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Telit Communications PLC

Telit Communications - Year end results

RNS Number : 3127W
Telit Communications PLC
16 April 2019
 

The information communicated in this announcement is inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation 596/2014.

 

Telit Communications PLC

 

Year end results

 

London, 16 April 2019 - Telit Communications PLC ("Telit", "the Group", AIM: TCM), a global enabler of the Internet of Things (IoT), has published its results for the year to 31 December 2018.

 

 

 

2018

 

2017

Revenue

 

$427.5m

 

$374.5m

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$30.1m

 

$18.1m

Adjusted EBIT

 

$2.3m

 

$(10.7m)

Loss before tax

 

$(39.8m)

 

$(56.8m)

Adjusted loss before tax

 

$(4.1)

 

$(17.8)

Loss per share

 

(27.9p)

 

(41.9p)

Adjusted loss per share

 

(3.8p)

 

(16.4p)

 

Financial highlights[1]

 

·      Revenues up 14.1% to $427.5 million (2017: $374.5 million)

·      Cloud and connectivity revenues up 23.1% to $34.1 million (2017: $27.7 million)

·      Adjusted EBITDA up 66.3% to $30.1 million (2017: $18.1 million) - with $5.8 million less of R&D capitalisation

·      Cash flow from operations $25.8 million (2017: cash used in operations $4.8 million)

·      Cash loss[2] significantly reduced to $3.6 million (2017: loss $27.0 million) - positive profit in cash for H2-2018

·        Net debt at 31 December 2018 $34.0 million (31 December 2017: $30.2 million)

 

Operational highlights

·      Automotive division sold for $105 million - completed 27 February 2019

·      Continued cost optimisation, based on products and activities review started in late 2017

·      Integration of the hardware and services businesses - clear strategy defined to become the leader in end-to-end IoT solutions

·      New partnership with China Unicom, the telecom group, using Telit's deviceWISE IoT platform

·      New engagements with Qualcomm for licensing and the development of 5G products as well as CAT-m and NB-IoT modules based on new Qualcomm 9205 LTE Modem

·      Received certifications for:

CAT-1, CAT 4 and CAT 11 modules, from main mobile operators in the US

Three NB-IoT modules, from Deutsche Telekom

·      Introduced new smaller IoT form factor module family (x310) - meet growing demand for ultra-small, high-performance modules

 

Paolo Dal Pino, Executive Chairman of Telit, commented:

 

"We made significant financial progress last year. We delivered double digit revenue growth, saw a major improvement in the cash generation and stabilising gross margins - returning to cash profit in H2-2018.

 

"We also further rationalised our operational structure, better integrated our products and services and reshaped the IoT Platform organisation. The recent sale of the automotive division also frees up considerable internal resources and provides significant cash inflow.

 

"We are well positioned to exploit the growth opportunities in the fast growing and dynamic IoT market. With improved operational structure, we expect our financial performance to significantly improve as our revenue grows, and we see the benefits of a reduced cost base, strong balance sheet and stabilising gross margins."

 

Enquiries:

 

Telit Communications PLC

Paolo Dal Pino, Executive Chairman

Tel: +44 203 289 3831

Yariv Dafna, Finance Director

 

 

 

finnCap (Nomad and joint broker)

Tel: +44 20 7220 0500

Henrik Persson/Giles Rolls (corporate finance)

 

Tim Redfern/Richard Chambers (ECM)

 

 

 

Berenberg (Joint Broker)

Tel: +44 20 3465 2722

Chris Bowman/Mark Whitmore

 

 

 

Instinctif Partners

Tel: +44 20 7457 2077

Adrian Duffield/Chantal Woolcock

 

 

 

 

About Telit

Telit (AIM: TCM), is a global leader in Internet of Things (IoT) enablement.  The company offers the industry's broadest portfolio of integrated products and services for end-to-end IoT deployments - including cellular communication modules in all technologies, GNSS, Wi-Fi, short-to-long range wireless modules, IoT connectivity plans and IoT platform services. Through the IoT Portal, Telit makes IoT onboarding easy, reduces risk, time to market, complexity and costs for asset tracking, remote monitoring and control, telematics, industrial automation and others, across many industries and vertical markets worldwide.

 

# # #

 

Copyright © 2019 Telit Communications PLC. All rights reserved. Telit and all associated logos are trademarks of Telit Communications PLC in the United States and other countries. Other names used herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

 

 

EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT

 

Overview

 

I am pleased to report that in 2018 Telit made great progress towards our strategy of:

·      refocusing on industrial IoT products and solutions;

·      returning to double digit revenue growth;

·      stabilising gross margin; and

·      optimising our cost structure to focus on growth and cash generation.

 

We reported significant progress in the Group's financial performance, returning to double digit revenue growth (14.1%). We saw stabilisation of our gross margin, which was a major objective of the turnaround plan. For the year as a whole gross margin was 32.6% down compared to 2017 (35.1%) but up on H2 2017 which was 31.5%. We also saw major improvement in the loss in cash and achieved a profit in cash in H2-2018.

 

Since I became Executive Chairman in September 2018, the management team and Board have concentrated on the fundamentals of the core business. This encompasses a further rationalisation of our operational structure, better integration of our products and services and a real focus on profitability and cash generation.

 

We reshaped the IoT Platform organisation and go to market strategy and established the basis for a healthier and more synergic growth.

 

Our renewed emphasis on the core business, the industrial IoT products and services, was the main reason why we sold the automotive division for $105 million. The transaction closed at the end of February this year.  This disposal is an important milestone in executing our strategy.  It frees up considerable internal resources, provides significant cash inflow and the financial flexibility following the repayment of the bank debts and resources to accelerate the integration of our hardware products and IoT services.

 

Outlook

 

IoT remains a fast growing and dynamic space, and Telit is well positioned to exploit the growth opportunities in this market. We are fully committed to delivering value and growth for our business as a leading enabler in the industrial IoT space.

 

Following an overall improvement in 2018, we are confident that our operational performance in 2019 will continue to make good progress and we will be better positioned for growth opportunities.

 

We expect the Group's financial performance will also significantly improve as our revenue grows and we see the benefits of a reduced cost base and stabilising gross margins.

 

Strategy

 

Telit is a key player in the industrial IoT market and aims at becoming a leading end-to-end IoT provider enabling enterprises to successfully execute their digital transformation. 

 

We are focused on products and connected devices to develop and maintain our leading position in the IoT market and increasingly on integrated and value-added software and services.

 

We believe in end-to-end solutions: connected devices will become more efficient and user friendly, with software playing a key role in simplifying enterprises approach to IoT. This integrated business approach enables us to focus on synergies, leveraging our combined offering of modules (cellular and short range), the IoT connectivity and the IoT platform and portal.

 

We are focusing on our primary target, the industrial IoT market, which we believe is the main driver of the digital transformation for enterprises. We are committed to maintaining and growing our leading position in the IoT products market and increasing the value and differentiation of our products.

 

The digital transformation of enterprises globally, across both the public and private sector, presents a significant opportunity. Enterprises are coming to realise the benefit and the business need to collect the right information, process it into actionable data, transmit that information, and act on it. In doing so, this allows them to solve an increasing number of problems, both legacy issues and ones they may not have thought of before.

 

Overall, Telit enables the creation of solutions and applications for fast deployment of IoT solutions with complete life cycle management (long and short-range connectivity devices, global data plans and IoT platform), both in the traditional IoT verticals such as asset tracking, logistics, remote industrial monitoring, automated utility meter reading, telematics, mobile health devices, and for the fast-growing enterprise market.

 

Operational overview

 

The main corporate development was in July 2018, when we agreed to sell our automotive division. The transaction was completed in February 2019 and enabled us to pay off all the HSBC and Hapoalim debt and reduce cash operating expenses. 

 

The disposal saw Telit Belgium and its wholly owned subsidiaries in France, Germany, Korea and Israel, representing less than 20% of Telit's revenue, sold. This business had approximately 120 employees, who support the automotive business across three global R&D and sales offices.  As a result of the sale Telit will focused on the industrial IoT and improvement Group wide margins.

 

In 2018, we also continued the review of the Group's activities, cost base and product portfolio in order to address the issues around the decreased gross margin and increased operating cost base. Our achievements in this regard included:

 

·      We further focused on our 3G and 4G portfolio. Several of our products and services portfolio are now "end of life" and we have reduced the R&D and operations costs in maintaining products with low contributions and reduce operating costs. Write-off of capitalised development assets and inventory (both finished goods and components), where applicable from abandoned projects or changes in our business focus, were recorded under restructuring costs in the income statement.

 

·      We completed the restructuring of our short-range business and we closed another R&D centre in Germany. We transferred its knowledge to lower-cost sites.

 

·      Cost rationalisation contribute to a saving of $12.7 million in operating cash expenses in 2018 compare with cash expenses in 2017

 

·      We will continue this process in 2019 in order to deliver further reduce our cash operating expenses by approximately $10 million. In order to achieved this, in Q4 2018, we simplified the top management structure and rationalised the IoT platform organisation and go to market approach

 

·      Integration of the hardware and services businesses - clear strategy defined to become the leader in end-to-end IoT solutions

 

·      We defined our 5G strategy and engaged with Qualcomm in order to start developing our first 5G product which will address the demand for high bandwidth products including applications like gateway and routers

 

·      We received also more certification from US mobile operators for our CAT-1, CAT 4 and CAT 11 modules, and from Deutsche Telekom for our NB-IoT modules

 

·      Telit introduced the new smaller IoT form factor module family (x310) which will be part of our product family and will cover 2G, CAT-M and NB-IoT new products and will meet the growing demand for ultra-small, high-performance modules

 

R&D and investment

 

We continue to invest across a range of products and services, including the development of our software suite - "oneEDGE" - which enables solutions for a new generation of Telit's cellular LPWA IoT modules. With integrated, secure, easy-to-use tools, it dramatically simplifies design, deployment and management of IoT products and solutions, enabling a leap ahead into the new 5G super-connected world. Combined with Telit's iSIM solution simWISE, these technologies solve long-standing challenges related to integration, scalability, and management.

 

We have developed best in class products for our customers and will continue to be an innovative global leader for IoT solutions.

 

Telit's investments in the last few years includes not only the development of each of the above-mentioned components but also, increasingly, the integration of the different components in order to transform our products and services into a cohesive solution which is ready to connect and send data. Telit integration is designed to simplify all aspects of IoT implementation for customers and save them time and money, reducing risks and speeding time to revenue by easing deployment. 

 

Board

 

During the last AGM in June 2018, shareholders voted for three directors to be removed from the Board. I was subsequently appointed to the Board as non-executive Chairman on 1 September 2018. On 7 September 2018 the Board received an EGM requisition notice for the replacement of further Board members. We held several discussions with major shareholders in respect of the proposals brought forward the requisition notice and agreed on a separation agreement with Yosi Fait, the then Chief Executive. Following the departure of Mr. Fait, I was appointed Executive Chairman for an interim period.

 

Since then, we have significantly enhanced our corporate governance with further Board appointments, four of whom were appointed in October 2018. The Board now comprises of five independent non-executive directors and two executive directors. I am confident that the current composition of the Board will continue to strengthen and reinforce Telit's governance and its leading position in the global industrial IoT space.

 

FCA Investigation

 

In December 2018, we announced that the FCA has expanded the scope of the ongoing investigation announced on 27 March 2018 to consider the accuracy of earlier announcements by Telit, including its trading update of 25 April 2017 and regarding the placing, which was announced on 4 May 2017 and completed on 5 May 2017. The Group has cooperated fully with the FCA in its enquiries to date and will continue to do so. The Board of directors of Telit has changed entirely since the events in question.

 

Paolo Dal Pino

Executive Chairman

 

 

FINANCE DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT

 

I am pleased to report that in 2018 Telit made a significant improvement in its financial results based on revenue growth and a reduction in operating costs, which improved the Group's overall efficiency without compromising its future development.

 

Financial results

 

2018

$M

2017

$M

Change

$M

Change %

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

427.5

374.5

53.0

14.1%

Gross profit

139.2

131.6

7.6

5.8%

Gross margin

32.6%

35.1%

 

 

Other operating income

1.9

2.4

(0.5)

(20.8%)

Research and development expenses

(73.0)

(66.9)

(6.1)

9.1%

Selling and marketing expenses

(59.1)

(66.8)

7.7

11.5%

General and administrative expenses

(26.0)

(28.6)

2.6

(9.1%)

Exceptional expenses related to restructuring 

(10.8)

(16.0)

5.2

32.5%

Other exceptional expenses

(5.5)

(5.4)

(0.1)

(1.8%)

Adjusted EBITDA

30.1

18.1

12.0

66.3%

Loss in cash

(3.6)

(27.0)

23.4

86.7%

Operating loss (EBIT)

(33.4)

(49.7)

16.3

32.8%

Adjusted EBIT

2.3

(10.7)

13.0

121.5%

Loss before tax

(39.8)

(56.8)

17.0

29.9%

Adjusted loss before tax

(4.1)

(17.8)

13.7

77.0%

Basic loss per share (cents)

(27.9)

(41.9)

14.0

33.4%

Adjusted basic loss per share (cents)

(3.8)

(16.4)

12.6

76.8%

         

Adjusted EBIT is defined as Earnings Before Interest, Tax, share based payment expenses, amortisation of acquired intangibles, impairment of intangible assets,  exceptional expenses related to restructuring and exceptional expenses; Adjusted EBITDA as Adjusted EBIT plus depreciation and other amortisation; Adjusted Profit (Loss) before tax as Profit before tax plus share based payment expenses, amortisation of acquired intangibles, impairment of intangible assets, exceptional expenses related to restructuring and exceptional expenses;.  Profit (loss) in cash defined as Adj. EBITDA less capitalisation of internally generated assets and less acquisition of tangible and intangible assets net of proceeds from disposal of assets

 

Reconciliation between operational and adjusted operational results:

 

2018 reported

$M

Exceptional

items

$M

Impairment of internally generated assets

$M

 

Share based charges

$M

Amortisation of intangible acquired amortisation

$M

Change in deferred tax

$M

2018 adjusted

$M

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross profit

139.2

-

-

-

-

-

139.2

Other operating income

1.9

-

-

-

-

-

1.9

Research and development expenses

(73.0)

-

10.2

2.0

2.1

-

(58.7)

Selling and marketing expenses

(59.1)

-

-

2.7

1.3

-

(55.1)

General and administrative expenses

(26.0)

-

-

1.0

-

-

(25.0)

Exceptional items

(16.4)

16.4

-

-

-

-

-

Operating loss (EBIT)

(33.4)

16.4

10.2

5.7

3.4

-

2.3

Loss before tax

(39.8)

16.4

10.2

5.7

3.4

-

(4.1)

Net loss

(36.4)

16.4

10.2

5.7

3.4

(4.2)

(4.9)

 

Revenues

 

Group revenues increased to $427.5 million (2017: $374.5 million), an increase of 14.1% of which Cloud and connectivity revenues were $34.1 million (2017: $27.7 million), an increase of 23.1%.

 

Hardware (modules) - revenue growth was back to double digit fuelled by growth in all regions with America showing the strongest growth with revenues up to $192.4 million (2017: $160.2 million). We are in a good position to continue to grow our revenue in America at a higher rate than in other markets.

 

IoT services - The 23.1% increase in Cloud and connectivity revenues is encouraging after the disappointing growth of last year. In the IoT connectivity, we enjoyed another year of fast growth in EMEA which was offset by slower growth in the US. The US recovered from the last year but still suffers from a faster decline in the average revenue per user (ARPU), which was traditionally higher than in EMEA. In the IoT Cloud revenue, we faced a slower than expected growth for lack of ramp up of certain projects which led us to be more selective in engaging for small projects or companies.

 

Telit's activities in the IoT services business unit have grown in recent years and, although operational results from this business unit still comprise less than 10% from the Group's results, it focuses more and more on IoT services as one of the future growth engines.

 

Americas- revenues were up to $192.4 million (2017: $160.2 million), slightly ahead of our expectations. The overall market for LTE products continued to grow, with additional certifications of our CAT-1 and CAT-M1 products and the major US carriers plans to focus exclusively on LTE. We are in a good position to continue grow our revenue in this market at higher rate than in other markets.

 

EMEA- revenues increased to $159.6 million (2017: $147.4 million). EMEA continues to be impacted by cellular technology stagnation. The uncertainty of the timing of MNOs moving to new LTE technologies, remains a significant factor but it is now expected that low category LTE deployment that started in 2018, will ramp up in 2019.

 

Telit's portfolio for this region includes a full set of products supporting the different LTE technologies with and without fall-back to the legacy 2G and 3G networks, to allow customers to go through this uncertain period with as little disruption as possible to the serviceability of their devices in the field.

 

APAC- revenues were up to $75.5 million (2017: $66.9 million), back to growth after the decline we saw in 2018. The growth was slightly below our expectation mainly as a result of the slower than expected deployment of a significant utility project, which impacted our overall performance since the end of 2017.  

 

Operating segments are reported in a manner consistent with the internal reporting provided to the chief operating decision-maker in the Group. The chief operation decision-maker, who is responsible for allocating resources and assessing performance of the operating segments and makes strategic decisions, has been identified as the Executive Chairman / Chief Executive. Segment performance is evaluated based on operating profit or loss, is presented below:

 

 

2018

IoT Products

IoT Services

Consolidated

 

$M

$M

$M

Revenue

 

 

 

External sales:

 

 

 

Sales of IoT HW products

391.5

-

391.5

Sales of Connectivity and IOT platforms services  

-

34.1

  34.1

Sales of licences and other services

-

1.9

 1.9

Inter-segment sales (1)

-

-

-

Total revenue

391.5

36.0

427.5

 

 

 

 

Result

 

 

 

Gross profit

116.6

22.6

139.2

Gross margin

29.8%

62.8%

32.56%

Impairment of goodwill

(1.1)

-

(1.1)

Impairment of internally generated development costs

(7.9)

(2.3)

(10.2)

Segment EBIT

5.5

(12.0)

(6.5)

 

1.40%

(33.3%)

 

Unallocated expenses (2)

 

(26.9)

Operating loss

 

 

(33.4)

Finance income

 

 

0.1

Finance costs

 

 

(6.5)

Loss before income taxes

 

(39.8)

Income taxes

 

 

3.5

Loss for the period

 

 

(36.3)

           

 

 

2017

IoT Products

IoT services

Consolidated

 

$M

$M

$M

Revenue

 

 

 

External sales:

 

 

 

Sales of IoT HW products

343.7

-

343.7

Sales of Connectivity and IOT platforms services  

-

27.7

27.7

 

Sales of licences and other services

-

3.1

3.1

Inter-segment sales (1)

-

-

-

Total revenue

343.7

30.8

374.5

 

 

 

 

Result

 

 

 

Gross profit

113.7

17.9

131.6

Gross margin

33.1%

58.1%

35.1%

Impairment of goodwill

(1.6)

-

(1.6)

Impairment of internally generated development costs

(6.4)

(2)

(8.4)

Segment EBIT

(8.9)

(17.5)

(26.4)

 

(2.6%)

(56.8%)

 

Unallocated expenses (2)

 

(23.3)

Operating loss

 

 

(49.7)

Finance income

 

 

0.2

Finance costs

 

 

(7.3)

Loss before income taxes

 

(56.8)

Income taxes

 

 

4.6

Loss for the period

 

 

(52.2)

             

 

(1) There are no transactions between business unit segments.

(2) Unallocated expenses principally including general and administrative expenses such as director's compensation, salaries of certain senior executives, professional fees and other expenses which cannot be directly allocated to one of the segments.

 

The split of revenues by geographical markets is as follows:

 

 

2018

$m

% of total revenue

2017

$m

% of total revenue

Change

Americas

192.4

45.0%

160.2

42.8%

20.1%

EMEA

159.6

37.3%

147.4

39.4%

8.3%

APAC

75.5

17.7%

66.9

17.8%

12.9%

Total

427.5

 

374.5

 

14.1%

 

Gross margin and gross profit

 

Gross margin was 32.6% (2017: 35.1%). The year-on-year decline was as expected, and mainly due to the faster shift from mature technologies with higher gross margins, to LTE, which is a relatively new technology, with lower margins at this stage. Whilst we are expecting future gross margins to remain in the low thirties, we also expect LTE product margins to improve and take the margin slightly up.

 

This improvement will be a result of the maturity and growth in volumes as well as the additional improvement coming from the divestment of the automotive business, which traditionally had a lower gross margin.

 

Gross profit was $139.2 million (2017: $131.6 million), an increase of 5.8%, derived from the growth in revenue which was offset by the decline in the gross margin.

 

Operating expenses

 

·      Gross R&D expenses as follows:

 

 

2018

$m

2017

$m

Gross research & development expenses (1)

70.9

71.4

Less - capitalisation (2)

(25.3)

(31.1)

Add - amortisation

17.2

18.2

Add - impairment (3)

10.2

8.4

Research and development, net

73.0

66.9

 

 

(1)  Gross research and development expenses declined by $0.5 million following the implementation of our cost reduction plan.

(2)  The amount capitalised in respect of internally generated development assets decreased by 19%. As a percentage of gross R&D expenses, it decreased from 43.6% in 2017 to 35.7% in 2018. The amount capitalised is mainly related to the development of high category LTE products for both industrial and automotive (which were disposed in February 2019) and low categories including the CAT-M1 and NB-IoT for the industrial IoT.

(3)  A non cash impairment loss on capitalised development assets, mainly as a result of decrease in future revenues from several products that were put at "end of life" status.

 

·      Selling and marketing expenses decreased by 11.5% to $59.1 million (2017: $66.8 million). The decrease derived from the continued implementation of the cost saving plan.

 

·      General and administrative expenses decreased by 9.1% to $26 million (2017: $28.6 million). Excluding former CEO's compensation in both years suggest a saving of $1.7m, derive mainly from the continued implementation of the cost saving plan.

 

·      Exceptional expenses related to restructuring: 

 

Following the review of the Group's activities, cost base and product portfolio, we took several actions in order to rationalise our operating cost structure and improve future profitability as part of a restructuring plan. The restructuring plan aimed to cut approximately 10% of the annualised cash operating expenses in 2018.

 

The restructuring plan was extended in November 2018 in order to achieve additional reduction of $10 million in cash operating expenses in 2019 in addition to the reduction in operating expenses as a result of the automotive sale.

 

          Restructuring costs recognised include the following:

 

2018

$m

2017

$m

Termination fees and other employees related costs (1)

2.6

1.9

Accelerated amortisation of capitalised development assets related to restructuring (2)

1.2

6.2

Accelerated amortisation of acquired technology related to restructuring (2)

0.5

1.8

Provision for impairment of goodwill related to restructuring (2)

1.1

0.3

Provision of inventory items related to restructuring (3)

4.6

5.7

Other expenses related to restructuring (4)

0.8

-

Total

10.8

15.9

(1)  related mainly to the headcount reduction following the closing of the R&D centre in Germany and the reduction in the headcount at the IoT services. The amount was affected by the reversal of unvested share based payment charges related to unvested options and RSUs issued to these employees in the amount of $0.8m. 

(2)  Non cash write-off of capitalised development assets, acquired technology and goodwill which recorded under restructuring costs following a classification of several products and services as "end of life" or for being abandon as part of the overall restructuring plan.

(3)  The rationalisation of the product portfolio made some inventory (both finished goods and components) redundant which resulted in non cash impairment charges.

(4)  Including mainly consultancy costs related to restructuring and other costs related to closing of offices

 

·      Other exceptional items:

 

2018

$m

2017

$m

Integration and transaction costs (1)

2.8

5.0

Legal and other expenses related to crisis management (2)

0.9

1.5

Net expenses (gain) in relation to the departure of the former CEO's (3)

0.4

(1.2)

Legal expenses related to BAMES (4)

1.3

-

Other

0.1

0.1

Total

5.5

5.4

 

 

 

(1)  Costs related mainly to the automotive sale which was signed in 2018 and completed in February 2019 and include mainly legal and other costs related to the transaction and the reorganization. (2017: related mainly to the GainSpan integration and restructuring.)

(2)  Costs related mainly to legal and advisory costs in association with the crisis management started in 2017 following the departure of former CEO and the ongoing FCA investigation.

(3)  Net expenses (gain) were affected by the reversal of unvested share based payment charges related to unvested options and RSUs issued to CEO's in the amount of $1.3m (2017: $2.5 million). For more details see also remuneration report.

(4)  Costs related to defending the Group position in BAMES case including the settlement fees of approximately $1 million - see also note 8

 

Finance costs, net

 

2018

$m

2017

$m

 

Difference

Non-cash expenses related to effective rate interest on preferred loan

1.2

1.1

0.1

Interest expense on bank loans and overdrafts (1)

3.1

2.3

0.8

Bank fees and other bank expenses

1.2

1.2

-

Exchange rate differences, net (2)

0.4

2.6

(2.2)

Loss from Hedging Transactions (3)

0.6

-

0.6

Interest income

(0.1)

(0.1)

-

Total

6.4

7.1

(0.7)

(1)  Interest expenses related to loans and overdrafts increased by $0.8 million, due to an increased utilisation of our bank facilities and an increase in the interest rate.

(2)  The decline in the exchange rate differences derive mainly from the decrease in the euro over the US dollars.

(3)  Due to the uncertainty around the Euro currency, the company entered into a hedging arrangement to protect the operating costs denominated in Euro - as the Euro currency against the USD was lower than expected, the hedging arrangement resulted in a loss.

 

Following the repayment of our bank debt in February 2019, we expect a decline in our financing costs in 2019.

 

Profitability

 

We measure our profitability based on adjusted figures to eliminate exceptional and share based payment charges. The adjusted figures exclude: a share-based payment charge of $5.7 million, before reversal of unvested awards related to employees who left in 2018 of $2.1 million  (2017: $4.3 million); restructuring costs of $10.8 million (2017: $16.0 million); other exceptional expenses of $5.5 million (2017: $5.4 million); impairment of capitalised development assets of $10.2 million (2016: $8.4 million) and amortisation of acquired intangible assets of $3.4 million (2017: $4.8 million).

 

In 2017, we adopted the "profit in cash" performance measure which together with revenue and adjusted EBITDA, are the most important KPIs. The profit in cash is defined as Adjusted EBITDA less R&D capitalisation less capital expenditures. In 2018 loss in cash was $3.6 million, a significant improvement over the $27.0 million loss in cash of 2017. In H2-2018, the Group moved to a positive profit in cash.

 

Adjusted EBITDA increased to $30.1 million (2017: $18.1 million). 

 

Adjusted EBIT was $2.3 million (2017: loss $10.7 million). The operating loss was $33.4 million (2017 loss of $49.7 million). This improvement was mainly derived from the increase of $7.6 million in gross profit and the decrease of $5 million in recurring operating expenses.

 

Adjusted net loss for the year was $4.9 million (2017: loss of $20.5 million) and reported net loss was $36.4 million (2017: loss of $52.2 million).

 

Adjusted basic loss per share was 3.8 cents (2017: loss per share 16.4 cents). Basic and diluted loss per share was 27.9 cents (2017: basic and diluted loss per share was 41.9 cents).

 

Dividend

 

The Board is not proposing to pay a dividend for the period. The Board are considering all options in relation to the cash received from the sale of the automotive division, being mindful of the investment requirements of the Group.

 

Net debt and cash flow

 

As at 31 December 2018, net debt was $34.0 million (2017: $30.2 million).

 

Cash flow provided from operating activities of $25.8 million (2017: cash used in operating activities of $4.8 million). The significant improvement of $30.6 million was mainly driven by the overall improvement in the financial performance and an improvement in the working capital level.  The operating cash flows before movements in working capital was $14.8 million compared with $0.2 million in 2017. 

 

Cash flow used in investing activity was $33.7 million (2017: $51.9 million). The decrease was mainly due to a decrease in the amount spent on acquisition and the decrease in capitalised development expenditure.

 

Cash flow provided from financing activity was $2.2 million (2017: $72.2 million). The decrease was mainly due to issue of new shares of $49.7 million that took place in 2017 and the remaining mainly from the net increase in borrowings.

 

Balance sheet

 

Internally generated development assets, net

 

As at 31 December 2018, the net amount of internally generated development assets decreased by $7.4 million to $67.3 million (2017: $74.7 million). The split of the net assets by technology is as follows:

 

Technology

Internally generated development assets, net as at 31 December 2018

Internally generated development assets, net as at 31 December 2017

Change year over year

 

$'m

%

$'m

%

$'m

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4G

47.9

71%

49.7

67%

(1.8)

(4%)

3G

6.6

10%

9.4

12%

(2.8)

(29%)

Other IoT Modules

8.1

12%

6.9

9%

1.2

17%

IoT Services

4.7

7%

8.7

12%

(4.0)

(46%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31 December

67.3

100%

74.7

100%

(7.4)

(10%)

 

Internally generated development assets that completed the development phase, moved to mass production phase and which have started to be amortised, increased to 63% of the total internally generated development assets (2017: 47%).

 

 

2018

$'m

%

2017

$'m

%

Net assets in development process (not amortised yet)

24.8

37%

39.9

53%

Net assets in amortisation phase

42.5

63%

34.8

47%

Total

67.3

 

74.7

 

 

Total equity

 

Net shareholders' equity decreases from $124.5 million as at 31 December 2017 to $86.5 million as at 31 December 2018 mainly due to the net loss in 2018.

 

Key Indicators

 

The Board and management have several indicators to measure its financial and operational performance. Among all indicators which management defines, the following are the key indicators used in order to measure growth and profitability. 

 

Revenues

 

2018

$427.5 million

2017

$374.5 million

 

Hardware Revenues

 

2018

$391.5 million

2017

$343.7 million

 

Cloud & Connectivity Revenues

 

2018

$34.1 million

2017

$27.7 million

 

Gross Profit

 

2018

$139.2 million

2017

$131.6 million

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

2018

$30.1 million

2017

$18.1 million

 

Loss in cash[3]

 

2018

($3.6) million

2017

($27.0) million

 

Yariv Dafna

Finance Director

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

 

 

2018

2017

 

 

$'000

$'000

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

427,483

374,531

Cost of sales

 

(288,310)

(242,949)

 

 

 

 

Gross profit

 

139,173

131,582

 

 

 

 

Other operating income

 

1,903

2,437

Research and development expenses

 

(72,985)

(66,870)

Selling and marketing expenses

 

(59,139)

(66,786)

General and administrative expenses

 

(25,973)

(28,640)

Exceptional expenses related to restructuring

 

(10,842)

(15,979)

Other exceptional items

 

(5,545)

(5,412)

 

 

 

 

Operating loss

 

(33,408)

(49,668)

 

 

 

 

Operating loss

 

(33,408)

(49,668)

Share based payment charges

 

5,715

4,324

Exceptional expenses related to restructuring

 

10,842

15,979

Impairment of internally generated development assets

 

10,238

8,414

Other exceptional items

 

5,545

5,412

Amortisation of intangible assets acquired

 

3,381

4,834

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBIT (*)

 

2,313

(10,705)

 

 

 

 

Finance income

 

147

155

Finance costs

 

(6,552)

(7,268)

 

 

 

 

Loss before income taxes

 

(39,813)

(56,781)

 

 

 

 

Tax credit

 

3,453

4,565

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

(36,360)

(52,216)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*    Adjusted EBIT is a company specific non GAAP measure which excludes share based payment charges, exceptional expenses related to restructuring, impairment of internally generated development assets, other exceptional items and amortisation of intangible assets acquired. The Group's management believes that non-GAAP measures provide useful information to investors to evaluate operating results and profitability for financial and operational decision-making purposes and to provide comparability between the companies in this sector, as they eliminate non-cash and other exceptional items.

