREtec peptide platforms and of bringing our Commercial business to profit, within our existing cash resources."

Plant Health Care plc

Interim Report

30 June 2016

Contents

Chairman's statement 4

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income 8

Consolidated statement of financial position 9

Consolidated statement of cash flows 10

Notes to the unaudited financial information 11

In this document, references to "the Company" are to Plant Health Care plc. References to "Plant Health Care", "the Group", "we" or "our" are to Plant Health Care plc and its subsidiaries and lines of business, or any of them as the context may require. The Plant Health Care name and logo, Myconate, and Innatus and other names and marks appearing herein and on company literature are trademarks or trade names of Plant Health Care. All other third party trade mark rights are acknowledged.

Chairman's statement

Introduction

I am pleased to report the interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2016. During the six months, we have made further substantial progress in establishing Plant Health Care as a leading provider of novel biological products for the agriculture industry. In New Technology, all of the partners with whom we signed evaluation agreements in 2015 continue to evaluate Innatus 3G, our first PREtec technology platform. In addition, we are now presenting the next two PREtec platforms to potential partners. At the same time, sales of Harpin-based products continued their strong growth, up more than 30% on the same period last year.

New Technology

New Technology is focused on the discovery and development of novel proprietary peptides using the Group's PREtec science (PREtec signifies Plant Response Elicitor technology) and its internationally-recognised research capability.

The Group's technology development has made further substantial progress over the last six months. PREtec is living up to its early promise. The Group has built up unique science and technology capabilities in the field of plant response elicitors, on the foundations of its earlier experience with the discovery and development of Harpins, under the leadership of the Chief Science Officer, Dr. Zhongmin Wei.

The first PREtec platform was introduced in late 2014, as Innatus 3G. Innatus 3G is a platform of potential products, a patent-protected family of related peptides with a common structure and mode of action, that show great potential in delivering yield improvements and invoking disease and pest resistance in crop plants. They can be combined with conventional agrochemical and biological applications in seed treatments or foliar sprays. Being signal molecules, they are effective at very low application rates.

During the first half of 2016, evaluation of Innatus 3G continued with the four partners with whom we signed agreements during 2015. These partners, who represent four of the six largest companies in the agrochemical and seed industries, are increasingly engaged with the technology. Two of those partners have now amended their agreements to widen the scope of their evaluation, which we see as a positive indication of their interest in the platform. We have generated data demonstrating the efficacy of peptides from the Innatus 3G platform, which are guiding our partners towards those areas of commercial opportunity that they consider most promising. Amongst these studies, particularly strong results have been obtained for resistance to commercially important plant pathogens including Asian Soybean Rust, Soybean Stem and Root Rot and for the suppression of nematode worms in and around the roots of crop plants.

We are tracking towards the evaluation of Innatus 3G being completed by the end of 2017, at which time we intend to initiate a competitive licensing process for the exclusive rights to the platform by crop and geography.

Research on further families of peptides beyond Innatus 3G has progressed at a rapid pace. We have now characterised two new platforms based on these, each of them distinct from Innatus 3G. Both are focused on delivering higher yields to farmers: one by stimulating natural growth responses in the crops, and the other by inducing natural defensive responses against drought stress and nematode attack. We are currently presenting what we believe to be commercially important product candidates from these platforms to potential partners.

To support this very promising work, investment in New Technology increased to $2.5 million in the first half of 2016 (2015: $1.6 million). Our intellectual property portfolio has been strengthened and we have greatly expanded our growth rooms, in which we can screen and test candidate peptides.

Commercial Products

Our Commercial business markets our proprietary products worldwide through distributors and also distributes complementary third party products in Mexico. The Group has a portfolio of existing products, based on our proprietary Harpin 𝜶β and Myconate® technologies. Harpin-based products are established in certain seed and foliar treatment markets; they have now been applied on more than 13 million acres of crops worldwide, an achievement which distinguishes our position from that of many competitors. Harpin 𝜶β has potential for substantial revenue growth in both existing and new markets.

During the first half of 2016, overall product sales were $2.9 million ($3.2 million in 2015). Local currency sales were broadly flat, as growing Harpin sales were off-set by the absence of any milestone payment (2015: $0.2 million). Excluding milestone payments, underlying product revenue of Harpin 𝜶β grew by 30% to $1.7 million ($1.3 million in 2015), reaching 57% of total sales (2015: 35%) and helping to broadly maintain gross margin at 59% (2015: 63%) in spite of the impact of currency.

