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2017-08-30 15:20:02 CEST 2017-08-30 15:20:02 CEST REGULATED INFORMATION Valoe Oyj - Interim report (Q1 and Q3)THE INTERIM REPORT OF VALOE CORPORATION FOR 1 JANUARY 2017 – 30 JUNE 2017Valoe Corporation Interim Report 30 August 2017
THE INTERIM REPORT OF VALOE CORPORATION FOR 1 JANUARY 2017 – 30 JUNE 2017 SUMMARY - In February 2016, Valoe received from Ethiopia a ca. EUR 15.8 million order for a solar module manufacturing plant and back contact technology. On 31 March 2017, the company disclosed the Financial Statement Release where ca. 20 percent of the Ethiopian project was recognized as per 31 December 2016. On 21 April, Valoe announced that it has changed the recording of the Ethiopian project. According to the prudence principal, the company resolved to remove the revenue and the costs related to the Ethiopian project from the Financial Statements for 2016. The profit and loss effects of the Ethiopian project has been removed from the income statement for the corresponding period i.e. 1 January – 30 June 2016 and 1 April – 30 June 2016 too, and thus, the figures are not equivalent to the figures disclosed last year. - In February 2017 the company issued a EUR 1.5 million convertible bond I/2017 that was fully subscribed. During the subscription period of the Convertible Bond new investments of EUR 1.05 million was paid in cash and a total of EUR 0.45 million was paid by setting the subscription price off against the subscribers’ receivables from the company. - In March 2017, Valoe settled the dispute relating to the security provided for the Chinese factory’s lease liability. Pursuant to the settlement agreement Valoe has paid ca. EUR 0.15 million out of the security and the parties have terminated all legal proceedings relating to the matter. The decrease in the amount of the security will improve the result by ca. EUR 0.5 million. - On the reporting period January – June 2017, the net sales of Valoe Group’s continuing operations, under the IFRS standards, was EUR 0.2 million (in 2016 EUR 0.2 million). The EBIT from the continuing operations was EUR -1.3 million (EUR 5.6 million), the profit for the period was EUR -2.7 million (EUR 4.6 million), undiluted earnings per share were EUR -0.62 (EUR 1.02) and the EBITDA ca. EUR -0.7 million (EUR 6.0 million). The comparison figures for 2016 in the brackets include a one-off profit of ca. EUR 7.1 million generated by the sale of the Chinese companies. - Valoe’s Asian customer has ongoing negotiations on arranging financing for a factory delivery in Asia worth EUR 26.5 million. Valoe will enter the order in its order book only after the customer has secured financing for the factory project. - In April 2017, Valoe agreed on a EUR 3,000,000 equity based financing arrangement with Bracknor Investment and resolved to start preparations for combination of the company’s shares (reverse split). Valoe’s General Meeting held on 14 June 2017 resolved to approve the reverse split. As of 19 June 2017, the number of the company's shares is 4,744,436. - Valoe will not disclose financial guidance for the financial year 2017. - More information on principle activities and events during and after the reporting period can be found in the stock exchange releases published on Valoe’s website at www.valoe.com. The Interim Report has been drawn up in compliance with the IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting standard. In the Interim Report Valoe has applied the same accounting principles as in its Annual Report 2016. The Interim Report has not been audited.
FINANCIAL RESULT IN JANUARY – JUNE 2017 Because the performance obligations, in accordance with the International Accounting Standard IAS 11, were not satisfied, Valoe resolved, in April 2017, to remove the revenue and the costs related to the Ethiopian project from the company’s income statement. Thus, Valoe’s equity turned negative as per 31 December 2016. The Board of Directors took immediate actions and agreed on converting loans from the company’s related parties to capital loans. Valoe’s equity turned back to positive after some of the loans from the related parties were converted to capital loans. Besides the above-mentioned actions affected the year-end equity situation the Board of Directors has already started implementing other corrective actions to strengthen the company’s financial situation and to secure going concern. On 19 April 2017 Valoe signed an EUR 3 million equity-based financing facility agreement with Bracknor Investment. Further, Valoe has agreed on extending the loans due during 2017 until 30 April 2018, excluding a EUR 0.7 million loan from Danske Bank that is due in 30 September 2017 unless otherwise agreed. In terms of operations, the Ethiopian project will be continued and the company will resume recognizing revenue based on percentage of completion when the performance obligations have been satisfied. Until then, Valoe will include also pro-forma figures in its financial reporting. The additional reporting is provided to give the market an understanding of the Ethiopian project’s overall percentage of completion and its effect on the company’s financials at the point when the revenue recognition requirements under IFRS are fulfilled. Valoe sees that one of the most important requirements is the opening of a EUR 9.5 million Irrevocable Letter of Credit in a bank approved by Valoe or a significant cash payment from the customer. Valoe’s Asian customer has ongoing negotiations on arranging financing for a factory delivery in Asia worth EUR 26.5 million. Valoe will enter the order in its order book only after the customer has secured financing for the factory project. However, the financing negotiations are ongoing and the outcome is not yet known. Further, Valoe has ongoing sales negotiations for several other production plants. The following financials include Valoe Group’s continuing operations. The figures in brackets are comparison figures for the corresponding period in 2016, unless stated otherwise. The profit and loss effects of the Ethiopian project have been removed from the figures for the corresponding period in 2016.
April – June 2017 (continuing operations): The comparison figures for 2016 include a one-off profit of ca. EUR 7.1 million generated by the sale of the Chinese companies. - Valoe Group’s net sales decreased 18.2 percent to EUR 0.2 million (In 2016: EUR 0.2 million). - EBITDA was EUR -0.2 million (EUR 6.7 million). - Operating profit was EUR -0.5 million (EUR 6.4 million). - The profit before taxes was EUR -1.3 million (EUR 5.9 million). - Profit for the period was EUR -1.3 million (EUR 5.9 million). - Undiluted earnings per share were EUR -0.29 (EUR 1.32).
January – June 2017 (continuing operations): The comparison figures for 2016 include a one-off profit of ca. EUR 7.1 million generated by the sale of the Chinese companies. - Valoe Group’s net sales decreased 7.7 percent to EUR 0.2 million (In 2016: EUR 0.2 million). - EBITDA was EUR -0.7 million (EUR 6.0 million). - Operating profit was EUR -1.3 million (EUR 5.6 million). - The profit before taxes was EUR -2.7 million (EUR 4.6 million). - Profit for the period was EUR -2.7 million (EUR 4.6 million). - Undiluted earnings per share were EUR -0.62 (EUR 1.02). During the reporting period, the volume of the business operations was low because the Ethiopian project was removed from Valoe’s key figures and the number of modules delivered in Finland was low, which is typical of the early part of a year.
MANAGING DIRECTOR IIKKA SAVISALO’S REVIEW Despite Valoe’s prolonged tight financial situation and deficit in the working capital, the company trusts the company’s competitiveness has further improved. However, in the company’s next development phase Valoe must secure sufficient financing enabling the company to establish itself as financially solid company in the market. Valoe plans a share issue in order to strengthen the company’s financial situation. The terms of the share issue will be disclosed separately. The share issue is expected to take place during the last quarter of 2017. Valoe has focused its major sales efforts on building manufacturing partnerships in the developing economies such as Africa, Asia and South America. The sales projects have made good progress but the company has also learned that the dynamics of business operations in these market areas differ from ours. One of Valoe’s most important operative objectives is to get all partners committed to Valoe’s technology. In terms of operation, Valoe’s most important short-term goal is to deal with the challenges, typical of developing countries, related to the financing of the Ethiopian project already agreed upon and to restart the project.
