UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

FORM 6-K

 

 

 

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13A-16 OR 15D-16

UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the month of December 2024

 

Commission File Number: 001-41169

 

 

 

Vertical Aerospace Ltd.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

 

Unit 1 Camwal Court, Chapel Street

Bristol BS2 0UW

United Kingdom

(Address of principal executive office)

 

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

 

Form 20-F  x            Form 40-F  ¨

 

 

 

 

 

 

INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS REPORT ON FORM 6-K

 

On December 20, 2024, Vertical Aerospace Ltd. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing its financial results for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, a copy of which is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 hereto.

 

The Company’s operating and financial review and prospects with respect to the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and related notes thereto are attached as Exhibits 99.2 and 99.3, respectively, to this Report on Form 6-K.

 

 

 

 

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

Exhibits 99.2 and 99.3 to this Report on Form 6-K are hereby incorporated by reference into the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-270756 and File No. 333-275430) (including any prospectuses forming a part of such registration statements) and to be a part thereof from the date on which this Report on Form 6-K is filed, to the extent not superseded by documents or reports subsequently filed or furnished.

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
No.
  Description
99.1   Press release of Vertical Aerospace Ltd. dated December 20, 2024
99.2   Operating and financial review and prospects with respect to the nine months ended September 30, 2024
99.3   Unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2024

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

  Vertical Aerospace Ltd.
     
Date: December 20, 2024 By: /s/ Stuart Simpson
    Stuart Simpson
    Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

Vertical Aerospace Releases Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results

 

London, UK; New York, USA – 20 December 2024

 

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 third quarter ended September 30, 2024. The third quarter 2024 financial results filing can be found on the Company’s investor relations website.

 

Stuart Simpson, CEO at Vertical, said “This has been a momentous quarter for the business. We have shared our strategic plan to lead the market by the end of the decade, begun what few in the industry have achieved with our piloted flight test programme, and signed a significant investment agreement that strengthens our balance sheet and funds us towards the end of next year. I could not be prouder of the team or more excited to get into 2025.”

 

Vertical’s recent updates:

 

Investment agreement

 

·Signing of the investment agreement on 20 December 2024 with Mudrick Capital, the Company’s primary creditor, and Stephen Fitzpatrick, its majority shareholder, following the announcement in November of up to $50 million in new committed funding as part of a transaction that will strengthen the Company’s balance sheet by $180 million. Vertical is convening an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) of shareholders on 23 December to vote upon certain amendments to the Company’s memorandum and articles of association, in accordance with the investment agreement.

 

·A further agreement was signed on 15 December 2024 under which Mudrick Capital has agreed not to enforce certain default rights. The agreement includes support for the transaction from all parties and provides a foundation to Vertical’s financial stability as it executes its long-term plans.

 

·The funding, committed as part of its next equity round, will strengthen Vertical’s financial position and advance “Flightpath 2030”, Vertical’s strategy for market leadership by the end of the decade, which it launched last month. The agreement funds Vertical’s operations towards the end of 2025, while also removing or mitigating certain structural obstacles that have impeded the Company from accessing substantial third-party funding since its public listing.

 

Operational progress

 

·Achieving a major milestone with the launch of Phase 2 of its piloted flight test programme following expansion of its Permit to Fly from the UK Civil Aviation Authority.

 

·Winning the Shaping the Future Award at the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) 2024 Aerospace Technology & Innovation Awards, recognising its groundbreaking advancements in zero-carbon emission aviation technology.

 

Financial outlook

 

·Maintaining its industry-leading capital efficiency; as of 30 September 2024, Vertical had £42.8 million of cash and cash equivalents on hand. As of the date of this press release, the company had approximately £25 million of cash and cash equivalents on hand. The new round of funding is expected to close in Q1 2025.

 

 

 

 

Notes to Editors

 

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 GKN Aerospace, Honeywell and Leonardo, with developing its own proprietary battery and propeller technology to develop the world’s most advanced and safest eVTOL.

 

Vertical has c.1,500 pre-orders of the VX4, with customers across four continents, including 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, GM and Leonardo. Together they have previously certified and supported over 30 different civil and military aircraft and propulsion systems.

