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INQO Inqo Investments Limited

66.00
0.00 (0.00%)
13 May 2024 - Closed
Realtime Data
Share Name Share Symbol Market Type Share ISIN Share Description
Inqo Investments Limited AQSE:INQO Aquis Stock Exchange Ordinary Share ZAU000014391 Ordinary shares
  Price Change % Change Share Price Bid Price Offer Price High Price Low Price Open Price Shares Traded Last Trade
  0.00 0.00% 66.00 62.00 67.00 66.00 64.50 66.00 0.00 16:29:50
Industry Sector Turnover Profit EPS - Basic PE Ratio Market Cap
0 0 N/A 0

Inqo Investments Limited Half-year Results (8017G)

27/11/2020 5:00pm

UK Regulatory


Inqo Investments (AQSE:INQO)
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TIDMINQO

RNS Number : 8017G

Inqo Investments Limited

27 November 2020

Inqo Investments Limited

Unaudited Group Results for the period ended 31 August 2020

CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE STATEMENT

Inqo Investments Limited ("Inqo" or "the Group") is a South African based social impact company that acquires and invests in businesses that tackle poverty and the social needs of low-income earners in Sub-Saharan Africa.

COMMENTARY

The Group remains in a strong financial position with minimal debt. Cash reserves for investment stood at R7 072 767 with total assets of R169 973 016 on the balance sheet.

The results for the six months under review showed revenue of R1 746 170 (August 2019: R8 738 816) but a loss after tax of R4 760 046 (August 2019 a loss of R5 147 304). The loss for the period is reported after accounting for the following operating costs:

 
                                 August 2020   August 2019 
 
  Depreciation                     1 743 117     1 531 521 
   Listing expenses                  528 106       421 117 
   Directors fees and salaries       300 540       388 563 
   Professional fees                 259 942       248 887 
 

Like businesses around the world, the Group has been heavily impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The result of this pandemic has been that all the businesses in the Group have reported reduced earnings and are taking extensive steps to reduce operating costs to the absolute minimum while the businesses operate in a holding mode as the world waits to see how the Covid-19 pandemic plays out.

The directors of the holding company review the valuation placed on all income carrying assets to ensure that they reflect their fair value. This review was done at 31 August 2020 and having conducted the review, the directors are of the view that the Group's assets are reflected at fair value.

INVESTEE COMPANIES

Kuzuko Lodge (South Africa)

Kuzuko Lodge ("KUZUKO") closed down in early April 2020 due to the lockdown restrictions in South Africa. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, Kuzuko was performing well with strong bookings in place for 2020. The Covid-19 pandemic has had a severe effect on the tourism industry globally and at this stage it is unclear what the full impact will be. Inqo anticipates that disruption due to reduced travel and the depression on sales due to the Covid-19 related economic downturn will last for a minimum of two years. Restrictions on local inter-provincial leisure travel was lifted on 12 August 2020, giving Kuzuko the opportunity to open to the rest of the country for bookings. On 11 November 2020 South Africa relaxed restrictions on international travel, allowing international bookings. In an effort to protect the going concern of the business many fixed costs have been renegotiated to new lower cost structures and unfortunately 24% of the workforce has had to be retrenched. A foodbank has been established for those retrenched. Inqo directors and the management company, Legacy Hotels and Resorts, are working closely with the Kuzuko management team to control costs efficiently to protect the viability of the business.

Spekboom Trading (South Africa)

The company has to date replanted some 500 acres of degraded land with spekboom, an indigenous shrub that naturally sequesters exceptionally high levels carbon, creating 100 job opportunities in the process.

The spekboom thicket restoration at Kuzuko is planned to restart once the Covid-19 pandemic crisis has passed and restoration work can commence. A memorandum of understanding is being negotiated with a leading carbon fund to restore 12,500 acres of spekboom on the Kuzuko property in order to generate carbon credits.

