Update on the Impact of Cyclone Gabrielle

Rua Bioscience provides the following update on its operations in the wake of the regional disruptions caused by Cyclone Gabrielle.

We’d firstly like to pay tribute to our incredible communities who are facing unfathomable challenges, but whose resilience never ceases to amaze. As our region focuses on recovery, we’re freeing as much of our team and resources as possible to support clean-up efforts.

Thank you to all those shareholders, suppliers, and partners who enquired after our team and facilities. Rua’s operations were disrupted but our entire team is safe.

In Gisborne, Rua’s head office and manufacturing facility are closed. Neither site sustained damage, but water and connectivity issues present major challenges. Members of these teams are working remotely as far as is practical and volunteering within the community. Rua has ample stocks of medicine available through our distributor in Christchurch and we do not expect supply disruptions.

Rua’s R&D facility at Ruatorea remains operational. The team in Ruatorea, who faced their second adverse weather event this year, worked quickly to bed down our R&D crops. Once safe to do so, a skeleton crew returned to the facility, working tirelessly to keep our genetic catalogue alive and R&D projects thriving. Resources remain light around the East Coast but, as a result of their incredible efforts, our indoor and outdoor grows remain on track.

Of course, our main cultivation supply is off-shore and has not been impacted.

With roading, water, and connectivity remaining a challenge, we’re unlikely to operate at full staffing levels till Monday 27 February. Rua’s senior management team is closely monitoring the situation and is confident we have the people and resources in place to ensure business continuity.

Rua is not able to determine the impact on business moving forward. We will provide further updates as relevant information comes to hand.