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Half-year Results

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Graft Polymer (UK) Plc (the "Company" or "Graft Polymer"), an innovative biotechnology company focused on co-developing therapeutics for mental health disorders, announces its unaudited interim results for the six months to 30 June 2024.

Highlights

  • Board changes undertaken, including appointment of Anthony Tennyson as Chief Executive Officer.
  • Completion of an operational review, leading to a strategic focus on the healthcare industry, specifically developing intellectual property ("IP") relating to the treatment of mental health and substance use disorders, and the co-development of therapeutics for mental health disorders.
  • Disposal of non-core, underperforming industrial polymer division to streamline operations and focus on higher-growth sectors.
  • Successful £1.8 million fundraising, post period end, through the publication of a prospectus (the "Prospectus") and placement of new shares.
  • Entered a commercial collaboration agreement with Awakn Life Sciences Corp. to co-develop a new class of therapeutics targeting trauma related mental health disorders such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder ("PTSD").
  • Strengthening of the intellectual property portfolio with four new patent applications related to mental health and substance use disorders.

Anthony Tennyson, CEO, said: "I am confident that the strategic steps taken since my appointment positions Graft Polymer as an innovative biotechnology company focused on developing IP relating to the treatment of mental health and substance use disorders, and the co-development of therapeutics for mental health disorders. We are committed to delivering value to our shareholders as we continue this journey and I look forward to providing further updates on our progress."

Chairman's Statement

The interim financial results cover the six-month period from the 1 January 2024 to 30 June 2024. A more detailed narrative on the Company's recent activities was provided in the Prospectus, published on 3 July 2024.

I joined Graft Polymer as Chairman in March 2024, during a period of financial distress for the Company. Upon my appointment, an injection of capital was urgently needed, which led to the initiation of a comprehensive operational review to chart a sustainable path forward.

In May 2024, Anthony Tennyson joined as CEO, bringing a mandate to reduce overheads, streamline operations, and build out our IP portfolio to capitalise on the growing potential of our Graft Bio division.

The operational review is now complete, and we are repositioned as a biotechnology company with a specific focus on mental health and substance use disorders. Through various announcements, we have communicated our strategy clearly, and I am grateful for the strong support from our shareholders since the July 2024 capital raise. Our commitment to developing breakthrough therapeutics for under-addressed markets, including mental health and substance use disorders, offers a credible and significant growth opportunity.

CEO's report

Since my appointment as CEO in May 2024, Graft Polymer has achieved important milestones that underscore our evolution into a biotechnology company focused on mental health and substance use disorders. Our initial target is trauma-related mental health conditions, including PTSD, which impacts approximately 13 million adults in the U.S. and 20 million in the US, UK, and key EU markets.

On 3 May 2024, we announced the disposal of Graft Polymer Slovenia D.O.O., a non-core, underperforming industrial plastics subsidiary. This divestment was essential in refocusing the Company on our core strengths in biotechnology.

Following this, we took several crucial steps to strengthen the Company's financial and strategic position:

  • 3 July 2024: The Company successfully raised £1.8 million, providing the resources needed to fuel future growth.
  • 18 July 2024: The Company entered into a commercial collaboration with Awakn Life Sciences Corp. to co-develop new therapeutics targeting trauma-related mental health disorders, including PTSD.
  • 30 July 2024: The Company appointed Professor David Nutt as Senior Scientific Advisor, adding world-class expertise to our development programme.
  • 28 August 2024: The Company and Awakn Life Sciences Corp. selected the co-lead series for our collaboration and engaged Charnwood Discovery as the synthesis partner to advance the programme.

With these steps, we are confident in our trajectory as a key player in the development of innovative treatments for mental health and substance use disorders. We look forward to keeping our shareholders updated as we continue to execute our strategy.

The notes from an integral part of the Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANNCIAL POSITION

FOR THE 6 MONTH PERIOD ENDING 30 JUNE 2024

NoteUnaudited 30 Jun 2024 £'000Unaudited 30 Jun 2023 £'000Audited 31 Dec 2023 £'000
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment8-805-
Intangible assets92,0682,0682,068
Other non-current assets-1313
Right of use assets-4739
Total non-current assets2,0682,9332,120
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents27522155
Trade and other receivables44136108
Inventory-11451
Total current assets71772314
TOTAL ASSETS2,1393,7052,434
Non-current liabilities
Lease liability-2922
Total non-current liabilities-2922
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables220197249
Deferred Income--93
Lease liability-1312
Loan note11264--
Provisions--32
Total current liabilities484210386
Total liabilities484239408
NET ASSETS1,6553,4662,026
Equity
Issued share capital12624141
Share premium127,0937,0017,001
Share capital to issue358-175
Share based payments reserve1,2338581,227
Capital reduction reserve2,5002,5002,500
Foreign exchange reserve Share based payments reserve-3747
Accumulated losses(9,591)(6,971)(8,965)
TOTAL EQUITY1,6553,4662,026

The notes from an integral part of the Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements.

The Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements were approved and authorised by the Board of Directors on 13 September 2024.

Nicholas Nelson - Chairman

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASHFLOWS

FOR THE 6 MONTH PERIOD ENDING 30 JUNE 2024

Unaudited Six months to 30 Jun 2024 £'000Unaudited Six months to 30 Jun 2023 £'000
Cash flow from operating activities
Loss before tax(626)(1,126)
Adjustments for:
Depreciation - property, plant & equipment5790
Depreciation - right of use asset-4
Finance charge643
Share based payments7-
Gain on deconsolidation(139)-
Impairment of fixed asset(57)-
Foreign exchange movements7539
Changes in working capital:
Decrease in trade and other receivables34175
Increase / (decrease) in in trade and other payables123(151)
Increase in inventories3973
Net cash outflow from operating activities(423)(893)
Cash flow from investing activities
Purchase of property, plant and equipment-(237)
Repayments on right of use assets(4)-
Disposed subsidiary cash balance(13)-
Net cash outflow from investing activities(17)(237)
Cash flows from financing activities
Net proceeds from issue of shares112-
Proceeds from issue of convertible note200
Net cash inflow from financing activities312-
Net (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents(128)(1,130)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period1551,640
Foreign exchange impact on cash-12
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period27522
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
AS AT 30 JUNE 2024
Share capitalShares to be issuedShare premiumCapital Reduction reserveSBP reserveForeign exchange ReserveRetained earningsTotal equity
£'000£'000£'000£'000£'000£'000£'000£'000
Balance at 31 December 202241-7,0012,500858(1)(5,845)4,554
Loss for period------(1,126)(1,126)
Other comprehensive income-----38-38
Total comprehensive loss for year-----38(1,126)(1,088)
Transactions with owners in own capacity
Transactions with owners in own capacity--------
Balance at 30 June 202341-7,0012,50085837(6,971)3,466
Loss for period------(1,994)(1,994)
Other comprehensive income-----10-10
Total comprehensive loss for year-----10(1,994)(1,984)
Transactions with owners in own capacity
Waiver of Director and advisor fees-175-----175
Employee options----369--369
Transactions with owners in own capacity-175--369--544
Balance at 31 December 2023411757,0012,5001,22747(8,965)2,026
Loss for period------(626)(626)
Other comprehensive income-----76-76
Total comprehensive loss for year-----76(626)(551)
Transactions with owners in own capacity
Shares issued during the year2118392----296
Disposal of subsidiary-----(123)-(123)
Employee options----6--6
Transactions with owners in own capacity2118392-6(123)-179
Balance at 30 June 2024623587,0932,5001,233-(9,591)1,655

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE 6 MONTH PERIOD ENDING 30 JUNE 2024

GENERAL INFORMATION

Graft Polymer (UK) Plc ("the Company" or "Graft") was incorporated in England and Wales as a limited company on 18 May 2017 as Graft Polymer (UK) Limited and was re-registered as a public limited company on 1 July 2021. The Company is domiciled in England and Wales with its registered office at Eccleston Yards, 25 Eccleston Place, London, SW1W 9NF. The Company's registered number is 10776788.

At the beginning of the period the principal activities of the Company and all of its subsidiaries (collectively referred to as "the Group") were the research and development of polymer modification technologies and polymer modification techniques. However towards the end of the period the board of directors undertook a review of its business and operations, pursuant to which it was decided that Graft Polymer Slovenia ("Graft Polymer D.O.O") (principally, an industrial polymer products manufacturer) was considered no longer commercially viable due to forecasted negative cashflow as a result of falling sales and rising costs, with no immediate prospect of becoming profitable in the short to medium term and as a result the decision was made to dispose of Graft Polymer D.O.O on 2 May 2024.

Post the divestment the Company will focus its attention and resources on its Graft Bio division, which represents strong prospectivity through its intellectual property (IP), licensing agreements, and sales contracts.

The condensed consolidated interim financial statements ("interim financial statements") were approved for issue by the Board of Directors on 13 September 2024.

  • ACCOUNTING POLICIES
  • BASIS OF PREPARATION

The interim financial statements of Graft Polymer (UK) Plc for the six-month period ended 30 June 2024 have been prepared in accordance with Accounting Standard IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting.

