Tialis Essential IT plc
("Tialis", the "Group" or
the "Company")
10 September 2024
Unaudited Interim Results,
Related Party Loan and Board Changes
Tialis Essential IT plc, the mid-market IT managed
services provider, today announces its unaudited results for the
six months ended 30 June 2024.
Highlights
·
Revenue of £10.7 million (H1 2023: £11.6
million).
·
Gross profit of £3.0 million (H1 2023: £3.6
million).
·
Adjusted EBITDA* profit of £0.9 million (H1 2023:
£1.2 million).
·
Significant year on year increase in cash
generation.
·
The revenue drop was largely due to the fall in
project revenue of £1.3m from our largest Partner, together with
some run-off contracts we acquired from Allvotec, which offset new
business wins.
·
Positive start to 2024 with eight new end-user
customer contract awards, adding four new channel partners, with a
current pipeline of £22.9m across 15 partners, only two of which
resulted from the Allvotec acquisition. However, we have continued
to be frustrated by delays in new contract awards.
·
Lifecycle revenue in the first six months
increased by 37% to £2.0m. As we pivot from traditional engineering
services, this is the strategic service we provide to the majority
of our Partners, and continue to see significant opportunities in
this space, both in end-user devices and increasingly in
mobile.
·
We have a cash-generative business and a profitable business at an
adjusted EBITDA level.
·
Andy Parker, the Executive Chairman, has stepped down today and
Nicolas Bedford, current Non-Executive Director, has been appointed
Non-Executive Chairman.
Financing
·
We are pleased to announce that we have agreed a
£4m Revolving Credit Facility ("RCF") with Santander. The RCF
carries an interest rate of SONIA + 3.75 per cent. and is for a
term of 3 years. The RCF will be used for early repayment of the
loan notes of £4.2m which are due for repayment in January and
December 2025.
·
In addition to the RCF, MXC Capital ("MXC") has
agreed to provide a convertible loan note of £300k to bridge the
small shortfall between the RCF and the outstanding balance of the
loan notes plus associated costs of setting up the RCF and to
provide a small amount of working capital. See further details
below.
Related party loan
The loan with MXC is an unsecured
convertible loan for £300,000 which has an annual compound interest
rate of 15%. The convertible is for a term of five years. However,
the Company expects to repay the loan by 31 March 2025. MXC has the
option to convert the loan to new ordinary shares at a fixed price
of 40 pence.
MXC is deemed to be a related
party of the Company pursuant to the AIM Rules for Companies (the
"AIM Rules") as they are a substantial shareholder and because Ian
Smith, CEO of MXC is Executive Director of Tialis.
Nicolas Bedford and Matt Riley,
being the independent directors of Tialis for these purposes
consider, having consulted with the Company's nominated adviser,
Cavendish Capital Markets Limited, that the terms of the related
party transaction are fair and reasonable insofar as the
shareholders of the Company are concerned.
Board changes
Andy Parker, Executive Chairman, has today stepped
down following six years with the Company as both Non-Executive and
Executive Chairman. Nicolas Bedford, current Non-Executive Director
replaces Andy as Non-Executive Chairman.
Ian Smith,
Executive Director, commented: "On behalf of the board I
thank Andy for his valuable input. Under his leadership as Chairman
the Company has made considerable progress and I am grateful for
the support and guidance he has given me and the Board over the
past six years. Andy leaves the Company with our best wishes.
The Board are delighted that Nick has accepted the
offer to become Non-Executive Chairman. We look forward to
continuing to work with him and benefitting from his
expertise."
* Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, tax,
depreciation, amortisation, impairment charge, non-underlying
items, loss on disposal of fixed assets and share-based
payment
For more information, contact:
Tialis Essential IT Plc
Nick Bedford, Non-Executive
Chairman
|
Tel: +44 (0)344 874
1000
|
Cavendish Capital Markets Ltd
Nominated Adviser and
Broker
Corporate finance: Jonny
Franklin-Adams/ Abby Kelly
Corporate Broking: Tim
Redfern
|
Tel: +44 (0)20 7220
0500
|
Financial Review
Results for the six months to 30 June 2024
Revenue from continuing operations for the six
months to 30 June 2024 from operations was £10.7 million (H1 2023:
£11.6 million).
