RNS Number : 4892YEQTEC PLC05 May 2023

5 May 2023

EQTEC plc

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

Audited results for the year ended 31 December 2022

EQTEC plc (AIM: EQT), a global technology innovator powering distributed, decarbonised, new energy infrastructure through its waste-to-value solutions for hydrogen, biofuels and energy generation announces its audited results for the year ended 31 December 2022, with post-period progress.

Financial highlights

·     Revenue and other operating income: €8.0 million (2021: €9.2 million)

·     EBITDA loss before significant and non-recurring items: €4.9 million (2021: €3.8 million)

·     Net assets: €37.1 million (31 December 2021: €43.4 million)

·     Capital raise of £3.7 million (€4.2 million) through the placing of new shares

·     Two loan facilities secured: one for up to £10 million (€11.3 million) and the other for £2 million (€2.3 million)

The net loss including significant and non-recurring items was €10.5 million (2021: €4.7 million), which included an investment impairment of €4.7 million in relation to the North Fork project in California.

Commercial and operational highlights

·     Strong progress with Market Development Centres ("MDCs"):

·   Italy MDC construction completed, and commissioning commenced.

·   Croatia MDC funding identified for final construction and recommissioning.

·   France MDC acquired, and project buyer identified for sale of the project.

·     EQTEC France launched as wholly owned subsidiary, with strong pipeline of projects particularly focused on renewable natural gas ("RNG") and advanced biofuels.

·     Contaminated plastics added to EQTEC feedstock library after testing success, followed by collaboration agreement with French waste management company toward future plants.

·     EQTEC R&D facility at Université de Lorraine ("UL") upgraded to support steam-oxygen gasification capabilities for testing of advanced biofuel solutions.

·     Deeside project (UK) completed initial FEED, Livadia project (Greece) achieved 80% funding.

·    North Fork project (USA) refinanced, and construction restarted; Southport and Billingham projects (UK) restructured to reduce EQTEC liabilities whilst maintaining rights to development fees due.

David Palumbo, CEO of EQTEC, commented:

"EQTEC in 2022 reaffirmed its business strategy, strengthened its growth platform and toughened its resolve.  Based on having one of the few technologies of its kind with a proven track record, we focused our energies on ensuring we can truly make our technology available, reliably and consistently, for the several business models we support in the world of new energy infrastructure.

We delivered focused, formative progress in three key areas of our business strategy. First, we pushed ahead with three MDCs, as demonstration of EQTEC's versatile syngas solutions in live, reference plants that deliver attractive returns through a variety of business models.  Second, we took further steps in retaining our technology leadership, deploying upgraded R&D capability for regular testing of solutions for advanced biofuels such as RNG, hydrogen, liquid fuels such as sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and for chemicals such as ethanol or methanol.  Third, we released the Company from untenable liabilities in major projects and turned our attention to the Tier 1 and 2 leaders that will help us deploy our solutions through the world's best funded, best managed projects.

Our target remains making EQTEC a leading licensor and innovator of technology that delivers clean, baseload energy and biofuels solutions to the world's leading Industrial and Utility companies and to Municipalities and Agroindustry around the globe. To become that, we must be more than simply the leading innovator for waste-to-value solutions; we must also be known for deploying our technology through projects that consistently deliver on time, to budget and for plants that deliver healthy returns on investment, sustainably over their lifetimes."

Current trading and outlook

·    France and Italy leading execution of EQTEC business strategy, combining advanced capabilities, demonstration of EQTEC technology and collaboration with top-tier partners:

·   Mechanical and electrical completion of Italy MDC in 2022, followed by achievement of full operations in March 2023 with handover to the operating company expected imminently.

·   Visits by prospective customers throughout 2022 and early 2023 to Movialsa plant in Spain and now also to Italy MDC in Tuscany, with a full slate of visits planned to Italy MDC in 2023.

·   Acquisition of France MDC in July 2022, followed by engagement of prospective buyer, confirmation of planning, feedstock and offtake arrangements; project sale expected in H1 2023.