 

 

2018

Audited

2017

Audited

 

 

 

 

 

 

$'000

$'000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net (loss) / profit

 

(36,360)

(52,216)

 

Other comprehensive income

Items to be reclassified in subsequent periods to profit and loss:

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation differences

 

(5,352)

11,801

Items not to be reclassified in subsequent periods to profit and loss:

 

 

 

Remeasurement loss on defined benefit plan, net of tax

 

(4)

(242)

 

 

 

 

Total comprehensive (loss) / income for the year

 

(41,716)

(40,657)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic loss per share (in USD cents)

 

(27.9)

(41.9)

Diluted loss per share (in USD cents)

 

(27.9)

(41.9)

Adjusted basic loss per share[4] (in USD cents)

 

(3.8)

(16.4)

Adjusted diluted loss per share[5] (in USD cents)

 

(3.8)

(16.4)

Basic weighted average number of equity shares

 

130,446.810

124,689,682

Diluted weighted average number of equity shares

 

130,446,810

124,689,682

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

 

 

2018

Audited

2017

Audited

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$'000

$'000

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

Non-current assets

 

 

 

 

Intangible assets

 

97,012

110,436

 

Property, plant and equipment

 

23,101

26,545

 

Investments in subsidiaries

 

-

-

 

Other long term assets

 

1,456

1,909

 

Deferred tax asset

 

19,043

15,068

 

 

 

140,612

153,958

 

Current assets

 

 

 

 

Inventories

 

27,187

23,829

 

Trade receivables

 

99,550

100,410

 

Income tax receivables

 

759

934

 

Other current assets

 

15,531

15,968

 

Deposits - restricted cash

 

345

393

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

35,006

41,908

 

 

 

178,378

183,442

 

Total assets

 

318,990

337,400

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

 

 

Shareholders' equity

 

 

 

 

Share capital

 

2,165

2,165

 

Share premium account

 

49,778

49,778

 

Other reserve

 

(2,727)

(2,727)

 

Treasury stock fund

 

-

-

 

Translation reserve

 

(18,049)

(12,697)

 

Retained earnings

 

55,319

88,024

 

Total equity

 

86,486

124,543

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-current liabilities

 

 

 

 

Long term borrowings from banks

 

24,092

42,203

 

Post-employment benefits

 

2,771

3,272

 

Deferred tax liabilities

 

1,451

1,109

 

Provisions

 

1,373

923

 

 

 

29,687

47,507

 

Current liabilities

 

 

 

 

Short-term borrowings from banks

 

45,238

30,256

 

Trade payables

 

120,824

104,012

 

Provisions

 

2,254

708

 

Income tax payables

 

2,836

2,190

 

Accruals and other current liabilities

 

31,665

28,184

 

 

 

202,817

165,350

 

Total equity and liabilities

 

318,990

337,400

 

 

 

 

 

 

           

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOW

 

 

 

 

2018 Audited

2017 Audited

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$'000

$'000

 

CASH FLOWS - OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

(Loss) / profit for the year from continued operations

 

(36,360)

(52,216)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjustments for:

 

 

 

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

 

8,905

8,765

 

Amortisation of intangible assets

 

23,428

32,883

 

Impairment of intangible assets

 

11,829

10,024

 

Loss / (gain) on sale of property, plant and equipment

 

294

99

 

Loss on disposal of intangible assets

 

-

446

 

Increase in provision for post-employment benefits

 

(362)

(325)

 

Change in long term provisions, net

 

501

(3,857)

 

Finance costs, net

 

6,405

7,113

 

Tax (income) / expenses

 

(3,453)

(4,565)

 

Share-based payment charge, net

 

3,659

1,805

 

 

Operating cash flows before movements in working capital:

 

14,846

172

 

Decrease /(increase) in trade and other receivables

 

(326)

11,468

 

(Increase) /decrease in other current assets

 

2,007

(376)

 

Decrease /(increase) in inventories

 

(4,238)

8,521

 

(Decrease) /increase in trade payables

 

16,744

(15,027)

 

(Decrease) /increase in other current liabilities

 

481

(3,284)

 

Cash from operations

 

29,514

1,474

 

Income tax paid

 

(10)

(3,196)

 

Interest received

 

142

155

 

Interest paid

 

(3,880)

(3,247)

 

Net cash (used in) / from operating activities

 

25,766

(4,814)

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS - INVESTING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

Acquisition of property, plant and equipment

 

(8,296)

(10,167)

 

Acquisition of intangible assets

 

(869)

(3,997)

 

Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment

 

762

231

 

Capitalised development expenditure

 

(25,300)

(31,098)

 

Acquisition of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired

 

-

(6,672)

 

Increase in restricted cash deposits

 

28

(196)

 

Net cash (used in) investing activities

 

(33,675)

(51,899)

 

 

 

 

 

 

               

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOW

 

 

 

2018 Audited

2017 Audited

 

 

 

 

 

 

$'000

$'000

CASH FLOWS - FINANCING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

Proceeds from exercise of share options

 

-

196

Issue of shares

 

-

49,660

Dividend paid

 

-

(5,682)

Short-term borrowings from banks, net

 

6,895

10,606

Proceeds from long term borrowings from banks

 

4,616

21,530

Repayment of long term borrowings from banks

 

(9,326)

(4,116)

Net cash from financing activities

 

2,185

72,194

 

 

 

 

Increase / (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

(5,724)

15,481

Cash and cash equivalents - balance at beginning of year

 

41,908

26,547

Effect of exchange rate differences

 

(1,178)

(120)

Cash and cash equivalents - balance at end of year

 

35,006

41,908

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1) amount paid in cash in the period in respect of exceptional items was $5.3 million (2017: $5.3 million).

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

 

 

Year ended 31 December 2018

 

 

 

Share capital

Share premium

Account

Other reserve

Translation reserve

Retained earnings

Total

 

 

$'000

$'000

$'000

$'000

$'000

$'000

 

Balance at 1 January 2018

2,165

49,778

(2,727)

(12,697)

88,024

124,543

 

Total comprehensive income/(loss) for the year

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss for the year

-

-

-

-

(36,360)

(36,360)

Other comprehensive income

-

-

-

(5,352)

(4)

(5,356)

Total comprehensive income/(loss)

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

(5,352)

(36,364)

(41,716)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transactions with owners:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share-based payment charge

-

-

-

-

3,659

3,659

 

Balance at 31 December 2018

2,165

49,778

(2,727)

(18,049)

55,319

86,486

               

 

 

Year ended 31 December 2017

 

 

 

Share capital

Share premium

Account

Other reserve

 

 

Treasury stock fund

Translation reserve

Retained earnings

Total

 

 

$'000

$'000

$'000

$'000

$'000

$'000

$'000

 

Balance at 1 January 2017

1,984

103

(2,727)

 

(1,929)

(24,498)

146,288

119,221

 

Total comprehensive income/(loss) for the year

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss for the year

-

-

-

-

-

(52,216)

(52,216)

Other comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

11,801

(242)

11,559

Total comprehensive income/(loss)

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

11,801

(52,458)

(40,659)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transactions with owners:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercise of options

31

165

-

1,929

-

(1,929)

196

 

Issue of shares

150

49,510

-

-

-

-

49,660

 

Share-based payment charge

-

-

-

-

-

1,805

1,805

 

Cash dividend

-

-

-

-

-

(5,682)

(5,682)

 

Total transactions with owners

181

49,675

-

1,929

-

(5,806)

45,979

 

Balance at 31 December 2017

2,165

49,778

(2,727)

-

(12,697)

88,024

12,543

                 

 

 

 

NOTES TO THE PRELIMINARY ANNOUNCEMENT

 

1.   This financial information is consistent with the consolidated financial statements of the group, for the year ended 31 December 2018. The Group's consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the EU.