Gross profit from continuing operations for the six
months to 30 June 2024 was £3.0 million (H1 2023: £3.6 million),
representing an overall decline in gross margin of 2 percentage
points, compared to the prior period. The change in gross profit in
the six months to 30 June 2024 was due to a change in
product mix with less Lifecycle project work.
At an Adjusted EBITDA* level for continuing
operations the Group generated a profit of £0.9 million (H1 2023:
£1.2 million).
Exceptional costs amounted to £0.2 million (H1 2023:
£0.4 million) and related predominantly to an aborted acquisition.
Going forward, we expect exceptional costs to decrease.
Net financial costs were £0.3 million (H1 2023: £0.3
million), which include £0.25 million of interest on the loan notes
issued which is payable at the end of their term.
The loss after tax for the period was £0.9 million
(H1 2023: loss of £0.9 million).
Loss per share was 3.82p (H1 2023: loss per share
0.18p).
Cashflow and Net Debt
The Group's cash generated from operating activities
in the period was £1.4 million (H1 2023: £0.2 million), reflecting
positive underlying performance and careful management of working
capital. The second half is expected to be stronger, with further
improvements in working capital and a continued reduction in
exceptionals. The Group invested £0.02 million in fixed assets.
There were no new borrowings, but repayment of lease liabilities
consumed £0.1 million (H1 2023: £0.1 million). The net result is
that as at 30 June 2024 there were no bank borrowings or overdraft
debt and the cash balance was £0.6 million (H1 2023: £0.5 million).
Net debt as at 30 June 2024 was £4.4 million (H1 2023: £4.1
million).
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive
Income
|
Note
|
Unaudited Six months
ended 30 June
2024
£000
|
Unaudited Six months
ended 30
June
2023
£000
|
Audited
Year ended
31 December
2023
£000
|
Continuing
Operations
|
Revenue
|
2
|
10,740
|
11,592
|
22,412
|
Cost of
sales
|
|
(7,728)
|
(8,013)
|
(15,762)
|
Gross profit
|
|
3,012
|
3,579
|
6,650
|
Administrative expenses
|
|
(3,723)
|
(3,976)
|
(7,866)
|
Operating loss
|
|
(711)
|
(397)
|
(1,216)
|
Analysed as:
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted
EBITDA*
|
|
936
|
1,203
|
1,985
|
Non
underlying items
|
3
|
(155)
|
(355)
|
(713)
|
Depreciation
|
|
(176)
|
(145)
|
(312)
|
Amortisation and impairment
|
|
(1,140)
|
(1,032)
|
(2,187)
|
Loss on
the disposal of fixed assets
|
|
-
|
(1)
|
-
|
Fair
value loss on deferred consideration
|
|
-
|
(67)
|
22
|
Charges
for share-based payments
|
|
(176)
|
-
|
(11)
|
Net
financial costs
|
|
(280)
|
(256)
|
(556)
|
Loss before taxation
|
|
(991)
|
(653)
|
(1,772)
|
Income
tax
|
|
63
|
(292)
|
227
|
Loss for the period after
taxation
|
|
(928)
|
(945)
|
(1,545)
|
Discontinued operations:
|
|
|
|
|
Profit on discontinued
operations
|
|
-
|
9
|
9
|
Loss for the period and
total comprehensive income attributable to equity holders of the
parent
|
|
(928)
|
(936)
|
(1,536)
|
Basic and diluted loss per
share - continuing operations
|
4
|
|
|
|
Basic and
diluted per share
|
|
(3.82) p
|
(0.18) p
|
(6.45) p
|
Basic and diluted loss per
share - discontinued operations
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and
diluted share
|
|
-
|
-
|
0.04 p
|
Total
basic and diluted loss per share
|
|
(3.82) p
|
(0.18) p
|
(6.41) p
|
* Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, tax,
depreciation, amortisation, impairment charge, non-underlying
items, loss on disposal of fixed assets and share-based
payment
Consolidated Statement of
Financial Position
|
Note
|
Unaudited 30 June
2024
|
Unaudited 30 June
2023
|
Audited 31 December
2023
|
|
|
£000
|
£000
|
£000
|
Non-current assets
|
|
|
|
|
Property,
plant and equipment
|
|
839
|
970
|
943
|
Intangible assets
|
|
5,957
|
8,179
|
7,097
|
Deferred
tax asset
|
|
3,398
|
2,816
|
3,335
|
Trade and
other receivables
|
|
100
|
100
|
100
|
|
|
10,294
|
12,065
|
11,475
|
Current assets
Trade and
other receivables
|
|
4,357
|
5,468
|
5,020
|
Cash and
cash equivalents
|
|
613
|
473
|
274
|
|
|
4,970
|
5,941
|
5,294
|
Total assets
|
|
15,264
|
18,006
|
16,769
|
Current liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
Trade and
other payables
|
|
3,100
|
4,740
|
4,389
|
Contract
liabilities
|
|
845
|
924
|
676
|
Borrowings
|
5
|
4,025
|
210
|
259
|
|
|
7,970
|
5,874
|
5,324
|
Non-current liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
Trade and
other payables
|
|
-
|
174
|
-
|
Borrowings
|
5
|
964
|
4,371
|
4,561
|
Convertible loan notes
|
6
|
-
|
149
|
-
|
Provisions
|
|
406
|
266
|
301
|
|
|
1,370
|
4,960
|
4,862
|
Total liabilities
|
|
9,340
|
10,834
|
10,186
|
Net assets
|
|
5,924
|
7,172
|
6,583
|
Equity attributable to
equity holders of the parent
|
Share
capital
|
|
12,611
|
12,610
|
12,610
|
Share
premium
|
|
52,957
|
52,865
|
52,865
|
Equity
reserves
|
|
58
|
58
|
58
|
Share-based payment reserves
|
|
187
|
-
|
11
|
Retained
earnings
|
|
(59,889)
|
(58,361)
|
(58,961)
|
Total equity
|
|
5,924
|
7,172
|
6,583
|
Consolidated Statement of Changes
in Equity
|
Share capital (a)
|
Share premium (b)
|
Equity Reserve (c)
|
Share-based payment reserve (d)
|
Retained earnings (e)
|
Total
|
|
£000
|
£000
|
£000
|
£000
|
£000
|
£000
|
At 31 December 2022
(Audited)
|
12,586
|
50,754
|
58
|
-
|
(57,425)
|
5,973
|
Total comprehensive income
for the period
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
issued for the acquisition of Allvotec and in lieu of bonus to an
employee
|
24
|
2,111
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
2,315
|
Loss for
the financial year and total comprehensive income
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(936)
|
(936)
|
At 30 June 2023 (unaudited)
|
12,610
|
52,865
|
58
|
-
|
(58,361)
|
7,172
|
Total comprehensive income
for the period
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss for
the financial year and total comprehensive income
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(600)
|
(600)
|
Transactions with owners
recorded directly in equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share-based payments charge
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
11
|
-
|
(11)
|
At 31 December 2023
(Audited)
|
12,610
|
52,865
|
58
|
11
|
(58,961)
|
6,583
|
At 1 January 2024
|
12,610
|
52,865
|
58
|
11
|
(58,961)
|
6,583
|
Total comprehensive income
for the period
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
issued in lieu of bonus to an employee
|
1
|
92
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
93
|
Loss for
the financial year and total comprehensive income
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(928)
|
(928)
|
Transactions with owners
recorded directly in equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share-based payments charge
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
176
|
-
|
176
|
At 30 June 2024 (unaudited)
|
12,611
|
52,957
|
58
|
187
|
(59,889)
|
5,924
|
(a)
Share capital represents the nominal value of
equity shares and deferred
shares
(b)
Share premium represents the excess over nominal
value of the fair value of consideration received for equity
shares, net of expenses of the share issue
(c)
The equity reserve consists of the equity
component of convertible loan notes that were issued as part of the
fundraising in August 2018 less the equity component of instruments
converted or settled. The fair value of the equity component of
convertible loan notes issued is the residual value after deduction
of the fair value of the debt component of the instrument from the
face value of the loan note.
(d)
Share-based payments reserve represents the
accumulated costs of the share options in issue
(e)
Retained earnings represents retained profits and
accumulated losses
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement
|
Unaudited Six months
ended 30 June
2024
|
Unaudited Six months
ended 30
June
2023
|
Audited
Year ended
31 December
2023
|
|
£000
|
£000
|
£000
|
Cash flows from operating
activities
|
|
|
|
Loss from
continuing operations
|
(991)
|
(653)
|
(1,772)
|
Loss from
discontinuing operations
|
-
|
9
|
9
|
Total loss before tax for
the period
|
(991)
|
(653)
|
(1,763)
|
Adjustments for:
|
|
|
|
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment
|
176
|
145
|
312
|
Amortisation of intangible assets
|
1,140
|
1,032
|
2,187
|
Fair
value loss on deferred consideration
|
-
|
67
|
-
|
Net
financial costs
|
280
|
256
|
556
|
Share
based payments
|
176
|
-
|
11
|
Loss on
disposal of fixed assets
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
Decrease
/ (increase) in trade and other receivables
|
663
|
(1,806)
|
(1,359)
|
(Decrease) / increase in trade and other payables and contract liabilities
|
(129)
|
1,161
|
658
|
Increase
in provisions
|
106
|
21
|
56
|
Net cash flows generated
from operating activities
|
1,421
|
233
|
658
|
Cash flow from investing
activities
|
|
|
|
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment
|
(20)
|
(40)
|
(75)
|
Net cash used in investing
activities
|
(20)
|
(40)
|
(75)
|
Cash flows from financing
activities
|
|
|
|
Interest
received
|
13
|
9
|
19
|
Interest
paid
|
(41)
|
(39)
|
(84)
|
Supplier
finance repaid
|
(900)
|
-
|
(281)
|
Convertible loan notes repaid
|
-
|
-
|
(152)
|
Repayment
of lease liabilities
|
(134)
|
(105)
|
(225)
|
Net cash absorbed by
financing activities
|
(1,062)
|
(135)
|
(723)
|
Net
increase/ (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
|
339
|
58
|
(140)
|
Cash and
cash equivalents at beginning of period
|
274
|
414
|
414
|
Cash and cash equivalents at
end of period
|
613
|
472
|
274
|
Cash and
cash equivalents comprise:
|
|
|
|
Cash at
bank
|
613
|
472
|
274
|
Notes to the half-yearly financial information
1. Basis of preparation
The condensed consolidated interim
financial information for the six-month periods ended 30 June 2024
and 30 June 2023 is unaudited. This statement has not been reviewed
by the Company's auditor. This condensed consolidated interim
financial information was approved by the Board of Directors and
authorised for issue on 10 September 2024. A copy of this
half-yearly financial report is available on the Company's website
at www.tialis.com.
The comparative figures for the
financial year ended 31 December 2023 are extracted from but do not
comprise the Group's consolidated financial statements for that
year.
The Company is a public limited
liability company incorporated and domiciled in Scotland. The
address of its registered office is 24 Dublin Street, Edinburgh EH1
3PP. The Company is listed on the AIM market of the London Stock
Exchange.
Tialis and its subsidiaries have
not applied IAS 34, 'Interim Financial Reporting' as adopted by the
United Kingdom, which is not mandatory for UK AIM listed companies,
in the preparation of this half-yearly financial report.
This condensed consolidated interim
financial information for the six-month period ended 30 June 2024
therefore does not comply with all the requirements of IAS 34,
'Interim Financial Reporting' as adopted by the United Kingdom. The
consolidated interim financial information should be read in
conjunction with the annual financial statements of the Company as
at and for the year ended 31 December 2023, which were
prepared in accordance with IFRS as adopted by the United
Kingdom.
