31 January 2024
BSF Enterprise
PLC
("BSF"
or the "Company")
Full Year
Results
BSF (LSE: BSFA), (OTCQB:
BSFAF), the Main Market listed industry leading biotech company and
owner of pioneering UK-based tissue engineering company 3D
Bio-Tissues (3DBT) and corneal tissue replacement company Kerato,
is pleased to announce its audited results
for the year ended 30 September 2023.
Financial and Group Highlights
·
Commenced trading on the OTCQB Market in the US
under the symbol BSFAF.
·
Raised £2.9 million in an oversubscribed
placement and subscription for new shares.
·
Secured a EUR612,000 grant to scale up City-Mix™
production over an extended period.
·
Cash balance of £1,640,000 as at the date of this
announcement.
· The Group's revenue reflects only small orders for CityMix™
as, at this stage, orders are from large companies evaluating
City-Mix™ for use in their own media formulation. It is the
Company's expectation that, following this evaluation, larger
orders will develop.
Portfolio Highlights
3DBT Progress
·
Successfully produced two
full-scale cultivated pork fillets, and a pork strip, demonstrating
how BSF's technology can produce cultivated meat in consumer-ready
'pre-sliced' form.
· Collaborated with major global cosmetic companies to test
Etsyl™, our proprietary lipopeptide for skincare
applications.
· Partnered with
Benzol to commercialise and distribute City-Mix in Germany. This
forms part of the Company's strategy to use an indirect sales model
for the biotech and life sciences markets across Europe and the
US.
·
Fortune 500 pharmaceutical
company purchased several vials of City-Mix for evaluation to be
used in its media formulation and help reduce costs.
· 3DBT is making good technical
progress on its leather products and continues to process
proof-of-concept studies with target companies. The Company plans
to make a more detailed announcement in due course, updating
investors and the market on the strategy for the year.
Kerato Formation
· Formed lab-grown cornea company Kerato Limited and
collaborated with a major US consumer goods company to explore
applications for lab-grown corneas.
· Appointed Dr Sarah Greenhalgh as Managing Director of
Kerato.
Post Period End Highlights
·
Two new staff members, including a Technical
Sales Specialist and Operations Manager, to focus on securing
additional procurement, manufacturing and distribution partnerships
for City-Mix™.
· Exclusive Joint Venture with continuous cell manufacturer,
Cellular Revolution Ltd, to develop a new Foodtech company focused
on an end-to-end solution for the manufacture of cultivated meat at
scale.
·
Publication of the
book, Cultured Meat Technology, co-authored by Chief Executive of
3DBT, Professor Che Connon.
Che Connon, Managing Director of BSF Enterprise and CEO at 3D
Bio Tissues, commented: "The year has seen significant
milestones achieved, with the continued growth of commercial
opportunities and new sales channels for 3DBT, alongside the
raising of new capital to support the Group's growth strategy such
as the formation of a new lab-grown cornea company,
Kerato.
"The management team has already
made huge strides towards the integration of 3DBT into the Group
and developed a clear plan to capitalise on the achievements made
since its acquisition. Our strategy is to develop BSF into an
ecosystem of industry-leading bio-tech companies that can bring
transformative products to healthcare, fashion and cellular
agriculture markets. With the formation of Kerato Limited, and our
recently announced JV to develop an end-to-end manufacturer of
cultivated meat, we are making great strides toward our strategic
goals.
"The ability to raise sufficient
funds and continue with operational and commercial progress has
come in a period of increasing uncertainty from the difficult
macro-economic environment, inflation and cost pressures. As a
young business, it is a testament to the Group for continuing to
generate opportunities to bring our products to market. I
look forward with confidence and to keeping you appraised of our
progress throughout the year."
For further
enquiries, please visit www.bsfenterprise.com or contact:
BSF
Enterprise PLC
|
Via SEC
Newgate below
|
Che
Connon - CEO & Executive Director
Geoff
Baker - Executive Director
|
|
|
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Shard
Capital (Broker)
|
|
Damon
Heath
|
0203 971
7000
|
|
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SEC
Newgate (Financial Communications)
|
|
Bob
Huxford
Elisabeth
Cowell
|
020 3757
6882
BSF@secnewgate.co.uk
|
ISIN of the Ordinary Shares
is GB00BHNBDQ51
SEDOL Code is BHNBDQ5.
About BSF
BSF
Enterprise PLC (BSF) is focused on unlocking the next generation of
biotechnological solutions - using cell-based tissue engineering to
help generate cultured meat, lab-grown leather, as well as human
corneas, collagen growth and skin substitutes, to deliver
sustainable solutions across a variety of sectors. It owns 100% of
the Main Market listed industry-leading biotech and tissue
engineering company 3D Bio-Tissues (3DBT) that successfully
produced the UK's first high-quality cultivated meat from its
laboratory in Newcastle as well as the corneal tissue replacement
company Kerato.
BSF aims
to deliver growth to shareholders through acquiring a suite of
technologies that underpins the development of tissue templating
for corneas, meat and leather, and license out the IP to
manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors to help manufacture the
products at sc
Registered number:
11554014
BSF Enterprise
Plc
Annual Report and
Consolidated Financial Statements
for the year ended 30
September 2023
Company Information
Directors
|
Min Yang
(Non-Executive
Chairman)
Geoffrey Baker
(Executive Director)
Dennis Kian Jing Ow
(Non-Executive Director)
Dr Che Connon
(Chief Executive
Officer)
|
|
|
Company Secretary
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Geoffrey Baker
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|
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Registered Office
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Aldgate Tower,
2 Leman Street,
London, E1 8QN
|
|
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Registered Number
|
11554014
|
|
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Auditors
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PKF Littlejohn LLP
Statutory Auditor
15 Westferry Circus
Canary Wharf
London, E14 4HD
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|
|
Legal Advisers
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Reynolds Porter Chamberlain
LLP Tower Bridge House
St Katharine's Way
London
E1W 1AA
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Principal Bankers
|
Bank of China (UK)
Limited
1 Lothbury
London, EC2R 7DB
|
|
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Registrars
|
Share Registrars
Limited
The Courtyard, 17 West
Street
Farnham,
Surrey, GU9 7DR
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|
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Contents
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Page
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Chairman's
statement
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4
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Chief Executive's
Report
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5
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Strategic Report
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8
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Directors' Report
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15
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Directors' remuneration
Report
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30
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Directors'
responsibilities
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34
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Independent auditor's
Report
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36
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Consolidated statement of
comprehensive income
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43
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Consolidated statement of
financial position
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44
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Consolidated statement of changes
in equity
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45
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Consolidated statement of cash
flows
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46
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Notes to the consolidated
financial statements
Company statement of financial
position
Company statement of changes in
equity
Notes to the Company financial
statements
|
47
79
80
81
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|
|
Chairman's Statement
On behalf of the Board, I present
the annual report and financial statements of BSF Enterprise Plc
for the year ended 30 September 2023.
We are very pleased to announce
the successful production of two additional full-scale cultivated
pork fillets, alongside a cultivated pork strip. This remarkable
feat was unveiled at a technical event on 25 May 2023, marking a
significant milestone in our journey towards sustainable meat
production. The development of the pork strip underscores the
versatility and effectiveness of our proprietary technology in
producing meat in a consumer-ready, 'pre-sliced' form, tailored for
cooking convenience.
Furthermore, we are delighted to
share that our Ordinary Shares commenced trading on the OTCQB
Venture Market in the United States on 24 May 2023, under the
symbol BSFAF. This listing provides us with access to a vast pool
of investors, enhancing our visibility and liquidity. It also
facilitates cross-border trading, priced in US dollars, during US
trading hours, thus easing the process for our international
investor base.
In addition, we reported that
following the conditional fundraising announcements made between
March and April 2023, we received approval from the Financial
Conduct Authority for our prospectus relating to the proposed
issuance of up to 29,542,200 new ordinary shares. This approval
marks a significant step forward in our capital-raising efforts and
positions us well for future growth.
On the product partnership front,
3D Bio-Tissues continues to forge ahead with collaborations with
major global cosmetic companies to test Etsyl™, our proprietary
lipopeptide, for skincare applications. This development
underscores the versatility and market potential of our technology
beyond the food sector. Moreover, we were pleased to announce that
3D Bio-Tissues secured a EUR612,000 grant to scale up City-Mix™, an
animal-free cell growth agent that plays a pivotal role in our
lab-grown meat and leather production processes. This funding will
enable us to accelerate the commercialization of this innovative
product.
In terms of strategic
developments, we are proud to announce the formation of Kerato
Limited ("Kerato''), a wholly-owned lab-grown cornea research
company. Kerato is collaborating with a major US consumer goods
company to explore diverse applications for lab-grown corneas,
further broadening our impact in the field of regenerative
medicine. The appointment of Dr Sarah Greenhalgh as Managing
Director strengthens Kerato's leadership team and positions the
company for success.
Looking ahead, we are confident in
our strong financial position, bolstered by recent funding and
engagement with US investors. This solid foundation enables us to
drive forward transformative innovations in cellular agriculture
and pursue exciting new opportunities in the coming weeks and
months.
On behalf of the Board, I would
like to express our deepest gratitude to our shareholders for their
continued support and trust in our vision and strategy. We remain
committed to delivering on our promises and creating long-term
value for all stakeholders.
I look forward to reporting to you
on our progress over the coming year.
Min Yang
Chairman
Chief Executive's
Report
I am pleased to present my report
for the Company for the year to 30 September 2023.
Business review and future developments
Financial summary
The net loss for the year ended 30
September 2023 was £1,501,042 (2022: £930,039 loss). The increase
in the loss compared with 2022 reflects increased corporate, legal
and advisory costs following the acquisition of 3DBT and
re-admission, and includes a full year of activity of 3DBT. The
issue of shares at admission and, subsequently, in the year to 30
September 2023, has widened the shareholder base and increased the
number of shares in issue. As a result, the loss per share
decreased to 1.59 pence (2022: 2.06 pence loss per
share).
The Group had cash of £2,319,061 at
30 September 2023 (compared with £1,061,529 at 30 September 2022)
and £1,684,000 as of the date of this report.
Since the Company's acquisition of
3DBT, significant progress has been made towards its strategic
objectives. This includes:
Development of laboratory capacity
3DBT has continued to expand its
lab production capacity in order to support growing commercial
opportunities, The Company has now more than doubled its lab
production space to 2,400 sq ft and purchased new material
equipment to support its City-Mix™ production and quality control
processes. 3DBT will continue to look to scale up production
capabilities to help support the Joint Venture with
CellulaRevolution Ltd (CellRev) to scale-up capabilities for
cultivated meat production, addressing what is a significant
challenge for the growth of the industry.
Patent applications
Since our readmission on the
London Stock Exchange, the 3D Bio-Tissues team has been busy
expanding its production facility and progressing its patent
applications. 3DBT's existing patent applications are progressing
well, having reached the national phase for a range of countries,
and two new International Patent Applications have been filed for
City-Mix™ relating to the application of the technology to produce
skin, corneas, and meat.
Prototype products
3DBT is delighted to report the
successful production of two more full-sized fillets of cultivated
pork, along with a cultivated pork strip. These products were
unveiled at a technical event held on 25 May 2023. The fillets,
resembling traditional 2-ounce tenderloin steaks, measured
approximately 5 cm in diameter, 3 cm in height, and weighed around
60 grams each. This time around, the team focused on enhancing the
fillet's thickness, achieving a noticeable improvement compared to
the one produced in January. Furthermore, the Company introduced a
cultivated pork strip, nicknamed the 'noodle,' which measured about
30 cm in length and 1 cm in diameter. This innovation showcased the
potential of our proprietary technology in shaping the future of
meat consumption by offering a ready-to-cook, pre-sliced option for
our customers.
Chief Executive's Report
(continued)
In their raw state the lab-grown
fillets exhibited structural integrity and resistance to breaking
when being manipulated and compressed. Management believes the
fillets resembled conventional farm grown meat to touch with
similar consistency and elasticity and no obvious
aroma.
Two of the fillets were then pan
fried, cooking rapidly and throughout while maintaining integrity
and shape and exhibiting only minimal shrinkage, as would be
expected during the preparation of high-quality farm grown meat.
The fillets seared easily, showed heavy caramelisation with
charring and crisping on the surface, and the aromas were similar
to those of barbecued meat. In summary, the test results met, and
in many respects exceeded, our expectations.
The cultivated meat products were
produced using 3DBT's patented, serum-free and animal-free cell
booster City-MixTM, which eliminates the requirement of
conventional plant-based scaffolds, blends or fillers, as have been
universally adopted by the industry to date to ensure structural
integrity of cultivated meat products. 3DBT's products are
therefore 100% structured meat, produced without any animals
suffering in its production.
The latest iteration of 100% meat
products underwent testing, with data collected and study
participants invited to inspect the product in a raw and cooked
state. Study participants were limited to those persons who had a
direct working relationship or involvement with the Company. The
cultivated meat fillets were then pan-fried and presented formally
by a trained, independent chef, while the meat strip was first cut
in two portions, and subsequently poached or pan-fried, in order to
test an array of cooking methods. The chef's involvement was key to
demonstrating that the cultivated meat could be handled and cooked
in the same way as traditional meat, and the results were very
positive.
The Company is pleased to confirm
that the 100% cultivated meat products were very similar in
appearance to conventional meat in their raw state, with fibres
clearly visible. The results from cutting and cooking the fillets
were also consistent with the previous results in terms of overall
appearance, aroma and searing/crisping. The Study participants that
tasted the cultivated meat provided very positive feedback in terms
of its taste and texture.
A further industry milestone is
that our prototypes are 100% animal meat, having native-like
structure without the need for plant-based scaffolds. This
structure without scaffold was augmented through culturing the
fillets with City-MixTM , our patented animal-free media
which represents the next generation in growth agents. The success
of our fillet products demonstrates the effectiveness of the
Company's intellectual property City-Mix™ in being applied to produce meat
as a consumer-ready, 'pre-sliced' form without the need for
plant-based scaffolds for cooking purposes that potential customers
and manufacturers can use.
Partnership updates
The Group
announced that it
has entered into a proof-of-concept contractual agreement with one
of the largest cosmetic companies in the world, which will test the
suitability of the Company's proprietary lipopeptide product,
Etsyl™, for use within its skin cream cosmetic
solutions.
3DBT is harnessing the natural
regenerative ability of human skin cells to drive rapid tissue
regeneration and repair. Its Etsyl™ promotes cellular collagen
production in human skin cells, with cosmetic and pharmacological
applications as a bioactive ingredient in skincare formulations for
the fabrication of native-like skin substitutes for clinical,
cosmetic and industrial applications.
Chief Executive's Report
(continued)
The cosmetic company which BSF is
working with specialises in the research and development of
bioactive ingredients for skin care which, with proven efficacy,
can aid in anti-ageing, moisturising and acne control.
In September 2023,
3DBT announced
that it has been awarded a further EUR612,000 peer reviewed grant
from the European Institute of Innovation and Technology ("EIT
Food") bringing the total grants awarded by EIT to EUR 712,000.
This significant follow-on grant will be used to upscale the
production and sales of its proprietary serum-free media,
City-Mix™, as well as support the development of an enhanced
product range. City-Mix™ is an animal-free cell growth agent for
culturing skin, muscle and fat cells for use in cultivated meat and
leather production.
Further acquisition opportunities
The Board continues to evaluate
potential acquisition and spin-out opportunities in line with its
strategy to acquire or develop a suite of technologies that
underpins the development of tissue templating for corneas, meat
and leather or enhances the technologies' value with support from
downstream or upstream processes. The recent spinout of the corneal
commercial arm into Kerato Ltd is one example, as is the planned
creation of Cultured Meat Technologies Ltd in partnership with a
next generation bioreactor company.
Outlook
The year has seen significant
milestones achieved, with the continued growth of commercial
opportunities and new sales channels for 3DBT, the raising of new
capital to support the Group's growth strategy and the formation of
a new lab-grown cornea company, Kerato.
The management team has already
made huge strides towards the integration of 3DBT into the Group
and developed a clear plan to capitalise on the achievements made
since its acquisition. Our strategy is to develop BSF into an
ecosystem of industry-leading cellular agricultural companies that
can bring transformative products to market. With the formation of
Kerato, and our recently announced JV to develop an end-to-end
manufacturer of cultivated meat, we are making great strides toward
our strategic goals. The ability to raise sufficient funds and
continue with operational and commercial progress has come in a
period of increasing uncertainty from the difficult macro-economic
environment, inflation and cost pressures and, as a young business,
is testament to the Group for continuing to generate opportunities
for bringing our products to market.
I look forward with confidence and
to keeping you appraised of our progress throughout the
year.
Che Connon
Chief Executive Officer
Strategic Report
Strategy
The Company has been created to
consider opportunities within the innovation marketing and
technology sector. The Company sought an acquisition target that
focuses on trade innovation, data-driven analytics and technology
to maximise sales and assist companies to enter new
markets.
The acquisition of 3DBT in 2022
was the first acquisition by the Company. The Group's intention is to grow through a combination of
organic growth and, where possible, selective
acquisitions.
In October 2023, the Company
incorporated a new 100% owned subsidiary, Kerato Limited. The
subsidiary is a new cornea biotech company, which will form part of
the Company's growing portfolio. It will seek to accelerate the
transition of 3DBT's advanced corneal products and knowhow into
clinical trials, as well as address the growing industrial demand
for these products such as for irritancy testing for drugs and
household chemicals.
In December 2023, 3DBT and Kerato,
entered into a Term Sheet for an exclusive Joint Venture with
CellulaRevolution Ltd (CellRev), a leader in continuous cell
manufacturing, to help develop a new Foodtech company focused on
developing, and offering to the market, an end to end solution for
manufacturing cultivated meat at scale
The Joint
Venture, Cultivated Meat Technologies
Limited (CMT), will combine CellRev's continuous
bioprocessing expertise, that can facilitate faster, cheaper and
more sustainable production of muscle cells, with 3DBT's leading
knowhow in forming meat tissue and its City-Mix™ animal-free cell
culture supplement. City-Mix™ is already used in the growth
of skin, muscle and fat cells for use in cultivated meat. The
aim of CMT is to provide the market with the premier platform for
manufacturing cultivated meat in a scalable and cost-competitive
manner.
The Joint Venture will develop a
harmonised technology offering with a focus on both upstream and
downstream processes, to provide scale-up capabilities for
cultivated meat production, addressing what is a significant
challenge for the growth of the industry. CMT will seek to deliver
this through licencing agreements with established meat-producers
that can provide production know-how, capital allocation and supply
chain relationships. It will also work to establish strategic
partnerships with local distributors and retailers to ensure
efficient distribution and market penetration.
The Company will provide a further
update on the development of CMT in Q1 2024, setting out its
strategy for the financial year.
In addition, BSF recently
established a presence in Hong Kong to provide ease of access to
the Greater China market, which is responsible for more than a
quarter of global meat consumption. Furthermore, its Ministry of
Agriculture and Rural Affairs has included cultivated meat in its
blueprint for food security in its official five-year agricultural
plan. BSF is currently in the process of hiring Research &
Development and sales and marketing specialists in Hong Kong to
help develop distribution networks and manufacturing partners in
China. The Company is fully financed to deliver on its
expansion plans to help progress its commercial objectives and has
the ability to secure grant funding to cover staff and premises
cost in some of these areas, as it has previously.
Business review and future developments
Analysis of the Group's business
performance and future developments is set out in the Chief
Executive's Report above.
Strategic Report (continued)
Principal risks and uncertainties
The Directors have identified the
following as the key risks facing the business:
Inability to fund
operations
The Company continues to explore
additional fundraising options to support its strategic objectives.
The Company may be unable to fund growth in its operations if it
does not obtain additional funding, however, the Company will
ensure that appropriate funding measures are taken to ensure
minimum commitments are met.
Technical
risks
All biotechnology and therapeutic
research and development programmes carry technical risks,
including the programme undertaken by 3DBT. These risks include
those associated with delays, third party suppliers of research
services or materials essential to the programmes, the
unpredictability of the biological processes associated with cell
and tissue culture and bioprocessing, and outcomes of in vitro,
pre-clinical, and clinical testing. There is no guarantee that
these technical risks can be effectively overcome, and a
successful, regulatory approved product can be developed. The
Group's products are also at risk of technological advancements of
competitors who may supersede the Group's technology.
The Company's relationship
with the Directors and conflicts of interest
The Company is dependent on the
Directors to execute its strategy for 3DBT and Kerato and to
identify additional potential acquisition opportunities.
The Directors are not obliged to
commit their whole time to the Company's business; they will
allocate a portion of their time to other businesses which may lead
to the potential for conflicts of interest in their determination
as to how much time to assign to the Company's affairs. However,
Dennis Ow has been appointed as an independent director of the
Company to manage any such conflicts of interests.
Any matters on which Min Yang,
Geoffrey Baker or Che Connon have a conflict of interest will be
delegated to and considered by Dennis Ow.
Suitable further acquisition
opportunities may not be identified or completed
The Company's business strategy is
dependent on the ability of the Directors to identify additional
suitable acquisition opportunities. The Company has now completed
its first acquisition, however if the Directors are not able to
identify additional suitable acquisition targets, the Company may
not be able to fulfil its objectives. Furthermore, if the Directors
identify a further suitable target, the Company may not acquire it
at a suitable price or at all. In addition, if an acquisition
identified and subsequently aborted, the Company may be left with
substantial transaction costs. The Board of Directors has
considerable experience in corporate finance activities and in
managing acquired business which is expected to benefit the Company
and minimise these risks.
Strategic Report (continued)
Risks inherent in an
acquisition
Although the Company and the
Directors will evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target,
they cannot offer any further assurance that all of the significant
risk factors can be identified or properly assessed. Furthermore,
no assurance can be made that an investment in Ordinary Shares in
the Company will ultimately prove to be more favourable to
investors than a direct investment, if such an opportunity were
available, in a target business. The experience of the Board both
in terms of relevant sector experience and corporate finance skills
are key to managing these risks.
Reliance on external
advisors
The Directors expect to rely on
external advisors to help identify and assess further potential
acquisitions and there is a risk that suitable advisors cannot be
placed under contract or that such advisors that are contracted
fail to perform as required. The Board's experience in previous
transactions is key in mitigating these risks.
Reliance on additional
funding to generate income from the acquired
activities
The Company is dependent on
raising additional funds in order to bring its products to a
commercial market and thus income which the Directors hope will be
generated by 3DBT's and Kerato's research activities or from its
subsequent divestment of these subsidiary companies to meet the
Company's expenses. If this is not achieved, the Company may be
unable to pay its expenses or make distributions on the Ordinary
Shares. The Board's experience in the sector is expected to
mitigate these risks.
Restrictions in offering
Ordinary Shares as a consideration for an acquisition or
requirements to provide alternative
consideration.
