Drumz Plc - Half-year Report
PR Newswire
London, September 15
16 September 2022
Drumz plc
('Drumz' or the 'Company')
Interim Results to 30 June 2022
CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT
I am pleased to present the Company’s Interim Results for Drumz, which is focused on investment in the technology sector, for the six months ended 30 June 2022.
Results and performance
The Group’s results for the six months ended 30 June 2022 showed revenue of £30,000 (2021: £18,000) and an operating loss of £184,000 (2021: loss of £261,000).
At 30 June 2022 the two principal assets of the Group continue to be its holding in Acuity Risk Management Limited (“Acuity”), an award-winning business specialising in risk management and cybersecurity; and its legacy holding in KCR Residential REIT plc (“KCR”), a company listed on AIM, which owns property in the private rented residential sector.
Acuity’s principal product is STREAM™, which is used by private and public sector clients to manage their cyber security and other enterprise risks. Acuity is in a sector where customer demand is exceptionally strong, as more businesses seek to protect their data for financial, reputational and regulatory reasons. Acuity continues to perform well and showed a 26 per cent increase in turnover for the year ended 31 March 2022.
In line with current accounting practice, Drumz’s investment in Acuity is shown at cost and therefore does not reflect the improvement in valuation that its growing turnover would suggest. Demand for Acuity’s proprietary software continues to grow and further details of the progress achieved by the company are set out in the Chief Executive’s Report.
The share price performance of KCR, our legacy investment, in the six months ended 30 June 2022 continued to be disappointing. The value of Drumz’s holding in KCR at 30 June 2022 was £317,000 (31 December 2021: £390,000), which represents a further book loss on this investment of £73,000 (2021: loss of £183,000). I am however, pleased to report that in recent weeks the KCR share price has improved somewhat and at the date of this announcement, the book loss suffered in the first half has been reduced by approximately £50,000.
The Group’s loss before and after taxation amounted to £184,000 (2021: £261,000). The basic and diluted loss per share amounted to 0.04p (2020: loss 0.08p). No dividend has been declared.
At 30 June 2022 the Group had cash resources of £413,000 (2021: £380,000) and shareholders’ funds of £1,374,000 (2021: £1,276,000).
Board
In June 2022 we welcomed Nick Clark to the Board as a non-executive Director. Nick is a significant shareholder in Drumz and a successful smaller companies investor. His skill set is in buying and investing in technology companies and he has already made a significant contribution in identifying possible acquisition targets.
Outlook
We continue to be pleased with the progress at the award-winning Acuity. The improvement in the number and the quality of the sales leads Acuity is now generating is a growing testament to the progress that has been made and bodes well for the future. We continue to look for new investment opportunities and I would like to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues and our shareholders for their continued support.
Simon Bennett
Chairman
16 September 2022
Chief Executive’s Report
Existing portfolio
Acuity Risk Management Limited (“Acuity”)
As outlined in the annual results, the commercial team at Acuity was strengthened in 2021 and revenue growth accelerated in the second half of the year. I am encouraged to report that revenues in the year to 31 March 2022 showed an increase of 26 per cent at £1.55 million (2021: £1.23 million). This growth has continued into the current year.
New appointments to the management team continue and I look forward to reporting on progress made in Acuity’s existing markets in the coming months. Other important developments at Acuity include:
(a) Gartner identifying Acuity’s product STREAM and Gartner’s peer insights identifying STREAM as one of the top four cyber risk products in the world; and further
(b) G2.com the world’s largest and most trusted tech marketplace for software, named Acuity (1) a Leader in ‘IT Risk Management Software’, (2) High Performer in ‘Audit Management Software’ and (3) number two for Quality of Support; and
(c) the expansion of distribution channels by the recruitment of well-connected VARs in the UK and North America.
We believe that these and other developments will enable substantial advances to be made in the coming months.
KCR Residential REIT plc (“KCR”)
The management of KCR has taken steps to improve cash flow, but the share price continues to disappoint. We continue to look for opportunities to realise this non-core asset.
