TIDMAVCT

RNS Number : 6944E

Avacta Group PLC

12 February 2015

12 February 2015

Avacta Group plc

("Avacta" or "the Group")

Sale of Optim Trade and Assets

Strategic Focusing of Group's Activities

Avacta Group plc (AIM: AVCT), the global provider of proprietary diagnostic tools, consumables and reagents for human and animal healthcare announces, it has completed a sale of the trade and selected assets of its Optim product ("Optim") to Unchained Labs Inc.

The Group will receive up to $5 million in cash, with $3.5 million received as initial consideration and up to $1.5 million to be received dependent on the future sales performance of the product over the period to 31 December 2019.

Optim formed substantially all of the Avacta Analytical operating segment of the Group's operations and, for the year ended 31 July 2014, this operating segment reported revenues of GBP1.6 million and an operating profit of GBP0.1 million. The Group's carrying value for Optim is approximately GBP1.7 million, which includes a related deferred tax liability of approximately GBP0.4 million.

In addition, the Group carried a non-cash, non-current intangible asset of goodwill related to the Avacta Analytical operating segment of GBP4.9 million which will be charged to the income statement.

Following the sale of Optim, the Group will apply the proceeds of the sale primarily towards the continuing development and commercialisation of its Affimer technology.

Dr Alastair Smith, Group Chief Executive commented:

"For some time now, the principle focus of the Group's resources has been on the Affimer opportunity and the sale of the Optim product is strategically important as it allows the Group to focus even more intensively on the development and commercialisation of Affimers.

"Optim is now established as a product in its market and the opportunity is substantial for an acquirer with significant sales and marketing resources to put behind it.

"The Group has a huge opportunity with the Affimer technology to grow significant value for shareholders. It is important for us to focus on that and I am therefore pleased that we have been able to take this strategic step."

Enquiries:

 
 Avacta Group plc                      Tel: +44 (0) 
  Alastair Smith, Chief Executive       844 414 0452 
  Officer                               www.avacta.com 
  Tim Sykes, Chief Financial Officer 
 
 Numis Securities Limited              Tel: +44 (0) 
  Michael Meade / Freddie Barnfield     207 260 1000 
  - Nominated Adviser                   www.numiscorp.com 
  James Black - Corporate Broking 
 
 Media Enquiries                       Tel: +44 (0) 
  Walbrook PR Ltd                       207 933 8780 
  Mike Wort / Anna Dunphy               avacta@walbrookpr.com

About Avacta Group plc - www.avacta.com

Avacta Group plc is a global provider of innovative technologies, consumables and reagents for the life science markets, from drug discovery to diagnostics. Avacta operates through two divisions:

 
 Avacta Animal                 Veterinary diagnostics reference 
  Health                        laboratory and diagnostic kit 
  www.avactaanimalhealth.com    provider. 
----------------------------  --------------------------------------- 
 Avacta Life Sciences          Novel non-antibody affinity 
  www.avactalifesciences.com    reagents called Affimers, with 
                                a wide range of Life Science 
                                applications in diagnostics, 
                                drug and biomarker discover 
                                and biotech research and development. 
----------------------------  ---------------------------------------

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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