Valoe Focuses on Product Development For a few years, Valoe has closely followed the development of silicon-based modules and has become more and more convinced of the competitiveness of the back contact modules. However, Valoe has to develop its technology continuously to maximize the performance of its back contact modules. Valoe is aiming at developing a module with a lifespan of more than hundred years. Although such a module does not yet exist, Valoe chooses its components with a view to extending a module’s operational lifetime. Valoe never purchases cheaper components at the cost of their lifecycle. Valoe must also master the development of cell technology. According to Valoe’s view, the ongoing project related to the development of the company’s own silicon cell will take Valoe’ technology to a new level, but it will also require significant amount of financial resources. Competitive edge is expected to increase as new N type silicon cells will be brought to the market. With respect to the development of solar power plants, Valoe is planning to pilot a concept for a solar power plant operating on a 24-hour basis. An ability to provide an overall solution for implementing solar electricity will be one of Valoe’s most important assets as the company’s customers and manufacturing partners evaluate who would be the best suppliers and technology partners in the future.
The Finnish Market Is Growing - Valoe Plans to Increase the Volume of Its Production Although the developing markets, especially in Africa, are the most important ones for Valoe’s future, the Finnish market is becoming more and more important for Valoe. In Finland, the solar electricity business has just started to grow. There are several very active solar energy companies and prices of solar power investments have dropped significantly. Low prices have attracted new customers who have made their decision based on the price of a solar system. However, well-informed customers rely their purchase decision on the price of produced electricity per kilowatt-hour. Estimated lifespan of a solar power plant should also be taken into account besides investment cost. After the reporting period, Valoe signed a remarkable agreement with ForUs Capital Oy on delivering several solar power plants. The first power plants will be delivered to the sites owned by the City of Hanko in the autumn 2017. If the follow-up projects and deliveries related to the agreement will realize, Valoe estimates it will require more capacity at the Mikkeli factory during the year 2018.
Africa as Valoe’s Market Area Typical solar power market in Africa, as elsewhere, is divided into two segments. Large power plants with the capacity of more than 100 MW and an investment of EUR 130 – 200 million, depending on the circumstances and technical specifications, are typically connected to the grid. There are several these kind of huge projects ongoing just in Ethiopia. Other opportunities that interest Valoe and its manufacturing partners are typically related to the off-grid areas with diesel powered plants or with no power at all. In these kind of projects a customer needs solar power plants but also various energy storages and smart grid technology to create an optimal system for an end user. There are several humanitarian projects in Ethiopia and other African countries for bringing power to rural areas and small communities. The number of this kind of projects is estimated to grow fast. Products that could fit this kind of market and Valoe’s product range could be e.g. independent solar modules including batteries used for refrigerators, small household devices and lightning.
VALOE’S STRATEGY Valoe’s net sales will be generated by the following four service and product concepts: 1. Sales and supply of photovoltaic modules and systems Sales of modules and small photovoltaic systems are probably Valoe’s most visible but in terms of revenue potential the smallest product group. All Valoe’s PV modules are manufactured at the company’s factory in Mikkeli for the time being. They are mainly delivered to the company’s distributors and future manufacturing partners. Further, the company provides solar power plants and systems to its customers in Finland and abroad. Valoe enhances the sale of its modules and solar systems in Finland by building sales channels for its products systematically. Current capacity of the company’s Mikkeli factory is designed to annually produce PV modules worth max EUR 6 – 8 million at the current market prices. Thus, the module sales do not form a major part of the sales of the company. Valoe’s modules have passed the demanding test programs of the German Fraunhofer ISE, which enables Valoe’s modules to be certified in all market areas the company is targeting.
2. Development and sales of production lines and related components Manufacturers operating in the developing markets like China are typical investors for new module manufacturing production lines. These Valoe’s potential customers are now manufacturers of traditional H-patterns modules. Valoe knows that many of the manufacturers are going to start manufacturing next generation back contact modules. In most cases these customers have use their own module manufacturing recipe and need only single equipment or production lines. Valoe estimates that typical price of a production line for back contact modules is EUR 4 – 8 million.
3. Manufacturing partner network Cornerstones of Valoe’s strategy are manufacturing partnership agreements with manufacturing partners who as newcomers on the market would commit themselves to both Valoe’s production technology and module manufacturing recipe. Valoe provides a partner with a turnkey delivery project and commits to minority shareholding in a manufacturing company. Manufacturing partners operate mainly on developing markets and produce solar energy modules for local and nearby markets. Value of a typical turnkey plant delivery is more than ten million euros. Valoe is aiming to sign at least 10 manufacturing partnership contracts in the next five years.
4. Module components sales mainly to manufacturing partners Special components, mainly for Valoe’s manufacturing partners, are the most important part in Valoe’s strategy and most remark- able in terms of net sales potential. Valoe’s first component is Conductive Back Sheet (CBS) that has been developed by Valoe and is one of the most important components in a module. One normal size module production plant using back contact technology needs approximately 300,000 – 500,000 conductive back sheets in a year when operating at full capacity. Based on current estimation, considering price level in the near future, each production line will annually require back sheets worth approximately 5 – 11 million Euros. Valoe plans it will in the future provide its manufacturing partners also with other special components such as smart components, components for storing energy and special cell technologies based on conductive back sheet.
OPERATING ENVIRONMENT Valoe operates in industries applying clean energy technology. Valoe’s operating environment is global. The company’s customers are companies that provide products and services locally or worldwide. Valoe’s key products and services have been designed for the photovoltaic market. Global solar energy investments have increased more than estimated. Valoe has previously announced that according to the company’s view the focus of its future business will be in the developing countries. The order from Ethiopia received in February 2016 further strengthened this view. Many of the mega trends such as national climate protection objectives; increasing industrialisation in the developing countries and increasing energy self- sufficiency, favour local manufacturing of solar modules. For the moment, major part of the world’s solar module manufacturing is concentrated in China. Modules are manufactured in large labour-intensive units and are delivered from there to the world market to be installed. In the developed countries, solar electricity is mainly produced in large solar power plants located in open landscape feeding electricity to main grid. In this kind of power plants logistics costs, among others, can be optimized and such parameters as module’s capacity per square meter have not had major importance. In the developing countries logistics costs, in particular, are significant and demand is focused on so called mini grid systems where solar power plants have been decentralized and new local grid is built around them. Grids are connected to each other and to new small power plants as electricity consumption, distribution and production increases steadily. Electricity production is decentralized and electricity is distributed through a new type of grid infrastructure. Small power plants are often so-called hybrids where solar power plants are operated combining diesel, water and wind power plants in the same grid and where various energy storages can be integrated. In an environment described above a local producer has much better possibilities to control logistics costs. Many of the partners Valoe is negotiating with have noticed that local production costs are clearly lower than prices of modules imported from China. When modules are produced locally possibilities to control the quality increase, too. In Valoe’s view CBS based modules have typically solid quality which improves average module capacity in most of the cases.