New opportunities
We have identified several interesting target businesses during the period and made a number of proposals to acquire them, which would have turned Drumz from an investment company to a trading company. To date we have not been able to agree terms, but the Board considers that in the current economic climate that there will be opportunities which offer good value for Drumz and its shareholders.
Outlook
We are pleased with developments at Acuity where the contributions Drumz has made to the business has helped to grow its value. There remain major opportunities to grow shareholder value and achieve returns at Acuity and I look forward to reporting on further progress this year.
Angus Forrest
Chief Executive
| For further information please contact: | |
| Drumz Plc | www.drumzplc.com |
| Angus Forrest | +44 (0) 20 3582 0566 |
| WH Ireland (NOMAD & Broker) | www.whirelandcb.com |
| Mike Coe / Sarah Mather | +44 (0) 20 7220 1666 |
| Peterhouse Capital Limited (Joint broker) | |
| Lucy Williams / Duncan Vasey | +44 (0) 20 7469 0936 |
Condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income
| Unaudited 6 months to 30 June 2022 | Unaudited 6 months to 30 June 2021 | Audited year to 31 December 2021 | |||
| Note | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | ||
| Continuing operations | |||||
| Revenue | 30 | 18 | 44 | ||
| Cost of sales | — | — | — | ||
| Gross profit | 30 | 18 | 44 | ||
| Administrative expenses | (141) | (133) | (283) | ||
| Operating loss | 5 | (111) | (115) | (239) | |
| Loss on investments | (73) | (146) | (183) | ||
| Loss before and after taxation | 5 | (184) | (261) | (422) | |
| Loss for the period attributable to shareholders of the company | (184) | (261) | (422) | ||
| Total comprehensive income attributable to shareholders of the company | (184) | (261) | (422) | ||
| Earnings per share | |||||
| Basic and diluted earnings per share from total and continuing operations | 4 | (0.04)p | (0.08)p | (0.12)p | |
Diluted earnings per share is taken as equal to basic earnings per share as the Company is loss making and the average share price during the period is lower than the exercise price and therefore the effect of including share options is anti-dilutive.
Condensed consolidated statement of financial position
| Unaudited as at 30 June 2022 | Unaudited as at 30 June 2021 | Audited as at 31 December 2021 | ||
| Note | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | |
| ASSETS | ||||
| Non-current assets | ||||
| Investments at fair value through profit or loss | 6 | 942 | 927 | 1,015 |
| 942 | 927 | 1,015 | ||
| Current assets | ||||
| Trade and other receivables | 34 | 20 | 23 | |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 413 | 380 | 561 | |
| 447 | 400 | 584 | ||
| Total assets | 1,389 | 1,327 | 1,599 | |
| LIABILITIES | ||||
| Current liabilities | ||||
| Trade and other payables | 15 | 51 | 52 | |
| Total liabilities | 15 | 51 | 52 | |
| Net assets | 1,374 | 1,276 | 1,547 | |
| EQUITY | ||||
| Share capital | 2,688 | 2,613 | 2,688 | |
| Share premium account | 8,385 | 8,039 | 8,385 | |
| Share option reserve | 41 | 19 | 30 | |
| Convertible loan | - | 88 | - | |
| Merger reserve | 1,012 | 1,012 | 1,012 | |
| Retained earnings | (10,752) | (10,495) | (10,568) | |
| Total equity attributable to shareholders of the company | 1,374 | 1,276 | 1,547 |
Condensed consolidated statement of changes in equity
| Share | Share | ||||||
| Share | premium | option | Convertible | Merger | Retained | Total | |
| capital | account | Reserve | loan | reserve | earnings | equity | |
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | |
| Balance at 1 January 2021 | 2,613 | 8,039 | __ | 88 | 1,012 | (10,234) | 1,518 |
| Total comprehensive profit | — | — | __ | — | — | (261) | (261) |
| Share option reserve | __ | __ | 19 | __ | __ | __ | 19 |
| Balance at 30 June 2021 | 2,613 | 8,039 | 19 | 88 | 1,012 | (10,495) | 1,276 |
| Total comprehensive loss | — | — | __— | (88) | — | (73) | (161) |
| Issue of shares net of costs | 75 | 346 | 421 | ||||
| Share option reserve | __ | __ | 11 | __ | __ | __ | 11 |
| Balance at 31 December 2021 | 2,688 | 8,385 | 30 | __ | 1,012 | (10,568) | 1,547 |
| Total comprehensive loss | — | — | — | — | — | (184) | (184) |
| Share option reserve | __ | __ | 11 | __ | __ | __ | 11 |
| Balance at 30 June 2022 | 2,688 | 8,385 | 41 | __ | 1,012 | (10,752) | 1,374 |
Condensed consolidated statement of cash flows
