TIDMANIC
RNS Number : 8182M
Agronomics Limited
26 January 2021
Agronomics Limited
("Agronomics" or the "Company")
Unaudited Interim Results for the six-month period ending 31
December 2020
Agronomics Limited (AIM:ANIC), a leading listed investor in
alternative proteins with a focus on cellular agriculture and
cultivated meat, is pleased to announce its unaudited interim
results for the six-month period ending 31 December 2020. A copy of
these Interim Results is available on the Company's website
www.agronomics.im .
Financial highlights
-- The Company's investment income, including loan interest and
net unrealised gains on investments, increased by 506% to
GBP510,635 (2019: GBP84,262) during the six-month period
-- Operating expenses were GBP441,013 (2019: GBP577,782), a
decrease of 24% and mostly comprised of professional fees relating
to the investments acquired and the fundraise completed during the
period
-- A net loss of GBP1,447,306 (2019: loss of GBP493,493), an
increase of 193%, was recognised during the period, almost all
being foreign exchange revaluation losses of GBP1,383,665 of the
investment portfolio to spot rates
-- Invested assets at fair value increased by 61% to
GBP26,930,310 (30 June 2020: GBP16,740,656), and cash and cash
equivalents stood at GBP2,506,516 (30 June 2020: GBP2,789,097)
-- Net assets increased by 43% to GBP27,754,579 at 31 December
2020 (30 June 2020: GBP19,416,878). The increase is principally due
to a successful fundraise during October 2020, raising total net
funds of GBP9,589,825 and issuing 167,735,814 new ordinary
shares
Richard Reed, Chairman of Agronomics, commented: -
"The first half of the financial year has been both busy and
very exciting. Our current investment portfolio shows considerable
promise for future growth given the scale of opportunity to invest
in the nascent alternative foods sector. We are expecting
significant developments in a number of our portfolio companies
that should positively impact their valuation in the coming months.
The Board will continue to seek new opportunities in line with its
Investing Policy."
The information contained within this announcement is deemed by
the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under
the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014 ('MAR'). Upon the
publication of this announcement via a Regulatory Information
Service ('RIS'), this inside information is now considered to be in
the public domain.
For further information please contact:
Agronomics Beaumont Cenkos Peterhouse Capital TB Cardew
Limited Cornish Limited Securities Plc Limited
The Company Nomad Joint Broker Joint Broker Public Relations
---------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------
Richard Reed Roland Cornish Giles Balleny Lucy Williams Ed Orlebar
Denham Eke James Biddle Nick Searle Charles Goodfellow Joe McGregor
---------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------
+44 (0) 20 7930 0777
+44 (0) 7738 724 630
+44 (0) 1624 639396 agronomics@tbcardew.co
info@agronomics.im +44 (0) 207 628 3396 +44 (0) 207 397 8900 +44 (0) 207 469 0936 m
---------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------
Chairman's statement
Introduction
I am pleased to present the Unaudited Interim Results for
Agronomics Limited (the "Company") for the six-month period ending
31 December 2020.
Investment Review - Core Portfolio
The Board made significant progress in building out the
portfolio during this half, having made new and follow-on
investments in 8 companies. A number of these investments were in
recognised leaders of their respective fields covering seafood,
pork, leather and dairy proteins.
The Company acquired 1,127 Series A Preferred share in Solar
Foods Oy ("Solar Foods"), for a consideration of EUR 3 million.
Solar Foods develops a sustainable protein called Solein(R) a
microorganism that grows utilising airborne carbon dioxide and
hydrogen via the electrolysis of water.
As part of a US$ 55 million financing lead by Blue Horizon
Ventures, the Company invested EUR 1.75 million in Mosa Meats B.V.
("Mosa"), with the financing being split into two tranches. In
total, Agronomics has committed to investment EUR 3.5 million into
Mosa. Mosa is a cultivated meat company based in the Netherlands,
whose founding scientist, Prof. Mark Post, showcased the world's
first cultivated burger in 2013. Mosa is focused initially on
cultivated beef products, intending to have products approved in
the EU in 2023.