In certain jurisdictions, there
may be legal, regulatory or practical restrictions on the Company
using its Ordinary Shares as a consideration for an acquisition,
which may mean that the Company is required to provide alternative
forms of consideration. Such restrictions may limit the Company's
acquisition opportunities or make a certain acquisition more
costly, which may have an adverse effect on the results of
operations of the Company. The experience of the Board is key to
managing such risks.
Key performance indicators
At this stage in its development,
the Company is focusing on its growth strategy for 3DBT and Kerato
and in particular, the generation of revenues from its research
activities.
At present, the Directors are of
the opinion that, other than the maintenance of cash and cash
equivalents, analysis using KPIs is not appropriate for an
understanding of the business at this time.
Gender analysis
The Board recognises the need to
operate a gender diverse business and takes into account the
necessary diversity requirements and compliance with all employment
law. The Board, which comprises 3 males and one female, has
experience and sufficient training/qualifications in dealing with
such issues to ensure they would meet all requirements. In this
regard, the Board recognises that less than 40% of the individuals
on the Board are women. The chairmanship of the Board is however
female. Two of the Board members are of Chinese ethnicity.
Additionally, the Company takes advice from suitably qualified
advisors to support the decision-making process of the Group.
Strategic Report (continued)
Corporate social responsibility
The Company aims to conduct its
business with honesty, integrity and openness, respecting human
rights and the interests of shareholders and employees. The Company
aims to provide timely, regular and reliable information on the
business to all its shareholders and conduct its operations to the
highest standards.
The Company strives to create a
safe and healthy working environment for the wellbeing of its staff
and to create a trusting and respectful environment, where all
members of staff are encouraged to feel responsible for the
reputation and performance of the Company.
The Company aims to establish a
diverse and dynamic workforce with team players who have the
experience and knowledge of the business operations and markets in
which we operate. Through maintaining good communications, members
of staff are encouraged to realise the objectives of the Company
and their own potential.
Corporate environmental responsibility
The Board contains personnel with
a good history of running businesses that have been compliant with
all relevant laws and regulations and there have been no instances
of non-compliance in respect of environment matters.
The Company's policy is to
minimize the risk of any adverse effect on the environment
associated with its activities with a thoughtful consideration of
such key areas as energy use, pollution, transport, renewable
resources, health and wellbeing.
The Company also aims to ensure
that its suppliers and advisers meet with their legislative and
regulatory requirements and that codes of best practice are met and
exceeded.
Climate-related Financial Disclosures
The Financial Stability Board's
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
recommendations serve as a global foundation for effective
reporting on the operational and financial implications of the
interrelationship between climate change and business, and set out
recommended disclosures structured under four core
elements:
·
Governance - The organisation's governance around
climate-related risks and opportunities
·
Strategy - The actual and potential impacts of
climate-related risks and opportunities for an organisation's
businesses, strategy, and financial planning
·
Risk Management - The processes used by the
organisation to identify, assess, and manage climate-related risks;
and
·
Metrics and Targets - The metrics and targets
used to assess and manage relevant climate-related risks and
opportunities.
These are supported by recommended
disclosures that build on the framework with information intended
to help investors and others understand how reporting companies
assess climate-related risks and opportunities. The table below
shows our current progress against the TCFD
recommendations.
TCFD Pillar
|
Recommended Disclosure
|
Company Summary
|
Governance
|
• Board's oversight of
climate-related risks and opportunities
• Management's role in assessing
and managing climate-related risks and opportunities
|
As a development stage research
and development business, the Group's operations are at a
relatively small scale and so therefore is its environmental
impact. Nevertheless, the Board recognises its responsibility to
protect the environment (particularly as the business scales up).
The Board has oversight of climate-related matters (which include
risks and opportunities).
The board is supported by the
Audit Committee, which is responsible for keeping under review the
adequacy and effectiveness of the Group's internal control and risk
management systems, which consider climate-related
risks.
|
Strategy
|
·
Climate-related risks and opportunities
identification
·
Climate-related risks and opportunities
impacts
·
Resilience of the organisation's
strategy
|
BSF is committed to a net zero and
healthier planet, and this is part of the Group's strategic
long-term priorities.
The Board is committed to
conserving natural resources and striving for environmental
sustainability, by ensuring that its facilities (and the facilities
of academic and contracted collaborators) are operated to optimise
energy usage; minimising waste production; and protecting nature
and people.
As BSF enters the next stage of
its development, ESG will be at the heart of the Board and
management's vision and strategy to enable climate-related risks
and opportunities to be identified and suitably
mitigated/actioned.
The information collected will
allow the Board to challenge the Group's strategy to ensure it is
as resilient as possible.
|
Risk Management
|
·
Identifying and assessing climate-related
risks
·
Managing climate-related risks
·
Integration into overall risk
management
|
Given the small scale of its
current operations, BSF has the ability to embed climate-related
risk management systems into its overall internal control systems
from an early stage of its journey, thus almost eliminating the
occurrence of transition risk.
As operations scale up in the
coming years, the identification, assessment and effective
management of climate-related risks and opportunities will be
actively discussed during Board and management meetings
|
Metrics and Targets
|
·
Climate-related metrics
·
Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3
emissions.
·
Climate-related targets
|
As the Group's operations scale
up, it will continue to monitor its energy use.
The Group will seek to collect,
structure, and effectively disclose related performance data for
the material climate-related risks and opportunities identified
where relevant.
The Board will also look to adopt
SASB recommended disclosures in the next 2-3 years as the Group
scales.
The Group already minimises
business travel, and therefore energy use and emissions, through
the use of Internet-based communications tools.
|
Strategic Report (continued)
Section 172(1) Statement - Promotion of the Company for the
benefit of the members as a whole
When making decisions the Company
takes into account the impact of its activities on the community,
the environment and the Company's reputation for good business
conduct. In this context, acting in good faith and fairly, the
Directors consider what is most likely to promote the success of
the Company for its members in the long term.
The Directors believe they have
acted in the way most likely to promote the success of the Company
for the benefit of its members as a whole as required by s172 of
the Companies Act 2006. The requirements of s172 are for the
Directors to:
·
Consider the likely consequences of any decision
in the long term;
·
Act fairly between the members of the
Company;
·
Maintain a reputation for high standards of
business conduct;
·
Consider the interests of the Company's
employees;
·
Foster the Company's relationships with
suppliers, customers and others; and
·
Consider the impact of the Company's operations
on the community and the environment.
The Company operated as a cash
shell until its acquisition of 3DBT in May 2022. The early stage
nature of the business is important to the understanding of the
Company by its members and suppliers, and the Directors have been
transparent about the cash position and funding
requirements.
The application of the s172
requirements can be demonstrated in relation to some of the key
decisions made during the year ended 30 September 2023:
·
Any contracts for third-party advisory services
provided have been undertaken with a clear cap on financial
exposure;
·
As a result of these efforts the Company
succeeded in raising additional equity capital to fund the Group's
strategy.
As a Company, the Board seriously
considers its ethical responsibilities to the communities and
environment.
The Directors are fully aware of
their responsibilities to promote the success of the Company in
accordance with section 172 of the Companies Act 2006. The Board
continuously reflects on how the Company engages with its
stakeholders and opportunities for enhancement in the future. As
required, the Company's external lawyers and the Company Secretary
will provide support to the Board to help ensure that enough
consideration is given to issues relating to the matters set out in
s172(1)(a)-(f).
The Board regularly reviews the
Company's principal stakeholders and how it engages with them. This
is achieved through information provided by management via
Regulatory News Service announcements, Corporate Presentations, and
Shareholder Meetings and teleconferences and also by direct
engagement with stakeholders themselves.
This report was approved by the
Board of Directors on 30 January 2024 and signed on its behalf
by:
SIGNED
………………………………………….
Geoffrey Baker,
Director
Directors' Report
The Directors present their Annual
Report together with the consolidated financial statements of the
Company for the year ended 30 September 2023.
An indication of the likely future
developments in the business of the Company is included in the
Strategic Report and Chairman's Statement.
Principal activity
The Company was formed to
undertake the acquisition of a controlling interest in businesses
in the biotechnology, innovative marketing and e-commerce sectors.
The Company completed its first acquisition in May 2022 of 3DBT and
in October 2023, the Company incorporated
a new subsidiary, Kerato Limited. The subsidiary is a new corneal
biotech company, which will form part of the Company's growing
portfolio. It will seek to accelerate the transition of 3DBT's
advanced corneal products into clinical trials, as well as address
the growing industrial demand for these products.
Results and dividends
The results for the year are set
out in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income. The
Directors do not recommend the payment of a dividend on the
Ordinary Shares (year ended 30 September 2022: nil).
Financial instruments and risk management
An explanation of the Company's
financial risk management objectives, policies and strategies and
information about the use of financial instruments by the Company
is given in Note 19 to the consolidated financial
statements.
Share capital structure
The Company was incorporated on 5
September 2018 under the UK Companies Act 2006.
All of the issued Ordinary Shares
are in registered form, and capable of being held in certificated
or uncertificated form. The Registrar is responsible for
maintaining the share register. Temporary documents of title will
not be issued. The ISIN number of the Ordinary Shares is
GB00BHNBDQ51. The SEDOL number of the Ordinary Shares is
BHNBDQ5.
Directors
The Directors of the Company
during the year were as follows:
-
Geoffrey Baker
|
|
-
Dr Che Connon
|
|
-
Min Yang
-
Dennis Kian Jing Ow
|
|
Min Yang - Non-Executive
Chairman
Ms. Yang has extensive business
connections in the Asia Pacific region including greater China, and
has over 20 years of hands-on experience dealing with both private
and state-run businesses in China.
Directors' Report (continued)
Over the years, Min Yang has
proven her unique business insight and expertise in the
identification, incubation and realisation of embryonic
opportunities in the resources, commodities, trading and
residential estate and financial investment sectors.
Min Yang has commercialised
numerous innovations in the telecommunications industry including
building an Australasian telecommunications delivery company
between China and Australia. Further she has helped develop, market
and commercialise high-performance engine technologies now being
developed in China as an auxiliary power unit for electric
engines.
Ms Yang is currently the Executive
Chairman of ASF Group Ltd (ASX: AFA) and Non-executive Chair of
ActivEX Limited (ASX: AIV), Rey Resources Limited (ASX: REY) and
Non-executive Director of Key Petroleum Limited (ASX:
KEY).
Dr Che Connon - Chief Executive Officer
Professor Che Connon was appointed
to the Board on 16 May 2022 on completion of the acquisition of
3DBT. Dr Che has over 20 years' experience in extracellular matrix
biology and is currently a professor of tissue engineering at the
University of Newcastle and its Director of Business Development
for the Faculty of Medical Science. Professor Che Connon is a
founder and director of 3BDT. He has successfully spun-out two
additional biotechnology companies. Professor Che Connon is a
founder of Atelerix Limited, which offers novel storage technology
to support cell and tissue logistics and founder director of
Cellularevolution Ltd which is building a new class of animal cell
production bioreactor which runs continuously.
Geoffrey Baker - Executive Director
Mr Baker is a qualified lawyer in
Australia and Hong Kong with a Commerce degree (Accounting and
Financial Management), a Law degree and Master of Business
Administration (MBA).
Mr Baker has extensive corporate
and commercial legal and property expertise developed over 36 years
of practising law and representing companies in Australia, China,
Hong Kong, Japan and recently UK and Europe. Mr Baker has also
co-authored a number of books including the critically acclaimed
book "Think Like Chinese" first released in June 2008 (Federation
Press, 2008). Mr Baker has commercialised a number of innovations
including bio-medical apparatus for sleep-apnoea as well as
high-performance engine technology now being developed in China as
an auxiliary power unit for electric engines.
Mr Baker is currently also the
Non-Executive Director of ASF Group Ltd (ASX: AFA), Rey Resources
Limited (ASX: REY), ActivEX Limited (ASX: AIV) and Non-executive
Chair of Key Petroleum Limited (ASX: KEY).
Dennis Kian Jing Ow - Independent Non-Executive
Director
Mr Ow is an experienced corporate
finance executive who has worked in various investment Banks in
Asia, and has extensive knowledge of capital markets, compliance
and corporate governance. He was previously senior business manager
of Asia Pacific for the London Stock Exchange.
Independence of the Board
Dennis Ow is considered to be
"independent" (using the definition set out in the QCA Corporate
Governance Code).
Directors' Report (continued)
Directors' interests
As at 30 September 2023, the
beneficial interests of the Directors and their connected persons
in the ordinary share capital of the Company are set out
below.
Director
|
Number of Ordinary
Shares
|
% of
Ordinary
Share
Capital
|
|
|
|
Geoffrey Baker
|
1,559,699
|
1.51%
|
Dr Che Connon
|
12,927,977
|
12.51%
|
Min Yang
|
5,779,850
|
5.59%
|
Dennis Kian Jing Ow
|
-
|
0.00%
|
Min Yang indirectly holds
5,000,000 Ordinary Shares through Advance Plan Investments Ltd, a
company of which she is the sole shareholder and Director and a
further 779,850 Ordinary Share held directly in her own
name.
None of the Directors hold
options, warrants or any form of convertible security in respect of
Ordinary Shares.
Substantial shareholders
The following had interests of 3
per cent or more in the Company's issued share capital as at 29
January 2024 as follows:
Party Name
|
Number of Ordinary
Shares
|
% of
Ordinary
Share
Capital
|
|
|
|
BSF Angel Funding
Limited
|
16,610,944
|
16.07%
|
JIM Nominees Limited
|
14,011,883
|
13.56%
|
Hargreaves Lansdown (Nominees)
Limited
|
11,388.730
|
11.02%
|
Newcastle University Holdings
Ltd
|
6,915,624
|
6.69%
|
Advance Plan Investments
Limited
Vidacos Nominees
Limited
Interactive Investor Services
Nominees Limited
|
5,000.000
4,915,479
4,736,417
|
4.84%
4.76%
4.58%
|
WB Nominees Limited
|
3,190,000
|
3.09%
|
*Min Yang is the Director and sole
shareholder of Advance Plan Investments Ltd.
Capital and returns management
The Company raised additional
gross proceeds of £2.94 million from a Placing and Subscription for
shares in March 2023. The Directors believe that further equity
capital raisings will be required by the Company for working
capital purposes as the Company pursues its strategic objectives.
The Company will explore additional fundraising options as required
to support the its strategic objectives.
Directors' Report (continued)
The Directors are generally
empowered to allot shares. Pursuant to Resolutions passed at the
Company's General Meeting held on 26 September 2023, the Directors
were granted authorities to allot and issue shares in the Company
and to grant rights to subscribe for or to convert any security
into shares for the purposes of Section 551 of the Companies Act up
to a maximum aggregate nominal amount of £398,759, calculated as
follows:
i) £295,422 in
respect of 29,542,200 new Ordinary Shares in the Company in
connection with the
Additional Fundraising Securities
and the Financial PR Shares;
ii) £103,337 in
respect of up to 10,333,700 new Ordinary Shares in the Company for
such other
general purposes as the Directors
consider necessary or appropriate.
This authority shall, unless
renewed, revoked or varied by the Company, expire on the earlier of
(i) 12 months from the date of the General Meeting and (ii) the
conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the
Company
The Company expects that any
returns for shareholders would derive primarily from capital
appreciation of the Ordinary Shares and any dividends paid pursuant
to the Company's dividend policy.
Liability insurance for Company officers
The Company has obtained
third-party indemnity for its Directors.
Going concern
The financial position of the
Group, its cash flows and liquidity position are set out in these
financial statements. As at 30 September 2023, the Group had cash
and cash equivalents of £2,319,061. As at the date of this report,
cash balances were approximately £1,684,000.
The Group has prepared monthly
cash flow forecasts based on reasonable estimates of key variables
including operating costs and capital expenditure through to March
2025 that supports the conclusion of the Directors that they expect
sufficient funding to be available to meet the Group's anticipated
cash flow requirements to this date.
The assessment as to whether the
going concern basis is appropriate has also taken into account all
information available up to the date of authorisation of these
financial statements.
The Group will need additional
funding to finance ongoing operations and any acquisitions it might
make. Whilst there can be no guarantee that sufficient funds will
be raised, the Board is confident that sufficient additional
capital will be raised to ensure adequate funds are available to
the Group. As stated in note 2(d), whilst
the Directors are confident of raising sufficient funds in the
timeframes required, these events or conditions, along with the
other matters as set forth in note 2(d), indicate that a material
uncertainty exists that may cast significant doubt on the group and
parent company's ability to continue as a going concern.
The Board has however concluded that the going
concern basis remains appropriate in the preparation of these
Consolidated Financial Statements due to the anticipated
availability of sufficient financial resources in the 12 months
from the date of the financial statements.
The Directors are not aware of any
other indicators which would give doubt to the going concern status
of the Group.
Directors' Report (continued)
Employee and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
The Group believes it uses less
than 40,000 kWh of energy per annum. It does not have
responsibility for any emissions producing sources under the
Companies Act 2006.
Equal opportunity
The Company promotes a policy for
the creation of equal and ethnically diverse employment
opportunities including with respect to gender. The Company
promotes and encourages employee involvement wherever practical as
it recognises employees as a valuable asset and is one of the key
contributions to the Group's success.
Corporate Governance Framework
Details of the Company's corporate
governance framework are set out below.
Corporate Governance Report
The Directors acknowledge the
importance of high standards of corporate governance and intend,
given the Company's size and the constitution of the Board, to
comply with the principles set out in the QCA Code. The QCA Code
sets out a standard of minimum best practice for small and mid-size
quoted companies.
The QCA Code sets out ten
principles and we have outlined below the Group's application of
the Code.
Deliver growth
1. Establish a strategy and business model which
promote long-term value for shareholders:
The Company's business model is to
create value through an acquisition-led growth strategy with a
focus on acquiring businesses in the biotechnology, innovative
marketing and e-commerce sectors.
The Board has set out the vision
for the Group for the medium to long term. The Board is responsible
for formulating, reviewing and approving the Group's strategy,
budgets and corporate actions. The Company holds Board meetings at
least four times each financial year and at other times as and when
required. Detailed disclosure on the Company's business model and
strategy is disclosed on the Company's website and in the Strategic
Report.
2. Seek to understand and meet shareholder needs
and expectations:
The Company has a Board with
experience in understanding the needs and expectations of its
shareholder base. It supplements this with professional advisers
including public relations company, and legal advisers who provide
advice and recommendations in various areas of its communications
with shareholders. The Company engages with its shareholders
through its website to provide information to shareholders and
provides regular updates to the market via the Regulatory News
Service.
The Company is committed to
listening and communicating openly with its shareholders to ensure
that its strategy, business model and performance are clearly
understood. Understanding what analysts and investors think about
us, and in turn, helping these audiences understand our business,
is a key part of driving our business forward and we actively seek
dialogue with the market. We will do so via retail and
institutional investor roadshows, attending and presenting at
investor conferences, meeting with independent investment analysts
and financial journalists and our regular reporting.
Directors' Report (continued)
The Directors actively seek to
build a relationship with institutional shareholders. The Chief
Executive Officer ("CEO") and other directors will make
presentations to institutional shareholders and analysts from
time-to-time in part to listen to their feedback and have a direct
conversation on any areas of concern. The Board as a whole is kept
informed of the views and concerns of major shareholders by
briefings from the CEO. Any significant investment reports from
analysts will be circulated to the Board. The Non-Executive
Chairman is also available to meet with major shareholders if
required to discuss issues of importance to them.
The Annual General Meeting ("AGM")
is one forum for dialogue with shareholders and the Board. The
Notice of Meeting is sent to shareholders at least 21 clear days
before the AGM. The chairs of the Board and all committees,
together with all other Directors, will routinely attend the AGM
and are available to answer questions raised by
shareholders.
For each vote, the number of proxy
votes received for, against and withheld is announced at the
meeting. The results of the AGM are subsequently published on the
Company's website.
3. Take into account wider stakeholder and
social responsibilities and their implications for long-term
success:
Engaging with all our stakeholders
strengthens our relationships and helps us make better business
decisions to deliver on our commitments. The Board is regularly
updated on wider stakeholder engagement to stay abreast of
stakeholder insights into the issues that matter most to them and
our business, and to enable the Board to understand and consider
these issues in decision-making. Some examples of stakeholders
aside from our shareholders are our partners and our suppliers. The
Board therefore closely monitors and reviews the results of the
Company's engagement with those groups to ensure alignment of
interests.
4. Embed effective risk management, considering
both opportunities and threats, throughout the
organisation:
The Company recognises that risk
is inherent in all of its business activities. Its risks can have a
financial, operational or reputational impact. A summary of
the key risks is set out in the Strategic Report and is provided on
the website. The Company's system of risk identification, supported
by established governance controls and close management involvement
and oversight, ensures it effectively responds to such risks,
whilst acting ethically and with integrity for the benefit of all
its stakeholders.
The Company's key internal
controls procedures include:
Financial Controls
The Company's Audit Committee
comprises Dennis Ow (as Chairman) and Min Yang Non-Executive
Director). The Audit Committee meets as often as required and at
least twice a year. The Audit Committee's main functions include
reviewing the effectiveness of internal control systems and risk
assessment, making recommendations to the Board in relation to the
appointment and remuneration of the Company's auditors and
monitoring and reviewing annually their independence, objectivity,
effectiveness and qualifications.
The Audit Committee also monitors
the integrity of the financial statements of the Company and Group,
including its annual and interim reports and any other formal
announcement relating to financial performance. The Audit Committee
is responsible for overseeing the Company's relationship with the
external auditors, including making recommendations to the Board on
the appointment of the external auditors and their
remuneration.
Directors' Report (continued)
The Audit Committee considers the
nature, scope and results of the auditors' work and reviews, and
can develop and implements policies on the supply of non-audit
services that are provided by the external auditors where
appropriate.
The Audit Committee focuses
particularly on compliance with legal requirements, accounting
standards and the relevant Listing Rules for Companies and ensuring
that an effective system of internal financial and non-financial
controls is maintained. The ultimate responsibility for reviewing
and approving the annual report and accounts remains with the
Board. The identity of the Chairman of the Audit Committee is
reviewed on an annual basis and the membership of the Audit
Committee and its terms of reference are kept under review. The
Audit Committee members have no links with the Company's external
auditors.
Standards and policies
The Board is committed to
maintaining appropriate standards for all the Group's business
activities and ensuring that these standards are set out in written
policies where appropriate.
The Board acknowledges that the
Group's operations may give rise to possible claims of bribery and
corruption. In consideration of the UK Bribery Act the Board
reviews the perceived risks to the Group arising from bribery and
corruption to identify aspects of the business which may be
improved to mitigate such risk. The Board has adopted a
zero-tolerance policy toward bribery and has reiterated its
commitment to carry out business fairly, honestly and openly. The
Company has also adopted a share Dealing Code for the Board, in
conformity with the requirements of the Listing Rules for Companies
and the Market Abuse Regime (MAR) and will take steps to ensure
compliance by the Board and senior staff with the terms of the
code. In summary, the code stipulates that those covered by it
should: not deal in any securities of the Company unless prior
written notice of such proposed dealings has been given to the
Board and written clearance received from the Board; not purchase
or sell any securities of the Company in the two months immediately
preceding the announcement of the Company's half-yearly or annual
results; not use another person, company or organisation to act as
an agent, or nominee, partner, conduit or in another capacity, to
deal in any securities on their behalf where that third person
would breach obligations under this paragraph; and immediately
inform the Board of any dealings in the Company's
shares.
