TIDMECP

RNS Number : 9162Q

Eight Capital Partners PLC

30 June 2022

EIGHT CAPITAL PARTNERS PLC

("Eight Capital", "ECP" or "the Company")

Annual Report and Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2021

Eight Capital (AQSE: ECP), the investing company whose investment strategy focuses on technology, media, telecoms and financial services businesses, including listed investing companies, is pleased to announce its final results for the year ended 31 December 2021. The Company's audited report and accounts can be found below. A copy of the final results will shortly be available from the Company's website and will be sent to all shareholders.

A separate announcement providing details of the 2021 Annual General Meeting will be made shortly.

The Directors of the Company accept responsibility for the content of this announcement.

For further information, please visit www.eight.capital or contact:

 
 Eight Capital Partners plc      +44 20 3808 0029 
  Dominic White                   info@eight.capital 
 Cairn Financial Advisers LLP 
  AQSE Corporate Adviser 
  Jo Turner / James Lewis        +44 20 7213 0880 
 
 
   Walbrook PR Limited             +44 20 7933 8780 
   Paul Vann/Nick Rome             Paul.vann@walbrookpr.com 
 

About Eight Capital Partners:

Eight Capital Partners plc is an international financial services operating company focused on owning and operating businesses engaged in "Fintech" operations, from the digitisation of banking services, through to blockchain-backed decentralised finance companies and "crypto banks."

ECP provides equity, debt, and equity-related investment capital to companies seeking capital for growth and development, consolidation or acquisition, or pre-IPO financing. The Company seeks to generate an attractive rate of return for shareholders, predominantly through capital appreciation, by maximising the revenues, profits and value of its operating subsidiaries, and taking advantage of the increasing number of acquisition opportunities within the continuously developing global technology, media, telecoms and financial services sectors.

www.eight.capital

Eight Capital Partners operates two subsidiary businesses:

Epsion Capital:

Epsion Capital is an independent corporate advisory firm based in London with an extensive experience in UK and European capital markets. The team of senior and experienced ECM and M&A professionals is specialised across multiple markets, sectors and geographies and it prides itself on a commercial approach that allows the clients to achieve their growth ambitions. www.epsioncapital.com

Innovative Finance:

Innovative Finance is a corporate finance advisory business that develops mergers and acquisitions and financing solutions across multiple sectors, primarily in Europe, with access to international transactions. It is currently working on transactions in the USA and Europe which are linked to technological developments in the financial services industry, AI, cybersecurity, e-commerce and cannabis. www.innovfinance.com

Chairman's Statement

Dear Shareholder,

I am pleased to report on the Company's financial results for the year ended 31 December 2021 and on a number of far-reaching corporate developments that have occurred during the year, particularly during the second half and which have continued into 2022.

Change of status to an Operating Group

The most important development during the period under review, and announced in an extensive market update on 27 September 2021, was the change in status from being an investing company to becoming an operating Group. This Report, therefore, for the first time, presents Eight Capital Partners Plc's ("ECP" or "Eight Capital") financial statements under IFRS reporting standards, consolidating the results and balance sheets of its wholly owned subsidiaries, Epsion Capital Limited ("Epsion"), and Innovative Finance Srl ("InnFin"), the latter acquired in May 2021 (together "the operating subsidiaries").

ECP has therefore evolved into an international financial services operating Group, whereby Epsion and InnFin source, advise on, finance, and deliver transactions, primarily involving SME businesses within the technology, media, telecoms and financial services sectors and in which ECP itself will potentially invest.

Results

Through its two subsidiaries, the Group recorded revenues for the year under review of GBP772,000 with a gross margin of over 70%. This income was further supplemented by ECP itself providing management services to certain investees and thereby recovering GBP128,000 of overhead costs. Interest income less expense was a net surplus of GBP41,000 and the net movement in fair value of both realised and unrealised gains and losses on investments at fair value (explained further below) was a gain of GBP314,000. Overheads were relatively high, at GBP1.1 million; partly a reflection of the substantial professional support for the change in status outlined in the September update, and the Group result for the year was a loss before tax of GBP98,000.