The Company purchased a US$ 5 million Convertible Promissory
Note ("CPN") from BlueNalu Inc ("BlueNalu"), an existing portfolio
company focused on cell-based seafood products. Agronomics
currently holds 192,005 shares of BlueNalu, comprised of 43,357
Seed Preferred Shares and 148,648 Series A Preferred Shares, with a
book value, excluding the CPN investment, of GBP2,602,456. Assuming
the CPN is subscribed in full and a Qualified Financing occurs at a
price equal to the agreed valuation cap of the CPN, Agronomics will
have an approximate equity interest of 5.85% of issued shares
following conversion and would value Agronomics' position at
approximately GBP13.4 million.
In December 2020, Agronomics completed a subscription of US$
50,000 in the form of a Simple Agreement for Future Equity ("SAFE")
in CellX Limited ("CellX"). CellX is a China-based cellular
agriculture company, focussing on cell-based pork and seafood
products initially. CellX was founded in 2020, with the intention
of showcasing its first prototypes in 2021. The SAFE will convert
at the valuation cap divided by the company capitalisation at the
next equity financing, which should give Agronomics an approximate
equity ownership of 1.43%.
Agronomics also made a US$ 2.0 million investment in the form of
a SAFE in SuperMeat the Essence of Meat ("SuperMeat"). SuperMeat's
initial focus is on cultivated chicken products, and unveiled its
sustainable restaurant experience, The Chicken, in Tel Aviv,
Israel, earlier this year, where individuals are invited to taste
SuperMeat's cultivated chicken. The SAFE will convert at a price
per share reflecting the lower of the valuation cap or at a 25
percent discount to the share price of SuperMeat's next equity
round. We expect that upon conversion of the SAFE at the completion
of SuperMeat's next equity fundraise and, assuming a pre-money
valuation of US$ 150 million, Agronomics will hold approximately
2.22% of SuperMeat's fully diluted share capital.
The portfolio weightings by Net Asset Value are tabled
below:
Investment Weighting
BlueNalu, Inc 22.67%
Meatable BV 11.55%
Other alternative protein investments 10.53%
Solar Foods Oy 9.71%
Cash balances 8.70%
Foods United 7.92%
Tropic Biosciences UK Limited 7.92%
Vitrolabs Inc 6.60%
Mosa Meats B.V. 5.67%
Supermeat the Essence of Meat 5.28%
Legacy portfolio 3.45%
----------------
Total 100.00%
Investment Review - Legacy Portfolio
The legacy portfolio, representing 3.45% of NAV, will remain
under review and liquidated opportunistically.
Financing
During the 6 months to 31 December 2020, the Company
successfully completed an oversubscribed funding round, raising in
total GBP10,050,474 and issuing 167,735,814 new Ordinary Shares.
Following share issue commissions and professional fees, net cash
proceeds of GBP9,589,825 were retained by the Company. Funds were
utilised to acquire four new investments, further diversifying the
portfolio, and also to complete a follow-on investment into
BlueNalu.
Approach to Risk and Corporate Governance
"The Company's general risk appetite is a moderate, balanced one
that allows it to maintain appropriate growth, profitability and
scalability, whilst ensuring full corporate compliance."
The Group's primary risk drivers include: -
Strategic, Reputational, Credit, Operational, Market, Liquidity,
Foreign Exchange, Capital and Funding, Compliance and Conduct.
Our risk appetite has been classified as high under an "impact"
matrix defined as Zero, Low, Medium and High. Appropriate steps
have been taken and adequate controls implemented to monitor the
risks of the Company, and the appropriate committees and reporting
structures have been established, which under the Chairmanship of
the Chairman, will monitor risks facing the Company. Further
details of the Corporate Governance Statement, including the role
and responsibilities of the Chairman and an explanation as to how
the QCA Code has been applied, will be found on pages 8 to 11 of
the audited 30 June 2019 financial statements, which are on the
Company's website at www.agronomics.im .
At the General Meeting of the Company on 16 April 2019,
shareholders adopted a new Investing Policy, which includes the
following:
"The Company will invest in opportunities within the Life
Sciences sector, concentrating on, but not being limited to,
environmentally friendly alternatives to the traditional production
of meat and plant-based nutrition sources ("Clean Food"). The
Company will focus on investments that provide scalable and
commercially viable opportunities."