All material contracts are
required to be reviewed and signed by a senior Director of the
Company and reviewed by our external counsel.
The Company has a social media
policy. The objective of the policy is to minimise the risks to the
Company through use of social media. The policy deals with the use
of all forms of social media, all social networking sites, internet
postings, the Company's website, non-regulatory news feeds and
blogs. It applies to use of social media for business purposes as
well as personal use that may affect the Company in any way. The
policy covers all employees, officers, consultants, contractors,
interns, casual workers and agency workers.
Maintain a dynamic management framework
5. Maintain the Board as a well-functioning,
balanced team led by the Chair:
The Board comprises four
Directors; two Executive Directors and two Non-Executive
Directors, reflecting a blend of different experiences and
backgrounds.
The QCA Code states that a company
should have at least two independent non-executive directors. At
present, the Company has only one independent non-executive
director being Mr Dennis Ow.
Directors' Report (continued)
The Board believes that the
composition of the Board brings a desirable range of skills and
experience in light of the Company's challenges and opportunities,
while at the same time ensuring that no individual (or a small
group of individuals) can dominate the Board's decision making.
The Company will appraise the structure of the Board on an ongoing
basis.
The Non-Executive Chairman is
primarily responsible for the working of the Board of the Company
and for assessing the individual contributions of each Board member
to ensure that:
- Their contribution is
measurable, timely, relevant and effective
- They commit sufficient
time to the business to fulfil their statutory and fiduciary
duties
- Where relevant, they
maintain their independence
- They function collectively in a
coherent and productive manner
- The receive appropriate training
to stay up to date and improve performance
The Company has the following
appropriately constituted committees, each with formally delegated
duties and responsibilities set out in respective written terms of
reference:
·
Audit Committee;
·
Remuneration Committee; and
·
Nomination Committee
Details of these committees is set
out below on pages 28 to 29.
The Board is responsible for the
overall leadership and effective management of the Company, setting
the Company's values and standards and ensuring maintenance of a
sound system of internal control and risk management. The Board is
also responsible for approving Company policy and its strategic
aims and objectives as well as approving the annual operating and
capital expenditure budgets. The Board supports the concept of an
effective Board leading and controlling the Company and believes
the Company has a well-established culture of strong corporate
governance and internal controls that are appropriate and
proportional, reflecting the Company's culture, size, complexity
and risk.
All Directors bring a wide range
of skills and international experience to the Board. The
non-executive Directors hold meetings without the executive
Directors present. The Chairman is primarily responsible for the
working of the Board of the Company. The CEO is primarily
responsible for the running of the business and implementation of
the Board strategy and policy. The CEO is assisted in the managing
of the business on a day-to-day basis by the Board as a
whole.
The Board hold regular meetings
where it approves major decisions and utilises its expertise to
advise and influence the business. The Board will meet on other
occasions as and when the business demands. During the financial
year under review the Board met on five occasions.
The Board and its committees are
supplied with appropriate and timely information, including
detailed financial information, in order to discharge its duties.
All Directors have access to the advice and services of the company
secretary, who is responsible for ensuring that Board procedures
are followed and that applicable rules and regulations are complied
with. Independent professional advice is also available to
Directors in appropriate circumstances.
A detailed agenda is established
for each scheduled meeting and appropriate documentation is
provided to Directors in advance of the meeting.
Directors' Report (continued)
Regular Board meetings provide an
agenda that will include reports from the CEO, reports on the
performance of the business and current trading, and specific
proposals where the approval of the Board is sought. Areas
discussed include, amongst others, matters relating to the
performance of 3DBT, placing and funding arrangements and the
strategic direction of the Company. Minutes of the meetings from
committees of the Board are circulated to all members of the Board,
unless a conflict of interest arises, to enable all Directors to
have oversight of those matters delegated to committees.
In accordance with the Company's
Articles of Association, those Directors that have been appointed
since the previous AGM shall retire from office but shall be
eligible for re-appointment. All Directors have access to the
advice and services of the company secretary and other independent
professional advisers as required. Non-executive Directors have
access to key members of staff and are entitled to attend
management meetings in order to familiarise themselves with all
aspects of the Company. It is the responsibility of the Chairman
and the company secretary to ensure that Board members receive
sufficient and timely information regarding corporate and business
issues to enable them to discharge their duties.
Board and committee meetings attendance
During the year under review, two
Audit Committee meetings, one Remuneration Committee meeting and
one Nomination Committee meeting were held.
During the year there were ten
Board meetings by the Directors of the Company.
Attendance of Directors and
committee members at Board and committee meetings held during the
year is set out in the table below.
|
Board
meetings
|
Audit Committee
meetings
|
Remuneration Committee
meetings
|
Nomination Committee
meetings
|
Ming Yang
|
10
|
2
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
Geoff Baker
|
10
|
n/a
|
1
|
1
|
Dennis Ow
|
10
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
Che Connon
|
10
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
Division of responsibilities
The division of responsibilities
between the non-executive Chairman and the CEO is clearly defined
in writing. However, they work closely together to ensure effective
decision making and the successful delivery of the Group's
strategy.
The
Chief Executive Officer
The CEO is responsible for the
running of the Group's business for the delivery of the strategy
for the Group, leading the management team and implementing
specific decisions made by the Board to help meet shareholder
expectations. He also takes the lead in strategic development, by
formulating the vision and strategy for the Group.
The CEO reports to each Board
meeting on all material matters affecting the Group's
performance.
Directors' Report (continued)
Given the structure of the Board
and the fact that the Chairman and CEO roles are fulfilled by two
separate individuals, the Board believes that no individual or
small group of individuals can disproportionately influence the
Board's decision making.
The Chairman
The Chairman leads the Board,
ensuring constructive communications between the Board members and
that all Directors are able to play a full part in the activities
of the Company. She is responsible for setting Board agendas and
ensuring that Board meetings are effective and that all Directors
receive accurate, timely and clear information. The Chairman
officiates effective communication with shareholders and ensures
that the Board understands the views of major investors and is
available to provide advice and support to members of the executive
team.
Non-executive Directors
There are currently two
non-executive Directors (including the Chairman), of which one is
an independent non-executive Director. The role of the
non-executive Directors is to understand the Group in its entirety
and constructively challenge strategy and management performance,
set executive remuneration levels and ensure an appropriate
succession planning strategy is in place.
They must also ensure they are
satisfied with the accuracy of financial information and that
thorough risk management processes are in place. The non-executive
Directors also assist the Board with issues such as governance,
internal control, remuneration and risk management. No
non-executive Directors are participants in any share option plans
of the Company.
Effectiveness
Composition of the Board
The Board consists of the
Non-Executive Chairman, the CEO, one executive Director and an
independent non-executive director. The names, skills and short
profiles of each member of the Board, are set out on pages
15 to 16. Each year the Board considers
the independence of each non-executive Director in accordance with
the Code.
To ensure that they clearly
understand the requirements of their role, the Company has a letter
of appointment in place with each non-executive Director. Service
agreements are entered into with the executive Director and senior
executives so that they can clearly understand the requirements of
the role and what is expected of them.
Commitment
Each Director commits sufficient
time to fulfil their duties and obligations to the Board and the
Company. They attend Board meetings and join ad hoc Board calls and
offer availability for consultation when needed. The contractual
arrangements between the Directors and the Company specify the
minimum time commitments which are considered sufficient for the
proper discharge of their duties. However, all Board members
appreciate the need to commit additional time in exceptional
circumstances.
Non-executive Directors are
required to disclose prior appointments and other significant
commitments to the Board and are required to inform the Board of
any changes to their additional commitments.
Directors' Report (continued)
Before accepting new appointments,
non-executive Directors are required to obtain approval from the
Chairman and the Chairman requires the approval of the whole Board.
It is essential that no appointment causes a conflict of interest
or impacts on the non-executive Director's commitment and time
spent with the Group in their existing appointment.
Details of executive Director
service contracts and of the Chairman's and the non-executive
Directors' appointment letters are given on pages 30 and 31 of the
Remuneration Committee Report.
Development
The Board is informed of any
material changes to governance, laws and regulations affecting the
Group's business.
Information and support
All Directors have access to the
advice and services of the company secretary and each Director and
each Board committee member may take independent professional
advice at the Company's expense, subject to prior notification to
the other non-executive Directors and the company
secretary.
The appointment and removal of the
company secretary is a matter for the Board as a whole. The company
secretary is accountable directly to the Board through the
Chairman.
6. Ensure that between them the Directors have
the necessary up-to-date experience, skills and
capabilities:
The Board has been assembled to
allow each Director to contribute the necessary mix of experience,
skills and personal qualities to deliver the strategy of the
Company for the benefit of the shareholders over the medium to long
term.
Together the Board provide
relevant sector skills, the skills associated with running public
companies and technical and qualifications to assist the Company in
achieving its stated aims.
The Directors keep their skillsets
up to date as required through the range of roles they perform with
other companies and consideration of technical and industry updates
by external advisers.
The Directors receive regular
briefing papers on the operational and financial performance of the
Company from the executives and senior management.
7. Evaluate Board performance based on clear and
relevant objectives, seeking continuous
improvement:
Appointments to the Board
The Remuneration Committee is
responsible for maintaining a Board of Directors that has an
appropriate mix of skills, experience and knowledge to be an
effective decision-making body, ensuring that the Board is
comprised of Directors who contribute to the successful management
of the Company and discharge their duties having regard to the law
and the highest standards of corporate governance, considering and
recommending Board candidates for election or re-election and
reviewing succession planning.
The Remuneration Committee
undertakes a detailed selection process as per the recruitment and
diversity policy to appoint or re-appoint a Director to the Board.
Included in this process are appropriate reference checks which
include but are not limited to character reference and bankruptcy
to ensure that the Board remains appropriate for that of a listed
company.
Directors' Report (continued)
8. Promote a corporate culture that is based on
ethical values and behaviours:
The Board seeks to embody and
promote a corporate culture that is based on sound ethical values
and behaviours, something we see as being a cornerstone to a strong
risk management programme.
Code of Business Ethics
The Board acknowledges the need
for continued maintenance of the highest standard of corporate
governance practice and ethical conduct by all Directors and
employees of the Group. The Board has approved a code of business
ethics for Directors, officers and employees, which describes the
standards of ethical behaviour that are required to be maintained.
This code was approved pursuant to the Company's readmission. The
Group promotes the open communication of unethical behaviour within
the organisation. We therefore seek to
operate within a corporate culture that is based on sound ethical
values and behaviours. We do this using certain rule-based
procedures (such as our formal Corporate Code of Conduct) and, more
importantly, by the behavioural example of individual Board members
and senior managers. These values, which we seek to instil
throughout the Company, include integrity, respect, honesty, and
transparency. As a small company these characteristics are far more
visible to staff than might otherwise be the case. We also hold
internal meetings at which Directors and staff discuss matters,
both formally and informally. Compliance
with the code assists the Company in effectively managing its
operating risks and meeting its legal and compliance obligations as
well as enhancing the Group's corporate reputation.
The code describes the Group's
requirements on matters such as confidentiality, conflicts of
interest, use of Group information, sound employment practices,
compliance with laws and regulations and the protection and
safeguarding of the Group's assets.
An employee who breaches the code
of business ethics face disciplinary action. If an employee
suspects that a breach of the code has occurred or will occur, he
or she must report that breach to the CEO, via the Company's
confidential "Whistle Blowing" process.
No employee will be disadvantaged
or prejudiced if he or she reports in good faith a suspected
breach. All reports will be investigated, acted upon and kept
confidential.
Anti-bribery and anti-corruption
The Company has adopted an
anti-corruption and bribery policy which applies to the Board and
employees of the Company and the Group. It generally sets out their
responsibilities in observing and upholding a zero-tolerance
position on bribery and corruption in all areas in which the Group
operates. It also provides guidance to those working for the Group
on how to recognise and deal with bribery and corruption issues and
the potential consequences of failing to adhere to this guidance.
The Company expects all employees, suppliers, contractors and
consultants to conduct their day-to-day business activities in a
fair, honest and ethical manner, be aware of and refer to this
policy in all of their business activities worldwide and to conduct
business on the Company's behalf in compliance with it. Management
at all levels are responsible for ensuring that those reporting to
them, internally and externally, are made aware of and understand
this policy.
The Group takes a zero-tolerance
approach to acts of bribery and corruption by any Directors,
officers, employees and contractors. The Group will not offer, give
or receive bribes, or accept improper payments to obtain new
business, retain existing business or secure any advantage and will
not permit others to do so on its behalf.
Directors' Report (continued)
9. Maintain governance structures and processes
that are fit for purpose and support good decision making by the
Board:
The Board meets at least four
times each year in accordance with its scheduled meeting calendar.
The Board sets direction for the Company through a formal schedule
of matters reserved for its decision. Prior to the start of each
financial year, a schedule of dates for that year's Board meetings
is compiled to align as far as reasonably practicable with the
Company's financial calendar while also ensuring an appropriate
spread of meetings across the financial year. This may be
supplemented by additional meetings as and when
required.
The Board and its Committees
receive appropriate and timely information prior to each meeting; a
formal agenda is produced for each meeting, and Board and committee
papers are expected to be distributed well before meetings take
place. Any Director may challenge Company proposals and decisions
are taken democratically after discussion. Any Director who feels
that any concern remains unresolved after discussion may ask for
that concern to be noted in the minutes of the meeting, which are
then circulated to all Directors. Any specific actions arising from
such meetings are agreed by the Board or relevant committee and
then followed up by the Company's management.
The Board is responsible for the
long-term success of the Company. There is a formal schedule of
matters reserved to the Board. It is responsible for overall group
strategy; approval of major investments; approval of the annual and
interim results; annual budgets; dividend policy; and Board
structure. It monitors the exposure to key business risks and
reviews the annual budgets and their performance in relation to
those budgets. There is a clear division of responsibility at the
head of the Company. The Chairman is responsible for running the
business of the Board and for ensuring appropriate strategic focus
and direction. The CEO is responsible for proposing the strategic
focus to the Board, implementing it once it has been approved and
overseeing the management of the Company through the executive
team.
The Board is supported by the
Audit Committee, Nomination Committee and the Remuneration
Committee. Each committee has access to such resources, information
and advice as it deems necessary, at the cost of the Company, to
enable the committee to discharge its duties. The Remuneration
Committee ensures remuneration is aligned to the implementation of
the Company strategy and effective risk management, taking into
account the views of shareholders and is also assisted by executive
pay consultants as and when required.
The Board as a whole is
collectively responsible for promoting the success of the Company
by directing and supervising the Company's affairs. The role of the
Board is as follows:
· To
provide direction and entrepreneurial leadership of the Company
within a framework of prudent and effective controls which enable
risks to be appropriately assessed and managed;
· To set
the Company's strategic aims, ensure that the necessary financial
and human resources are in place for the Company to meet its
objectives and review management performance;
· To
demonstrate ethical leadership, setting the Company's value and
standards and ensuring that its obligations to its shareholders and
others are well understood;
· To
create a performance culture that drives value creation without
exposing the Company to excessive risk or value
destruction;
· To be
accountable, and make well-informed and high quality decisions
based on a clear understanding of the Company's broader goals and
specific objectives;
· To
create the right framework for helping Directors meet their
statutory duties under the Companies Act 2006, and/or any other
relevant statutory and regulatory regimes; and
· To
promote its governance arrangements and embrace the evaluation of
their effectiveness.
Directors' Report (continued)
Build trust
10. Communicate how the Company is governed and
is performing by maintaining a dialogue with shareholders and
other relevant stakeholders:
Dialogue with shareholders
The Group places considerable
importance on effective communications with
shareholders.
The Group's communication strategy
requires communication with shareholders and other stakeholders in
an open, regular and timely manner so that the market has
sufficient information to make informed investment decisions on the
operations and results of the Group. The strategy provides for the
use of systems that ensure a regular and timely release of
information about the Group is provided to shareholders.
The Group also posts all reports,
stock exchange announcements and media releases and copies of
significant business presentations on the Company's website:
https://bsfenterprise.com/news/
Constructive use of the AGM
The Board encourages full
participation of shareholders at the AGM to ensure a high level of
accountability and understanding of the Group's strategy and
goals.
The Company provides information
in the notice of AGM that is presented in a clear, concise and
effective manner. Shareholders are provided with the opportunity to
submit questions in relation to each resolution before they are put
to the vote and discussion is encouraged by the Board. The board
will publish a summary of any questions received which are of
common interest, together with a written response on the Company's
website as soon as practicable after the conclusion of the AGM and
GM (as applicable).
Conflicts of interest
Min Yang, Geoffrey Baker and Dr
Che Connon are directors of the Company and are also directors of
3D Bio-Tissues Limited. Min Yang and Geoffrey Baker are
also directors of BSF Angel Funding Limited, a shareholder of the
Company. Dennis Ow has been appointed as an
independent director of the Company to manage any such conflicts
of interests. Any matters on which the Min Yang, Geoffrey
Baker or Dr Che Connon have a conflict of interest will be
delegated to and considered by Dennis Ow.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee has
the primary responsibility of monitoring the
quality of internal controls to ensure that the financial
performance of the Group is properly measured and reported on. It
receives and reviews reports from
the Group's management and external
auditors relating to the interim and annual accounts and the
accounting and internal control systems in use throughout the
Group. The Audit Committee will normally meet not less than three times in each financial year and has
unrestricted access to the Group's
external auditors. In the year ended 30 September 2023, the
Committee met twice. The members of the Audit Committee
comprises Dennis
Ow (as Chairman) and Min Yang.
Remuneration Committee
The Remuneration Committee reviews
the performance of the Executive Director, Chairman of the Board
and senior management of the Group and make recommendations to the
Board on matters relating to their remuneration and terms of
service. The Remuneration Committee also makes recommendations to
the Board on proposals for the granting of share options and
other equity incentives pursuant to any employee share option
scheme or equity incentive plans in operation from time to
time.
Directors' Report (continued)
The Remuneration Committee meets
as and when necessary, but at least twice each year. In exercising
this role, the Directors have regard to the recommendations put
forward in the QCA Code and, where appropriate, the QCA
Remuneration Committee Guide and associated guidance. The members
of the Remuneration Committee comprise Geoff Baker (as Chairman)
and Dennis Ow.
Nomination Committee
The Nomination Committee leads the
process for board appointments and makes recommendations to the
Board. The Nomination Committee evaluates the balance of skills,
experience, independence and knowledge on the board and, in the
light of this evaluation, prepares a description of the role and
capabilities required for a particular appointment.
The Nomination Committee meets as
and when necessary, but at least twice each year. The Nomination
Committee comprises Geoff Baker (as Chairman) and Dennis
Ow.
The Directors are responsible for
internal control in the Company and for reviewing effectiveness.
Due to the size of the Company, all key decisions are made by the
Board. The Directors have reviewed the effectiveness of the
Company's systems during the year under review and consider that
there have been no material losses, contingencies or uncertainties
due to weaknesses in the controls.
Details of the Company's business
model and strategy are included in the Chairman's Statement and
Strategic Report.
Statement as to disclosure of information to
auditors
The Directors confirm
that:
·
there is no relevant audit information of which
the Company's statutory auditor is unaware; and
·
each Director has taken all the necessary steps
he ought to have taken as a Director in order to make himself aware
of any relevant audit information and to establish that the
Company's statutory auditor is aware of that
information.
Auditors
The auditors, PKF Littlejohn LLP
and have expressed their willingness to continue in office and a
resolution to reappoint them will be proposed at the Annual General
Meeting.
Approved on behalf of the Board of
Directors by:
SIGNED
………………………………..
Geoffrey Baker
Director
Date: 30 January 2024
Directors' Remuneration Report
The Company established a
remuneration committee pursuant to the acquisition of 3DBT in May
2022. Until then, the Company has not had a separate remuneration
committee. The Board has instead periodically reviewed the quantum
of Directors' fees, taking into account the interests of
shareholders and the performance of the Company and the
Directors.
The items included in this report are unaudited
unless otherwise stated.
The Directors who held office at 30
September 2023 and who had beneficial interests in the Ordinary
Shares of the Company are summarised as follows:
Name of Director
|
Position
|
Dr Che Conon
|
Chief Executive Officer
|
Geoffrey Baker
|
Executive Director
|
Min Yang
|
Non-Executive Chairman
|
Dennis Kian Jing Ow
|
Non-Executive Director
|
Directors' letters of appointment
Min Yang and Geoffrey Baker were
each appointed by the Company pursuant to letters of appointment
dated 18 July 2019 for a period of 12 months and thereafter subject
to termination by either party on three months' notice. Ms Yang was
appointed as Chairman. The Non-Executive Directors each agreed to
not be remunerated until such time as an Acquisition was completed
however, Mr Baker has received £2,500 per month from April 2021
until May 2023. The Non-Executive Directors have agreed to commit
an equivalent of at least one day a week to the Company. The
Non-Executive Directors are not entitled to any other benefits
other than the reimbursement of their reasonable expenses. The
letters of appointment are governed by English law.
In May 2023, the Board considered the proposal that Geoff Baker's role and
remuneration be amended to take into account his increasing time
commitment to the Company. The remuneration committee approved the
proposal to extended his role to an executive position and increase
in remuneration to £6,000 per month.
Dennis Ow was appointed as a
non-executive Director pursuant to a letter of appointment dated 2
August 2021 for an initial period of 12 months and thereafter
subject to termination by either party on three months' notice. Mr
Ow was not entitled to any remuneration pursuant to his letter of
appointment. The appointment letter contains no payment for early
termination or profit sharing or commission
arrangements.
The letters of appointment of each
of the non-executive Directors were amended pursuant to side
letters dated 26 April 2022, effective on Admission to provide that
each non-executive Director will be paid £30,000 per annum
(commencing on Admission). The amended appointment letters contain
no payment for early termination or profit sharing or commission
arrangements.
Dr Che Connon entered into a
service agreement with the Company dated 26 April 2022 under which
Dr Che Connon is employed as the Chief Executive Officer of the
Company from Admission and thereafter until terminated by either
party giving 3 months' prior written notice.
Dr Che Connon received an initial
annual salary of £80,000 based on 2 days' work per week and subject
to proportional increase at £40,000 per annum per extra day a week
that is agreed between the parties. His salary was increased to
£120,000 per annum with effect from December 2022 when his time
commitment was increased to 3 days per week.
Directors' Remuneration Report (continued)
Dr Che Connon was entitled to a
bonus payment of £10,000 to be paid if 3DBT achieved agreed sales
targets of City-mix or Etsyl products within 18 months of the
commencement of his employment. No bonuses have been paid under
these arrangements. Dr Che Connon is entitled to participate in the
Restrictive Share Plan and the EMI Option Plan. He is also entitled
to the reimbursement of his reasonable expenses. Dr Che Connon is
not entitled to any benefits on termination of
employment.