Subsidiary activities

Epsion, our wholly owned UK Corporate Finance subsidiary, advised on approximately seven bonds from January through to July, generating approximately GBP400,000 of revenue. During the rest of 2021, Epsion concentrated on two related companies, providing advice ahead of potential standard listings. If these companies are listed, there will be significant fee earnings derived from these clients.

Innovative Finance S.r.l our wholly owned unregulated Italian Corporate Finance subsidiary, acquired in May 2021, has concentrated in the second half of the year on providing advice to investors and companies ahead of listing on the Standard List of the LSE. Approximately EUR350,000 of the fees are from advising investors and the remaining EUR50,000 are fees for companies considering a listing. If these companies are listed InnFin will earn significant future fees.

Eight Capital: update on prior year's investments

ECP's investment portfolio now and as at 31 December 2021 is comprised exclusively of quoted companies. The private investments included in last year's report have either been sold (FPG - see below) or integrated into the Group (Epsion and InnFin).

Finance Partners Group ("FPG") : Financial Services

This investment was disposed of during the year, originally consisting of a receivable of EUR2 million with an ability to convert into equity acquired for EUR1.9 million. The ability to convert was exercised and the resultant holding in FPG of 28.7% was sold for EUR2.15 million (equivalent to GBP1.83 million), of which EUR1.57 million (GBP1.34 million) was paid on closing and the balance of EUR580,000 (GBP487,000) payable in 2022. The gain on disposal figure included in these accounts is GBP130,000

Retained investments : combined loss in value recorded in these accounts: GBP116,000.

Supply@ME Capital Plc ("SYME ): Inventory securitisation

SYME is an inventory monetisation business based on a novel asset securitisation concept, enabled by an innovative software platform. SYME is listed on the Standard List of the London Stock Exchange. SYME's share price has not performed well and ECP's GBP250,000 investment, acquired at a share price of GBP0.11 has seen a drop to GBP0.0017 at the year-end, with a total fall in value of over GBP200,000 since purchase. The movement during the year under review, included in the income statement, is a loss of GBP90,000. Although the share price reduction has been a source of concern, the Board recognises that the concept and possibilities for SYME were, and still are, interesting once a critical mass of investment capital to support securitisations can be delivered by SYME's management.

Evrima Plc ("EVA") : Mining and exploration investment

Evrima was formerly Sports Capital Group ("SCG") and ECP invested in a football related project from which SCG withdrew. They reverted to their previous sector of investment: mining and associated exploration and changed their name. The Company's investment was approximately GBP140,000 and is currently GBP131,000, based on its quote on AQSE Growth Market. We will dispose of this investment in due course.

Greencare Capital Plc ("GRE"): Investment in Cannabis health products and general wellness.

The Company invested both prior to and at IPO when GRE listed on the AQSE Growth Market in December 2019. The total investment was GBP280,000 and the average price paid per share was 10.9p. The shares at the year-end - and currently - were quoted at 30.5p, having fallen slightly since the end of 2020. It was recently announced that Dominic White, Chairman of ECP, has become chairman of GRE. We await positive developments.

Fair value adjustment on contingent liability

The terms of the acquisition of InnFin included an earn-out formula contingent upon the attainment of certain levels of profitability in future years, creating a contingent liability towards the vendor at the date of acquisition in May 2021. The fair-valuing of this liability at 31 December 2021 has resulted in a positive adjustment in the income statement of GBP300,000.

Refined Growth Strategy

As part of its transformation into an operating group, ECP has recently refined its growth strategy to focus increasingly on those businesses engaged in "Fintech" operations, including the digitisation of banking services and blockchain-backed decentralised finance and other disruptive financial services technologies, all of which seek to improve and automate the delivery and use of financial services. Your Board also considers there to be many value creation opportunities for shareholders from the further aligning and expansion of the activities of Epsion and InnFin.

By combining their advisory and transactional expertise with the strategic utilisation of ECP's growing in-house capital resources, ECP is able to provide significant support to the transactions managed by the operating subsidiaries through the provision of early-stage and growth co-investment capital to growing companies seeking finance for expansion, development, consolidation or acquisition, or as pre-IPO/RTO funding.

The competitive advantage of ECP's new operating structure is its flexibility in terms of where it invests in the "capital stack" pyramid, being equally comfortable with private or public debt and/or equity positions, convertibles and structured equity or debt facilities. Much of the financial services advisory market only delivers third party capital and advice, without direct access to supportive in-house capital, or having access to in-house capital lines with a less flexible mandate.

Corporate Transactions during the year

Eight Capital successfully completed a number of corporate transactions during the year, each one forming part of its strategic objective to grow the market capitalisation of the Company towards and beyond GBP50 million, and establishing a strong balance sheet base from which to significantly expand its operations and its own equity valuation.

To this end, in May 2021, the Company acquired InnFin, based in Milan, which develops mergers and acquisitions and financing solutions across multiple sectors, primarily in Europe.

In August, ECP disposed of its investment in Finance Partners Group SPA ("FPG"), an Italian-based financial services business, realising EUR2.15million. The profitable sale of this minority stake has provided ECP with a better strategic alignment between the Company's two remaining wholly owned subsidiaries and its other activities with a primary focus on technological developments within the financial services industry, such as fintech SME funding solutions and digitisation of banking including decentralised finance technology, to be key growth areas.

As announced on 4 August 2021 the purchaser agreed to pay ECP a total of EUR2.15 million for the acquisition of FPG. The cash element of EUR1.57 million was paid immediately. Discussions are ongoing relating to the final part of the settlement EUR0.58 million, which remains due, and against which an extra amount of Euros 10,000 has been paid to ECP plus further asset security backing provided to support the receivable, to the benefit of the Company. The agreed latest date of payment is now 1 September 2022.

In addition to these corporate transactions, and as part of the Board's key strategic objective to build scale to the business by further strengthening the Balance Sheet, in August the Company purchased EUR40m 2.5% Fixed Rate Secured Bonds at Par from IWEP Limited, a company controlled by Dominic White, ECP's chairman and ECP's major shareholder, which significantly increased ECP's gross assets. Consideration for the acquisition of the Bonds was settled by a one-year vendor loan which was subsequently restructured into a EUR15 million 4.8% Bond described below and a EUR25 million interest-free vendor loan ("Vendor Loan").

In September, the Company launched a EUR25 million 4.8% Fixed Rate five-year Bond Programme, with an initial tranche, placed at launch and listed on The Vienna Stock Exchange. This Bond programme also provided a logical next step towards the continuing expansion of the Balance Sheet, whilst also providing better medium-term visibility for the refinancing of ECP's existing 7% listed bonds which mature in July of this year.

Corporate Transactions after the year end

On 23 May, the Company announced that it had issued a further EUR5 million tranche of its 7% Bond to a third party that had acquired EUR5 million of the Vendor Loan from IWEP. In that announcement, ECP also reinforced its commitment to a transformational strengthening of the Company's balance sheet through IWEP seeking to convert, subject to regulatory and shareholder consent, as much as possible of its debt with the Company into equity.

On 24 June, the company announced that at a Bondholder meeting held on the 23 June, an Extraordinary Resolution approved a proposal to modify the terms and conditions of the 7% Bond such that the terms align with the more recently issued EUR25m 4.8% Bond repayable on 3 September 2026.

These current and proposed balance sheet transactions are intended to consolidate and expand the Company's service offering as well as helping it to develop a platform from which it can develop as a multi-faceted financial services company, whilst also providing a stronger base from which it can raise third party capital.

Planned Placing and Open Offer

As announced in the Corporate Update in September 2021, it is the Company's intention to raise new equity capital via a placing once the restructuring of debt is completed. Your Board recognises that those who have already invested in the Company may wish to increase their investment and it is therefore anticipated that current shareholders will be invited to participate in the fundraise on the same terms as the debt conversions and equity placing. Further information will be given in due course.

The Company also intends to provide an opportunity for all debt investors to convert debt to equity on the same terms.

Strengthening of the Management Team

Integral to the success of the Company's transition to an operating business has been the strengthening of its senior management team, with the appointment to the Board in June 2021 of former Bank of England Chief Accountant, David Bull, who joined initially as a Non-Executive Director and then, following the Company's successful transition to operating group status, was appointed full-time Chief Executive Officer.

David has responsibility for leading the further development of ECP's financial services business, both organically and through acquisition, all within the context of fintech services. His knowledge and experience of technology and the way it relates to asset and commercial finance, international banking and the digitisation of banking services, combined with his strong risk management skills and proven business leadership qualities are already proving invaluable as we move towards more advanced technologies in the financial services sector. He will also be strengthening the operational management team with further additions in financial management and compliance, which will be at the heart of the Company's operating activities.

The Group is also delighted to have announced on 13 May 2022, the appointment of Richard Day to the Board of Epsion as its Non-Executive Chairman. Richard was co-founder of institutional stockbroker Arden Partners plc, where, from 2002 to when he left in 2015, he was head of corporate finance for much of that time, whilst playing an important role in building its sectoral and geographical presence. He currently holds chairmanships of two quoted companies: Pelatro plc, a "Big Data" analytics company on AIM and The British Honey Company plc, the premium British honey and craft spirits producer. He also chairs Eden Geothermal Limited, a private company drilling its first of two geothermal wells, adjacent to the Eden Project in Cornwall in the south-west of England. Richard's broad experience of public markets, corporate finance and corporate governance across diverse business sectors is already having a significant influence and will without doubt be a huge asset not only to Epsion, but to the Group as a whole.

Outlook

2021 was a watershed year for Eight Capital. It successfully transitioned into a financial service operating group, completing a number of complementary corporate and financial transactions, strengthening both the Company's operational capabilities and putting in place actions to radically strengthen its Balance Sheet. It has a clear strategy in place for the transformation of the business in terms of its size, market value and influence within the fintech sector of financial services and through our wholly-owned subsidiaries, Epsion and InnFin.

The Board's strategy is to grow the business both organically through the development of new financial, "fintech-led" services and by selective acquisitions to boost revenue and market presence, thereby significantly increasing shareholder returns.

The Group has made a good start to the current financial year. We are nurturing earnings potential and structuring the business and the Balance Sheet for future sustained growth, while building value for shareholders. We have a growing pipeline of opportunities that we intend to deliver through our business model and the management team in place to deliver growth over the next two years. The Board views the future with increasing confidence.

Dominic White

Chairman

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

For the year ended 31 December 2021

 
                                                               2021 
                                                            GBP'000 
                                                              GROUP 
                                                          --------- 
 
 
 Revenue                                                        772 
 Cost of Sales                                                (252) 
                                                          --------- 
 Gross Profit                                                   520 
 
 Administrative expenses                                    (1,101) 
 Net change in unrealised/realised gains and losses 
  on investments at fair value through profit or loss           314 
 Other income                                                   128 
 Operating loss                                               (139) 
 
 Interest income                                                418 
 Finance expense                                              (377) 
                                                          --------- 
 Loss before tax                                               (98) 
 
 Taxation                                                         - 
 
 Loss for the financial year                                   (98) 
 
 Other comprehensive income: 
 Items that may be subsequently reclassified to profit 
  or loss: 
 Currency translation differences                               (1) 
                                                          --------- 
 Other comprehensive income/ (loss) for the year, 
  net of tax                                                    (1) 
 
 Total comprehensive income attributable to the owners 
  of the Parent                                                (99) 
 
 
 Earnings per share (pence) from continuing operations 
  attributable to owners of the 
  Company - Basic & Diluted                                  (0.01) 
 
 
              Consolidated Statement of Financial Position 
                                       At 31 December 2021 
                                                      2021 
 GROUP                                     Note    GBP'000 
 
 Non-current assets 
 Goodwill                                   15       3,867 
 Intangible Assets                          17          13 
 Property, plant & equipment                16          23 
 Total non-current assets                            3,903 
 
 Current assets 
 Investments                                18      34,569 
 Trade and other receivables                19       1,270 
 Cash and cash equivalents                             202 
 Total current assets                               36,041 
 
 Current liabilities 
 Trade and other payables                   20         428 
 Borrowings                                 22      21,380 
 Total current liabilities                          21,808 
 
 Non-current liabilities 
 Long term bond                             21      16,431 
 Liability for contingent consideration              1,311 
 Borrowings                                 22         203 
 Total non-current liabilities                      17,945 
 
 Net assets                                            191 
 
 Capital and reserves 
 Share capital                              24       1,453 
 Share premium                                       2,068 
 Share option & warrant reserve             26          15 
 Convertible loan note                      27          84 
 Currency translation reserve                          (5) 
 Retained earnings                                 (3,424) 
 Total equity                                          191 
 