Under our valuation policy, it is not possible to reflect
significant uplifts between valuation events such as a new third
party funding, and therefore the Board believes that the stated NAV
per share may not fully represent the current intrinsic value of
the portfolio companies given their continuing progress and the
comparable valuations we see for these types of companies in this
rapidly growing sector .
Further details of the new Investing Policy can found on the
Company's website at www.agronomics.im .
Strategy and Outlook
The first half of the financial year has been both busy and very
exciting. Our current investment portfolio shows considerable
promise for future growth, given the scale of opportunity to invest
in the nascent alternative foods sector. We are expecting
significant developments in a number of our portfolio companies
[that should positively impact their valuation] in the coming
months. The Board continue to seek new opportunities in line with
its Investing Policy.
Richard Reed
Chairman
25 January 2021
Condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income
For the period ended 31 December 2020
Period Period
ended ended
31/12/2020 31/12/2019
Notes (unaudited) (unaudited)
GBP GBP
Income
Net income from financial instruments at fair value through profit and
loss 2 479,010 84,262
---------------- ----------------
479,010 84,262
Operating expenses
Performance fee 3 - -
Other costs 4 (441,013) (577,782)
Foreign exchange gains/(loss) (1,516,928) (7,591)
---------------- ----------------
Loss from operating activities (1,478,931) (501,111)
Interest received 2 31,625 7,618
---------------- ----------------
Loss before taxation (1,447,306) (493,493)
Taxation - -
---------------- ----------------
Loss for the period (1,447,306) (493,493)
Other comprehensive income - -
---------------- ----------------
Total comprehensive loss for the period (1,447,306) (493,493)
Basic loss per share (pence) 5 (0.62) (0.5)
Diluted loss per share (pence) 5 (0.61) (0.5)
The Directors consider that the Company's activities are
continuing.
Condensed consolidated statement of financial position
As at 31 December 2020
31/12/2020 30/06/2020
Notes (unaudited) (audited)
GBP GBP
Current assets
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss 6 26,930,310 16,740,656
Trade and other receivables 22,269 18,208
Cash and cash equivalents 2,506,516 2,789,097
---------------- ----------------
29,459,095 19,547,961
Total assets
Equity
Share capital 499 331
Share premium 28,864,977 19,080,138
Retained (deficit)/earnings (1,110,897) 336,409
---------------- ----------------
Total equity 27,754,579 19,416,878
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables 7 112,338 131,083
---------------- ----------------
112,338 131,083
Non-current liabilities
Long term payable 1,592,178 -
---------------- ----------------
1,592,178 -
---------------- ----------------
Total liabilities 1,704,516 131,083
---------------- ----------------
Total equity and liabilities 29,459,095 19,547,961
These interim financial statements were approved by the Board of
Directors on 25 January 2021 and were signed on their behalf
by:
Denham Eke
Director
Condensed consolidated statement of changes in equity
For the period ended 31 December 2020
Share Share Retained
capital premium (loss)/earnings Total
Notes GBP GBP GBP GBP
Balance at 01 July 2019 23 1,890,142 (275,322) 1,614,843
(audited)
Total comprehensive
income for the period
Loss for the period - - (493,493) (493,493)
---------------- ---------------- ---------------- ----------------
Total comprehensive income for the
period - - (493,493) (493,493)
Transactions with owners
of the Company
Issue of shares - 12,188,732 - 12,188,732
---------------- ---------------- ---------------- ----------------
Total transactions with owners of
the Company - 12,188,732 - 12,188,732
---------------- ---------------- ---------------- ----------------
Balance at 31 December 2019
(unaudited) 23 14,078,874 (768,815) 13,310,082
Share Share Retained
capital premium (loss)/earnings Total
Notes GBP GBP GBP GBP
Balance at 01 July 2020 331 19,080,138 336,409 19,416,878
(audited)
Total comprehensive
income for the period
Loss for the period - - (1,447,306) (1,447,306)
---------------- ---------------- ---------------- ----------------
Total comprehensive income for the
period - - (1,447,306) (1,447,306)
Transactions with owners
of the Company
Issue of shares 168 10,050,474 - 10,050,642
Share issue costs capitalised - (265,635) - (265,635)
---------------- ---------------- ---------------- ----------------
Total transactions with owners of
the Company 168 9,784,839 - 9,785,007
---------------- ---------------- ---------------- ----------------
Balance at 31 December 2020
(unaudited) 499 28,864,977 (1,110,897) 27,754,579
Condensed consolidated statement of cash flows
For the period ended 31 December 2020
Period Period
ended ended
Notes 31/12/2020 31/12/2019
(unaudited) (unaudited)
GBP GBP
Cash flows from operating activities
Loss for the period (1,447,306) (493,493)
Adjusted for:
