24th Feb 2015 07:00
PuriCore plc ("PuriCore" or the "Company")
Trading Update
A year of significant change
24 February 2015 - PuriCore plc (AIM: PURI), an international company focused on safe and effective protection against the spread of infectious pathogens, today announces a trading update for the year ended 31 December 2014. Full year results are expected to be announced at the end of March.
Michael Ashton, Chief Executive Officer of PuriCore, said:
"2014 was a year of significant change for PuriCore. We successfully completed the sale of our Endoscopy business for net proceeds of approximately $25.7 million and we advanced the diversification of our Supermarket Retail business model to increase recurring revenues and drive greater consistency. We also undertook a broad-ranging strategic and operational review.
"We are excited about the plans we have begun to put in place and can see early signs of traction. However, much remains to be done. As stated in our last interim management statement, Group* revenues and earnings in 2014 were expected to be lower than in 2013, as the business model in Supermarket Retail began to transition and investments were made across the Group to support longer-term growth. The product mix in Supermarket Retail continues to rebalance, as consumable product sales increase and capital equipment sales decline, in line with the evolution of the business model. Certain customers still prefer to purchase capital equipment based on their volume of solution usage and other factors.
"Through the strategic and operational review, we have identified new growth opportunities across the Group, particularly in Health Sciences. Following the successful sale of the Endoscopy business, we have resources with which to advance our new strategies. Growth opportunities continue to centre on leveraging PuriCore's unique, patented hypochlorous acid technology in areas where it delivers a competitive advantage. These areas include not only new products and applications, but also geographic expansion. We intend to invest prudently in the growth of our existing business and in these initiatives, while implementing focused cost management plans. We look forward to unveiling further details during the course of this year as our evaluation of opportunities advances.
"As previously announced, I plan to retire by the AGM. The Board is progressing the search for my replacement. The successful candidate will be joining the business at an exciting juncture as it is poised to capitalise on many new initiatives.
"In terms of outlook, the Board recognises that these directional changes in the business have yielded a sizeable decline in financial results, but remains confident that the strategies being implemented will provide greater sustainable shareholder value in the longer term."
2014 Financial Summary*
· Group revenue decreased to $17.1 million (2013: $31.5m), as expected
o Consistent with the trend reported at the interims, this reflects a much lower proportion of capital sales in the year and changes to the Supermarket Retail business model
o Supermarket Retail revenue was $15.6 million (2013: $28.9m)
o Health Sciences revenue was $1.5 million (2013: $1.8m excluding $0.8m of milestone payments) primarily due to transition in distribution agreements for wound care
· Early evidence of traction following emphasis on growing recurring revenue streams
o Recurring revenue was approximately 72.8% of Group revenue (2013: 37.1%) driven by sizeable growth in concentrate placements and usage of ProduceFresh® and FloraFresh®
· EBITDA** loss of $4.9 million (2013 loss: $0.6m)
· Sizeable net profit (before taxation) realised from Discontinued Operations due to a significant gain on the sale of the UK Endoscopy business
· Cash and cash equivalents, net of debt, were $20.7 million as at 31 December 2014
o Successful sale of Endoscopy business generated net proceeds of approximately $25.7 million which were used, in part, to pay down debt, fund placement of concentrate dilution systems in the Supermarket Retail business and support operations
o PuriCore's cash resources will be further deployed, on a measured basis, in support of evaluation and execution of new strategic opportunities
* As previously reported, the Company completed the sale of its UK Endoscopy business on 30 June 2014. Group results presented herein reflect the Continuing Operations, comprising the Company's Supermarket Retail and Health Sciences businesses, and 2013 results have been re-stated to reflect only the Continuing Operations (unless otherwise noted).
** Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation, non-cash equity-related charges.
Enquiries:
PuriCore plc | +44 (0) 20 3727 1000 |
Michael Ashton, Chief Executive Officer | |
Marella Thorell, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer | |
FTI Consulting | +44 (0) 20 3727 1000 |
Simon Conway/ Mo Noonan/ Victoria Foster Mitchell | |
N+1 Singer (Nominated Adviser & Broker) | +44 (0) 20 7496 3000 |
Aubrey Powell/ Jen Boorer/ Thomas Smale |
About PuriCore
PuriCore is an international company focused on developing and commercialising safe and effective products to protect against the spread of infectious pathogens based on its proprietary hypochlorous acid platform technology. Its products are currently used in two broad market segments: Supermarket Retail and Health Sciences. PuriCore's products do not cause harm to human or animal life or to the environment. In the Supermarket Retail segment, PuriCore offers products to US retailers for use in their fresh produce departments to improve food safety and quality, to extend shelf life and to decrease food wastage. Additionally, the Company's products protect against fungal growth and extend the life of cut flowers, with an initial focus on supermarket floral departments. In Health Sciences, PuriCore's Wound Care business provides products that are used to treat chronic and acute wounds, including diabetic ulcers and burns in humans. A range of products have also been developed to manage wounds in companion and farm animals. The Company's Dermatology business is currently focused on treatments for atopic dermatitis. PuriCore is headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania.
Certain statements made in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts but rather are based on the Company's current expectations, estimates, and projections about its industry; its beliefs; and assumptions. Words such as 'anticipates,' 'expects,' 'intends,' 'plans,' 'believes,' 'seeks,' 'estimates,' and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, some of which are beyond the Company's control, are difficult to predict, and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements. The Company cautions shareholders and prospective shareholders not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect the view of the Company only as of the date of this announcement. The forward-looking statements made in this announcement relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. The Company will not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions or updates to these forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances, or unanticipated events occurring after the date of this announcement except as required by law or by any appropriate regulatory authority.
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