Animalcare Share Discussion Threads

[brownie69] 09/3/2010 14:10

Very hard to buy!

[killieboy] 06/3/2010 15:08

Like what I have seen in print so far on these - snapped up a few last week (at 117) with profits from DPH - look a good med/long term hold IMHO

[brownie69] 05/3/2010 11:44

Useful report Steadyitgoes.

I'm going to look into these.

[killieboy] 16/2/2010 19:42

Are we due any info from Co in near future?

[beaufort1] 04/1/2010 14:00

Up 20% on the Tempus tip - wonder what the volume is like

[hectorp] 03/1/2010 18:59

Tipped by Tempus - one for 2010. A quiet thread is not an issue!.

[beaufort1] 05/10/2009 17:06

Well not much interest on this thread, which is rather surprising, given that the share price has just rocketed 25%! Great results and divi lifted

[mdchand] 23/12/2008 15:29

talk about a suspicious price movement in the absence of any news......I wonder why....(unlike some people who clearly already know) lol

[grupo guitarlumber] 31/3/2008 09:25

Animalcare swings to H1 pretax loss on fall in turnover UPDATE




(Adds detail from statement)
LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Animalcare Group Plc. swung to a first-half
pre-tax loss on a fall in group turnover.
In the six months to Dec. 31, 2007 the company posted pretax loss of 7,000
pounds compared with a pretax profit of 143,000 pounds a year earlier.
Revenue fell to 3.4 million pounds from 3.7 million pounds a year earlier.
Animalcare said trading in the period had been challenging due to the damage
suffered by the livestock industry from the disruption to livestock movements
following the foot and mouth and bluetongue outbreaks.
The trading environment remains "highly challenging" with significant
reductions in livestock numbers expected, it said.
However, the company said trading in the second half is showing signs of
improvement and that the outlook for the balance of the year appears favourable
and in line with market expectations.
It expects the integration of Animalcare Ltd. to be completed in 2008 and
that it will make good progress in establishing a platform for future,
profitable growth, the company added.

[e-mail]
ash/tc/ash/ro

[bustedflush1] 17/1/2008 00:48

one to avoid.

[stegrego] 16/1/2008 23:07

One to watch

[ariane] 15/1/2008 10:20

DIRECTORS' SHAREHOLDINGS


Immediately after Admission the following Directors will be interested in the
issued Ordinary Share capital of the Company.

Percentage
Number of of Issued
Ordinary Ordinary
Name Shares Share Capital

J S Lambert 803,373 4.07

S F Riddell 732,727 3.71

S Hall 151,780 0.77

G C Rhodes 696,500 3.53

N Downshire 1,461,809 7.40

S Wildridge 444,000 2.25

TOTAL 4,290,189 21.73


AIM RULE 26


The Company's website, the content of which complies with AIM Rule 26, is at

www.animalcaregroup.co.uk

[ariane] 15/1/2008 10:12

1st dealings on AIM




RNS Number:7597L
Ritchey PLC
15 January 2008


For release: 0800hrs 15 January 2008


Ritchey plc ("Ritchey" or the "Company")

First day's dealings on AIM


Ritchey plc ("Ritchey"), announces that dealings in its shares commence on AIM
today (EPIC code: "ANCR"). This follows completion of the acquisition of
Animalcare Limited ("the Acquisition"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Genus
Animal Health Limited (a member of the Genus plc group), for a total
consideration of up to £14 million; a placing of 13,632,000 new ordinary shares
at 55 pence per share to raise approximately £6.4 million net of expenses ("the
Placing");; and the decision to move from PLUS Market to AIM. At the EGM of the
Company held on 11 January 2008, shareholders approved the change of name of the
Company to Animalcare Group plc. It is now expected that this name change will
be effected at Companies House within the next few days.


The balance of the total consideration for the Acquisition, after applying the
proceeds of the Placing, has been funded out of £8.2 million of new bank
facilities.


The total consideration for the Acquisition will comprise an initial cash
payment of £13.4 million and deferred cash consideration of up to £600,000. The
deferred consideration relates to a new product currently in development and
payment of it is contingent upon Animalcare securing a manufacturing contract
for the product; and manufacturing the first batch of the product. This payment
will fall due between 31 January and 31 May 2008.


James Lambert, Simon Riddell, Nick Downshire and Stephen Wildridge, all
Directors of Ritchey, participated in the Placing, together investing a total of
approximately £1 million in the Company. Details of their holdings after the
placing, and those of other Directors, are given below.


