5 September 2024
Tern Plc
("Tern"
or the "Company")
Unaudited interim results for
the six months to 30 June 2024
Tern Plc (AIM: TERN), the company
focused on value creation from Internet of Things ("IoT")
technology businesses, announces its unaudited interim results for
the six months to 30 June 2024 (the "Period").
Company highlights
·
Net asset value ("NAV") of £10.7 million as at 30
June 2024 (30 June 2023: £22.2 million, 31 December 2023: £12.3
million). This resulted in a reduction in net asset value per share
from 3.2p as at 31 December 2023 to 2.5p as at 30 June
2024.
·
Portfolio valuation of £11.1 million as at 30 June
2024 (31 December 2023: £12.8 million).
·
£1.7 million reduction in the value of the
portfolio during the Period since 31 December 2023. This was
primarily due to a £2.0 million reduction in the value of Tern's
holding in Wyld Networks, reflecting a reduced market price of Wyld
Networks' shares as at 30 June 2024.
·
£0.3 million was invested by Tern in its existing
portfolio companies during the Period (six months to 30 June 2023:
£1.1 million), supporting the portfolio companies' growth and
development, together with allowing Tern to maintain significant
positions in certain portfolio companies.
·
Two placings in the period generated gross
proceeds of £0.82 million through the issue of new ordinary shares.
Additionally, warrants exercised raised a further £0.11 million for
the Company.
Portfolio highlights
·
Progress across the portfolio* in the
Period:
o the
year-on-year increase in unaudited aggregated Annual Recurring
Revenue ("ARR") of the portfolio, excluding Konektio** was 22% (six
months ended 30 June 2023: 46% (43% including Konektio), year ended
31 December 2023: 51% (50% including Konektio); and
o the
year-on-year decrease in the number of employees within the
portfolio, excluding Konektio* was 25% (six months ended 30 June
2023: 27% increase (23% increase including Konektio). This
supported a year-on-year increase in ARR per employee of 62% (six
months ended 30 June 2023: 15% (16% including
Konektio)).
·
Device Authority remains focused on expanding its
partner ecosystem, recently launching new partnerships with
PlaxidityX (formerly Argus) and CyberArk. The company's
collaboration with Microsoft is also strengthening, with Device
Authority being named by Microsoft as part of its
next-generation automotive and mobility security
solution.
·
FundamentalVR strengthened its market position
through partnerships and investment in Generative AI (Artificial
Intelligence) within the Fundamental Surgery Immersive VR
Platform.
·
Talking Medicines has achieved significant success
in the Period with its Drug-GPT platform, with record revenue
bookings and significant advancement of its innovative
interface.
*
In this context Tern's portfolio is: Device Authority Limited,
FVRVS Limited (trading as FundamentalVR) and Talking Medicines
Limited, which are portfolio companies Tern has interests in as
well as Wyld Networks AB, a Tern holding and excludes DiffusionData
Limited, in which Tern has a <1% holding and minimal influence,
and SVV2.
**As announced on 5 March 2024, InVMA Limited, which traded as
Konektio, was placed into administration in March 2024 and from
that point Tern's holding in Konektio was held at zero value.
Konektio has therefore not been included in the ARR and number of
employee data for the Period shown above, and is not included in
the portfolio review below.
Enquiries:
Tern Plc
Ian Ritchie (Chairman)
|
via IFC Advisory
|
Allenby Capital Limited
(Nominated Adviser and
Broker)
Alex Brearley / Dan Dearden-Williams
(Corporate Finance)
Kelly Gardiner / Guy McDougall
(Sales and Corporate Broking)
|
Tel: 0203 328 5656
|
IFC
Advisory
(Financial PR and IR)
Tim Metcalfe
Graham Herring
Florence Chandler
|
Tel: 0203 934 6630
|
Chairman's statement
The Board remains committed to
growing the value of Tern's portfolio companies. While the first
six months of 2024 continued to pose challenges for early-stage
technology businesses, the majority of our portfolio companies made
significant progress. However, we must report a decrease in the
unrealised fair value of our investments since 31 December 2023,
primarily due to the reduced Wyld Networks share price at the
period end. Although we exited our day-to-day involvement with Wyld
following their public offering and no longer hold a seat on its
board, we remain optimistic in its longer-term
prospects.
However, on 2 September 2024, Wyld
announced inter
alia that, subject to approval at an
Wyld Networks extraordinary general meeting to be held on 2 October
2024, the board of Wyld Networks had resolved to carry out a new
issue of units, containing shares and warrants of series TO6, with
preferential rights for existing shareholders, to raise
approximately SEK 74.2 million (the "Wyld Networks Rights
Issue"). The Tern board does not believe that the Wyld
Networks Rights Issue is in the best interests of Wyld Networks'
shareholders, including Tern, and does not currently intend to
support the resolutions at Wyld Networks' extraordinary general
meeting. Tern and its advisers are investigating alternative
proposals that may be put to Wyld Networks and its shareholders and
further announcements will be made in due course, as
appropriate.