FINANCING The financing arrangements during the reporting period have improved Valoe’s financing situation that, however, continues to be very tight. The EUR 1.5 million convertible bond I/2017 issued in February 2017 was fully subscribed. During the subscription period of the Convertible Bond new investments of EUR 1.05 million was paid in cash and a total of EUR 0.45 million was paid by setting the subscription price off against the subscribers’ receivables from the company. In April 2017, Valoe agreed on a EUR 3,000,000 equity based financing arrangement with Bracknor Investment and resolved to start preparations for combination of the company’s shares (reverse split). The overdraft facility of EUR 0.7 million at Danske Bank was extended until 30 September 2017. Valoe has also agreed on extending the payment schedules of all other debts that are due during 2017 until 30 April 2018. On 19 April 2017, Valoe entered into a convertible note facility agreement with Bracknor Investment (“Bracknor”) concerning a funding arrangement of up to EUR 3,000,000 in convertible loan notes (the "Convertible Notes") that will be accompanied by share subscription warrants (the "Warrants"). Under the Arrangement, Valoe issues Convertible Notes to Bracknor. The Convertible Notes may be drawn down in maximum of 12 sequential tranches of EUR 250,000 each (the "Tranche") during a period of 18 months as of the date hereof provided that the preconditions for each Tranche are met. Bracknor has the right to convert each Tranche into the Company’s newly issued or treasury shares. In addition, Bracknor will receive Warrants stripped from the Convertible Notes at the drawdown of each Tranche, in place of interest rate. The Warrants entitle Bracknor to subscribe to additional shares of the Company with a subscription price described in the agreement. The Company has an obligation to draw down a minimum of two Tranches of the Convertible Notes, i.e. a total minimum of EUR 500,000. The remainder of the Convertible Notes, a total of 10 Tranches i.e. EUR 2,500,000, may be drawn down by the Company at its discretion. The terms of the Agreement have been disclosed in the stock exchange release on 19 April 2017. Despite Valoe’s financing facility agreement with Bracknor Investment, Valoe continues taking other actions to arrange long- term financing and pursues its own development processes further to improve the company’s balance sheet. One of these actions is a share issue to be arranged during the last quarter of 2017. Cash flow from business operations before investments in January – June was EUR -1.8 million (EUR -1.0 million). Trade receivables at the end of the reporting period were EUR 0.02 million (EUR 0.04 million). Net financial items amounted to EUR 1.4 million (EUR 1.0 million). At the end of June, the equity ratio of Valoe Group was -113.73 percent (-68.3 %) and equity per share was EUR -2.59 (EUR - 0.01). The equity ratio including capital loans was -11.7 percent (-12.2 %). At the end of the reporting period, the Group’s liquid assets totaled EUR 0.003 million. Valoe’s financial and other risks have been handled in the item “Risk management, Risks and Uncertainties” of this Interim Report.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT Valoe will boost its research and development during 2017. In 2017, Valoe’s focus will be on the development project relating to cell development and optimization, funded by the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation (“Tekes”). The project was partially put on hold last year but has now been continued with promising results already during the reporting period. Valoe develops other special components for solar modules, too, and monitors closely the projects of its technology partners aiming at developing technologies increasing utilization of solar energy. The company’s another ambitious R&D objective is to develop a module with a lifespan of more than 100 years. Today the company expects its modules to operate ca. 40 years that is significantly longer than the lifespan of the modules of most of Valoe’s competitors. Valoes views that in field of green energy production extending products’ economic life cycle should be one of the most important objectives of development. The energy produced by Valoe’s solar modules shall be the greenest as well as the cheapest energy in the market. Valoe’s other research and development has mainly been concentrated on supporting the Ethiopian project delivery. Equipment and machinery needed in automated module manufacturing process will increasingly be based on Valoe’s own innovations and be designed by Valoe. Valoe is aiming at protecting its innovations in all important geographical areas. Valoe’s strategically important products have already been tested and are functional. The objective of Valoe’s research and development is to develop cell and module technology that further improves the competitiveness of Valoe’s products and services. The company will utilize both national and European research funding for its research and development in the future too. The Group’s research and development costs during the January – June period amounted to EUR 0.8 million (EUR 0.6 million) or 368.4 (241.4) percent of net sales.
INVESTMENTS Gross investments in the continuing operations during January – June period amounted to EUR 0.1 million (EUR 0.3 million). The investments on the reporting period as well as on the corresponding period were mainly in development costs.
PERSONNEL At the end of June the Group employed 17 (22) people, who all worked in Finland. During the reporting period the Group’s salaries and fees totaled EUR 0.6 million (EUR 0.7 million).
SHARES AND SHAREHOLDERS Valoe’s share capital amounted to EUR 80,000.00 at the end of the reporting period. After the reverse split, the number of shares was 4,744,436. The company has one series of shares, which confer equal rights in the company. On 30 June 2016 Valoe had in total 206,066 treasury shares. The company had a total of 7,487 shareholders at the end of June 2017, and 16.75 percent of the shares were owned by foreigners. The ten largest shareholders held 68.02 percent of the company’s shares and voting rights on 30 June 2017. The largest shareholders on 30 June 2017
The list of the largest shareholders does not include e.g. the changes in ownership that would realize if subscriptions of the Convertible Bonds and option schemes were converted to shares. The members of the Board of Directors and the President and CEO, either directly or through companies under their control, held a total of 713,515 shares in the company on 30 June 2017, representing about 15.04 percent of the company’s shares and voting rights. Additionally, the members of the Board of Directors and the President and CEO held a total of 377,500 options connected to the stock option scheme 2015. At the end of the period Iikka Savisalo, Valoe’s Managing Director, either directly or through companies under his control, held a total of 701,021 shares in the company and 132,500 options connected to the stock option scheme 2015. The price of Valoe’s share, calculated using the amount of the company’s shares after the reduction of the quantity of the company's shares, varied between EUR 1.75 and 2.6 during the January – June period. The average price after the reverse split was EUR 1.89, before the reverse split EUR 0.013, and the closing price at the end of June EUR 1.9. A total of 171.4 million Valoe shares were traded at a value of EUR 2.4 million during the January – June period. The company’s market capitalization at the end of June stood at EUR 9.0 million. During 2015 the Board of Directors of Valoe resolved the terms and conditions of a stock option scheme. The maximum total number of stock options issued is 650,000 and they entitle their owners to subscribe for a maximum total of 650,000 new shares in the company. The stock options will be issued for free. Of the stock options, 250,000 are marked with the symbol 2015A, 200,000 are marked with the symbol 2015B and 200,000 are marked with the symbol 2015C. The Board of Directors shall annually decide upon the distribution of the stock options to the key employees of the Group.
SHARE ISSUE AUTHORIZATIONS IN FORCE The Annual General Meeting 2017 resolved to authorize the Board of Directors to decide on a share issue with and/or without payment, either in one or in several occasions, so that the number of new shares issued based on the authorization or number of shares issued based on option rights and other special rights entitling to the shares pursuant to the Chapter 10, Section 1 of the Finnish companies Act, would equal to the total maximum amount of 10,000,000 shares. The authorization is in force until 30 June 2018.
