Announces agreement to convert $15.91 million of debt and accrued interest into ordinary shares at $5.40 per share; expected to significantly enhance the balance sheet
NEW YORK, Oct. 02, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Guardforce AI Co., Limited (“Guardforce AI” or the “Company”) ( GFAI, GFAIW), an integrated security provider specializing in secured logistics, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robot-as-a-Service (“RaaS”), today provided a business update and announced interim financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2023 ("1H 2023").
Additionally, the Company announced that it has entered into an agreement expected to enhance its balance sheet by converting $13.4 million of debt and $2.5 million of accrued and unpaid interest in exchange for 2,947,150 restricted ordinary shares at $5.40 per share on September 28, 2023. The conversion price represents an approximately 29% premium to the closing price of the prior day.
Lei (Olivia) Wang, Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer of Guardforce AI, stated, “We are pleased to report that revenue increased 8.7% to $18.4 million for the first half of 2023. Although we saw a decrease in our robotics AI solutions revenue due to the lasting effects of the Covid-19 pandemic in the first half of 2023, we remain extremely confident in the outlook for our robotics AI solutions. As we receive ongoing feedback from our clients, we are customizing our robots by implementing AI and value-added applications. We have approximately 1,800 robots in use by our clients in the market, and we have a better understanding of our clients’ demands and requirements. By integrating open-source AI models into our next-level solutions, we are confident that the implementation of AI increases the service efficiency and lowers the cost for our clients.
“During the first half of the year, we secured two long-term contracts with pre-existing clients for our secured logistics and cash handling services in Thailand. This past month, we secured a two-year contract with a pre-existing client for our end-to-end cash management solutions in Thailand. Furthermore, following our business strategy of diversifying our client base, in the past 6 months, half of our top 15 clients have shifted from banks to retail and chain stores, which are our main target clients in the AI and robotics sector.
“In the robotics AI business sector, we see a continued demand for robots that have the latest AI technology. We now have a clearer go-to-market strategy and business model for the robotics and AI implementations. Towards that end, we recently partnered with leading security provider, Concorde Security Pte Ltd ("Concorde"), to co-launch a new robotic security solution in Singapore. By combining Concorde’s security solutions with our robotic AI automation, we're further enhancing our security offerings to our clients. In the hospitality industry, we have partnered with Blue Pin (HK) and launched the Smart AI Hotel solution, which allows customers to use our concierge robots to make bookings online, check-in, and check-out. We were also awarded an advertising contract for our innovative Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) Robot Advertising (RA) in Macau. Our AIoT RA model enables advertisers to publish advertisements on Guardforce AI's robots and make more informed marketing decisions with data feedback from the Guardforce AI Intelligent Cloud Platform (GFAI ICP). We will continue to enhance and develop our robotic solutions with innovative AI technology for the hospitality and security industries and look forward to partnering with other companies within these markets to further accelerate growth.
“Lastly, we strengthened our balance sheet by raising net proceeds of approximately $23 million gross proceeds in the first half of 2023. We plan to further enhance our balance sheet by converting $13.4 million of debt and $2.5 million of accrued interest in exchange for ordinary shares at a conversion price of $5.40 per share, which is more than a 29% premium to the previous closing price of our stock on September 28, 2023. The lender has been our long-term strategic partner and has been supportive of our business development. Given that the conversion price is at a premium to market, we believe this transaction is in the best long-term interests of the Company and our shareholders. We also believe this transaction illustrates the lender’s confidence in our business outlook. Overall, we are now in a much stronger financial position, significantly improving our balance sheet, and having built a highly scalable business model that we believe will drive significant value for shareholders.”
Financial Overview
Net revenue increased by $1.47 million or 8.7%, to $18.4 million for 1H 2023, compared to $16.9 million for 1H 2022. This increase was primarily due to our Cash-In-Transit business, demand for our Guardforce Digital Machine and revenue increase from Beijing Wanjia Security System Co., Ltd which we acquired in June 2022. Gross profit increased to $2.5 million for 1H 2023 compared to $1.9 million for the same period last year, and gross margin increased from 11.5% for the six months ended June 30, 2022, to 13.4% for the six months ended June 30, 2023, primarily due to cost control initiatives and higher profit margin from our robotics AI solution business.