There has recently been a renewed interest in the carbon markets in response to the growing global awareness of the impact of climate change with nature-based solutions, such as spekboom, being a high priority. Inqo anticipates scaling up spekboom restoration activities once the Covid-19 pandemic situation has resolved providing valuable employment opportunities as well as a positive environmental benefit.

A small-scale trial plot has just been planted to test the best method for growing spekboom based on the latest scientific research. The next step is to undertake large-scale trials over 40 hectares to refine the cost model of the investment. This will take place as soon as it is feasible (in the context of Covid-19 lockdowns) to run the trials.

Bee Sweet Honey (Zambia)

Inqo made an initial investment into Bee Sweet Honey's commercial honey production operation in 2016 with further investments in 2018 and 2019. Bee Sweet Honey contracts with rural farmers to manage hives placed on the farmer's land in return for a share of the harvest.

The Bee Sweet operation currently has 85,512 bee hives in the field with 10,000 farmers in its programme. Inqo has invested in the income that will accrue from 14,150 hives and receives a return on investment as a profit share on the yield produced by these hives.

The hives are harvested twice a year, generally in May and November.

Inqo earned R42 102 as its share of revenue in the period ended 31 August 2020 from the May 2020 harvest (2019: R136 821).

Four-One Financial Services Limited (Uganda)

Inqo made an initial investment in 2017 and a further investment in 2018 in Four-One Financial Services Limited, a Ugandan based company that provides micro-pension, savings and short-term loan products to the informal sector.

Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic Four-One was performing well having endured challenging operating conditions for the previous 18 months. The impact of the lockdown and subsequent economic downturn is likely to be severe in Uganda and so for Four-One. The senior management team have a strong track record in navigating a difficult business environment through lean operations and have developed an agile response to market demands.

Inqo earned interest on its investment in the Four-One Financial Services operation of R149 634 in the period ended 31 August 2020 (2019: R116 578).

South Lake Medical Centre - SLMC (Kenya)

SLMC is a private healthcare provider in the Naivasha region of Kenya serving predominantly low-income flower farm workers. SLMC operate a 'hub and spoke' model around a 27-bed private referral-level hospital with smaller satellite clinics based on surrounding flower farms and in nearby population centres. Inqo invested in SLMC in the current 2019/20 year.

This hospital receives around 64,000 patient visits per annum with the capacity to treat three times this number. Currently, SLMC offers a range of in and outpatient services including consultations, laboratory testing, radiology and pharmacy services. Following this investment, SLMC will be expanded to include a surgical unit making it the most advanced hospital at the southern end of Lake Naivasha. The Naivasha region in Kenya is predominantly populated by low income workers working in the horticultural, agricultural and tourism industries.

The impact of Covid-19 will be economically challenging for SLMC. The major industry in the area is cut flowers for the European market - a sector that has dropped off in the current climate but with the resumption of international flights sales levels are returning. In addition, there is a strong vegetable growing industry in Naivasha that continues to trade and provide medical appointments for SLMC.

Inqo earned interest of R48 424 on its investment in SLMC in the period ended 31 August 2020 (2019: R8 295).

Kentegra Biotechnology Limited (Kenya)

Kentegra is a Kenyan based biotechnology firm owned by the US holding company, Kentegra Biotechnology Holdings LLC. Kentegra produces pyrethrum, a natural active ingredient from the chrysanthemum flower, for the use in biocide, agricultural and pharmaceutical pesticide markets. The chrysanthemum flowers must be grown in specific conditions in order to produce pyrethrum - these conditions are found only in a few places around the world, predominantly East Africa (Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya) and Australia. With ideal growing conditions, Kenya was once the largest producer of pyrethrum in the world until management issues and synthetic alternatives led to a major decline in the nationalised industry in the early 2000s. In 2013 the Kenyan government liberalised the pyrethrum sector in a concerted effort to revive the industry and support the growing worldwide "organic" movement. Kentegra is one of the six companies in Kenya with a licence to produce pyrethrum.

