12 September 2024
Windar Photonics
plc
("Windar", the
"Company" or the
"Group")
Un-audited Results for the 6
months ended 30th June 2024
and
Update on current trading
and sales development activity
Windar Photonics plc (AIM: WPHO),
the technology group that has developed its WindEye and WindTimizer
LiDAR wind sensors and its related 'Nexus' software suite designed
to efficiently and cost effectively increase the power output and
reduce lifetime operating costs of electricity generating wind
turbines, today announces its un-audited results for the 6 months
ended 30 June 2024. Following the successful, oversubscribed,
undiscounted share placing at a premium in April to raise £4.4m
(before expenses) to support growth, the Company is pleased to give
an update on current trading and on its latest business development
activities.
Highlights
Financial:
· Revenue for the 6 month period of €2.3m represents 71% growth
on prior year revenue of €1.3m, which with a concentration of sales
following April 2024 capital raise, is in line with expectation to
achieve targeted full year growth. The market will be updated as
the expected significant orders are received,
· Gross margin of 60% (H1 2023: 55%) shows continued
progression as first software revenues are reflected,
· Increase in operating costs reflects scale-up in key
strategic functions,
· H1
2024 EBITDA (before warrant / share-based payments) of €0.1m (H1
2023: €0.3m loss) represents continued progress,
· Loss
for the six month period H1 2024 reduced to €0.3m (2023:
€0.4m),
· Basic loss per share: H1 2024: €0.004ps (H1 2023:
€0.006ps),
· £4.4m (before expenses) raised in April 2024 through
oversubscribed equity placing issued at a premium,
· Cash
at H1 2024 of €2.8m (H1 2023:€0.3m) after working capital increases
of €2.0m directly attributable to high levels of sales shortly
before and after half year.
Operational:
· Successful launch of Windar Nexus software suite, adding
further applications and efficiencies for our customers,
· Significant order with a gross value
of US$1.3m delivered to a new customer in the North
American market in June, with Nexus software implemented and
operational from August,
· Production capacity in Taastrup manufacturing plant now at
targeted levels giving significant capacity for future
growth,
· Weather delayed installations in China in the early part of
the year resulted in working capital constraints that have
concentrated growth into the period following the April
fundraise.
Current Trading & Sales Development
Activity
· Orders for delivery in H2 2024 of €3.8m as at June 2024 with
pipeline and production capacity in place to meet full year
expectations,
· Order pipeline is increasingly strong with significant trial
and repeat orders in North American market expected in H2
2024,
· Repeat orders predominantly on Vestas V82 turbine platform
however multiple trial orders on development platforms such as
Senvion and GE, are anticipated across the North American market -
thereby further enhancing the Company's prospects for future
growth,
· Continued development activity across China, Japan and
Australia in progress on multiple turbine platforms,
· First installations of Windar's 'Nexus' software
platform successfully completed in August 2024 which, with further
value enhancing modules in development and testing, gives
opportunity for increasing repeat revenue.
Strategic Development and Outlook
In the first half of 2024 Windar
achieved three key milestones:
1. Obtained and
delivered a breakthrough $1.3m order in North America - providing a
significant foothold in that market
2. Completed testing
and commenced implementation of its Nexus turbine management
software - with first site implementation successfully completed in
August
3. Raised £4.4m in an
oversubscribed, undiscounted share issue
Current sales development with
both new and existing customers on Vestas and additional turbine
platforms in the North American market gives increasing confidence
over the medium to long term opportunity for sales and quality of
earnings growth, across all markets globally.
The opportunity for further
developments in our suite of Nexus turbine performance enhancing
software not only introduces new and recurring revenue streams but
also supports our accelerating sales development activity,
particularly across North America.
Following the April fundraise
Windar will not be constrained by factors impacting short-term
working capital and whilst growth in 2024 will be concentrated in
the final 8 months of the year, we remain confident over the full
year outcome.
With a strong team, an
increasingly robust sales pipeline, a strong balance sheet, ongoing
successful product development, increased manufacturing capacity
and greater supply chain resilience and increasing addressable
market the Board looks to the future with confidence.
For
further information, please contact:
Windar Photonics plc
|
|
Jørgen Korsgaard Jensen,
CEO
Gavin Manson
|
Tel: +45 24234930
|
|
|
Grant Thornton UK LLP
Nominated Adviser
|
|
Philip Secrett / Harrison Clarke /
Elliot Peters
|
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7383
5100
|
|
|
Dowgate Capital
Broker
|
|
James Serjeant / Russell
Cook
|
Tel: +44 (0) 20 3903
7715
|
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
FOR
THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2024
With sales and orders for 2024 already at 125% of 2023
revenue when we raised £4.4m through an undiscounted capital raise
in April 2024, the Company is well positioned to deliver its
considerable potential. The funding provided through that capital
raise has allowed the company to accelerate its previously somewhat
constrained sales and production activity since April. Whilst there
is much to be done in the second half of the year to achieve our
targets for the year our sales pipeline and production capacity
give us confidence.
