Asian Citrus Holdings Ltd Market Update (3433K)
December 29 2015 - 9:15AM
UK Regulatory
TIDMACHL
RNS Number : 3433K
Asian Citrus Holdings Ltd
29 December 2015
For immediate release 29 December 2015
Asian Citrus Holdings Limited
("Asian Citrus" or the "Company", together with its subsidiaries
(the "Group"))
Market Update
Asian Citrus provides the following update on the financial and
operational impact of the presence of Huanglongbing disease at the
Group's Xinfeng Plantation, as previously announced on 18 December
2015.
In view of the substantial decrease in production yield of
winter oranges at Xinfeng Plantation as announced on 18 December
2015, the Group engaged two independent research centres, Citrus
Research Institute, the national scientific research centre for
citrus fruits and directly subordinated to the Chinese Academy of
Agricultural Sciences, the Ministry of Agriculture of the People's
Republic of China (the "PRC") and Guangxi Academy of Specialty
Crops, the scientific research centre subordinated to the
Department of Agriculture of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the
PRC, to conduct comprehensive investigations into the extent of the
infection of Huanglongbing disease (the "Investigations").
The Group has identified the presence of Huanglongbing disease
at Xinfeng Plantation since April 2015 with an initial estimated
infection rate of approximately 18% of the total orange trees in
Xinfeng Plantation based on visual detection of the symptoms.
317,839 winter orange trees suffering from Huanglongbing disease
were removed and additional pesticides were applied as to prevent
the spread of the Huanglongbing disease and protect the unaffected
orange trees since then. Visual detection by scouting is only about
50 to 60 per cent. effective while the latency period between
infection and symptom development can range between 6 months and 2
years or longer depending on the health condition of the tree.
Based on the information available to the board of directors of the
Company (the "Board") from the Investigations, the estimated
average rate of infection of Huanglongbing disease is currently
assessed to be more than 60% of the total orange trees in Xinfeng
Plantation.
Neighbouring plantations of Xinfeng Plantation have witnessed
severe infection of Huanglongbing disease due to the lack of action
programs and cohesive coordination of efforts in controlling the
transmission of Huanglongbing disease by the local governments and
growers in the nearby regions. Management believes the widespread
coverage of infection in the nearby regions diminished the
effectiveness of the protections implemented by the Group, namely
the removal of infected trees and pesticide application against
insect transmission at Xinfeng Plantation, thus increased the
infection at Xinfeng Plantation since April 2015.
In view of the massive infection of Huanglongbing disease and
the present uncertainties over the effectiveness of the control
measures on the spreading of Huanglongbing disease in Xinfeng
Plantation, the Investigations conclude that the average infection
rate is expected to increase to 70% to 80% of the total orange
trees in the next two to three years and Xinfeng Plantation is no
longer economically productive. As a result, the Board has decided
to shut down Xinfeng Plantation with operations ceasing permanently
after completion of the winter orange harvest in this year.
The amount of turnover attributable to Xinfeng Plantation
represented approximately 33.7% of the Group's total revenue for
the financial year ended 30 June 2015. As previously announced on
18 December 2015, the estimated production output of Xinfeng
Plantation for the second half of 2015 will be substantially
reduced to approximately 11,000 tonnes in comparison to the actual
production output of 103,847 tonnes in the same period last year
due to Huanglongbing disease. The Board currently estimates that
impairment losses and provisions relating to the cessation of
operation of Xinfeng Plantation of approximately RMB 850 million to
assets will be required in the Group's financial statements for the
financial year ending 30 June 2016 (the "FY2016") and the results
of the Group for FY2016 are expected to be adversely affected.
The Board wishes to reiterate that the Group's insurance policy
does not cover damage from the presence of any diseases and as such
there will be no reimbursement for the losses incurred from
Huanglongbing disease.
The content contained in this announcement is based on the
latest information available to the Board and the assessment of the
financial impact to the Group for FY2016 is still under review, and
should be read in conjunction with the winter orange crop as
previously announced on 18 December 2015.
Shareholders and investors are advised to exercise caution when
dealing in the shares of the Company.
For further enquiries please contact:
Asian Citrus +852 3951 000
Vasco van der Flier, Head of Investor Relations
Cantor Fitzgerald Europe (NOMAD +44 (0) 20 7894
and Broker) 7000
Rick Thompson, David Foreman, Michael Reynolds
(Corporate Finance)
+44 (0) 20 7067
Weber Shandwick Financial 0700
Nick Oborne, Stephanie Badjonat, Tom Jenkins
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
MSCUKASRVUAUUAA
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
December 29, 2015 09:15 ET (14:15 GMT)
Asian Citrus (LSE:ACHL)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
Asian Citrus (LSE:ACHL)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024