THE MAJOR EVENTS DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD 19 April 2017: VALOE HAS AGREED ON AN EUR 3.000.000 EQUITY BASED FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENT WITH BRACKNOR INVESTMENT AND DECIDED TO START PREPARATIONS FOR COMBINATION OF COMPANY'S SHARES (REVERSE SPLIT) Background of Financial Arrangement Valoe Oyj (“Valoe” or the “Company”) has today entered into a convertible note facility agreement with Bracknor Investment (“Bracknor”) concerning a funding arrangement of up to EUR 3,000,000 in convertible loan notes (the "Convertible Notes") that will be accompanied by share subscription warrants (the "Warrants") (the agreement, the Convertible Notes and the Warrants hereinafter referred to collectively as the "Arrangement"). Under the Arrangement, Valoe issues Convertible Notes to Bracknor. The Convertible Notes may be drawn down in maximum of 12 sequential tranches of EUR 250,000 each (the "Tranche") during a period of 18 months as of the date hereof provided that the preconditions for each Tranche are met. Bracknor has the right to convert each Tranche into the Company’s newly issued or treasury shares. In addition, Bracknor will receive Warrants stripped from the Convertible Notes at the drawdown of each Tranche, in place of interest rate. The Warrants entitle Bracknor to subscribe to additional shares of the Company with a subscription price described below in this release. The Company has an obligation to draw down a minimum of two (2) Tranches of the Convertible Notes, i.e. a total minimum of EUR 500,000. The remainder of the Convertible Notes, a total of 10 Tranches i.e. EUR 2,500,000, may be drawn down by the Company at its discretion.
Purpose of Arrangement The purpose of the Arrangement is to strengthen the Company's working capital situation during the term of the Arrangement assuming that the Arrangement will be implemented as planned. Iikka Savisalo, CEO of Valoe, commented: "We in Valoe are pleased to start working with a global investor like Bracknor. Bracknor has identified Valoe as a growth company with its competitive edge in one of the quickest growing businesses in the world: electricity generation with solar power. This is another high level acceptance for the Valoe PV-module manufacturing technology." Pierre Vannineuse, CEO & Founder of Bracknor, declared: “Bracknor is very enthusiastic to announce this long term cooperation agreement with Valoe. We are fully confident in the Company’s strategy and the management’s ability to generate growth drivers for the longterm while increasingly participating in the Finnish Renewable Portfolio Standard requirements. Finally, we consider the Company to be extremely undervalued while being at an inflexion point given current valuation of energy production assets across the globe.“
Commercial Terms of Arrangement Pursuant to the Arrangement Bracknor may be given in the maximum of 3,000 convertible loan notes against subscription price of EUR 1,000 per each convertible loan note. The Convertible Notes entitle their holder to subscribe to maximum of 300,000,000 shares of the Company in the aggregate. A Tranche may be drawn down by the Company provided that all previously issued Convertible Notes within the Arrangement have been converted into the shares of the Company or that a cool-down period the length of which is calculated as per the terms and conditions of the Convertible Notes has lapsed. Bracknor has agreed to subscribe for the Convertible Notes issued by the Company with a conversion ratio calculated at the time the respective conversion is requested so that the conversion ratio is equal to 90 % of the lowest closing bid price observed over a period of fifteen (15) consecutive trading days prior to such conversion request. The Convertible Notes bear a zero interest rate and have a maturity of 12 months from the issuance of each Tranche. Each Tranche must be converted into the Company's shares upon maturity at the latest. In connection with the drawdown of each Tranche, Bracknor will receive Warrants free of charge. Bracknor has the right, but no obligation, to subscribe for the Company’s shares based on the Warrants. In connection with the Arrangement, Bracknor may be given maximum of 300,000,000 Warrants in the aggregate which entitle their holder to subscribe to maximum of 300,000,000 shares of the Company in the aggregate. The number of Warrants that shall be attached to the Convertible Notes of a Tranche shall be determined as follows: the nominal value of the Convertible Notes of a Tranche divided by the Exercise Price of Warrants, the resulting number of Warrants being rounded down to the nearest whole number. For the purposes of the aforesaid, the "Exercise Price of Warrants" shall be 115% of the lowest closing volume weighted average price in the 5 trading days immediately preceding the request to issue a new Tranche, except for the Warrants issued in connection with the first Tranche in respect of which the Exercise Price of the Warrants shall be 115% of the lowest of (i) the lowest closing volume weighted average price in the 5 trading days immediately preceding the date of signing the agreement on the Arrangement and (ii) the lowest closing volume weighted average price in the 5 trading days immediately preceding the request to issue the first Tranche. The subscription period of the Company's shares pursuant to the Warrants is five (5) years from the issuance of each Warrant. The exact number of the Company's shares to be issued based on the conversion of the Convertible Notes and the exercise of the Warrants depends, in the manner described above, on the conversion ratio applied to the Convertible Notes and Warrants and is thus not yet known. Depending on the exact number of the Company's shares to be issued based on the conversion of the Convertible Notes and the exercise of the Warrants, it may be necessary for the Board of Directors of the Company to apply for additional authorisations from the general meeting of shareholders in order to implement the entire Arrangement. There is a weighty financial reason for the Company to issue the Convertible Notes and Warrants to Bracknor as the purpose of the Arrangement is to strengthen the tight working capital situation of the Company. The subscription price of the Convertible Notes and Warrants as well as the shares of the Company to be subscribed based on the Convertible Notes and Warrants is based on the agreement between the Company and Bracknor. The drawdown of each Tranche requires that certain representations and warranties given by the Company and other customary conditions relating to financing arrangements of this nature are met. Bracknor has the right to terminate the Arrangement if the Company’s operations become subject to a material adverse effect, there has been a change of control in the Company or in the event of default which, if curable, is not cured within 30 business days. Valoe will pay Bracknor on the Arrangement a commitment fee equal to EUR 120,000 in Convertible Notes. For the purpose of implementing the Arrangement in accordance with its terms and conditions, the Company will arrange separately a share issue to the Company itself as well as apply for the listing of shares directed to itself in the share issue. The terms and conditions of the Convertible Notes and of the Warrants (without schedules) are included in full in the Appendices 1 and 2 of this release.
Combination of the Company's Shares In connection with entering into the Arrangement, the Company has decided to start the preparations for the combination of the Company's shares (reverse split) with at least 1:100 adjustment in 2017. The Board of Directors of the Company shall make a separate proposal to the Company's annual general meeting or the extraordinary general meeting on the combination of the shares.