 

For more information:

 

Justin Bates, Head of Communications

justin.bates@vertical-aerospace.com

+44 7878 357 463

 

Samuel Emden, Head of Investor Affairs

samuel.emden@vertical-aerospace.com

+44 7816 459 904

 

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 consummation of the agreement in principle with Mudrick Capital, including the entry into additional transaction agreements and the satisfaction of all closing conditions, completion of the committed funding from Mudrick Capital and use of proceeds therefrom, the sufficiency of the proceeds from the committed funding to meet the Company’s more immediate capital expenditure requirements, the Company’s satisfaction of all closing conditions to the committed funding, our ability and plans to raise additional capital to fund our operations, 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 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 potential inability 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 predelivery 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.

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.2

  

Operating and Financial Review and Prospects

 

The following discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations of Vertical Aerospace Ltd. (“our”, “we” or the “Company”) should be read in conjunction with our unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this filing, as well as our audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023 (the “Annual Report”). The following discussion is based on our financial information prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, (“IFRS”), as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”).

 

This discussion contains forward-looking statements and involves numerous risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those described in the “Forward-Looking Statements” section of this filing and in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report. Our actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.

 

Overview

 

Our purpose is to revolutionize the way we travel in a more sustainable world. We are a global aerospace and technology company that is pioneering electric aviation, focused on designing, manufacturing and selling a zero operating emission electric vertical takeoff and landing (“eVTOL”) aircraft for use in the advanced air mobility (“AAM”) market, using the cutting-edge technology from the aerospace, automotive and energy industries.

 

Founded in 2016, we come from a deep aerospace and automotive mindset and have already designed, built and flown two sub-scale prototype eVTOL aircraft in 2018 and 2019. We are currently developing, and are progressing towards the certification of, our flagship eVTOL, the VX4. Our first full-scale VX4 prototype successfully concluded its remote thrustborne flight test campaign in August 2023. Our second full-scale VX4 prototype was assembled in July 2024 and has begun its piloted flight test program which we intend to include the aircraft’s full flight envelope – conventional and vertical take-off and landing and transition flight. This more advanced prototype includes much of our strategic partners’ technology that we plan to incorporate into our final certification aircraft. We are targeting the VX4 to be capable of transporting a pilot and up to four passengers, traveling distances of up to 100 miles, and achieving cruise speeds of 150 mph, while producing minimal noise and zero operating emissions.

 

The VX4 aircraft is being designed around existing certifiable technology, as well as certain novel technology such as the batteries, powertrain and propellers which we are designing and developing in-house. Collectively, our experienced team has previously certified and supported the development of over 30 aircraft and propulsion systems around the world. We are currently one of the only eVTOL designers and original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) actively pursuing certification from the United Kingdom’s Civil Aviation Authority (the “CAA”) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (“EASA”) with a winged vehicle. We aim to have our aircraft certified to safety targets the same as those to which large commercial airliners are subject, based on standards that are 100 times safer than those applicable to small single engine helicopters. EASA and the CAA have also agreed how they will collaborate on the certification of Vertical’s VX4, under the technical implementation procedures agreed as part of the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union. While both regulators have been working closely already, this sets the foundations for their certification experts to apply common standards and work together towards concurrent certification and validation of the VX4 by both authorities. In 2023, the CAA announced its intention to adopt EASA’s Means of Compliance to SC- VTOL, the standards against which European and UK manufacturers design eVTOLs. By achieving certification of our VX4 eVTOL aircraft from the CAA and EASA, we expect to leverage the work done with our home regulator to have the certification validated by other regulators where we intend to operate, including the United States Federal Aviation Authority (the “FAA”), Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency (“ANAC”) and Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (“JCAB”).

 

In March 2023, the CAA issued an eVTOL Design Organisation Approval (“DOA”) to our wholly-owned subsidiary, Vertical Aerospace Group Limited (“VAGL”), the scope of which was expanded in July 2024, enabling our engineers to sign-off compliance of an expanding range of technical areas, including additional aspects of flight control, avionics and electrical systems. By enhancing our capacity to carry out certification activities, we expect to streamline the overall certification process. UK and European aerospace companies cannot hold a type certificate, necessary for entry into service, without being granted a DOA. The DOA authorizes VAGL to conduct design activities and issue design approvals within the DOA’s scope of approval.