This condensed consolidated interim
financial information does not comprise statutory accounts within
the meaning of section 434 of the Companies Act 2006. Statutory
accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023 were approved by the
Board of Directors on 9 May 2024 and delivered to the
Registrar of Companies. The report of the auditor was unqualified,
did not contain an emphasis of matter paragraph and did not contain
a statement under section 498 (2) or (3) of the Companies Act
2006.
Accounting policies
The accounting policies used in the
preparation of the condensed consolidated interim financial
information for the six months ended 30 June 2024 are in accordance
with the recognition and measurement criteria of International
Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") as adopted by the United
Kingdom and are consistent with those that will be adopted in the
annual statutory financial statements for the year ended 31
December 2024.
While the financial information
included has been prepared in accordance with the recognition and
measurement criteria of IFRS, as adopted by the United Kingdom,
these financial statements do not contain sufficient information to
comply with IFRSs. The accounting policies adopted in the interim
financial statements are consistent with those adopted in the
financial statements for the year ended 31 December
2023.
Non-underlying items
It is the policy of the Group to
identify certain costs, which are material either because of their
size or nature, separately on the face of the Income Statement in
order that the underlying profitability of the business can be
clearly understood. These costs are identified as non-underlying
items, and comprise:
a)
Professional fees incurred in sourcing and completing acquisitions
and disposals including legal expenses
b)
Professional fees incurred in restructuring and refinancing
acquisitions
c)
Integration costs which are incurred by the Group when integrating
one trading business into another, including rebranding of acquired
businesses
d)
Redundancy costs, including employment related costs of staff made
redundant up to the date of their leaving as a consequence of
integration
e)
Property costs such as lease termination penalties and vacant
property provisions and third-party advisor fee
For further details, please refer
to note 3.
Going concern
The condensed consolidated interim
financial information has been prepared on a going concern
basis.
The Directors have produced
detailed trading and cashflow forecasts. In reaching their
conclusion on the going concern basis of accounting, the Directors
note and rely on the improved trading performance, the positive
cash generation that the business is now experiencing and the
current signed order book. A reverse stress test of the model has
been run to determine at what level of shortfall in revenues the
Group would run out of cash. Given the committed orders already
obtained and the visibility of future revenues, the directors do
not consider it likely that revenues could drop to such an extent
that the Group would run out of cash.
They have also considered the
impact of any delayed customer payments and have developed plans to
mitigate any such delays to ensure that the group can continue to
settle its liabilities as they fall due and operate as a going
concern. The directors therefore have an expectation that the Group
and Company have adequate resources available to them to continue
in operational existence for the foreseeable basis. For this
reason, the Directors consider that the adoption of the going
concern basis is appropriate.
2. Segment
reporting
The Group has only one operating
segment, the Manage Business.
3. Non-underlying costs
In accordance with the Group's
policy in respect of non-underlying costs, the following charges
were incurred for the period in relation to continuing
operations:
|
Unaudited Six months
ended 30 June
2024
|
Unaudited Six months
ended 30
June
2023
|
Audited
Year ended
31 December
2023
|
|
£000
|
£000
|
£000
|
Allvotec
acquisition expense
|
-
|
144
|
242
|
Due
diligence on potential acquisitions in the period
|
-
|
25
|
25
|
Aborted
acquisition costs
|
101
|
-
|
-
|
Employee
share option plan set-up expense
|
-
|
-
|
49
|
One-off
legal fees
|
-
|
-
|
9
|
Rebranding as Tialis from IDE Group
|
-
|
33
|
35
|
Restructuring and reorganisation costs
|
54
|
153
|
353
|
|
155
|
355
|
713
|
Restructuring and reorganisation
costs in the period relate to costs incurred on the restructure of
the Group, predominantly redundancy costs. Other integration costs
relate to the costs incurred in integrating the Allvotec
acquisition. The redundancy costs include employment related costs
of staff made redundant because of restructuring post the Allvotec
acquisition.
The legal and rebranding expenses
were non-recurring expenses incurred during the year.