·   Launch into the contaminated plastic waste treatment business in France with French partner SEPS in March 2022, following completion of successful contaminated plastic waste trials.

·   Following a competitive tender win, EQTEC and French utility partner Idex awarded in March 2023 a waste-to-RNG project built on demonstrated R&D capabilities.

·   Collaboration agreement in April 2023 between EQTEC and Poseidon LNG Hub, a sister company of Belleli Group and consortium including Linde, Wood, Alfa Laval and Chemprod.

·   Built on collaboration agreement with major players, pipeline in Italy for at least four waste-to-RNG and waste-to-hydrogen solutions, also building on global partnership with Wood.

·     Major UK, France and Ireland projects demonstrate EQTEC scale capability with target business models and top-tier customers:

·   Reconfiguration of near-premise Industrial business model at Deeside, Flintshire, UK for a more cost-effective, dual-technology facility deploying Anaergia, Inc. anaerobic digestion technology and EQTEC syngas technology for power offtake by neighbouring Toyota Motor Company engine production plant; initial FEED completed by global EPC Black & Veatch.

·   Updated financial modelling and development strategy for Billingham project, for an advanced facility that can support surrounding, large-scale Industrial offtakers in Teesside, with Petrofac appointed as the FEED partner and prospective EPC; engagement with neighbouring CF Fertilisers and other local players for purchase of advanced biofuels.

·   Progress toward acquisition of project at decommissioned, large-scale coal-fired power station at Gardanne, France, secured in Q1 2023; EQTEC leading feasibility work for an early-stage design of a clean, syngas-based production of RNG or other, advanced biofuels in support of Industrial and/or Municipal offtake customers.

·   Engagement underway toward Ireland-based projects in support of power, RNG or ethanol production to support Ireland's IT services industry, de-carbonise the national grid and create autonomous, sustainable alternatives to traditional energy solutions.

·   Appointed top-tier investment bank to approach large corporates in the growing market for large-scale, new energy infrastructure such as RNG, hydrogen and liquid fuels with a mandate to identify strategic investors at individual project, project portfolio and/or Group levels.

·     Continued commitment to innovation and applied R&D:

·   Expansion of variable feedstock capabilities, including successful tests of plastics and polymers contaminated with fossil fuels and other chemicals that cannot be burned or put into landfill, and successful testing of high-humidity RDF (refuse-derived fuel).

·   Expansion of R&D capabilities for advanced offtake applications such as RNG, hydrogen, liquid biofuels, ethanol, methanol and other chemicals, through upgrade of R&D facility at the University of Lorraine to accommodate steam-oxygen gasification technology.

·   Active engagement of Wood VESTA technology for hydrogen or for RNG at multiple project opportunities, starting with Southport project in UK, with other opportunities in France, Italy.

·   Collaboration agreement with CompactGTL for development of liquid biofuels through EQTEC syngas technology and CompactGTL gas-to-liquids technology, at UK pilot plant.

·  Ireland project opportunity for development of integrated syngas-to-ethanol capability with new technology partner to be announced.

·     Focus Plan in response to tighter market conditions, for prioritised, strategic execution:

·   Portfolio prioritisation with focus on completion and live operation of MDCs in Italy, Croatia and France, followed by development of scale capabilities at large facilities in UK, France and Italy.

·   Exited liabilities of €18 million+ through renegotiation of agreements at all three UK projects:  Deeside, Billingham, Southport.

·   Focus on core capabilities, bringing on top-tier development, project management, FEED and EPC partners to support EQTEC's design, engineering and technology integration.