 

2.   The financial information set out above does not constitute Telit's statutory accounts for the years ended 31 December 2018 or 2017. Statutory accounts for 2018 will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The auditors have reported on the 2018 and 2017 statutory accounts; their reports were (i) unqualified, (ii) did not include references to any matters to which the auditors drew attention by way of emphasis without qualifying their reports and (iii) did not contain statements under section 498 (2) or 498 (3) of the Companies Act 2006.

 

3.   Going concern

 

Following the sale of the automotive division on 27 February 2019, the group has repaid all outstanding loans and credit facilities from HSBC Bank plc and certain of its affiliates and also from Bank Hapoalim B.M. Since this date the company has adequate cash to finance its working capital needs. Going forward the group will look to secure new lines of credit and other facilities in order to release cash and increase its financing flexibility.

 

In addition, the Group has received long-term preferential rate loans supported by the Ministry of Trade and Commerce in Italy. Further information is provided in note 5.

 

In assessing going concern, the Board has considered the risks related to (a) the level of demand for the Group's products which may also affect the possibility of utilising some of these facilities since they depend upon the level of sales in specific markets and in some instances to specific customers; (b) the fluctuations in the exchange rate and thus the consequence for the cost of the Group's raw materials; (c) the continuity of supply from key suppliers; and (d) the company's budgets and forecasts in current market environments.

 

The Board has also carefully reviewed the Group's budget for 2019 and its medium-term plans, including the restructuring plan. The Directors are mindful that the Group operates in the IoT sector which remains a rapidly growing industry subject to ongoing change in technological and competitive landscape.

 

After making enquiries, the directors are confident that the Company and the Group have adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.

 

4.      Reconciliation of operating profit, profit before tax and net profit to the adjusted figures:

 

EBITDA is not a financial measure defined by IFRS as a measurement of financial performance and may not be comparable to other similarly-titled indicators used by other companies. Adjusted EBIT, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted profit before tax and profit in cash are provided as additional information only and should not be considered as a substitute for operating profit/loss (EBIT) or net cash provided by operating activities.

Adjusted EBIT is defined as Earnings Before Interest, Tax, share based payment expenses, amortisation of acquired intangibles, impairment and other exceptional items and exceptional expenses; Adjusted EBITDA as Adjusted EBIT plus depreciation and other amortisation; profit/loss in cash as Adjusted EBITDA less capitalisation of internally generated development assets less acquisition of tangible and intangible assets net of proceeds from disposal of assets.

Adjusted (Loss) / Profit before tax as (Loss) / Profit before tax plus share based payment expenses, amortisation of acquired intangibles and other exceptional items and exceptional expenses; and Adjusted net (loss) / profit for the year as net (Loss) / Profit for the year plus share based payment expenses, amortisation of acquired intangibles and other exceptional items less deferred tax (credit) / expense. The Group's management believes that these non-GAAP measures provide useful information to investors to evaluate operating results and profitability for financial and operational decision-making purposes and to provide comparability between the companies in this sector, as they eliminate non-cash items and other exceptional items, which are not inherent to the business. Consequently, Adjusted EBIT, Adjusted EBITDA, (loss) / profit in cash, Adjusted (loss) / profit before tax and Adjusted net (loss) / profit for the year are presented in addition to the reported results.

 

 

 

2018

2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

$'000

$'000

Operating loss - EBIT

 

(33,408)

(49,668)

Share-based payments

 

5,715

4,324

Exceptional expenses related to restructuring[6]

 

10,842

15,979

Impairment of internally developed assets

 

10,238

8,414

Other exceptional items[7]

 

5,545

5,412

Amortisation - intangibles assets acquired

 

3,381

4,834

Adjusted EBIT

 

2,313

(10,705)

Depreciation and other amortisation

 

27,770

28,757

Adjusted EBITDA

 

30,083

18,052

Capitalisation of internally generated development assets

 

(25,300)

(31,098)

Acquisition of tangible and intangible assets, net of proceeds from disposal of assets

 

(8,402)

(13,933)

Loss in cash

 

(3,619)

(26,979)

 

 

 

 

Loss before tax

 

(39,813)

(56,781)

Share-based payments

 

5,715

4,324

Exceptional expenses related to restructuring

 

10,842

15,979

Impairment of internally developed assets

 

10,238

8,414

Other exceptional items

 

5,545

5,412

Amortisation - intangibles acquired

 

3,381

4,834

Adjusted loss before tax

 

(4,092)

(17,818)

 

Net loss for the year

 

(36,360)

(52,216)

Share-based payments

 

5,715

4,324

Exceptional expenses related to restructuring

 

10,842

15,979

Impairment of internally developed assets

 

10,238

8,414

Other exceptional items

 

5,545

5,412

Amortisation of intangibles acquired

 

3,381

4,834

Deferred tax credit

 

(4,268)

(7,241)

Adjusted net loss for the year

 

(4,907)

(20,494)

 

 

5.      Net debt position

The table below presents the net debt position at the year-end:

 

2018

2017

 

$ '000

$ '000

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

35,006

41,908

Restricted cash deposits

337

393

Working capital borrowing (1)

(24,442)

(22,112)

Long term loans (2)

(20,033)

(23,351)

Governmental loans (3)

(22,862)

(24,657)

Mortgage loan (4)

(1,993)

(2,339)

Net debt

(33,987)

(30,158)

 

 

(1)  Short term borrowings, less than one year, based on committed credit facilities used for working capital. The credit facilities of up to $70 million bear interest at a rate of 2.20% to 3.70%.

 

(2)  Representing long term loans from HSBC in the amount of $16.6 million with interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 2.95% and is being repaid in 7 half year instalments that commenced in October 2018. Following the automotive transaction completion, this loan was fully repaid in February 2019. Long term loans from banks in Italy of $3.4 million with an interest rate of Euribor 6 months plus + 5.5% and is repayable in 6 semi-annual instalments that will commence in December 2020.