The interim report does not include all the notes of the type normally included in an annual financial report. Accordingly, this report is to be read in conjunction with the annual report for the year ended 31 December 2023, which was prepared in accordance with UK adopted International Accounting Standards (IFRS) and the Companies Act 2006, and any public announcements made by Graft Polymer (UK) plc during the interim reporting period and since.

These interim financial statements do not constitute statutory accounts as defined in Section 434 of the Companies Act 2006. The Group's statutory financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 prepared under IFRS have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. The auditor's report on those financial statements was unqualified and did not contain a statement under Section 498(2) of the Companies Act 2006.

The functional currency for each entity in the Group is determined as the currency of the primary economic environment in which it operates. The functional currency of the Company's subsidiary (which was disposed of on 2 May 2024) was the Euro. The presentational currency of the Group is Pounds Sterling as this is the functional currency of the parent entity and also the currency in which equity fundraising has been facilitated. Amounts have been rounded to the nearest £'000.

The interim financial statements have not been audited.

The business is not considered to be seasonal in nature.

3.1 GOING CONCERN

These interim financial statements have been prepared on the going concern basis, which contemplates the continuity of normal business activities and the realisation of assets and settlement of liabilities in the normal course of business.

As disclosed in the interim financial statements, the consolidated entity incurred a net loss before taxation for the period ended 30 June 2024 from continuing operations of approximately £469,000 (30 June 2023: approximately £1,126,000) and had net cash outflows of approximately £128,000 (30 June 2023: approximately £1,130,000) for the period ended 30 June 2024. As at period end, the consolidated entity had net current liabilities of approximately £413,000 (30 June 2023: net current assets of approximately £562,000) and had cash and cash equivalents equal to approximately £27,000 (30 June 2023: approximately £522,000).

In the Group's last annual report the Group's auditors noted that there was a material uncertainty relating to going concern due to an uncertainty over a potential fundraise. Since period end, the Group has successfully raised £1.8m (before expenses) via a placing of new ordinary shares which has boosted the liquidity of the Group.

As a result, the Directors have assessed that the Group now has sufficient working capital to execute its operations over the next 12 months. Accordingly, the Directors believe that the Group will be able to continue as a going concern and that it is appropriate to adopt the going concern basis in the preparation of the interim financial statements.

3.2 PRINCIPAL RISK AND UNCERTAINTIES

  • The Group is currently loss making, recording a financial loss of approximately £469,000 (30 June 2023: approx. £1,126,000) for the period and the Group has no clear source of revenue.
  • The existing license of the Group's drug delivery systems may ultimately fail to deliver revenues through royalty and distribution payments in accordance with management's expectations or at all; and
  • A core asset of the Group is the intellectual property rights in its drug delivery system. A failure to protect those intellectual property rights and its portfolio of intellectual property rights, more generally, may have an adverse impact on the financial condition of the Group

These risks are deemed by the Directors to be within the normal risk appetite of the Group and are comfortable that the risks are properly mitigated where required.

3.3 CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

Disposal of Graft Polymer D.O.O

On 2 May 2024, the board of directors undertook a review of its business and operations, pursuant to which it was decided to dispose of Graft Polymer D.O.O on 2 May 2024. On contemplation of various factors relating to Graft Polymer D.O.O the board decided there was not significant value in the subsidiary and hence decided to dispose of it for nominal consideration.

SEGEMENT REPORTING

The Chief Operating Decision Maker is the Board of Directors. The Board reviews the Group's internal reporting in order to assess performance of the Group. Management has determined the operating segments based on the reports reviewed by the Board.

The Board considers that during the six month period ended 30 June 2024, the Group operated in two segments being the corporate function in the United Kingdom and polymer development and production in Slovenia.

However, due to the disposal of the Slovenian operations on 2 May 2024, the contributions from the Slovenian operating segment are not reported in the loss from continuing operations in the statement of comprehensive income. For details of the contribution of the Slovenian operations during the period up until the point of disposal, refer to Note 14.

REVENUE

Period to 30 Jun 2024 £'000Period to 30 Jun 2023 £'000
Sales revenue-240
-240

For details of the revenue from the Slovenian operations during the period up until the point of disposal refer to Note 14.

OPERATING LOSS

Operating loss from continued operations is stated after (charging):

Period to 30 Jun 2024 £'000Period to 30 Jun 2023 £'000
Operational costs(18)(80)
Director and employee costs(241)(620)
Professional and consulting fees(248)(163)
Travel expenses-(2)
Corporate and administrative costs(30)(150)
Other expenses(7)(31)
Foreign exchange-(94)
Gain on deconsolidation139-
(405)(1,140)
7. EARNINGS PER SHARE
Unaudited Period to 30 Jun 2024Unaudited Period to 30 Jun 2023
Loss for the period from continuing operations - £ '000s(469)(1,126)
Weighted number of ordinary shares in issue124,309,754104,097,229
Loss per share from continuing operations - p(0.38)(1.08)
8. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Leasehold Improvements £'000Plant & Equipment £'000Total £'000
Cost
At 1 July 2023901,1351,225
Additions14620
Disposals-(27)(27)
Impairment(107)(1,117)(1,224)
Exchange impact336
At 31 December 2023 (audited)---
Impairment1071,1171,224
Disposal on derecognition of subsidiary(107)(1,117)(1,224)
At 30 June 2024 (unaudited)---
Depreciation
At 1 July 2023(48)(372)(420)
Charge for the year-(73)(73)
Disposals-66
Impairment40463503
Exchange impact8(24)(16)
At 31 December 2023 (audited)---
Impairment(40)(463)(503)
Disposal on derecognition of subsidiary40463503
At 30 June 2024 (unaudited)---
Net book value at 31 December 2023 (audited)---
Net book value at 30 June 2023 (unaudited)42763805
Net book value at 30 June 2024 (unaudited)---
9. INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Unaudited 30 Jun 2024 £'000Unaudited 30 Jun 2023 £'000Audited 31 Dec 2023 £'000
Opening balance2,0682,0682,068
2,0682,0682,068

Intangible assets relate to the issue of 22,500,000 shares to founding director Victor Bolduev on the acquisition of his "Know-how" and patents that have been transferred to the Group.

At each period end, the Directors assess the intangible assets for any indicators of impairment and have concluded no presence of such indicators. Consequently no impairment charge has been processed during the period (31 Dec 2023: £nil).

INVESTMENTS

Company subsidiary undertakings

NameBusiness ActivityCountry of IncorporationRegistered AddressPercentage Holding
Graft Polymer IP LimitedIntellectual propertyEngland and WalesEccleston Yards, 25 Eccleston Place, London, SW1W 9NF100%
GRAFTBIO LimitedBio-Polymer development and productionEngland and WalesEccleston Yards, 25 Eccleston Place, London, SW1W 9NF100%
11. LOAN NOTE
Unaudited 30 Jun 2024 £'000Unaudited 30 Jun 2023 £'000Audited 31 Dec 2023 £'000
Opening balance---
Principal drawn down200--
Interest charged64--
Principal repaid---
264--

On 15 March 2024, the Company entered into a £100,000 working capital loan facility, which was subsequently increased by a further £100,000 in April 2024. The facility has been drawn down in full and attracts an interest rate of 10% per month. The loan is repayable on demand, together with accumulated interest.

SHARE CAPITAL

Unaudited 30 Jun 2024Unaudited 30 Jun 2023Audited 31 Dec 2023
Number of shares124,763,966104,097,299104,097,299
Nominal value (£'000)624141

Issued and fully paid ordinary shares with a nominal value of £0.001 (2023: £0.001)

Change in issued Share Capital and Share Premium:

Number of sharesShare capitalShare premiumTotal
Ordinary shares£'000£'000£'000
Opening balance at 31 December 2023104,097,299417,0017,042
Issue of shares at placing price of 0.6 pence20,666,66721103124
Share issue costs--(11)(11)
Closing balance at 30 June 2024124,763,966627,0937,155
13. SHARE BASED PAYMENT RESERVE
Warrants
As at 30 June 2024
Weighted average exercise priceNumber of warrants
Brought forward at 1 January 202422p2,031,008
Granted in period1p10,333,333
0.6p1,500,000
Expired during period22p(775,194)
Outstanding at 30 June 20242.9p13,089,147
Exercisable at 30 June 20242.9p13,089,147

The weighted average time to expiry of the warrants as at 30 June 2024 is 515 days.

The following table lists the Black Scholes inputs to the model used for valuation of the warrants:

1p warrants0.6p warrants
Dividend yield (%)0%0%
Expected volatility (%)92.4%92.4%
Risk-free interest rate (%)3.6%3.6%
Time to maturity2 years2 years
Exercise price ( £)0.010.006
Share price at grant date ( £)0.0060.006

BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

Discontinued operations

The Board recently undertook a review of its business and operations, pursuant to which it was decided that the Slovenian operation, Graft Polymer D.O.O (principally, an industrial polymer products manufacturer), was considered no longer commercially viable due to forecasted negative cashflow as a result of falling sales and rising costs, with no immediate prospect of becoming profitable in the short to medium term. The Group disposed of Graft Polymer D.O.O on 2 May 2024.