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

For the year ended 31 December 2021

 
                           Share      Share        Share   Convertible       Currency    Retained     Total 
                         capital    premium       option     loan note    translation    earnings 
                                               & warrant       reserve        reserve 
                                                 reserve 
                         GBP'000    GBP'000      GBP'000       GBP'000        GBP'000     GBP'000   GBP'000 
                       ---------  ---------  -----------  ------------  -------------  ----------  -------- 
 As at 30 
  December 2020            1,431      2,001           11            84              -     (3,326)       201 
---------------------  ---------  ---------  -----------  ------------  -------------  ----------  -------- 
 Loss for the 
  year                         -          -            -             -                       (98)      (98) 
 Other comprehensive 
  income for 
  the year                     -          -            -             -            (1)           -       (1) 
---------------------  ---------  ---------  -----------  ------------  -------------  ----------  -------- 
 Total Comprehensive 
  Income                       -          -            -             -            (1)        (98)      (99) 
---------------------  ---------  ---------  -----------  ------------  -------------  ----------  -------- 
 Movement in 
  reserves                     -          -            -             -            (4)           -       (4) 
 Share based 
  payment                      -          -            4             -              -           -         4 
 Issue of shares              22         67            -             -              -           -        89 
---------------------  ---------  ---------  -----------  ------------  -------------  ----------  -------- 
 Total Transactions 
  with Owners                 22         67            4             -              -           -        93 
---------------------  ---------  ---------  -----------  ------------  -------------  ----------  -------- 
 As at 31 
  December 2021            1,453      2,068           15            84            (5)     (3,424)       191 
---------------------  ---------  ---------  -----------  ------------  -------------  ----------  -------- 
 
 
              Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows 
               For the year ended 31 December 2021 
 
                                                            2021 
                                                         GBP'000 
 
 Cash from operating activities 
 Loss before tax                                            (98) 
 Adjustments for: 
 Net interest expense /(income)                               41 
 Net change in unrealised gains on investments 
  at fair value through profit and loss                    (314) 
 Share based payment expense                                   4 
 Provisions                                                    - 
 Foreign exchange                                          (205) 
 Increase in trade and other receivables                 (1,117) 
 Increase/(decrease) in trade and other payables             308 
 Net cash used in operating activities                   (1,381) 
 
 Cash flow from investing activities 
 Purchase of investments                                (33,620) 
 Proceeds on disposal of investments                       1,830 
 Acquisition of subsidiary, net of cash acquired 
  (InnFin)                                                 (902) 
 Acquisition of subsidiary, net of cash acquired 
  (Epsion)                                                 (120) 
 Purchase of property, plant and equipment                   (3) 
 Interest income                                             418 
 Net cash used in investing activities                  (32,397) 
 
 Cash flows from financing activities 
 Proceeds from issue of shares (net of issue costs)            - 
 Loans received/(cancelled)                               20,969 
 (Repayment)/Proceeds from bond issue                     13,185 
 Finance charges                                           (377) 
 Net cash from financing activities                       33,777 
 Net cash flow for the year                                  (1) 
 
 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year              203 
 Cash and cash equivalents at end of year                    202 
 Net change in cash and cash equivalents                     (1) 
 

EIGHT CAPITAL PARTNERS PLC

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2021

1. General information

Eight Capital Partners Plc ("the Company") is a public limited company limited by shares and incorporated in England. Its registered office is Kemp House, 160 City Road, London, EC1V 2NX.

The Company's shares are traded on the Aquis Stock Exchange Growth Market under ticker ECP and ISIN number GB00BYT56612.

The consolidated financial statements of the Company consist of the following companies (together "the Group"):

 
 Eight Capital Partners plc          UK registered company 
 Epsion Capital Limited              UK registered company 
 Innovative Finance srl ("InnFin")   Italian registered company 
 

The Group's objective is to generate an attractive rate of return for shareholders, predominantly through capital appreciation, by taking advantage of opportunities to invest in the financial services and technology, media, and telecoms (TMT) sectors.

The information contained in this announcement has been extracted from the full report and accounts and, as such, references, notes and page numbers may be incorrect. Shareholders should read the full report and accounts, a copy of which is available on the Company's website.

2. Accounting policies

The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these consolidated financial statements are set out below.

Basis of preparation

These consolidated financial statements have been prepared and approved by the Directors in accordance with the UK-adopted international accounting standards. These are the Group's first financial statements prepared in accordance with the UK-adopted international accounting standards. (see note 4).

The Company was classified as an investment vehicle in the prior years ending 31 December 2021. On 1 July 2021 Eight Capital Plc changed its status from an investment vehicle to an operating company. As a result, and in accordance with IFRS 10, some of the Company's investments have been consolidated from this date. No consolidated comparative information has been disclosed as the Company was an investment vehicle and none of its investments met the requirements of IFRS 10 for an investment company.

These consolidated financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis, under the historical cost convention, as modified by the recognition of listed investments at fair value.

These consolidated financial statements are presented in Pounds Sterling, rounded to the nearest thousand (GBP'000), which is the Company's presentation and functional currency.

The presentational currency for Epsion Limited is Pounds Sterling and for InnFin is Euro as the subsidiary is registered in Italy.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also requires management to exercise its judgement in the process of applying the Group's accounting policies. The areas involving a higher degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates are significant to the consolidated financial statements are disclosed in note 3.

Basis of consolidation

The Group financial statements consolidate the financial statements of the Company and all its subsidiaries ("the Group").

Subsidiaries include all entities over which the Group is exposed, or has rights, to variable returns from its involvement with the investee and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the investee. The existence and effect of potential voting rights that are currently exercisable or convertible are considered when assessing whether the Group controls another entity. Subsidiaries are consolidated from the date on which control commences until the date that control ceases. Intra-group balances and any unrealised gains and losses on income or expenses arising from intra-group transactions, are eliminated in preparing the consolidated financial statements.

The acquisition method of accounting is used to account for business combinations. The cost of an acquisition is measured as the fair value of the assets given, equity instruments issued, and liabilities incurred or assumed at the date of exchange, and the equity interests issued. Identifiable assets acquired, and liabilities and contingent liabilities assumed in a business combination are measured initially at their fair value at the acquisition date. Acquisition related costs are expensed as incurred. Where necessary, amounts reported by subsidiaries have been adjusted to conform with the Group's accounting policies.

Going concern

As at 31 December 2021, the Group had cash of GBP202,000 and current investments of GBP34,569,000.

As an operating business, the Group has fee income from its corporate finance activities and the performance and income from its investments, supported by aggregate bond facilities of up to EUR35 million (of which EUR24 million has been utilised to date). Annualised normal running costs of the Company are circa GBP1.5 million including debt service, reduced by rebilling of shared services of approximately GBP120,000 and interest income of GBP860,000. As at the date of this report, the Company had approximately GBP100,000 cash at bank and anticipated near-term divesting revenues of up to GBP650,000, of which GBP500,000 is contractual for delivery in September 2022, and with a further GBP750,000 of investment assets at current market value earmarked for disinvestment in the second half of 2022. At Group level additional fee income of circa GBP1.2 million is expected.

The Directors are therefore of the opinion that the Group has adequate financial resources to enable it to continue in operation for the foreseeable future. For this reason, it continues to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.

New standards, amendments and interpretations adopted by the Group and Company

The following IFRS or IFRIC interpretations were effective for the first time for the financial year beginning 1 January 2021.:

 
 Standards /interpretations   Application 
---------------------------  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 IAS 1 & IAS 8 amendments     Definition of Material 
 IFRS 3 amendments            Business Combinations 
 IFRS 16                      Amendments to provide lessees with an exemption from assessing whether a COVID-19 
                              related 
                              rent concession is a lease modification 
 

New standards, amendments and interpretations not yet adopted

 
 Standards /interpretations   Application 
---------------------------  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 IAS 1 amendments             Presentation of Financial Statements: Classification of Liabilities as Current or 
                              Non-Current. 
                              Effective: Annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2023 
 IFRS 3 amendments            Business Combinations - Reference to the Conceptual Framework. 
                               Effective: Annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2022 
 IFRS 7, IFRS 9, IFRS 16      Amendments regarding replacement issues in the contract of IBOR reform. 
                               Effective: Annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2021 
 IFRS 16                      Amended by Covid-19 Related Rent Concessions beyond 30 June 2021 (amendment to IFRS 16) 
                               Effective: Annual periods beginning on or after 1 April 2021 
 IAS 1 amendments             Presentation of Financial Statements: Classification of Liabilities as Current or 
                              Non-Current. 
                              Effective: Annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2023 
 

There are no IFRS's or IFRIC interpretations that are not yet effective that would be expected to have a material impact on the Company or Group.