Sales in Mexico grew by 16.1% in local currency, largely due to growth in sales of Harpin 𝜶β in crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers and pineapple, following the launch there in early 2016. Sales for Mexico in USD were flat when compared to the same period last year primarily due to the decline in the value of the Peso against the US dollar.

Sales of Harpin 𝜶β continue to advance in the United States of America ("US") growing 8% year over year particularly in the high value vegetable and fruit markets. Our partnership with SymAgro continues to gain traction in the Pacific Northwest of the US. Sipcam in Italy plans to launch Harpin 𝜶β in grapes in Italy in the second half of 2016.

Market development activities continue to advance in Brazil, following the Company's first product registration there in 2015. Trials in sugar cane, completed in the first half of 2016, continue to confirm the value of Harpin 𝜶β in delivering increased sugar yield. We anticipate the launch of this product in the second half of 2016. We also anticipate concluding at least one additional distribution agreement in Brazil before the end of 2016.

Sales of third party products, which are limited to our distribution company in Mexico, were flat in Mexican pesos which translated into a substantial decrease in US dollars to $1.2 million ($1.4 million in 2015). Sales of Harpin in Mexico grew 98% for the first six months of 2016.

Sales by the Group in any one period will be subject to a number of seasonal and market-related factors, as well as the terms of agreements with third parties and the timing of product registrations. As a result, the Group's sales may not follow a strictly linear trend. The Group expects revenues to be weighted more to the second half of the year as in previous years.

Summary of financial results

Financial highlights for the six months ended 30 June 2016, with comparatives for the six months ended 30 June 2015, are set out below:

*Administrative expenses include $1.1 million of one-time costs related to a potential US listing, together with $1.0 million of foreign exchange losses in non-US dollar denominated inter-company funding and $0.3 million of share-based payment expenses (both of which are non-cash items).

Revenue

Revenues for the six month period ended 30 June 2016 were $2.9 million (2015: $3.2 million) producing a gross profit of $1.7 million (2015: $2.0 million) and the loss before tax was $6.6 million (2015: $3.0 million). The gross profit margin was 59% (2015: 63%). Revenues and gross profit were lower because 2015 included a milestone payment from a single customer.

Operating expenses

Operating expenses from continuing operations increased by $3.3 million for the six month period to $8.4 million. The three factors driving this increase were increased investment in New Technology, costs associated with evaluating the possibility of a US listing and a (non-cash) decrease in the value of Sterling loans from our UK subsidiary, due to the steep depreciation of the pound in June/July.

Research and development expenses grew primarily due to increases in personnel, consulting and patent costs.

Costs of approximately $1.1 million (2015: nil) associated with a potential US listing have been incurred and have been charged in the first half of 2016. A decision whether to proceed with such a listing will be dependent upon the achievement of key operational and financial milestones and subject to market conditions. Other administration costs increased primarily due to non-cash expenses associated with the decrease in the value of loans from our UK subsidiary of $1.0 million (2015: nil) and an increase in share-based payment expenses of $0.3 million (2015: nil).

Cash position and liquidity

As of 30 June 2016, the Group had cash and investments of $3.8 million (2015: $12.6 million).

The primary components of the cash movements in the first six months of 2016 was the sale of investments of $4.8 million (2015: $3.0 million) to help fund operations, outflows of $0.4 million (2015: $0.2 million) for new equipment and facilities for Research and Development and operating cash outflow of $5.1 million (2015: $3.8 million).

Following the period end, the Company concluded a $10.0 million fund raising. The proceeds will be used to invest in the New Technology business, support the growth of the Commercial business and provide general working capital.

Current trading and outlook

The Board remains confident about the prospects for our New Technology. PREtec has now delivered no fewer than three platforms of distinctive peptide technology, each with multiple product candidates entering development. There are further families of peptide designs to come. Our expanding intellectual property portfolio provides a strong foundation for Plant Health Care's leadership in this exciting field of technology.

Progress on evaluation of Innatus 3G with major industry players is a good indicator of interest in our technology. We anticipate initiating a competitive licensing process by the end of 2017. In the meantime, we have targeted at least one revenue-generating event during 2017 with one of our new PREtec peptide platforms. The current wave of consolidation amongst the largest companies in the sector has the potential to delay decisions on major R&D investments; we are taking this into account in our forecasts.

