Pennant International Group plc (LON:PEN), the systems support and training solutions company, has announced its Final Results for the Financial Year ended 31 December 2023.
Commenting on the results, Pennant International Chairman, Ian Dighé, said: “I’m pleased to report my first set of results as Chairman of Pennant, highlighting significant Group-wide progress with a return to operating profit and record gross margins.
“We continue to invest in, and develop, our leading suite of services and solutions, helping our customers maximise their operational efficiency, whilst pursuing a Group strategy that focuses on higher value, higher margin, recurring software and services revenues.”
Key points: Financial
· Group revenues of £15.5 million (2022: £13.7 million);
· Gross profit margin of 50% (2022: 42%);
· EBITA profit of £1.4 million (2022: £0.5 million);
· Loss before tax of £0.4 million (2022: loss before tax £1.4 million);
· Operating profit of £0.1 million (2022: operating loss of £1.0 million);
· Basic loss per share of 2.53p (2022: loss of 2.45p);
· Unrelieved tax losses carried forward of £6.8 million (2022: £7.1 million);
· Group net assets at year-end of £9.8 million (2022: £10.7 million);
· Net debt at year-end of £1.9 million (2022: £0.4 million) reflecting investment in the IPS suite;
· No final dividend recommended (2022: £NIL).
Key points: Operational
· Continued significant investment in the Group’s proprietary software products, totalling £1.4 million for the Period;
· Strong European revenue growth;
o Underpinned by progress on c.£9 million Boeing Defence United Kingdom (BDUK) Apache upgrade programme – on time and on budget, with final deliveries still expected in September 2024;
· Acquisition of Track Access Productions Limited (“TAP“) in April 2023, broadening Pennant’s existing rail offering and customer base, delivering PBT of £155k in approx. 9 months;
· Version 2 of GenS released in May 2023, with first commercial sale achieved in June 2023;
· Strategic partnership with Aquila Learning Ltd to collaborate and integrate its ALaRMS – Aquila Learning (and Requirements /Resource/Record) Management System into Pennant’s software suite, providing additional capabilities to shared customers, including an end-to-end S-Series software toolkit.
Post Period Highlights
· Successful £1.36 million (gross proceeds) fundraise to provide working capital and support investment in the IPS suite;
· Ian Dighé appointed Chairman with Philip Cotton stepping down;
· Beginning of investment phase which will see all three IPS applications – GenS, Analyzer and R4i – integrated into one, holistic solution.
Providing further comment on trading and prospects, Mr. Dighé added: “The Board is encouraged by the improvements already realised, reflecting the implementation of the growth strategy, and is optimistic about the Group’s prospects.
“Current economic and geo-political trends are driving significant increases in global defence spending and the outlook for our other key markets also appears to be improving; promising growing tailwinds for the Group in the short-to-medium term.
“Despite recent delays in order conversion, the impact is expected to be limited to the short-term. The strategic investment in our integrated software suite and post Period-end release of GenS Version 3.0, brings to market a leading software solution aligned to addressing the challenges that operators face in managing, modelling and utilising vast amounts of complex systems data.
“The Board believes that this integrated product suite, coupled with the Group’s underlying strengths – our long-term customer relationships with governments and major OEMs, our specialist services together with our quality-assured reputation – will provide opportunities for long-term success.”
CHAIR’S STATEMENT
Full Year expectations met, return to operating profit, record gross margin
The Group has made significant progress in the year ended 31 December 2023, meeting market expectations and achieving a return to operating profit, with an adjusted EBIT profit of £0.4 million for the year (2022: EBIT loss of £1.0 million) and an adjusted EBITDA profit of £2.2 million (2022: EBITDA of £1.0 million).
The Group’s performance continues to benefit from, and is primarily the result of, Pennant’s technology and software strategy shifting the Group’s focus to delivery of higher value services. The Group’s ongoing focus on higher margin revenues from software and technical services continues to be reflected in the results. Therefore, despite relatively consistent revenues, totalling £9.6 million in 2023 (2022: £10.2 million), the strengthened revenue mix and improved margin has delivered notable improvements already.
Strategy
Pennant’s strategy remains firmly on increasing the proportion of the Group’s revenues which derive from the sale of software and technical services, particularly those of a recurring nature, by expanding the market coverage through the development of the Group’s market-leading proprietary software suite and associated services.