Annual report

The full, 2022 annual report, which addresses all the points above and which details full, financial results and other performance outcomes for the Company, may be found on the Company's website at https://eqtec.com/investing-in-eqtec/

Additionally, the full2022 annual report for the Company is available at the following hyperlink: 

http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/4892Y_1-2023-5-4.pdf

The principal financial tables, extracted from the Annual Report, are set out below:

Consolidated statement of profit or loss for the financial year ended 31 December 2022

Notes

2022

2021



Revenue

8

7,970,072

9,171,764

Cost of sales


(7,002,314)

(7,541,354)

Gross profit

967,758

1,630,410

Operating income/(expenses)



Administrative expenses


(5,742,563)

(4,190,592)

Other income

9

33,645

-

Impairment costs

14

(2,752)

(5,498)

Other (gains)/losses

12

10,088

(1,418,860)

Employee share-based compensation

10

(340,257)

(205,648)

Foreign currency gains


156,835

348,885

Operating loss

(4,917,246)

(3,841,303)

Share of results from equity accounted investments

21

(52,059)

(24,188)

Gains from sales to equity accounted investments deferred

21

(28,378)

(211,478)

Loss/(gain) arising from loss of control of subsidiaries


(489)

9,957

Change in fair value of financial investments

23

(326,501)

(250,378)

Finance income

11

316,805

134,069

Finance costs

11

(589,618)

(517,108)

Significant and non-recurring transactions:




Impairment of equity-accounted investment

15

(4,712,490)

-

Loss on disposal of tangible asset

15

(154,205)

                    -

Loss before taxation

14

(10,464,181)

(4,700,429)

Income tax 

16

(60,934)

                   -





LOSS FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR

(10,525,115)

(4,700,429)

Loss attributable to:



Owners of the Company


(10,525,104)

(4,700,497)

Non-controlling interest


              (11)

                68







(10,525,115)

(4,700,429)





2022

2021



€ per share

€ per share

Basic loss per share:




From continuing operations

17

(0.001)

(0.001)

From continuing and discontinued operations

17

(0.001)

(0.001)

Diluted loss per share:




From continuing operations

17

(0.001)

(0.001)

From continuing and discontinued operations

17

(0.001)

(0.001)

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the financial year ended 31 December 2022


2022

2021





Loss for the financial year


(10,525,115)

(4,700,429)




Other comprehensive (loss)/income







Items that may be reclassified

subsequently to profit or loss




Exchange differences arising on re-translation




of foreign operations


(478,066)

238,715





Other comprehensive (loss)/income for the year


(478,066)

238,715





Total comprehensive loss for the financial year


(11,003,181)

(4,461,714)





Attributable to:




Owners of the company


(11,128,847)

(4,301,511)

Non-controlling interests


125,666

(160,203)







(11,003,181)

(4,461,714)

Consolidated statement of financial position at 31 December 2022

Notes

2022

2021

ASSETS

Non-current assets




Property, plant and equipment

18

133,053

446,861

Intangible assets

19

17,578,231

17,702,833

Investments accounted for using the equity method

21

7,619,514

8,074,184

Financial assets

22

3,728,434

4,050,030

Other financial investments

23

      171,186

506,976





Total non-current assets


29,230,418

30,780,884




Current assets




Development assets

25

6,033,543

3,455,496

Loan receivable from project development undertakings

25

5,446,087

3,000,469

Trade and other receivables

26

7,221,046

6,876,747

Cash and cash equivalents

27

1,693,116

6,446,217


Total current assets


20,393,792

19,778,929


Total assets


49,624,210

50,559,813




EQUITY AND LIABILITIES


Equity




Share capital

28

26,799,584

25,977,130

Share premium

28

87,203,372

83,610,562

Other reserves

28

2,694,125

2,353,868

Accumulated deficit


(77,305,919)

(66,177,072)





Equity attributable to the owners of the company


39,391,162

45,764,488

Non-controlling interests

29

(2,258,523)

(2,384,189)





Total equity


37,132,639

43,380,299





Non-current liabilities




Borrowings

30

1,064,598

-

Lease liabilities

31

               -

56,855





Total non-current liabilities


1,064,598

56,855




Current liabilities




Trade and other payables

32

6,264,404

6,921,806

Borrowings

30

5,106,038

-

Lease liabilities

31

        56,531

200,853





Total current liabilities


11,426,973

7,122,659


Total equity and liabilities


49,624,210

50,559,813

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 5 May 2023 and signed on its behalf by:

