Vertical Aerospace Releases First Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Vertical Aerospace (NYSE: EVTL) reported financial results for Q1 2024, highlighting a net operating loss of £20 million, an improvement from last year's £23 million loss. The company secured a £10 million grant, bolstering their total grant funding to £47 million, and received an additional £19.5 million investment. The VX4 aircraft prototype is nearing completion, with test flights planned for later this year. Vertical's partnership with Rolls-Royce ended, but the financial impact is mitigated. The company plans further fundraising efforts in 2024 to meet capital requirements and address NYSE listing compliance issues, potentially through a reverse share split.

Positive

• Secured £10 million grant from the Aerospace Technology Institute.
• Total grant funding increased to £47 million.
• Received £19.5 million investment from the founder.
• Net operating loss improved to £20 million from £23 million YoY.
• VX4 prototype nearing completion with test flights planned for 2024.
• Cash runway extended into H2 2025 following settlement with Rolls-Royce.
• Capital plan remains on track for 2024.

Negative

• Net operating loss reported at £20 million for Q1 2024.
• Administrative expenses amounted to £9.5 million.
• Received NYSE non-compliance notice for minimum share price.
• Further fundraising required in 2024 to maintain operations.
• Potential need for a reverse share split to meet NYSE compliance.

Insights

Financial Analyst

First quarter financial results for Vertical Aerospace are insightful as a gauge of the company's financial health and trajectory. The company reported a net operating loss of £20 million for Q1 2024, a slight improvement compared to a £23 million loss in the same quarter last year. This reduction in losses suggests some progress in financial discipline, despite continued investments in R&D and prototyping expenses.

The receipt of £19.5 million of additional capital from founder Stephen Fitzpatrick and a £8 million grant from the Aerospace Technology Institute are positive indicators of investor and governmental confidence. However, the ongoing need for additional fundraising in 2024 raises the question of long-term sustainability. Investors should be cautious considering Vertical's reliance on continuous external funding and the pressing issue of compliance with NYSE's share price requirements.

Aerospace Engineer

From a technical standpoint, the continued development and nearing completion of the VX4 prototype are notable. The VX4 aircraft now incorporates Vertical’s next-generation proprietary battery technology, which is a substantial step towards its goal of zero-emission aviation. The new partnership strategy for the Electric Propulsion Unit (EPU), following the exit from the Rolls-Royce contract, indicates flexibility and resilience in their engineering and supply chain strategy.

Moreover, the upcoming piloted flight test program, expected to start soon, is a critical milestone. Such tests are integral to the certification process and demonstrate Vertical's commitment to its timelines. However, the successful execution of these tests will be crucial, as any setbacks could delay the overall certification and commercialization timeline aimed for 2026.

Market Research Analyst

The strategic moves and partnerships highlighted, such as the upcoming Capital Markets Event and the development of the UK’s first vertiport testbed, indicate Vertical’s proactive approach to market positioning. The collaboration with Skyports for the vertiport testbed at Bicester Motion is particularly significant, as it aligns with the UK Government’s Future of Flight Action Plan and could propel Vertical to the forefront of the flying taxi revolution in the UK.

Nevertheless, the company's market performance is a concern. The notice of non-compliance with NYSE's minimum share price requirement is a red flag for investors, indicating potential volatility and the need for strategic actions like a reverse share split to regain compliance. Investors should closely monitor how the company manages these challenges to ensure long-term viability and market confidence.

LONDON & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Vertical Aerospace Ltd. (“Vertical” or the “Company”) (NYSE: EVTL; EVTLW), a global aerospace and technology company that is pioneering zero emission aviation, today announces its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024. The first quarter 2024 financial results filing can be found on the investor relations website.

Stuart Simpson, CEO at Vertical, said “I am delighted to lead this incredibly innovative company and I’m immensely proud of the progress the team has made so far this year. We are within touching distance of kicking off the robust piloted flight test programme for our significantly more sophisticated second full-scale VX4 aircraft, as we prepare to demonstrate its full potential to the world. This aircraft represents a huge leap forward along our path to certification.”

