Less Ads, More Data, More Tools Register for FREE

Pin to quick picksPHC.L Regulatory News (PHC)

  • There is currently no data for PHC

Trading Statement

29 Jan 2016 07:00

RNS Number : 3769N
Plant Health Care PLC
29 January 2016
 

 

 

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 the 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 2015, which is expected no later than the first week of April. All results provided are preliminary and subject to completion of the 2015 audit.

 

The Company is pleased to report strong financial performance in FY2015 in line with expectations. Progress with our Plant Response Elicitor technology ("PREtec") platform has accelerated.

 

Financial and Commercial Highlights

- Revenue of approximately $7.5m; growth year over year at constant currency was 15%; 9% growth in US$, largely due to the weakness of the Mexican peso

- Sales of the core Harpin products increased by 22%, driven by strong sales in the United States and Europe; Harpin and Myconate® products represented 57% of sales in 2015 (2014: 53%)

- Gross Margin increased to 62% in 2015 from 51% in 2014

- Cash and cash equivalents at 31st December 2015 were $8.4m

- Revenue growth in Mexico of approximately 14% in local currency

- In conjunction with a significant increase in R&D investment to $5.7m in 2015, the overall operating result was a loss of approximately $7.3m in 2015 as compared to $6.1m in 2014

- A roughly two-fold increase in sales to Sym-Agro, a key partner in the Pacific North West

- Achieved the Company's first product registration in Brazil; now preparing for a launch in sugar cane

 

PREtec Highlights

- Signed four evaluation agreements with major players in the agriculture industry for our first family of PREtec peptides, Innatus 3G

- Completed third year of field trials in corn with Innatus 3G, including one peptide variant with three years of field trial data delivering an average yield increase of 9.6 bushels per acre when applied as a seed treatment compared with industry standard treatments alone, with a win rate of 79%, with data from 19 of 20 sites analyzed to date

- Very promising early results on additional peptide families beyond Innatus 3G

- Significantly strengthened the R&D team in Seattle and our licensing capability; moved into expanded laboratories in 3Q

 

Paul Schmidt, CEO, commented:

"2015 was a pivotal year for Plant Health Care. We made substantial progress in growing our commercial business and advancing our PREtec platform.

We are engaging actively with our evaluation partners for Innatus 3G, our first PREtec peptide family, and are encouraged by positive early results. Field and laboratory trials continue and are anticipated to further reinforce the initial promise of this family.

 

Our expanded research team in Seattle is making rapid strides, and we are very encouraged by the early results of studies on other peptide families beyond Innatus 3G. We intend to continue to evaluate and advance these additional peptide families and anticipate presenting at least one new family to potential partners during 2016.

On the commercial side, sales of Harpin αβ continued to grow; we have recorded 22% CAGR from 2012 to 2015, excluding license payments. This is despite strong headwinds in the agriculture industry due to low commodity prices. Increased demand for both Harpin αβ and Myconate in specialty crops has led to strong sales growth in our Mexico subsidiary as well as via Sym-Agro in the Pacific North West. In Brazil, our partner is conducting a further year of trials in sugar cane, prior to its anticipated launch of Harpin αβ.

 

This is an exciting time for Plant Health Care. We are advancing in line with our strategy and confident in our future direction."

 

 

For further information, please contact:

 

Plant Health Care plc

Paul Schmidt, 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

 

LHA

Ed McGregor / Jody Burfening Tel: +1 (212) 838 3777

 

Company website: www.planthealthcare.com

 

This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
END
 
 
TSTLFFVILSITFIR
Date   Source Headline
4th Dec 20067:00 amRNSAcquisition
14th Nov 20063:59 pmRNSAdditional Listing
13th Nov 20067:01 amRNSSupply Agreement & New Order
24th Oct 200610:52 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
16th Oct 20068:55 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
11th Oct 200610:34 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
29th Sep 200610:04 amRNSInterim Report
27th Sep 20061:43 pmRNSExercise of options
26th Sep 20067:02 amRNSInterim Results
26th Sep 20067:02 amRNSUpdated Myconate Release
13th Sep 20067:01 amRNSNotice of Results
1st Aug 20062:31 pmRNSAdditional Listing
16th Jun 20068:38 amRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
9th Jun 200611:31 amRNSAGM Statement
8th Jun 20061:15 pmRNSPress Speculation Re Pre Tect
1st Jun 20067:01 amRNSDistribution Agreement
23rd May 200611:23 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
19th May 200610:13 amRNSExercise of Warrants
12th May 20067:00 amRNSNew US Distributor
5th May 200611:15 amRNSEGM and Myconate Update
25th Apr 200612:07 pmRNSHolding(s) in Company
12th Apr 20061:30 pmRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
10th Apr 20067:02 amRNSSecondary Placing
10th Apr 20067:02 amRNSFinal Results
13th Mar 20067:01 amRNSMyconate - test results
6th Mar 20064:01 pmRNSAppt of Finance Director
25th Jan 20067:01 amRNSTrading Update
15th Dec 20057:00 amRNSMyconate Test Results
3rd Nov 20057:00 amRNSResearch Agreement
20th Sep 200510:56 amRNSDirectors' Holdings
19th Sep 20057:02 amRNSLicensing Agreement
19th Sep 20057:01 amRNSInterim Results
12th Sep 20059:01 amRNSNotice of Results
30th Aug 20057:03 amRNSContract Win
15th Aug 20051:49 pmRNSHolding(s) in Company
4th Aug 20057:00 amRNSNew Product Launch
22nd Jul 20057:00 amRNSDirectorate Change
18th Jul 200510:25 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
4th Jul 20051:24 pmRNSCoSec Change & Share Listing
24th Jun 20053:54 pmRNSDirector Shareholding
13th Jun 20057:01 amRNSDirector Shareholding
10th Jun 200512:51 pmRNSAGM Statement
1st Jun 20057:02 amRNSNew Partnership Initiative
29th Apr 20055:05 pmRNSDirector Shareholding
26th Apr 20057:01 amRNSFinal Results
13th Apr 20057:00 amRNSNew Contract
21st Mar 20053:59 pmRNSDirector Shareholding
7th Mar 20057:02 amRNSTrading Statement
31st Jan 20057:04 amRNSPHC wins tree care trial

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.