3. First-time adoption of IFRS

These financial statements, for the year ended 31 December 2021, are the first the Group has prepared in accordance with IFRS. For periods up to and including the year ended 31 December 2020, the Parent Company prepared its financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102, "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland" ("FRS 102").

Accordingly, the Group has prepared financial statements that comply with UK-adopted international accounting standards as at 31 December 2021, as described in the summary of significant accounting policies. In preparing the financial statements, the Group's opening statement of financial position was prepared as at 1 January 2020, the Group's date of transition to IFRS.

There were no material adjustments applied to the Group financial statements during the transition to IFRS.

4. Earnings per share

 
                                                                                   2021            2020           2019 
 Earnings (GBP) 
 Loss used in calculating basic and diluted earnings: 
 Loss for the year                                                          (GBP98,000)    (GBP432,000)   (GBP432,000) 
                                                                                                         ------------- 
 
 Number of shares 
 Weighted average number of shares for the purposes of basic and 
  diluted earnings per share                                              1,479,362,244   1,069,696,174    618,720,310 
 
 Loss per share (pence)                                                          (0.01)          (0.04)         (0.07) 
 
 

The calculation of basic earnings per share of (0.01) pence is based on the loss attributable to equity owners of the Company of GBP98,000 and on the weighted average number of ordinary shares of 1,479,362,244 in issue during the period. Dilutive instruments are ignored when the overall result is a loss.

5. Investments in subsidiaries

 
                                                         Shares in 
  Company                                       group undertakings 
                                                           GBP'000 
                                             --------------------- 
  Cost 
  At 1 January 2021                                              - 
  Acquisition of Epsion Capital Limited 
   (Note 11.1)                                                 100 
  Acquisition of Innovative Finance 
   S.r.l (Note 11.2)                                         3,710 
                                             --------------------- 
  At 31 December 2021                                        3,810 
                                             --------------------- 
 

At 31 December 2021, the Group consisted of a parent company, Eight Capital Partners plc, registered in England and Wales and its two wholly owned subsidiaries.

Subsidiaries:

 
 Epsion Capital Limited 
 Registered Office: 8-10 Hill Street, London, United Kingdom, 
  W1J 5NG 
 Nature of business: Financial intermediation. 
 Class of share                                        % Holding 
------------------------------------  -------------------------- 
 Ordinary shares                                             100 
------------------------------------  -------------------------- 
 
 
 Innovative Finance S.r.l 
 Registered Office: Via Turati 26 20121 Milano Italy 
 Nature of business: Financial Advisory 
 Class of share                               % Holding 
-------------------------------------------  ---------- 
 Ordinary shares                                    100 
-------------------------------------------  ---------- 
 

6. Investments

The table below sets out the fair value measurements. Categorisation has been determined on the basis of listed or unlisted investments as follows:

 
 Group                                          Unlisted         Listed      Total 
                                             Investments    Investments 
                                                 GBP'000        GBP'000    GBP'000 
                                           -------------  -------------  --------- 
 Fair value at 1 January 2020                      2,817            973      3,790 
                                           -------------  -------------  --------- 
 Investment disposals                              (854)              -      (854) 
 Fair value gain on investment                         -            202        202 
 Effects of foreign exchange                          41              -         41 
 Fair value at 31 December 2020                    2,004          1,175      3,179 
                                           -------------  -------------  --------- 
 Investment disposals                            (1,701)                   (1,701) 
 Investment in subsidiaries                        (413)                     (413) 
 Investment additions: 1AF2 bond                       -         33,620     33,620 
 Fair value (loss) on listed investments               -          (116)      (116) 
 Foreign exchange adjustment                         110          (110)          - 
 Fair value at 31 December 2021                        -         34,569     34.569 
                                           -------------  -------------  --------- 
 
 
 Gains on investments held at fair value through 
  profit or loss 
 Fair value (loss) on listed investments                              (116)  (116) 
 Fair value gain on contingent liability of InnFin acquisition   300      -    300 
 Realised gain on disposal of investments                        130      -    130 
                                                                 ---  -----  ----- 
 Net gain on investments held at fair value 
  through profit or loss                                         430  (116)    314 
                                                                 ===  =====  ===== 
 

Further Information on each investment can be found in the Chairman's Statement on page 2.

