Neptune Technologies & Bioressources has announced its action plan going forward to resume operations which have been interrupted as a result of the incident that occurred on November 8, 2012 at its production plant located in Sherbrooke, Québec and to progressively supply customer demands in the interim.
Following the incident, Neptune said that its focus has, and continues to be, concentrated first and foremost on its employees and the families of those most affected by the incident, and supporting them through the tragedy. Quickly following the incident, Neptune has established five recovery committees composed of senior management and key employees to coordinate employee assistance, the action plan and business aspects: (1) human resources & communications, (2) sales & marketing, (3) plant reconstruction, (4) finance and (5) a strategic committee overseeing potential strategic opportunities and coordinating the efforts of all committees.
The company noted that, while this tragic incident had and still has a significant impact on Neptune’s operations, it believes it remains a viable business and is committed to recovering from the incident, which will be pursued through the implementation of a strategic action plan going forward aiming to meet the following key milestones and targets:
• resuming its neutraceutical operations and certain levels of sales of its Neptune Krill Oil products to customers in the short term;
• maintaining key customer relationships and market share, particularly until production of Neptune Krill Oil products can reach pre-incident levels;
• reconstructing an operational plant using the expansion facility that was under completion and certain existing equipment in the expansion, which expansion and equipment do not appear to have suffered considerable damages from the incident;
• pursuing partnerships and/or arrangements with one or more strategic partners for the outsourcing of production for Neptune Krill Oil products, both as an interim measure to ensure certain levels of production prior to its new plant being fully operational and as a longer-term strategy to diversify sources and means of production; and
• prudently managing its financial resources while continuing its product development and clinical trials, including defending its patents and intellectual property and supporting as planned the pharmaceutical development of its two subsidiaries, Acasti Pharma and NeuroBioPharm whose operations have not been interrupted as a result of the incident.
“Neptune’s action plan is the result of our strategic reflection on a strong path forward, keeping the interests of our shareholders, employees, customers and partners at the top of our minds and priorities,” said Henri Harland, president and chief executive officer of Neptune. “By nature it is a multi-faceted and long-term plan, and the key lies in its execution. In a situation where we now face new challenges in a very difficult and sad circumstance for the Neptune family, we will stay committed to our new Plan and our shareholders, employees and customers.”