21 April 2017: VALOE REVISES ITS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 31.12.2016 DUE TO A DELAY IN FULFILLING THE REVENUE RECOGNITION REQUIREMENTS UNDER IFRS FOR THE ETHIOPIAN PROJECT Valoe revises the accounting policies in its financial statements 31.12.2016. Valoe removes the revenue from the Ethiopian project from the company’s financial statements as the development of the project has been slower than estimated and there has been a delay in fulfilling the revenue recognition requirements under IFRS. Thus, the financial statements to be disclosed by 30 April 2017 will differ significantly from the financial information in the Financial Statement Release disclosed on 31 March 2017. As the accounting policies were revised the figures in the Financial Statement Release disclosed on 31 March 2017 do not comply with IFRS. The company views performance obligations, under IFRS, of Valoe’s Ethiopian project have not yet been satisfied. According to the prudence principles the company has decided to remove the revenue from the Ethiopian project from the company’s financial statements. Valoe’s pro-forma financial statements as per 31 December 2016, not under IFRS, comply with the Financial Statement Release disclosed 31 March 2017. The key figures in the pro-forma financial statement are as follows: revenue EUR 3.8 million, EBITDA EUR 6.0 million, operating profit EUR 4.7 million and profit for the period EUR 2.7 million. In its pro-forma financial statement as per 31 December 2016 Valoe has recognized about 20 percent of the revenue from the Ethiopian project based on the completion percentage of the project. The aforesaid revenue recognition takes into account a case Valoe finds very unlikely, where the customer cancels the order or refuses to accept the delivery. In such case Valoe would be able, in some other customer project, to utilize at least the part of the project that has already been recognized and secure at least part of the project’s income. In the company’s official financial statements in compliance with the IFRS, to be disclosed by 30 April 2017, the revenue decreases by EUR 3.3 million, the EBITDA by EUR 1.2 million, the operating profit by EUR 1.0 million and the profit for the period by EUR 1.0 million compared to the pro-forma financial statements disclosed on 31 March 2017. The company will resume recognizing revenue according to the same principles as in the Financial Statement Release disclosed on 31 March 2017 as soon as the requirements under IFRS have been fulfilled. Valoe sees that one of the most important requirements is the opening of a EUR 9.5 million Irrevocable Letter of Credit in a bank approved by Valoe. Valoe will disclose a separate release when the IFRS requirements for revenue recognition are satisfied. Until then Valoe will include also pro-forma figures in its financial reporting. The additional reporting is provided to give the market an understanding of the Ethiopian project’s overall percentage of completion and its effect on the company’s financials at the point when the revenue recognition requirements under IFRS are fulfilled.
CEO Iikka Savisalo’s Status Report on the Ethiopian Project, 21 April 2017 During the summer 2015 Valoe signed with an Ethiopian manufacturing partner a ca. EUR 15.8 million manufacturing partnership agreement including e.g. a delivery of a manufacturing plant utilizing Valoe’s own technology and related technology rights to Ethiopia. On 9 February 2016 the manufacturing partner signed a EUR 9.5 million financing agreement with the Development Bank of Ethiopia for the cash payment of the purchase price. In accordance with Valoe’s partnership concept the rest of the sale price is paid in shares of the Ethiopian customer company resulting in Valoe having a 30 percent shareholding in its manufacturing partner when its operation starts. Further, in pursuant to the agreement, Valoe’s partner has to inject capital to the Ethiopian company. The Development Bank of Ethiopia has agreed to provide Valoe’s partner with financing required for the capitalization. In accordance with the agreement, Valoe’s partner shall open an Irrevocable Letter of Credit for a sum equivalent to the cash payment in a reputable bank approved by Valoe. Valoe shall arrange a bank guarantee for any funds released against the Letter of Credit before delivery. The funds against the Letter of Credit will be released to Valoe when the delivery of the production line is accepted in Mikkeli and the equipment is ready for shipping to Ethiopia. The agreement also includes checkpoints and reporting typical of this kind of agreements. Despite the close cooperation between the parties an Irrevocable Letter of Credit required by Valoe has not yet been opened on 21 April 2017. Valoe views that this is due to massive bureaucracy in the local administration. The parties continue striving to overcome the administrative challenges. Ethiopia is one the world’s fastest growing economies and a country with one of the world’s biggest potential to utilize solar energy. However, Ethiopia is not very experienced in running high technology projects. Although Valoe has more than 20 years’ experience in conducting business operations in demanding environment the company and its local partner have faced many new and local challenges typical of this geographical area. Already before the actual project started, the new Ethiopian company managed to tackle issues related to various licenses and permits. Valoe’s partner obtained all licenses and permits required to establish the business and open the factory and acquired land for it. Valoe’s management has spent several months in Ethiopia participating financing negotiations, planning the execution of the project and commencing sales of the new company. Based on Valoe’s experience and lessons learned Valoe is even more convinced that production of solar energy suits very well to the Ethiopian climatel and that the local political leaders strongly support the increasing utilization of solar energy in general in Ethiopia and Valoe’s project in particular. In addition, based on the close cooperation with Ethiopian stakeholders Valoe is convinced that there are several opportunities for the company also after the current project is completed.
25 April 2017: ISSUE OF NEW SHARES IN VALOE CORPORATION WITHOUT CONSIDERATION TO THE COMPANY ITSELF The Board of Directors of Valoe Corporation (the "Company") has, on the basis of the authorization granted by the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on 24 May 2016, resolved on the issuance of 86,000,000 new shares to the Company itself without consideration in accordance with Chapter 9, Section 20 of the Companies Act. The shares are of the same class as the Company’s other shares and entitle to the same shareholder rights as the Company’s old shares after their registration. After the registration of the new shares in the trade register, the total number of the shares in the Company is 948,472,136 of which 86,000,000 shares are held by the Company. The new shares are estimated to be registered in the trade register on 27 April 2017, after which the Company will without delay apply for the admission of the shares to public trading on the stock exchange list of Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd. The purpose of the issue of shares to the Company itself is to implement part of the financing arrangement between the Company and Bracknor Investment approved on 19 April 2017 in accordance with the terms and conditions of such financing arrangement.
30 April 2017: DUE TO THE CHANGES IN VALOE’S FINANCIAL STATEMENT IN APRIL 2017 THE COMPANY’S EQYITY WAS NEGATIVE AS PER 31 DECEMBER 2016. THE MEASURES TAKEN BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TURNED THE EQUITY POSITIVE. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONTINUE THE MEASURES TO STRENGHTEN THE COMPANY’S EQUITY AND TO REMEDY ITS FINANCIAL POSITION. Because the performance obligations, in accordance with the International Accounting Standard IAS 11, were not satisfied Valoe resolved, in April 2017, to remove the revenue and the costs related to the Ethiopian project from the company’s income statement. Thus, Valoe’s equity turned negative as per 31 December 2016. In terms of operations, the project will be continued and the company will resume recognising revenue based on percentage of completion when the performance obligations have been satisfied. The Board of Directors took immediate actions and agreed on converting loans from the related parties to capital loans. Valoe’s equity turned again positive after some of the loans from the related parties were converted to capital loans. Valoe will convene a General Meeting to consider the measures to strengthen the company’s equity and to remedy the financial position of the company. Besides the above-mentioned actions affected the year-end equity situation the Board of Directors has already started implementing other corrective actions to strengthen the company’s financial situation and to secure going concern. On 19 April 2017 Valoe signed an EUR 3 million equity-based financing facility agreement with Bracknor Investment. Further, Valoe’s cash situation improves in 2017 as Valoe has agreed on extending the loans due during 2017 until 30 April 2018, excluding an EUR 0.7 million loan from Danske Bank due in 30 September 2017. Further, the company’s related parties have committed to convert their loan receivables from Valoe to capital loans, if required.
