SECTOR: HEALTHCARE
Commercial update
NORTHLAND VIEW
Venture Life Group (‘VLG’) announced a strong commercial update for its product ranges with the current order book ahead of the same point in 2017 and in-line with management expectations.
UltraDEX: During Q1 2018, UltraDEX mouthwash will be listed in Day Lewis Pharmacies, a pharmacy with over 300 UK stores. Superdrug pharmacy, will list UltraDEX toothpaste in c. 460 stores in Q1 2018. UltraDEX mouth spray will be launched in Roadchef outlets across the UK in Q1 2018, following listings in Moto motorway service stations in 2017. TV advertising for UltraDEX products run in Q1 2018 follows successful TV marketing campaigns in 2017. UltraDEX has been launched in Italy, France and Scandinavia through the Group's new long term exclusive partners. First orders were delivered at the end of 2017.
Benecol: VLG will launch its Benecol, a cholesterol-reducing nutraceutical, in its first market, Jordan, in Q1 2018.
Procto-eze: VLG signed an exclusive long-term partnership for Procto-eze Plus, a haemorrhoids treatment, with a new partner for the Romanian market. The Procto-eze range is currently partnered in 12 countries.
Lubatti: The Lubatti skincare brand showed in-store sales growth in mainland China throughout H2 2017, via Gialen, VLG's long term partner, which has c. 2,200 stores in China. VLG has received orders in 2018 (from end of January) from Gialen, exceeding total revenues from Gialen in 2017.
Following a strong trading update for the year ended 31 December 2017, indicating c.60% EBITDA (adj.) growth, this commercial update shows the continued growth of the Group’s brands. The new UltraDex listings further strengthens the Group's presence in the UK pharmacy sector and the TV advertising campaign is expected to increase customer awareness of the brand and grow sales. Outside of the UK, VLG is expanding its UltraDEX distribution into high-value European countries and seeing a significant increase in orders in mainland China for Lubatti. We expect the Group to continue to show increased profitability over 2018, as a result of the Company’s operating leverage.
COMPANY DESCRIPTION
Venture Life Group plc is a consumer healthcare company. The group develops, manufactures, and commercialises self-care products which target the ageing population.