Ian Pearson                                                                                                         David Palumbo

Non-Executive Chairman                                                                                     Chief Executive Officer

05 May 202305 May 2023

Consolidated statement of changes in equity for the financial year ended 31 December 2022


Share

Capital

Share premium

Other reserves

Accumulated deficit

Equity attributable to owners of the company

Non-controlling interests

Total


Balance at 1 January 2021

24,355,545

62,896,521

2,148,220

(61,875,561)

27,524,725

(2,223,986)

25,300,739

Issue of ordinary shares in EQTEC plc (Note 28)

1,402.324

18,206,268

-

-

19,608,592

-

19,608,592

Conversion of debt into equity (Notes 28)

167,728

3,285,013

-

-

3,452,741

-

3,452,741

Issued in acquisition of financial asset (Note 28)

51,533

693,628

-

-

745,161

-

745,161

Share issue costs (Note 28)

-

(1,470,868)

-

-

(1,470,868)

-

(1,470,868)

Employee share-based compensation (Notes 10)

                   -

                   -

   205,648

                   -

205,648

                 -

205,648

Transactions with owners

  1,621,585

20,714,041

   205,648

                   -

22,541,274

                  -

22,541,274

Loss for the financial year

-

-

-

(4,700,497)

(4,700,497)

68

(4,700,429)

Unrealised foreign exchange losses

                  -

                  -

                -

     398,986

     398,986

(160,271)

      238,715

Total comprehensive loss for the financial year

                   -

                  -

                -

(4,301,511)

(4,301,511)

(160,203)

(4,461,714)

Balance at 31 December 2021

25,977,130

83,610,562

2,353,868

(66,177,072)

45,764,488

(2,384,189)

43,380,299

Issue of ordinary shares in EQTEC plc (Note 28)

769,697

3,717,379

-

-

4,487,076

-

4,487,076

Conversion of debt into equity (Note 28)

52,757

237,672

-

-

290,429

-

290,429

Share issue costs (Note 28)

-

(362,241)

-

-

(362,241)

-

(362,241)

Employee share-based compensation (Note 10)

                   -

                  -

340,257

                  -

340,257

                  -

340,257

Transactions with owners

     822,454

3,592,810

340,257

                   -

4,755,521

                   -

4,755,521

Loss for the financial year

-

-

-

(10,525,104)

(10,525,104)

(11)

(10,525,115)

Unrealised foreign exchange losses

                  -

                    -

                -

     (603,743)

     (603,743)

    125,677

(478,066)

Total comprehensive loss for the financial year

                  -

                   -

                -

(11,128,847)

(11,128,847)

      125,666

(11,003,181)

Balance at 31 December 2022

26,799,584

87,203,372

2,694,125

(77,305,919)

39,391,162

(2,258,523)

37,132,639

Consolidated statement of cash flows for the financial year ended 31 December 2022

Notes

2022

2021



Cash flows from operating activities




Loss for the financial year before income tax


(10,464,181)

(4,700,429)

Adjustments for:




Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

18

239,233

156,520

Amortisation of intangible assets

19

124,602

72,685

Loss on disposal of tangible assets

15

154,205

-

Impairment of equity-accounted investments

15

4,712,490

-

Employee share-based compensation

10

340,257

205,648

Impairment of development assets

25

2,752

-

Share of loss of equity accounted investments

21

52,059

24,188

Gains from sales to equity accounted investments deferred

21

28,378

211,478

Loss/(gain) on loss of control of subsidiary

20

489

(9,957)

Change in fair value of financial investments

23

326,501

250,378

(Gain)/loss on debt for equity swap

12

(10,088)

1,418,860

Unrealised foreign exchange movements


(319,440)

103,234

Operating cash flows before working capital changes


(4,812,743)