Shareholders' returns
The Company expects that any
returns for shareholders would derive primarily from capital
appreciation of the Ordinary Shares and any dividends paid pursuant
to the Company's dividend policy set out below.
Dividend policy
The Company intends to pay
dividends on the Ordinary Shares at such times (if any) and in such
amounts (if any) as the Board determines appropriate in its
absolute discretion and in accordance with requirements of the
Companies Act 2006.
Prior to revenue generation, it is
unlikely that the Company will have any earnings but to the extent
the Company has any earnings it is the Company's current intention
to retain any such earnings for use in its business operations, and
the Company does not anticipate declaring any dividends in the
foreseeable future. The Company will only pay dividends to the
extent that to do so is in accordance with all applicable
laws.
During the year ended 30 September
2023, there were no dividends paid (2022: nil).
Particulars of Directors' remuneration
(audited)
|
|
|
Totals
Year ended
|
Year ended
30 September 2023
|
Fees
and
salaries
|
Restricted share
awards
|
30
September
2023
|
|
£
|
£
|
£
|
|
Executive Directors
|
|
|
|
|
Dr Che Connon
|
109,732
|
-
|
109,732
|
|
Non-executive Directors
|
|
|
|
|
Geoff Baker
|
47,500
|
-
|
47,500
|
|
Min Yang
|
30,000
|
-
|
30,000
|
|
Dennis Ow
|
30,000
|
-
|
30,000
|
|
|
217,232
|
-
|
217,232
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Directors' Remuneration Report (continued)
|
|
|
Totals
Year ended
|
Year ended
30 September 2022
|
Fees
and
salaries
|
Restricted share
awards
|
30
September
2022
|
|
£
|
£
|
£
|
|
Executive Directors
|
|
|
|
|
Dr Che Connon
|
26,667
|
87,794
|
114,461
|
|
Non-executive Directors
|
|
|
|
|
Geoff Baker
|
30,000
|
35,118
|
65,118
|
|
Min Yang
|
11,250
|
17,559
|
28,809
|
|
Dennis Ow
|
11,250
|
-
|
11,250
|
|
|
79,167
|
140,471
|
219,638
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Statement of Directors' shareholding and share interests
(audited)
The Directors who served during
the year ended 30 September 2023, and their interests at that date,
are disclosed on pages 15 to 17. There were no changes between the
reporting date and the date of approval of this report.
UK Remuneration percentage changes
Geoff Baker's salary was increased
from £2,500 per month to £6,000 per month in May 2023, an increase
of 140 per cent. This increase reflected a substantial increase in
his time commitment to the Company and his appointment as an
executive director from this date.
There were no other changes to the
level of remuneration in the year ended 30 September
2023.
UK 10-year performance graph
The Directors have considered the
requirement for a UK 10-year performance graph comparing the
Company's Total Shareholder Return with that of a comparable
indicator. The Directors do not currently consider that including
the graph will be meaningful because the Company has only been
listed since 2017, is not paying dividends, is currently incurring
losses as it gains scale and has only recently completed its first
acquisition. In addition, and as mentioned above, the remuneration
of Directors is not currently linked to performance and we
therefore do not consider the inclusion of this graph to be useful
to shareholders at the current time. The Directors will review the
inclusion of this table for future reports.
Consideration of shareholder views
The Board considers shareholder
feedback received. This feedback, plus any additional feedback
received from time to time, is considered as part of the Company's
annual policy on remuneration.
Directors' Remuneration Report (continued)
Policy for salary reviews
The Company may from time to time
seek to review salary levels of Directors, taking into account
performance, time spent in the role and market data for the
relevant role.
Other matters
None of the Directors hold
options, warrants or any form of convertible security in respect of
Ordinary Shares. Save as set out above and below, there is
currently no intention for the Company to make incentivisation
arrangements for the Directors to be involved in the capital of the
Company or otherwise any employee share option
arrangements.
On 16 May 2022, the Company
resolved to adopt the Restricted Share
Plan, which will allow for the grant of shares to directors and
selected employees subject to restrictions and forfeiture risks
which will be lifted after a certain period. It is intended that
participants will be executive directors and senior employees of
the Company. No more than 15% of the issued share capital of the
Company from time to time can be issued or issuable under the plan
and other grant of shares by the Company which are subject to
restrictions and forfeiture risks. A total of 7,798,491 shares
were issued including 6,623,793 shares issued to directors. Further
details are set out in Note 18 to the Consolidated Financial
Statements.
On 16 May 2022 the Company
resolved to adopt the Employee Share
Option Plan ("ESOP") which will allow for the grant of EMI options
and non-approved share options over shares in the Company to be
granted to selected individuals. An option
will become exercisable at some future date and the participant
will then have the right to acquire shares at a price (the "option
price") fixed when the option was granted. The ESOP will be
administered by the board. Further details
are set out in Note 18 to the Consolidated Financial
Statements No options have been issued
under the ESOP at the date of this Report.
The Company does not pay pension
amounts in relation to any of the Directors remuneration. The
Company has not paid out any excess retirement benefits to any
Directors.
Approved on behalf of the Board of
Directors by:
SIGNED
………………………………………….
Geoffrey Baker
Director
Date: 30 January 2024
Statement of Directors'
Responsibilities
The Directors are responsible for
preparing the Annual Report and the Group's and Parent Company's
financial statements in accordance with applicable law and
regulations.
Company law requires the Directors
to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that
law, the Directors have elected to prepare the Group financial
statements in accordance with UK-adopted International Accounting Standards and Company financial
statements under FRS 101, both in conformity with the requirements
of the Companies Act 2006. Under company
law the Directors must not approve the financial statements unless
they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state
of the affairs of the Company and the Group and of the profit or
loss for that period.
In preparing these financial
statements, the Directors are also required to:
-
select suitable accounting policies and then
apply them consistently;
-
make judgements and accounting estimates that are
reasonable and prudent;
-
state whether they have been prepared in
accordance with UK-adopted international accounting standards or UK
Financial Reporting Standards and with the requirements of the
Companies Act 2006. We therefore
seek to operate within a corporate culture that is based on sound
ethical values and behaviours. We do this using certain rule-based
procedures (such as our formal Corporate Code of Conduct) and, more
importantly, by the behavioural example of individual Board members
and senior managers. These values, which we seek to instil
throughout the Company, include integrity, respect, honesty, and
transparency. As a small company these characteristics are far more
visible to staff than might otherwise be the case. We also hold
internal meetings at which Directors and staff discuss matters,
both formally and informally.and with the
requirements of the C and with the Companies Act 2006 and subject
to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial
statements; and
-
prepare the financial statements on the going
concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the
Company will continue in business.
The Directors are responsible for
keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and
explain the Group's and Company's transactions and disclose
with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the
Group and Company and enable them to ensure that the Financial
Statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also
responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Company and hence
for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of
fraud and other irregularities.
The Directors are responsible for
the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial
information included on the Company's website.
Directors' responsibility statement pursuant to disclosure
and Transparency Rules
The Directors are responsible for
preparing the Financial Statements in accordance with the
Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the United Kingdom's Financial
Conduct Authority ("DTR") and with UK-adopted International
Accounting Standards and with the requirements of the Companies Act
2006..
Each of the Directors, whose names
and functions as listed in the Board of Directors confirm that, to
the best of their knowledge:
·
the financial statements, prepared in accordance
with UK-adopted International Accounting Standards, give a true and
fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit
or loss of the Company;
Statement of Directors' Responsibilities
(continued)
·
the Strategic and Directors' Report include a
fair review of the development and performance of the business and
the financial position of the Group and Parent Company, together
with a description of the principal risks and uncertainties that it
faces; and
·
the Annual Report and financial statements, taken
as a whole, are fair, balanced and understandable and provide the
information necessary for shareholders to assess the Group's and
Parent Company's performance, business model and
strategy.
Approved on behalf of the Board of
Directors by:
SIGNED
………………………………………….
Geoffrey Baker
Director
Date: 30 January 2024
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF BSF ENTERPRISE
PLC
Opinion
We have audited the financial
statements of BSF Enterprise Plc (the 'parent company') for the
year ended 30 September 2023 which comprise the Consolidated
Statement of Comprehensive Income, the Consolidated and Parent
Company Statements of Financial Position, the Consolidated and
Parent Company Statements of Changes in Equity, the Consolidated
Statement of Cash Flows and notes to the financial statements,
including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting
framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable
law and UK-adopted international accounting standards. The
financial reporting framework that has been applied in the
preparation of the parent company financial statements is
applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including
FRS 101 Reduced Disclosure
Framework (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting
Practice) and as applied in accordance with the provisions of the
Companies Act 2006.
In our opinion:
·
the financial statements give a true and fair view
of the state of the group's and of the parent company's affairs as
at 30 September 2023 and of the group's loss for the year then
ended;
·
the group's financial statements have been
properly prepared in accordance with UK-adopted international
accounting standards;
·
the parent company financial statements have been
properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally
Accepted Accounting Practice; and
·
the financial statements have been prepared in
accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act
2006.
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in
accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs
(UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those
standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities
for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We
are independent of the group and parent company in accordance with
the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the
financial statements in the UK, including the FRC's Ethical
Standard as applied to listed public interest entities, and we have
fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with
these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have
obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our
opinion.
Material uncertainty related to going
concern
We draw attention to note 2 in the
financial statements, which indicates that it will be necessary for
the group to obtain additional funding through financing
arrangements or the issue of equity in order to continue as a going
concern. As stated in note 2, these events or conditions, along
with the other matters as set forth in note 2, indicate that a
material uncertainty exists that may cast significant doubt on the
group's and parent company's ability to
continue as a going concern. Our opinion is not modified in respect
of this matter.
In auditing the financial
statements, we have concluded that the director's use of the going
concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial
statements is appropriate. Our evaluation of the directors'
assessment of the group's and parent company's ability to continue
to adopt the going concern basis of accounting included:
·
Challenging the assumptions made and key variables
included in the cash flow forecasts prepared by the directors to
assess the group's and parent company's ability to meet their
financial obligations as they fall due for a period of at least 12
months from the dates of approval of the financial
statements.
·
Reviewing the consistency of the committed cash
flows against contractual arrangements and compared general
overheads in the forecasts to current run rates. The
forecasts demonstrated that the group and parent company will
require additional funding during the going concern period to meet
their liabilities as and when they fall due, and a material
uncertainty has been disclosed above in respect to this.
·
As disclosed in note 2, the group's cash position
shows a balance of £2,319,061 as at 30
September 2023. The group's cost base has increased as a result of
the increase in research and development activities in the year.
Due to the lack of revenue streams and the increased cash burn
rate, the group's and the parent company's ability to continue as a
going concern are dependent on raising additional funding in the
second half of 2024. We have discussed with the directors the
strategies that they are pursuing to secure further funding if and
when required. We note that the group have
successfully raised funds from issuing equity in the past but at
the date of this report there are no legally binding agreements in
place to cover a funding deficit in these scenarios.
Our responsibilities and the
responsibilities of the directors with respect to going concern are
described in the relevant sections of this report.
Our application of materiality
The scope of our audit was
influenced by our application of materiality. We set certain
quantitative thresholds for materiality. These, together with
qualitative considerations, helped us to determine the scope of our
audit and the nature, timing and extent of our audit procedures on
the individual financial statement line items and disclosures and
in evaluating the effect of misstatements, both individually and on
the financial statements as a whole.
Based on our professional
judgement, the materiality for the group financial statements as a
whole was calculated based on 2% of net assets. We consider net
assets to be the most significant determinant of the group's
financial performance used by shareholders as the group continues
its research activities. Materiality of the parent company was
based on 2% of net assets and was below the group
materiality.
Whilst materiality for the group
financial statements as a whole was £47,000 (2022: £38,000), the
significant components of the group were audited to a lower level
of materiality. The parent company materiality was £46,000 (2022:
£37,000) with the other components being audited to a materiality
of £32,900 (2022: £20,000). These materiality levels were used to
determine the financial statement areas that are included within
the scope of our audit work and the extent of sample sizes during
the audit.
Performance materiality is the
application of materiality at the individual account or balance
level set at an amount to reduce to an appropriately low level the
probability that the aggregate of uncorrected and undetected
misstatements exceeds materiality. Performance materiality was set
at 70% of the above materiality levels for both the group and
parent company, equating to £32,900 (2022: £26,000) and £32,200
(2022: £25,900) respectively, based upon our assessment of the risk
of misstatement.
We agreed with management that we
would report to the audit committee all individual audit
differences identified during the course of our audit in excess of
£2,350 (2022: £2,000) for the group financial statements and £2,300
(2022: £1,850) for the parent company financial statements. We also
agreed to report differences below these thresholds that, in our
view warranted reporting on qualitative grounds.
Our approach to the audit
Our group audit scope focused on
the group's principal operating location being Newcastle which was
subject to a full scope audit. Together with the parent company,
which was also subject to a full scope audit, these represent the
significant components of the group.
Entities subject to full scope
audits account for 100% of the total assets.
The audits of each of the
significant components were performed in the United Kingdom. All of
the audits were conducted by PKF Littlejohn LLP.
Key audit matters
Key audit matters are those matters
that, in our professional judgment, were of most significance in
our audit of the financial statements of the current period and
include the most significant assessed risks of material
misstatement (whether or not due to fraud) we identified, including
those which had the greatest effect on: the overall audit strategy,
the allocation of resources in the audit; and directing the efforts
of the engagement team. These matters were addressed in the context
of our audit of the financial statements as a whole, and in forming
our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on
these matters. In addition to the matter described in
the Material uncertainty related to going concern section
we have determined the matters described below to be the key audit
matters to be communicated in our report.
Key Audit Matter
|
How our scope addressed this matter
|
Valuation of goodwill on acquisition of 3D Bio Tissues Limited
(Note 10)
|
|
The Group carries a material amount of goodwill (£2.5m),
relating to the subsidiary undertaking acquired in 2022, 3D
Bio-Tissues Limited.
There is a significant risk of overstatement of goodwill due
to the fact that the investments are loss
making.
Given the aforementioned, goodwill may be impaired, and
management need to include significant estimates and judgements in
their goodwill impairment assessment and as such the valuation of
goodwill was deemed to be a key audit matter.
|
Our work in this area included but
was not limited to:
·
Discussing with management their impairment
assessment of goodwill and challenging the assumptions and key
inputs used for reasonableness.
·
Reviewing post year end activity, such as
review of year end board minutes, regulatory news services,
and management plans regarding additional fundraising;
and
·
Evaluating the presentation and disclosure in
the financial statements.
Key observations
We are satisfied with management's
assessment that no impairment charge is necessary in respect of the
goodwill balance.
|
Carrying value of investment in subsidiaries (3D Bio-Tissues)
in the parent company financial statements (Note 5 to the parent
company financial statements)
|
|
Investments in subsidiary undertakings is the most significant
balance in the financial statements (£3.9m).
Under International Accounting Standard 36 'Impairment of
Assets' ('IAS 36'), companies are required to assess whether there
is any indication that an asset may be impaired at each reporting
date.
The carrying value of investment in subsidiary (3D Bio Tissues
Limited) is ultimately dependent on the value of the underlying
assets and the subsidiary's ability to generate future cash flows.
Since 3D Bio-Tissues Limited is in the research and development
phase, it is difficult to definitively determine the value of the
investment. Therefore is a risk that the investments balances are
not fully recoverable.
Valuation for the investments in subsidiary is based on
significant judgments and estimates made by the directors
and as such the carrying value of investments was deemed to be a
key audit matter.
|
Our work in this area included but
was not limited to:
·
Reviewing ownership documents for investment in
subsidiaries held by the parent company;
·
Reviewing the investment balances for any
indicators of impairment in accordance with IAS 36 and challenging
management on the assumptions within; and
·
Evaluating the presentation and disclosure in
the financial statements
Key observations
We are satisfied with management's
assessment that that no impairment charge is necessary in respect
of the investments in subsidiaries.
|
Other information
The other information comprises the
information included in the annual report, other than the financial
statements and our auditor's report thereon. The directors are
responsible for the other information contained within the annual
report. Our opinion on the group and parent company financial
statements does not cover the other information and, except to the
extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express
any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to
read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the
other information is materially inconsistent with the financial
statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or
otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such
material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are
required to determine whether this gives rise to a material
misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on
the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material
misstatement of this other information, we are required to report
that fact.
We have nothing to report in this
regard.
Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act
2006
In our opinion the part of the
directors' remuneration report to be audited has been properly
prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2006.
In our opinion, based on the work
undertaken in the course of the audit:
·
the information given in the strategic report and
the directors' report for the financial year for which the
financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial
statements; and
·
the strategic report and the directors' report
have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal
requirements.
Matters on which we are required to report by
exception
In the light of the knowledge and
understanding of the group and the parent company and their
environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not
identified material misstatements in the strategic report or the
directors' report.
We have nothing to report in
respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies
Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our
opinion:
·
adequate accounting records have not been kept by
the parent company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been
received from branches not visited by us; or
·
the parent company financial statements and the
part of the directors' remuneration report to be audited are not in
agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
·
certain disclosures of directors' remuneration
specified by law are not made; or
·
we have not received all the information and
explanations we require for our audit.
Responsibilities of directors
As explained more fully in the
statement of directors' responsibilities, the directors are
responsible for the preparation of the group and parent company
financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true
and fair view, and for such internal control as the directors
determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial
statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to
fraud or error.
In preparing the group and parent
company financial statements, the directors are responsible for
assessing the group's and the parent company's ability to continue
as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to
going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting
unless the directors either intend to liquidate the group or the
parent company or to cease operations, or have no realistic
alternative but to do so.
Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial
statements
Our objectives are to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a
whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or
error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion.
Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a
guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will
always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements
can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if,
individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected
to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of
these financial statements.
Irregularities, including fraud,
are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We
design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined
above, to detect material misstatements in respect of
irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures
are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is
detailed below:
·
We obtained an understanding of the group and
parent company and the sector in which they operate to identify
laws and regulations that could reasonably be expected to have a
direct effect on the financial statements. We obtained our
understanding in this regard through discussions with management,
industry research, application of cumulative audit knowledge and
experience of the sector.
·
We determined the principal laws and regulations
relevant to the group and the parent company in this regard to be
those arising from:
o Companies Act 2006;
o International accounting standards;
o Listing rules; and
o Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules
·
We designed our audit procedures to ensure the
audit team considered whether there were any indications of
non-compliance by the group and parent company with those laws and
regulations. These procedures included, but were not limited
to:
o Enquiries of management;
o Review of Board minutes and regulatory news service
announcements; and
o Review of legal and professional fees in the nominal
ledger
·
We also identified the risks of material
misstatement of the financial statements due to fraud. We
considered, in addition to the non-rebuttable presumption of a risk
of fraud arising from management override of controls, the
potential of management bias was identified in relation to the
impairment of goodwill and the carrying value of investments and we
addressed this by challenging the assumptions and judgements made
by management when auditing that significant accounting
estimate.
·
As in all of our audits, we addressed the risk of
fraud arising from management override of controls by performing
audit procedures which included, but were not limited to: the
testing of journals; reviewing accounting estimates for evidence of
bias; and evaluating the business rationale of any significant
transactions that are unusual or outside the normal course of
business.
Because of the inherent limitations
of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all
irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement
in the financial statements or non-compliance with
regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with
a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions
reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to
become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also
greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than
error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery,
collusion, omission or misrepresentation.
A further description of our
responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is
located on the Financial Reporting Council's website at:
www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities.
This description forms part of our auditor's report.
Other matters which we are required to
address
We were appointed by the Board on
21 November 2019 to audit the financial statements for the period
ending 30 September 2023 and subsequent financial periods. Our
total uninterrupted period of engagement is 5 years, covering the
periods ending 30 September 2019 to 30 September 2023.
The non-audit services prohibited
by the FRC's Ethical Standard were not provided to the group or the
parent company and we remain independent of the group and the
parent company in conducting our audit.
Our audit opinion is consistent
with the additional report to the audit committee.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the
company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part
16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been
undertaken so that we might state to the company's members those
matters we are required to state to them in an auditor's report and
for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law,
we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone, other than the
company and the company's members as a body, for our audit work,
for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
[SIGNED]
Daniel Hutson (Senior Statutory Auditor)
15 Westferry Circus
For and on behalf of PKF Littlejohn
LLP
Canary Wharf
Statutory Auditor
London E14 4HD
30 January 2024
Consolidated Statement of
Comprehensive Income
for the year ended 30 September 2023
|
|
Year ended 30
September
|
|
Year ended 30
September
|
|
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
Note
|
£
|
|
£
|
|
|
|
|
|
Continuing operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sales
|
4
|
12,942
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of sales
|
6
|
(71,324)
|
|
-
|
Gross loss
|
|
(58,382)
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other income
|
5
|
87,226
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
Administrative expenses
|
6
|
(1,599,152)
|
|
(927,322)
|
Operating loss
|
|
(1,570,308)
|
|
(927,322)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Finance expense - right-of use
lease liabilities
|
13
|
(10,141)
|
|
(2,110)
|
Loss before taxation
|
|
(1,580,449)
|
|
(929,432)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Taxation credit / (expense)
|
8
|
79,407
|
|
(607)
|
Loss for the year
|
|
(1,501,042)
|
|
(930,039)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other comprehensive income for the
year
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
Total comprehensive income for the year attributable to the
equity owners
|
|
(1,501,042)
|
|
(930,039)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings per share
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted (pence per
share)
|
9
|
(1.59)
|
|
(2.06)
|
|
|
|
|
|
There are no items of other
comprehensive income.
The notes on pages 47 to 78 form an integral part of these consolidated
financial statements.