The Group also continues to seek other strategic opportunities to partner with or acquire complementary businesses which will accelerate the Group’s strategy.
During the Period the Group announced the completion of the acquisition of Track Access Productions and its strategic partnership with Aquila Learning Ltd. The acquisition of Track Access Productions is aligned with the Group’s software and technical services strategy and has enhanced the Group’s rail capability, diversifying into non-defence growth markets. Our partnership with Aquila Learning Ltd is designed to offer our customers an end-to-end integrated software platform to maximise operational efficiency.
Key Financials
For the year ended 31 December 2023, the Group recorded consolidated revenues of £15.5 million (2022: £13.7 million) again underpinned by the Group’s contracted revenue base.
The Group’s gross margin for the year increased significantly to 50% (2022: 42%) due to the strategic shift towards software and higher value services. As a result, the Group posted a consolidated adjusted EBITA profit of £1.7 million (2022: EBITA £0.5 million) which is in line with market expectations.
The Group’s net debt at the Period end was £1.9 million (2022: net debt of £0.4 million) which reflects, amongst other things, the continued investment in the integrated software suite, acquisition related expenses and expenses related to aborted corporate activity.
Dividend
The Directors believe that it continues to be both prudent and in the Company’s and shareholders’ best interests to retain cash for working capital and focus on delivering growth. The Board will therefore not be recommending the payment of a final dividend for the year ended 31 December 2023.
Our People
To deliver a successful performance in 2024, the Group must have a committed workforce, appropriately incentivised and motivated. I would like to thank all our employees for their commitment to supporting the Group and for the resilience and flexibility they have demonstrated in meeting our customers’ needs.
The Group is constantly seeking ways to attract, retain and reward the specialist skills that we need in order to deliver. It is our people we rely on to deliver our strategy and deliver successful results in the current period and beyond. We must continue to pay particular attention to their needs and as a Board we remain focused on supporting them.
Our Culture
The Board remains committed to ensuring that all Group employees understand and embody the Group’s ‘Core Values’. These underpin the approach to all activities whether they be in an operational or customer facing environment. These values are also critical in terms of the approach taken to all our policies whether they are mandated by law (such as anti-bribery or anti-counterfeiting laws) or mandated by behavioural ethics (such as fair treatment and equality of opportunity), treating all individuals with the respect they deserve regardless of their position. This requires strong leadership at all levels.
Governance
The Board is also committed to maintaining robust corporate governance. It has worked closely with its advisors and in 2023 monitored governance frameworks to ensure strong, proportionate governance throughout the Group; this is important given the number of geographies in which we are present. The Board has established appropriate risk management procedures and keeps key risks to the Group under regular, rigorous review.
Board Changes
During the Period and post Period-end there were a number of Board changes.
We were delighted to appoint Michael Brinson to the Board as Group Chief Financial Officer with effect from 1 January 2023. Michael joined the Group as Head of Finance in February 2020.
Also in January 2023, the Group announced the appointment of Deborah Wilkinson as Non-Executive Director with effect from 1 February 2023.
Post Period-end, I joined the Group as a Non-Executive Director and Chair designate with effect from 7 February 2024.
On 14 May 2024, Phil Cotton stepped down as Chair and announced his intention to retire as Non-Executive Director following the Company’s next Annual General Meeting. I assumed the role of Chair on 14 May 2024 upon Phil stepping down. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Phil Cotton for his five years of service and we wish him all the best for the future.
Current Trading and Outlook
I join the Group at a time when global economic and geo-political trends provide a supportive backdrop for Pennant’s capabilities. Pennant has few competitors that can offer the end-to-end solution that we provide, and defence forces, organisations and OEMs continue to prefer to outsource these services. Additionally, examples of key drivers currently include growing global defence budgets, increasing complexity of programmes, and an increasing need for sovereign capabilities, all of which stands to our benefit.
Post Period-end, the Group started the year well. Despite delayed order conversion, as previously announced, we have observed a material increase in activity in our key markets and are well placed to capitalise.
The strategic investment in our integrated software suite and post Period-end release of GenS Version 3.0, brings to market a leading software solution aligned to addressing the challenges that operators face in managing, modelling and utilising vast amounts of complex systems data.
The Board believes that this integrated product suite, coupled with the Group’s underlying strengths – our long-term customer relationships with governments and major OEMs, our specialist services together with our quality-assured reputation – will provide opportunities for long-term success.
