Immunodiagnostic Systems Hldgs PLC AGM Statement (4478F)

TIDMIDH

RNS Number : 4478F

Immunodiagnostic Systems Hldgs PLC

28 July 2016

AGM Statement

Immunodiagnostic Systems Holdings PLC

28 July 2016

28 July 2016

Immunodiagnostic Systems Holdings plc

AGM Statement

Immunodiagnostic Systems Holdings PLC ("the Group"), a specialist producer of manual and automated diagnostic testing kits and instruments for the clinical market, will today hold its Annual General Meeting at 12 noon at its registered office at 10 Didcot Way, Boldon Business Park, Boldon, Tyne & Wear, NE35 9PD.

At the meeting the Chairman, Dr. Burkhard Wittek, will make the following statement to shareholders.

"Group revenue (unaudited) for Q1 FY2017 is GBP9.5m, 7% lower than for the same period last year. On a like for like basis (i.e. at constant scope and constant exchange rates) the decrease amounted to 11%.

Revenues in our automated CLIA business are GBP5.0m, 3% higher than Q1 2016. Automated 25OH Vitamin D revenue continued to decline at a rate of 20% compared to Q1, with our main laboratory customers continuing to transfer this assay to workhorse analysers after termination of their contractual obligations with the Group. Conversely, our automated business excluding 25OH Vitamin D, which represents around half of our automated business and is referred to as our endocrinology excellence menu, grew by 15% compared to the same period last year. This is one of our key KPIs as these assays are exposed to less competition from the workhorse analysers. The growth in Q1 of FY 2017 represents an acceleration in revenue when measured against the growth of 3% recorded in full FY 2016.

Manual assay revenues are GBP3.1m, a decline of 9% compared to Q1 2016. The majority of the decline is caused by lower 25OH Vitamin D revenues, as customers transfer this assay to their workhorses once automated assays are available. This rate of decline compares with a decline of 29% in FY 2016 (excluding the impact of the Diametra acquisition), indicating a slowdown in the rate of revenue losses.

License and technology income declined by 26% to GBP1.4m compared to Q1 2016 as a result of the reduction in royalty income from one major customer which was announced last month. This decline will continue throughout the remainder of the year and will have a significant impact on group profits and cash flow.

Gross placements of analyzers in markets with direct sales organizations were 8 in Q1 2017. Net placements, after returns, stood at 5 in the quarter. This is an improvement over the 12 net returns recorded in FY 2016. We believe that at least in Europe, the Group has a sufficient assay menu today to revert to a positive net placement number.

In the current financial year the Group has launched one new CLIA assay, 17OH Progesterone, for sale in both the European and US markets, bringing the total menu to 16 assays in Europe and 10 in the USA.

As of 30 June 2016 the Group employed 299 people on a full time employment basis (31 March 2016 : 315 persons). Closing cash and cash equivalents were GBP27.8m at 30 June 2016 (31 March 2016: GBP26.6m).

The management team is working hard to correct the causes for the loss of revenues in order to return to a growth trajectory: major projects are the improvement in the sales processes across the organization as well as increasing the output of our assay development group. In addition the company has initiated a program to reduce the cost base by GBP3m -GBP4m per year."

This announcement includes inside information.

For further information:

   Immunodiagnostic Systems Holdings plc                          Tel : [phone] 

Patricio Lacalle, Chief Executive Officer

Paul Martin, Group Finance Director

Peel Hunt LLP Tel : [phone]

James Steel

Oliver Jackson

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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July 28, 2016 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT)