18 December 2024
Active Energy Group
Plc
('Active Energy', the
'Company' or the 'Group')
Interim results for the six
months ended 30 June 2024
Active Energy, the international
biomass based renewable energy business, is pleased to announce its
unaudited interim results for the six months ended 30 June
2024.
HIGHLIGHTS
Operational Highlights:
· On 26
January 2024, the commercial arrangements between Active Energy and
Player Design Inc. to commence first production volumes of
CoalSwitch® at the Ashland Reference Facility in Maine (the
'Facility') were terminated by mutual agreement.
· On 5
March 2024, a settlement was agreed between Active Energy and
Player Design, providing for a cash payment of $1.6m to the Company
reflecting previous amounts contributed by the Company towards
development of the Facility. This sum was subsequently received by
Active Energy.
· During the second quarter of 2024, the Board and the
Company's management team investigated options to produce
CoalSwitch® fuel at alternative facilities in the United States and
examined commercial opportunities to monetise the Company's
CoalSwitch® proprietary technology. In the event, Active Energy was
unable to find an alternative production facility or to raise
sufficient working capital to build and/or operate a CoalSwitch®
production facility within an appropriate timeframe.
· On 13 May
2024, Active Energy ceased its US activities, and the Board started
looking at options to maximise value for its stakeholders via
either, i) a disposal of the components of the Group or ii) the
sale of the CoalSwitch® assets and its associated intellectual
property.
· On 20
June 2024, the Company announced that because it was unable to
raise sufficient working capital to continue to commercialise
CoalSwitch®, it was proposing a members' voluntary liquidation of
the Company. The proposal was subsequently not approved by the
shareholders.
Financial Highlights:
§ Loss from continuing operations of $1.0 million (H1 23: $2.2
million).
§ Cash position of $0.4 million at 30 June 2024 (31 December
2023: $0.3 million).
Post Period End activity and Outlook:
· On
1st July 2024, the Company shares were suspended from
trading on AIM pending publication of the Company's 2023 audited
annual accounts.
· A
shareholder's meeting to approve the members' voluntary liquidation
was held on 22 July 2024. At that meeting the relevant resolutions
were not approved by the shareholders. Following the shareholder's
meeting, the Board has continued to examine ways to monetise the
CoalSwitch® technology.
· On
15th October 2024, Active Energy announced that it had
received £125,000 by way of a loan from Zen Ventures Limited ('Zen
Ventures') to enable the completion of the audit of the accounts
for year ended 31 December 2023 and preparation of the interim
accounts for the 6 months ended 30 June 2024 (together the
'Accounts').
· On 1
November 2024, a Heads of Terms ('Heads of Terms') was agreed
between Active Energy and Zen Ventures. Zen Ventures subsequently
extended its loan to the Company to a total amount of £200,000 to
allow completion of the Accounts. On the same day, Max Aitken and
Jason Zimmermann, both non-executive directors, resigned from the
Board.
· On 4
December 2024 the Company published its accounts for the year ended
31 December 2023 Trading in the Company's shares remained suspended
on AIM pending the Company announcing its interim results for the
six months ended 30 June 2024.
·
Following this announcement, it is
expected that trading in the Company's shares on AIM will
recommence at 7:30am on 18 December 2024.
· An
annual general meeting of the Company (the 'AGM') will be convened
in January 2025 and a circular will be published and sent to
shareholders as soon as practicable.
· In
accordance with the Heads of Terms, Zen Ventures intend to appoint
2 new directors to the Board before the AGM. James Leahy and
Michael Rowan have informed the Board that they intend to resign as
directors of Active Energy at the conclusion of the forthcoming
AGM, subject to the Company having two other directors at the
time.
Michael Rowan, CEO of Active
Energy, commented:
"After an uncertain year, the Board have completed the audit
of the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023 and these
interim results. We have used every effort over many years to
commercially develop CoalSwitch® and are
frustrated that we could not achieve this. The investment by Zen
Ventures will allow the Company to continue to seek to monetise its
CoalSwitch® assets and we thank them for their support in recent
months.
Enquiries:
Website
|
LinkedIn
|
Twitter
|
www.aegplc.com
|
https://www.linkedin.com/in/active-energy-group-plc/
|
https://x.com/aegplc
@aegplc
|
Enquiries
|
Active Energy Group Plc
|
James Leahy (Chairman)
Michael Rowan (Chief
Executive Officer)
|
info@aegplc.com
|
Allenby Capital Limited
Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker
|
Nick Naylor/James Reeve/Daniel
Dearden-Williams (Corporate
Finance)
Amrit Nahal (Sales/Corporate Broking)
|
Office:
+44 (0)20 3328 5656
|
Zeus Capital Limited Joint
Broker
|
Antonio Bossi
|
Office:
+44 (0)20 3829 5000
|
BOARD'S STATEMENT
Introduction
The Group's strategy to continue
to continue to commercialise CoalSwitch®, a proprietary biomass
production technology, met with significant commercial challenges
in the first half of 2024.
