Interim Results

RNS Number : 8034F
Evocutis PLC
30 April 2014
 




Press Release

30 April 2014

 

Evocutis plc

("Evocutis", "the Company" or the "Group")

Interim Results for the six months ended 31 January 2014

 

Evocutis plc (AIM: EVO) is pleased to announce its unaudited interim results for the six months ended 31 January 2014.

 

Highlights

·   

Post period end disposal of LabSkinTM and SYN1113 intellectual property and related assets in return for 864,706 shares in Venn Life Sciences Holdings plc and potential further consideration based on future sales of LabSkinTM and SYN1113

·   

Loss for the period increased to £484,000 (31 January 2013 : £481,000)

·   

Loss per share from continuing operations of 0.04p (31 January 2013: 0.04p)

·   

Cash balance of £304,000 at 31 January 2014

 

 

Tom Bannatyne, Chairman, commented:

"After a difficult period of trading, I am delighted that we have concluded a deal with Venn Life Sciences Holdings plc in respect of our principal intellectual property portfolio.  Evocutis is now positioned to undertake its new Investing Policy from a stable cost platform, whilst retaining an interest in Venn's future development of LabSkinTM and SYN1113".

 



 

Enquiries

Tom Bannatyne/Gwyn Humphreys, Evocutis plc

Tel : 0845 200 8341

James Caithie/Carolyn Sansom, Cairn Financial Advisers LLP

Nominated Adviser

Tel : 020 7148 7900

 

The interim results will be available electronically on the Group's website: www.evocutis.com.

 

Evocutis plc

Chairman's and Chief Executive Officer's Report

 

Introduction

We are pleased to report the interim results for the six months ended 31 January 2014. 

 

As set out in our news announcements published during the period, the Directors have been assessing strategic options for the Group's assets.  Trading during the six months ended 31 January 2014 has been difficult and in November 2013, all operational staff were given notice of redundancy. Management have taken the decision to discontinue the Group's provision of research consultancy and LabSkinTM services.  Discussions were also initiated with the landlord to agree an exit from the Group's property lease.

 

Subsequent to the period end, on 25 February 2014, the Company issued a circular to shareholders in which it was proposed to dispose of the Group's LabSkinTM and SYN1113 intellectual property along with related assets.  This disposal was subsequently approved at a General Meeting of shareholders held on 13 March 2014 and we announced that the transaction was completed on 19 March 2014.  The Group received 864,706 new ordinary shares in Venn Life Sciences Holdings plc ("Venn") as initial consideration for the disposal.   The Company will be entitled to the following additional consideration:

 

•     a cash payment of 25 per cent. of any proceeds received by Venn from the future sale or license of SYN1113; and

•     a cash payment of 7.5 per cent. of future net sales made by Venn in respect of LabSkin™ in the 36 months following completion (19 March 2014).

 

On 24 March 2014, the Group secured an agreement with the landlord of the Group's operating property to surrender the lease for that property and consequently operations from that site have ceased.

 

During the period under review the Directors have reduced the Group's operating cash requirements to ensure that the Group can continue to operate as a going concern.

 

Income statement

During the period, the Group has discontinued its trading operations.  A summary of the Group's results is set out below. 

 


Six months

Six months

Year


ended

ended

ended


31 January

31 January

31 July


2014

2013

2013


£'000

£'000

£'000

Continuing operations




Loss for the period

(66)

(59)

(212)

Discontinued operations:




Revenue

49

226

395

Loss for the period

(418)

(422)

(795)





Loss for the period

(484)

(481)

(1,007)

 

Balance sheet

The Group continues to have a debt free balance sheet.  At 31 January 2014, the Group's intangible assets and property, plant and equipment assets were reclassified as assets held for sale as the Directors believed that the value of those assets would be recovered from sale rather than continuing use.

 

As a result of operating losses, cash balances have decreased by £361,000 in the period, from £665,000 at 31 July 2013 to £304,000 at 31 January 2014 with the main elements of the movement being:

 

 


Six months

Six months

Year


ended

ended

ended


31 January

31 January

31 July


2014

2013

2013


£'000

£'000

£'000

Net cash used in operating activities

(389)

(451)

(818)

Net cash from investing activities

28

2

4

Movement during the period

(361)

(449)

(814)

 

 

Outlook

Following the approval of shareholders at a General Meeting held on 13 March 2014 to dispose of substantially all of the Group's assets and to adopt an Investing Policy, the Company is now classified as an Investing Company as defined in the AIM Rules for Companies.  The Company is required to make an acquisition or acquisitions which constitute a reverse takeover under the AIM Rules or otherwise implement its Investing Policy within 12 months of the General Meeting, failing which the Company's ordinary shares would be suspended from trading on AIM. If the Company's ordinary shares are suspended, the Directors believe that they would then propose to convene a general meeting of its shareholders to consider whether to continue seeking investment opportunities or to wind up the Company and distribute any surplus cash back to shareholders.

 

 

Tom Bannatyne                                  Dr Gwyn Humphreys

Chairman                                            Chief Executive Officer

 

30 April 2014   

Evocutis plc

Condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income - unaudited

For the six months ended 31 January 2014

 


Unaudited

Unaudited

Audited


Six months

Six months

Year


ended

ended

ended


31 January

31 January

31 July


2014

2013

2013


£'000

£'000

£'000

Continuing operations




Administrative costs

(69)

(65)

(220)

Finance income

3

6

8

Loss before tax

(66)

(59)

(212)

Taxation

-

-

-

Loss for the period from continuing operations

(66)

(59)

(212)





Discontinued operations




Loss for the period from discontinued operations

(418)

(422)

(795)

Loss for the period and total comprehensive loss attributable to equity shareholders

(484)

(481)

(1,007)





Loss per ordinary share




Basic and diluted - continuing operations

(0.04p)

(0.03p)

(0.12p)

Basic and diluted - discontinued operations

(0.24p)

(0.24p)

(0.46p)





 

 

 



 

Evocutis plc

Condensed consolidated interim statement of financial position - unaudited

As at 31 January 2014

 


Unaudited

Unaudited

Audited


At 31 January

At 31 January

At 31 July


2014

2013

2013


£'000

£'000

£'000

ASSETS




Non-current assets




Property, plant and equipment

-

139 

49

Other intangible assets

-

229 

215


-

368 

264





Current assets




Trade and other receivables

77

198 

154

Current tax recoverable

95

40 

95

Cash and cash equivalents

304

1,030 

665


476

1,268 

914

Non-current assets classified as held for sale

212

-

-


688

1,268

914





Total assets

688

1,178





LIABILITIES




Current liabilities




Trade and other payables

(82)

(83)

(115)


(82)

(83)

(115)





Non-current liabilities




Deferred tax liabilities

(55)

(71) 

(58)

Provisions

(75)

-

(50)


(130)

(71) 

(108)





Total liabilities

(212)

(223)





Net assets

476

1,482 

955













EQUITY




Equity attributable to equity holders of the company




Called up share capital

1,747

1,747

1,747

Share premium reserve

7,634

7,634

7,634

Merger reserve

979

979

979

Share-based payments reserve

143

222

138

Retained earnings

(10,027)

(9,100)

(9,543)

Total equity

476

955

 



 

Evocutis plc

Consolidated statement of changes in equity - unaudited

For the six months ended 31 January 2014

 





Share 







Based 




Share

Share

Merger

Payment 

Retained



Capital

Premium

Reserve

Reserve 

Losses

Total  


£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000 

£'000

£'000  

Unaudited







At 1 August 2012

1,732

7,632

979

211

(8,619)

1,935

Loss for the six month period ended 31 January 2013

-

-

-

(481)

 

(481)

Total comprehensive loss

-

-

-

-

(481)

(481)

Transactions with owners:







Issue of shares

15

2

-

-

-

17

Share based payment charge

-

-

-

11

-

11

At 31 January 2013

1,747

7,634

979

222

(9,100)

1,482








Audited







At 1 August 2012

1,732

7,632

979

211

(8,619)

1,935

Loss for the year ended 31 July 2013

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

(1,007)

(1,007)

Total comprehensive loss

-

-

-

-

(1,007)

(1,007)

Transactions with owners:







Issue of shares

15

2

-

-

-

17

Shares options lapsed

-

-

(83)

83

-

Share option charge in the year

-

-

10

-

10

At 31 July 2013

1,747

7,634

979

138

(9,543)

955








Unaudited







At 1 August 2013

1,747

7,634

979

138

(9,543)

955

 

Loss for the six month period ended 31 January 2014

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

(484)

(484)

 

Total comprehensive loss

-

-

-

-

(484)

(484)

 

Transactions with owners:







 

Share option charge in the period

-

-

-

5

-

5

 

At 31 January 2014

1,747

7,634

979

143

(10,027)

476

 

 

 

