Half Year Results to 31 December 2015
Record revenue and profit results, driven by Caterpillar licensing deal
7 March 2016
Seeing Machines Limited (AIM: SEE) the AIM listed vehicle operator monitoring technology company, is pleased to release its unaudited financial results for the six months to 31 December 2015.
Key Points:
Financial
· Business revenue for the half year increased by 594% to A$29.3 million (December 2014: A$4.2 million) driven by the Caterpillar licensing fee of A$21.8 million
· Sales and service revenue increased by 76% (A$7.4 million compared to A$4.2 million for 2014)
· Mining industry sales increased by 6% to A$5.7 million, despite ongoing challenging market conditions
· Fleet revenue of A$681,484 for the half year
· Profit for the half year increased to A$11.2 million (December 2014 net loss of A$4.3 million), reflecting the one off Caterpillar licensing fee
· Cash at 31 December 2015 decreased to A$10.2 million (30 June 2015: A$14.2 million) mainly as a result of the increase in R&D activities and building out the working capital requirements for the fleet business.
Operational Highlights - Automotive
· As separately announced today, the Company has secured a follow on order to deliver a second generation driver monitoring system (DMS) to a global car maker, in partnership with Takata. This order follows the successful development of a first generation system for the same manufacturer, expected to launch this year in 2017 models. The second order is expected to deploy DMS technologies into more than ten, higher-volume, 2018 vehicle models.
· DMS technology is becoming a key component for semi-autonomous driving systems, with ongoing discussions at various stages with 13 other car makers.
· As previously announced, the Company is working on further strategic and commercial options to maximise the value of this very large market opportunity and capture more automotive business more quickly to maximise returns for our shareholders. This work has recently accelerated, with the Company appointing external advisors based in Palo Alto, USA, to advise the Board on how to optimise our structure and best fund and execute these plans. The Board and management also continue to take into account feedback and requirements from car manufacturers and the automotive supply market.
· Based on the strong market interest and advice we are receiving, the Board and management are currently working on a plan that includes developing and selling a propriety automotive hardware module containing the Company's driver monitoring engine software, rather than purely licensing its software. We believe this will enable the Company to capture a greater share of the revenue and margin in the automotive ADAS market.
· The Company is also investigating the option of executing these plans through a to-be established, separately-funded company, solely focused on the automotive industry. If the Company pursues this option, we expect to retain a significant equity stake. The Company and its advisors are in discussions with potential investors and strategic partners for this opportunity. The Company has not entered any binding commitments in respect of these funding plans and there is no guarantee that these plans will be realised. The Company will keep shareholders informed if and when these activities result in binding agreements.
Other Operational Highlights
· Continued to execute our strategy of commercialising our technology in multiple global industries: mining and rugged off-road industries; commercial fleets; road vehicles; rail and aerospace.
· Secured a global product development, licensing and distribution agreement with Caterpillar. Caterpillar will market Seeing Machines' DSS and Fleet products for in-cab operator fatigue and distraction monitoring, across multiple industries (mining, construction, cement, quarry, forestry and marine). In return for exclusive rights to our technology in their fields, Caterpillar pays Seeing Machines a license fee of A$21.85 million over four years, all of which has been recognised as revenue in the current period, plus ongoing royalties.
· Caterpillar is currently working with Seeing Machines to develop their first Cat branded DSS product and are contracting Seeing Machines' DSS manufacturer to restock their DSS hardware inventory.
· Successful deployment of Fleet units to Insurance Underwriting Managers' commercial fleet customers in South Africa, and accelerating Fleet assessments in Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the U.S.
· Plan to launch an enhanced Fleet Product in March which includes a Forward Facing Camera.
· Our in-cab operator fatigue and distraction technology is being trialled in locomotives by two rail customers in North America.
· Worked with Samsung to develop and demonstrate the world's first eye-tracking enabled heads-up-display (HUD) on a car windshield, on Samsung's transparent OLED display technology at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
· Agreement to sell our shares in our joint venture company in Chile back to our original distribution partners, as part of the transition of the DSS business to Caterpillar.