Selvita Reports Financial Results for Q1 2020: Dynamic Increase in Backlog for 2020 and Strong Position on the Market

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May 26, 2020, 02:24 ET

KRAKOW, Poland, May 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Selvita (WSE: SLV), one of the largest preclinical contract research organizations in Europe, reported today its first quarter 2020 financial results and provided a corporate update.

The company continues its dynamic growth and reports backlog for 2020 of EUR 21,8 million, indicating a 41% increase to the values reported a year ago. The increase in the value of signed contracts in the Services segment amounted to 48%.

For the first three months of 2020, Selvita reports consolidated revenues of EUR 7 million, up by 41% on a year-on-year basis, thus confirming very good preliminary estimates published on April 29, 2020. What is quite remarkable, despite the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, the company has managed to strengthen its position in the global CRO market, especially among US customers considered the largest biotechnology market in the world.

Commercial revenues in the Services Segment amounted to EUR 5.8 million in 1Q 2020, indicating a 46% increase as compared to same period previous year. The Bioinformatics Segment's (Ardigen, where Selvita holds 54,7 percent of votes at the General Meeting of Shareholders) commercial revenues increased by 33% and amounted to EUR 0.7 million.

Company's EBITDA profit reached EUR 1.7 million and was by 52% higher than in Q1 2019, with a profitability margin of nearly 24%. The net result increased by 92% reaching EUR 0.8 million. These results, demonstrate that Selvita has not only maintained but in fact exceed its planned rate of growth.

- We're sticking to the plan and not slowing down our pace of development. We're maintaining high revenue dynamics, at the same time increasing EBITDA margin, which in Q1 2020 has increased by nearly 2 p.p. The results we managed to achieve in the past quarter are particularly satisfying, due to the global economic uncertainty caused by COVID-19 pandemic. So far, it looks like Selvita successfully went through this difficult time. We implemented safety measures in order to secure the health and safety of our employees and managed to maintain business continuity in all projects. In this uncertain environment, we were able to strengthen our position among foreign customers, especially on the U.S. market. Many pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies have realized the need for geographical diversification of outsourced services. Selvita skillfully fits into these changing trends on the preclinical CRO market - comments Bogusław Sieczkowski, co-founder, and Chief Executive Officer at Selvita.

External revenues from the services commissioned by US customers increased in Q1 2020 by 175% and already constitute over 25% of the entire Services Segment revenues. At the same time, revenues from the services commissioned by customers from the United Kingdom increased by 74%. Services contracts from these two largest global biotech & pharma markets include both drug discovery and regulatory research. Increasing customer recognition for the high quality of services and competences offered by Selvita team results in further contracts. As on May 21, the backlog in the Service Segment amounted to EUR 18.0 million, i.e. was 48% higher than same time previous year. Out of which, nearly EUR 14.0 million concerns the services in the area of drug discovery and EUR 3.5 million in regulatory research.

- The continuously growing backlog, demonstrates that during the pandemic, despite the restrictions placed on international travel and cancelation of industry events, we are able to acquire new contracts efficiently. With most of global business activity going virtual, the geographical barriers have disappeared and we can build our position on the international market on an equal level with other providers - emphasizes Bogusław Sieczkowski.

In addition to increasing revenues, Selvita's new strategy also assumes maintaining a stable EBITDA margin and over EUR 230 million of market cap in 2023. For this purpose, in 2020-2023, the company intends to execute investments worth up to EUR 75-90 million, which will be allocated to acquisitions and organic development.

In order to execute the strategy, Selvita plans to raise approx. EUR 21 million by issuing up to 15% of the share capital in a Follow-On offering. Approximately 80% of the proceeds will be allocated for acquisitions. One of the elements of the strategy execution will be the creation of Selvita Research Center in order to secure own research space necessary for further growth. The Company has already made a first step towards execution of this aim, and signed a preliminary contract for a plot of land in the neighborhood of its current laboratories. The initiation of the investment is planned for 2021.

About Selvita

Selvita is a CRO (Contract Research Organization) Company providing multidisciplinary support in resolving the unique challenges of research within area of drug discovery, regulatory studies, as well as research and development.

The company was established in 2007 and currently employs ca. 500 professionals, of which over 1/3 hold PhD title. Selvita is headquartered in Krakow, Poland, with a second research site in Poznan, Poland and foreign offices located in Cambridge, MA and South San Francisco, in the U.S., as well as in Cambridge, UK. The company has a proven track record of successfully completed projects and customers in 40 countries. Majority of Company revenues come from pharma, biotech, chemical and agrochemical companies from the US and Europe. Selvita is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE:SLV). For more information, please see www.selvita.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain forward-looking statements, including, among other things, statements regarding the guidance from management and financial results. Selvita cautions the reader that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which might cause the actual results, financial conditions, performance or achievements of Selvita, or industry results, to be materially different from any historic or future results, financial conditions, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition, even if Selvita's results, performance, financial conditions, and the development of the industry in which it operates are consistent with such forward-looking statements, they may not be predictive of results or developments in future periods. Given these uncertainties, the reader is advised not to place any undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of publication of this document. Selvita expressly disclaims any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements in this document to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements, unless specifically required by law or regulation.

Contact details:

Investor Relations contact:
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Media contact:

Natalia Baranowska
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+48-784-069-418

SOURCE Selvita