Operational review during the
period
1. Relationship with Player
Design Inc ("Player Design")
After the various project delays
at Player Design's facility in Ashland, Maine , (the 'Ashland
Reference Facility' or the 'Facility') had been communicated to the
Board during the second half of 2023, the Board became increasingly
concerned about Player Design's commitment toward both completion
of the Ashland Reference Facility and the future production of
CoalSwitch® fuels and its
wish to continue any commercial partnership with Active Energy. In
the meantime, Active Energy continued to market
CoalSwitch® fuels to
prospective customers.
In January 2024, the Company
announced that Player Design had informed the Company that it was
no longer willing or able to commit to offer a future production
date for the CoalSwitch®
fuels or confirm any future production volumes. Player Design also
stated that it wished to terminate its commercial links with Active
Energy although it provided no substantive reasons for wanting to
do so. The Board attempted over several weeks to seek a compromise,
even providing for a limited production run of
CoalSwitch® fuels from the
Facility but all these efforts were unsuccessful. In March 2024 a
settlement agreement was agreed between the parties regarding the
activities at the Ashland Reference Facility (the "Settlement
Agreement').
Under the terms of the Settlement
Agreement, Player Design agreed to pay the Company the sum of
$1.65m to cover; (i) the return of cash proceeds formerly committed
by the Company toward the development of the Ashland Reference
Facility; (ii) transferring the ownership of certain production
equipment located at the Ashland Reference Facility from the
Company to Player Design; and, (iii) Player Design retaining
ownership of its specific know how for its production methods at
the Facility. These rights did not infringe upon Active Energy's
intellectual property. The Board was disappointed in the actions of
Player Design.
2. A Revised Strategy for
Active Energy
During April 2024, the Board
commenced a review of the Company's strategy to consider all
options regarding the development of the Company, the
commercialisation of CoalSwitch® fuels and sourcing alternate funding
options for both the Company and a specific future production
project. At that time, the commercial backdrop was not encouraging,
notably with the continuing weakness in the capital markets and
more importantly, the demise of Enviva Biomass Fuels Inc into
Chapter 11, an American insolvency proceeding, during quarter two
2024. Both factors added to the challenges faced by the
Company.
In May 2024, the Board had had a
series of discussions with several parties about both strategic
opportunities and the sale or license of the CoalSwitch® intellectual property. In each
instance there was interest, however, timing had become a critical
issue, and the Board had to preserve the finite capital resources
then available to the Company. Considering this, the Board decided
to terminate its operations in the United States and release the
Company's US management team from their employment obligations. At
the same time, a series of cost-cutting exercises were also
implemented at the Company.
The Board continued its strategic
conversations until mid-June 2024, at which point it was evident to
the Board that any acceptable offer for the assets belonging to
CoalSwitch® was unlikely
to be achieved in the short term. On 20 June 2024, the Board
resolved that in the event that any outstanding negotiations failed
then it would be prudent to consider a members' voluntary
liquidation given the then limited cash resources available to
it.
Post period end
activities
On 1 July 2024, the Company's
shares were suspended from trading on AIM due to the Company's
failure to publish its audited accounts for the year ended 31
December 2023. The Board convened the shareholders meeting to
consider two resolutions, namely (i) the cancellation of admission
to trading on AIM of the Company's shares and (ii) to undertake a
members' voluntary liquidation in order to affect a solvent winding
up of the business. The meeting was held on 22 July 2024; but
neither resolution obtained the requisite shareholder's approval.
Following the shareholders meeting all the Board resolved to
continue to seek an alternate solution for the Company and continue
its efforts to monetise the Company's CoalSwitch® fuel assets.
On 15 October, 2024, the Company
reached an agreement with Zen Ventures Limited ('Zen Ventures'), a
property development company based in Manchester, to provide the
funding to allow the completion of the audit of the Company's
accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023, and the preparation
of the interim accounts for the 6 months ended 30 June 2024. On 1
November 2024, it was announced that £200,000 had been provided to
the Company by Zen Ventures under the terms of a loan agreement. On
the same date, two of the non- executive directors of the Company,
Max Aitken and Jason Zimmerman resigned from the Board.
We would like to thank the
directors, colleagues and commercial partners for all their hard
work and commitment toward the development of
CoalSwitch® over recent
years. It is most frustrating that CoalSwitch® fuel was never provided with the
opportunity to demonstrate its benefits, both environmental and
economic.
James Leahy and Michael Rowan
18 December 2024
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The Unaudited Interim Condensed
Consolidated Financial Statements for the six-month period ended 30
June 2024 ("the reporting period" or "H1 24") are compared to the
six-month period ended 30 June 2023 ("the prior period" or "H1 23")
as required by UK-adopted International Accounting Standards
("IFRS").
The Group did not raise debt or
equity finance during the period.
Performance
The operating loss from continuing
operations for the period was $1.2 million (H1 23: $1.1 million),
comprising administrative expenses.
The loss for the period includes
foreign exchange gains of $0.2 million (H1 23: losses of $1.1
million) resulting from movements in the US Dollar relative to
Sterling.
The basic and diluted loss per
share was 0.72 cents (H1 23: loss per share of 1.67
cents)
Cash Flows
The Group reports a cash position
at 30 June 2024 of US$0.4 million (31 December 2023: US$0.3
million).
Going
concern
In October 2024 the Company
received loan note finance of £200,000 from Zen Ventures Limited
and it has subsequently received a commitment to provide additional
future funding from Zen Ventures Limited and parties connected to
Zen Ventures Limited. The Board, having reviewed the cash flow
forecasts, consider that this funding commitment will be sufficient
to enable the Company to settle its liabilities as they fall due
for at least one year from the date of approval of these financial
statements.
The financial statements have
therefore been prepared on a going concern basis.
The Zen Ventures Limited loan note
finance includes £27,616 of convertible loan notes that will
convert to new ordinary shares representing 29.9% of the Company's
issued share capital on 31 December 2024, contingent upon, inter
alia, the suspension in trading in the Company's shares on AIM, a
market operated by the London Stock Exchange plc, having been
lifted by this date. To achieve this the Company must, inter alia,
publish its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2024
and the Board are very confident of meeting this requirement before
31 December 2024.
However, the loan notes, and by
extension the future funding from Zen Ventures Limited and its
connected parties, are also subject to approval by the Company's
shareholders at its next general meeting. The Board consider that
this represents a material uncertainty that may cast significant
doubt on the Company's ability to continue as a going
concern.
Directors Responsibility Statement
The Directors confirm that to the
best of their knowledge the unaudited interim financial statements
have been prepared in accordance with IAS
34 'Interim Financial Reporting'.
A list of the current Directors is
available on the Company's website: www.aegplc.com.
James Leahy and Michael Rowan
Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer
18 December 2024
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME AND OTHER
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
FOR
THE SIX-MONTH PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2024
|
|
30 June
2024
|
|
30 June
2023
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unaudited
|
|
Restated
Unaudited
|
|
Note
|
US$
|
|
US$
|
|
|
|
|
|
CONTINUING OPERATIONS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
REVENUE
|
7
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
GROSS PROFIT
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
Administrative expenses
|
|
(1,191,321)
|
|
(1,142,996)
|
|
|
|
|
|
OPERATING LOSS
|
|
(1,191,321)
|
|
(1,142,996)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Finance (costs)/income
|
5
|
(388)
|
|
20,162
|
Foreign exchange
gains/(losses)
|
|
160,973
|
|
(1,115,822)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LOSS BEFORE TAXATION
|
|
(1,030,736)
|
|
(2,238,656)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Taxation
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
LOSS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
|
7
|
(1,030,736)
|
|
(2,238,656)
|
|
|
|
|
|
LOSS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
|
7
|
(134,346)
|
|
(458,631)
|
|
|
|
|
|
LOSS FOR THE PERIOD - attributable to
Parent
|
7
|
(1,165,082)
|
|
(2,697,287)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and Diluted loss per share (US cent):
|
|
|
|
|
- Continuing operations
|
6
|
(0.64)
|
|
(1.38)
|
- Discontinued
operations
|
6
|
(0.08)
|
|
(0.29)
|
-
Total operations
|
6
|
(0.72)
|
|
(1.67)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
Items that may be subsequently reclassified to profit or
loss:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exchange differences on
translation of operations
|
|
(158,466)
|
|
1,155,425
|
|
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE LOSS FOR THE PERIOD
|
|
(1,323,548)
|
|
(1,541,862)
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL
POSITION
AS
AT 30 JUNE 2024
|
|
|
30 June
2024
|
|
31 December
2023
|
|
|
|
Unaudited
|
|
Audited
|
|
Note
|
|
US$
|
|
US$
|
NON-CURRENT ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intangible assets
|
9
|
|
63,670
|
|
63,670
|
Property, plant and
equipment
|
10
|
|
-
|
|
154
|
Other financial assets
|
11
|
|
863,967
|
|
870,047
|
|
|
|
927,637
|
|
933,871
|
CURRENT ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trade and other
receivables
|
12
|
|
55,759
|
|
845,714
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
14
|
|
365,110
|
|
319,137
|
|
|
|
420,869
|
|
1,164,851
|
Non-current assets held for
sale
|
|
|
-
|
|
875,330
|
|
|
|
420,869
|
|
2,040,181
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL ASSETS
|
|
|
1,348,506
|
|
2,974,052
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CURRENT LIABILITIES
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trade and other
payables
|
13
|
|
351,879
|
|
665,564
|
Loans and borrowings
|
14
|
|
126,196
|
|
14,781
|
|
|
|
478,075
|
|
680,345
|
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred income tax
liabilities
|
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
Loans and borrowings
|
14
|
|
-
|
|
120,846
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
120,846
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL LIABILITIES
|
|
|
478,075
|
|
801,191
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET ASSETS
|
|
|
870,431
|
|
2,172,861
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EQUITY ATTRIBUTABLE TO OWNERS OF THE PARENT
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share capital - Ordinary
shares
|
15
|
|
786,867
|
|
786,867
|
Share capital - Deferred
shares
|
|
|
18,148,898
|
|
18,148,898
|
Share premium
|
|
|
55,349,883
|
|
55,349,883
|
Merger reserve
|
|
|
2,350,175
|
|
2,350,175
|
Foreign exchange reserve
|
|
|
(4,628,235)
|
|
(4,469,769)
|
Own shares held reserve
|
|
|
(268,442)
|
|
(268,442)
|
Convertible debt / warrant
reserve
|
|
|
-
|
|
690,937
|
Retained earnings
|
|
|
(70,868,715)
|
|
(70,415,688)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL EQUITY
|
|
|
870,431
|
|
2,172,861
|
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN
EQUITY
FOR
THE SIX-MONTH PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2024
|
Share
capital
|
Share
premium
|
Merger
reserve
|
Foreign exchange
reserve
|
Own shares held
reserve
|
Convertible debt and warrant
reserve
|
Retained
earnings
|
|
Total
equity
|
|
US$
|
US$
|
US$
|
US$
|
US$
|
US$
|
US$
|
US$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At 31 December 2022
|
18,935,765
|
55,349,883
|
2,350,175
|
(5,851,094)
|
(268,442)
|
690,937
|
(55,373,429)
|
15,833,795
|
Total comprehensive
loss
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1,155,425
|
-
|
-
|
(2,697,287)
|
(1,541,862)
|
Share based payments
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
85,867
|
85,867
|
At 30 June 2023
|
18,935,765
|
55,349,883
|
2,350,175
|
(4,695,669)
|
(268,442)
|
690,937
|
(57,984,849)
|
14,377,800
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At 31 December 2023
|
18,935,765
|
55,349,883
|
2,350,175
|
(4,469,769)
|
(268,442)
|
690,937
|
(70,415,688)
|
2,172,861
|
Total comprehensive
loss
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(158,466)
|
-
|
-
|
(1,165,082)
|
(1,323,548)
|
Release of warrant
reserve
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(690,937)
|
690,937
|
-
|
Share based payments
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
21,118
|
21,118
|
At 30 June 2024
|
18,935,765
|
55,349,883
|
2,350,175
|
(4,628,235)
|
(268,442)
|
-
|
(70,868,715)
|
870,431
|
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH
FLOWS
FOR
THE SIX-MONTH PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2024
|
|
30 June
2024
|
|
30 June
2023
|
|
|
Unaudited
|
|
Unaudited
|
|
Note
|
US$
|
|
US$
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from operating activities
|
|
|
|
|
Loss for the period
|
|
(1,165,082)
|
|
(2,697,287)
|
Adjustments for:
|
|
|
|
|
Non-cash and non-operating
items
|
20
|
(495,027)
|
|
1,411,862
|
Working capital decrease
|
|
476,270
|
|
126,632
|
Net
cash outflow from operations
|
20
|
(1,183,839)
|
|
(1,158,793)
|
Income tax received
|
|
362,282
|
|
-
|
Net
cash outflow from operating activities
|
|
(821,557)
|
|
(1,158,793)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from investing activities
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from sale of property,
plant and equipment
|
|
875,330
|
|
-
|
Net
cash inflow from investing activities
|
|
875,330
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from financing activities
|
|
|
|
|
Loans repaid
|
|
(9,596)
|
|
(9,436)
|
Net
cash (outflow) from financing activities
|
|
(9,596)
|
|
(9,436)
|
Net
increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
|
|
44,177
|
|
(1,168,229)
|
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the
period
|
|
319,137
|
|
2,614,472
|
Exchange gains/(losses) on cash and
cash equivalents
|
|
1,796
|
|
(204,562)
|
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the
period
|
|
365,110
|
|
1,241,681
|
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
FOR
THE SIX-MONTH PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2024
1.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Active Energy Group plc ("AEG") is
a renewable energy company focused on the production and
development of next generation biomass products that have the
potential to transform the traditional coal fired-power industry
and the existing renewable biomass industry. The Company is quoted
in London (AIM: AEG); however, its shares are currently suspended
from trading.
The Company is incorporated in
England and Wales (Company number 03148295) and the address of the
registered office is 27-28 Eastcastle Street, London, W1W 8DH,
United Kingdom.
2.
BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The annual financial statements
are prepared and approved by the Directors in accordance with
UK-adopted International Accounting Standards ("IFRS") and with
those parts of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies
reporting under IFRS.
The condensed consolidated interim
financial report for the half-year reporting period ended 30 June
2024 has been prepared in accordance with the UK-adopted
International Accounting Standard 34, 'Interim Financial Reporting'
and the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules sourcebook of
the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority.
The Interim Financial Statements
do not include all the information and disclosures required in the
annual financial statements and should be read in conjunction with
the Group's consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31
December 2023. The Interim Financial Statements are presented in US
Dollars, except as otherwise indicated. The
Interim Financial Statements have been prepared on a going concern
basis, under the historical cost convention, except for the
revaluation of certain financial instruments.
The Interim Financial Statements
are unaudited and do not constitute full statutory accounts under
Section 434 of the Companies Act 2006. The financial information in
respect of the year ended 31 December 2023 has been extracted from
the statutory accounts which have been delivered to the Registrar
of Companies. The Group's independent auditor's report on those
accounts was unqualified and did not contain a statement under
section 498(2) or 498(3) of the Companies Act 2006. The auditor's
report on those accounts highlighted a material uncertainty in
relation to going concern. The auditor did not qualify their report
in respect of this matter. The financial information for the half
years ended 30 June 2024 and 30 June 2023 is unaudited and the
twelve months to 31 December 2023 is audited.
The accounting policies applied by
the Group in this financial information are the same as those
applied by the Group in its financial
statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 and which will form
the basis of the 2024 financial statements, except for the new and
amended standards which have become effective since the beginning
of the previous financial year. These new and amended standards are
not expected to materially affect the Group.
The preparation of financial
statements in compliance with IFRS requires the use of certain
critical accounting estimates. It also requires management to
exercise judgment in the most appropriate application of the
Group's accounting policies. The areas where significant judgments
and estimates have been made in preparing these interim financial
statements are not materially different from those disclosed in the
financial statements for the year ended 31 December
2023.
Restatement of prior period
The statement of comprehensive
income for the six months ended 30 June 2023 has been restated to
report the loss for that period from operations discontinued later
in 2023 within the loss from
discontinued operations line (see note 7). The overall loss
for the six months ended 30 June 2023, the total comprehensive loss
for the period and net assets at 30 June 2023 are
unaffected.
These Interim Financial Statements
were approved by the Board of Directors on 18 December
2024.
3.
GOING CONCERN
The Directors are required to give
careful consideration to the appropriateness of the going concern
basis in the preparation of the interim financial
statements.
Following the termination of the
Group's relationship with Player Design, Inc. the Company is now
principally a holding company, and its projected future cash
requirements comprise its ongoing compliance and management costs.
The Company has prepared cash flow forecasts to estimate these
future cash requirements, and the resources available to it, and
these indicate that the Company should have sufficient cash
resources to continue in operation for at least one year from the
date of approval of these financial statements.
In October 2024 the Company
received loan note finance of £200,000 from Zen Ventures Limited
and it has subsequently received a commitment to provide additional
future funding from Zen Ventures Limited and parties connected to
Zen Ventures Limited. The Board, having reviewed the cash flow
forecasts, consider that this funding commitment will be sufficient
to enable the Company to settle its liabilities as they fall due
for at least one year from the date of approval of these financial
statements.
The financial statements have
therefore been prepared on a going concern basis.
The Zen Ventures Limited loan note
finance includes £27,616 of convertible loan notes that will
convert to new ordinary shares representing 29.9% of the Company's
issued share capital on 31 December 2024, contingent upon, inter
alia, the suspension in trading in the Company's shares on AIM, a
market operated by the London Stock Exchange plc, having been
lifted by this date. To achieve this the Company must, inter alia,
publish its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2024
and the Board are very confident of meeting this requirement before
31 December 2024.
However, the loan notes, and by
extension the future funding from Zen Ventures Limited and its
connected parties, are also subject to approval by the Company's
shareholders at its next general meeting. The Board consider that
this represents a material uncertainty that may cast significant
doubt on the Company's ability to continue as a going
concern.
The financial statements do not
include any of the adjustments that would be required if they were
not prepared on a going concern basis.
4.
Basis of consolidation
The financial information
incorporates the results of AEG and entities controlled by AEG (its
subsidiaries). Control is achieved when the Group has power over
relevant activities, is exposed, or has rights, to variable returns
from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect
those returns through its power over the entity. The consolidated
interim financial statements present the financial results of AEG
and its subsidiaries (the Group) as if they formed a single entity.
Where necessary, adjustments are made to the results of
subsidiaries to bring the accounting policies used into line with
those used by the Group. All intra-Group transactions, balances,
income and expenses are eliminated on consolidation.
5.
NET FINANCE GAINS/(COSTS)
|
30 June
|
Restated
30 June
|
|
2024
|
2023
|
|
Unaudited
|
Unaudited
|
|
|
|
Continuing operations
|
|
|
Interest receivable
|
-
|
20,162
|
Loan interest
|
(388)
|
-
|
Net finance cost of continuing operations
|
(388)
|
20,162
|
Discontinued operations
|
|
|
Loan interest and
charges
|
(367)
|
(1,987)
|
Net finance cost of discontinued operations
|
(367)
|
(1,987)
|
Total operations
|
(755)
|
18,175
|
6.
LOSS PER SHARE
|
30 June
|
Restated
30 June
|
|
2024
|
2023
|
|
Unaudited
|
Unaudited
|
|
|
|
Weighted average ordinary shares
in issue (Number)
|
161,863,136
|
161,863,136
|
|
|
|
Loss for the period (US$):
|
|
|
Continuing operations
|
(1,030,736)
|
(2,238,656)
|
Discontinued operations
|
(134,346)
|
(458,631)
|
Total operations
|
(1,165,082)
|
(2,697,287)
|
Basic and diluted loss per share (US cent):
Continuing operations
|
(0.64)
|
(1.38)
|
Discontinued operations
|
(0.08)
|
(0.28)
|
Total operations
|
(0.72)
|
(1.67)
|
Basic and diluted loss per share
is the same where the effect of any potential shares is
anti-dilutive and is therefore excluded.
7.
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
During 2023 the Group discontinued
its CoalSwitch® operations in Ashland, Maine. During 2022 the Group
sold the Lumberton property that was used for its wood processing
operations. The results of these businesses are disclosed as a
single line item in the Consolidated Statement of Income in
accordance with IFRS5. The analysis between continuing and
discontinued operations is as follows:
Six months to 30 June 2024 (Unaudited)
|
Continuing
operations
|
Discontinued
operations
|
Total
|
|
US$
|
US$
|
US$
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Gross loss
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Administrative expenses
|
(1,191,321)
|
(496,570)
|
(1,687,891)
|
Operating loss
|
(1,191,321)
|
(496,570)
|
(1,687,891)
|
Finance costs
|
(388)
|
(367)
|
(755)
|
Foreign exchange gains
|
160,973
|
309
|
161,282
|
Loss before taxation
|
(1,030,736)
|
(496,628)
|
(1,527,364)
|
Taxation
|
-
|
362,282
|
362,282
|
Loss for the period
|
(1,030,736)
|
(134,346)
|
(1,165,082)
|
|
|
|
|
Cash (outflows)/inflows from
operating activities
|
(1,083,464)
|
261,906
|
(821,558)
|
Cash inflows from investing
activities
|
-
|
875,330
|
875,330
|
Cash outflows from financing
activities
|
(6,728)
|
(2,868)
|
(9,596)
|
Six months to 30 June 2023 (Unaudited)
|
Restated
Continuing
operations
|
Restated
Discontinued
operations
|
Restated
Total
|
|
US$
|
US$
|
US$
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Gross loss
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Administrative expenses
|
(1,142,996)
|
(456,843)
|
(1,599,839)
|
Operating loss
|
(1,142,996)
|
(456,843)
|
(1,599,839)
|
Finance income/(costs)
|
20,162
|
(1,987)
|
18,175
|
Foreign exchange
(loss)/gains
|
(1,115,822)
|
199
|
(1,115,623)
|
Loss before taxation
|
(2,238,656)
|
(458,631)
|
(2,697,287)
|
Taxation
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Loss for the period
|
(2,238,656)
|
(458,631)
|
(2,697,287)
|
|
|
|
|
Cash outflows from operating
activities
|
(390,123)
|
(768,670)
|
(1,158,793)
|
Cash outflows from financing
activities
|
(6,568)
|
(2,868)
|
(9,436)
|
7. SEGMENTAL
INFORMATION
The Group reports two business
segments:
· "CoalSwitch®" denotes the Group's renewable wood pellet
business. Activities have ceased and are reported as discontinued
operations.
· "Corporate and other" denotes the Group's corporate and other
costs.
The business segments are aligned
to the Group's strategy as disclosed in the Strategic Report within
its 2023 Annual Report.
Factors that management used to identify the Group's
reportable segments
The Group's reportable segments
are strategic business units that offer different products or
services.
Measurement of operating segment profit or
loss
The Group evaluates segmental
performance on the basis of profit or loss from operations
calculated in accordance with IFRS but excluding the results from
discontinued operations in accordance with IFRS 5.
Six months to 30 June 2024
|
CoalSwitch®
|
Corporate
&
Other
|
Total
|
(Unaudited)
|
US$
|
US$
|
US$
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Operating segment
(loss)
|
-
|
(1,191,321)
|
(1,191,321)
|
Segment (loss) before
tax
|
-
|
(1,030,736)
|
(1,030,736)
|
Tax
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Segment (loss) for the period
|
-
|
(1,030,736)
|
(1,030,736)
|
Total Assets
|
63,892
|
1,284,614
|
1,348,506
|
Total Liabilities
|
22,478
|
455,597
|
478,075
|
Other segmental
information:
|
|
|
|
Depreciation &
amortisation
|
-
|
152
|
152
|
Six months to 30 June 2023
|
Restated
CoalSwitch®
|
Restated
Corporate
&
Other
|
Restated
Total
|
(Unaudited)
|
US$
|
US$
|
US$
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Operating segment
(loss)
|
-
|
(1,142,996)
|
(1,142,996)
|
Segment (loss) before
tax
|
-
|
(2,238,656)
|
(2,238,656)
|
Tax
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Segment (loss) for the period
|
-
|
(2,238,656)
|
(2,238,656)
|
Total Assets
|
13,692,476
|
2,144,704
|
15,837,180
|
Total Liabilities
|
865,295
|
594,085
|
1,459,380
|
Other segmental
information:
|
|
|
|
Depreciation &
amortisation
|
-
|
445
|
445
|
8.
