Pre-Close Trading and Operational Update

Surface Transforms PLC

08 January 2024

 

8 January 2024

Surface Transforms plc

("Surface Transforms" or "the Company")

Pre-Close trading and operational update

Surface Transforms (AIM:SCE), manufacturers of carbon fibre reinforced ceramic automotive brake discs, is pleased to provide the following pre-close trading and operations update for the year to 31 December 2023 ("FY23").

Trading update

Subject to audit, revenue for FY23 grew 63% to £8.3m (2022: £5.1m). Gross cash at 31 December 2023 was £6.1m, including the cash received from the December 2023 equity fundraising. Additionally as announced on 11 December 2023, the Company has completed a £13.2m loan agreement solely for use against capital expenditure, none of which had been drawn down at the year end. Capital expenditure in 2023 was, as forecast, approximately £9m.

The Company expects to report its audited results for FY23 in mid-April 2024.

Operational update

Sales for the fourth quarter were £3.0m, compared to £2.0m, £1.9m and £1.4m respectively in the previous three quarters. No new technical problems have arisen in recent months. Accordingly, focus remains on delivering further operational improvements, capacity installation to remove potential single points of failure, upgrading internal manufacturing processes and further strengthening operational management and supervision.

The Company continues to expect to complete the installation of £50m p.a. sales capacity by mid-year 2024 and £75m p.a. sales capacity by the end of 2025, to support existing contracts, expected growth and to build manufacturing resilience.

The successful equity fundraise, and new capital expenditure facility secured in December 2023 has given the Company the ability to accelerate orders of new capital equipment, and, to this end, discussions are underway with our equipment suppliers.

Outlook

The Company is maintaining its revenue guidance for 2024 at £23m. Overall, the outlook for 2024 to 2027 continues to remain very positive reflecting contracts in series production and recent new business announcements, with capacity being installed to fulfil these awards.

The Company expects to announce further new contract awards in H1 2024.

Kevin Johnson (CEO) said "After a very difficult 18 months, and whilst the need to build our resilience continues, we now believe that the worst of our growing pains are behind us. This view is shared by our customers who have agreed their schedules for 2024 which match our assessments of production capability and capacity.

We continue to be capacity constrained not demand constrained, so our factory expansion remains a crucial task in positioning the Company for the future. It is therefore pleasing that the recent debt facility provides the foundation for the programme to continue apace. At the same time we are continuously improving operations to enhance productivity, thereby driving increased output in 2024, with the new senior leadership team in place to deliver these ongoing improvements in a timely manner. We want to thank the entire team throughout the business whose tireless efforts and skills have fuelled recent progress.".

For enquiries, please contact:

Surface Transforms plc	[phone]
David Bundred, Chairman
Kevin Johnson CEO Isabelle Maddock CFO
Zeus (Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker)	[phone]
David Foreman / Dan Bate / James Edis (Investment Banking)
Dominic King (Corporate Broking)
Cavendish Capital Markets Ltd (Joint Broker)	[phone]
Ed Frisby / Abigail Kelly (Corporate Finance) Andrew Burdis / Harriet Ward (ECM)

About Surface Transforms

Surface Transforms plc. (AIM:SCE) develops and produces carbon‐ceramic material automotive brake discs. The Company is the UK's only manufacturer of carbon‐ceramic brake discs, and only one of two mainstream carbon ceramic brake disc companies in the world, serving customers that include major OEMs in the global automotive markets.

The Company utilises its proprietary next generation Carbon Ceramic Technology to create lightweight brake discs for high‐performance road and track applications for both internal combustion engine cars and electric vehicles. While competitor carbon‐ceramic brake discs use discontinuous chopped carbon fibre, Surface Transforms interweaves continuous carbon fibre to form a 3D matrix, producing a stronger and more durable product with improved heat conductivity compared to competitor products; this reduces the brake system operating temperature, resulting in lighter and longer life components with superior brake performance. These benefits are in addition to the benefits of all carbon‐ceramic brake discs vs. iron brake discs: weight savings of up to 70%, longer product life, consistent performance, reduced brake pad dust and corrosion free.

The Company holds the London Stock Exchange's Green Economy Mark.

For additional information please visit www.surfacetransforms.com

 

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