Notes from the EOS Investor Update call earlier today, following the release of its Appendix 4C yesterday. In summary:
- Cashflow and operational challenges of 2019-2020 seem to now be well under control
- Good bullish sales momentum - the timing of how the Turnaround has been initiated and rapid progress on that journey has positioned EOS very nicely for 2023 and 2024. Steady flow of sales contracts have been announced
- Debt is now under control - good contract, collection and overall cashflow discipline against a backdrop of a bullish market provides strong confidence that debt repayments will be comfortably met
- Low capex requirements ahead, focus is on monetising R&D in recent years
My 3 concerns in July 2023 were: (1) sustainability of the turnaround (2) translation of the turnaround to improved sales, revenue, delivery and cashflow and (3) “top up when the Working Capital debt is mostly repaid”.
Decided to accelerate the top up today as the track record in FY2023 suggests that EOS is on a good, disciplined trajectory with a bullish market ahead, meaning (1) and (2) are mostly met which significantly improves the risk profile.
Discl: Topped up Today IRL and placed Buy order in SM.
- Very bullish market currently, and is expected to remain bullish all of FY2024/CY2024
- At the start of a 2-3 year trend in these areas:
- EOS products are the “weapon of choice” to address the threat of drones in current war conflicts - traditional missile defences are (1) unaffordable (2) suffer from congested airspace issues - key differentiators for EOS is precise positioning, high reliability, high fire power/hit probability
- Robotic unmanned battlefield vehicles is a key demand as operations increasingly move from manned to unmanned operations
- Laser systems - 2024 is the launch year of commercialisation, expecting 1-2 contracts to kickstart sales after completing development investment in 2023
- A unique offering is to have these laser systems used in classic/conventional weapon systems
- 29 Jan 24 deal to sell Slinger Counter-Drone Systems to Diehl Defence was a major breakthrough into the German market - small contract size but a highly strategic win
- Recent deals have significantly broaden EOS’ customer base - addresses the previous issue of high business concentration on a few customers
- Talking to ~20 countries in Europe at the moment - likely to need to open a European office and logistics centre to increase supply reliability to customers
- US manufacturing facility in Huntsville will be increasingly key in the future as US sales will likely need to be manufactured onshore in the US - having to find ways of expediting sales and delivery to customers which minimise red tape
- Sales is focused in the following areas:
- Conflict Driven Ukraine, Middle East - key focus in 2024 is how to support the “immediate demand”-type sales. EOS has good pricing power in these sort of sales.
- Non-Conflict, long-term growth - Large quantity orders over a longer term supply period, strategic in nature, bullish will continue to grow order book in 2024
FINANCIAL UPDATES
- Strong focus on cashflow clearly seen in cashflow results
- Strong continued discipline in ensuring new contracts have a good cash flow positive profile - actions to remediate key Middle East contract completed in Feb 2023
- FY2023 cashflow was the highest ever achieved with $325.4m received
- $71.0m cash balance after paying of $26.2m debt in Sep 2023
- Other than the potential European office, minimal requirements for capex going forward - EOS does not need Capex to scale up and is now mostly focused on monetising prior year investments in development
Debt is in a good place following the resolution of the lender fee dispute with WHSP
No breach of borrowing covenants relating to cash inflows and cash outflows calculated on a rolling 3M basis in the last Quarter
TRANSFORMATION/TURNAROUND
Progress in the last 12-18M against the Turnaround plan has gone exceptionally well, beyond initial expectations