INTANGIBLE ASSETS
|
Intellectual
property
|
Total
|
|
US$
|
US$
|
Cost
|
|
|
At 31 December 2022
(audited)
|
8,064,947
|
8,064,947
|
Adjustment to prior year
additions
|
(300,000)
|
(300,000)
|
At 31 December 2023 (audited)
|
7,764,947
|
7,764,947
|
Additions
|
-
|
-
|
At 30 June 2024 (unaudited)
|
7,764,947
|
7,767,947
|
|
|
|
Accumulated amortisation
|
|
|
At 31 December 2022
(audited)
|
362
|
362
|
Impairment of
intangibles
|
7,700,915
|
7,700,915
|
At 31 December 2023 (audited)
|
7,701,277
|
7,701,277
|
Amortisation charge
|
-
|
-
|
At 30 June 2024 (unaudited)
|
7,701,277
|
7,701,277
|
|
|
|
Net book value
|
|
|
At 30 June 2024 (unaudited)
|
63,670
|
63,670
|
At 31 December 2023 (audited)
|
63,670
|
63,670
|
The adjustment to additions in
2023 results from further information becoming available in
relation to the cost of the 2022 additions, subsequent to the
approval of the 2022 financial statements.
Intellectual property comprises
costs incurred to secure the rights and knowledge associated with
the CoalSwitch® and PeatSwitch technologies. These assets are
accounted for as indefinite life assets and assessed for impairment
at each balance sheet date. These have been impaired to their
recoverable amount, which has been determined to be their fair
value less costs to sell. The key assumption in estimating the
recoverable amount is considered to be the estimated selling price
of the intellectual property assets.
9.
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
|
|
Plant and
equipment
|
Furniture and office
equipment
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
US$
|
US$
|
US$
|
|
|
Cost
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At 31 December 2022
(audited)
|
|
7,771,514
|
11,765
|
7,783,279
|
|
|
Adjustment to prior year
additions
|
|
(100,000)
|
-
|
(100,000)
|
|
|
Transfer to non-current assets
held for sale
|
|
(7,671,514)
|
-
|
(7,671,514)
|
|
|
Foreign exchange
movements
|
|
-
|
660
|
660
|
|
|
At 31 December 2023 (audited)
|
|
-
|
12,425
|
12,425
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign exchange
differences
|
|
-
|
(86)
|
(86)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At 30 June 2024 (unaudited)
|
|
-
|
12,339
|
12,339
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated depreciation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At 31 December 2022
(audited)
|
|
3,000,000
|
10,749
|
3,010,749
|
|
|
Charge for the year
|
|
-
|
898
|
898
|
|
|
Impairment charges
|
|
3,796,184
|
-
|
3,796,184
|
|
|
Transfer to non- current asset
held for sale
|
|
(6,796,184)
|
-
|
(6,796,184)
|
|
|
Foreign exchange
differences
|
|
-
|
624
|
624
|
|
|
At 31 December 2023 (audited)
|
|
-
|
12,271
|
12,271
|
|
|
Charge for the period
|
|
-
|
152
|
152
|
|
|
Foreign exchange
differences
|
|
-
|
(84)
|
(84)
|
|
|
At 30 June 2024 (unaudited)
|
|
-
|
12,339
|
12,339
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net book value
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At 30 June 2024 (unaudited)
|
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
At 31 December 2023 (audited)
|
|
-
|
154
|
154
|
|
|
The adjustment to additions in
2023 results from further information becoming available in
relation to the cost of the 2022 additions, subsequent to the
approval of the 2022 financial statements.
At 31 Dec 2023 the plant and
equipment was impaired to its recoverable amount which was
determined to be its fair value less costs to sell. This valuation
was based on the amounts subsequently realised for these
assets.
10. OTHER FINANCIAL
ASSETS
|
30 June
|
31
December
|
|
2024
|
2023
|
|
Unaudited
|
Audited
|
|
US$
|
US$
|
|
|
|
Fair value at previous year
end
|
870,047
|
823,744
|
Foreign exchange
movements
|
(6,080)
|
46,303
|
Fair value at period
end
|
863,967
|
870,047
|
Other financial assets consist of
an unquoted equity instrument which is valued at fair value through
other comprehensive income and classified as a non-current asset.
The instrument is denominated in Pounds Sterling.
This asset is valued according to
Level 3 inputs as defined by IFRS 13 and is therefore subject to
management's judgement of unobservable inputs. The asset is
currently held at its historic cost which represents management's
best estimate of its fair value.
11. TRADE AND OTHER
RECEIVABLES
|
30 June
|
31
December
|
|
2024
|
2023
|
|
Unaudited
|
Audited
|
|
US$
|
US$
|
|
|
|
Project advances
|
-
|
774,669
|
Prepayments
|
42,567
|
38,041
|
Other receivables
|
13,192
|
33,004
|
|
55,759
|
845,714
|
No impairment provisions have been
raised against trade and other receivables.