We maintain regular active
engagement with our direct investment portfolio companies, helping
shape their strategies and tactics. Additionally, we leverage our
extensive network to introduce these companies to new markets and
investors, particularly in the USA. With Tern's support, with the
exception of Konektio, these companies have demonstrated
year-over-year growth in annual and monthly recurring revenues
during the period, which are key indicators of progress and
ultimately realisable value.
Corporately, we have maintained
strict control over operational costs. Following our board and
management restructuring in 2023, our spending is 42% lower in the
Period than in the same period last year. However, as an AIM-quoted
company, we still incur substantial professional fees and costs
associated with our portfolio companies, many of which are largely
fixed.
Following the failure to pass the
resolution required to issue new ordinary shares disapplying
statutory pre-emption rights at the Annual General Meeting held on
27 June 2024, the Tern board has been investigating ways to
appropriately raise funds to protect Tern's position in, and
progress, Tern's portfolio companies, whilst also providing Tern
with funding as an AIM company. The post-Period sale of a modest
proportion of our holding in Device Authority, at no discount to
the value that Device Authority raised funds in December
2023 post period end, as announced on 9
August 2024, provided a further £233,000 to our cash
resources. However, as an investing company with periodic
requirements to provide funding to our portfolio, the Company does
require further funding and we are announcing separately today an
open offer to existing Tern shareholders to subscribe for up to
48,077,813 new ordinary shares at an issue price of 1.25 pence per
share to raise up to £600,972 of additional funding for the Company
(the "Open Offer").
In addition to the funds generated
from the August 2024 disposal of part of its shareholding in Device
Authority and the Open Offer, the Directors believe that having the
authority to issue additional new Ordinary Shares is important for
an investment company such as Tern as, among other things, it
provides the Company with the flexibility to raise, or have access
to, further funding, potentially at short notice, to support its
portfolio companies as required and for general corporate
purposes. We are therefore also announcing separately today
the convening of a general meeting on 23 September 2024 to seek
Shareholder approval for the Directors to have the general
authority to allot up to 150,000,000 new Ordinary Shares and an
authority to disapply statutory pre-emption rights in relation to
an issue of up to 100,000,000 new Ordinary Shares.
The focus of the Tern board and
executive management is to be on realisations. Our goal is to
maximise the value of Tern's portfolio companies to achieve
successful exits from our investments at the appropriate time,
ultimately seeking strong returns for our shareholders. In
addition, the skills and experience of the Tern team are such that
we are being presented with opportunities to assist third parties
with their portfolio realisations. We are assessing these
investment opportunities on their individual merits and will only
get involved where we see that significant incremental value can be
added to Tern, for the benefit of its shareholders, without
distracting from the primary purpose of delivering value from
Tern's own portfolio.
Financial review
|
6 months to
30 June
2024
£000
|
6 months to
30 June
2023
£000
|
12 months
to
31 December
2023
£000
|
Investments
|
11,102
|
21,825
|
12,779
|
Net assets
|
10,708
|
22,209
|
12,302
|
Administration costs
|
595
|
1,023
|
1,712
|
Loss for the period
|
(2,475)
|
(2,840)
|
(12,608)
|
Net asset value per share
|
2.5p
|
5.7p
|
3.2p
|
|
|
|
| |
During the first half of 2024, the
Company focused on managing cash resources whilst supporting the
growth and business development of the existing portfolio and
allowing Tern to maintain significant positions in certain
portfolio companies.
The net asset value during the
period fell to £10.7 million (31 December 2022: £12.3
million) The valuation of the portfolio as
at 30 June 2024 reflected a £2.0 million reduction in the fair
value which was offset by a £0.3 million re-investment into the
existing portfolio companies (£0.1 million in Talking Medicines,
£0.2 million in SVV 2 and a nominal investment of approximately
£33,000 into Wyld Networks for the exercise of 245,699 TO4
warrants). The net asset value per share was 2.5p as at 30 June
2024 (31 December 2023: 3.2p).
Wyld Networks' fair value decreased
by £2.0 million as a result of the decline in the market value of
Wyld Networks' shares. As Wyld Networks is traded on an active
financial market, its fair value is determined by the market price
as of 30 June 2024.
The Company had an unaudited cash
balance of £0.1 million as at 30 June 2024. The Company has a £3
million loan facility which was announced on 12 June 2023. The loan
facility was entered into to provide Tern with a
stronger negotiating position and access to funding for follow-on
investment opportunities in future syndicated fundraises undertaken
by Tern's existing portfolio companies. The Company is currently
unable to make further drawdowns under the loan facility until such
time as it is able to issue the required warrants as a transaction
cost associated with further drawdowns, pursuant to the terms of
the loan facility. The issue of any further warrants will require
shareholder approval to provide the Directors with authority to
allot ordinary shares, disapplying pre-emption rights. As at 30
June 2024, the principal amount outstanding drawn down under the
facility is £0.2 million (31 December 2023: £0.4 million). Under
the terms of the facility, Tern was required to maintain in escrow
shares in Wyld Networks at a value of not less than 1.5 times the
value of outstanding amounts drawn down and accrued interest, as
security for the facility. However, on 4 September 2024, the
facility provider agreed to amend the terms of the facility to
remove this security condition and extend the repayment period by
12 months, in return for a fee equal to 10 per cent. of the
outstanding balance currently payable under the
facility.
