Ceva showcases hatchery innovations during WVPA

The XIXth World Veterinary Poultry Association (WVPA) congress is taking place this week in Cape Town, South Africa. With Ceva as a diamond sponsor, the congress gathers more than 1,000 poultry specialists from around the world and presents an excellent opportunity to build and develop profitable exchanges and relationships.
Ceva is sharing its latest innovations and expert knowledge in poultry vaccination, equipment and services. The Ceva stand provides practical and technical information to help poultry producers in improving their performance using new technology products such as Transmune®, Vectormune® ND and Egginject®
 One hot topic at the congress is the subject of avian influenza. The disease has proved to be a major threat for the global poultry industry, disrupting international trade and inducing heavy economical losses in infected flocks. Nevertheless, there is still a debate raging about the necessity of AI vaccination.
In that context, during the congress, Ceva will hold a symposium on Thursday with leading global figures, including the USDA, to address the current AI situation and discuss the differing industry perspectives. The symposium will be entitled: “Avian Influenza – The value of vaccination in changing times”. Indeed, Ceva’s vector vaccine Vectormune® AI offers a new way to control this disease in vaccinating countries around the world.

Double-digit sales growth for Ceva in 2015 first half

Consolidated sales of the Ceva Group reached EUR424 million (US$462 million) at the end of June 2015, representing growth of 16 percent and a 12 percent increase at constant perimeter and exchange rates.
Sales grew in all zones, except Europe which was stable versus the same period of 2014, with strong performance in North America/Pacific region (up 43 percent), Asia (up 38 percent) and Latin America (up 26 percent).
Business centered around all species are growing, especially poultry (up 27 percent globally and up 35 percent on vaccines) and companion animals (up 13 percent).
The group delivered an operational result slightly ahead of the budgeted objective and continued to make significant investment in research and development.
Marc Prikazsky, Ceva’s chairman and CEO commented: “The growth of the group remains consistent and ahead of our 2020 business plan. It’s very pleasing to see that our previous investment to develop innovative new technology vaccines is being rewarded with increased business from our poultry customers. We have a significant new pipeline of products to launch, which will further boost our business in companion animals, swine and dairy. ”

Ceva posts double-digit growth in 2014

Consolidated sales of the Ceva Group reached EUR766 million (US$832 million) at the end of 2014, representing growth of 23 percent and an increase of 14.1 percent at a constant perimeter and exchange rates. Sales grew in all zones and across all species with particularly strong performance being recorded in companion animals. Sales in the companion animal business were up 17.3, while sales in Ceva’s poultry business were up 14 percent.
The company released its 2014 financial figures on March 4.
The animal health group delivered an operational result slightly ahead of the budgeted objective but also continued to make significant investment in research and development, where spending exceeded 9 percent of sales. The integration of Sogeval proved to be a major success, the company stated, with the creation of a new Ceva Sogeval campus in Laval, France, and significant growth in sales (up 21 percent) in France of the joint business.
Marc Prikazsky, Ceva’s chairman and CEO commented: “The consistency in our performance is particularly pleasing and stems from our innovative pipeline of products that should continue to drive growth in the years ahead.  I’m delighted by the way we were able to integrate Sogeval into the group, with minimal disruption and indeed a very strong result in France.”

Ceva expands, renovates plant in Libourne, France

Global veterinary health group Ceva has invested EUR18 million (US$22.6 million) in renovating and extending its sterile products plant in Libourne, France. The new industrial facility was inaugurated October 3 and will increase injectable drug production capacity.
Driving innovation is the key factor behind Ceva’s pharmaceutical strategy and to meet the demand of future growth, Ceva invested in expanding and improving the controlled-atmosphere production areas at its Libourne plant. After two and a half years of work without shutting down existing production facilities, an extension of 500 square meters has now been completed, along with the renovation of 1,000 square meters of new existing floor areas and installation of new manufacturing and filling equipment.
“This project was an essential step to support our ambitions and secure the plant’s competitive edge. Eighteen million 100ml vials can be produced by the plant each year, and the first order for China will be leaving next week,” said Emmanuel Coudre, Libourne site director. “This new, high-performance industrial facility uses modern technologies in a state-of-the-art environment to comply with the highest international standards of good manufacturing practice and provide optimal working conditions for production personnel.”
This plant for the future has been designed to allow Ceva the possibility of making further developments in line with changes in product demand and pharmaceutical regulations.

Ceva adds Mérieux Développement as new shareholder

Ceva, a global veterinary pharmaceutical company headquartered in Aquitaine, France, is welcoming a new minority shareholder, Mérieux Développement, the investment company of Institut Mérieux.
In addition to the funds that the company is bringing, this support from Mérieux Développement is particularly important for Ceva for several reasons. The Institut Mérieux has a long history of working with China, a key country for Ceva’s future development, and has developed partnerships with the scientific and medical community to cope with public health priorities like tuberculosis, personalized cancer care, food safety, emerging diseases and preventing antibiotic resistance. Ceva also recognizes potential synergies that could be beneficial to Ceva through Mérieux Développement’s investments in innovative and/or high-growth enterprises in Europe and internationally.
Thierry Chignon, senior partner at Mérieux Développement, said: “The high quality of the management and their teams, their marketing position in avian and swine biology and the large resources allocated to R&D gave us every confidence in Ceva’s ability to pursue its ambitious growth. We will be pleased to bring our experience, our network and our support over the long term.”
The addition of Mérieux Développement follows action in June when Ceva finalized the group’s fourth leveraged management buyout, enabling it to pursue its development program to become one of the top 5 global animal health companies by 2020. Temasek in June joined CDH Investments, Euromezzanine and Sagard as investors in Ceva.

Ceva first semester 2014 sales grow by double digits

Consolidated first semester sales of Ceva Group reached EUR366.5 million (US$493.49 million) at the end of June, representing growth of 18.3 percent when compared to the first six months of 2013. At constant perimeter (excluding the Sogeval acquisition at the end of 2013) and exchange rates, growth was 10.8 percent. Unfavorable exchange rate movements impacted Ceva’s sales by EUR22 million (US$29.2 million).
Sales grew in all zones, with a particularly strong performance from the companion animal sector, where a 12 percent improvement was reported. Vectra, Ceva’s leading topical parasiticide for companion animals, benefited from strong sales in the U.S. and a successful launch across the European Union.
Ceva’s LMBO to help company’s growth
Ceva began its 4th and latest leveraged management buyout (LMBO) on July, 1, following a highly successful reshaping of its capital structure to include a diverse range of new shareholders who will help Ceva to achieve its ambition to become one of the top five global animal health companies by 2020.
Marc Prikazsky, Ceva’s chairman and CEO commented: “To finish the last 6 months of our previous LMBO on such a high note is extremely pleasing. Our new shareholders have placed a lot of confidence in the future of our business, not least the management team who re-invested very significantly to retain majority control. These results demonstrate that we have the right platform in place to deliver future sustained growth.”