30 April 2017: VALOE DISCLOSES UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR 2016 Valoe’s Financial Statements for 2016 to be disclosed on 30 April 2017 have not been audited. The auditing has not yet been completed but will be finished without delays. Valoe will disclose a separate release on the Auditors Report as soon as the Report is available. The auditing has not been completed because of the recent changes the company made in the Financial Statements. In April 2017, based on the International Accounting Standard IAS 11, Valoe disclosed that the performance obligations for recognising revenue from the Ethiopian project have not been satisfied and the company resolved to revise its financial statements per 31 December 2016 retrospectively. Due to the revisions, the company’s equity turned negative as per 31 December 2016 which the company had to remedy as well. In terms of operations, the project will be continued and the company will resume recognising revenue based on percentage of completion when the performance obligations have been satisfied.
8 May 2017: ISSUE OF CONVERTIBLE NOTES AND WARRANTS; CONVERSION OF CONVERTIBLE NOTES PURSUANT TO FINANCING ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN VALOE CORPORATION AND BRACKNOR INVESTMENT The Board of Directors of Valoe Corporation (the "Company") has, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the financing arrangement between Valoe Corporation and Bracknor Investment announced on 19 April 2017, resolved to (i) withdraw the first convertible notes tranche of EUR 250,000 and to issue to Bracknor Investment in total 250 convertible notes and in total 12,500,000 warrants related thereto, and (ii) pay the commitment fee equal to EUR 120,000 agreed on in the terms and conditions of the financing arrangement by issuing a total of 120 convertible notes to Bracknor Investment. Additionally, the Board of Directors has resolved to approve the request of Bracknor Investment to convert a proportion of EUR 100,000 of the convertible notes to the shares in the Company at conversion price of EUR 0.011 per share. The conversion shall be executed by transferring a total of 9,090,909 treasury shares to Bracknor Investment. After the transfer the Company will have in total 76,909,091 treasury shares. During the reporting period, Valoe has disclosed several releases on conversion of convertible notes held by Bracknor Investment. Detailed information can be found in the company’s stock exchange releases that are not listed separately in this Interim Report.
15 May 2017: THE AUDITORS’S REPORT OF VALOE
Valoe’s auditor has today given the following report for the company’s Financial Statements for 2016.
This document is an English translation of the Finnish auditor’s report. Only the Finnish version of the report is legally binding. Auditor’s Report To the Annual General Meeting of Valoe Oyj Report on the Audit of the Financial Statements Opinion We have audited the financial statements of Valoe Oyj (business identity code 0749606-1) for the year ended 31 December, 2016. The financial statements comprise the consolidated balance sheet, statement of comprehensive income, statement of changes in equity, statement of cash flows and notes, including a summary of significant accounting policies, as well as the parent company’s balance sheet, income statement, statement of cash flows and notes. In our opinion — the consolidated financial statements give a true and fair view of the group’s financial performance, financial position and cash flows in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted by the EU — the financial statements give a true and fair view of the parent company’s financial performance and financial position in accordance with the laws and regulations governing the preparation of financial statements in Finland and comply with statutory requirements.
Basis for Opinion We conducted our audit in accordance with good auditing practice in Finland. Our responsibilities under good auditing practice are further described in the Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Statements section of our report. We are independent of the parent company and of the group companies in accordance with the ethical requirements that are applicable in Finland and are relevant to our audit, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Material uncertainty related to going concern basis We would like to draw attention to the section Application of the going concern assumption in the Accounting Principles for consolidated financial statements and to chapters in Note 29 Financial risk management. As described in the above-mentioned sources, during the financial year 2016 and at the year- end the company’s financial situation was very tight and its liquidity was low. Notes 23 and 24 state that the Group’s overdue debts totaled EUR 5.0 million at balance sheet date. The consolidated cash flow from operating activities was negative in the financial years 2015 and 2016. Based on the assessment made presented in the Directors’ Report and the section Application of the going concern assumption in the notes, management of the company and the Board of Directors believe that the going concern basis is appropriate in preparing the financial statements. The assessment is based on the following: the company has been able to improve its financing situation by drawing new borrowings in 2017 and by agreeing the deferral of existing borrowings to fall due in 2018. If the EUR 0.7 million overdraft facility at the Danske Bank due on 30 September 2017 cannot be repaid with the company’s cash flow from operations or with other funding, the company trusts it can reduce the amount of the debt enabling the extension of the debt. Furthermore, the company has resolved it will not launch delivery projects in full until project funding pursuant to a delivery agreement is available to the company.
The financial statements have been prepared under the going concern assumption. The company’s ability to continue as a going concern is dependent on the development of its operations and cash flows, as well as on the company’s efforts to settle the borrowings and other liabilities fallen due with its creditors. In our opinion, the above-mentioned conditions indicate the existence of a material uncertainty which may cast significant doubt upon Valoe Corporation’s ability to continue as a going concern. In addition, we would like to draw attention to the fact that the capitalized product development costs in the consolidated balance sheet total EUR 7.9 million. As described in the previous chapter, there could be material uncertainty related to the company’s ability to continue as a going concern and thus the carrying value of the development costs may not be supported. Our opinion has not been qualified by the matters described above.
Other matters We were unable to express an opinion on the consolidated financial statements and on the information on the consolidated financial statements presented in the Directors’ Report for the financial year ended 31 December 2015. No accounting records had been kept for the Beijing subsidiary for the financial year 2015 for reasons described in the 2015 Director’s Report. As a result, we were not able to verify the correctness of receivables, bank account or debt of the Chinese subsidiary. We were not able to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence on which to base our audit opinion, and consequently we will not comment on the comparative information for the financial year 2015 in respect of the consolidated financial statements and the information on the consolidated financial statements presented in the Directors’ Report.
The pro-forma financial statements referred to in the Directors’ Report and note 30. Events after the end of the reporting period have not been subject to audit. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the pro-forma financial statements.
Materiality The scope of our audit was influenced by our application of materiality. The materiality is determined based on our professional judgement and is used to determine the nature, timing and extent of our audit procedures and to evaluate the effect of identified misstatements on the financial statements as a whole. The level of materiality we set is based on our assessment of the magnitude of misstatements that, individually or in aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have influence on the economic decisions of the users of the financial statements. We have also taken into account misstatements and/or possible misstatements that in our opinion are material for qualitative reasons for the users of the financial statements.
Key Audit Matters Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgment, were of most significance in our audit of the financial statements of the current period. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the financial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters. We have also addressed the risk of management override of internal controls. This includes consideration of whether there was evidence of management bias that represented a risk of material misstatement due to fraud.
Responsibilities of the Board of Directors and the Managing Director for the Financial Statements The Board of Directors and the Managing Director are responsible for the preparation of consolidated financial statements that give a true and fair view in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted by the EU, and of financial statements that give a true and fair view in accordance with the laws and regulations governing the preparation of financial statements in Finland and comply with statutory requirements. The Board of Directors and the Managing Director are also responsible for such internal control as they determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the Board of Directors and the Managing Director are responsible for assessing the parent company’s and the group’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters relating to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting. The financial statements are prepared using the going concern basis of accounting unless there is an intention to liquidate the parent company or the group or cease operations, or there is no realistic alternative but to do so.
Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Statements Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance on whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with good auditing practice will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of the financial statements. As part of an audit in accordance with good auditing practice, we exercise professional judgment and maintain professional skepticism throughout the audit. We also: — Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control. — Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the parent company’s or the group’s internal control. — Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by management. — Conclude on the appropriateness of the Board of Directors’ and the Managing Director’s use of the going concern basis of accounting and based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the parent company’s or the group’s ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor’s report to the related disclosures in the financial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor’s report. However, future events or conditions may cause the parent company or the group to cease to continue as a going concern. — Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial statements, including the disclosures, and whether the financial statements represent the underlying transactions and events so that the financial statements give a true and fair view. — Obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the financial information of the entities or business activities within the group to express an opinion on the consolidated financial statements. We are responsible for the direction, supervision and performance of the group audit. We remain solely responsible for our audit opinion. We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.
We also provide those charged with governance with a statement that we have complied with relevant ethical requirements regarding independence, and communicate with them all relationships and other matters that may reasonably be thought to bear on our independence, and where applicable, related safeguards. From the matters communicated with those charged with governance, we determine those matters that were of most significance in the audit of the financial statements of the current period and are therefore the key audit matters. We describe these matters in our auditor’s report unless law or regulation precludes public disclosure about the matter or when, in extremely rare circumstances, we determine that a matter should not be communicated in our report because the adverse consequences of doing so would reasonably be expected to outweigh the public interest benefits of such communication.
Other Reporting Requirements Other Information The Board of Directors and the Managing Director are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises information included in the report of the Board of Directors and in the Annual Report, but does not include the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information. In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information identified above and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. With respect to the report of the Board of Directors, our responsibility also includes considering whether the report of the Board of Directors has been prepared in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations. In our opinion, the information in the report of the Board of Directors is consistent with the information in the financial statements and the report of the Board of Directors has been prepared in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations. If, based on the work we have performed on the report of the Board of Directors and in the Annual Report, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard.
Interim report for the period 1 January – 30 June 2016 We refer to the Securities Market Act, Chapter 7, section 8, subsection 2 and state that in preparing the 2016 financial statements the company decided to reverse the revenues recognised from the Ethiopian project, affecting net sales and related expenses respectively both in the consolidated and parent company’s financial statements. This matter is to be considered when assessing the compliance of the consolidated interim report for the period 1 January - 30 June 2016 with the related rules and regulations.
Remark The company’s equity is negative in the financial statements. In our opinion, the Board of Directors of the company has not at once made a register notification on the loss of share capital to the Trade Register as required under the Limited Liability Companies Act (Chapter 20, section 23). Our opinion has not been qualified by this matter.
14 June 2017: RESOLUTIONS AT VALOE'S ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND ORGANIZING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Valoe Corporation's Annual General Meeting was held on 14 June 2017 in Mikkeli, Finland. The AGM approved the 2016 financial statements and discharged the members of the Board and the President and CEO from liability for the financial year 2016. According to the Board' proposal, it was resolved that no dividend for the financial year 2016 will be distributed. It was also resolved that the loss for the financial period that ended on 31 December 2016 will be entered in retained earnings. It was decided that the Board of Directors will have three members. Industrial counsellor Hannu Savisalo, Ville Parpola and Iikka Savisalo continue as old Board members in the Board of Directors. At its organizing meeting following the Annual General Meeting, Valoe's Board of Directors elected Hannu Savisalo as the Chairman and Ville Parpola as the Vice Chairman of the Board. The Board of Directors decided, due to the scope of the company's business, that it is not necessary to establish any separate Board committees. The Annual General Meeting resolved that an annual remuneration of EUR 40,000 will be paid to the Chairman and to the Vice Chairman of the Board, and EUR 30,000 to the members of the Board of Directors. Further, travel costs will be paid to the Board members pursuant to the company’s travel policy. Auditus Tilintarkastus Oy was elected as the company’s auditor and Heidi Pirttijoki, APA, as the responsible auditor. The General Meeting resolved on the reduction of the quantity of company's shares without reducing share capital by way of issuing new shares and by redemption of company's own shares, in such a way that each current 200 shares of the company shall correspond to one share of the company after the arrangements related to the reduction of the quantity of company's shares are completed. Prior to the reduction of the quantity of company's shares, the total number of shares in the company is 948,472,136. The purpose of the reduction of the quantity of company's shares is to increase the value of a single share and thus to improve the trade conditions of the shares and the reliability of the price formation of the shares. Thus, there is a particularly weighty financial reason for the company to reduce the quantity of company's shares. This arrangement shall not affect the equity of the company. The reduction of the quantity of company's shares is carried out so that the company shall, on 16 June 2017 (hereinafter the "Transaction Day"), issue new company shares to each shareholder of the company free of charge so that the number of all shares per book-entry accounts owned by the shareholders of the company are divisible by the number 200. The maximum quantity of company's own shares transferred by the company shall be 199 shares multiplied by the number of such book-entry accounts on the Transaction Day, on which the company's shares are held, and which are owned by the shareholders of the company. The number of company's shareholders as per 30 April 2017 was 7,369. Therefore, the maximum amount of new shares issued by the company in the share issue is 1,600,000 new shares of the company. The Board of Directors of the company is entitled to resolve on all other matters related to the issuance of shares free of charge. On the Transaction Day, at the same time with the aforementioned issue of company's new shares, the company shall redeem free of charge a number of shares from each shareholder of the company. The number of shares to be redeemed by the company will be determined according to the redemption ratio of 200/1. In other words, for every 200 shares of the company 199 company shares shall be redeemed. The Board of Directors of the company shall be entitled to resolve on all other matters related to the redemptions of shares. The company's shares, which are redeemed in connection with the reduction of the quantity of company's shares, shall be annulled immediately following the redemption by a resolution of the Board of Directors of the company. The reduction of the quantity of company's shares shall be carried out in the book- entry system after the end of trading day on Nasdaq Helsinki on 16 June 2017 i.e. on the Transaction Day. The annulment of the shares and the company's new total number of shares are entered in the trade register approximately on 19 June 2017. Trading with the company's new total number of shares on Nasdaq Helsinki will begin approximately on 19 June 2017. If necessary, the trading with the company's share on Nasdaq Helsinki shall be temporarily interrupted in order to perform necessary technical measures in the trading facility after the Transaction Day. The arrangement, if it is realized, will not require the shareholders to take any action. No part of the arrangement shall be carried out unless all the other parts of the arrangement are carried out as well. Further, the General Meeting resolved to authorize the Board of Directors to decide on a share issue with and/or without payment, either in one or in several occasions, including right to resolve on option rights and other rights entitling to shares pursuant to the Chapter 10, Section 1 of the Finnish Companies Act so that the number of new shares issued based on the authorization or number of shares issued based on option rights and other special rights entitling to the shares pursuant to the Chapter 10, Section 1 of the Finnish companies Act, would equal to the total maximum amount of 10,000,000 shares (after reduction of quantity of shares). The authorization does not exclude the Board’s right to decide also on directed issue of shares or option rights and other special rights pursuant to the Chapter 10, Section 1 of the Finnish Companies Act. It is proposed that the authorization may be used for important arrangements from the company’s point of view e.g. to strengthen the capital structure, to finance investments, for acquisitions and business transactions or other business arrangements, or to expand ownership structure, or for incentive plans, or for other purposes resolved by the Board involving a weighty financial reason for issuing shares or option rights or special rights entitling to shares pursuant to the Chapter 10, Section 1 of the Finnish Companies Act. The share issue may be executed by deviating from the shareholders' pre-emptive subscription right provided the company has a weighty financial reason for that. The authorization is in force until 30 June 2018. Further, the Board of Directors described the company’s financial situation to the General Meeting. The General Meeting discussed the measures to remedy the company’s financial position based on the resolutions made by the Board of Directors during the financial year 2017.