Evocutis plc

Condensed consolidated interim statement of cash flows - unaudited

for the six months ended 31 January 2014

 


Unaudited

Unaudited

Audited


Six months

Six months

Year


ended

ended

ended


31 January

31 January

31 July


2014

2013

2013


£'000

£'000

£'000

Cash flows from operating activities




Loss after tax

(484)

(481)

(1,007)

Taxation

(3)

(44)

(111)

Finance income

(3)

(6)

(8)

Depreciation

16

31 

54

Amortisation of intangible assets

13

13 

27

Profit on disposal of property, plant and equipment

(2)

-

-

Impairment losses

-

67

Share-based remuneration

-

17 

17

Share-based payment charges

5

11 

10

Operating cash outflow before changes in working capital

 

(458)

 

(459)

 

(951)

Movement in trade and other receivables

77

(69)

(25)

Movement in trade and other payables

(33)

(34)

(2)

Movement in provisions

25

-

50

Cash flow from operations

(389)

(562)

(928)

Tax received

-

111 

110

Net cash flows used in operating activities

(389)

(451)

(818)

Cash flow from investing activities




Purchase of property, plant and equipment

-

(4)

(4)

Disposals of property, plant and equipment

25

-

-

Finance income

3

8

Net cash outflow from investing activities

28

2

4

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

(361)

(449)

(814)

Cash and cash equivalents at start of period

665

1,479 

1,479

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

304

1,030 

665

 

 

 

Notes to the consolidated interim report

For the six months ended 31 January 2014

 

1          Basis of preparation

Evocutis plc (the "Company") is a company domiciled in England.  The condensed consolidated interim financial report of the Company as at and for the six months ended 31 January 2014 comprises the Company and its subsidiaries (together referred to as the "Group").  The principal activity of the Group for the period was the provision of research consultancy services.

 

The condensed consolidated interim financial information should be read in conjunction with the annual financial statements for the year ended 31 July 2013, which have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") as adopted by the European Union.

 

The interim financial information for each of the six month periods ended 31 January 2014 and 31 January 2013 has neither been reviewed nor audited pursuant to guidance issued by the Auditing Practices Board within the meaning of Section 435 of the Companies Act 2006.  The information for the year ended 31 July 2013 does not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 435 of the Companies Act 2006, but is based on the statutory accounts for that year, on which the Group's auditors issued an unqualified audit report and which have been filed with the Registrar of Companies.

 

Their audit report for the year ended 31 July 2013 was unqualified and did not contain a statement under Section 498 (2) or (3) Companies Act 2006. Their report for the year ended 31 July 2013 included reference to the material uncertainties in respect of the Group's ability to reach an agreement with the landlord to surrender the property lease and in respect of the Group's ability to generate sufficient income from the sale and licensing of intellectual property to ensure that the Group can continue to operate as a going concern, which they drew attention to by way of emphasis of matter without qualifying their report.   

 

The principal risks and uncertainties, which were set out on page 7 of the Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 July 2013, are summarised below:

 

·     the risk that the board will not be able to realise sufficient future income from the sale or licensing of its intellectual property to ensure that the Group will be able to remain as a going concern for the foreseeable future.

 

·     The risk that the board will not be able to negotiate a satisfactory exit from its property lease commitment.

 

Subsequent to 31 January 2014, as set out in the Chairman's and Chief Executive Officer's Report, the Group has disposed of its LabSkinTM and SYN1113 intellectual property and related assets in return for consideration in the form of ordinary shares in Venn Life Sciences Holdings plc ("Venn").  The agreement with the purchaser includes a right to further additional consideration dependent upon the revenues generated by Venn using the assets sold to them.

 

Additionally, the Company has agreed a surrender of the property lease with its landlord and this was completed on 24 March 2014.

 

Consequently, the principal risk for the forthcoming financial period is:

•     The Company is required to make an acquisition or acquisitions which constitute a reverse takeover under the AIM Rules for Companies or otherwise implement its Investing Policy within 12 months of the General Meeting, failing which the Ordinary Shares would then be suspended from trading on AIM.

The condensed consolidated interim financial information was approved for issue on 30 April 2014.

 

2          Accounting Policies

The accounting policies applied by the Group in these interim financial statements are the same as those applied by the Group in its audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 July 2013 and which will form the basis of the 2014 Annual Report, other than as required from changes in accounting standards as discussed in note 3. The basis of consolidation is set out in the Group's accounting policies in those financial statements.

 

The preparation of the interim financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, income and expenses.  Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, such as expectations of future events and are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.  Actual results may differ from these estimates.  In preparing these interim financial statements, the significant judgements made by management in applying the Group's accounting policies and the key sources of estimation uncertainty were the same as those applied to the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 July 2013.

 

3          Changes in accounting policies

The following amendments to financial reporting standards were adopted from 1 August 2013, the start of the new financial year.  None of them have had a significant impact on the Group:

 

·     Amendment to IFRS 7: Financial Instrument Disclosures - Offsetting Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities

·     IFRS 10: Consolidated Financial Statements

·     IFRS 11: Joint Arrangements

·     IFRS 12: Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities

·     IFRS 13: Fair Value Measurement

·     Amendment to IAS 1: Presentation of financial statements - comparative periods

·     Amendment to IAS 16: Property, plant and equipment - servicing equipment

·     Amendment to IAS 19: Employee Benefits - post employment benefits and termination benefits projects

·     IAS 27: Separate Financial Statements

·     IAS 28: Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures

·     Amendment to IAS 32: Financial Instruments Presentation - tax effect of equity dividends

·     Amendment to IAS 34: Interim Financial Reporting - interim reporting of segments

 

4          Discontinued operations

An analysis of the revenue and expenses relating to operations discontinued in the period ended 31 January 2014 is as follows:

 


Six months

Six months

Year


ended

ended

ended


31 January

31 January

31 July


2014

2013

2013


£000

£000

£000





Revenue

49

226 

395

Cost of sales

(20)

(102) 

(176)

Gross profit

29

124 

219

Administrative expenses

(450)

(590)

(1,125)

Loss before tax

(421)

(466)

(906)

Taxation

3

44

111

Loss from discontinued operations

(418)

(422)

(795)

 

5          Segment information

The Group's revenue and loss was derived from its principal activity during the period which was the provision of contract microbiology research services and clinical evaluation studies using its proprietary advanced living skin equivalent model, LabSkinTM and from sales of LabSkinTM units following the launch of this product in September 2012.

 

Operating segment information is reported in accordance with IFRS 8 'Operating Segments' based on the financial information provided to the Board of Directors, which is regarded as the 'Chief Operating Decision Maker' (CODM) as all key strategic and operating decisions are made by the Board. 

 

Operating segments are determined based on the internal reporting information and management structure within the Group.  The CODM considers that the Group operates as a single operating segment and internal management information is presented on that basis.  Due to the small size and low complexity of the business, profitability is not analysed in further detail beyond the operating segment level and is not allocated by revenue stream.

 

An analysis of revenue streams is presented to the CODM on a monthly basis and as such, this information has been provided below.

 

Geographical information

The UK is the Group's country of domicile.

 


Six months

Six months

Year


ended

ended

ended


31 January

31 January

31 July


2014

2013

2013


£000

£000

£000

Revenue - discontinued operations




LabSkinTM and microbiology services

43

208

356

LabSkinTM product sales

6

18

38

Clinical evaluation services

-

-

1

Total revenue

49

226

395

 



 

Geographical information

The UK is the Group's country of domicile.

 


Six months

Six months

Year


ended

ended

ended


31 January

31 January

31 July


2014

2013

2013


£000

£000

£000

Revenue by location of customer




UK

13

87

126

USA

36

19

105

Belgium

-

10

17

France

-

97

126

Italy

-

-

4

Sweden

-

-

1

Denmark

-

-

3

Spain

-

13

13

Total revenue

49

226

395

 

 

 


Six months

Six months

Year


ended

ended

ended


31 January

31 January

31 July


2014

2013

2013


£000

£000

£000

Revenue by location of group entity




UK

49

226

395

Total revenue

49

226

395

 

 

Reconciliations of reportable segment revenues, profit or loss, assets and liabilities and other material items

 

Information regarding the results of the reportable segment is included below.  Performance is based on segment operating profit or loss before share-based payment charges, depreciation, amortisation and acquisition costs, as reported in the internal management reports that are reviewed by the CODM.  The segment operating profit or loss is used to measure performance.  Revenues disclosed below represent revenues to external customers.