We are making significant progress both in attracting new
customers in North America, and towards expanding new and existing
customers onto additional turbine platforms. This, combined with
the successful first installations of Windar's Nexus software suite
in August leave the longer term opportunity for Windar increasingly
exciting.
Strategic Development
In the first half of 2024 Windar
achieved three key milestones:
1. Obtained and
delivered a breakthrough $1.3m order in North America - providing a
significant foothold in that market
2. Completed testing
and commenced implementation of its Nexus turbine management
software - with implementation successfully completed in
August
3. Raised £4.4m in an
oversubscribed, undiscounted share issue
Current sales development with
both new and existing customers on Vestas installations and in
relation to expanding installations onto additional turbine
platforms (including GE and Senvion) in the North American market
gives increasing confidence over the medium to long term
opportunity for sales and quality of earnings growth, across all
markets globally.
Our active product development now
means that the proven 3-4% turbine performance improvement from
installation of our WindEye and WindTimizer products will
increasingly become an entry level benefit with our Nexus software
range providing the opportunity for significantly enhanced turbine
performance improvement, data driven maintenance planning and
turbine life extension.
The opportunity for further
developments in our suite of Nexus turbine performance enhancing
software not only introduces new and recurring revenue streams but
also supports our accelerating sales development activity,
particularly across North America.
Following the April fundraise
Windar will not be constrained by factors impacting short-term
working capital and whilst growth in 2024 will be concentrated in
the final 8 months of the year we remain confident over the full
year outcome.
These developments leave the Company
with a very exciting opportunity to develop scale and value and the
Board are committed to delivering this value, as evidenced both
through participation in the recent equity raise and in existing
holdings.
Six
Months to 30th June 2024
In April 2024 we were pleased to
announce a $1.3m order marking a new relationship with a
significant turbine operator in the North American market. This
order was successfully delivered in June with Nexus software
implementation completed in August. As well as providing the
potential for material further orders this also marked the first
revenue from sales of software related services through our Nexus
platform.
During the six months to 30 June
2024, revenue increased by 71% from €1.3m to €2.3m. With activity
prior to the April fundraise constrained by the impact of weather
delayed implementations in China on working capital, growth in 2024
will be concentrated in the final 8 months of the year.
Goss Margin % (H1 2024: 60%, H1
2023 55%) continuing to progress illustrates the anticipated
benefits of increasing volume and of increasingly geographically
diverse sales.
An EBITDA loss of €0.1m (before
share-based payments) marks continued progress from the prior first
half loss of €0.3m and with the sales activity anticipated in H2 we
remain confident of full year out-turn.
The Group exited the half year
with net cash of €1.2m, an increase of €2.7m from the last half
years net debt. Working capital movements directly driven by sales
activity around the half year increased working capital by €2.0m
year on year. We anticipate that short term working capital
movements will become less pronounced as the number of deliveries
increases and phasing normalises.
Board & Employees
Recognising that there is much to do
for Windar to achieve its full potential it is appropriate to
recognize the contribution and dedication of our employees in
achieving the key milestones noted above. In particular the
development, testing and first implementations of our Nexus
software suite has required particular dedication from our
development team. This success of this first stage of Nexus
software provides a platform for future growth - and the efforts of
our team are much appreciated.
Outlook
With a strong team, an
increasingly robust sales pipeline, a strong balance sheet, ongoing
successful product development, increased manufacturing capacity,
greater supply chain resilience and increasing addressable market
the Board looks to the future with confidence.
David George Lis
Chairman
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF
PROFIT OR LOSS AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30
JUNE 2024
|
|
Six months
ended 30 June 2024
|
Six
months ended 30
June
2023
|
Year ended 31 December
2023
|
|
|
(unaudited)
|
(unaudited)
|
(audited)
|
|
Note
|
€
|
€
|
€
|
Revenue
|
|
2,296,781
|
1,347,072
|
4,766,484
|
Cost of
goods sold
|
|
(907,577)
|
(607,584)
|
(2,361,386)
|
Gross profit
|
|
1,389,204
|
739,488
|
2,405,098
|
Administrative expenses
|
|
(1,623,482)
|
(1,155,834)
|
(2,548,366)
|
Other
operating income
Exceptional (expenses)/income
|
|
-
-
|
16,115
-
|
32,210
-
|
Loss from operations
|
|
(234,278)
|
(400,231)
|
(111,058)
|
Finance
expenses
|
|
(30,528)
|
(87,658)
|
(240,033)
|
Loss before taxation
|
|
(264,806)
|
(487,889)
|
(351,091)
|
Taxation
|
|
(32,016)
|
117,818
|
168,571
|
Loss for the period
|
|
(296,822)
|
(370,071)
|
(182,520)
|
Other comprehensive
income
|
|
|
|
|
Items
that will or maybe reclassified to profit or loss:
|
|
|
|
|
Exchange
losses arising on translation of foreign operations
|
|
(17,664)
|
90,240
|
7,089
|
Total comprehensive loss for
the period
|
|
(314,569)
|
(279,831)
|
(175,431)
|
Loss per share for loss
attributable to the ordinary equity holders of Windar Photonics
plc
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted, cents per
share
|
2
|
(0.4)
|
(0.6)
|
(0.3)
|