Kentegra continues to operate in a scaled down manner but has reported demand during the Covid-19 pandemic. They have recently installed a new factory that is in the process of being commissioned and ready for production. The senior management team have responded quickly and professionally drawing up well considered contingency plans for all eventualities and are re-evaluating the situation on a continual basis. Kentegra has shown a strong commitment to both their smallholder farmer partners and their employees during this time, going above and beyond to minimise the economic impact while ensuring safety for the organisation.

STOCK EXCHANGE LISTING

Aquis Exchange PLC (AIM:AQX) acquired the NEX Exchange in March 2020, which has now been renamed The Aquis Stock Exchange (AQSE). Shares on AQSE will remain exempt from Capital Gains Tax and Inheritance Tax as they were on the NEX Exchange.

OUTLOOK

Kuzuko Private Game Reserve - The Lodge saw high occupancy rates before the Covid-19 pandemic. Once international tourism re-commences, we are confident that Kuzuko will make a good recovery although it will take time for confidence to return to the tourism industry in South Africa. The directors do not expect this recovery to start before the latter part of 2021.

Bee Sweet Honey - The market in which Bee Sweet is currently operating is very challenging but management is making headway on both the production and sales fronts. Currently the company is negotiating with international third parties to buy the stock on hand of some 400 tons. The company's production facilities have been upgraded through the internal promotion of a senior employee to General Manager. The General Manager will be responsible for the management of both production and field work. The crop of honey harvested in May this year was smaller than in 2019 but the business is very happy with the quality of the stock.

Spekboom Trading - The Covid-19 pandemic has meant that re-planting activity had to cease. However, discussions have been on-going with a number of environment focussed investment funds to start re-planting of spekboom when lockdown is relaxed

Four-One Financial Services - This business has been especially hard hit because it serves the informal sector in Uganda with savings and short-term loans products. The Covid-19 pandemic has brought the informal sector to a complete standstill with many traders going out of business. We are pessimistic about the outlook given the overall economic impact of the pandemic in Uganda.

South Lake Medical Centre - As an essential service, SLMC has been able to continue trading though footfall to the hospital declined with patients hesitant about attending the hospital for treatment due to fear of being infected with Covid-19. International flower sales have resumed and this has had a positive impact on the operation of SLMC.

Kentegra Biotechnology - As an Agri business, Kentegra was deemed an essential service by the Kenyan government and has been able to continue operations during the lockdown. During this period, the company has on-boarded a significant number of new out-grower farmers as well as installed and commissioned their new factory and made their first export sale.

SUMMARY OF SOCIAL & ENVIRONMENTAL METRICS SINCE PROJECT COMMENCEMENT

-- 39,000 acres of former farmland restored as a game reserve in a region of endemic poverty in the poorest province in South Africa

-- Increased VAT and income tax paid by Kuzuko year on year, currently 46 fulltime staff employed.

-- All staff living at Kuzuko in standard housing with flush toilets, power, water and solar panels.

   --      Conservation of 3 endangered species. 

-- Re-wilded, bred and released 6 cheetahs with new genetics into the metapopulation in South Africa

-- Reforestation of 500 acres of degraded land with spekboom providing work for 100 part time staff and sequestering carbon

-- 85,512 beehives in the field with positive impact on bee populations and retention of forests

   --      2,100+ voluntary low-income savers in micro-pension and loan schemes 

-- 74,582 patient visits between January and December 2019 including 110 safe deliveries, 299 HIV patients receiving care and counselling, 658 infants immunised, 658 mothers receiving nutrition advice and 1,277 people receiving health education including, Covid-19 education, through community outreach in Kenya

-- Increased the economic livelihoods of over 17,000 farmers and their families in Zambia and Kenya

STAFF

The directors would like to take this opportunity to thank all the operating staff in the Group for their contribution and commitment to the Group's objectives during this challenging time.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

The financial information set out in this announcement does not constitute statutory financial statements. This financial information has been extracted from Inqo's unaudited group financial statements for the period ended 31 August 2020.