4. Earnings per share from continuing operations
The calculation of basic and
diluted loss per share is based on results from continuing
operations attributable to ordinary shareholders divided by the
weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the
year. The weighted average number of shares for the purpose of
calculating the basic and diluted measures in the reporting periods
is the same. This is because the outstanding options would have the
effect of reducing the loss per ordinary share and therefore would
be anti-dilutive under the terms of IAS 33. Basic and diluted
unaudited loss per share from continuing operations are calculated
as follows:
|
Unaudited Six months
ended 30 June
2024
£000
|
Unaudited Six months
ended 30
June
2023
£000
|
Audited
Year ended
31 December
2023
£000
|
Loss for
the period after taxation
|
(928)
|
(945)
|
(1,545)
|
Weighted
average number of shares
|
24,246,744
|
520,408,748
|
23,973,027
|
Diluted
weighted average number of shares
|
24,246,744
|
520,408,748
|
23,973,027
|
Basic
loss per share (pence)
|
(3.82) p
|
(0.18) p
|
(6.45) p
|
Diluted
loss per share (pence)
|
(3.82) p
|
(0.18) p
|
(6.45) p
|
5. Borrowings
|
Unaudited Six months
ended 30 June
2024
£000
|
Unaudited Six months ended
30 June
2023
£000
|
Audited
Year ended
31 December
2023
£000
|
Non-Current
|
|
|
|
Lease
liabilities
|
477
|
660
|
596
|
Loan
Notes
|
487
|
3,711
|
3,965
|
|
964
|
4,371
|
4,561
|
|
|
|
|
Current
|
|
|
|
Lease
liabilities
|
295
|
210
|
259
|
Loan
Notes
|
3,730
|
-
|
-
|
|
4,025
|
210
|
259
|
The carrying value is not
materially different to the fair value of these
liabilities.
In January 2019 the Company issued
£5.3 million of secured loan notes with a six-year term and a 12%
coupon which is compounded, rolled up and payable at the end of the
term ("Loan Notes"). In February and March 2019, a further £4.7
million in total of secured Loan Notes were issued. The Loan Notes
carry an arrangement fee of 2.5 per cent., payable at the end of
the term, and an exit fee of 2.5 per cent, also payable at the end
of the term. The security comprises a debenture over all the assets
of the Group.
In December 2019 the Company
issued an additional £1.5 million of Loan Notes (with the same
terms as those issued in the first quarter of the year).
The Loan Notes are held at
amortised cost using the effective interest rate method. The
effective interest rate for the Loan Notes has been calculated to
be 18%.
The Company issued a further loan
note ("Loan Note 2025") net of expenses for proceeds of £1m on 1
December 2021. The terms of the loan were that the rate of interest
is 1.5% per month if repaid by 31 January 2022, 2.5% per month if
repaid by 28 February 2022 and 3% per month if repaid by 31 March
2022. If not repaid by 31 March 2022 the amount due at that date
including fees (£1.1875m) is then subject to interest at 20.4% per
annum compound. The maturity date is 23 December 2025. The Loan
Note 2025 was included in the 2 November 2022 conversion. On 2
November 2022 the members meeting at the Annual General Meeting,
and then at the General Meeting that followed, voted to convert
£25.5 million of loan notes (including fees and interest) into
share capital.
6. Convertible Loan Notes
|
Unaudited Six months
ended 30 June
2024
£000
|
Unaudited Six months ended
30 June
2023
£000
|
Audited
Year ended
31 December
2023
£000
|
Balance at the beginning of the
period
|
-
|
143
|
143
|
Interest
unwound
|
-
|
6
|
9
|
Loan
repaid August 2023
|
-
|
-
|
(152)
|
Balance at the end of the
period
|
-
|
149
|
-
|
The Group had issued £2.55 million
of unsecured loan notes, which had a term of 5 years and a zero per
cent coupon ("CLNs").
On 21 August 2023 the CLNs were
repaid.
7. Related
Party Transactions
MXC has provided an unsecured
convertible loan for £300,000, which has an annual compound
interest rate of 15%. The Company expects to repay the loan by the
31 March 2025, MXC also has the option to convert the Loan to
ordinary shares.