During the Period, the Company
recorded a loss of £2.7 million, compared to a loss of £2.8 million
in the six months to 30 June 2023. The loss
included the fair value reduction of £2.0 million (six months to 30
June 2023: reduction of £2.0 million).
Overall operating costs reduced to
£0.6 million compared to £1.1 million for the same period in 2023.
Staff costs fell by 49% following the Board restructuring in August
2023, compared to the same period in 2023, as well as a significant
reduction of all other comparable operating expenses.
Portfolio review
The portfolio* achieved a 22%
year-on-year growth in annual recurring revenue (ARR) for the six
months ended 30 June 2024 (six months ended 30 June 2023: 46%, or
43% including Konektio).
Despite a year-on-year decrease of
25% in the number of employees within the portfolio* during this
Period (six months ended 30 June 2023: a 27% increase, or 23%
including Konektio), this reduction-an intentional strategy to
control burn rate and expedite the path to profitability-took place
in conjunction with ARR growth. As a result, ARR per employee saw a
significant 62% year-on-year increase (six months ended 30 June
2023: 15%, or 16% including Konektio).
Device Authority
Limited ("Device
Authority")
Valuation of holding: £4.5 million
Holding: 31.7% (reducing to 30.0% post period
end)
Device Authority, a global leader in
identity and access management (IAM) for the IoT, has sustained
strong business momentum in the first half of the year.
The company's KeyScaler® and
KeyScaler Edge® solutions deliver comprehensive end-to-end security
lifecycle management, from Edge to Enterprise, for leading IoT
cloud platforms such as Microsoft Azure, Avnet IoTConnect, AWS, PTC
ThingWorx, and Google. These solutions ensure robust device
security while offering the scalability needed to support both new
and legacy IoT deployments.
Device Authority secures the
connected future by automating Zero Trust security at scale and is
a recognized global leader in IAM for Enterprise IoT ecosystems
catering to Industrial, Automotive, Healthcare, and Critical
Infrastructure markets.
Its KeyScaler-as-a-Service (KSaaS®)
solution enables organizations to reduce human error, accelerate
incident response and minimize risk, ensuring complete device and
data trust. It's innovative KeyScaler AI functionality also enables
trusted AI in any connected environment. This cloud-first approach
saw Device Authority make a strong start to the year with new
blue-chip customers coming on board as well as a number of Proof of
Concept and pilot projects from recognised Enterprise companies.
These companies are recognising the benefits of the scalable and
cost-effective solution that can automate the security of new as
well as remote and brownfield devices, authenticating, issuing
certificates and registering them in under 10 seconds which
is 60 times faster than a human.
Device Authority's partner ecosystem
continues to be a focus for the company, having recently launched a
partnership with PlaxidityX (formerly Argus) as well as with
CyberArk. Its partnership with Microsoft also continues to grow
with the company being named by Microsoft as part of its next
generation automotive and mobility security solution.
Device Authority has also received
significant external recognition for its innovative solutions,
including IoThinkTank's IoT Security Product of the Year, IoT
HealthTech's Innovation Award and the IoTSF's IoT Security Champion
Award. The company was also named as a Leader in the Quadrant
Knowledge Solutions Spark Matrix for IoT IAM for the fifth
consecutive year, ranking the highest in the industry for
Technology Excellence.
As at 30 June 2024, the unaudited
fair value of Tern's shareholding in Device Authority increased to
£4.5 million (31 December 2023: £4.4 million), which was due to a
£0.1 million fair value increase due to the foreign exchange
movement on the sterling value of Device Authority which is valued
in US Dollars.
FVRVS Limited
("FundamentalVR")
Valuation of holding: £3.6 million
Holding: 12.1% (reducing to 10.3% post period
end)
FundamentalVR is a leading virtual
reality and data analysis platform, driven by surgical training
experts and top technologists, with a mission to revolutionize
surgical education globally. By making surgical simulation
accessible and affordable, FundamentalVR empowers medical
professionals worldwide with cutting-edge tools.
The platform leverages widely
available virtual reality (VR) devices, such as Meta's Oculus
Quest, and integrates advanced haptics technology to create a
highly realistic simulation system compatible with any modern
computer setup. This innovative system offers surgeons a more
immersive, hands-on training experience, better preparing them for
real-life scenarios and ultimately leading to improved patient
outcomes.
Recent published data presented in
the Journal of Robotic Surgery supports the value of immersive VR
for robotics training, by showing favourable results when training
in an operating room set-up with CMR's Versius robot, a long term
FundamentalVR customer.
FundamentalVR is building awareness
in the medical device marketplace, receiving recognition for their
award-winning platform. Partnerships and new capabilities developed
with the newly released Apple Vision Pro, as well as Logitech's
Stylus MX INK, have strengthened its market positioning in the
field of immersive training and spatial computing.