First half revenue from our Commercial Products was in line with expectations. In spite of this progress, the combination of challenging industry conditions and adverse currency movements as we move into the important fourth quarter of the year will impact the full year outturn. Following the successful completion of trials of Harpin 𝜶β in sugar cane in Brazil, the launch planned for the final quarter has recently been delayed and revised market entry plans are being developed. As a result of the above factors, the Company now believes that revenue for 2016 will be below market expectations. The pipeline of launches and new distribution relationships for Harpin 𝜶β continues to strengthen and we are confident that sales growth of the product will continue in 2017 and beyond.

We are taking active steps to reduce Operating Expenses, ensuring that we align cost with the most promising areas of revenue growth in Commercial Products and have re-focused our R&D spend in New Technology.

We were very pleased that our existing shareholders showed confidence in the Company, by supporting the successful raising of $10 million in August 2016. Together with cost-saving measures now being put in place, we anticipate that we have sufficient cash to enable us to generate first revenues from our PREtec peptide platforms and to bring our Commercial business to profit.

Dr. Christopher Richards

Chairman

14 September 2016

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of EU Regulation 596/2014

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2016

Consolidated statement of financial position

AT 30 JUNE 2016

 Consolidated statement of cash flows

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2016

Notes to the unaudited financial information

1 Accounting policies

Basis of preparation

The financial information in these interim results is that of the holding company and all of its subsidiaries ("the Group"). It has been prepared in accordance with the recognition and measurement requirements of International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRSs") as adopted for use in the EU. The accounting policies applied by the Group in this financial information are the same as those applied by the Group in its financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2015 and which will form the basis of the 2015 financial statements.

A number of new and amended standards have become effective since the beginning of the previous financial year. None of the new standards and amendments are expected to materially affect the Group.

In 2015, the Group changed its operating and reportable segments to align with the way its business is currently managed and to better reflect its evolving research and development activities. Therefore, the Group now discloses New Technology as a separate operating and reportable segment. The 2015 presentation of this data has been reclassified to conform to the 2016 presentation.

The comparative financial information presented herein for the year ended 31 December 2015 does not constitute full statutory accounts for that period. The Group's annual report for the year ended 31 December 2015 has been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The Group's independent auditor's report on those accounts was unqualified, did not include references to any matters to which the auditor drew attention by way of emphasis without qualifying their report and did not contain a statement under section 498(2) or 498(3) of the Companies Act 2006. The financial information for the half years ended 30 June 2016 and 30 June 2015 is unaudited.

2 Investments

Investments comprise short-term investments in notes and bonds having investment grade ratings. These assets are actively managed and evaluated by key management personnel on a fair value basis in accordance with a documented investment strategy. They are carried at fair value as determined by quoted prices on active markets, with changes in fair values recognised through profit and loss.

3 Changes in equity

4 Operating loss

5 Segment information

The Group views, manages and operates its business according to geographical segments. Revenue is generated from the sale of agricultural products across all geographies.

* Revenue from one customer within the Americas segment totalled $1,524,000 or 20% of Group revenues.

** These amounts represent public company expenses for which there is no reasonable basis by which to allocate the amounts across the Group's segments.

*** Includes net share-based payments expense of $201,000 attributed to corporate employees who are not affiliated with any of the Commercial or New technology segments.

6 Loss per share

Basic loss per ordinary share has been calculated on the basis of the loss for the period of $6,611,000 (loss for the six months ended 30 June 2015: $3,003,000, and loss for the year ended 31 December 2015: $7,720,000) and the weighted average number of shares in issue during the period of 71,855,085 (six months ended 30 June 2015: 71,709,705, and year ended 31 December 2015: 71,737,885).

The weighted average number of shares used in the above calculation is the same as for total basic loss per ordinary share. Instruments that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share in the future have been considered, but were not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share because they are anti-dilutive for the periods presented. This is due to the Group incurring losses on continuing operations for the period.

7 Subsequent Event

In August 2016, the Company raised $10.0 million USD (£7.6 million) through a Placing, Subscription and Open Offer of ordinary shares.

Copies of this report and all other announcements made by Plant Health Care plc are available on the Company's website at www.planthealthcare.com/for-investors.

Plant Health Care plc

2626 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 350

Raleigh, NC 27608 USA

+1 (919) 926 1600

ir@planthealthcare.com

www.planthealthcare.com/for-investors