Issued on behalf of Premaitha Health plc
Manchester, UK: Thursday, 4 June 2015
Directorate Change
Manchester, UK – 4 June 2015: Premaitha Health plc (“Premaitha” or “the Company”; AIM: NIPT) announces the appointment of Barry Hextall, CGMA, MBA, CertIOD as Chief Financial Officer to the Board with immediate effect, replacing Mark Collingbourne.
Mr Hextall is a Chartered Management Accountant with over 15 years’ experience in senior financial roles, including with AIM-listed organisations. He has managed many international businesses through major changes and rapid growth, and has significant experience working in the medical devices and diagnostic sectors. His previous employers include JRI Orthopaedics Ltd, Immunodiagnostic Systems plc, C J Garland & Co Ltd, Ernst & Young LLP and Zeneca (formerly ICI) plc.
Mark Collingbourne has decided to step down to focus on his other business interests and directorships. He has ensured an orderly handover with his successor.
David Evans, Chairman of Premaitha commented: “On behalf of the Board, I welcome Barry to the team at this exciting time for Premaitha as the Company grows sales of its non-invasive prenatal screening test, IONA®. Barry’s long term experience as a CFO, especially his knowledge of the AIM market and diagnostics sector, will be invaluable to us as we continue our strategy for growth in Europe.
“I would also like to thank Mark for his contribution over the last year, particularly during the placing and AIM listing of Premaitha, and in the aftermarket period. We wish him all the best in the future.”
The following information is disclosed under Schedule 2(g) of the AIM Rules for Companies.
Barry Kenneth Hextall, aged 47, has held the following directorships or partnerships in the past five years:
Current
Snuglin Limited
Forum Cinema Hexham Limited
Helix Plus Limited
Past 5 years
JRI Orthopaedics Limited
Immunodiagnostic Systems plc
Immunodiagnostic Systems France SAS
Immunodiagnostic Systems SA
Immunodiagnostic Systems Inc
Mr Hextall currently owns 1,762 shares in the Company, representing 0.001 per cent of the Company’s issued share capital.
Mr Hextall was a de facto Director of a turnaround company, Circatex Group Ltd, from June 2004 to January 2006 which was placed into administration in January 2006 and then liquidation in January 2007.
There is no further information to be disclosed under Schedule 2(g) of the AIM Rules for Companies.
For more information, please contact:
Premaitha Health plc
Dr Stephen Little, Chief Executive Officer
Jo Cross, Head of Marketing
Tel: +44 (0) 161 667 6865
Email: investors@premaitha.com
joanne.cross@premaitha.com
Cairn Financial Advisers LLP (NOMAD)
Liam Murray / Avi Robinson
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7148 7900
Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited (Broker)
Robert Naylor / Freddy Crossley / Maisie Rose Atkinson
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7886 2500
Instinctif Partners (Media)
Melanie Toyne Sewell / Jayne Crook / Emma Barlow
Tel: +44 (0) 207 457 2020
Email: premaitha@instinctif.com
About Premaitha Health
Premaitha Health (AIM: NIPT) is an innovative molecular diagnostics company employing the latest advances in DNA analysis technology to develop tests for non-invasive prenatal screening (NIPT) and other applications. Premaitha’s flagship product, the IONA® test is the first non-invasive in vitro diagnostic CE marked product for prenatal screening enabling clinical laboratories to offer a regulated NIPT in-house.
The IONA® test estimates the risk of a fetus having Down’s syndrome or other serious genetic diseases. The IONA® test has a higher detection rate and lower false positive rate than existing screening tests, giving pregnant women, their families and their doctors greater confidence in the result and reducing the need for unnecessary invasive follow-up tests and the associated anxiety and stress.
The IONA® test is a complete diagnostic system that is simple and standardised, enabling Premaitha’s clinical laboratory customers to perform the test in their own facilities. This supports Premaitha’s strategy of accelerating the broad dissemination of NIPT tests to ensure that their benefits are available to pregnant women everywhere.
Premaitha Health plc is listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange. Premaitha is ISO 13485 certified and its R&D, manufacturing and commercial operation is located at Manchester Science Park, UK.
For further information please visit www.premaitha.com or email iona@premaitha.com
