Heliospectra (publ) Interim Report January- September 2020
(GOTHENBURG, Sweden October 27, 2020)– Heliospectra AB (publ) (North American ADR OTCQB: HLSPY, and Nasdaq First North Growth Market: HELIO),a world leader in intelligent lighting technology for greenhouse and controlled plant growth environments, presents Interim Report for January-September 2020.
Full report is enclosed to this press release and is also uploaded at https://www.heliospectra.com/investor-relations/reports-documents
SUMMARY OF REPORT:
SALES AND FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE, January–September
Net sales amounted to KSEK 27,338 (22,746) which means an increase of 20% compared to last year. Of the period’s sales, the MITRA product group made up 44%. The operating loss amounted to KSEK -30,757 (-33,043) KSEK, signifying a negative operating margin (neg). The loss after tax was KSEK -30,747 (-33,164).
CASH FLOW, January – September
Operating cash flow was KSEK -35,442 (5,594). Total cash flow was KSEK -35,743 (2,698). Previous year includes a Rights Issue amounting to KSEK 49,280.
CEO COMMENT
The global pandemic continues to impact the world on both a social and economic level. While our customers were reluctant to invest in CAPEX during these unsettling times, we have been working since spring to reshape and right-size our organization.
We are taking significant strategic steps to ensure we are in control and moving the business forward. Firstly, we have secured a rights issuance to facilitate next generation technology development and market penetration. Secondly, we are narrowing our focus on key markets. And thirdly, we are back on the road and selling at full force. Overall, today we are in a much healthier position, bolstered by an increase in interest from prospective customers.
The rights issuance will secure the Company SEK 50.6 million before issue costs. Issue proceeds are intended to be invested as follows:
~40% to be used for the development of helioCORE™, biosensors and existing products. We are advancing the next generation of technology to harness light and crop control for sustainable digital farming.
~35% to drive our strategic expansion throughout Europe. After establishing a footprint in the US and Canada, it is now time for us to actively explore the EU market. Our goal is to have at least 30% of our revenues come from European customers within 3 years’ time. In order to do so we need to select the best network of channel partners, place staff and create the right offer accordingly.
~25% to be used to reinforce the Company’s financial position.
While to some extent the purpose of the rights issuance is to remedy the effects of Covid-19 on the business, its main objective is to give us the means for rapid growth over the coming years. Research and Markets forecasts a healthy compound annual growth rate of 20.2% by 2027 for the global horticulture lighting market. Heliospectra expects to share in that growth. So, despite the challenges presented by the pandemic, we look forward to harvesting rewards from the innovations we have been pioneering over the past 14 years.
As we expand into strategic markets, we are also continuously evaluating our existing ones. While we have a strong footprint in the North American cannabis market, we are recalibrating our presence across the vegetable sector to allow us to better focus on those with the highest potential.
The pandemic continues to significantly disrupt the global economy, and thus our sales results have been impacted similar to prior periods. However, due to our strong marketing and sales efforts in Q2, our pipelines continue to fill with strong leads which we are aggressively working to further cultivate. Importantly, the sales team is back on the road and meeting with potential clients and current customers – in a safe and responsible manner.
We are also actively managing ongoing projects such as Nectar Farms. Backed up by strong investors, the project is moving ahead but awaiting a construction date dependent upon lockdowns in Victoria. Until then, we are in constant communication with their team to ensure we provide any support needed.
In conclusion, we are proud of the groundwork we have laid over the last 9 months, which has positioned us to finish the year strong. With the additional funding and an energetic focus on executing our strategy, we will continue to strengthen our organization, our networks and our product offerings to advance our business.
Ali Ahmadian,
President & CEO
For More Information:
Ali Ahmadian, CEO of Heliospectra | +46 (0)72 203 6344 | ir@heliospectra.com
Heliospectra AB (publ) (OTCQB: HLSPY, and Nasdaq First North Growth Market: HELIO) was founded in 2006 in Sweden by plant scientists and biologists with one vision – to make crop production more intelligent and resource-efficient. Today, with customers across six continents, Heliospectra is the global leader in innovative horticulture lighting technology, custom light control systems and specialized services for greenhouse and controlled plant growth environments. Designed by growers for growers, Heliospectra builds customized LED lighting strategies and controls to automate production schedules, forecast yields and monitor crop health and performance with real-time data and response, to deliver the light plants love and the consistent results growers need.
For more information, please visit https://www.heliospectra.com.
Company HELIO is listed at Nasdaq First North Growth Market with Redeye AB as Certified Adviser:
Certifiedadviser@redeye.se, +46 (0)8 121 576 90.
Forward-Looking Statements
The statements in this press release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. Such statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control. In addition, such forward-looking statements are subject to assumptions with respect to future business strategies and decisions that are subject to change. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, technical advances in the industry as well as political and economic conditions present within the industry. We do not take any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or developments after a forward-looking statement was made.
This information was submitted for publication at 08,00 CET on the 27th of October, 2020.