Consolidated Statement of
Financial Position as at 30 September
2023 (Registered number 11554014)
|
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
Note
|
£
|
|
£
|
Assets
|
|
|
|
|
Non-current assets
|
|
|
|
|
Property, plant and
equipment
|
11
|
105,032
|
|
73,488
|
Right-of-use assets
|
12
|
147,801
|
|
223,560
|
Intangible assets
|
10
|
2,485,290
|
|
2,485,290
|
Total non-current assets
|
|
2,738,123
|
|
2,782,338
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current assets
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
14
|
2,319,061
|
|
1,061,529
|
Trade and other
receivables
|
16
|
157,612
|
|
132,762
|
Corporation tax
receivable
|
8
|
-
|
|
33,950
|
Inventory
|
15
|
45,811
|
|
21,855
|
Total current assets
|
|
2,522,484
|
|
1,250,096
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
5,260,607
|
|
4,032,434
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity and liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
Capital and reserves
|
|
|
|
|
Share capital - issued and fully
paid
|
18
|
955,384
|
|
781,884
|
Share capital - issued but
unpaid
|
18
|
77,985
|
|
77,985
|
Share premium
|
18
|
6,292,888
|
|
3,711,576
|
Warrant reserve
|
18
|
34,785
|
|
12,537
|
Retained deficit
|
|
(2,502,062)
|
|
(1,001,020)
|
Total equity
|
|
4,858,980
|
|
3,582,962
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
Trade and other payables
|
17
|
166,764
|
|
142,821
|
Taxes and social security
|
|
57,973
|
|
60,809
|
Lease liabilities
|
13
|
78,883
|
|
74,946
|
|
|
303,620
|
|
278,576
|
Non-current liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
Lease liabilities
|
13
|
78,051
|
|
156,933
|
Deferred tax
|
8
|
19,956
|
|
13,963
|
|
|
98,007
|
|
170,896
|
Total liabilities
|
|
401,627
|
|
449,472
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total equity and liabilities
|
|
5,260,607
|
|
4,032,434
|
The notes on pages 47 to 78 form an integral part of these consolidated
financial statements. This report was approved by the Board of Directors and
authorised for issue on 30 January 2024 and signed on its behalf
by:
SIGNED
……………………………
Geoffrey Baker, Director
Consolidated Statement of Changes
in Equity for the year ended 30 September
2023
|
Share capital issued and
paid up
|
Share capital issued and
unpaid
|
Share
premium
|
Warrant
reserve
|
Retained
deficit
|
Total
|
|
£
|
£
|
£
|
£
|
£
|
£
|
As at 1 October 2021
|
203,400
|
-
|
407,984
|
-
|
(246,568)
|
364,816
|
Comprehensive income for the period
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss for the year
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(930,039)
|
(930,039)
|
Total comprehensive loss for the
year
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(930,039)
|
(930,039)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issue of shares
|
578,484
|
77,985
|
3,762,931
|
-
|
-
|
4,419,400
|
Transfer on issue of restricted
shares
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
175,587
|
175,587
|
Issue of warrants
|
-
|
-
|
(12,537)
|
12,537
|
-
|
-
|
Share issue costs
|
-
|
-
|
(446,802)
|
-
|
-
|
(446,802)
|
Transactions with
shareholders
|
578,484
|
77,985
|
3,303,592
|
12,537
|
175,587
|
4,148,185
|
As at 30 September 2022
|
781,884
|
77,985
|
3,711,576
|
12,537
|
(1,001,020)
|
3,582,962
|
Comprehensive income for the year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss for the year
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(1,501,042)
|
(1,501,042)
|
Total comprehensive loss for the
year
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(1,501,042)
|
(1,501,042)
|
Issue of shares
|
173,500
|
-
|
2,775,000
|
-
|
-
|
2,948,500
|
Issue of warrants
|
-
|
-
|
(22,248)
|
22,248
|
-
|
-
|
Share issue costs
|
-
|
-
|
(171,440)
|
-
|
-
|
(171,440)
|
Transactions with
shareholders
|
173,500
|
-
|
2,581,312
|
22,248
|
-
|
2,777,060
|
As at 30 September 2023
|
955,384
|
77,985
|
6,292,888
|
34,785
|
(2,502,062)
|
4,858,980
|
The notes on pages 47 to 78 form an integral part of these consolidated
financial statements.
Consolidated Statement of Cash
Flows
for the year ended 30 September 2023
|
|
Year ended 30
September
|
|
Year ended 30
September
|
|
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
Note
|
£
|
|
£
|
Cash flow from operating activities
|
|
|
|
|
Loss after tax
|
|
(1501,042)
|
|
(930,039)
|
Taxation
|
|
(79,407)
|
|
607
|
Depreciation
|
|
109,073
|
|
21,522
|
Expense recognised on issue of
restricted shares
|
18
|
-
|
|
175,587
|
Tax received
|
|
119,350
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
Changes in working capital:
|
|
|
|
|
Increase in trade and other
payables
|
|
26,022
|
|
131,071
|
(Increase) / decrease in
receivables
|
|
(29,774)
|
|
34,013
|
Increase in inventory
|
|
(23,956)
|
|
-
|
Decrease in related party
balances
|
21
|
-
|
|
(100,000)
|
Net
cash used in operating activities
|
(1,379,734)
|
|
(667,239)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flow from investing activities
|
|
|
|
|
Cash acquired on purchase of
subsidiary
|
10
|
-
|
|
12,370
|
Acquisition of plant and
equipment
|
11
|
(64,848)
|
|
(10,620)
|
Net
cash from investing activities
|
|
(64,848)
|
|
1,750
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flow from financing activities
|
|
|
|
|
Issue of shares
|
18
|
2,948,500
|
|
1,750,000
|
Costs of share issues
|
18
|
(171,440)
|
|
(368,817)
|
Repayment of lease
liabilities
|
13
|
(74,946)
|
|
(14,033)
|
Net
cash from financing activities
|
|
2,702,114
|
|
1,367,150
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
cash flow for the year
|
|
1,257,532
|
|
701,661
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the
year
|
14
|
1,061,529
|
|
359,868
|
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the
year
|
14
|
2,319,061
|
|
1,061,529
|
Material non-cash transactions:
The Company's acquisition of 3DBT
in 2022 was a non-cash transaction satisfied wholly by the issue of
shares in the Company, as described in Note 9 below. No net debt
reconciliation is provided as the Group has no debt.
The notes on pages 47 to 78 form an integral part of these consolidated
financial statements.
Notes to the Financial Statements
1. General
information
The Company is a public limited
liability company, listed on the London Stock Exchange,
incorporated and registered in England and Wales on 5 September
2018 with registered company number 11554014.
The principal activity of the
Company is to undertake the acquisition of businesses in the
biotechnology, innovative marketing and e-commerce sectors. The
address of the registered office is Aldgate Tower, 2 Leman Street,
London, E1 8QN.
On 16 May 2022, the Company
completed the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of 3D
Bio-Tissues Limited ("3DBT"), (together, the "Group"), a
biotechnology start-up and spin-out from the University of
Newcastle. 3DBT has developed a propriety platform technology
termed "tissue templating" that facilitates the production of a
variety of animal tissue types for multiple uses, commonly referred
to as "tissue engineering".
The Company has a standard listing
on the London Stock Exchange. The
Company's Ordinary Shares commenced trading on the OTCQB
Venture Market in the United States on 24 May 2023, under the
symbol BSFAF.
The consolidated financial
statements include the financial statements of the Company and its
subsidiary (the "Group") as follows:
Name
|
Place of
incorporation
|
Registered
address
|
Principal
activity
|
Effective
interest
|
|
|
|
|
30.09.2023
|
30.09.2022
|
3D Bio-Tissues Limited
|
England and Wales
|
The Biosphere Draymans Way,
Newcastle Helix, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE4 5BX
|
Biotechnology start-up
|
100%
|
100%
|
BSF Enterprise (Hong Kong)
Limited
|
Hong Kong
|
11/F Times Tower, 391-407 Jaffe
Road, Causeway Bay Hong Kong
|
Biotechnology start-up
|
100%
|
-
|
2. Accounting
policies
The principal accounting policies
applied in the preparation of the financial statements are set out
below. These policies have been consistently applied to the period
presented, unless otherwise stated.
47
a) Basis of
preparation
The financial statements have been
prepared in accordance with UK-adopted International Accounting
Standards in conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act
2006. The financial statements have been prepared
using the historical cost basis.
The results for the year ended 30
September 2022 include those of 3DBT from acquisition in May 2022.
Therefore, the comparative information is not entirely
comparable.
The financial statements are
presented in British Pounds Sterling, the currency of the primary
economic environment in which the Company operate and its
functional currency.
The financial statements are
presented in £ unless otherwise stated.
b) New standards, amendments to
standards and interpretations:
New standards, amendments to standards and
interpretations:
There were no new standards or
interpretations impacting the Group that have been adopted in the
annual financial statements for the year ended 30 September 2023,
and which have given rise to changes in the Group's accounting
policies.
Standards and interpretations in issue but not yet effective
or not yet relevant
At the date of authorisation of
these financial statements the following Standards and
Interpretations which have not been applied in these financial
statements were in issue but not yet effective:
|
|
Effective
annual
periods
beginning
before or
after
|
IAS 1
|
Disclosure of Accounting Policies
(Amendments to IAS 1 and IFRS Practice Statement 2);
|
1st January 2023
|
IAS 8
|
Amendments regarding the definition
of accounting estimates
|
1st January 2023
|
IAS 12
|
Amendments regarding deferred tax on
leases and decommissioning obligations
|
1st January 2023
|
IFRS 17
|
Amendments to address concerns and
implementation challenges that were identified after IFRS 17 was
published
|
1st January 2023
|
|
|
Effective annual periods
beginning before or after
|
IAS 1
|
Amendments to defer the effective
date of January 2020 amendments regarding the disclosure of
accounting policies
|
1st January 2023
|
IFRS 16
|
Leases (Amendment - Liability in a
Sale and Leaseback)
|
1st January 2024
|
IAS 1
|
Presentation of Financial Statements
(Amendment - classification of Liabilities as Current or
Non-current)
|
1st January 2024
|
IAS 1
|
Presentation of Financial Statements
(Amendment - Non-current Liabilities with
Covenants)
|
1st January 2024
|
The Company intends to adopt these
Standards for the respective financial years beginning after the
effective dates.
The Directors do not anticipate
the adoption of any of these standards issued by IASB, but not yet
effective, to have a material impact on the financial statements of
the Company.
c) Basis of
consolidation
The consolidated financial
statements incorporate the financial statements of the Company and
its subsidiaries made up to the end of the reporting period. A
subsidiary is an entity over which the Group has control. The Group
controls an investee if the Group has power over the investee,
exposure to variable returns from the investee, and the ability to
use its power to affect those variable returns.
The consolidated financial
statements present the results of the Company and its subsidiaries
as if they formed a single entity. Inter-company balances and
transactions between Group companies are therefore eliminated in
full. The financial information of subsidiaries is included in the
Group's financial statements from the date that control commences
until the date that control ceases.
On 16 May 2022, the Company
completed a conditional share purchase agreement (the "SPA") with
3D Bio-Tissues Limited ("3DBT'') for the acquisition by the Company
of 100% of the issued share capital of 3DBT (the "Transaction")
which is more fully described in Note 9.
The Directors have considered who
the acquiring party is and concluded that it is the Company, due
to:
- a greater proportion of share
capital in the Group being held by shareholders of BSF Plc, rather
than pre-acquisition shareholders of 3DBT, meaning that there has
been no change of control;
- 3DBT was a small, early-stage
pre-revenue entity not dissimilar to the Company. The fair value of
its net assets on acquisition were smaller than that of the Company
at only £13,140;
- BSF Enterprise Plc's
shareholders have the ability to appoint or remove a majority of
the members of the Board;
- greater Board representation in
the Group of the BSF Enterprise Plc Board of directors rather than
pre-acquisition members of the 3DBT Board; and
- the composition of the senior
management of the Group consists mostly of BSF Enterprise Plc
management.
Accordingly, the Company was
deemed to be the acquiring party for accounting purposes. The
acquisition of 3DBT has therefore been accounted for under the
acquisition method.
Under the acquisition method, the
results of 3DBT are included from the date of acquisition. At the
date of acquisition, the fair values of the net assets of 3DBT have
been determined and these values are reflected in the Consolidated
Financial Statements. The cost of acquisition was measured at
the aggregate of the fair value of the shares issued by the
Company, at the date of exchange, in exchange for control of the
acquiree. Any excess of the purchase consideration of the business
combination over the fair value of the identifiable assets and
liabilities acquired is recognised as goodwill. Goodwill, if any,
is not amortised but reviewed for impairment at least annually. If
the consideration is less than the fair value of assets and
liabilities acquired, the difference is recognised directly in the
statement of comprehensive income.
Acquisition-related costs are
expensed as incurred.
d) Going
concern
The financial position of the
Group, its cash flows and liquidity position are set out in these
financial statements. As at 30 September 2023, the Group had cash
and cash equivalents of £2,319,061. As at the date of this report,
the Group had approximately £1,684,000 of cash and cash
equivalents.
The Group has prepared monthly
cash flow forecasts based on reasonable estimates of key variables
including operating costs and capital expenditure through to March
2025 that supports the conclusion of the Directors that they expect
sufficient funding to be available to meet the Group's anticipated
cash flow requirements to this date.
These cashflow forecasts are
subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, in particular the
ability of the Group to achieve additional funding to support the
planned levels of expenditure.
Management has performed detailed
analyses of these forecasts to assess the economic impact of
various downside scenarios from a going concern perspective. Based
on the financial and operational performance analysis and reviews
done for the period up to January 2024 the Company is operating in
line with its budget in terms of costs.
The assessment as to whether the
going concern basis is appropriate has also taken into account all
information available up to the date of authorisation of these
financial statements.
The Group will need additional
funding to finance ongoing operations and any acquisitions it might
make. There can be no guarantee that sufficient funds will be
raised and this creates a material
uncertainty that may cause significant doubt about the going
concern basis of the Group. The Board is
confident however that sufficient additional capital will be raised
to ensure adequate funds are available to the Group. The Board has
therefore concluded that the going concern basis remains
appropriate in the preparation of these Consolidated Financial
Statements due to the anticipated availability of sufficient
financial resources in the 12 months from the date of the financial
statements.
e) Segment
reporting
IFRS 8 defines operating segments
as those activities of an entity about which separate financial
information is available and which are evaluated by the Board of
Directors to assess performance and determine the allocation of
resources. The Board of Directors is of
the opinion that under IFRS 8 the Group has only one operating
segment, being that of biotechnology. The Company was incorporated in 2018 with the objective of
creating value for its shareholders through an acquisition-led
growth strategy with a focus on acquiring businesses in the
biotechnology, innovative marketing and e-commerce sectors. The
acquisition of 3DBT is an integral part of the Group's strategy for
this sector. The operations of the Company and 3DBT are within the
UK whilst those of BSF Hong Kong Limited, which are not yet
significant, are conducted in Hong Kong.
The Board of Directors assesses
the performance of the operating segment using financial
information that is measured and presented in a manner consistent
with that in the Financial Statements. Segmental reporting will be
reviewed and considered in light of the development of the Group's
business over the next reporting period.
f)
Revenue
The Group's revenue represents the
fair value of the consideration received or receivable for the
rendering of services and sale of goods, net of value added
tax.
Revenue is recognised at an amount
that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be
entitled in exchange for transferring goods or services to a
customer net of sales taxes and discounts. A performance obligation
may be satisfied at a point in time or over time. The amount of
revenue recognised is the amount allocated to the satisfied
performance obligation.
(i) Performance obligations
and timing of revenue recognition
Sales of goods
The Group derives revenue from
selling consumable with revenue recognised at a point in time when
control of the goods has transferred to the customer. Revenue from
sales of consumables to consumers is recognised when the order is
despatched. There is limited judgement needed in identifying the
point at which the performance obligation is satisfied.
Sales of services
The Group enters into contracts
for the provision of research services with its customers. Research
revenues are recognised as the services are performed and the
obligations are discharged, or if there are no key performance
obligations, straight line over the relevant period. This
method best depicts the transfer of services to the customer as
there is no reliable prediction that can be made as to if and when
any individual customer will require the service.
(ii) Determining the transaction
price
Most of the Group's revenue is
derived from fixed price contracts and therefore the amount of
revenue to be earned from each contract is determined by reference
to those fixed prices.
(iii)Allocating amounts to
performance obligations
For most contracts, there is a
fixed unit price for each service or product sold. Therefore, there
is no judgement involved in allocating the contract price to each
sale.
g) Grants
receivable
The Group recognises grant income
only when there is reasonable assurance that the entity will comply
with the conditions attached to them and the grants will be
received. Grants are recognised in profit or loss on a systematic
basis over the periods in which the entity recognises as expenses
the related costs for which the grants are intended to
compensate.
h) Employee
benefits
Short-term benefits
Short-term employee benefit
obligations are measured on an undiscounted basis and are expensed
as the related service is provided. A liability is recognised for
the amount expected to be paid under short-term cash bonus or
profit-sharing plans if the Group has a present legal or
constructive obligation to pay this amount as a result of past
service provided by the employee and the obligation can be
estimated reliably.
Long-term benefits
Defined contribution plans
The income statement expense for
the defined contribution pension plans operated represents the
contributions payable for the year. Once the contributions have
been paid, the Group has no further liabilities in respect of the
defined contribution plans.
i) Property, plant and
equipment
Property and equipment are stated
at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses, if
any. The cost of an item of property, plant and equipment initially
recognised includes its purchase price and any cost that is
directly attributable to bringing the asset to the location and
condition necessary for it to be capable of operating in the manner
intended by the Group.
Property, plant and equipment are
generally depreciated on a straight-line basis over their estimated
useful live as follows:
Plant and
equipment: 20 per cent.
straight line
Depreciation methods,
useful lives and residual values are reviewed at each balance sheet
date.
j) Intangible
assets
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the amount by
which the fair value of the cost of a business combination exceeds
the fair value of the net assets acquired. Goodwill is not
amortised and is stated at cost less any accumulated impairment
losses.
The recoverable amount of goodwill
is tested for impairment annually or when events or changes in
circumstance indicate that it might be impaired. Impairment charges
are deducted from the carrying value and recognised immediately in
the income statement. For the purpose of impairment testing,
goodwill is allocated to each of the Group's cash generating units
expected to benefit from the synergies of the combination. If the
recoverable amount of the cash generating unit is less than the
carrying amount of the unit, the impairment loss is allocated first
to reduce the carrying amount of any goodwill allocated to the unit
and then to the other assets of the unit pro-rata on the basis of
the carrying amount of each asset in the unit. An impairment loss
recognised for goodwill is not reversed in a subsequent
period.
k) Research and development
expenditure
Research expenditure is recognised
as an expense when it is incurred.
Development expenditure is
recognised as an expense except that costs incurred on development
projects are capitalised as long-term assets to the extent that
such expenditure is expected to generate future economic benefits.
Development expenditure is capitalised if, and only if an entity
can demonstrate all of the following:-
(i) its ability to
measure reliably the expenditure attributable to the asset under
development;
(ii) the product or process
is technically and commercially feasible;
(iii) its future economic benefits
are probable;
(iv) its ability to use or sell
the developed asset; and
(v) the availability of
adequate technical, financial and other resources to complete the
asset under development.
Capitalised development
expenditure is measured at cost less accumulated amortisation and
impairment losses, if any. Development expenditure initially
recognised as an expense is not recognised as assets in subsequent
periods.
No amounts were capitalised in the
year.
l) Right-of-use
assets
A right-of-use asset is recognised
at the commencement date of a lease. The right-of-use asset is
measured at cost, which comprises the initial amount of the lease
liability, adjusted for, as applicable, any lease payments made at
or before the commencement date net of any lease incentives
received, any initial direct costs incurred, and an estimate of
costs expected to be incurred for dismantling and removing the
underlying asset, and restoring the site or asset.
Right-of-use assets are
depreciated on a straight-line basis over the unexpired period of
the lease or the estimated useful life of the asset, whichever is
the shorter. Right-of use assets are subject to impairment or
adjusted for any re-measurement of lease liabilities.
The Group has elected not to
recognise a right-of-use asset and corresponding lease liability
for short-term leases with terms of 12 months or less and leases of
low-value assets. Lease payments on these assets are expensed to
profit or loss as incurred.
m) Leases
The determination of whether an
arrangement is, or contains, a lease is based on the substance of
the arrangement at inception date: whether
fulfilment of the arrangement is dependent on the use of a specific
asset or assets or the arrangement conveys a right to use the
asset.
All leases are accounted for by
recognising a right-of-use asset and a lease liability except
for:
·
leases of low value assets; and
·
leases with a duration of 12 months or
less.
Identifying leases
The Group accounts for a contract,
or a portion of a contract, as a lease when it conveys the right to
use an asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration.
Leases are those contracts that satisfy the following
criteria:
·
there is an identified asset;
·
the Group obtains substantially all the economic
benefits from use of the asset; and
·
the Group has the right to direct use of the
asset.
The Directors consider whether the
supplier has substantive substitution rights. If the supplier does
have those rights, the contract is not identified as giving rise to
a lease.
In determining whether the Group
obtains substantially all the economic benefits that arise from use
of the asset, the Directors consider only the economic benefits
that arise from use of the asset, not those incidental to legal
ownership or other potential benefits.
In determining whether the Group
has the right to direct use of the asset, the Directors consider
whether the Group directs how and for what purpose the asset is
used throughout the period of use. If there are no significant
decisions to be made because they are pre-determined due to the
nature of the asset, the Directors consider whether the Group was
involved in the design of the asset in a way that predetermines how
and for what purpose the asset will be used throughout the period
of use. If the contract or portion of a contract does not satisfy
these criteria, the Group applies other applicable IFRSs rather
than IFRS 16 "Leases".
Lease liabilities are measured at
the present value of the contractual payments due to the lessor
over the lease term, with the discount rate determined by reference
to the rate inherent in the lease unless (as is typically the case)
this is not readily determinable, in which case the Group's
incremental borrowing rate on commencement of the lease is
used.
Variable lease payments are only
included in the measurement of the lease liability if they depend
on an index or rate. In such cases, the initial measurement of the
lease liability assumes the variable element will remain unchanged
throughout the lease term. Other variable lease payments are
expensed in the period to which they relate.
On initial recognition, the
carrying value of the lease liability also includes:
·
amounts expected to be payable under any residual
value guarantee;
·
the exercise price of any purchase option granted
in favour of the company if it is reasonably certain to assess that
option; and
·
any penalties payable for terminating the lease,
if the term of the lease has been estimated on the basis of
termination option being exercised.
Subsequent to initial measurement
lease liabilities increase as a result of interest charged at a
constant rate on the balance outstanding and are reduced for lease
payments made. Right-of-use assets are amortised on a straight-line
basis over the remaining term of the lease or over the remaining
economic life of the asset if, rarely, this is judged to be shorter
than the lease term.
When the Group revises its estimate
of the term of any lease (because, for example, it re-assesses the
probability of a lessee extension or termination option being
exercised), it adjusts the carrying amount of the lease liability
to reflect the payments to make over the revised term, which are
discounted at the same discount rate that applied on lease
commencement. The carrying value of lease liabilities is similarly
revised when the variable element of future lease payments
dependent on a rate or index is revised. In both cases an
equivalent adjustment is made to the carrying value of the
right-of-use asset, with the revised carrying amount being
amortised over the remaining (revised) lease term.
n) Taxation
Tax currently payable is based on
taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from profit as
reported in the income statement because it excludes items of
income and expense that are taxable or deductible in other years
and it further excludes items that are never taxable or deductible.
The Company's liability for current tax is calculated using tax
rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the
balance sheet date.
