Roundtable Discussion; The Future of Mineral Sands. Watch the video here.

Less Ads, More Data, More Tools Register for FREE

Pin to quick picksPlant Health Regulatory News (PHC)

Share Price Information for Plant Health (PHC)

London Stock Exchange
Share Price is delayed by 15 minutes
Get Live Data
Share Price: 3.72
Bid: 3.60
Ask: 3.84
Change: 0.00 (0.00%)
Spread: 0.24 (6.667%)
Open: 0.00
High: 0.00
Low: 0.00
Prev. Close: 3.72
PHC Live PriceLast checked at -

Watchlists are a member only feature

Login to your account

Alerts are a premium feature

Login to your account

Trading Statement

24 Jan 2018 07:00

RNS Number : 7257C
Plant Health Care PLC
24 January 2018
 

 

 

PLANT HEALTH CARE plc

 

("Plant Health Care" or the "Company")

 

 

Trading Update

 

Plant Health Care®, a leading provider of novel patent-protected biological products to global agriculture markets, issues the following post year-end trading update ahead of the announcement of the Company's audited full year financial results for the year ended 31st December 2017, which is expected to be announced by early April. All results provided are preliminary and subject to completion of the 2017 audit.

 

 

Financial and Commercial Highlights

- Revenue increased by 22% to $7.7million (2016: $6.3m); in constant currency, sales increased by 23%. Strong sales growth in Europe/Africa (up 100%; 107% in constant currency) was offset by weaker sales in Mexico due to low produce prices in the first half of the year; sales in North America grew 8%.

- Initial sales to Brazil were delayed due to importation issues; these sales will now occur in 1Q 2018, with the launch into sugar cane.

- Sales of core HarpinTM αβ products increased by 42% (44% in constant currency), driven by broadly based growth in all geographies. Harpin αβ and Myconate® products represented 69% of sales in 2017 (2016: 59%).

- Gross Margin was steady at 62%.

- Cash and cash equivalents at 31st December 2017 were $3.9m.

 

New Technology Highlights

- All five of the top agricultural/seeds companies and a number of other companies tested InnatusTM 3G in the field in 2017.

- Four of these majors are running field trials of Innatus 3G added to chemical sprays for the control of Asian Soybean Rust (ASR) in Brazil, a devastating fungal disease of soybeans. Farmers spent US$1.7 billion on soybean fungicides in 2016 in Brazil*; in spite of that investment, there are increasing concerns about disease resistance.

- Data from these ASR trials are due in 2Q 2018. Exclusive rights to Innatus 3G for use in South American soybeans are expected to be auctioned thereafter.

- PHC's lead peptide for control of ASR (PHC279) is being produced by high yield fermentation at pilot scale.

- PHC expanded its programme of specialist trials. Results continued to show good performance for Innatus 3G under disease and drought stress, and for T-Rex 3G against nematodes. Y-Max 3G peptides increased yields even under optimal growing conditions.

- Discussions continue with partners about future licensing of T-Rex 3G and Y-Max 3G.

 

 

Chris Richards, Interim CEO, commented:

"In 2017, Plant Health Care continued to show strong progress in implementing our key strategic objectives.

 

We have continued to make exciting progress with our PREtec peptide platforms and are now working with all five of the top agricultural/seeds companies, as well as four other partners. Evaluation continues on all three platforms - Innatus 3G, T-Rex 3G and Y-Max 3G - in a wide range of crops. We have focused resources on trials of Innatus 3G for control of ASR in Brazil, with our lead peptide PHC279; successful conclusion of those trials is expected to lead to a competitive auction of exclusive rights to this platform in South America soybeans in 2018. Due to this focus, we de-prioritised other areas in 2017 but will resume work towards other licensing opportunities during 2018.

 

On the commercial side, we are pleased to report the resumption of revenue growth. We are particularly pleased that this growth is broadly based, with targeted marketing programmes delivering strong growth in a wide range of countries. This is also delivering a more even distribution of sales through the year. In the USA, sales through Sym-Agro in the Pacific North West were affected by weather but sales into other sectors grew; channel inventory is now back on target. Sales in Southern Africa doubled, as our distributor Dux Agri entered new markets. Sales in Spain continue to grow strongly by 60%. In Mexico, sales improved in the second half of the year but failed to make up for the 19% fall in the first half. In Brazil, we are ready to launch in sugar cane; while import delays mean that first revenue slipped from the end of December 2017 and will now take place in early 2018. New distribution agreements currently in advanced negotiation show potential for further growth in Commercial sales during 2018."