For the 1H 2023, total selling, distribution, and administrative (SG&A) expenses increased slightly by 0.05% to $6.98 million compared to $6.97 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022. Our business model includes free trials to collect product feedback for new feature development, and advertising models require a certain amount of robot deployments in place. As a result, the Company recognized an impairment loss on robots’ assets in accordance with IFRS accounting principles. Operating loss was $11.9 million for 1H 2023, compared to $5.5 million for 1H 2022, which included an approximate $4.7 million provision and impairment of inventory and fixed assets, as well as a $1.3 million of impairment on goodwill. Adjusted net loss (non-IFRS) was $2.40 million compared with $3.04 million in 2022. As of June 30, 2023, and December 31, 2022, the Company had approximately $26.0 million and $8.2 million of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, respectively.
About Guardforce AI Co., Ltd.
Guardforce AI Co., Ltd. ( GFAI, GFAIW) is a global security solutions provider, building on its legacy secured logistic business, while expanding to integrated AI and Robot-as-a-Service (RaaS) business. With more than 40 years of professional experience and a strong customer foundation, Guardforce AI is developing RaaS solutions that improve operational efficiency, quickly establishing its presence in the Asia Pacific region, while expanding globally. For more information, visit Twitter: @Guardforceai
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains statements that do not relate to historical facts but are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements can generally (although not always) be identified by their use of terms and phrases such as anticipate, appear, believe, continue, could, estimate, expect, indicate, intend, may, plan, possible, predict, project, pursue, will, would and other similar terms and phrases, as well as the use of the future tense. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of the business of the Company, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control, including the risks described in our registration statements and reports under the heading "Risk Factors" as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date hereof. Unless otherwise required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise.
Investor Relations:
David Waldman or Natalya Rudman
Crescendo Communications, LLC
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 212-671-1020
Guardforce AI Corporate Communications
Hu Yu
Email: [email protected]
(tables follow)
| Guardforce AI Co., Limited and Subsidiaries | ||||||||
| Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss | ||||||||
| (Expressed in U.S. Dollars) | ||||||||
| For the six months ended June 30, | ||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| (Unaudited) | (Unaudited) | |||||||
| Revenue | $ | 18,413,292 | $ | 16,942,522 | ||||
| Cost of sales | (15,939,067 | ) | (14,998,727 | ) | ||||
| Gross profit | 2,474,225 | 1,943,795 | ||||||
| Stock based compensation | - | (252,095 | ) | |||||
| Provision for and write off of withholding tax receivable | (561,277 | ) | (263,340 | ) | ||||
| Provision for expected credit loss on trade and other receivables | (870,408 | ) | - | |||||
| Provision for obsolete inventories | (3,090,283 | ) | - | |||||
| Impairment loss on fixed assets | (1,591,766 | ) | - | |||||
| Impairment of goodwill | (1,263,040 | ) | - | |||||
| Selling, distribution and administrative expenses | (6,981,660 | ) | (6,977,996 | ) | ||||
| Operating loss | (11,884,209 | ) | (5,549,636 | ) | ||||
| Other income, net | 77,765 | 46,859 | ||||||
| Foreign exchange losses, net | (583,661 | ) | (745,759 | ) | ||||
| Finance costs | (584,897 | ) | (410,861 | ) | ||||
| Loss before income tax | (12,975,002 | ) | (6,659,397 | ) | ||||
| Provision for income tax (expense) benefit | (874,431 | ) | 320,183 | |||||
| Net loss for the period | (13,849,433 | ) | (6,339,214 | ) | ||||
| Less: net loss attributable to non-controlling interests | 30,214 | 32,392 | ||||||
| Net loss attributable to equity holders of the Company | $ | (13,819,219 | ) | $ | (6,306,822 | ) | ||
| Loss per share | ||||||||
| Basic and diluted loss attributable to the equity holders of the Company | $ | (4.35 | ) | $ | (7.16 | ) | ||
| Weighted average number of shares used in computation: | ||||||||
| Basic and diluted | 3,174,282 | 880,618 | ||||||