First Quarter 2024 and Recent Operational Highlights

Business

• A new £8 million ($10 million) grant in February from the Aerospace Technology Institute to develop Vertical’s next-generation propellers for use on its VX4 aircraft brought total grant funding to £37 million ($47 million), signalling a further vote of confidence in Vertical from the UK Government.
• The UK’s Aviation and Technology Minister, Anthony Browne MP, visited Vertical’s HQ in Bristol in March to mark the launch of the Government’s Future of Flight Action Plan. The joint initiative between the UK Government and industry outlines plans for flying taxis to become a reality in the UK within the next few years.
• Vertical’s partner, Skyports, announced its plans to develop the UK’s first vertiport testbed at Bicester Motion, Oxfordshire, at which Vertical intends to fly later this year.
• At the latest Vertical Pioneer’s Event in April, the team updated customers on the VX4 programme, with topics including certification and operating economics, and hearing from partners CAE and Skyports Infrastructure. Our customers also visited the Vertical Flight Test Centre to see the aircraft and hear directly from our chief pilot on our upcoming crewed flight test programme.
• Founder Stephen Fitzpatrick committed additional capital to the Company, with Vertical receiving £19.5 million ($25 million) on March 13, 2024.
• Vertical and Rolls-Royce have mutually agreed to exit Rolls-Royce's contract to design an Electric Propulsion Unit (EPU). Under the agreement, Vertical will receive a cash amount from Rolls-Royce which is expected to cover the anticipated costs of an alternative EPU design contract as well as provide an extension to Vertical's cash runway. Vertical is already working with other EPU suppliers and there is no expected impact on the completion of Vertical’s prototypes or certification timelines - further detail below.

Vertical Team

• On May 1, 2024, Vertical made a series of leadership appointments, including appointing Stuart Simpson, Vertical’s CFO and seasoned FTSE100 executive, to CEO as the Company moves to the pivotal phase of certifying and commercialising its VX4 aircraft.
• Founder and majority shareholder, Stephen Fitzpatrick, remains on the Vertical Board as a non-executive director, focused on business strategy and delivering on the Company’s vision.
• Ben Story, who brings 30 years of fundraising, business strategy and leadership experience from roles at Rolls-Royce, Citi and Transport for London, was appointed to Vertical’s Board as an independent non-executive director.
• Charlotte Cowley will join in June 2024 as Director of Strategic Finance, responsible for executing Vertical’s fundraising strategy. Charlotte brings over 20 years of experience in banking and investor relations, having led Investor Relations for FTSE100 Burberry Group plc, and FTSE250 Aston Martin Lagonda plc, where she supported successful capital raises.

VX4 Progress

• Final assembly of the next generation full-scale VX4 prototype nears completion and the aircraft remains on track to begin its test programme ahead of intended public demonstrations later this year.
• This prototype, which features more advanced propellers, will for the first time use Vertical’s next generation proprietary battery technology built at the Vertical Energy Centre. This next prototype incorporates the majority of the Company’s leading aerospace partners’ technology and will align closely with the aircraft Vertical intends to take into certification.
• Vertical is on track to receive its Permit to Fly from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to begin its robust piloted flight test campaign in the coming weeks.

Agreement with Rolls-Royce

• On and with effect from May 22, 2024, Vertical and Rolls-Royce mutually agreed to exit Rolls-Royce's contract to design an Electric Propulsion Unit (EPU). Under the agreement, Vertical will receive a cash amount from Rolls-Royce by June 30, 2024 which is expected to cover the anticipated costs of an alternative EPU design contract and provide an extension to Vertical’s cash runway. This follows Rolls-Royce's announcement in November 2023 of its intention to seek a partner or buyer for its advanced air mobility activities.
• Vertical is already working with other EPU suppliers for its new prototype, and the exit of this contract has no impact on the completion of this prototype or its identical twin. Vertical is now in active engagement with a shortlist of potential EPU partners for the certification and production aircraft following the launch of a formal tender process. Vertical continues to target type certification by the end of 2026.
• The agreement also includes the return to Vertical of Rolls-Royce's EVTL shares, which it initially acquired as a private investment in public equity (PIPE) investor in 2021.

First Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights

• Vertical reported a net operating loss of £20 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to a net operating loss of £23 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, emphasising the Company’s continued financial discipline.
• Spending reflects investments in the near completion of the second, more advanced full-scale VX4 prototype.
• As of March 31, 2024, Vertical had cash and cash equivalents totalling £49 million, including the investment of £19.5 million ($25 million) received from Stephen Fitzpatrick, which will be invested in the creation and development of an identical twin VX4 prototype; testing and certification activities; as well as in the people, systems and processes that support the Company.
• Vertical is planning a Capital Markets Event which it expects to host in the second half of 2024.

Consolidated Financial Summary

	Three months ending March 31*,
	2024 £'000	2023 £'000
Research and development expenses	(13,984)	(12,612)
Administrative expenses	(9,467)	(11,741)
Related party administrative expenses	(21)	(21)
Other operating income	3,234	1,824
Operating loss	(20,238)	(22,550)

*Unaudited

Financial Outlook

• Net cash outflows incurred in the second quarter of the year will be in relation to the testing of prototype aircraft and the support of the certification process – Vertical’s capital plan remains on track for 2024. Following receipt of the cash contribution from Rolls-Royce under its settlement agreement, Vertical’s cash runway will be extended into H2 2025.
• As previously announced, to support Vertical’s ongoing capital requirements, fund its future operations and remain as a going concern, Vertical intends to undertake further fundraising in 2024 to raise additional capital.
• As previously announced, in November 2023, Vertical received notice from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) indicating that the Company was not in compliance with the NYSE continued listing standard requiring a minimum average closing price for its ordinary shares of $1.00 over the preceding 30 consecutive trading days. As set forth in NYSE’s continued listing standards, if Vertical determines that, to regain compliance, an action requiring shareholder approval is necessary to cure the share price non-compliance, such as via a reverse share split, that approval may be sought at the next annual general meeting of shareholders (AGM). The Company intends to convene its AGM in September 2024 (further details regarding the AGM to be announced at a later date). If the Company remains non-compliant with the minimum share price requirement at that time, it will ask shareholders at its AGM to approve a reverse share split to cure the non-compliance.
• The above forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s expectations for the three months ending June 30, 2024, as of May 24, 2024, and are subject to substantial uncertainty. The results are based on assumptions that the Company believes to be reasonable as of this date, but may be materially affected by many factors, as discussed below in “Forward-Looking Statements.”

About Vertical Aerospace

Vertical Aerospace is a global aerospace and technology company pioneering electric aviation.

Vertical is creating a safer, cleaner and quieter way to travel. Vertical's VX4 is a piloted, four passenger, Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, with zero operating emissions. Vertical combines partnering with leading aerospace companies, including Honeywell and Leonardo, with developing its own proprietary battery and propeller technology to develop the world’s most advanced and safest eVTOL.

Vertical has 1,500 pre-orders of the VX4 worth $6bn, with customers across four continents, including Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines, Japan Airlines, GOL and Bristow. Headquartered in Bristol, the epicentre of the UK’s aerospace industry, Vertical was founded in 2016 by Stephen Fitzpatrick, founder of the OVO Group, Europe’s largest independent energy retailer.