The company continues to invest in
Generative AI, and recently launched Maia, a virtual tutor designed
to support learners throughout their training journey, which has
been implemented into the Fundamental Surgery Immersive VR
Platform.
In the first half of 2024, the
company won two of the prestigious digital BOLD Awards in the
EdTech and Metaverse categories for its partnership with AbioMed
and with Sana Kliniken, for advancing clinical education throughout
the care continuum.
FundamentalVR continued to build its
ARR during the first half of 2024, with important wins from
existing customers across a variety of procedural areas including
ophthalmology, robotics and endovascular.
As at 30 June 2024, the unaudited
fair value of Tern's shareholding in FundamentalVR remained steady
at £3.6 million (31 December 2023: £3.6 million).
Post-Period end, FundamentalVR
secured an additional £5.5 million from existing third party
institutional investors as a follow on tranche of its Series B
financing. Tern did not participate in the funding round, leading
to a reduction in its holding, although the unaudited
fair value of Tern's shareholding in FundamentalVR
is expected to remain unchanged.
Wyld Networks
AB ("Wyld Networks" or "Wyld")
Valuation of holding: £0.4 million
Holding: 19.9%
Wyld Networks, quoted on the NASDAQ
First North Growth Market in Stockholm, enables affordable
connectivity across the globe in areas where wireless coverage is
unavailable or congested. The company specialises in providing
wireless connectivity between IoT sensors and low Earth orbit
("LEO") satellites with its Wyld Connect solution (a satellite
IoT terminal and module).
In the first half of 2024, Wyld
Networks continued to see growth in securing new customers. The
Company launched its L-Band product into the market, a significant
milestone in providing customers with global IoT connectivity. Post
period end, Wyld also launched a satellite IoT tracker product with
an initial application in tracking moving assets.
Wyld Networks entered into an
agreement with Brazil-based GeoApis to monitor bee colonies using
Wyld's low-orbit satellites to increase yields and improve
sustainability for beekeepers. Wyld Networks partnered with
innovative British company SugaROx that develops biostimulant
products that increases crop productivity and resilience in Brazil.
The company signed a partnership with Harper Adams University - a
leading university in the UK for agriculture, animal and rural
management and environmental management. The aim is to monitor soil
for crops with an initial project to deliver soil moisture data for
cabbage crops within the 550-hectare research fields at Harper
Adams in Shropshire, UK.
In addition, the company partnered
with Actility - the global leader in IoT connectivity platforms.
This partnership leverages Actility's ThingPark Exchange, the
industry's first and leading global LoRaWAN® peering
hub.
The company has focused its
geographical commercial coverage predominately in South America,
North America, Africa and the Middle East and has now engaged in
Asia Pacific initially in Australia.
During the Period Wyld Networks
received approximately SEK 6.4 million (approximately £0.5 million)
from the exercise of its TO4 warrants, which had the effect of
diluting Tern's holding in Wyld Networks.
As outlined above,
Wyld announced, post Period end, on 2 September
2024, the proposed Wyld Networks Rights
Issue to raise approximately SEK 74.2 million. The Tern board
does not believe that the Wyld Networks Rights Issue is in the best
interests of Wyld Networks' shareholders, including Tern, and Tern
and its advisers are investigating alternative proposals that may
be put to Wyld Networks and its shareholders.
As at 30 June 2024, the unaudited
fair value of Tern's shareholding in Wyld Networks decreased to
£0.4 million (31 December 2023: £2.4 million) primarily due to the
fair value decrease (£2.0 million), which included a £0.02 million
foreign exchange movement on the Sterling value of Wyld Networks
which is valued in Swedish Krona. Wyld Networks' shares are traded
on an active financial market and the fair value is therefore
determined by reference to the quoted market price at the reporting
date.
Talking Medicines
Limited ("Talking
Medicines")
Valuation of holding: £2.1 million
Holding: 23.8%
Convertible loan notes of £0.3 million
Talking Medicines, a pioneering
leader in healthcare intelligence leveraging Advanced Data Science
and Artificial Intelligence, showed significant progress in the
first half of 2024 for its innovative interface Drug-GPT. The
Company is headquartered in Glasgow with a growing sales presence
in New Jersey/New York/Philadelphia.
Drug-GPT with its innovative
technology has garnered substantial interest and significant
revenue from leading global healthcare advertising agencies, who
recognize its potential to transform strategies for their
pharmaceutical clients, in the context of the US$30 billion
(annual) spend on US Drug Marketing. External forces are
propelling change in the industry in 2024, including the mass
adoption of Generative AI, alongside Pharmaceutical Companies
moving toward precision and personalised medicine helping to drive
need and momentum, changing away from traditional generalist data
insight collection methods such as focus groups, toward AI
solutions. Drug-GPT offers an 80% uplift in productivity that
continues to be validated by clients, enhancing the efficiency and
effectiveness of intelligence gathering through high quality
curated results.