Deferred tax is recognised on
differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities
in the financial statements and the corresponding tax bases used in
the computation of taxable profit, and is accounted for using the
balance sheet liability method. Deferred tax liabilities are
generally recognised for all taxable temporary differences and
deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is
probable that taxable profits will be available against which
deductible temporary differences can be utilised. Such assets and
liabilities are not recognised if the temporary difference arises
from initial recognition of goodwill or from the initial
recognition (other than in a business combination) of other assets
and liabilities in a transaction that affects neither the taxable
profit nor the accounting profit.
Deferred tax liabilities are
recognised for taxable temporary differences arising on investments
in subsidiaries and associates, and interests in joint ventures,
except where the Company is able to control the reversal of the
temporary difference and it is probable that the temporary
difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future.
The carrying amount of deferred
tax assets is reviewed at each balance sheet date and reduced to
the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable
profits will be available to allow all or part of the asset to be
recovered.
Deferred tax is calculated at the
tax rates that are expected to apply in the year when the liability
is settled, or the asset realised. Deferred tax is charged or
credited to profit or loss, except when it relates to items charged
or credited directly to equity, in which case the deferred tax is
also dealt with in equity.
Deferred tax assets and
liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to
set off current tax assets against current tax liabilities and when
they relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority
and the Company intends to settle its current tax assets and
liabilities on a net basis.
o) Financial
instruments
Initial recognition
A financial asset or financial
liability is recognised in the statement of financial position of
the Company when it arises or when the Company becomes part of the
contractual terms of the financial instrument.
Classification
Financial assets at amortised cost
The Company measures financial
assets at amortised cost if both of the following conditions are
met:
- the
asset is held within a business model whose objective is to collect
contractual cash flows; and
- the
contractual terms of the financial asset generating cash flows at
specified dates only pertain to capital and interest payments on
the balance of the initial capital.
Financial assets which are
measured at amortised cost, are measured using the Effective
Interest Rate Method (EIR) and are subject to impairment. Gains and
losses are recognised in profit or loss when the asset is
derecognised, modified or impaired.
Financial liabilities at amortised cost
Financial liabilities measured at
amortised cost using the effective interest rate method include
current borrowings and trade and other payables that are short term
in nature. Financial liabilities are derecognised if the Company's
obligations specified in the contract expire or are discharged or
cancelled.
Amortised cost is calculated by
taking into account any discount or premium on acquisition and fees
or costs that are an integral part of the effective interest rate
("EIR"). The EIR amortisation is included as finance costs in
profit or loss. Trade payables other payables are non-interest
bearing and are stated at amortised cost using the effective
interest method.
Derecognition
A financial asset is derecognised
when:
- the
rights to receive cash flows from the asset have expired,
or
- the
Group has transferred its rights to receive cash flows from the
asset or has undertaken the commitment to fully pay the cash flows
received without significant delay to a third party under an
arrangement and has either (a) transferred substantially all the
risks and the assets of the asset or (b) has neither transferred
nor held substantially all the risks and estimates of the asset but
has transferred the control of the asset.
Impairment
The Group recognises a provision
for impairment for expected credit losses regarding all financial
assets. Expected credit losses are based on the balance between all
the payable contractual cash flows and all discounted cash flows
that the Group expects to receive. Regarding trade receivables, the
Group applies the IFRS 9 simplified approach in order to calculate
expected credit losses. Therefore, at every reporting date,
provision for losses regarding a financial instrument is measured
at an amount equal to the expected credit losses over its lifetime
without monitoring changes in credit risk. To measure expected
credit losses, trade receivables and contract assets have been
grouped based on shared risk characteristics.
Trade and other receivables
Trade and other receivables are
initially recognised at fair value when related amounts are
invoiced then carried at this amount less expected credit
losses.
IFRS 9 "Financial Instruments"
requires an expected credit loss model as opposed to an incurred
credit loss model under IAS 39 "Financial Instruments: Recognition
and Measurement". The expected credit loss (ECL) model requires the
Group to account for expected credit losses and changes in those
expected credit losses at each reporting date to reflect changes in
credit risk since initial recognition of the financial assets. The
credit event does not have to occur before credit losses are
recognised. IFRS 9 "Financial Instruments" allows for a simplified
approach for measuring the loss allowance at an amount equal to
lifetime expected credit losses for trade receivables and contract
assets.
The Group has one type of
financial asset subject to the expected credit loss model: trade
receivables.
The Group recognises a loss
allowance for expected credit losses on trade receivables. The
amount of expected credit losses is updated at each reporting date
to reflect changes in credit risk since initial recognition of the
respective financial instrument.
The expected credit losses are
estimated using a provision based on the Group's historical credit
loss experience, adjusted for factors that are specific to the
debtors, general economic conditions and an assessment of both the
current as well as the forecast direction of conditions at the
reporting date, including time value of money where
appropriate.
As the Group is at an early stage
and the volume of sales is very low, it does not have significant
amounts of historic information on credit losses. Accordingly, only
specific provisions have been made. To analyse and adjust for any
expected credit loss would likely skew the reported results for the
year.
The Group considers a financial
asset in default when contractual payments are between 30 to 180
days past due. However, in certain cases, the Group may also
consider a financial asset to be in default when internal or
external information indicates that the Group is unlikely to
receive the outstanding contractual amounts in full before taking
into account any credit enhancements held by the Group. A
financial asset is written off when there is no reasonable
expectation of recovering the contractual cash flows.
Cash and cash
equivalents
The Group considers any cash on
short-term deposits and other short-term investments to be cash
equivalents.
The Group considers the credit
ratings of banks in which it holds funds in order to reduce its
exposure to credit risk. The Group will only keep its holdings of
cash and cash equivalents within institutions which have a strong
credit rating.
Trade payables
These financial liabilities are
all non-interest bearing and are initially recognised at the fair
value of the consideration payable.
Inventories
Inventories are stated at the
lower of cost and net realisable value. Cost is based on the
first-in-first-out principle and includes expenditure incurred in
acquiring the inventories and other costs in bringing them to their
existing location and condition.
Provisions
A provision is recognised when the
Group has a present obligation, legal or constructive, as a result
of a past event and it is probable that an outflow of resources
embodying economic benefits will be required to settle the
obligation, and a reliable estimate can be made. Provisions are
reviewed at each reporting date and adjusted to reflect the current
best estimate. If it is no longer probable that an outflow of
economic resources will be required to settle the obligation, the
provision is reversed. Where the effect of the time value of money
is material, provisions are discounted using a current pre-tax rate
that reflects, where appropriate, the risks specific to the
liability. When discounting is used, the increase in the provision
due to the passage of time is recognised as an interest
expense.
Contingent liabilities
Contingent liabilities are
possible obligations whose existence depends on the outcome of
uncertain future events or present obligations where the outflow of
resources is uncertain or cannot be measured reliably. Contingent
liabilities are not recognised in the Group's Financial Statements
but are disclosed unless they are remote.
p) Equity
instruments
An equity instrument is any
contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the
Company after deducting all of its liabilities. Equity instruments
issued by the Company are recorded at the proceeds received net of
direct issue costs.
Ordinary shares are classified as
equity.
Share capital account represents the nominal value of the shares
issued.
The share premium account
represents premiums received on the initial issuing of the share
capital. Any transaction costs associated with the issuing of
shares are deducted from share premium, net of any related income
tax benefits.
Retained earnings include all
current and prior period results as disclosed in the Statement of
Comprehensive Income.
q) Earnings per
share
Basic earnings per share is
calculated by dividing:
·
The loss attributable to owners of the Company,
excluding any costs of servicing equity other than Ordinary
Shares;
·
By the weighted average number of Ordinary Shares
outstanding during the financial period.
3. Critical accounting
estimates and judgements
Preparation of financial
information in conformity with UK-adopted International Accounting Standards requires management to make judgements, estimates and
assumptions that affect the application of accounting policies and
the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and expenses.
The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical
experience and various other factors that are believed to be
reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the
basis of making judgements about carrying values of assets and
liabilities that are not readily apparent from other
sources.
The key estimates and underlying
assumptions concerning the future and other key sources of
estimation uncertainty at the statement of financial position date,
that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to
the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next
financial period are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to
accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the
estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period, or in
the period of the revision and future periods if the revision
affects both current and future periods. In particular:
Key judgments
Acquisition of 3DBT
The Directors judged that under
IFRS 3 Business Combinations, the Company was deemed to be the
accounting acquirer as described below in the Note 9 which
describes the basis of consolidation. The
acquisition of 3DBT has therefore been accounted for under the
acquisition method.
Key estimates
Valuation of Intangible Assets
The determination of the fair
value of assets and liabilities including goodwill arising on the
acquisition of 3DBT in May 2022, and development expenditure, which
is expected to generate future economic benefits, is based to a
considerable extent on management's judgement.
No fair value adjustments were
deemed necessary as book values were considered to approximate
their fair values. Further analysis is included in Note 9 to the
Consolidated Financial Statements.
Allocation of the purchase price
affects the results of the Group as finite life intangible assets
are amortised, whereas indefinite lived intangible assets,
including goodwill, are not amortised and could result in differing
amortisation charges based on the allocation to indefinite lived
and finite lived intangible assets.
Acquisition costs
The Company has considered how the
costs of the acquisition of 3DBT, which involved both issuing new
shares and Admission to the Official List should be accounted for.
In accordance with IAS 32 Financial Instruments: Presentation,
the Company has allocated such costs as follows:
-
Incremental costs that are directly attributable
to issuing new shares have been deducted from equity (net of any
income tax benefit) - IAS 32.37;
-
Costs that relate to the stock market listing, or
are otherwise not incremental and directly attributable to issuing
new shares, have been recorded as an expense in the statement of
comprehensive income; and
-
Costs that relate to both share issuance and
listing have been allocated between those functions based on the
proportion of new shares issued to the total number of (new and
existing) shares listed.
Impairment reviews
IFRS requires management to
undertake an annual test for impairment of indefinite lived assets
and, for finite lived assets, to test for impairment if events or
changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an
asset may not be recoverable. No such
circumstances have come to management's attention since the
acquisition of 3DBT.
The Group prepares and approves a
detailed annual budget and longer-term strategic plan for its
operations, which are used in the impairment reviews.
Goodwill of £2,485,290 relating to
the acquisition of 3DBT was allocated to the 3DBT business and
represents a Cash Generating Unit ("CGU") and reviewed for
impairment as of the reporting date. Management considers that that
there are no events or changes in circumstances which would
indicate that the carrying amount of goodwill may not be
recoverable.
Research and development costs
No amounts of research and
development costs were capitalised in the year ended 30 September
2023 (30 September 2022: £nil).
Research expenditure is recognised
in the "Statement of
Comprehensive Income" in the period in which it is incurred.
Development expenditure is recognised in the "Statement of Comprehensive Income" in
the period in which it is incurred unless it is probable that
economic benefits will flow to the Group from the asset being
developed, the cost of the asset can be reliably measured and
technical feasibility can be demonstrated, in which case it is
capitalised as an intangible asset on the statement of financial
position.
Initial capitalisation of costs is
based on the Directors' judgement that technological and economic
feasibility of the asset is confirmed, usually when a development
project has reached a defined milestone according to an established
project management model. In determining the amounts to be
capitalised, the Directors have made assumptions regarding the
expected future cash generation of the project, discount rates to
be applied and the expected period of benefits. Capitalisation
ceases when the asset being developed is ready for use.
The Company has undertaken an
assessment of the specific IAS 38 criteria and has concluded that
these requirements have not been met. In particular, in relation to
the CityMix product, the product is still at the testing phase with
customers and sales to date, which have been at a minimal level,
relate to in-house testing by potential customers. The current
forecasts prepared by the Company have not anticipated significant
revenues as the testing is not complete and there are no sales
contracts agreed or in negotiation which would support significant
sales levels. Accordingly, the Company does not consider that the
capitalisation criteria for development expenditure have not been
met and all such expenditure has been expensed to profit and
loss.
Cost of internally generated
intangible assets comprise of directly attributable costs necessary
to create, produce, and prepare the asset to be capable of
operating in the manner intended by the company. More specifically,
time spent that is eligible for capitalisation includes time that
is intrinsic to the development of know-how. Development costs that
do not meet the above criteria are expensed as it is
incurred.
Issue of restricted shares
As more fully described in Note 17
to the Consolidated financial statements, the Company recognised a
deemed cost of issuing restricted shares of £175,587 in the year
ended 30 September 2022. The Company applied a fair value discount
to the issue price of restricted shares based on the lack of
marketability over the three-year restriction period. The Directors
assessed the fair value to be 3.25 pence per share, a discount of
4.12 pence per share (approximately 56%) to the market value of
ordinary shares at the time of issue. Any change to the assumptions
used in applying the discount would have a direct effect within
profit and loss and thus the Group's result for the
year.
Going concern
As more fully described above, the
Directors have prepared forecasts and projections for the Group for
the purposes of assessing the Company's going concern
assumptions.
The financial position of the
Group, its cash flows and liquidity position are set out in these
financial statements. As at 30 September 2023, the Group had cash
and cash equivalents of £2,319,061. As at the date of this report,
the Group had approximately £1,684,000 of cash and cash
equivalents.
The Group has prepared monthly
cash flow forecasts based on reasonable estimates of key variables
including operating costs and capital expenditure through to March
2025 that supports the conclusion of the Directors that they expect
sufficient funding to be available to meet the Group's anticipated
cash flow requirements to this date.
These cashflow forecasts are
subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, in particular the
ability of the Group to achieve additional funding to support the
planned levels of expenditure.
Management has performed detailed
analyses of these forecasts to assess the economic impact of
various downside scenarios from a going concern perspective. Based
on the financial and operational performance analysis and reviews
done for the period up to January 2024 the Company is operating in
line with its budget in terms of costs.
The assessment as to whether the
going concern basis is appropriate has also taken into account all
information available up to the date of authorisation of these
financial statements.
The Group will need additional
funding to finance ongoing operations and any acquisitions it might
make. There can be no guarantee that sufficient funds will be
raised and this creates a material
uncertainty that may cause significant doubt about the going
concern basis of the Group. The Board is
confident however that sufficient additional capital will be raised
to ensure adequate funds are available to the Group. The Board has
therefore concluded that the going concern basis remains
appropriate in the preparation of these Consolidated Financial
Statements due to the anticipated availability of sufficient
financial resources in the 12 months from the date of the financial
statements.
4. Sales
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
£
|
|
£
|
Research revenues
|
11,416
|
|
-
|
Consumable sales
|
1,526
|
-
|
-
|
|
12,942
|
|
-
|
5. Other operating
income
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
£
|
|
£
|
Grant income
|
87,226
|
|
-
|
|
87,226
|
|
-
|
6. Expenses by
nature
Cost of sales
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
£
|
|
£
|
Consumables
|
71,324
|
|
-
|
|
71,324
|
|
-
|
Administrative expenses
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
£
|
|
£
|
Legal and professional
fees
|
313,551
|
|
130,866
|
Consulting fees
|
249,135
|
-
|
134,817
|
Deemed cost of issuing restricted
shares (Note 17)
|
-
|
|
175,587
|
Accounting and tax fees
|
45,283
|
|
60,346
|
Audit fees - fees payable to the
Company's auditors for the audit of the Company's annual
accounts
|
45,090
|
|
39,600
|
Stock exchange fees
|
34,029
|
|
20,508
|
Share registry expenses
|
11,263
|
|
3,410
|
Directors' remuneration
|
217,232
|
|
79,167
|
Staff costs
|
328,697
|
-
|
131,319
|
Management service fees (Note
20)
|
60,000
|
|
22,500
|
Property costs
|
28,171
|
|
4,142
|
Purchase of
consumables*
|
-
|
|
29,186
|
Marketing
|
18,501
|
-
|
5,589
|
Bank charges
|
1,822
|
|
36
|
Depreciation
|
109,073
|
|
21,522
|
Travel and
accommodation
|
88,205
|
|
49,958
|
Printing and stationery
|
4,001
|
|
7,363
|
Other costs
|
45,099
|
|
11,406
|
|
1,599,152
|
|
927,322
|
*: Included in cost of sales in
the year ended 30 September 2023 (see above).
Finance expenses
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
£
|
|
£
|
Lease finance expense
|
10,141
|
|
2,110
|
|
10,141
|
|
2,110
|
7. Staff
costs
Aggregate staff costs (including directors)
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
£
|
|
£
|
Wages and salaries
|
489,822
|
|
156,929
|
Social security and other payroll
taxes
|
42,861
|
|
56,273
|
Pension costs
|
13,245
|
|
2,724
|
|
545,928
|
|
215,926
|
Average monthly number of employees
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
No.
|
|
No.
|
Directors
|
4
|
|
4
|
Other
|
8
|
-
|
1
|
|
12
|
|
5
|
Remuneration of key
management personnel
Key management personnel of the
Group comprised the directors. The emoluments and benefits of key
management personal were as follows:
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
£
|
|
£
|
Wages and salaries
|
217,232
|
|
79,167
|
Deemed cost of issuing restricted
shares
|
-
|
|
140,471
|
Social security and other payroll
taxes
|
10,671
|
|
44,450
|
Pension costs
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
227,903
|
|
264,008
|
The remuneration of the highest
paid director (including the deemed cost of issuing restricted
shares) was £109,732 (2022: £114,461).
8. Taxation
Income taxes are provided for the
tax effects of transactions reported in the Group's Financial
Statements and consist of taxes currently due, plus deferred taxes
related to differences between the basis of assets and liabilities
for financial and income tax reporting.
For the year ended 30 September
2023, the Group had a tax credit of £83,418 (30 September 2022:
£607). The effective tax rate was 5.02 per cent. for the year ended
30 September 2022 (2022: (0.07) per cent.). The effective tax rate
was primarily impacted by R&D tax credits, loss carryovers for
which no deferred tax asset was recognised, and other deferred tax
and permanent differences, such as disallowable
expenditure.
The components of the provision
for taxation on income included in the Statement of Comprehensive
Income are summarised below. Corporation
tax is calculated at 19% of the estimated taxable profit for the
year.
The charge for the year is made up
as follows:
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
£
|
|
£
|
Current tax
|
|
|
|
Research and development tax
credit
|
(85,400)
|
|
-
|
Deferred tax
|
|
|
|
Deferred tax expense
|
5,993
|
|
607
|
Tax charge for the year
|
(79,407)
|
|
607
|
The charge for the year can
be reconciled to the loss in the Statement of Comprehensive Income
as follows:
Year ended 30 September 2023
|
£
|
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Loss before tax on continuing
operations
|
(1,580,449)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tax at the UK corporation tax rate
of 19%
|
(300,285)
|
|
19.0
|
Increase/(decrease) in tax resulting
from:
|
|
|
|
Expenses not deductible
|
18,974
|
|
(1.20)
|
Research and development enhanced
allowance
|
(85,400)
|
|
5.40
|
Capital allowances less
depreciation
|
(320)
|
|
0.02
|
Deferred tax charge
|
5,993
|
|
(0.38)
|
Deferred tax asset not recognised in
respect of losses
|
281,631
|
|
(17.82)
|
Tax credit for the year
|
(79,407)
|
|
5.02
|
Year ended 30 September 2022
|
£
|
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Loss before tax on continuing
operations
|
(929,432)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tax at the UK corporation tax rate
of 19%
|
(176,592)
|
|
19.0
|
Increase/(decrease) in tax resulting
from:
|
|
|
|
Expenses not deductible
|
59,002
|
|
(6.35)
|
Research and development enhanced
allowance
|
(16,239)
|
|
1.74
|
Capital allowances less
depreciation
|
3,282
|
|
(0.35)
|
Deferred tax charge
|
607
|
|
(0.07)
|
Deferred tax asset not recognised in
respect of losses
|
130,547
|
|
(14.04)
|
Tax charge for the year
|
607
|
|
(0.07)
|
The Group has accumulated tax
losses of approximately £1,997,000 (2022: £899,000). No deferred
tax asset was recognised in respect of these accumulated tax losses
as there is insufficient evidence that the amount will be recovered
in future years.
The movements in tax receivable
balances are summarised as follows:
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
£
|
|
£
|
|
|
|
|
Balance brought forward
|
33,950
|
|
-
|
Amounts received
|
(33,950)
|
|
-
|
Acquired on acquisition of 3DBT
(Note 9)
|
-
|
|
33,950
|
Balance carried forward
|
-
|
|
33,950
|
The tax received comprised a claim
for research and development tax credits due to 3DBT.
Deferred tax:
The movements in deferred tax
liabilities are summarised as follows:
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
£
|
|
£
|
Balance brought forward
|
(13,963)
|
|
-
|
Acquired on acquisition of 3DBT
(Note 9)
|
-
|
|
(13,356)
|
Deferred tax expense
|
(5,993)
|
|
(607)
|
Balance carried forward
|
(19,956)
|
|
(13,963)
|
9. Earnings per
share
The
calculation of earnings per share is based on the following loss
and number of shares:
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
Loss for the year from continuing
operations
|
£(1,501,042)
|
|
£(930,039)
|
Weighted average shares in
issue
|
94,654,012
|
|
45,109,196
|
Earnings per share (in
pence)
|
(1.59p)
|
|
(2.06p)
|
The Company presents basic and
diluted loss per share information for its ordinary shares. Basic
loss per share is calculated by dividing the loss attributable to
ordinary shareholders of the Company by the weighted average number
of ordinary shares in issue during the reporting period. Diluted
earnings per share are determined by adjusting the profit or loss
attributable to ordinary shareholders and the weighted average
number of ordinary shares outstanding for the effects of all
dilutive potential ordinary shares.
There is no difference between the
basic and diluted earnings per share, as the Company has no
potential dilutive ordinary shares.
10. Acquisition of 3DBT
On 16 May 2022, the Company
completed a conditional share sale and purchase agreement (the
"Acquisition Agreement") to acquire the entire issued share capital
of 3D Bio-Tissues Limited ("3DBT"), comprising 676,470 shares, in
consideration for the allotment and issue to the Sellers of an
aggregate of 33,900,004 Consideration Shares (the "Acquisition"),
an effective share exchange ratio of 50:1, and readmission of the
enlarged share capital to trading on the Main Market of the London
Stock Exchange.
In preparing the consolidated
financial statements for the year ended 30 September 2022, the
Company considered relevant accounting guidance and in
particular, whether the acquisition falls within IFRS3 Business
Combinations. In determining whether the acquisition falls within
the scope of IFRS 3 and who is the accounting acquiror, the Company
has considered a number of factors, including:
-
The combination was effected primarily by
exchanging equity interests: the entity that issues the equity
interests is normally considered to be the accounting and legal
acquiror which in this case was BSF;
-
3DBT was a small, early-stage pre-revenue entity
not dissimilar to the Company. The fair value of its net assets on
acquisition were smaller than that of the Company at only
£13,140;
-
The relative voting rights in the combined entity:
the entity whose owners as a group retain or receive the largest
portion of the voting rights in the combined entity, in this case
the pre-acquisition shareholders in BSF controlled 60.48% of the
enlarged share capital;
-
The composition of the governing body of the
combined entity: the entity whose owners have the ability to elect
or appoint or remove a majority of the members of the governing
body of the combined entity, in this case, Geoff Baker, Min Yang
are also directors of BSF International Limited and BSF Angel
Limited (a 19.32% shareholder in the Company at the
time);
-
Senior management of the combined entity: the
entity whose (former) management dominates the combined management,
post-acquisition; the Board of BSF continued to comprise of Geoff
Baker, Min Yang and Dennis Ow, with Che Connor joining with effect
from the acquisition date;
-
Relative size: The consideration for the
acquisition of 3DBT was £2.5m. The market capitalisation of BSF on
Admission was £6.32m, meaning BSF comprised 60.48% of the combined
entity's market capitalisation; and
-
The Company initiated the combination.