Vertical's experienced leadership team comes from top tier automotive and aerospace companies such as Rolls-Royce, Airbus, Heathrow, GM and Leonardo. Together they have previously certified and supported over 30 different civil and military aircraft and propulsion systems.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that relate to our current expectations and views of future events. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements as contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Any express or implied statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding the design and manufacture of the VX4, our future results of operations and financial position and expected financial performance and operational performance, liquidity, growth and profitability strategies, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, including the building and testing of our prototype aircrafts on timelines projected, selection of suppliers, certification and the commercialization of the VX4 and our ability to achieve regulatory certification of our aircraft product on any particular timeline or at all, our ability and plans to raise additional capital to fund our operations, including as a result of any ongoing or future discussions with potential investors, statements regarding completion of the committed funding from Company’s founder and majority owner, our plans to mitigate the risk that we are unable to continue as a going concern, our plans for capital expenditures, the expectations surrounding pre-orders and commitments, the features and capabilities of the VX4, the transition towards a net-zero emissions economy, as well as statements that include the words “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “project,” “forecast,” “estimate,” “may,” “should,” “anticipate,” “will,” “aim,” “potential,” “continue,” “are likely to” and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature. Forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, including, without limitation: our limited operating history without manufactured non-prototype aircraft or completed eVTOL aircraft customer order; our ability to raise additional funds when we need or want them, or at all, to fund our operations; our limited cash and cash equivalents and recurring losses from our operations raise significant doubt (or raise substantial doubt as contemplated by PCAOB standards) regarding our ability to continue as a going concern; our potential inability to produce or launch aircraft in the volumes or timelines projected; the potential inability to obtain the necessary certifications for production and operation within any projected timeline, or at all; the inability for our aircraft to perform at the level we expect and may have potential defects; our history of losses and the expectation to incur significant expenses and continuing losses for the foreseeable future; the market for eVTOL aircraft being in a relatively early stage; any accidents or incidents involving eVTOL aircraft could harm our business; our dependence on partners and suppliers for the components in our aircraft and for operational needs; the potential that certain strategic partnerships may not materialize into long-term partnership arrangements; all of the pre-orders received are conditional and may be terminated at any time and any pre-delivery payments may be fully refundable upon certain specified dates; any circumstances; any potential failure to effectively manage our growth; our inability to recruit and retain senior management and other highly skilled personnel; we have previously identified material weaknesses in our internal controls over financial reporting which if we fail to properly remediate, could adversely affect our results of operations, investor confidence in us and the market price of our ordinary shares; as a foreign private issuer we follow certain home country corporate governance rules, are not subject to U.S. proxy rules and are subject to Exchange Act reporting obligations that, to some extent, are more lenient and less frequent than those of a U.S. domestic public company; and the other important factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 14, 2024, as such factors may be updated from time to time in our other filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof and accordingly undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. We disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than to the extent required by applicable law.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240524311496/en/

Justin Bates, Head of Communications

Justin.bates@vertical-aerospace.com

+44 7878357463

Samuel Emden, Head of Investor Affairs

Samuel.emden@vertical-aerospace.com

+447816 459 904 

Vertical Media Kit

Available here.

Source: Vertical Aerospace Ltd.

FAQ

What was Vertical Aerospace's net operating loss for Q1 2024?

Vertical Aerospace reported a net operating loss of £20 million for Q1 2024.

How much grant funding did Vertical Aerospace secure in February 2024?

In February 2024, Vertical Aerospace secured a £10 million grant.

What is the total grant funding received by Vertical Aerospace as of Q1 2024?

As of Q1 2024, Vertical Aerospace has received a total of £47 million in grant funding.

How much additional investment did Vertical Aerospace receive from its founder in March 2024?

Vertical Aerospace received an additional £19.5 million investment from its founder in March 2024.

What are the plans for the VX4 prototype in 2024?

The VX4 prototype is nearing completion and is expected to start test flights later in 2024.

What impact did the end of the Rolls-Royce contract have on Vertical Aerospace?

The end of the Rolls-Royce contract is mitigated financially and does not impact the completion timeline for the VX4 prototype.

What compliance notice did Vertical Aerospace receive from the NYSE?

Vertical Aerospace received a NYSE non-compliance notice for not meeting the minimum share price requirement.

What is Vertical Aerospace's plan to address the NYSE compliance issue?

Vertical Aerospace plans to seek shareholder approval for a reverse share split at the AGM in September 2024 to address the NYSE compliance issue.

When does Vertical Aerospace plan to extend its cash runway?

Vertical Aerospace's cash runway is extended into H2 2025 following a settlement with Rolls-Royce.