There was no impact to the fair value of the investments held by the Group due to the transition from FRS 102 to IFRS.

7. Long-term bonds

 
 Group                                 2021       2020       2020 
                                    GBP'000    GBP'000    GBP'000 
                                       IFRS   Restated    FRS 102 
                                                  IFRS 
                                  ---------  ---------  --------- 
 Opening balance at 1 January         2,945      3,005      3,005 
 Bonds issued                        13,675        176        176 
 Bonds returned                           -      (403)      (403) 
 Foreign exchange adjustment          (189)        167        167 
                                  ---------  --------- 
 Closing balance at 31 December      16,431      2,945      2,945 
                                  ---------  ---------  --------- 
 

The Company launched 5,000 bonds of EUR1,000 each (the "7% Bonds") to raise up to EUR5 million on the Vienna Stock Exchange's multilateral trading facility ("MTF") on 26 July 2019. The principal terms of the Bonds are as follows: - Issue price and redemption at par; - Interest of 7% per annum paid semi-annually in arrears; - Issue date of 26 July 2019 with a redemption date of 26 July 2022.

Bonds that are not issued to third parties remain as issued to the Company for future trading and only those that are issued to third parties are recognised as liabilities. At 31 December 2021 a total of 3,990 (2020: 3,290) bonds representing a liability of EUR3,990,000 (2020: EUR3,290,000) had been issued to third parties and 1,010 (2020: 1,710) Bonds with a par value of EUR1,010,000 (2019: EUR1,710,000) were issued to the Company and available to be traded.

In September 2021, the Company launched a EUR25million 4.8% Fixed Rate five year Bond Programme, with two initial tranches, totalling EUR15,050,000 (equivalent to GBP13,675,000) placed at and shortly after launch and listed on The Vienna Stock Exchange.

On 19 May 2022, the Company issued a further 5,000 7% Bonds of EUR1,000 (New 7% Bonds) each to various Bondholders, within the same issuing structure and on the same terms as the original 7% Bonds

8. Related party transactions

Administrative services

During the year, the Company was invoiced GBP15,500 (2020: GBP31,400) for administrative services provided by Marker Management Services Ltd, a company controlled by Martin Groak, a director of Eight Capital.

Acquisition of a EUR2 million receivable from Finance Partners Group and conversion to equity

On 7 August 2019 the Company announced the acquisition from IWEP Ltd. ("IWEP") of a EUR2 million convertible receivable (the "Receivable") from Finance Partners Group SpA ("FPG"), an Italian financial services company that invests in private companies seeking future listings on public markets and whose principal investment was in The AvantGarde Group.

On 14 May 2021, the Company converted GBP27,000 of the loan with IWEP Ltd into 67,699,173 new ordinary shares at a price of GBP0.00039 per share.

IWEP is a company connected to Eight Capital Partners' Chairman Dominic White. In August 2019 Dominic White agreed to become a non-executive board member of The Avantgarde Group to monitor the Company's and IWEP's interests.

9. Post balance sheet events

On 23 May 2022, the Company announced that it had issued a further EUR5 million tranche of its 7% Bond to a third party that had acquired EUR5 million of the Vendor Loan from IWEP. In that announcement, ECP also reinforced its commitment to a transformational strengthening of the Company's balance sheet through IWEP seeking to convert, subject to regulatory and shareholder consent, as much as possible of its debt with the Company into equity.

On 24 June 2022, the company announced that at a Bondholder meeting held on 23 June, an Extraordinary Resolution approved a proposal to modify the terms and conditions of the 7% Bond such that the terms align with the more recently issued EUR25m 4.8% Bond repayable on 3 September 2026.

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(END) Dow Jones Newswires

June 30, 2022 13:15 ET (17:15 GMT)

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