Surface Transforms (AIM:SCE) is pleased to announce a conditional equity fundraising of up to GBP5.0 million. Cantor Fitzgerald Europe and finnCap Ltd have conditionally placed on behalf of the Company 28,125,000 new ordinary shares of 1p each at a price of 16p per share, raising gross proceeds of GBP4.5 million
Additionally, to provide shareholders who have not taken part in the Placing with an opportunity to participate, the Company is providing all Qualifying Shareholders with the opportunity to also subscribe at 16p per Ordinary Share, for an aggregate of 3,125,000 new Ordinary Shares (“Open Offer Shares”) to raise up to GBP0.5 million. Qualifying Shareholders may subscribe for Open Offer Shares on the basis of 1 Open Offer Shares for every 17.02914592 Existing Ordinary Shares held on the Record Date. Shareholders subscribing for their full entitlement under the Open Offer may also request additional New Ordinary Shares through the Excess Application Facility.
Assuming full take up under the Open Offer, the gross proceeds of the Open Offer will raise a further GBP0.5 million. The Open Offer is not underwritten.
Group-14 LTD, a company beneficially owned by Richard Gledhill, a non-executive director, has also agreed, subject to shareholder approval, to convert an outstanding loan of GBP400,000 into Ordinary Shares at the Placing Price, resulting in the further issuance of 2,500,000 Ordinary Shares.
Reasons for the Fundraising
The Company remains focused on the premium automotive brake disc market, and the brake disc market for military and light commercial aircraft. As previously communicated to shareholders, the Company is in the process of pursuing a number of significant original equipment manufacturer (“OEM”) production contract opportunities in these markets.
The net proceeds of the Fundraising will enable the Board to pursue its strategy of having the capacity to supply the commercial volumes which may be required by automotive OEMs who may be seeking an alternate supplier of carbon fibre reinforced ceramic brake discs from Brembo SGL as well as fulfil their existing commitments to the Company’s aerospace and other customers. The Board consider the new facility will take approximately 15 months to fully commission and from around 2019 be capable of operating at full capacity, representing the production of approximately 17,000 discs per annum. In the Board’s experience, automotive OEM’s seek to appoint suppliers for new models approximately 24 months in advance of production. As set out further below, the Company is in discussions with several OEMs with certain models anticipated to commence production mid-2018 onwards.
Automotive
The Company is currently in detailed discussions with five automotive OEMs, details of which are set out below. The Directors consider the key criteria for adoption by automotive OEMs are price, product quality, lead time and security of supply. To address these criteria, the Company is continuing its investment programme to progressively increase annual manufacturing capacity to the next milestone target of 17,000 discs per annum.
German OEM One: This prospective customer has successfully completed the first phase of testing, and has identified a small number of optimisation opportunities. This has led to the prospective customer informing the Company that completion of these tasks would lead to a mid-year contract award on a named new model programme which is estimated to commence production in mid-2018 generating estimated sales for Surface Transforms of up to GBP4 million per annum on mature volumes in the following year. The Board believes that the six-month optimisation timetable proposed is tough but achievable.
The lawyers of the Company and the German OEM are currently negotiating a draft pre-production development agreement to commit both companies to use best endeavours to work together to resolve the remaining product refinement requirements and for Surface Transforms to reserve capacity at its new Knowsley factory for this car model and potentially others.
German OEM Two: This prospective customer is a sister company of the above prospective customer, they are sharing information with “German OEM One” and effectively following in their wake. Surface Transforms estimates that sales with this prospective customer could therefore begin in late 2019 generating estimated sales for Surface Transforms of up to GBP4.2 million per annum for the supply contract on which discussions have to date been based.
German OEM Three: This prospective customer completed a product and factory visit of Surface Transforms in December 2015 and was impressed by the know-how and technology Surface Transforms has. Their testing continues. They have informed Surface Transforms of the target car which would potentially fit the Company’s product, which is estimated to commence production in mid-2019 and generate estimated sales for Surface Transforms of up to GBP2.8 million per annum on this initial model.