 

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

 

 

For further information, please contact:

 

Plant Health Care plc

Chris Richards, Interim Chief Executive Officer Tel: +1 919 926 1600

Jeffrey Hovey, Chief Financial Officer

 

Liberum Capital - Nomad and Broker

Clayton Bush / Chris Clarke Tel: +44 (0) 20 3100 2000

 

Company website: www.planthealthcare.com

 

 

*Source: Phillips McDougall

 

This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
END
 
 
TSTLFFIFLDIVFIT
Date   Source Headline
25th Oct 20109:34 amRNSLicensing Agreement with XS Inc
1st Oct 20103:00 pmRNSTotal Voting Rights
9th Sep 20107:00 amRNSAgreement with Germains Seed Technology
1st Sep 201010:30 amRNSTotal Voting Rights
24th Aug 20103:30 pmRNSPosting of Interim Report
19th Aug 201012:30 pmRNSBlocklisting Interim Review
18th Aug 201010:15 amRNSAdditional Listing
16th Aug 20107:00 amRNSHalf Yearly Report
26th Jul 20107:00 amRNSAgreement with Syngenta Crop Protection Inc.
12th Jul 201012:30 pmRNSHolding(s) in Company
1st Jul 201010:05 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
1st Jul 201010:00 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
30th Jun 20104:45 pmRNSTotal Voting Rights
29th Jun 20109:30 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
16th Jun 201011:20 amRNSTrading Update
28th May 20107:00 amRNSSale of PHC Reclamation Inc.
10th May 20107:00 amRNSMyconate Collaboration with Brazilian Government
6th May 20107:00 amRNSMyconate Agreement with Legacy Seeds Inc
30th Apr 20109:30 amRNSTotal Voting Rights
28th Apr 20109:30 amRNSAdditional Listing
28th Apr 20107:00 amRNSPatent Application for AirStrike programme
26th Apr 20107:00 amRNSMyconate IP Agreement with Bayer CropScience
21st Apr 20106:00 pmRNSVesting of Shares under LTIP
20th Apr 20107:00 amRNSHarpin agreement with Plant Foods Inc.
15th Apr 20105:00 pmRNSResult of AGM
22nd Mar 20107:00 amRNSPatent Protection Application
15th Mar 20103:30 pmRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
8th Mar 201012:45 pmRNSPublication of Annual Report & Notice of AGM
1st Mar 201010:00 amRNSTotal Voting Rights
19th Feb 201010:30 amRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
16th Feb 201010:36 amRNSAdditional Listing and Directors' Shareholdings
16th Feb 20109:51 amRNSDual Listing on Channel Islands Stock Exchange
15th Feb 201012:26 pmRNSBlocklisting
15th Feb 20107:00 amRNSFinal Results
10th Feb 20107:00 amRNSSupply Agreement
4th Feb 20107:00 amRNSOrder for Myconate
2nd Feb 20107:00 amRNSTrial Results
1st Feb 201010:22 amRNSTotal Voting Rights
27th Jan 20107:00 amRNSTrading Statement
22nd Jan 20105:41 pmRNSAdditional Listing
12th Jan 20104:03 pmRNSDirector Declaration
31st Dec 20091:05 pmRNSTotal Voting Rights
29th Dec 20094:26 pmRNSAdditional Listing
8th Dec 20095:42 pmRNSAdditional Listing
1st Dec 200911:08 amRNSTotal Voting Rights
27th Nov 20092:55 pmRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
13th Nov 200911:52 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
10th Nov 20095:29 pmRNSAdditional Listing
6th Nov 200912:53 pmRNSAdditional Listing
4th Nov 20091:52 pmRNSAdditional Listing

Due to London Stock Exchange licensing terms, we stipulate that you must be a private investor. We apologise for the inconvenience.

To access our Live RNS you must confirm you are a private investor by using the button below.

Login to your account

Don't have an account? Click here to register.

Quickpicks are a member only feature

Login to your account

Don't have an account? Click here to register.