I Dighé
Chair
CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REVIEW
Strategy delivering; improved performance
In 2023 we continued the implementation of the Group’s strategic plan: a programme of investment in the Group’s proprietary software suite designed to provide our customers with a powerful market-leading toolset that allows users to manage, model and utilise vast amounts of complex systems data, with the objective of increasing revenue from software and higher value technical services and recurring contracts.
The impact of this strategy is now visible in our financial performance with the Group achieving an operating profit and meeting the market’s expectations for the full year. Pennant has continued to invest in its integrated software suite, acquired a complementary business and agreed beneficial strategic partnerships. The implementation of our growth strategy is already delivering improved order lead times, revenue recognition and margins.
Strategic software investment
In line with the Group’s core strategic objectives, investment in our proprietary software suite has continued during the year targeting growth in capability and with the aim of expanding the Group’s market offering.
During the Period the Group invested circa £1.4 million in the development of its new and enhanced suite of software solutions with the aim of improving the overall customer proposition. The continued development of the new GenS software solution (OmegaPS successor product) was accelerated with release of version 3.0 achieved in April 2024.
The investment programme now moves into the next phase, which will see all three of the Group’s software applications – GenS, Analyzer and R4i – being integrated into one, holistic solution with release scheduled for Q4 2024.
Pennant anticipates that it will continue to invest in its integrated software suite during 2024 and expects the level of investment to be in line with 2023.
Rail acquisition
During the Period, the Group successfully completed the acquisition of Track Access Productions.
Track Access provides driver training, route mapping and route familiarisation services to the rail industry. Its acquisition aligns with the Group’s strategy, in particular by enhancing recurring revenues and further diversifying into civilian markets, while also enhancing the Group’s existing rail capabilities and complementing Pennant’s Track Access Services business. In the Period, it delivered revenues of £342k and profits before tax of £155k (excluding management charges of £68k) over approximately 9 months.
Strategic partnership
In September 2023, the Group announced a strategic partnership with Aquila Learning Ltd to collaborate on a number of projects, including the integration of the ALaRMS – Aquila Learning (and Requirements /Resource/Record) Management System into the market leading Pennant IPS software suite (GenS, Analyzer and R4i).
The partnership is looking to provide users with additional capabilities to our shared customers, including an end-to-end S-Series software toolkit.
Regional Operational Review
The table below highlights Pennant’s regional revenue for 2022 and 2023.
| Regional revenue | ||
| 2023 | 2022 | |
| £000s | £000s | |
| UK & Europe | 8,821 | 5,557 |
| North America | 4,051 | 4,985 |
| Indo-Pacific | 2,663 | 3,144 |
| Total | 15,535 | 13,686 |
UK & Europe
Revenue generated in the UK & Europe region showed strong growth during 2023 at £8.8 million (2022: £5.6 million). The current geopolitical backdrop and recent events have highlighted the importance of national security and strategic investment in capability, and current deficits in preparedness. Therefore, the outlook for Pennant’s key markets appears to be improving.
The revenue in the region was underpinned by contracts with Boeing Defence UK, HMRC and with rail operators, which grew as result of the enhanced rail capability from the acquisition.
In terms of operational delivery, the region had a successful Period with notable highlights including the on-time achievement of several engineering milestones on the Boeing Defence UK contract which continues to progress well in 2024 and the successful release of the annual update to the HMRC Basic PAYE software tool where Pennant is responsible for the development and support of the tool.
With the Group’s increasing software and higher value services focus bringing reduced reliance on resource-intensive hardware engineering activities the Board decided to market for sale one of the Group’s previously leased Cheltenham properties with the sale completed post Period end for £0.5 million. The profit generated on this disposal was £231k.
North America
The North America business saw revenues decline to £4.1 million from £5.0 million in 2022. This was driven by two factors; 1) 2022 included a significant perpetual software sale and 2) a Government-driven procurement change in respect of Pennant’s long-term contract with the Canadian Department of National Defence.
In October 2023, after 23 years of single-source procurement, the contracting mechanism for the various tasks under the framework contract was changed to a competitive tender process per each individual task. To date, Pennant has successfully tendered and secured 100% of the 8 tasks competed which account for approximately 50% of historic annual recurring revenues. Pennant will continue to tender for further opportunities as they are competed as the region looks to restore the level and long-term visibility of revenues that the legacy contract provided.