Among Talking Medicines' clients are
some of the world's most prominent healthcare ad agency networks,
reaffirming the efficacy for Drug-GPT in providing key intelligence
derived from aggregated patient and healthcare professional
conversations. By tapping into previously unseen data, Talking
Medicines empowers its clients to drive better strategies and make
informed decisions in relation to the pharmaceutical landscape. In
both onboarding new clients and expanding its role with existing
ones, the company has been able to grow its US based client list,
with opportunities for further expansion in the second half of 2024
into 2025.
Partnerships are playing a key role
in both working with data communities to source raw data for
clients, as well as with clients themselves as they look for a
competitive advantage. Drug-GPT will continue to evolve, led by
data science. The Talking Medicines team continue to publish on
academic forums to share their leading knowledge and points of
differentiation, the latest publication is a comparative study
on Patient Language across Therapeutic Domains. This
scientific R&D enhances the protective IP moat around the use
of Advanced Data Science and AI by Talking Medicines in
Healthcare.
Looking ahead, Talking Medicines
remains committed to driving its customer base and US presence,
seeking a thought leadership position on AI in Healthcare
Intelligence. Enhanced features within Drug-GPT will, Talking
Medicines management believes, continue to excite customers, with
Talking Medicines positioning itself as the preferred partner for
patient and Health Care Practitioner intelligence to achieve
healthcare marketing excellence.
As at 30 June 2024, the unaudited
fair value of Tern's shareholding in Talking Medicines increased to
£2.1 million (31 December 2023: £2.0 million) due to additional
investments from Tern of approximately £0.1 million via convertible
loan notes during the Period.
Sure Valley Ventures Enterprise Capital Fund ("SVV2" or the
"Fund")
Valuation of holding: £0.4 million
Holding: 5.9%
SVV2 is a venture capital fund that
invests in a diverse portfolio of private UK software companies,
with a particular emphasis on those in the immersive technology and
metaverse sectors. This includes companies specializing in
augmented and virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and
security.
In the first half of the year, the
Fund had invested £6 million across five companies. The Fund's
first investment was £1 million in RETìníZE Limited, a creative
tech company based in Belfast, made in March 2022. In June 2024, an
additional £500,000 was allocated as follow-on capital for
RETìníZE, expected to be completed in Q3. In November 2022, the
Fund made its second investment of £1.05 million in Jaid (trading
as Opsmatix Limited), an innovative technology firm specializing in
AI-powered human communication solutions. The Fund also had the
option to invest an additional £350,000 within six months under the
same terms, which it exercised in Q2 this year. Additionally, the
Fund agreed to invest a further £1 million in the form of
convertible loan notes, with £300,000 called in June 2024 and set
to be deployed in Q3 2024.
The third company in the portfolio,
Captur, received a £1.5 million investment in September 2023.
Captur is an AI company that leverages Computer Vision for
AI-powered workflow automation. Q2 2024 marked the most successful
investment period to date, with three new investments closed, two
follow-on rounds completed, and three additional prospective deals
in the legal process.
In June 2024, SVV2 closed a £750,000
investment in Vortex IQ (formerly Saasvortex), a high-demand deal
as the company recently graduated from the Techstars London
Accelerator. The first Manchester-based investment occurred in June
2024, with a £650,000 investment in Ittybit, an innovative AI media
optimization platform. Finally, the Fund committed £1 million to
Phinxt Robotics, a promising AI robotics startup, with the funds
called and deployed post period end in July 2024.
As at 30 June 2024, the unaudited
fair value of Tern's shareholding in SVV2 was £0.4 million (31
December 2023: £0.3 million). Tern's additional investment during
the Period was in part offset by fees charged by the
fund.
DiffusionData Limited ("DiffusionData")
Valuation of holding: £0.02 million
Holding: <1%
DiffusionData is a leader in
real-time data streaming and messaging solutions. Established to
address the global challenges of real-time systems, application
connectivity, and data distribution, the company has a diverse
international team of business and technology experts. Its flagship
product, the Diffusion® Intelligent Data Platform, simplifies the
process of consuming, enriching, and reliably delivering
data.
As at 30 June 2024, the unaudited
fair value of Tern's shareholding in DiffusionData was £0.02
million (31 December 2023: £0.02 million).