 

(3)  Representing preferential long term loans (i) for $19 million with fixed-rate of 0.5% and is repayable in 14 semi-annual instalments that commence in December 2016, supported by the Italian MISE (Ministry of Economic Development) to develop an innovative platform for the application of M2M technologies and, (ii) for $3.9 million with a fixed-rate of 0.80% and is repayable in 16 semi-annual instalments that will commenced in December  2019, supported by the Ministry of Trade and Commerce in Italy, provided in connection with the Group's business development program in Italy. The loans are initially recognised at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost.

 

(4)  Representing a preferential rate loan of $2.0 million from a regional fund in Italy provided in connection with the Group's acquisition of the campus used for the Company's main R&D facility in Trieste, Italy. The mortgage loan is denominated in Euro, attracts interest at a rate of 80% of Euribor 6 months, with a minimum interest rate of 0.85% ,and is repayable over 15 years in semi-annual instalments that commenced in June 2012. The loan is initially recognised at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost.

 

The directors believe that the credit facilities will remain available to the Group in the foreseeable future and that therefore the Group will be able to continue to fund its operations from these credit facilities.

 

6.      Tax Assessment

 

In August 2018, culminating the first stage of a tax audit, the group affiliates Telit Wireless Solutions Ltd. and Telit Wireless Services Ltd. received tax assessments from the Israeli Tax Authorities for FY 2013 and FY 2013-2016 respectively. These assessments relate to the treatment of losses arising from a statutory reorganization performed in 2014 which were utilized to offset taxable income. The potential additional tax charge to the Group is approximately $3m. The Group has appealed the assessment and considers, based on professional advice and the particular facts (including, specifically, that the statutory reorganization was performed in accordance with the conditions set out in the Israeli Income Tax Ordinance, that it has strong arguments against the disallowance of the losses. Accordingly, no provision has been made for this amount.

 

 

7.      Sale of Automotive division

 

On 13 July 2018, Telit Communications PLC agreed to sell its automotive business to TUS International Limited ("TUS"). On 27 February 2019 the sale was completed for a total consideration of $105.0 million. The company has received $67.5 million in cash, including $1 million on account of the cash and working capital position of the disposed business, and has granted TUS a short-term vendor loan of $38.5m ("Vendor Loan").

TUS repaid this vendor loan in full on 15 April 2019.

 

The transaction required a reorganisation of the automotive division and within the Group and transfer of the IP, customers relations, assets and employees who supported the automotive business in R&D and sales teams in several countries, this reorganization has been substantially completed in January 2019.

 

As of 31 December 2018, the net book value of the net assets, excluding working capital items, of the disposed business units is approximately $42 million. This includes Intangible assets of approximately $34 million. The net working capital items will be finally determined in May 2019 and will be added to the net consideration.

 

The capital gain before tax is expected to be approximately $55m and will be recorded in the financial statement of first half of 2019.

 

8.      BAMES

 

Criminal investigation against former Group CEO in relation to Bartolini After Market Electronic Services Srl. ("BAMES")

 

Between 2007 and 2010, the Company and its Italian subsidiaries were parties to several agreements with Bartolini After Market Electronic Services Srl. ("BAMES") and its subsidiary Services for Electronic Manufacturing Srl. (SEM), as disclosed in the Company's financial statements for 2007 to 2010. BAMES went into liquidation in 2013. In 2016, the Company became aware of a criminal investigation against, among others, its then CEO, Mr. Oozi Cats, with respect to BAMES' insolvency.

 

In March 2018 the Company was informed that the public prosecutor intended to file a criminal complaint against several people including Mr. Cats, subject to a preliminary hearing which had been scheduled for 25 May 2018. In July 2018, Telit was informed that the administrators to BAMES had taken steps to bring a civil claim against Telit - as civil liable entity -regarding its involvement with BAMES.

 

In March 2019, Telit reached a settlement agreement approved by the Court according to which it will pay, without any admission of liability and against a waiver of all civil claims against Telit in this respect, an amount of €840,000 plus approximately €21,000 of legal costs. This agreement has been entered into by Telit in order to bring certainty and closure to the matter between the Group and the administrators of BAMES. The settlement fees were paid in April 2019.

 

9.   New accounting standards applied

 

IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers

 

The Group adopted IFRS 15 from 1 January 2018 without restating comparatives. The Group undertook a review of the main types of commercial arrangement used under this model. In order to determine if a change in policy was required determining when control passes, how the transaction price is determined, accounting for warranties and the impact of variable consideration for discounts to customers, management performed a detailed analysis based on a five-step model that applies to revenue earned from contracts with customers as follows:

 

•         Identify the revenue streams and analyse the contracts with customers;

•         Based on analysis of contracts with customers, identify performance obligations;

•         Consider implications of agent vs principal revenue recognition;

•         Determine at what point control passes and when revenue should be recognised, i.e. based on point in time or over a period of time;

•         Determine transaction price and allocate the transaction price to the distinct performance obligations where relevant;

•         Evaluate accounting for customer discounts and assurance type warranties. 

 

Following this analysis management has concluded that the application of IFRS 15 had no material impact on the Group.

 

IFRS 9 Financial Instruments

 

IFRS 9 Financial Instruments replaced IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2018. The Group has applied the standard from 1 January 2018 without restating comparatives.

 

The adoption of IFRS 9 has changed the Group's accounting for impairment losses for financial assets by replacing IAS 39's incurred loss approach with a forward-looking expected credit loss (ECL) approach. IFRS 9 requires the Group to recognise an allowance for ECLs for all debt instruments not held at fair value through profit or loss and contract assets.

 

The Group has analysed the financial instruments and applied the ECL model and concluded that there is no significant impact on its statement of financial position, income statement and statement of changes in equity as a result of IFRS 9 implementation. There were no classification adjustments as a result of the adoption of IFRS 9.

 

[1]     For the definition of 'Adjusted' figures and reconciliation from IFRS financial results to adjusted financial results please refer to the financial statements.

[2]     Profit (loss) in cash defined as Adj. EBITDA less capitalisation of internally generated assets and less acquisition of tangible and intangible assets net of proceeds from disposal of assets - See also note 4.

[3]     Profit (loss) in cash defined as Adj. EBITDA less capitalisation of internally generated assets and less acquisition of tangible and intangible assets net of proceeds from disposal of assets - See also note 4.

[4]     Adjusted basic loss per share is defined as adjusted profit for the year divided by basis weighted average number of equity shares.

[5]     Adjusted diluted loss per share is defined as adjusted profit for the year divided by diluted weighted average number of equity shares.

 

[6]     For the breakdown of exceptional expenses related to restructuring. For further details refer to finance director statement.

[7]     For the breakdown of non recurring expenses. For further details refer to finance director statement.

 


This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.
 
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