A gain on deconsolidation as at date of disposal of £139k was recognised and taken to the Statement of Comprehensive Income.

Gain on deconsolidation of Graft Polymer D.O.O

2 May 2024 £'000

Consideration received

Cash-
Carrying amount of net liabilities sold16
16
Reclassification of foreign exchange reserve123
Gain on deconsolidation139
Financial Performance for Graft Polymer D.O.O
Unaudited Four months to 2 May 2024 £'000Unaudited Six months to 30 Jun 2023 £'000
Revenue221240
Cost of sales(162)(128)
Gross profit59112
Operational costs(17)(80)
Depreciation(57)(92)
Administrative expenses(141)(288)
Operating loss(156)(348)
Finance costs(1)(3)
Loss before taxation(157)(351)
Income tax--
Loss for the period from discontinuing operations(157)(351)
Assets and liabilities of Graft Polymer D.O.O
Unaudited 2 May 2024 £'000Audited 31 Dec 2023 £'000
Non-current assets
Right of use assets3839
Other non-current assets1313
Total non-current assets5152
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents13143
Trade and other receivables4478
Inventory1150
Total current assets68271
TOTAL ASSETS119323
Non-current liabilities
Lease liability-22
Total non-current liabilities-22
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables71132
Deferred Income3693
Lease liability2812
Total current liabilities135237
Total liabilities135259
NET ASSETS(16)64

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Payments to Directors

In the period Directors accrued fees as per below which were outstanding at period end:

Fees accrued in the period (£)Outstanding Fees as at 30.06.24 (£)
Victor Bolduev84,870135,175
Pavel Kobzev22,27052,160
Roby Zomer30,05066,666
Yifat Steuer50,05090,270
Alex Brooks7,43016,865
Anthony Tennyson8,3358,335
Nicholas Nelson10,50010,500

The outstanding fees were settled through a mix of cash and share consideration post period end.

EVENTS SUBSEQUENT TO PERIOD END

Placement of New shares and issue of warrants

On 10 July 2024, the Company raised £1.8 million (before expenses) through a placing of 2,171,166,667 new ordinary shares. A breakdown of the placement is detailed below:

Type of sharesNo. of shares
Placing shares1,800,000,000
Conversion shares 1264,000,000
Management shares 259,666,667
Fee shares 347,500,000
Total2,171,166,667

1 Shares issued as full repayment of working capital loan and accrued interest

2 Shares issued in satisfaction of fees owed to Directors as at 31 March in connection to the July 24 transaction

3 Shares issued to various directors and advisors in lieu of fees owed

In addition to the above, on 10 July 2024, 294,500,000 warrants were also issued.

Resignation of Pavel Kobzev

On 15 July 2024, Mr. Pavel Kobzev resigned from the board of directors with immediate effect. This followed the Company's recent divestiture of its industrial plastics business unit, Graft Polymer D.O.O., announced on 3 May 2024.

Resignation of Victor Bolduev

On 1 August 2024, Mr. Victor Bolduev resigned from the board of directors and from his role as the Company's Chief Technology Officer with immediate effect. This followed the Company's recent divestiture of its industrial plastics business unit, Graft Polymer D.O.O., announced on 3 May 2024.

Resignation of Yifat Steuer

On 12 August 2024, Ms. Yifat Steuer resigned from the board of directors and from her role as the Company's Chief Financial Officer with immediate effect.

Issue of options to Professor David Nutt

In consideration for becoming the Company's Senior Scientific Adviser, Professor Nutt was granted 10,000,000 nominal cost options (with an exercise price of £0.001 and expiry life of 3 years) over the Company's ordinary shares under the Company's Long Term Incentive Plan. The options vest in 3 equal tranches with one tranche vesting immediately and the remaining two tranches on the 1 and 2 year anniversary of grant date respectively.

Impairment of Intangible Assets

Subsequent to period end the board of directors reviewed the current financial position of the Company and, following the resignation of Victor Bolduev on 1 August 2024 the directors will assess the recoverability of intangible assets linked to his intellectual property and "Know-how." As there were no indicators of the potential resignation of Mr Bolduev at period end the Directors are comfortable that the assets were not impaired at this stage.

Cleaned text: letterheads, contacts and legal notices removed. View the original announcement ↗ · Company filings. Not investment advice.

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