Benchmark Holdings PLC Acq of South American shrimp breeding programme (8788G)

TIDMBMK

RNS Number : 8788G

Benchmark Holdings PLC

11 August 2016

11 August 2016

Benchmark Holdings plc

("Benchmark" or "the Company")

Acquisition of South American shrimp breeding programme

Benchmark has entered into a technology transfer agreement under which its wholly-owned subsidiary, Genética Spring S.A.S, will secure control over aquaculture breeding programmes previously owned and operated by Centro de Investigación de la Acuicultura de Colombia Ceniacua (Ceniacua) and acquire related business, freehold land, buildings and assets, for a total consideration of $2.17m (GBP1.67m). Completion of the transaction is conditional upon certain legal formalities and is expected to occur before the end of August.

The acquisition adds a third species, shrimp, to Benchmark's aquaculture breeding business in salmon and tilapia, and strengthens Benchmark's position in the fast-growing shrimp industry. Benchmark has a unique opportunity to utilise the global distribution channels within its Advanced Animal Nutrition division (INVE Aquaculture), which will provide routes to market for its shrimp genetics and offer opportunities for cross-selling.

The acquired business, headquartered in Punta Canoa, near Cartagena in Colombia, operates breeding programmes for the species (L. vannamei) dominating the global shrimp sector, as well as for the marine finfish species cobia and grouper. The advanced shrimp selection programme has been particularly successful, and has bred populations with high level of resistance to certain of the major diseases affecting the shrimp industry worldwide. It is estimated that up to 40% of tropical shrimp production (>$3bn) is lost annually to disease, and according to the World Bank, production of farmed shrimp is expected to grow by 50 to 60% through to 2030(1) .

An experienced team of world-renowned scientists will join Genética Spring as part of this transaction. The team have a long standing relationship with Benchmark's Breeding & Genetics division, and the breeding programme will continue to benefit from the advanced genetic selection services offered by Benchmark's aquaculture genetics technology business Akvaforsk Genetics Center (AFGC). This existing relationship will also ensure smooth integration of the business into the Benchmark Group.

Of the $2.17m total consideration approximately $1.33m relates to freehold land and buildings at Punta Canoa, and the balance to the breeding programme and other operational assets. Of the total consideration, US$0.35m is retained until such time as certain legal formalites related to the real estate are completed and US$0.57m is deferred, conditional upon specified operational milestones being achieved within 18 months of completion. Up to US$0.45m of the deferred consideration is payable in Benchmark shares, calculated by reference to the volume weighted average price (VWAP) of the Benchmark shares during the five business days which precede the final 3 business days prior to satisfaction of the deferred consideration. Benchmark has the option to settle this amount in cash. Management expect the acquisition to be significantly earnings enhancing from 2018.

Commenting on the acquisition, Malcolm Pye, Chief Executive of Benchmark said:

"This important acquisition strengthens our unique package of products and services that are urgently needed in the aquaculture industry today. It adds the third major aquaculture species shrimp to our already strong aquaculture breeding business in Salmon and Tilapia, and increases our market penetration into the fast-growing shrimp industry. There is strong and growing customer demand globally for disease resilient shrimp, which are more robust and deliver better yields. This acquisition provides us with very high calibre broodstock to meet that need, offering a substantial commercial opportunity for the Company and enhancing our growing reputation in aquaculture breeding and genetics."

(1) World Bank (2013) Fish to 2030

- ENDS -

 
 Benchmark Holdings plc             Tel: [phone] 
                                     409939 
 Malcolm Pye, CEO 
 Roland Bonney, COO 
 Rachel Aninakwah, Communications   Tel: [phone] 
                                     790880 
 
 
   Numis                             Tel: [phone] 
                                     601000 
 Michael Meade/Freddie Barnfield 
  (NOMAD) 
  James Black / Tom Ballard 
  (Corporate Broking) 
 
 
 Tavistock                          Tel: [phone] 
                                     203150 
 Matt Ridsdale/Niall Walsh 
 

Notes to Editors:

Founded in 2000, Benchmark represents a new model in sustainable business development. Over the last decade it has built a successful group of companies on the economics of a sustainable food chain. The Group is growing in response to a rapidly increasing demand for sustainable food chains, and in particular for seafood, from both mature and emerging markets.

Benchmark is an ethical group with an explicit policy based on the "3E's" definition of a sustainable business - ethics, environment and economics - which guides its strategy and operations. The Group has five divisions: Advanced Animal Nutrition which provides cutting edge nutritional products and services to the aquaculture industry and is a world leader in the feeding of the larval stages of shrimp and marine fish production, Breeding and Genetics which comprises a world-leading Salmon and aquaculture breeding business, Animal Health which researches, manufactures and markets medicines and vaccines particularly for aquaculture, Sustainable Science which researches and informs sustainable development in the food industry, and Technical Publishing which effects technology transfer through online publishing and education. Benchmark operates internationally with offices in England, Scotland, Belgium, Ireland, Norway, Iceland, USA, Brazil, China, Moscow, India, Thailand and Chile. As at 31July 2016, Benchmark employs 874 people.

For further information on Benchmark please visit www.benchmarkplc.com

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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August 11, 2016 02:01 ET (06:01 GMT)