Simon Riddell, Chief Executive of Ritchey, commented:


"The enlarged group commands strong positions in niche areas supplying both the
livestock and companion animal markets, and offering excellent growth
opportunities. We have ambitious plans which include increasing sales through
our established customer base and distribution network, broadening our product
range, entering new markets and selectively making acquisitions."

CONTACTS

Ritchey plc
James Lambert (Chairman) 07850 702042
Simon Riddell (Chief Executive) 01765 689541

Brewin Dolphin (NOMAD and Broker)
Neil Baldwin 0845 270 8610

Bankside Consultants (Financial PR) 020 7367 8888
Simon Bloomfield or Andy Harris



INFORMATION ON THE EXISTING RITCHEY BUSINESS


Business overview

Ritchey's core business is the supply of premium quality livestock products to
agricultural retailers for onward sale to farmers. The Group's main product is
livestock identification ear tags used on cattle and sheep which are necessary
to comply with EU requirements. Other products include products for calving,
lambing and farrowing, footcare and handling, a range of grooming products for
sheep and cattle, and equine, veterinary, pet and hygiene products. A
substantial proportion of the Group's products are bought in from a variety of
suppliers though the tags are largely manufactured in house.


Ritchey uses a partnership approach to the agricultural supply industry.
Emphasis is placed on co-operation with its customers facilitated by regular
visits and an experienced customer services team that is available to answer
both product and legislative queries. The Directors consider that it is this
partnership approach, along with its in-house expertise and liaison with
external expertise which has secured the sound reputation of the Ritchey brand.
The business currently sells to about 1,000 customers with around 75 of these
regarded as major accounts comprising large agricultural retailers such as
Wynnstay Limited, Farmway Limited and Mole Valley Farmers. In addition Fearing,
acquired in 2001, supplies a range of agricultural products directly to about
10,000 farmers.


History and Development

The business of Ritchey was established in the early 1970's to distribute cattle
ear tags in the UK for use in livestock management. Non-tag products were added
to its portfolio over the next 20 years. Following the outbreak of BSE In the
1990's the obligatory tagging of cattle for the purpose of providing
traceability of livestock movement was introduced in the UK. In future years,
further legislative changes extended the tagging regime to other species thereby
providing favourable trading conditions for Ritchey.


In recent years, the Group has made several acquisitions to broaden its product
offering and in December 2002 the Company joined OFEX (now Plus Markets). These
acquisitions included:


* Fearing Limited (acquired July 2001): a mail order business selling cattle
tags and related products;
* Brookwick Ward & Co Limited (acquired July 2002): equine health and
grooming products;
* Petcode Business (acquired November 2003): a distributor of identification
chips to vets, and animal charities; and
* Travik Limited (acquired March 2006): a contract manufacturer of liquid
cleaning products, such as vehicle grime remover, to commercial customers
including Halfords.


Although the Group had previously enjoyed high margins and strong market share,
in recent years Ritchey has been faced with a number of challenges in its
markets including increased competition resulting in pressure on margins. The
Company suffered declining financial performance from 2002 through 2006.
Additionally the Company was hampered by historic underinvestment in Ritchey's
existing operating management systems.


The management team was significantly strengthened by the appointment of Simon
Riddell as Managing Director in July 2005 and James Lambert as Chairman in
October 2005. A strategic review was undertaken which identified the need to
improve the performance of the Company in areas such as product offering and
quality, customer service, management processes, overheads and the marketing of
the Ritchey and Fearing brands.


The new management team is now well established, and the operational changes are
beginning to deliver significant benefits. The year ended 30 June 2007 showed an
improved financial performance with the Company generating earnings before
exceptional items and goodwill impairment of £556,000 (£449,000).


Products and services


Identification tags

The Group's largest business category by sales is the supply of identification
tags primarily for cattle and sheep. EU regulations require that all livestock
are identified with a unique reference number provided by the local agricultural
department, e.g. DEFRA for England. The reference number for cattle and sheep is
marked on an identification tag whilst for pigs the mark can be applied directly
to the animal. Livestock cannot enter the food chain without the correct
identification.


Latest DEFRA estimates indicate there are 10.3 million cattle and 33.6 million
sheep in the UK. Based on data supplied by DEFRA, the Directors believe that
Ritchey has a market share of approximately 20 percent providing significant
growth opportunities for the Group.


Ritchey also supplies other identification products, primarily for Health &
Safety and asset management purposes, to commercial customers such as Fire &
Rescue Services. The Directors consider that this area of business has
cnsiderable growth potential.