British OEM One: This prospective customer has satisfactorily concluded testing, informed us of their intention to purchase the Company’s product and shared its Surface Transforms product introduction programme with us, by model type, over the next few years. It is estimated that this contract will commence in mid-2018 and generate estimated sales for Surface Transforms of up to GBP1.6 million per annum which is estimated to rise to GBP4.7 million in 2020 as later models are released. The Company expects to be able to formally announce this contract award when the model itself is launched during this calendar year.
British OEM Two: This potential customer has discussed the benefits of using Surface Transforms’ product in potentially both reducing cost on adjacent components and reducing their variety of sub systems. This has had the effect of delaying the estimated start of production from mid-2018 to mid-2019 but, paradoxically, in the Company’s opinion improved the chances of them adopting the Company’s product. If this programme goes to plan, the Company expects to generate estimated sales in 2019 of up to GBP1.0 million per annum.
Aerospace
Our aerospace activities remain focused on one existing customer, addressing three currently identified specific opportunities, for disc braking in both in civil and military aviation, further details of which were included by the Company in its half year financial results on 3 February 2016.
New factory
The Company announced on 18 February 2016 signed heads of terms for a new factory lease, together with the award of GBP600,000 of associated financial support expected to be made available and linked to future capital investment comprising:
— GBP200,000 Merseyside Special Investment Fund grant via the Regional Growth Fund expected to be received during 2016 and 2017;
— GBP300,000 Merseyside Special Investment Fund interest free loan, also via the Regional Growth Fund, to be draw down during 2016 and 2017 and repayable over three years from May 2019; and
-- GBP100,000 Knowsley District Council rates relief over two years.
The new factory lease is for an existing 55,000 ft(2) Knowsley Industrial Estate facility with 30,000 ft(2) expected to be occupied in September 2016 and a further 25,000 ft(2) expected to be occupied from September 2019. The Company intends to vacate the existing Ellesmere Port 12,000 ft(2) facility in early 2017 on expiry of the existing lease.
Use of proceeds
To enable the Company to properly exploit the current commercial opportunities, including the forthcoming fit out of the new factory, the Directors have decided to raise GBP4.5 million, before expenses, through a Placing of New Ordinary Shares with existing Shareholders and new institutional and other investors, and up to GBP0.5 million, before expenses, by way of an Open Offer to all Qualifying Shareholders. The Placing funds raised will be used for:
— capital expenditure including new factory fit out, supporting increased production capacity, and improved production processes to reduce production costs per disc;
-- to fund operating and development costs; and -- working capital.
Key capital expenditure is expected to include the purchase of a new high temperature furnace, an additional chemical vapour infiltration plant, purchase new ceramic furnaces and heat treatment facilities, further machining facilities and general new factory fit out costs.
It is expected that the Open Offer (on the assumption that it is fully subscribed) will raise a further GBP0.5 million. The net proceeds of the Open Offer are expected to also be applied to the uses set out above and to provide the Company with an additional working capital buffer to be applied at the discretion of the Board.
Current Trading and Outlook
The Company recently reported its unaudited results for the six months ended 30 November 2015 with turnover increasing to GBP782,000 (2014: GBP623,000), a reduction in loss before tax to GBP430,000 (2014: GBP471,000) and cash at the half year end of GBP525,000 (2014: GBP132,000 and GBP829,000 at the year ended 31 May 2015); further details are included in the Company’s announcement of 3 February 2016.
Further progress has been made since reporting our half year financials with automotive and aerospace sales continuing, and the Board believes the Company remains on track to deliver full year revenue comfortably ahead of the prior year. The Company continues to progress the advancement of the key targeted automotive OEM contracts and on 18 February 2016 the Company announced the new intended factory facilities and associated financial support as detailed above.