| Unaudited 6 months to 30 June 2022 | Unaudited 6 months to 30 June 2021 | Audited year to 31 December 2021 | |
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | |
| Cash flows from operating activities | |||
| (Loss)/profit before taxation | (184) | (261) | (422) |
| Adjustments for: | |||
| Fair value adjustment for listed investments | 73 | 146 | 183 |
| Share option reserve | 11 | 19 | 30 |
| Changes in working capital: | |||
| - (Increase)/decrease in trade and other receivables | (11) | (6) | (9) |
| - (Decrease)/increase in trade and other payables | (37) | (9) | (8) |
| Net cash used in operating activities | (148) | (111) | (226) |
| Cash flows from investing activities Purchase of investments Cash flows from financing activities Cash raised through issue of shares (net of transaction costs) | (125) 421 | ||
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | (148) | (111) | 70 |
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 561 | 491 | 491 |
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | 413 | 380 | 561 |
1. Nature of operations and general information
The principal activity of the Company is investing in technology companies, which offer value creation opportunities over the short and medium term.
The Company is incorporated and domiciled in the United Kingdom. The address of Drumz plc’s registered office is Burnham Yard, London End, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, HP9 2JH.
Drumz plc’s shares are listed on AIM, a market operated by the London Stock Exchange. The condensed consolidated interim financial report was approved for issue by the Board of Directors on 16 September 2022.
The financial information set out in this interim financial report does not constitute statutory accounts as defined in Sections 434(3) and 435(3) of the Companies Act 2006. The Company’s statutory financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021 have been filed with the Registrar of Companies and are available at www.drumzplc.com. The auditor’s report on those financial statements was unqualified and did not contain any statement under Section 498(2) or Section 498(3) of the Companies Act 2006.
2. Basis of preparation
The condensed consolidated interim financial report has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the AIM Rules for Companies. As permitted, the Company has chosen not to adopt IAS 34 “Interim Financial Statements” in preparing this interim financial information. The condensed consolidated interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the annual financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021. The interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the United Kingdom which have not differed from the previously EU-endorsed IFRS, and hence the previously reported accounting policies still apply.
The Directors believe that whilst the impact of COVID-19 appears to be reducing there is still significant uncertainty as to what foreseen or unforeseen action or actions the Company may be required to take in order to respond to any circumstances that may arise in the future. They have considered the possible impact of COVID-19 on Drumz and its business activities, which are now increasingly focussed on software businesses, many businesses in the software sector can be operated remotely in a virtual environment which should reduce the impact of COVID-19 on their activities.
Going concern
The Directors, having made appropriate enquiries, consider that adequate resources exist for the Company and Group to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future and that, therefore, it is appropriate to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the period ended 30 June 2022.
Risks and uncertainties
The Board continuously assesses and monitors the key risks of the business. The key risks that could affect the Group’s medium-term performance and the factors that mitigate those risks have not substantially changed from those set out in the Company’s 2021 Annual Report and Financial Statements, a copy of which is available on the Company’s website: www.drumzplc.com.
Critical accounting estimates
The preparation of condensed consolidated interim financial report requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the end of the reporting period. Significant items subject to such estimates are set out in the Company’s 2021 Annual Report and Financial Statements. The nature and amounts of such estimates have not changed significantly during the interim period.