DIVID

The company has not declared a dividend the period ended 31 August 2020.

K.S Tan C.J Bertie

Chairman Chief Financial Officer

Enquiries

 
 Inqo Investments Limited                Tel: +27 (0)83 6254069 
 Chris Bertie, Chief Financial Officer   Email: cbertie@acland.co.za 
  and Chief Operating Officer 
 
 Hobart Capital Markets LLP 
 AQSE Corporate Adviser and Broker       Tel: +44 (0)20 7070 5665 
 Dr Wang Chong                           Email: wang.chong@hobartcapital.com 
 

Condensed consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income

for the six months ended 31 August 2020

 
                                                   Six Months ended   Six Months ended 
                                                    31 August 2020     31 August 2019 
                                                          R                  R 
 Revenue                                                  1 746 170          8 738 816 
 Cost of Sales                                            (240 331)        (1 198 952) 
                                                  -----------------  ----------------- 
 Gross profit                                             1 505 839          7 539 864 
 Other income                                             1 252 416            136 821 
 Personnel expenses                                     (2 400 248)        (4 048 171) 
 Depreciation                                           (1 743 117)        (1 531 521) 
 Listing expenses                                         (528 106)          (421 117) 
 Professional fees                                        (259 942)          (248 887) 
 Directors emoluments                                     (300 540)          (388 563) 
 Selling and administrative expenses                    (2 921 969)        (6 883 256) 
                                                  -----------------  ----------------- 
 Operating loss                                         (5 395 667)        (5 844 830) 
 Net financing income                                       355 206            247 879 
                                                  -----------------  ----------------- 
 Finance income                                             424 966            340 465 
 Finance costs                                             (69 760)           (92 586) 
                                                  -----------------  ----------------- 
 
 Loss before taxation                                   (5 040 461)        (5 596 951) 
 Taxation credit                                            280 415            449 647 
                                                  -----------------  ----------------- 
 Loss for the period                                    (4 760 046)        (5 147 304) 
                                                  -----------------  ----------------- 
 Loss attributable to: 
 Equity holders                                         (3 587 714)        (4 236 248) 
 Non-controlling interest                               (1 172 332)          (911 056) 
                                                  -----------------  ----------------- 
                                                        (4 760 046)        (5 147 304) 
                                                  -----------------  ----------------- 
 Other comprehensive income: 
 Other comprehensive income                                       -                  - 
 Total comprehensive income for the period              (4 760 046)        (5 147 304) 
                                                  -----------------  ----------------- 
 Total comprehensive income attributable to: 
 Equity holders                                         (3 587 714)        (4 236 248) 
 Non-controlling interest                               (1 172 332)          (911 056) 
                                                  -----------------  ----------------- 
                                                        (4 760 046)        (5 147 304) 
                                                  -----------------  ----------------- 
 

Condensed consolidated statement of financial position

as at 31 August 2020

 
                                              Reviewed       Audited 
                                              31 August     28 February 
                                                2020           2020 
                                                 R              R 
 Assets 
 Non-current assets                          145 802 368    146 063 205 
                                           -------------  ------------- 
 Property, plant and equipment               133 575 459    134 430 943 
 Intangible assets                                 6 847          9 062 
 Right of use asset                              790 490        893 597 
  Other investments                           11 429 572     10 729 603 
 
 Current assets                               18 475 303     27 644 153 
                                           -------------  ------------- 
 Biological assets                             3 058 866      3 058 866 
 Inventories                                   4 863 586      4 763 430 
 Trade and other receivables                   3 480 084      4 150 071 
 Cash and cash equivalents                     7 072 767     15 671 786 
                                           -------------  ------------- 
 