Unaudited Income Statement and Statement of Comprehensive
Income
For
the six months ended 30 June 2024
|
|
|
|
Notes
|
6 months to 30 June
2024
|
|
6 months to 30 June
2023
|
|
12 months to 31 December
2023
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
(Audited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
£000
|
|
£000
|
|
£000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fee income
|
|
7
|
|
156
|
|
199
|
Movement in fair value of
investments
|
7
|
(1,988)
|
|
(1,988)
|
|
(11,047)
|
Profit on disposal
|
|
-
|
|
9
|
|
29
|
Total investment deficit
|
|
|
(1,981)
|
|
(1,823)
|
|
(10,819)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Administration costs
|
|
|
(595)
|
|
(1,023)
|
|
(1,712)
|
Other expenses
|
|
|
(17)
|
|
(29)
|
|
(194)
|
Movement in fair value of derivative
financial instruments
|
|
|
(83)
|
|
-
|
|
36
|
Operating loss
|
|
|
|
(2,676)
|
|
(2,875)
|
|
(12,689)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Finance income
|
|
|
|
13
|
|
35
|
|
81
|
Loss before tax
|
|
(2,663)
|
|
(2,840)
|
|
(12,608)
|
Tax
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
Loss and total comprehensive loss for
the period
|
|
(2,663)
|
|
(2,840)
|
|
(12,608)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings per share
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted loss per
share
|
|
(0.64)p
|
|
(0.73)p
|
|
(3.24)p
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Unaudited Statement of Financial Position
As
at 30 June 2024
|
|
|
30 June
2024
|
|
30 June
2023
|
|
31 December
2023
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
(Audited)
|
|
|
Note
|
£000
|
|
£000
|
|
£000
|
Assets
Non-current assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investments
|
7
|
11,102
|
|
21,825
|
|
12,779
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,102
|
|
21,825
|
|
12,779
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trade and other
receivables
|
|
|
71
|
|
352
|
|
73
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
121
|
|
741
|
|
298
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
192
|
|
1,093
|
|
371
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
|
11,294
|
|
22,918
|
|
13,150
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity and liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share capital
|
|
8
|
1,389
|
|
1,380
|
|
1,380
|
Share premium
|
|
|
34,451
|
|
33,391
|
|
33,391
|
Share warrant reserve
|
|
|
-
|
|
140
|
|
-
|
Retained earnings
|
|
|
(25,132)
|
|
(12,702)
|
|
(22,469)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,708
|
|
22,209
|
|
12,302
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trade and other payables
|
|
|
384
|
|
346
|
|
325
|
Short Term Loan
|
|
9
|
202
|
|
191
|
|
418
|
Derivative Financial
Instruments
|
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
105
|
Total current liabilities
|
|
|
586
|
|
537
|
|
848
|
Borrowings
|
|
9
|
-
|
|
172
|
|
-
|
Total non-current liabilities
|
|
|
-
|
|
172
|
|
-
|
Total liabilities
|
|
|
586
|
|
709
|
|
848
|
Total equity and liabilities
|
|
|
11,294
|
|
22,918
|
|
13,150
|
Unaudited Statement of Changes in Equity
For
the six months ended 30 June 2024
|
Share
|
Share
|
|
Retained
|
Total
|
|
capital
|
premium
|
Share warrant reserve
|
earnings
|
equity
|
|
£000
|
£000
|
£000
|
£000
|
£000
|
Balance at 31 December
2022
|
1,379
|
33,341
|
-
|
(9,868)
|
24,852
|
Total comprehensive
income
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(2,840)
|
(2,840)
|
Transactions with owners
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issue of share capital
|
1
|
50
|
-
|
-
|
51
|
Issue of warrants
|
|
|
140
|
-
|
140
|
Share based payment
charge
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
6
|
Balance at 30 June 2023
|
1,380
|
33,391
|
140
|
(12,702)
|
22,209
|
Total comprehensive
income
|
-
|
-
|
|
(9,768)
|
(9,768)
|
Transactions with owners
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Issue of warrants
|
-
|
-
|
(140)
|
-
|
(140)
|
Share based payment
charge
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
1
|
Balance at 31 December
2023
|
1,380
|
33,391
|
-
|
(22,469)
|
12,302
|
Total comprehensive
income
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(2,663)
|
(2,663)
|
Transactions with owners
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issue of share capital
|
8
|
813
|
-
|
-
|
821
|
Issue of shares upon exercise of
warrants
|
1
|
296
|
-
|
-
|
297
|
Share issue costs
|
-
|
(49)
|
-
|
-
|
(49)
|
Balance at 30 June 2024
|
1,389
|
34,451
|
-
|
(25,132)
|
10,708
|
Unaudited Statement of Cash Flows
For
the six months ended 30 June 2024
|
|
6 months to 30 June
2024
|
|
6 months to 30 June
2023
|
|
12 months to 31 December
2023
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
(Audited)
|
|
Note
|
£000
|
|
£000
|
|
£000
|
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash used in
operations
|
10
|
(507)
|
|
(846)
|
|
(1,373)
|
Purchase of investments
|
|
(303)
|
|
(1,133)
|
|
(1,383)
|
Cash received from sale of
investments
|
|
4
|
|
1,238
|
|
1,535
|
Loans to portfolio
companies
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
136
|
Interest received
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
19
|
Net
cash used in operating activities
|
|
(806)
|
|
(741)
|
|
(1,066)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds on issue of
shares
|
|
821
|
|
50
|
|
-
|
Share issue expenses
|
|
(49)
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
Proceeds on the exercise of
warrants
|
|
110
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
Loan receipt
|
|
-
|
|
500
|
|
500
|
Loan repayment
|
|
(253)
|
|
-
|
|
(68)
|
Net
cash from financing activities
|
|
629
|
|
550
|
|
432
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
|
|
(177)
|
|
(191)
|
|
(634)
|
Cash
and cash equivalents at beginning of period
|
|
298
|
|
932
|
|
932
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents at end of period
|
|
121
|
|
741
|
|
298
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notes to the Unaudited Interim Statements
For
the six months ended 30 June 2024
1. General
information
Tern is an investing company
specialising in private software companies, predominantly in the
Internet of Things (IoT).