Accordingly, the Company was
deemed to be the acquiring party for accounting purposes and the
acquisition is considered to be a business combination within the
Scope of IFRS 3.
3DBT, a private company limited by
shares, incorporated and registered in England and Wales, is
a
biotechnology spin out from
Newcastle University founded by Professor Che Connon and Dr Ricardo
Gouveia. 3DBT's research and product development is focused on
producing biological tissue material, such as meat and skin, for
clinical and consumer use. Specialised technology enables 3DBT to
apply bio-focused manufacturing processes to generate complex
structures such as corneas for the human eye.
Under the terms of the Acquisition
Agreement, the consideration was £2,498,430 which was settled
through the allotment and issue of 33,900,004 ordinary shares of
£0.01 each in the capital of the Company (the "Consideration
Shares") at 7.37 pence per share. The following table summarises
the consideration paid for 3DBT, the fair value of assets acquired,
and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date.
|
Book value
|
Fair value
adjustments
|
Fair value
|
Consideration
|
£
|
£
|
£
|
Consideration shares
|
|
|
2,498,430
|
Total consideration
|
|
|
2,498,430
|
|
|
|
|
Recognised amounts of identifiable assets acquired and
liabilities assumed
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash
equivalents
|
12,370
|
-
|
12,370
|
Property, plant and
equipment
|
70,294
|
-
|
70,294
|
Right-of-use assets
|
103,770
|
-
|
103,770
|
Intellectual property
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Trade and other
receivables
|
29,326
|
-
|
29,326
|
Inventories
|
18,313
|
-
|
18,313
|
Corporation tax
receivable
|
33,950
|
-
|
33,950
|
Trade and other
payables
|
(29,501)
|
-
|
(29,501)
|
Lease liabilities
|
(112,026)
|
-
|
(112,026)
|
Loan from related party
|
(100,000)
|
-
|
(100,000)
|
Deferred tax provision
|
(13,356)
|
-
|
(13,356)
|
Total identifiable net assets
|
13,140
|
-
|
13,140
|
Deferred tax
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Goodwill
|
2,485,290
|
-
|
2,485,290
|
Total
|
2,498,430
|
-
|
2,498,430
|
The
goodwill arising is attributable to the acquired workforce and
anticipated future profit from expansion opportunities of the
business. No fair value adjustments
were deemed necessary as book values were considered to approximate
their fair values. 3DBT contributed no revenue for the period
between the date of acquisition and 30 September 2022 and £281,702
of loss before tax. If the acquisition of 3DBT had been completed
on 1 October 2021, Group revenues would have been approximately
unchanged (at £nil) and Group loss attributable to equity holders
of the parent would have been approximately £155,000 higher.
Transaction costs of £125,799 were expensed in the year ended 30
September 2022 relating to the acquisition of 3DBT and re-admission
to the Official List of the London Stock Exchange. In addition,
costs of £368,817 have been offset against share
premium.
11. Property, plant and
equipment
Plant and equipment
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
£
|
|
£
|
Cost:
|
|
|
|
Balance brought forward
|
80,914
|
|
-
|
Additions
|
64,848
|
|
10,620
|
Acquired on acquisition of 3DBT
(Note 10)
|
-
|
|
70,294
|
Balance carried forward
|
145,762
|
|
80,914
|
|
|
-
|
|
Depreciation:
|
|
|
|
Balance brought forward
|
7,426
|
|
-
|
Charge for the year
|
33,304
|
|
7,426
|
Balance carried forward
|
40,730
|
|
7,426
|
|
|
-
|
|
Net book value:
|
|
|
|
As at 30 September
|
105,032
|
|
73,488
|
12. Right-of-use assets
Land and buildings
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
£
|
|
£
|
Cost:
|
|
|
|
Balance brought forward
|
237,656
|
|
-
|
Additions
|
-
|
|
133,886
|
Acquired on acquisition of 3DBT
(Note 10)
|
-
|
|
103,770
|
Balance carried forward
|
237,656
|
|
237,656
|
|
|
-
|
|
Depreciation:
|
|
|
|
Balance brought forward
|
14,096
|
|
-
|
Charge for the year
|
75,759
|
|
14,096
|
Balance carried forward
|
89,855
|
|
14,096
|
Net book value:
|
|
|
|
As at 30 September
|
147,801
|
|
223,560
|
3DBT
leases land and buildings for its offices and laboratory under a
five-year agreement. The lease has an initial rent-free period with
break-clauses annually after 12 months. The lease does not provide
for an extension to the five-year term and no extension to the
lease has been assumed.
13. Lease liabilities
Land and buildings
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
£
|
|
£
|
Cost:
|
|
|
|
Balance brought forward
|
231,879
|
|
-
|
Additions
|
-
|
|
133,886
|
Acquired on acquisition of 3DBT
(Note 10)
|
-
|
|
112,026
|
Lease payments
|
(74,946)
|
|
(14,033)
|
Balance carried forward
|
156,933
|
|
231,879
|
The finance expense recognised in
respect of these leases amounted to £10,141 in the year ended 30
September 2023 (2012: £2,110). The expense relating to short-term
or low value leases amounted to £7,063 in the year ended 30
September 2023 (year ended 30 September 2022: nil).
The total cash outflow for leases
in the year ended 30 September 2023 was £92,150 (2022:
£40,283).
Future minimum lease payments
associated with the land and building leases were as
follows:
Land and buildings
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
£
|
|
£
|
Not later than one year
|
85,087
|
|
85,087
|
Later than one year and not later
than two years
|
81,014
|
|
85,087
|
Later than two years and not later
than five years
|
-
|
|
81,014
|
Total minimum lease
payments
|
166,101
|
|
251,188
|
Less: Future finance
charges
|
(9,167)
|
|
(19,309)
|
Present value of minimum lease
payments
|
156,934
|
|
231,879
|
The maturity of lease
liabilities is as follows:
Land and buildings
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
£
|
|
£
|
Non-current liabilities
|
78,051
|
|
156,933
|
Current liabilities
|
78,883
|
|
74,946
|
Right-of-use lease
liabilities
|
156,934
|
|
231,879
|
14. Cash and cash
equivalents
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
£
|
|
£
|
Cash at Bank
|
2,319,061
|
|
1,061,529
|
15. Inventories
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
£
|
|
£
|
Raw materials and laboratory
consumables
|
45,811
|
|
21,855
|
|
45,811
|
|
21,855
|
The cost of inventories recognised
in profit and loss for the year ended 30 September 2023 was £71,324
(2022: £29,186).
16. Receivables and
prepayments
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
£
|
|
£
|
Trade receivables
|
11,917
|
|
-
|
Less: provision for impairment of
trade receivables
|
-
|
|
-
|
Trade receivables - net
|
11,917
|
|
-
|
Prepayments
|
15,075
|
|
11,759
|
Amounts receivable on issue of
restricted shares (Note 17)
|
77,985
|
-
|
77,985
|
Vat recoverable
|
52,603
|
|
43,018
|
Other receivables
|
32
|
|
-
|
|
157,612
|
|
132,762
|
All balances are reviewed
specifically due to the limited number of receivables and limited
history of average rates of default losses to rely on. No provision
was deemed necessary.
17. Trade and other
payables
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
£
|
|
£
|
Current:
|
|
|
|
Trade payables
|
90,594
|
|
58,498
|
Accruals
|
76,170
|
|
104,323
|
|
166,764
|
|
162,821
|
18. Share capital and share
premium
|
Number of
shares
|
Share
capital
|
Share
premium
|
Issued Ordinary shares of £0.01
each
|
|
£
|
£
|
At 30 September 30 September
2021
|
20,340,002
|
203,400
|
407,984
|
Issue of Ordinary shares on
acquisition of 3DBT
|
33,900,004
|
339,000
|
2,159,430
|
Placing of Ordinary
shares
|
23,744,912
|
237,449
|
1,512,551
|
Issue of shares as restricted
share awards
|
7,798,491
|
77,985
|
-
|
Issue of shares in settlement of
fees
|
203,528
|
2,035
|
12,965
|
Issue of warrants
|
-
|
-
|
(12,537)
|
Costs of share issue
|
-
|
-
|
(368,817)
|
|
|
|
|
As at 30 September 2022
|
85,986,937
|
859,869
|
3,711,576
|
Exercise of warrants
|
50,000
|
500
|
7,000
|
Placing of Ordinary
shares
|
16,317,647
|
163,176
|
2,610,824
|
Subscription for Ordinary
shares
|
882,353
|
8,824
|
141,176
|
Issue of shares
|
100,000
|
1,000
|
16,000
|
Costs of share issue
|
-
|
|
(171,440)
|
Issue of warrants
|
-
|
-
|
(22,248)
|
As at 30 September 2023
|
103,336,937
|
1,033,369
|
6,292,888
|
Issue and fully paid
|
95,538,446
|
955,384
|
6,292,888
|
Issued and unpaid
|
7,798,491
|
77,985
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
As at 30 September 2023
|
103,336,937
|
1,033,369
|
6,292,888
|
The Company issued the following
shares in the year ended 30 September 2023:
Exercise of warrants
On 9 February 2023, the Company
issued 50,000 ordinary shares following the exercise of warrants at
a price of £0.15 per share.
Placing and subscription for shares
On 29 March 2023, the Company
raised £2,924,000 by way of an oversubscribed placing (the
"Placing") of 16,317,648 new ordinary shares in the capital of the
Company ("Placing Shares") at a price of 17p per share (the
"Placing Price") and additionally, the subscription of 882,353 new
ordinary shares ("Subscription Shares") by investors procured
directly by the Company ("Subscribers") also at the Placing Price
(the "Subscription").
The Company entered into deeds of
variation with each of the subscribers in respect of the
Subscription Shares pursuant to which 264,739 of the Subscription
Shares ("Second Tranche Shares") were allotted and issued
conditional on (i) the Company convening a general meeting and
obtaining approval from shareholders to disapply statutory
pre-emption rights ("Resolutions'') and (ii) the publication of a
prospectus, as soon as reasonably practicable following Admission.
The Second Tranche Shares and the Fundraising Warrants were
allotted and issued on the passing of the Resolutions and the
publication of a prospectus on 26 September 2023.
Placees were granted one warrant
for every two Placing Shares subscribed for as part of the Placing,
exercisable at 34 pence per Ordinary Share ("Exercise Price"),
representing 8,158,824 warrants, all exercisable at the Exercise
Price and expiring on the third anniversary of
Admission.
In addition, the Subscribers have
also been granted a warrant for every two Subscription Shares
purchased representing 441,176 warrants, exercisable at the
Exercise Price and which also expire on the third anniversary of
Admission (the Subscription and the Placing together referred to as
the "Fundraising" and the Placing Warrants and the Subscription
Warrants together referred to as the "Fundraising Warrants"). The
Fundraising Warrants were granted conditional on (i) any
requirement for the Company to publish or procure the publication
of a prospectus as soon as reasonably practicable following
Admission, and (ii) the Company obtaining approval from
shareholders to disapply statutory pre-emption rights.
In total, 8,600,000 warrants were
granted pursuant to the Placing, all exercisable at the Exercise
Price and expiring on the third anniversary of
Admission.
In addition, Shard Capital were
also been granted broker warrants equal to 2 per cent of the total
number of Placing Shares subscribed for pursuant to the Placing,
representing 326,352 warrants.
A total of 16,985,261 Ordinary
shares of £0.01 each (being the aggregate of the Placing Shares,
the Subscription Shares less the Second Tranche Shares and 50,000
ordinary shares issued on 9 February 2023 following the exercise of
warrants) were admitted to the standard segment of the Official
List and to trading on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange
("Admission") on 14 April 2023.
Issue of shares to advisers
The Company issued 100,000
Ordinary Shares to Roast PR at 17 pence per share in satisfaction
of certain fees due for services rendered.
The holders of the new Ordinary
Shares issued during the year rank pari passu in all respects with
the holders of the existing Ordinary Shares.
The total number of ordinary
shares in the Company in issue is 103,336,937.
A total of £171,440 of costs were
incurred in relation to the issue of Ordinary Shares and this
amount has been deducted from the share premium account.
Issue of warrants
As noted above, the Company issued
an aggregate of 8,926,352 warrants during the period. A total of
50,000 warrants (issued in 2022) were exercised during the period.
Accordingly, a total of 21,196,569 warrants remained outstanding
and exercisable at 30 September 2023 at a weighted average exercise
price of 23.00 pence (2022: 15.00 pence), summarised as
follows:
|
Number of
warrants
|
|
|
|
|
At 30 September 2022
|
12,320,217
|
Exercise of warrants
|
(50,000)
|
Issue of Fundraising
Warrants
|
8,600,000
|
Issue of Broker
Warrants
|
326,352
|
As at 30 September 2023
|
21,196,569
|
Using the Black-Scholes pricing
model, the valuation of the Broker Warrants has been calculated at
6.82p each, giving rise to an aggregate value of the Warrants of
£22,248.
The issue of the Broker Warrants
resulted in an increase to the warrant reserve of £22,248 and a
decrease to share premium of £22,248.
The inputs in the model were as
follows:
-
Share price: 17.0 pence
-
Exercise price: 34.0 pence
-
Expected life of warrant: 3 years
-
Risk-free rate: 3.47%
-
Volatility: 85.0%
The volatility assumption was
calculated with reference to the Company's sector and market
capitalisation.
The exercise price of outstanding
warrants in issue ranges from 15.00 pence to 34.00 pence (2022:
15.00 pence). As at 30 September 2023, the weighted average
exercised price of the outstanding warrants in issue was 23.00
pence (2022: 15.00 pence).
The weighted average remaining
contractual life of warrants outstanding at the end of the year was
804 days (2022: 594 days).
Employee Share Option Plan ("ESOP")
On 16 May 2022, the Company
resolved to adopt an Employee Share Option Plan ("ESOP"), which
will allow for the grant of EMI options and non-approved share
options over shares in the Company to be granted to selected
individuals. An option will become exercisable at some future date
and the participant will then have the right to acquire shares at a
price (the "option price") fixed when the option was granted. The
ESOP will be administered by the board (as defined
below).
The principal terms of the ESOP
are as follows.
Eligibility
The board of directors of the
Company (or its remuneration committee) (the "Board") will select
employees (including executive directors) to participate in the
ESOP. Options may only be granted within (1) a period of 42 days
from the day the ESOP is adopted (2) a period of 42 days
immediately after the end of a close period affecting the Company
or (3) any other period as the Board decides due to exceptional
circumstances.
Option price
The price per share the
participant has to pay to acquire the shares on exercise will be no
less than the market value of the shares as at the date the option
is granted (the "date of grant") or the nominal value of the share
(if higher). The market value of a share is the lesser of (a) the
average market value of the share determined by reference to the
opening price from 1 January to the closing price of 31 December in
the year prior to the date of grant or (b) the mid-market value of
the share as quoted on the London Stock Exchange on the business
day immediately prior to the date of grant or the average
mid-market price of the share as quoted on the London Stock
Exchange in the three business days prior to the date of grant or
(c) such other value as the Board determines to be the market
value. Subject to the requirements of the listing rules, the Board
may grant options with an option price which is lower than the
market value of the shares as at the date of grant.
Exercise period
The option will first become
exercisable on the third anniversary of the date of grant. It can
then be exercised at any time up to the day before the tenth
anniversary of the date of grant provided it does not lapse early
under the terms of the ESOP.
Performance conditions
The Board has power to impose
performance conditions which will need to be satisfied before an
option can be exercised.
No options were issued in the year
ended 30 September 2023 (year ended 30 September 2022:
nil).
Restricted share plan
On 16 May 2022, the Company
resolved in General Meeting to adopt the Restricted Share Plan,
which allow for the grant of shares to selected employees subject
to restrictions and forfeiture risks which will be lifted after a
certain period. It is intended that participants will be executive
directors and senior employees of the Company. The Restricted Share
Plan will be administered by the Board (as defined
below).
The principal terms of the
Restricted Share Plan are as follows are set out below.
On Admission, the Company issued an
aggregate of 7,798,491 Ordinary Shares at a subscription price of
£0.01 nominal value per share pursuant to the Restricted Share Plan
for a total consideration of £77,985.
Eligibility
The board of directors of the
Company (or its remuneration committee) (the "Board") may select employees
(including executive directors) to participate in the Restricted
Share Plan. Itwas intended that participants would be executive
directors and senior employees of the Company. Awards may only be
granted within:
-
a period of 42 days from the day the Restricted
Share Plan is adopted
-
a period of 42 days immediately after the end of a
close period affecting the Company or
-
any other period as the Board decides due to
exceptional circumstances.
Subscription price
The participant will pay nominal
value per share for the shares subject to the award.
Restrictions
For a period of three years from
the date of the award (the "employment
period"), the participant cannot sell,
transfer or otherwise deal with the shares unless the Board agrees
in writing. The Board may agree to a transfer subject to such
conditions as it sees fit.
Performance conditions
The Board has power to impose
performance conditions which will need to be satisfied during the
employment period in order for the forfeiture risk to
lift.
Voting
During the employment period,
unless the Board otherwise decides, the participant cannot vote his
shares.
Dividends
During the employment period, the
participant will waive entitlement to dividends unless the Board
specifies otherwise when the award is granted.
19. Financial instruments
The Group's principal financial
instruments comprise cash and cash equivalents, receivables and
other payables. The Group's accounting policies and method adopted,
including the criteria for recognition, the basis on which income
and expenses are recognised in respect of each class of financial
assets, financial liability and equity instrument are set out in
note 2. The Group does not use financial instruments for
speculative purposes. The principal financial instruments used by
the Group, from which financial instruments risk arises, are as
follows:
Financial assets at amortised cost
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
£
|
|
£
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
2,319,061
|
|
1,061,529
|
Trade and other
receivables
|
11,949
|
|
-
|
Amounts receivable on restricted
shares
|
77,985
|
|
77,985
|
|
2,408,995
|
|
1,139,514
|
Financial liabilities at amortised cost
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
£
|
|
£
|
Payables and accruals
|
224,737
|
|
203,630
|
|
224,737
|
|
203,630
|
a) Financial risk management
objectives and policies
The Group's major financial
instruments include bank balances and amounts payable to suppliers.
The risks associated with these financial instruments, and the
policies on how to mitigate these risks are set out below. The
Directors manage and monitor these exposures to ensure appropriate
measures are implemented on a timely and effective
manner.
The Group has no foreign currency
transactions or borrowings. Therefore, it is not exposed to market
risk in respect of foreign exchange risk or interest
risk.
Risk management is undertaken by
the Board of Directors.
b) Liquidity
risk
Liquidity risk arises from the
Group's management of working capital. The Group regularly reviews
its major funding positions to ensure that it has adequate
financial resources in meeting its financial
obligations.
The Directors have considered the
liquidity risk as part of their going concern assessment (see Note
2). Controls over expenditure are carefully managed in order to
maintain its cash reserves whilst it targets a suitable
transaction. With the exception of its lease liabilities disclosed
in Note 12, all of the Group's financial obligations fall due for
payment in less than 12 months.
As at 30 September 2023, the
Group's financial liabilities have contractual maturities
(including interest payments where applicable) as summarised
below:
Financial liabilities maturity
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
£
|
|
£
|
Amounts due not later than one year:
|
|
|
|
Payables and accruals
|
224,737
|
|
203,630
|
Lease liabilities
|
85,087
|
|
85,087
|
|
309,824
|
|
288,717
|
Amounts due later than one year and not later than two
years:
|
|
|
|
Lease liabilities
|
81,014
|
|
85,087
|
Amounts due later than two years and not later than three
years:
|
|
|
|
Lease liabilities
|
-
|
8
|
81,014
|
|
390,838
|
|
454,818
|
c) Credit
risk
The Group's credit risk is wholly
attributable to its cash balance. The credit risk from its cash and
cash equivalents is limited because the counter parties are banks
with high credit ratings and have not experienced any losses in
such accounts.
d) Interest
risk
The Group's exposure to interest
rate risk is the interest received on the cash held, which is
immaterial.
e) Capital risk
management
The Group's objectives when
managing capital is to safeguard the Group's ability to continue as
a going concern, in order to provide returns for shareholders and
benefits for other stakeholders and to maintain an optimal capital
structure. The Group has no borrowings. In order to maintain or
adjust the capital structure, the Company may adjust the amount of
dividends paid to shareholders, return capital to shareholders or
issue new shares. The Company monitors capital on the basis of the
total equity held being £4,858,980 as at 30 September
2023.
f)
Market risk
The Group is exposed to market
risk through its use of financial instruments and specifically
to interest rate risk which result from both its operating
and investing activities. The Group does not have any borrowings
other than its lease liabilities and accordingly market risks are
not considered to be significant.
g) Fair value of financial
assets and liabilities
There are no material differences
between the fair value of the Group's financial assets and
liabilities and their carrying values in the financial
information.
20. Subsequent
events
On 26 October 2023, the Company
incorporated a new 100% owned subsidiary, Kerato Limited. The
subsidiary is a new lab-grown cornea company, which
will form part of the Company's growing portfolio. It will seek to
accelerate the transition of 3DBT's advanced corneal products into
clinical trials, as well as address the growing industrial demand
for these products.
On 8 December 2023, the Company
entered into a Terms Sheet for an exclusive Joint Venture with
CellulaRevolution Ltd (CellRev), a leader in continuous cell
manufacturing , to help develop a new Foodtech company focused on
developing, and offering to the market, an end to end solution for
manufacturing cultivated meat at scale. The Joint Venture,
Cultivated Meat Technologies Limited (CMT), will combine CellRev's
continuous bioprocessing expertise, that can facilitate faster,
cheaper and more sustainable production of muscle cells, with
3DBT's leading knowhow in forming meat tissue and its City-Mix™
animal-free cell culture supplement. City-Mix™ is already used in
the growth of skin, muscle and fat cells for use in cultivated
meat. The aim of CMT is to provide the market with the premier
platform for manufacturing cultivated meat in a scalable and
cost-competitive manner.
21 Related party
transactions
a) Geoff Baker and Min
Yang are directors of both BSF Enterprise plc and BSF International
Limited. As described above in the Strategic Report, both Geoff
Baker and Min Yang who are directors of 3DBT and are directors of
BSF Angel Funding Limited which is
a shareholder in the
Company.
b) Key management are
considered to be the directors and their remuneration is disclosed
in Note 6 above.
c) BSF International
Limited, a shareholder in the Company, provided accounting support
and other administration services to the Group during the year
ended 30 September 2023 totalling £60,000 (2022: £22,500).