Interest received - non-cash (31,625) (7,618)
Unrealised gains on investments 2 (479,010) (84,262)
Unrealised foreign exchange losses on investments 1,469,538 -
-------------- --------------
Operating loss before changes in working capital (488,403) (585,373)
Increase in receivables (4,065) (4,496)
Increase in payables 176,439 46,877
-------------- --------------
Net cash flows from operating activities (316,029) (542,992)
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of investments (9,647,469) (7,393,812)
Proceeds from sale of investments 91,092 -
Interest received - 1
-------------- --------------
Net cash flows from investing activities (9,556,377) (7,383,811)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from issue of shares 9,855,460 12,188,732
Capitalised share issue costs (265,635) -
-------------- --------------
Net cash flows from financing activities 9,589,825 12,188,732
(Decrease)/Increase in cash and cash equivalents (282,581) 4,251,929
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 2,789,097 417,952
-------------- --------------
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of period 2,506,516 4,669,881
Notes
1 Significant accounting policies
Agronomics Limited (the "Company") is a company domiciled in the
Isle of Man. The address of the Company's registered office is 18
Athol Street, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 1JA.
The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the
Company (the "Financial Information") are prepared in accordance
with Isle of Man law and International Financial Reporting
Standards ("IFRS") and their interpretations issued by the
International Accounting Standards Board ("IASB") and adopted by
the European Union ("EU"). The financial information in this report
has been prepared in accordance with the Company's accounting
policies. Full details of the accounting policies adopted by the
Company are contained in the financial statements included in the
Company's annual report for the year ended 30 June 2019 which is
available on the Group's website: www.agronomics.im
The accounting policies and methods of computation and
presentation adopted in the preparation of the Financial
Information are consistent with those described and applied in the
financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2020. There are no
new IFRSs or interpretations effective from 1 July 2020 which have
had a material effect on the financial information included in this
report.
On 8 July 2020, the Company incorporated a wholly owned
subsidiary. Following this date, consolidated financial statements
have been prepared. The condensed interim consolidated financial
statements presented include the Company and its subsidiary.
The unaudited condensed financial statements do not constitute
statutory financial statements. The statutory financial statements
for the year ended 30 June 2020, extracts of which are included in
these unaudited condensed financial statements, were prepared under
IFRS as adopted by the EU. The auditors' report on those financial
statements was unmodified and contained emphasis of matter
paragraphs relating to the valuation of unquoted investments and
loan receivable.
The preparation of the Financial Information requires management
to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the
application of policies and reported amounts of assets and
liabilities, income and expenses. Actual results could differ
materially from these estimates. In preparing the Financial
Information, the critical judgements made by management in applying
the Company's accounting policies and the key sources of estimation
uncertainty were the same as those that applied to the financial
statements as at and for the year ended 30 June 2020 as set out in
those financial statements.
The Financial Information is presented in Great British Pounds,
rounded to the nearest pound, which is the functional currency and
also the presentation currency of the Company.
2 Net income/(loss) from financial instruments at fair value through profit and loss
31/12/2020 31/12/2019
(unaudited) (unaudited)
GBP GBP
Net unrealised gains on investments 479,010 84,262
Other income 31,625 -
-------------- --------------
Total investment income 510,635 84,262
3 Performance fee
31/12/2020 31/12/2019
(unaudited) (unaudited)
GBP GBP
Performance fee - -
Shellbay Investments Limited receives performance fees for the
provision of Mr James Mellon as Non-Executive Chairman of the
Company. The fees are calculated at 15 per cent. of any increase in
the net asset value of the Company over each quarterly period,
subject to a high watermark (high-watermark being defined as "the
highest fully diluted NAV per shares recorded at any quarter day
end to date) provided the fully diluted NAV exceeds the issue price
per share of the Company's last eligible fundraising). The
performance fee is payable in shares issued at the mid-price on the
day of the quarterly net asset value announcement. No fees were
payable for the current period (31 December 2019: GBPnil). See note
9 for further details.