| Guardforce AI Co., Limited and Subsidiaries | ||||||||
| Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets | ||||||||
| (Expressed in U.S. Dollars) | ||||||||
| As of June 30, 2023 | As of December 31, 2022 | |||||||
| (Unaudited) | ||||||||
| Assets | ||||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 24,738,377 | $ | 6,930,639 | ||||
| Restricted cash | 17,059 | - | ||||||
| Trade receivables | 5,127,998 | 5,400,186 | ||||||
| Other receivables | - | 817,564 | ||||||
| Other current assets | 2,380,718 | 1,743,008 | ||||||
| Withholding tax receivable, net | 536,974 | 757,024 | ||||||
| Inventories | 1,636,245 | 5,105,770 | ||||||
| Amounts due from related parties | 7,716,503 | 14,508,873 | ||||||
| Total current assets | 42,153,874 | 35,263,064 | ||||||
| Non-current assets: | ||||||||
| Restricted cash | 1,274,956 | 1,300,005 | ||||||
| Property, plant and equipment | 6,018,408 | 8,066,761 | ||||||
| Right-of-use assets | 3,323,870 | 4,171,409 | ||||||
| Intangible assets, net | 6,954,467 | 5,793,143 | ||||||
| Goodwill | 1,416,405 | 2,679,445 | ||||||
| Withholding tax receivable, net | 1,921,073 | 1,934,072 | ||||||
| Deferred tax assets, net | 634,619 | 1,511,753 | ||||||
| Other non-current assets | 397,030 | 447,322 | ||||||
| Total non-current assets | 21,940,828 | 25,903,910 | ||||||
| Total assets | $ | 64,094,702 | $ | 61,166,974 | ||||
| Liabilities and Equity | ||||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||||
| Trade and other payables | $ | 3,065,838 | $ | 2,633,995 | ||||
| Borrowings | 3,509,709 | 3,181,616 | ||||||
| Borrowing from a related party | 1,666,846 | 3,148,500 | ||||||
| Current portion of operating lease liabilities | 1,645,233 | 1,774,192 | ||||||
| Current portion of finance lease liabilities, net | 200,383 | 398,136 | ||||||
| Other current liabilities | 2,837,287 | 2,477,369 | ||||||
| Amounts due to related parties | 3,703,038 | 3,868,691 | ||||||
| Convertible note payables | 606,786 | 1,730,267 | ||||||
| Total current liabilities | 17,235,120 | 19,212,766 | ||||||
| Non-current liabilities: | ||||||||
| Borrowings | 13,727,574 | 13,899,818 | ||||||
| Operating lease liabilities | 1,686,803 | 2,340,075 | ||||||
| Borrowings from related parties | 1,437,303 | 1,455,649 | ||||||
| Finance lease liabilities | 229,747 | 233,550 | ||||||
| Other non-current liabilities | - | 43,200 | ||||||
| Provision for employee benefits | 4,775,062 | 4,849,614 | ||||||
| Total non-current liabilities | 21,856,489 | 22,821,906 | ||||||
| Total liabilities | 39,091,609 | 42,034,672 | ||||||
| Equity | ||||||||
| Ordinary shares – par value $0.12 authorized 300,000,000 shares, issued and outstanding 6,883,223 shares at June 30, 2023; par value $0.12 authorized 7,500,000 shares, issued and outstanding 1,618,977 shares at December 31, 2022 | 826,022 | 194,313 | ||||||
| Subscription receivable | (50,000 | ) | (50,000 | ) | ||||
| Additional paid in capital | 65,150,407 | 46,231,302 | ||||||
| Legal reserve | 223,500 | 223,500 | ||||||
| Warrants reserve | 251,036 | 251,036 | ||||||
| Accumulated deficit | (42,588,233 | ) | (28,769,014 | ) | ||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive income | 1,281,904 | 1,112,494 | ||||||
| Capital & reserves attributable to equity holders of the Company | 25,094,636 | 19,193,631 | ||||||
| Non-controlling interests | (91,543 | ) | (61,329 | ) | ||||
| Total equity | 25,003,093 | 19,132,302 | ||||||
| Total liabilities and equity | $ | 64,094,702 | $ | 61,166,974 | ||||
| Guardforce AI Co., Limited and Subsidiaries | ||||||||
| Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows | ||||||||
| (Expressed in U.S. Dollars) | ||||||||
| For the six months ended June 30, | ||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| (Unaudited) | (Unaudited) | |||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities | ||||||||
| Net loss | $ | (13,849,433 | ) | $ | (6,339,214 | ) | ||
| Adjustments for: | ||||||||
| Depreciation and Amortization of fixed and intangible assets | 2,619,001 | 2,697,378 | ||||||
| Stock-based compensation | - | 252,095 | ||||||
| Provision for and write off of withholding tax receivable | 561,277 | 263,340 | ||||||
| Provision for expected credit loss on trade and other receivables | 869,519 | - | ||||||
| Provision for obsolete inventories | 3,090,282 | - | ||||||
| Impairment loss on fixed assets | 1,591,766 | - | ||||||
| Impairment on goodwill | 1,263,040 | - | ||||||
| Finance costs | 584,897 | 506,818 | ||||||
| Loss from fixed assets disposal | 41,965 | |||||||
