Venture Life Regulatory News (VLG)

17 July 2019

Venture Life Group plc

("Venture Life" or the "Group")

Commercial update

Increased product distribution and new international partnership agreements

Venture Life Group plc (AIM: VLG), a leader in developing, manufacturing and commercialising products for the UK and international self-care market, announces a commercial update on business developments in H1 2019.

Own Brand Update

The Company continues to be successful in expanding the reach of its brand portfolio. The Group launched products with 11 international partners in H1 2019, as part of its continued international market expansion, with highlights including:

Dentyl

Good progress has been achieved in expanding the Dentyl brand both internationally and domestically since it was acquired in August 2018. As a result, Dentyl is now available in 7 markets, including the UK and Ireland, compared with 4 markets pre-acquisition. Highlights include a new 5-year distribution agreement with an existing Chinese partner to add the Dentyl Fresh Breath Beads to their Dentyl range across mainland China in Q3 2019.

In the UK, Lloyds Pharmacy, one of the UK's largest pharmacy chains will be supplying the 500ml Dentyl Fresh Clove flavoured mouthwash from September 2019. This is the first time Dentyl has been distributed by Lloyds Pharmacy as part of their planogram. Additionally, Superdrug, one of the largest health and beauty retailers in the UK has increased distribution of Dentyl 500ml mouthwash by 27% since January 2019, and 93% since brand acquisition, and as a result from July 2019, Dentyl will be available in 385 stores.

UltraDEX

Success for the UltraDEX oral care brand continues with two new partnerships; with ASDA grocery chain and Well Pharmacy. Part of the Walmart retail corporation, ASDA has confirmed the launch of UltraDEX mouthwash and Fresh Breath Spray. Well Pharmacy, the third largest pharmacy chain in the UK (after Boots and Superdrug) will stock the UltraDEX range. Both retailers will supply UltraDEX from September 2019.

Superdrug has also confirmed the launch of UltraDEX Whitening mouthwash from July 2019 in 94% of its stores. UltraDEX One Go sachets will also be launched for the first time in Italy and the UAE in late 2019/early 2020, with existing partners. UltraDEX products are now available in 20 markets, including the UK and Ireland.

Myco ClearÔ, Vonalei and Procto-eze Plus

Myco Clear has been launched in Portugal with Jaba Recordati and more recently with a partner in France. Separately, Procto-eze Plus and vonalei has been launched in Israel with Taro Pharmaceuticals in H1 2019.

Manufacturing Division

A long-term manufacturing agreement has been signed on a well-established range of oral care products with an international partner. Products include mouthwashes, toothpastes and gels for the EU, Asia and Australia; development is underway and first production is expected to finish by the end of 2019.

An agreement has also been signed with Athena Cosmetics Corporation, USA, to manufacture two cosmetic products. First production will commence from August 2019 and a second manufacturing order is expected before the end of 2019.

A new agreement with Italian pharmaceutical company Giellepi S.P.A will see the development and manufacturing of a new Medical Device commence at the end of 2019.

Finally, a new agreement has been signed with AlfaSigma, Italy, to manufacture a cosmetic product. Development is due to finish in October 2019, with first production expected by the end of 2019.

UK digital marketing campaign

The Group's 2019 UK marketing strategy for both UltraDEX and Dentyl is predominately digitally focused and targeting various social media channels.

In the case of UltraDEX, the current #youneverknow campaign features a series of videos, introducing an element of humour, encouraging consumers to talk about bad breath and engage through social media channels. This is being supported with a 10-day sampling campaign commencing 17 July 2019, whereby over 80,000 free mouthwash sachets will be distributed at central London locations. In addition to this, the #spititout campaign is underway and being received well by both consumers and the UK retail trade, which indicates that the social media marketing strategy is both effective and helping to raise brand awareness.

London Stock Exchange's 1000 Companies to Inspire Britain 2019

For the fourth consecutive year, the Group has been included in the list, which is reserved for companies significantly outperforming its peers. Companies are required to record consistent revenue growth over a minimum of three years to qualify for the list.

Jerry Randall, CEO of Venture Life Group, said: "I am pleased to report continued commercial progress in H1 2019, particularly the 11 new product launches with partners and securing the ASDA and Well Pharmacy distribution for UltraDEX, as well as building on the international distribution in China for the Dentyl brand. This is also the fourth consecutive year that we have been featured in '1000 Companies to Inspire Britain', which is an exceptional achievement and testament to our year on year growth, which in 2018 saw the Group become earnings positive for the first time. This has been a great result for the whole team at Venture Life, particularly at this challenging time in consumer markets."

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About Venture Life (www.venture-life.com)

Venture Life is an international consumer self-care company focused on developing, manufacturing and commercialising products for the global self-care market. With operations in both the UK and Italy, the Group's product portfolio includes some key products such as the UltraDEX and Dentyl oral care product ranges, food supplements for maintaining brain function, medical devices for women's intimate healthcare and proctology and dermo-cosmetics for addressing the signs of ageing.

The products, which are typically recommended by pharmacists or healthcare practitioners, are available primarily through pharmacies and grocery multiples. In the UK these are supplied direct by the company, outside of the UK they are supplied by the Group's international distribution partners. 

Through its Development & Manufacturing business in Italy, Biokosmes, the Group also provides development and manufacturing services to companies in the medical devices and cosmetic sectors.