4 Other costs
31/12/2020 31/12/2019
(unaudited) (unaudited)
GBP GBP
Directors' fees 10,833 15,000
Auditors' remuneration for the current period 17,500 9,500
Insurance 4,158 3,544
Professional fees 360,136 518,388
Sundry expenses 48,386 31,350
-------------- --------------
Total other costs 441,013 577,782
The Company has no employees other than the Directors.
5 Basic and diluted loss per share
The calculation of basic loss per share of the Company is based
on the loss for the period of GBP1,447,306 (31 December 2019: loss
of GBP493,493) and the weighted average number of shares of
231,939,864 (31 December 2019: 95,711,934) in issue during the
period.
Diluted loss per share are calculated by adjusting the weighted
average number of ordinary shares outstanding to assume conversion
of all dilutive potential ordinary shares such as warrants and
options. The calculation of diluted loss per share of the Company
is based on the loss for the period of GBP1,447,306 (31 December
2019: loss of GBP493,493) and the weighted average number of shares
of 234,466,498 (31 December 2019: 95,711,934) in issue during the
period.
6 Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss
31/12/2020 30/06/2019
(unaudited) (audited)
GBP GBP
Quoted 758,256 529,725
Unquoted 26,172,054 8,205,921
-------------- --------------
Total financial assets at fair value 26,930,310 8,735,646
Equities 17,830,880 5,129,567
Convertible loan notes 3,807,944 2,208,557
SAFE* investments 3,699,908 1,397,522
Commitment for future investment 1,592,178 -
-------------- --------------
Total financial assets at fair value 26,930,310 8,735,646
* Simple Agreement for Future Equity
7 Trade and other payables
31/12/2020 30/06/2020
(unaudited) (audited)
GBP GBP
Provision for audit fee 17,500 28,217
Other 62,860 21,200
Trade creditors 31,978 62,720
-------------- --------------
Total trade and other payables 112,338 112,137
8 Related party transactions
Under an agreement dated 1 December 2011, Burnbrae Limited, a
company related to both Jim Mellon and Denham Eke, provide certain
services, principally accounting and administration, to the
Company. This agreement may be terminated by either party on three
months' notice. The Company incurred a total cost of GBP18,000 (31
December 2019: GBP18,000) during the period under this agreement of
which GBP63 was outstanding as at the period end (30 June 2020:
GBP3,047).
Under an agreement dated 6 May 2011, Shellbay Investments
Limited ("Shellbay"), a company related to both Jim Mellon and
Denham Eke, provide the services of Jim Mellon as Non-Executive
Chairman of the Company (see note 3). On 9 December 2019, the
Company announced that Shellbay has agreed it would not charge any
performance fees, as due under the current agreement, until 6
December 2020, to the extent that the Company does not achieve an
8% per annum (pro rata) annual return on the relevant
'high-watermark' net asset value per share (being the highest
reported NAV per share within the past 12 months, calculated in
accordance with IFRS). In addition, Shellbay has agreed that any
fees payable shall be accrued and shall only be due when realised
gains from the Company's investments have been received.
The charge for services provided in the period was GBPNil (31
December 2019: GBPNil). No amount was outstanding as at the
period-end (30 June 2020: GBPNil).
In accordance with the Company's published investment strategy,
Mr Mellon may co-invest alongside the Company in certain
investments and, accordingly, he has direct and indirect interests
in other investments held by the Company.
9 Commitments and contingent liabilities
There are no known commitments or contingent liabilities as at
the period end.
10 Events after the reporting date
To the knowledge of the Directors, there have been no material
events since the end of the reporting period that require
disclosure in the condensed interim consolidated financial
statements.
ENDS
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IR FLFVRLAIEFIL
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