The carrying value of trade and
other receivables approximates to fair value.
12. TRADE AND OTHER
PAYABLES
|
30 June
|
31
December
|
|
2024
|
2023
|
|
Unaudited
|
Audited
|
|
US$
|
US$
|
|
|
|
Trade payables
|
81,024
|
381,926
|
Social security and other
taxes
|
-
|
14,911
|
Accruals and deferred
income
|
270,855
|
268,727
|
|
|
|
|
351,879
|
665,564
|
The carrying value of trade and
other payables approximates to fair value.
13. NET
CASH
|
30 June
|
31
December
|
|
2024
|
2023
|
|
Unaudited
|
Audited
|
|
US$
|
US$
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash
equivalents
|
365,110
|
319,137
|
|
|
|
Loans and borrowings - current
liabilities
|
(126,196)
|
(14,781)
|
Loans and borrowings - non-current
liabilities
|
-
|
(120,846)
|
Loans and borrowings - Total
liabilities
|
(126,196)
|
(135,627)
|
|
|
|
|
238,914
|
183,510
|
14. SHARE CAPITAL -
ORDINARY SHARES
|
Number of
shares
|
US$
|
Allotted, called up and fully paid shares of 0.0035p
each
|
|
|
At 31 December 2023 and 30 June
2024
|
161,863,136
|
786,867
|
15. CONTINGENT
LIABILITIES
The Group has received legal
claims from former subcontractors in the USA in respect of alleged
unpaid remuneration. The Group disputes these claims and is advised
that they are unlikely to be successful, and the Board therefore
does not consider it likely that any payment will be required to
settle the claims. The Board's best estimate of the cost to the
Group, were these claims to be successful, is $360,653. No
provision has been made for this sum in these financial
statements.
16. RELATED PARTY
DISCLOSURES
During the period, the Group paid
$18,954 (H1 2023: $nil) to Rowan & Associates Limited, a
company owned by Michael Rowan (a director of the Company), in
respect of director's fees.
During the period, the Group paid
$11,056 (H1 2023: $22,076) to Zimmfor Management Services Limited,
a company owned by Jason Zimmerman (a director of the Company), in
respect of director's fees.
Transactions between the Company
and its subsidiaries, which are related party transactions, have
been eliminated on consolidation. These transactions, which are
incurred in the ordinary course of business and under normal
commercial terms, are substantially the same in nature as those
disclosed in the Annual report and Accounts at 31 December
2023.
17. CAPITAL
COMMITMENTS
The Group had no capital
commitments at 30 June 2024 (31 December 2023: Nil).
18. SUBSEQUENT
EVENTS
The Company's shares were
suspended from trading on AIM on 1 July 2024, pursuant to AIM Rule
19. On 4 December 2024 the Company published its accounts for the
year ended 31 December 2023 Trading in the Company's shares
remained suspended on AIM pending the Company announcing its
interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2024.
Following this announcement, it is expected that trading in
the Company's shares on AIM will be recommenced at 7:30am on 18
December 2024.
On 22 July 2024 the Group placed
its subsidiary Advanced Biomass Solutions Limited into a members'
voluntary liquidation. The Group expects the company to realise its
assets and settle its liabilities at amounts approximate to their
carrying values.
In October 2024 the Company raised
£200,000 ($260,878) through the issue of loan notes, of which
£27,616 ($36,022) are convertible loan notes that will convert to
new ordinary shares representing 29.9% of the Company's issued
share capital on 31 December 2024 (subject to shareholder
approval). The loan notes are secured by way of a fixed and
floating charge over the assets of the Company.
On 1 November 2024 Jason
Zimmermann and Max Aitken resigned as directors of the
Company.
19. RECONCILIATION
OF LOSS FOR THE PERIOD TO CASH OUTFLOWS FROM OPERATING
ACTIVITIES
|
30 June
|
30 June
|
|
2024
|
2023
|
|
Unaudited
|
Unaudited
|
|
US$
|
US$
|
|
|
|
Loss for the period
|
(1,165,082)
|
(2,697,287)
|
Adjusted for:
|
|
|
Share based payment
expense
|
21,118
|
85,867
|
Depreciation
|
152
|
445
|
Foreign currency
translations
|
(154,771)
|
1,323,578
|
Finance expenses
|
756
|
1,972
|
Income tax received
|
(362,282)
|
-
|
|
(1,660,109)
|
(1,285,425)
|
Decrease in trade and other
receivables
|
789,955
|
9,049
|
(Decrease)/increase in trade and
other payables
|
(313,685)
|
117,583
|
Net cash outflow from operations
|
(1,183,839)
|
(1,158,793)
|
20. COPIES OF THE
INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Copies of the Consolidated Interim
Financial Statements will be made available on the Company's
website at www.aegplc.com.