(2,267,395)

Increase in:




Development assets


(2,578,047)

(3,144,600)

Trade and other receivables


(2,837,708)

(5,946,010)

(Decrease)/increase in Trade and other payables


(274,938)

3,432,256

Net cash used in operating activities - continuing operations


(10,503,436)

(7,925,749)

Finance income

11

(316,805)

(134,069)

Finance costs

11

589,618

517,108

Taxes paid


(108,311)

                    -


Net cash used in operating activities


(10,338,934)

(7,542,710)





Cash flows from investing activities




Addition to tangible assets

18

(79,199)

-

Additions to intangible assets

19

-

(1,000,000)

Payments on deposit on land

26

(586,421)

-

Cash inflow from disposal of subsidiary

33

170,000

-

Loans advanced to project development undertakings

25

(773,034)

(2,430,137)

Loans repaid by project development undertakings

25

100,000

-

Investment in equity accounted undertakings

21

(6,790)

(978,825)

Loans advanced to equity accounted undertakings

21

(2,852,699)

(3,746,984)

Loans repaid by equity accounted undertakings

21

40,018

-

Investment in related undertakings

22

(351,853)

(697,635)

Other advances to equity accounted undertakings


(2,000)

(27,508)

Net cash used in investing activities


(4,341,978)

(8,881,089)




Cash flows from financing activities




Proceeds from borrowings and lease liabilities

30

7,236,850

1,391,174

Repayment of borrowings and lease liabilities

30

(1,126,483)

(3,031,724)

Loan issue costs

30

(334,557)

-

Proceeds from issue of ordinary shares

28

4,430,069

19,420,222

Share issue costs

28

(274,784)

(1,180,217)

Interest paid


(3,284)

              (20)


Net cash generated from financing activities


9,927,811

16,599,435





Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents


(4,753,101)

175,636





Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the financial year


6,446,217

6,270,581





Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the financial year

27

1,693,116

6,446,217

ENQUIRIES

EQTEC plc

David Palumbo / Nauman Babar

+44 20 3883 7009

Strand Hanson - Nomad & Financial Adviser

James Harris / Richard Johnson

+44 20 7409 3494

Panmure Gordon - Broker

John Prior / Hugh Rich

+44 20 7886 2500

Instinctif - Media & investor relations enquiries

Guy Scarborough / Tim Field

[email protected]

+44 791 717 8920 / +44 788 788 4794

About EQTEC plc

As one of the world's most experienced gasification technology and engineering companies, with a growing track record of delivering operational and commercial success for transforming waste-to-energy through best-in-class technology innovation, engineering and project development, EQTEC brings together design innovation, project delivery discipline and solid commercial experience to add momentum to the global energy transition. EQTEC's proven, proprietary and patented technology is at the centre of clean energy projects, sourcing local waste, championing local businesses, creating local jobs and supporting the transition to localised, decentralised and resilient energy systems.

EQTEC designs, supplies and builds advanced gasification facilities in the UK, EU and US, with highly efficient equipment that is modular and scalable from 1MW to 30MW. EQTEC's versatile solutions process over 50 varieties of feedstock, including forestry wood waste, vegetation and other agricultural waste from farmers, industrial waste and sludge from factories and municipal waste, all with no hazardous or toxic emissions. EQTEC's solutions produce a pure, high-quality synthesis gas ("syngas") that can be used for the widest range of applications, including the generation of electricity and heat, production of synthetic natural gas (through methanation) or biofuels (through Fischer-Tropsch, gas-to-liquid processing) and reforming of hydrogen.

EQTEC's technology integration capabilities enable the Group to lead collaborative ecosystems of qualified partners and to build sustainable waste reduction and green energy infrastructure around the world.

The Company is quoted on AIM (ticker: EQT) and the London Stock Exchange has awarded EQTEC the Green Economy Mark, which recognises listed companies with 50% or more of revenues from environmental/green solutions.

Further information on the Company can be found at www.eqtec.com

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