3. Accounting policies
Except as described below, the same accounting policies, presentation and methods of computation have been followed in these condensed consolidated interim financial statements as were applied in the preparation of the Group’s annual financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021.
3.1 Changes in accounting policy and disclosures
(a) Accounting developments during 2022
The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) issued various amendments and revisions to International Financial Reporting Standards and IFRIC interpretations. The amendments and revisions were applicable for the period ended 30 June 2022 but did not result in any material changes to the financial statements of the Group or Company.
(b) New standards, amendments and interpretations in issue but not yet effective or not yet endorsed and not early adopted
| Standard | Impact on initial application | Effective date |
| IAS 8 | Accounting estimates | 1 January 2023 |
| IAS 1 | Classification of Liabilities as Current or Non-Current. | 1 January 2023 |
| IAS 1 | Disclosure of Accounting Policies | 1 January 2023 |
The Group is evaluating the impact of the new and amended standards above which are not expected to have a material impact on the Group’s results or shareholders’ funds.
4. Loss per ordinary share
The loss per ordinary share is based on the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the period of 419,822,048 ordinary shares of 0.1p (2021: 351,072,048 ordinary shares of 0.1p) and the following figures:
| Unaudited 6 months to 30 June 2022 | Unaudited 6 months to 30 June 2021 | Audited year to 31 December 2021 | |
| Loss attributable to equity shareholders £’000 | (184) | (261) | (422) |
| Loss per ordinary share | (0.04)p | (0.08)p | (0.12)p |
Diluted loss per share is taken as equal to basic earnings per share as the Company’s average share price during the period is lower than the exercise price and therefore the effect of including share options is anti-dilutive.
5. Income and segmental analysis
There is one operating segment.
The activity of both the investments is based mainly in the United Kingdom.
6. Investments
The Company made investments as follows during the years ended 31 December:
2018 It acquired 2,435,710 shares in KCR Residential REIT PLC, an AIM listed real estate investment trust specialising in the acquisition and management of rented residential portfolios in the UK.
In 2020 it invested £500,000 for a 20% holding in Acuity Risk Management Limited. In September 2021 Drumz exercised its option and invested a further £125,000 in Acuity Risk Management Limited, increasing the holding to 25%.
Investments
| £’000 | |
| Cost | |
| At 1 January 2022 | 2,330 |
| At 30 June 2022 | 2,330 |
| Fair value losses | |
| At 1 January 2022 | (1,315) |
| Change in fair value recognised in profit and loss | (73) |
| At 30 June 2022 | (1,388) |
| Fair Value | |
| At 30 June 2022 | 942 |
| At 31 December 2021 | 1,015 |
Fair value hierarchy
In accordance with IFRS 7, financial instruments are measured by level of the following fair value measurement hierarchy:
Level 1: quoted prices in an active market for identical assets or liabilities. The fair value of financial instruments traded in active markets is based on quoted market prices at the balance sheet date. A market is regarded as active if quoted prices are readily and regularly available and those prices represent actual and regularly occurring market transactions on an arm’s-length basis. The quoted market price used for financial assets held by the Group is the closing price on the last day of the financial year of the Group. These instruments are included in level 1 and comprise FTSE and AIM-listed investments classified as held at fair value through profit or loss.
Level 2: the fair value of financial instruments that are not traded in an active market is determined by using valuation techniques. These valuation techniques maximise the use of observable market data where it is available and rely as little as possible on entity-specific estimates. If all significant inputs required to fair value an instrument are observable, the instrument is included in level 2.
Level 3: the fair value of financial instruments that are not traded in an active market (for example, investments in unquoted companies) is determined by using valuation techniques such as earnings multiples. If one or more of the significant inputs is not based on observable market data, the instrument is included in level 3.
There have been no transfers between these classifications in the period (2021: none). The change in fair value for the current and previous years is recognised through profit or loss.
All assets held at fair value through profit or loss were designated as such upon initial recognition.
7. Post balance sheet events
There are none.