These services were made on terms equivalent to those that prevail
in arm's length transactions.
22 Ultimate controlling
party
There is no ultimate controlling
party of the Company.
23. Capital
commitments
As at 30 September 2023, there
were no capital commitments entered into by the Group (30 September
2022: nil).
24. Contingent
liabilities
As at 30 September 2023, there
were no contingent liabilities (30 September 2022: nil).
Company Statement of Financial Position as at 30 September 2023
|
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
Note
|
£
|
|
£
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assets
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Current assets
|
|
|
|
|
Investment in subsidiaries
|
5
|
3,949,430
|
|
2,498,430
|
Total non-current assets
|
|
3,949,430
|
|
2,498,430
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assets
|
|
|
|
|
Current assets
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
9
|
2,121,927
|
|
1,018,481
|
Loan to subsidiary
|
6
|
-
|
|
350,000
|
Amounts due from
subsidiary
|
7
|
-
|
|
36,000
|
Other receivables and
prepayments
|
8
|
120,467
|
|
94,418
|
Total current assets
|
|
2,242,394
|
|
1,498,899
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
6,191,824
|
|
3,997,329
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity and liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
Capital and reserves
|
|
|
|
|
Share capital - issued and fully
paid
|
11
|
955,384
|
|
781,884
|
Share capital - issued and
unpaid
|
11
|
77,985
|
|
77,985
|
Share premium
|
11
|
6,292,888
|
|
3,711,576
|
Warrant reserve
|
11
|
34,785
|
|
12,537
|
Retained deficit
|
|
(1,351,343)
|
|
(718,709)
|
Total equity
|
|
6,009,699
|
|
3,865,273
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
Trade and other payables
|
10
|
182,125
|
|
132,056
|
Total liabilities
|
|
182,125
|
|
132,056
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total equity and liabilities
|
|
6,191,824
|
|
3,997,329
|
The notes to the financial statements on pages 81 to 90 form an
integral part of these financial statements.
The loss attributable to members
of the Company for the year ended 30 September 2023 is £632,634
(year ended 30 September 2022: loss of £647,728).
This report was approved by the
Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 30 January 2024 and
signed on its behalf by;
SIGNED
………………………………
Geoffrey Baker
Director
Registered number: 11554014
79
Company Statement of Changes in Equity
for the year ended 30 September
2023
|
Share capital issued and
paid
|
Share capital issued and
unpaid
|
Share
premium
|
Warrant
reserve
|
Retained
deficit
|
Total
|
|
£
|
£
|
£
|
£
|
£
|
£
|
As at 1 October 2021
|
203,400
|
-
|
407,984
|
-
|
(246,568)
|
364,816
|
Comprehensive income for the period
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss during the year
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(647,728)
|
(647,728)
|
Total comprehensive loss for the
year
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(647,728)
|
(647,728)
|
Issue of shares
|
578,484
|
77,985
|
3,762,931
|
-
|
-
|
4,419,400
|
Transfer on issue of restricted
shares
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
175,587
|
175,587
|
Issue of warrants
|
-
|
-
|
(12,537)
|
12,537
|
-
|
-
|
Share issue costs
|
-
|
-
|
(446,802)
|
-
|
-
|
(446,802)
|
Transactions with
shareholders
|
578,484
|
77,985
|
3,303,592
|
12,537
|
175,587
|
4,148,185
|
As at 30 September 2022
|
781,884
|
77,985
|
3,711,576
|
12,537
|
(718,709)
|
3,865,273
|
Comprehensive income for the year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss during the year
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(632,634)
|
(632,634)
|
Total comprehensive loss for the
year
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(632,634)
|
(632,634)
|
Issue of shares
|
173,500
|
-
|
2,775,000
|
-
|
-
|
2,948,500
|
Issue of warrants
|
-
|
-
|
(22,248)
|
22,248
|
-
|
-
|
Share issue costs
|
-
|
-
|
(171,440)
|
-
|
-
|
(171,440)
|
Transactions with
shareholders
|
173,500
|
-
|
2,581,312
|
22,248
|
-
|
2,777,060
|
As at 30 September 2023
|
955,384
|
77,985
|
6,292,888
|
34,785
|
(1,351,343)
|
6,009,699
|
The notes to the financial statements on pages 81 to 90 form an
integral part of these financial statements.
80
Notes to the Company Financial Statements for the year ended
30 September 2023
1.
General
Information
The Company is a public limited
liability company, listed on the London Stock Exchange,
incorporated and registered in England and Wales on 5 September
2018 with registered company number 11554014.
The principal activity of the
Company is to undertake the acquisition of businesses in the
biotechnology, innovative marketing and e-commerce sectors. The
address of the registered office is Aldgate Tower, 2 Leman Street,
London E1 8QN.
On 16 May 2022, the Company
completed the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of 3D
Bio-Tissues Limited ("3DBT"), (together, the "Group"), a
biotechnology start-up and spin-out from the University of
Newcastle. 3DBT has developed a propriety platform technology
termed "tissue templating" that facilitates the production of a
variety of animal tissue types for multiple uses, commonly referred
to as "tissue engineering".
The Company has a standard listing
on the London Stock Exchange. The
Company's Ordinary Shares commenced trading on the OTCQB
Venture Market in the United States on 24 May 2023, under the
symbol BSFAF.
2.
Summary of
significant accounting policies
(a) Basis of
preparation
These financial statements have
been prepared in accordance with applicable United Kingdom
accounting standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 101 -
'Reduced Disclosure Framework' applicable in the United Kingdom and
Republic of Ireland' ('FRS 101'), and with the Companies Act
2006.
The financial statements have been
prepared using the historical cost basis. No fair value adjustments
have been applied in the preparation of the Company Financial
Information. The financial statements are presented in British
Pounds Sterling, the currency of the primary economic environment
in which the Company operates and its functional
currency.
The financial statements are
presented in £ unless otherwise stated.
The Company has taken advantage of
Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 and has not included a Profit
and Loss account in these separate financial statements. The loss
attributable to members of the Company for the year ended 30
September 2023 is £632,634 (year ended 30 September 2022: loss of
£647,728).
The Company has taken advantage of
the following disclosure exemptions in preparing these Financial
Statements, as permitted by FRS 101:
-
Disclosure exemption allowing no cash flow
statement or related notes to be presented;
-
Disclosure exemption allowing the Company not to
disclose related party transactions when transactions are entered
into wholly within the Group;
-
Disclosure exemption around Key Management
Personnel compensation (though see note 6 of the Group accounts and
the Directors' Remuneration Report);
81
-
Capital management disclosures (though see Note
19 of the consolidated financial statements);
-
Disclosure exemption on the effect of future
accounting standards;
-
Disclosure exemption on share-based payment
information disclosures (IFRS 2), as this information has been
presented for the Group in Note 18 of the consolidated financial
statements; and
-
Disclosure exemption on financial instrument
disclosures (IFRS 7) as this information has been presented for the
Group in Note 19 of the consolidated financial
statements.
The Company produces true and fair
consolidated accounts which include the results of the
Company.
Going concern
As at 30 September 2023, the
Company had £2,121,927 (2022: £1,018,481) in cash which is
considered sufficient for its present needs. At the date of this
report cash balances were approximately £1,600,000.
The Company has prepared monthly
cash flow forecasts based on reasonable estimates of key variables
including operating costs and capital expenditure through to March
2025 that supports the conclusion of the Directors that they expect
sufficient funding to be available to meet the Company's
anticipated cash flow requirements to this date.
These cashflow forecasts are
subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, in particular the
ability of the Company to achieve additional funding to support the
planned levels of expenditure.
Management has performed detailed
analyses of these forecasts to assess the economic impact of
various downside scenarios from a going concern perspective. Based
on the financial and operational performance analysis and reviews
done for the period up to January 2024 the Company is operating in
line with its budget in terms of costs.
The assessment as to whether the
going concern basis is appropriate has also taken into account all
information available up to the date of authorisation of these
financial statements.
The Company will need additional
funding to finance ongoing operations and any acquisitions it might
make. Whilst there can be no guarantee that sufficient funds will
be raised, the Board is confident that sufficient additional
capital will be raised to ensure adequate funds are available to
the Company. The Board has therefore concluded that the going
concern basis remains appropriate in the preparation of these
Financial Statements due to the anticipated availability of
sufficient financial resources in the 12 months from the date of
the financial statements.
The Directors are not aware of any
other indicators which would give doubt to the going concern status
of the Company.
The Company will need additional
funding to finance ongoing operations and any acquisitions it might
make. There can be no guarantee that sufficient funds will be
raised and this creates a material
uncertainty that may cause significant doubt about the going
concern basis of the Company. The Board is
confident however that sufficient additional capital will be raised
to ensure adequate funds are available to the Company. The Board
has therefore concluded that the going concern basis remains
appropriate in the preparation of these Financial Statements due to
the anticipated availability of sufficient financial resources in
the 12 months from the date of the financial statements.
(b) Fixed asset
investments
Fixed asset investments are carried
at cost less, where appropriate, any provision for
impairment.
(c) Loans to
subsidiaries
Loans to subsidiaries are measured
at the present value of the future cash payments discounted at a
market rate of interest for a similar debt instrument unless such
amounts are repayable on demand. The present value of loans that
are repayable on demand is equal to the undiscounted cash amount
payable reflecting the Company's right to demand immediate
repayment.
The Company's loan to 3DBT has been
transferred to non-current investments as the Company does not intend to recall the loan for the
foreseeable future as the funds are to be used for the long-term
development of 3DBT's business. Accordingly, the loan has been
reclassified as a non-current investment.
(d) Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents comprise
cash in hand, bank balances, deposits with financial institutions
and short-term, highly liquid investments that are readily
convertible to known amounts of cash and which are subject to an
insignificant risk of changes in value.
(e) Trade and other receivables
Trade and other receivables are
recognised initially at fair value and subsequently measured at
amortised cost using the effective interest method, less provision
for impairment.
(f) Income taxes
Income tax expense represents the sum of the tax currently payable
and deferred tax.
The tax currently payable is based
on taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from profit
as reported in the statement of comprehensive income because of
items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other
years and items that are never taxable or deductible. The Company's
liability for current tax is calculated using tax rates that have
been enacted or substantively enacted by the end of the reporting
period.
Deferred tax is provided on timing
differences which arise from the inclusion of income and expenses
in tax assessments in periods different from those in which they
are recognised in the financial statements. The following timing
differences are not provided for: differences between accumulated
depreciation and tax allowances for the cost of a fixed asset if
and when all conditions for retaining the tax allowances have been
met; and differences relating to investments in subsidiaries, to
the extent that it is not probable that they will reverse in the
foreseeable future and the reporting entity is able to control the
reversal of the timing difference. Deferred tax is not
recognised on permanent differences arising because certain types
of income or expense are non-taxable or are disallowable for tax or
because certain tax charges or allowances are greater or smaller
than the corresponding income or expense.
Deferred tax assets and
liabilities are measured at the tax rates that are expected to
apply in the period in which the liability is settled or the asset
realised, based on tax rates (and tax laws) that have been enacted
or substantively enacted by the end of the reporting period. The
measurement of deferred tax liabilities and assets reflects the tax
consequences that would follow from the manner in which the Company
expects, at the end of the reporting period, to recover or settle
the carrying amount of its assets and liabilities.
Current or deferred tax for the
year is recognised in profit or loss, except when they relate to
items that are recognised in other comprehensive income or directly
in equity, in which case, the current and deferred tax is also
recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity
respectively.
(g) Trade
and other payables
Trade and other payables are
initially recognised at fair value and thereafter stated at
amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the
effect of discounting would be immaterial, in which case they are
stated at cost.
(h) Share
capital
Proceeds from issuance of ordinary
shares are classified as equity. Incremental costs directly
attributable to the issuance of new ordinary shares or options are
shown in equity as a deduction from the proceeds.
(i)
Financial
instruments
Financial instruments are
recognised in the statements of financial
position when the Company has become a
party to the contractual provisions of the instruments.
Financial instruments are
classified as liabilities or equity in accordance with the
substance of the contractual arrangement. Interest, dividends,
gains and losses relating to a financial instrument classified as a
liability are reported as an expense or income. Distributions to
holders of financial instruments classified as equity are charged
directly to equity.
Financial instruments are offset
when the Company has a legally enforceable right to offset and
intends to settle either on a net basis or to realise the asset and
settle the liability simultaneously.
A financial instrument is
recognised initially at its fair value plus, in the case of a
financial instrument not at fair value through profit or loss,
transaction costs that are directly attributable to the acquisition
or issue of the financial instrument.
Financial instruments recognised in
the statements of financial position are disclosed in the
individual policy statement associated with each item.
(i) Financial
liabilities
Financial liabilities are
recognised when, and only when, the Company becomes a party to the
contractual provisions of the financial instrument.
All financial liabilities are
recognised initially at fair value plus directly attributable
transaction costs and subsequently measured at amortised cost using
the effective interest method other than those categorised as fair
value through profit or loss.
Fair value through profit or loss
category comprises financial liabilities that are either
held for trading or are designated to eliminate or significantly reduce a
measurement or recognition inconsistency that would otherwise
arise. Derivatives are also classified as
held for trading unless they are designated as hedges. There were
no financial liabilities classified under this category.
A financial liability is
derecognised when the obligation under the liability is discharged,
cancelled or expires. When an existing financial liability is
replaced by another from the same party on substantially different
terms, or the terms of an existing liability are substantially
modified, such an exchange or modification is treated as a
derecognition of the original liability and the recognition of a
new liability, and the difference in the respective carrying
amounts is recognised in the profit or loss.
(ii) Equity
instruments
Ordinary shares are classified as
equity. Dividends on ordinary shares are recognised as liabilities
when approved for appropriation.
(iii) Other financial
instruments
Other financial instruments not
meeting the definition of Basic Financial Instruments are
recognised initially at fair value. Subsequent to initial
recognition other financial instruments are measured at fair value
with changes recognised in profit or loss except as
follows:
·
investments in equity instruments that are not
publicly traded and whose fair value cannot otherwise be measured
reliably shall be measured at cost less impairment; and
·
hedging instruments in a designated hedging
relationship shall be recognised as set out below.
3. Critical accounting
judgements and key sources of estimation
uncertainty
In the application of the
Company's accounting policies, which are described in Note 2,
management is required to make judgements, estimates and
assumptions about the carrying values of assets and liabilities
that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and
underlying assumptions are based on historical experience and other
factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may
differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying
assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to
accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the
estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period or in
the period of the revision and future periods if the revision
affects both current and future periods.
The key sources of judgment that
have a significant effect on the amounts recognised in the
financial statements are described below.
Impairment of fixed asset investments and amounts due from
subsidiaries
As described in Note 2 to the
financial statements, fixed asset investments are stated at the
lower of cost less provision for impairment.
At each reporting date fixed asset
investments and loans made to subsidiaries are reviewed to
determine whether there is any indication that those assets have
suffered an impairment loss. If there is an indication of
possible impairment, the recoverable amount of any affected asset
is estimated and compared with its carrying amount. If
estimated recoverable amount is lower, the carrying amount is
reduced to its estimated recoverable amount, and an impairment loss
is recognised immediately in profit or loss. The Directors have
carried out an impairment test on the value of the loans due from
subsidiaries and have concluded that no impairment provision is
necessary.
If an impairment loss subsequently
reverses, the carrying amount of the asset is increased to the
revised estimate of its recoverable amount, but not in excess of
the amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss
been recognised for the asset in prior years. A reversal of
an impairment loss is recognised immediately in profit or
loss.
Issue of restricted shares
As more fully described in Note 18
to the Consolidated financial statements, the Company recognised a
deemed cost of issuing restricted shares of £175,587 in the year
ended 30 September 2022. The Company applied a fair value discount
to the issue price of restricted shares based on the lack of
marketability over the three-year restriction period. The Directors
assessed the fair value to be 3.25 pence per share, a discount of
4.12 pence per share (approximately 56%) to the market value of
ordinary shares at the time of issue. Any change to the assumptions
used in applying the discount would have a direct effect within
profit and loss and thus the Group's result for the
year.
Acquisition costs
The Company has considered how the
costs of the acquisition of 3DBT, which involved both issuing new
shares and Admission to the Official List should be accounted for.
In accordance with IAS 32 Financial Instruments: Presentation,
the Company has allocated such costs as follows:
-
Incremental costs that are directly attributable
to issuing new shares have been deducted from equity (net of any
income tax benefit);
-
Costs that relate to the stock market listing or
are otherwise not incremental and directly attributable to issuing
new shares, have been recorded as an expense in the statement of
comprehensive income; and
-
Costs that relate to both share issuance and
listing have been allocated between those functions based on the
proportion of new shares issued to the total number of (new and
existing) shares listed.
4. Loss before
tax
The loss before income tax is
stated after charging:
|
2023
|
2022
|
|
£
|
£
|
Deemed cost of issuing restricted
shares
|
-
|
175,587
|
Fees payable to the Company's
auditors
- Audit of the Company's annual
accounts
|
45,090
|
39,600
|
5. Fixed asset
investments
Investments in
subsidiary undertakings
|
2023
|
2022
|
|
£
|
£
|
Balance brought forward
|
2,498,430
|
-
|
Additions
|
1,000
|
2,498,430
|
Reclassified from loan to
subsidiary (Note 6)
|
1,450,000
|
-
|
Balance at end of year
|
3,949,430
|
2,498,430
|
|
|
| |
The Company's investments comprise
a 100% holdings in the issued ordinary share capital of 3D-Bio
Tissues Limited and BSF Enterprise (Hong Kong) Limited.
No
impairment provision has been made against the investments in
subsidiaries.
Note
10 to the consolidated financial statements contains further
information on the Company's holdings in subsidiaries including
their activities and address of registered office.
6. Loan to
subsidiary
|
2023
|
2022
|
|
£
|
£
|
Balance brought forward at
beginning of year
|
350,000
|
-
|
Amounts advanced
|
1,100,000
|
350,000
|
Amount reclassified to non-current
investments
|
(1,450,000)
|
-
|
Balance at end of year
|
-
|
350,000
|
|
|
| |
The Company's loan to 3DBT has been
transferred to non-current investments as the Company does not intend to recall the loan for the
foreseeable future as the funds are to be used for the long-term
development of 3DBT's business. Accordingly, the loan has been
reclassified as a non-current investment in 2023.
7. Amounts due from
subsidiary
|
2023
|
2022
|
|
£
|
£
|
Balance at end of year
|
-
|
36,000
|
|
|
| |
The amounts due from 3DBT are in
respect of management service charges and are unsecured and
repayable on demand.
8.
Other receivables
and prepayments
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
|
£
|
|
£
|
Prepayments
|
14,168
|
|
2,625
|
Amounts receivable on issue of
restricted shares
|
77,985
|
-
|
77,985
|
Vat recoverable
|
28,314
|
|
13,808
|
|
120,467
|
|
94,418
|
9. Cash and cash
equivalents
|
|
|
|
2023
|
2022
|
|
£
|
£
|
Bank balances
|
2,121,927
|
1,018,481
|
Cash and cash
equivalents
|
2,121,927
|
1,018,481
|
|
|
| |
10. Trade and other
payables
|
|
|
|
2023
|
2022
|
|
£
|
£
|
Trade payables
|
70,117
|
19,505
|
Accruals
|
67,558
|
62,101
|
VAT
|
-
|
6,000
|
Other taxes and social
security
|
44,450
|
44,450
|
|
182,125
|
132,056
|
|
|
| |
The directors consider that the
carrying amounts of amounts falling due within one year approximate
to their fair values.
11. Share
capital
Details of the Company's allotted,
called-up and fully paid share capital are set out in Note 18 to
the Consolidated Financial Statements.
12. Reserves
The share premium account
represents the excess of the fair value of the consideration
received over the nominal value of shares issued and is not
distributable by way of dividends.
The warrant reserve arises from
the requirement to value warrants in existence at the year end at
fair value (see Note 17 to the Consolidated Financial
Statements).
13. Share based payments
Details of the Company's share
option plan and warrants are contained in Note 18 to the
Consolidated Financial Statements.
14. Employees
The
average monthly number of employees including directors was as
follows:
|
2023
|
2022
|
|
No.
|
No.
|
Management
|
4
|
3
|
|
4
|
3
|
|
|
| |
15. Related party
transactions
a) The only key
management personnel of the Company are the Directors. Details of
their remuneration are contained in Note 7 to the Consolidated
Financial Statements and the Remuneration Report.
b) Details of amounts
due between the Company and its subsidiary is shown in Note 6
above. The Company also received £120,000 from its subsidiary in
respect of management charges (year ended 30 September 2022:
£30,000).
c) Geoff Baker and Min Yang are directors of both BSF Enterprise
plc and BSF International Limited. As described above in the
Strategic Report, both Geoff Baker and Min Yang who are directors
of 3DBT and are directors of BSF Angel Funding Limited which is a
shareholder in 3DBT.
d) BSF International
Limited, a shareholder in the Company, provided services to the
Group during the year ended 30 September 2022 totalling £60,000
(2022: £22,500). These services were made on terms equivalent
to those that prevail in arm's length transactions.
e) The Company
subscribed for 100% of the issued share capital of
BSF Enterprise (Hong Kong) Limited for HK$10,000
(£1,000).
16. Subsequent events
On 26 October 2023, the Company
incorporated a new 100% owned subsidiary, Kerato Limited. The
subsidiary is a new lab-grown cornea company, which will form part
of the Company's growing portfolio. It will seek to accelerate the
transition of 3DBT's advanced corneal products into clinical
trials, as well as address the growing industrial demand for these
products.
On 8 December 2023, the Company
entered into a Terms Sheet for an exclusive Joint Venture with
CellulaRevolution Ltd (CellRev), a leader in continuous cell
manufacturing , to help develop a new Foodtech company focused on
developing, and offering to the market, an end to end solution for
manufacturing cultivated meat at scale. The Joint Venture,
Cultivated Meat Technologies Limited (CMT), will combine CellRev's
continuous bioprocessing expertise, that can facilitate faster,
cheaper and more sustainable production of muscle cells, with
3DBT's leading knowhow in forming meat tissue and its City-Mix™
animal-free cell culture supplement. City-Mix™ is already used in
the growth of skin, muscle and fat cells for use in cultivated
meat. The aim of CMT is to provide the market with the premier
platform for manufacturing cultivated meat in a scalable and
cost-competitive manner.
17. Ultimate controlling
party
There is no ultimate controlling
party of the Company.
18. Capital
commitments
As at 30 September 2023, there
were no capital commitments entered into by the Company (30
September 2022: nil).
19. Contingent
liabilities
As at 30 September 2023, there
were no contingent liabilities (30 September 2022: nil).