Indo-Pacific
The Indo-Pacific business enjoyed a solid year but was impacted by customer budget phasing which resulted in revenue delays in the Period with resultant revenues reducing from £3.1 million to £2.7 million. It is expected that this temporary timing-related issue will unwind throughout 2024.
Operationally, Pennant’s existing long term technical services contract in Wagga Wagga continued to perform well and was extended into 2027 (year 14 of a 20-year framework). The contract was expanded in the Period with the establishment of a Composites Training Facility in the region which is expected to deliver recurring revenues for at least 5 years.
Delivering on our strategy
The software investment programme now moves into the next phase, which will see all three of Pennant’s core applications – GenS, Analyzer and R4i – being integrated into one, holistic solution which will provide customers with a powerful, market leading toolset.
This investment continues the strategy to drive higher margin, recurring software revenues and higher value technical services, which when aligned with a favourable strategic backdrop provide a firm platform for continued progress in the current year.
P H Walker
Director
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER’S REVIEW
Record gross margins and cost control; return to operating profit
Financial review
The results and a review of the key financial performance indicators of revenue and profitability are set out below.
Performance
Group revenue for the year increased by 14% and was delivered in line with expectations at £15.5 million (2022: £13.7 million) with a marginal weighting towards the second half.
There was further growth in the gross profit margin for the Period to 50% (2022: 42%), a record for the Group. This reflects the change in the sales mix in the Period and shift in the strategic direction of the Group towards software-related products and higher value services.
Despite inflationary cost pressures, administrative costs were held broadly in line with 2022 with a 3.8% increase at £7.6 million (adjusted for £325k of exceptional costs) (2022: £7.3 million).
The improved margins coupled with the controlled cost base, resulted in a return to profit at an operating margin level of £0.1 million (2022: operating loss £1.0 million) and an adjusted EBITA profit of £1.7 million (2022: EBITA profit £0.5 million).
| £m | H1 | H2 | 2023 | 2022 |
| Revenue | 7.1 | 8.4 | 15.5 | 13.7 |
| Gross profitGross profit % | 3.347% | 4.452% | 7.750% | 5.842% |
| Other income | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.5 |
| Admin costs | (3.6) | (4.3) | (7.9) | (7.3) |
| Operating profit / (loss) | (0.2) | 0.3 | 0.1 | (1.0) |
| Amortisation | 0.7 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.5 |
| EBITA | 0.5 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 0.5 |
| Depreciation | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.6 |
| EBITDA | 0.7 | 1.2 | 1.9 | 1.1 |
A summary of the income statement adjusted for exceptional costs is as follows:
| £m | 2023 | Exceptional Costs | Adjusted |
| Revenue | 15.5 | – | 15.5 |
| Gross profit | 7.7 | – | 7.7 |
| Gross profit % | 50% | – | 50% |
| Other income | 0.3 | – | 0.3 |
| Admin costs | (7.9) | 0.3 | (7.6) |
| Operating profit / (loss) | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| Amortisation | 1.3 | – | 1.3 |
| EBITA | 1.4 | 0.3 | 1.7 |
| Depreciation | 0.5 | – | 0.5 |
| EBITDA | 1.9 | 0.3 | 2.2 |
Exceptional costs are non-recurring, and include transaction and integration costs associated with the acquisition of Track Access Productions Limited in April 2023, and professional costs and expenses associated with another, aborted transaction.
Revenue analysis
An analysis of the Group’s revenue by product group is as follows:
| 2023£000s | 2022£000s | |
| Software licences & products | 1,111 | 1,377 |
| Software maintenance | 1,589 | 1,458 |
| Software and technical services | 6,873 | 7,410 |
| Sub-total Software and Services | 9,573 | 10,245 |
| Engineered solutions | 5,229 | 2,410 |
| Generic products | 733 | 1,031 |
| Sub-total Training Solutions | 5,962 | 3,441 |
| Total Group Revenue | 15,535 | 13,686 |
Revenues contributed by Software and Services have reduced to £9.6 million in 2023 (2022: £10.2 million) representing 62% of the total revenue in the Period (2022: 75%). The reduction is predominantly due to the change in procurement methodology in North America (as outlined in the Chief Executive’s Review). The ongoing software product sales from this and prior periods have resulted in increased maintenance revenues in the Period which will be recurring in nature. Recurring revenues remained broadly in line with the prior year at £7.3 million (2022: £7.7 million) in 2023. The recurring revenues associated with technical services increased by 10% year-on-year, partly mitigating the software services reduction in North America. Recurring revenues represented 47% (2022: 56%) of the total revenue for the Period due to the increased revenues on non-recurring engineered solutions in FY2023.