The Company is a public limited
company, incorporated in England and Wales, with its shares traded
on AIM, a market of that name operated by the London Stock
Exchange.
The address of Tern's registered
office is 27/28 Eastcastle Street, London W1W 8DH. Items included
in the financial statements of the Company are measured in Pounds
Sterling, which is the Company's presentational and functional
currency.
2. Basis of
preparation
The interim financial information in
this report has been prepared in accordance with UK-adopted
international accounting standards. The financial statements have
been prepared on the basis of the recognition and measurement
principles of the IFRS that were applicable at 30 June 2024. They
do not include all of the information required for full annual
financial statements and should be read in conjunction with Tern's
audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December
2023. The financial information for the year ended 31
December 2023 set out in this interim report does not constitute
statutory accounts as defined in Section 434 of the Companies Act
2006. The Company's statutory financial statements for the
year ended 31 December 2023 have been filed with the Registrar of
Companies and can be found on the Company's website:
www.ternplc.com.
The auditor's report on those financial statements was unqualified
and did not contain statements under Section 498 (2) or Section 498
(3) of the Companies Act 2006. These interim financial
statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention
as adjusted for the valuation of investments and have been approved
for issue by the Board of Directors.
3. Going
concern
The financial statements have been
prepared on the going concern basis, as the directors have a
reasonable expectation that the Company has adequate resources to
continue operating for the foreseeable future. This has been
assessed using detailed cash flow analysis so that the Board can
conclude that the Company has sufficient working capital resources
available from a variety of sources to continue for at least 12
months from the approval of the financial statements.
Following the results of the June
2024 Annual General Meeting (AGM), the directors have had to apply
additional judgment on the capital resources available. As noted in
the Chairman's statement the Company does require further funding
and this analysis assumes that further funding is available. The
directors are confident that the Company can secure the necessary
funding either by way of the allotment of equity securities, or
through the partial sale of its portfolio holdings, or a
combination of the two.
4.
Investments
The investment valuation consists
primarily of equity investments.
In accordance with IFRS 10,
paragraph 4B, investments are recognised at fair value through
profit and loss (FVTPL) in line with guidance set out in IFRS
9. Changes in foreign exchange rates impact investments
valued in a foreign currency.
5. Critical
accounting judgements and key sources of estimation
uncertainty
Estimates and judgements are
continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and
other factors, including expectations of
future events that are believed to be reasonable under the
circumstances.
The Company makes estimates and
assumptions concerning the future. The resulting accounting
estimates will, by definition, rarely equal the related actual
results. The key sources of estimation uncertainty that have a
significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying
amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year
are outlined below.
ESTIMATES
Fair value of financial instruments
The Company holds unquoted
investments of £10.7 million that have been designated as held for
trading on initial recognition. Where practicable the Company
determines the fair value of these financial instruments that are
not quoted using the most recent bid price at which a transaction
has been carried out. These techniques are significantly affected
by certain key assumptions, such as market liquidity. Given the
nature of the investments being early-stage businesses, other
valuation methods such as discounted cash flow analysis to assess
estimates of future cash flows and derive fair value estimates
cannot always be substantiated by comparison with independent
markets and, in many cases, may not be capable of being realised
immediately at that value.
JUDGEMENTS
Investments held at FVTPL
The critical judgement is the
assessment that the investments should not be consolidated. This
assessment was reached following a review of all the key conditions
for an investment entity, as set out in IFRS 10 and the Company was
judged to have met those key conditions as follows:
·
The Company obtains funds from one or more
investors for the purpose of providing those investor(s) with
investment management services;
·
The Company commits to its investors that its
business purpose is to invest funds solely for returns from capital
appreciation, investment income, or both; and
·
The Company measures and evaluates the performance
of substantially all its investments on a fair value
basis.
In coming to this conclusion, the
Company also judged that its investment-related activities do not
represent a separate substantial business activity or a separate
substantial source of income to the investment entity.
6. Loss per
share
Loss per share is calculated by
reference to the weighted average shares in issue as
follows:
|
6 months to
|
|
6 months to
|
|
12 months
to
|
|
30 June
2024
£000
|
|
30 June
2023
£000
|
|
31 December
2023
£000
|
Loss for the purposes of basic and fully diluted loss per
share
|
(2,663)
|
|
(2,480)
|
|
(12,608)
|
Weighted average number of ordinary shares (see note
below):
|
Number
|
|
Number
|
|
Number
|
For calculation of basic and fully
diluted loss per share
|
414,309,389
|
|
388,681,380
|
|
389,182,934
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss
per share
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted loss per
share
|
(0.64)p
|
|
(0.73)p
|
|
(3.24)p
|
At 30 June 2024, 31 December 2023
and 30 June 2023 the fully diluted loss per share is the same as
the basic loss per share as the share options were underwater which
would have an anti-dilutive effect on earnings per
share.