 


Six months

Six months

 

Year


ended

ended

ended


31 January

31 January

31 July


2014

2013

2013


£000

£000

£000

Revenues




Total revenue for reportable segments

49

226

395

Consolidated revenue

49

226

395

Loss




Total loss for reportable segments

(456)

(476)

(967)

Loss before share-based payment charges, depreciation, amortisation, impairment losses and acquisition costs

(456)

(476)

(967)

 

 


As at

As at

As at


31 January

31 January

31 July


2014

2013

2013


£000

£000

£000

Assets




Total assets for reportable segments

688

1,636

1,178

Consolidated total assets

688

1,636

1,178





Liabilities




Total liabilities for reportable segments

157

83

165

Unallocated liabilities:




  Deferred tax

55

71

58

Consolidated total liabilities

212

154

223





 

 

Other information

Revenue for both the current and previous financial periods was generated from the rendering of research services.  Additionally, during the current financial year, revenue was also generated from sales of LabSkin™ units.

 

For the six months ended 31 January 2014, three customers each generated revenues over 10% of total revenues, being 69%, 15% and 12% respectively.

 

For the six months ended 31 January 2013, two customers each generated revenues over 10% of total revenues, being 43% and 22% respectively.

 

For the year ended 31 July 2013, our three largest customers accounted for approximately 32%, 17% and 17% of total revenues respectively.

 

Non-current assets all relate to the Group's single operating segment.

 

5          Loss per share

 

The calculation of basic and diluted loss per share for the Half Year to 31 January 2014 was based upon the loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of £484,000 (Half Year to 31 January 2013: £481,000, Year ended 31 July 2013: £1,007,000) and a weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue of 174,676,000 (Half Year to 31 January 2013: 174,225,000, Year ended 31 July 2013: 174,449,000), calculated as follows:

 



 

Weighted average number of ordinary shares

In thousands of shares

 


Six months

Six months

Year


ended

ended

ended


31 January

31 January

31 July


2014

2013

2013

Issued ordinary shares at start of period

174,676

173,180

173,180

Effect of shares issued in lieu of directors' remuneration

-

1,045

1,269

Weighted average number of shares at end of period

174,676

174,225

174,449

 

 

Due to the losses incurred there is no dilutive effect from the issue of share options. At 31 January 2014 there were 2,650,840 share options granted but not yet exercised (31 January 2013: 11,552,310; 31 July 2013: 7,790,940).

 

 

6          Related party transactions

The following transactions took place during the year with other related parties:

 


Purchases of

goods and services

Amounts owed to

related parties

Group

H1 2014

H1 2013

FY 2013

H1 2014

H1 2013

FY 2013


£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

Atraxa Consulting Limited

34

30

58

-

-

12

 

Atraxa Consulting Limited provides accountancy services to the Group.  One of the Company's directors, Darren Bamforth, is a director and non-controlling shareholder of Atraxa Consulting Limited.  Transactions are undertaking on an arm's length, market value basis.

 

7          Post balance sheet events

 

Subsequent to the period end, on 25 February 2014, the Company issued a circular to shareholders in which it was proposed to dispose of the Group's LabSkinTM and SYN1113 intellectual property along with related assets.  This disposal was subsequently approved at a General Meeting of shareholders held on 13 March 2014 and we announced that the transaction was completed on 19 March 2014.  The Group received 864,706 new ordinary shares in Venn Life Sciences Holdings plc ("Venn") as initial consideration for the disposal.   The Company will be entitled to the following additional consideration:

 

•     a cash payment of 25 per cent. of any proceeds received by Venn from the future sale or license of SYN1113; and

•     a cash payment of 7.5 per cent. of future net sales made by Venn in respect of LabSkin™ in the 36 months following completion (19 March 2014).

 

On 24 March 2014, the Group secured an agreement with the landlord of the Group's operating property to surrender the lease for that property and consequently operations from that site have ceased.

 

Statement of Directors' Responsibilities

 

The Directors confirm to the best of their knowledge that:

 

i)          The condensed consolidated interim financial information has been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 as adopted by the European Union; and

 

ii)         The interim management report includes a fair review of the information required by the FCA's Disclosure and Transparency Rules (4.2.7 R and 4.2.8 R).

 

Financial statements are published on the Group's website in accordance with legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements, which may vary from legislation in other jurisdictions.  The maintenance and integrity of the Group's website is the responsibility of the Directors.  The Directors' responsibility also extends to the ongoing integrity of the financial statements contained therein.

 

The Directors of Evocutis plc and their functions are listed below.

 

Further information for Shareholders

 

Company number:

05656604



Registered office:

24 Cornhill


London


EC3V 3ND



Directors:

Tom Bannatyne (Chairman)


Dr Gwyn Humphreys (Chief Executive Officer)


Darren Bamforth (Group Finance Director)


Michael Townend (Non-Executive Director)



Company Secretary:

Darren Bamforth

 


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