 Assets held for sale                          5 695 345      5 695 345 
                                           -------------  ------------- 
 Land held for sale                            5 695 345      5 695 345 
                                           -------------  ------------- 
 
 Total assets                                169 973 016    179 402 703 
                                           =============  ============= 
 Equity and liabilities 
 Capital and reserves 
 Ordinary share capital                       71 809 195     71 809 195 
 Share premium                                86 294 138     86 294 138 
 Revaluation reserve                          73 152 702     73 152 702 
 Accumulated loss                           (73 899 572)   (70 311 858) 
                                           -------------  ------------- 
 Equity attributable to equity holders 
  of:                                        157 356 463    160 944 177 
  Inqo Investments Limited 
  Non-controlling interest                     (398 697)        773 635 
                                           -------------  ------------- 
 Total equity                                156 957 766    161 717 812 
 
 Non-current liabilities                       6 971 713      7 328 094 
                                           -------------  ------------- 
 Loans from related parties                      167 846        167 845 
 Other long term loans                           687 580        668 210 
 Deferred taxation                             5 268 973      5 549 379 
 Debentures                                      193 457        193 457 
 Lease liability                                 653 857        749 203 
                                                          ------------- 
 
 Current liabilities                           6 043 537     10 356 797 
                                           -------------  ------------- 
 Trade and other payables                      5 114 032      9 494 844 
 Provision                                       744 006        686 559 
  Lease liability                                185 499        175 394 
                                           -------------  ------------- 
 Total liabilities                            13 015 250     17 684 891 
                                                          ------------- 
 Total equity and liabilities                169 973 016    179 402 703 
                                           =============  ============= 
 

Condensed consolidated statement of cash flows

for the six months ended 31 August 2020

 
 
                                                     Six months         Six months 
                                                   ended 31 August    ended 31 August 
                                                        2020               2019 
                                                         R                  R 
 Cash flows from operating activities 
 Net loss before tax                                   (5 040 461)        (5 596 951) 
 Amortisation                                                2 215              3 457 
 Depreciation                                            1 637 795          1 493 705 
 Depreciation of right of use asset                        103 107             34 370 
 Finance cost on lease liability                            50 055             19 218 
 Loss on disposal of motor vehicle                          22 385                  - 
 Net working capital changes 
 Inventory                                               (100 156)             44 802 
 Trade payables                                        (4 323 365)        (1 629 147) 
 Trade receivables                                         669 987          (299 633) 
 Net cash outflow from operating activities            (6 978 438)        (5 930 179) 
                                                 -----------------  ----------------- 
 
 Cash flows from investing activities 
 Acquisition of investments                              (699 969)        (1 727 606) 
 Acquisition of biological assets                                -          (229 459) 
 Acquisition of property, plant and equipment 
  and intangible assets                                  (990 368)        (3 772 495) 
 Proceeds from disposal of property, plant                 185 682                  - 
  and equipment and intangible assets 
 Finance lease payments                                  (135 296)           (45 099) 
 Loans advanced to Associates                                    -          (980 735) 
                                                 -----------------  ----------------- 
 Net cash outflow from investing activities            (1 639 951)        (6 755 394) 
                                                 -----------------  ----------------- 
 
 Cash flows from financing activities 
 Proceeds of shares issued                                       -          4 115 250 
 Proceeds of shares issued during the 
  prior period                                                   -         18 210 000 
 Loans and borrowings raised                                19 370             21 428 
 Net cash inflow from financing activities                  19 370         22 346 678 
                                                 -----------------  ----------------- 
 Net movement in cash and cash equivalents             (8 599 019)          9 661 105 
 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning 
  of period                                             15 671 786         11 557 690 
 Cash and cash equivalents at end of 
  period                                                 7 072 767         21 218 795 
                                                 =================  ================= 
 

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END

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November 27, 2020 12:00 ET (17:00 GMT)

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