7.
Investments
|
30 June
2024
|
|
30 June
2023
|
|
31 December
2023
|
|
£000
|
|
£000
|
|
£000
|
Fair value of investments brought
forward
|
12,779
|
|
23,882
|
|
23,882
|
Interest accrued on convertible loan
notes
|
12
|
|
27
|
|
67
|
Additions
|
303
|
|
1,133
|
|
1,383
|
Disposals
|
(4)
|
|
(1,229)
|
|
(1,506)
|
|
13,090
|
|
23,813
|
|
23,825
|
Fair value adjustment to
investments
|
(1,988)
|
|
(1,988)
|
|
(11,047)
|
Fair value of investments carried
forward
|
11,102
|
|
21,825
|
|
12,779
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The convertible loan facility issued
to Talking Medicines is a financial asset with multiple derivatives
and the entire contract has been designated at FVTPL, with any
movement in fair value taken to profit or loss for the year. As at
30 June 2024, the principal of the convertible loan outstanding was
£287,500 (30 June 2023: £187,500)
8. Issued
share capital
|
30 June
2024
|
|
30 June
2023
|
|
31 December
2023
|
|
Number
|
|
Number
|
|
Number
|
Issued and fully paid:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ordinary shares of
£0.0002
|
432,700,318
|
|
389,676,311
|
|
389,676,311
|
Deferred shares of
£29.999
|
42,247
|
|
42,247
|
|
42,247
|
Deferred shares of
£0.00099
|
34,545,072
|
|
34,545,072
|
|
34,545,072
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
£000
|
|
£000
|
|
£000
|
Issued and fully paid:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ordinary shares of
£0.0002
|
88
|
|
79
|
|
79
|
Deferred shares of
£29.999
|
1,267
|
|
1,267
|
|
1,267
|
Deferred shares of
£0.00099
|
34
|
|
34
|
|
34
|
|
1,389
|
|
1,380
|
|
1,380
|
The deferred shares have no voting
or dividend rights. The deferred shares are not quoted on the AIM
market of the London Stock
Exchange.
On 30 January 2024, 20,000,000
ordinary shares were issued at 2p per share raising £0.4million in
cash before expenses.
On 18 April 2024, 17,500,000
ordinary shares were issued at 2.4p per share raising £0.4million
in cash before expenses.
On 22 May 2024, 5,524,007 warrants
over ordinary shares were exercised at 2.0p per share raising
£0.1million in cash.
9. Short Term
Loan
|
30 June
2024
|
|
30 June
2023
|
|
31 Dec 2023
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
(Audited)
|
|
£000
|
|
£000
|
|
£000
|
Short term loan
|
202
|
|
191
|
|
418
|
As at 30 June 2024, the principal
outstanding of the loan is £0.2 million (31 December 2023: £0.4
million). As per the agreement, the loan
was secured against Wyld Networks AB shares equal to 1.5 times the
value of the outstanding loan balance. Post period-end,
the security condition of the loan was removed and
the repayment period extended by 12 months. The short term
loan is held at amortised cost with a market rate of interest of
12%.
The Company is currently unable to
make further drawdowns under the loan facility until such time as
it is able to issue the required warrants as a transaction cost
associated with further drawdowns, pursuant to the terms of the
loan facility. The issue of any further warrants will require
shareholder approval to provide the Directors with authority to
allot ordinary shares, disapplying pre-emption rights.
10. Cash flow from
operations
|
6 months to 30 June
2024
|
|
6 months to 30 June
2023
|
|
12 months to 31 Dec
2023
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
(Audited)
|
|
£000
|
|
£000
|
|
£000
|
(Loss) for the period
|
(2,663)
|
|
(2,840)
|
|
(12,608)
|
Adjustments for items not included
in cash flow:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Movement in fair value of
investments
|
1,988
|
|
1,988
|
|
11,047
|
(Profit) on disposal
|
-
|
|
(9)
|
|
(29)
|
Share-based payment charge
|
-
|
|
6
|
|
7
|
Amortisation of loan implementation
fee
|
17
|
|
-
|
|
17
|
Derivative financial instrument
costs
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
140
|
Movement in fair value of derivative
financial instrument
|
83
|
|
-
|
|
(36)
|
Finance expenses
|
20
|
|
3
|
|
20
|
Finance income
|
(13)
|
|
(35)
|
|
(81)
|
Operating cash flows before movements
in working capital
|
(568)
|
|
(887)
|
|
(1,523)
|
Adjustments for changes in working
capital:
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Decrease in trade and other
receivables (excluding loans to investee companies)
|
2
|
|
20
|
|
153
|
- Increase/(decrease) in trade and
other payables
|
59
|
|
21
|
|
(3)
|
Cash used in operations
|
(507)
|
|
(846)
|
|
(1,373)
|
11.
Events after the reporting
period
On 9 August 2024, the Company
announced that it has sold 5.3% of its shareholding in Device
Authority Limited for a total cash consideration
of £233,000.
12. Availability of
interim results
Copies of this report will be
available from the Company's website www.ternplc.com.