The Sensible HCEG Thread.

This from the AGM.....nearly five months into H1 - making 'good progress'


Healthcare Enterprise reports 'good progress' in trading in year to date

LONDON (AFX) - Healthcare Enterprise Group PLC said it has seen "good
progress" in trading in the year to date and expects to see significant further
developments by the end of the year.
"The start of the current year has seen continued good progress with respect
to trading in our products distribution business and further important
developments from our brands businesses such as Ebiox and Optiscope," said
chairman Stuart Bruck at the company's AGM.
The company predicts a significant increase in the turnover of its
occupational health and first aid business in 2006 as a result of changes to
health and safety legislation.
The division is also expected to receive an additional 4-5 mln stg in
profits on an annualised basis from its Crest acquisition, which was integrated
into the business in April.
Elsewhere, the company said its branded products, such as its Ebiox
decontamination product and its Optiscope disposable endoscope, have proved
particularly strong in the year so far.
It said Ebiox has now passed the laboratory tests necessary to launch it
into new worldwide markets, including the medical, dental, veterinary,
industrial and hospitality service markets.
The company is currently in discussions with a number of potential
distribution partners for Ebiox in the US, China, Japan, Europe and South East
Asia. Sales are expected to start as soon as the respective registration
processes are completed in each country.
In its reproductive health division, the company said its recent
acquisitions of equity stakes in MeDilator and Fertiligent have provided the
group with a pipeline of new products. It said it plans to launch new product
prototypes at the Medica exhibition in November 2005.
"HCEG has made significant progress in a relatively short space of time and
we look forward to an extremely busy and productive year," said Bruck.