17 June 2017: QUANTITY OF VALOE CORPORATION'S SHARES AFTER REDUCING THE QUANTITY OF SHARES The Annual General Meeting of Valoe Corporation (the "Company") resolved on 14 June 2017 to reduce the quantity of Valoe Corporation's shares by way of issuing new company shares and by the redemption of company's own shares (the "Arrangement"). As a part of the Arrangement, the Annual General Meeting resolved that the Company shall issue on 16 June 2017, the transaction day (the "Transaction Day"), in maximum 1,600,000 new Company shares free of charge so that the number of all shares per book-entry accounts owned by the shareholders of the Company are divisible by the number 200. 415,064 shares were needed in order to make the number of Company's shares owned by the shareholders divisible by the number 200. The complete amount of the shares issued free of charge in the share issue was 415,064 shares. After the share issue, the number of the Company shares was 948,887,200 on the Transaction Day. Further, pursuant to the resolution of the Annual General Meeting, the Company has on the Transaction Day in connection with the share issue referred to above, redeemed from all shareholders free of charge such number of Company's shares which was determined according to the redemption ratio of 200/1 i.e. altogether 944,142,764 Company shares. Pursuant to the resolution of the Annual General Meeting, the Board of Directors has cancelled 944,142,764 Company shares which become Company's possession on the Transaction Day. After the cancellation resolution of the Board of Directors, the number of Company's shares is 4,744,436. The cancellation of 944,142,764 Company shares and the new total number of the Company's shares shall be registered with the Trade Register by 19 June 2017. Trading with the amended number of the Company's shares shall commence on Nasdaq Helsinki on or around 19 June 2017.
THE MAJOR EVENTS AFTER THE REPORTING PERIOD 7 August 2017: VALOE CORPORATION HAS AGREED ON DELIVERING SOLAR POWER PLANTS WORTH A TOTAL OF CA. EUR 4 MILLION TO FINLAND. THE FIRST ORDERS OF CA. EUR 450,000 WILL BE DELIVERED TO NINE SITES OWNED BY THE CITY OF HANKO DURING THE AUTUMN 2017.
Valoe Corporation has signed a framework agreement with ForUs Capital Oy on delivering solar power plants worth a total of ca. EUR 4 million to Finland. ForUs Capital sells electricity generated by the solar power plants to its own partners. The first orders of ca. EUR 450,000 will be delivered to nine sites owned by the City of Hanko during the autumn 2017. Valoe and solar energy buyers will sign a separate service agreement on the maintenance of each solar power plant. Valoe is responsible for power production and gives the solar power plants performance guarantee. The other deliveries are subject to governmental investment aid and securing final financing. If the conditions are fulfilled, the solar power plants will be delivered during the summer 2018 at the latest. ”The lifetime cost per kilo-watt hour of Valoe’s next generation solar systems is significantly lower compared to traditional modules. It is great that after long cooperation ForUs Capital is convinced of competitiveness of Valoe’s solar systems. We trust that our cooperation with ForUs will expand significantly in the future”, says Iikka Savisalo, Valoe’s CEO. "We chose Valoe as our partner because they provided us with the latest Finnish technology, local Finnish production and the best guarantee terms. Despite the highest price within the industry, we estimated Valoe to be the most secured option in the market for our investors” says Eero Oksanen, Managing Director of ForUs Capital Oy. “We have followed Valoe’s operation very closely. We are hopefully looking forward to seeing Valoe developing technically superior solar power plants”, Eero Oksanen states.
RISK MANAGEMENT, RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES Valoe’s Board of Directors is responsible for the control of the company’s accounts and finances. The Board is responsible for internal control, while the President and CEO handles the practical arrangement and monitors the efficiency of internal control. Business management and control are taken care of using a Group-wide reporting and forecasting system. The purpose of risk management is to ensure that any significant business risks are identified and monitored appropriately. The company’s business and financial risks are managed centrally by the Group’s financial department, and reports on risks are presented to the Board of Directors as necessary. Due to the small size of the company and its business operations, Valoe does not have an internal auditing organization or an audit committee. Valoe’s objective is to achieve a strong market position as a provider of, in various geographical areas, locally produced high-quality photovoltaic modules. Achievement of the objectives involves risks. Even though Valoe's strategy and objectives are based on market knowledge and technical surveys, the risks are significant and it is not certain if the company reaches all or part of the targets set for it. Valoe's future outlook will be highly dependent on the company's ability to reach the targeted market position in the global photovoltaic module market as well as on the company's financing. Valoe’s customer has ongoing negotiations on arranging financing for a factory delivery in Asia worth EUR 26.5 million. The realization of the project involves risks. The financing negotiations are ongoing and the outcome is not yet known. The financial negotiations with Danske Bank involve risks. If Valoe were not able to extend the overdraft facility due on 30 September 2017 at Danske Bank, or to repay the overdraft facility with some other funding, the company’s financing situation would further tighten. The module manufacturing plant order from Ethiopia involves business, financial, schedule and country risks that are typical of international equipment sales. The country risks include also slow decision process for financing arrangements. The payments relating to the project have not yet begun despite the binding financing agreements. The company follows very closely how the situation develops in Ethiopia and tries to support the customer in its negotiations by being present as often as possible. The revenue recognition and the recognition principles of the Ethiopian project are described below. The Ethiopian project of 15.8 million euros awarded to Valoe in February 2016 and its outcome are significant when evaluating the company’s performance in the near future. The customer will pay 9.5 million euros in cash and 6.3 million euros in shares of the customer company resulting in Valoe having a 30 percent shareholding. Valoe assesses its shareholding annually. The company views that performance obligations of Valoe’s Ethiopian project, under the IAS Standard 11, have not yet been satisfied. According to the prudence principles, the company decided the Ethiopian project is not considered in the company’s income statement for 2016. On 31 March 2017 Valoe’s disclosed the pro-forma financial statements as per 31 December 2016, not been drawn up according to the IFRS, where the project’s percentage of completion was ca. 20 percent and the recognized revenue amounted to ca. EUR 3.3 million. The developing markets can be unpredictable and operation in the markets involves many risks. When assessing the company, one shall be aware of the fact that the company is partly operating in high-risk environment and consider carefully the effects of the risks on the investor’s own investment strategy. The Agreement signed with ForUs Capital involves risks out of which the most remarkable risk relates to securing financing for the projects involved. In the Auditor’s Report for the year 2016 the company’s auditor drew attention e.g. to the financial risk management and the company’s ability to continue as a going concern. As a result of the financing arrangements taken place during the reporting period Valoe’s financing situation has improved, although it still is very tight and involve risks. The certain statements in this Annual Report and especially the non-binding estimations in Valoe’s strategy are targeted to the future and based on the management’s current estimations. They involve risks and uncertainty by their nature and may be affected by changes in general financial situation or business environment.
MARKET OUTLOOK Valoe will not disclose financial guidance for the financial year 2017.
In Mikkeli, 30 August 2017 Valoe Corporation Board of Directors
For more information: CEO Iikka Savisalo, Valoe Corporation p. 0405216082 email: iikka.savisalo@valoe.com
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