Software and Services
Software licences & products
The software product sales in 2023 continued to be predominantly driven by R4i software sales, with the associated recurring maintenance revenues (circa 20% per annum) to follow on a recurring basis. Revenues are recognised upon installation of the software and tend to be non-recurring in nature.
Software maintenance
Software maintenance revenues are recurring by nature and are growing year on year, driven by the growth in the global customer base for the Group’s software solutions. The revenue is recognised over the duration of the maintenance period for each customer which can range from annual renewals to multi-year agreements. The software is used to support the lifecycle of complex assets which can span decades.
Software and technical services
The predominantly recurring software and technical services revenue stream has reduced from 75% of the Group’s revenues in 2022 to 62% in 2023 for the reasons outlined above. The revenues are typically recognised on a consumption of benefit basis over time.
Training Solutions
Engineered solutions
As per the expectation stated in the Annual Report and Accounts for FY2022, revenues associated with engineered solutions have increased significantly from £2.4 million in 2022 to £5.2 million in 2023. This is reflective of the operational stage of completion on the programmes which form the basis of this revenue stream which is recognised over time under IFRS 15.
Generic products
The revenue recognition for generic products is at a point in time (typically on delivery) under IFRS 15. Revenues for these products in 2023 was £0.7 million compared to £1.0 million in 2022.
Cashflow
Cash generated from operations amounted to £1.3 million (2022: £2.6 million). This reflects milestone achievements on major programmes in 2023 and associated cash payments being received. The cash generation in operations has been deployed to support the Group’s ongoing strategic investment in the integrated software suite and the in Period acquisition of Track Access Productions.
The Group had net borrowings at the year-end of £1.9 million (2022: net borrowings of £0.4 million) excluding lease liabilities.
Post Period-end, the Group has renewed its overdraft facility with its bankers, HSBC, at £3 million. Furthermore, in order to support the required strategic investment in our integrated software suite, in May 2024 the Group utilised its 15% placing authority to raise circa £1.15 million after fees. The Board also confirmed an intention to subscribe for a further £200k of shares in aggregate, subject to a further placing authority being approved at the 2024 AGM. Assuming the Board’s subscription proceeds as expected, the total proceeds after fees will be £1.35 million. These funds will support the planned capital investment in the integrated software suite.
The Group has an active pipeline of opportunities spanning the entire spectrum of product and services. Securing these pipeline orders will underpin the cashflows of the Group in 2025 and beyond.
Research & development
Research and development repayable tax credits expected to be claimed in the UK for the Period amount to £0.3 million (2022: £0.3 million) on qualifying expenditure of £1.7 million (2022: £1.4 million). The claims mostly relate to the development of innovative new software products.
Taxation
The Group’s tax position shows a tax charge of £566k (2022: tax credit of £464k). The tax charge in 2023 is primarily due to deferred tax being partially derecognised based on the amount of taxable profits in the profit forecasts. This is a non-cash adjustment. Deferred tax has been recognised to the extent that future forecasts (excluding a selection of pipeline opportunities totalling £18 million aligned to timing uncertainties in the extreme but plausible scenario in the Going Concern scenario analysis) support the carrying value. As a result, UK trading losses with a gross value of £1.3 million have not been recognised within the deferred tax asset. After the approval of the Financial Statements, if the expected conversion of the pipeline occurs, a deferred tax asset in relation to these losses may be recognised or there may be a reduction in any taxable profits made in the UK entities in 2025. The unrecognised deferred tax asset in relation to the above losses amounts to £324k.
A deferred tax asset in relation to temporary timing differences within Pennant America Inc. has been recognised on the basis of taxable profit over the three years to 2026. As a result, temporary timing differences of £812k have not been recognised as part of the deferred tax asset. If future profits exceed the current forecast an additional deferred tax asset of £226k may be recognised.
The Group has total unrelieved UK tax losses carried forward of £6.8 million (2022: £7.1 million).
Looking forward
With the development of the integrated software suite nearing its conclusion, the Group is looking forward to realising the returns on this investment, and the associated profit and generation of free cashflows which strengthen the balance sheet.
M J Brinson
Director, Pennant International
