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Whatman plc - Pre close trading statement and appointment of new CEO Thursday, January 18, 2007 -------------------------------------------------- Whatman plc ("Whatman"), a leading global supplier of separations technology to the life sciences industry, today provides a full year trading update to the market. The key points are as follows: Revenue for 2006 excluding Biometra biomedizinische Analytik GmbH i.L (“Biometra”) is expected to be approximately £114 million. On an underlying basis, excluding the effects of exchange, this is a 5% increase over 2005. Litigation involving Biometra has been resolved. Provisions of around £9 million will be released to profit in 2006. Additional stock provisions of £3 million will be made in 2006. In light of the disappointing trading during 2006, the Board of Whatman has concluded that new leadership is required. Bill Emhiser, the Company’s current Chief Executive, will stand down from his position and leave the Company with immediate effect and will be replaced by Kieran Murphy, formerly the Chief Executive of Innovata plc, which recently announced the completion of its merger with Vectura plc.
Revenue for 2006 On 10 November 2006, Whatman announced that it expected 2006 revenue growth to be in the 6-7% range. Some customer orders which were expected in November and December were not received and will now be supplied in early 2007. As a result growth, excluding Biometra and the effect of exchange rates, was lower than expected at 5%.
Operating margins will be affected by this sales performance and on an underlying basis are expected to be slightly lower than current analysts’ consensus estimates.
A one off gain arising from the A-day pension change is expected to substantially offset this margin shortfall.
Litigation involving Biometra Whatman’s Biometra subsidiary, based in Göttingen in Germany, manufactures distributes and sells thermocyclers for use in DNA analysis. Biometra has been the subject of patent infringement allegations which were threatening its survival. In July 2003, Whatman announced that Biometra was to enter voluntary liquidation. Since that time the liquidator has worked with the various litigators to settle claims and Whatman has maintained a 100% provision against Biometra’s net assets of £9 million. From January 2005 onwards, Whatman has reported Biometra as a discontinued operation within the group.
Whatman is now able to announce that Biometra has signed licence agreements with Beckman Coulter Inc (“Beckman”), regarding various Beckman patents and with Applera Corporation through its Applied Biosystems Group (“Applera”), regarding Roche and Applera patents.
Having settled these litigation actions, Biometra is now able to sell fully licensed thermocyclers.
Biometra will be taken out of liquidation and the Board considers it in the best interests of the business to treat Biometra as a continuing operation. It will be reported in Whatman’s BioScience segment. In 2006, the business is expected to contribute revenues of £6.6 million and an underlying operating profit of £1.2 million. There are no immediate plans to divest the business, but the Board will continue to review longer term strategic options for Biometra. The resulting release of provisions will create a one time gain in Whatman’s 2006 income statement of around £9 million.
Stock provisions In 2006, Whatman increased stock levels in order to improve customer service levels and avoid supply shortages during the final plant consolidations. It is our normal practice to create provisions against slower moving lines even while we continue to utilise and sell that inventory and thus the Board has decided it would be appropriate to increase stock provisions at 31 December by £3 million.
Appointment of new CEO Kieran Murphy, 43, has been appointed as Chief Executive of Whatman with immediate effect. He has been Chief Executive Officer of Innovata plc (formerly ML Laboratories plc) since March 2005 where he has led the turnaround of the company, leading to more than a doubling of its share price and its eventual merger with Vectura plc. Prior to becoming CEO of Innovata, he was Chief Executive of Adprotech Limited, a privately-owned UK biotech company, acquired by Inflazyme Pharmaceuticals Inc in 2004 and before that he was Chief Executive Officer of Novartis Animal Vaccines, where he led a merger and acquisitions strategy to build a food animal vaccines business. An M.Sc, he has over 16 years experience in the life sciences sector.
There are no further details regarding Mr Murphy to be disclosed under the Continuing Obligations provisions of the Listing Rules (new rules LR9.6.13).
Bob Thian, Chairman of Whatman plc, said:
“Whatman is currently underperforming and it is disappointing to report that the Company has missed successive sales growth targets during 2006. Although the Board is conscious of the number of senior management changes at Whatman in recent years, it is determined to put in place a management team that can deliver the sales and profit growth of which it is convinced the Company is capable.
“We are very pleased that Kieran Murphy has agreed to become the Company’s new CEO. With his long experience in the life sciences sector and his strong track record in creating value for shareholders, the Board believes he can bring real momentum to Whatman and reinvigorate its growth. We welcome him to the Company and look forward to working with him.”
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