 

 

 

 

We are developing a sophisticated eVTOL ecosystem that allows us to focus on providing a high-quality experience. Our in-house expertise covers design, certification, assembly and manufacture, pilot experience, end-user experience and base platform performance. We aim to be one of the leading eVTOL aircraft OEMs, selling globally certified eVTOL aircraft to a variety of customers, including, commercial airlines, aircraft leasing companies, business aviation, tourism groups, mobility platforms and existing helicopter operators as well as new operators in the AAM market, providing both OEM sales and aftermarket services to our customers. We also believe there is a potential market to provide OEM sales to a variety of industries beyond traditional airline and helicopter customers, such as tourism, where there is an opportunity to replace existing transportation options like minibuses, and the cargo and logistics industry, where there is potential to partner with global logistics firms and large retail customers. There is a further opportunity to generate revenue from other sectors such as emergency services, as eVTOL aircraft can be used for emergency patient and supplies transport, particularly in densely populated areas or military logistics transport, among other potential uses. We plan to explore the potential development of versions of the VX4 for such scenarios. Our strategy is to forge partnerships in key markets with partners that have existing demand and are local trusted brands with market-specific knowledge. We believe that by partnering with such market players, we can extend their business models and build a market ecosystem that will allow us to expand our proposition over time. Our focus on system integration and establishment of an industrial supply chain is expected to enable rapid scaling of production of our aircraft.

 

The Business Combination

 

On June 10, 2021, we entered into a business combination agreement with Broadstone Acquisition Corp. (“Broadstone”), which was consummated on December 16, 2021 (the “Business Combination”). The Business Combination had a significant impact on our capital structure and operating results, helping to facilitate our product development, manufacturing and commercialization. The most significant change in our reported financial positions was a net increase in cash (as compared to our consolidated balance sheet at June 30, 2021) of approximately $286 million. As a result of the Business Combination, we became a U.S. public company listed on the New York Stock Exchange, which required us to hire additional personnel and implement procedures and processes to address public company regulatory requirements and customary practices. We have incurred, and expect to continue to incur, additional annual expenses as a public company for, among other things, directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, director fees and additional internal and external accounting, legal and administrative resources.

 

Recent Developments

 

Business Strategy Updates

 

In November 2024, Vertical announced “Flightpath 2030,” our strategy for market leadership before the end of the decade. As we advance our piloted flight test program, which has entered into Phase 2, “Flightpath 2030” sets clear milestones for the company’s journey from prototype to production. This strategic plan builds on the progress made by the business to date and is underpinned by learnings from our piloted flight test program, positive engagement with the CAA, and robust planning by our leadership team.

 

By the end of the decade, we are targeting:

 

·Delivering at least 150 aircraft to our customers, achieving significant milestones in high-quality, large-scale production.

 

·Achieving an annual production rate exceeding 200 VX4 units in Q4 2030, with plans to scale up to greater than 700 units per year in the medium-term to deliver against a leading pre-order book.

 

·Positioning Vertical to become sustainably cash generative, achieving cash break-even in 2030, given the capital efficiency of its focused OEM business model. Gross profit margin is currently expected to build to a targeted >40% in the following years.

 

·Certifying the VX4 in 2028, followed by certifying its first major upgrade in 2030. We are targeting future capacity increases, giving customers flexibility. While the current prototype seats four passengers, the VX4’s cabin width and robust powertrain enable the potential to accommodate six passengers and extend its range with minimal adjustments to the design or certification requirements.

 

·Maintaining a zero accident rate, certifying to the highest level of safety – 10-9, the same as for commercial airliners – while upholding our commitment to rigorous safety standards across the business.

 

 

 

 

Investment update

 

In November 2024, we announced the signing of a term sheet by and among the Company, our majority shareholder, Stephen Fitzpatrick, and our primary creditor and senior secured lender, Mudrick Capital Management L.P. (“Mudrick Capital”) (the “Term Sheet”), to address the Company’s more immediate cash requirements and facilitate longer-term fundraising. The material terms set out in the Term Sheet include funding for our operations towards the end of 2025, while also removing or mitigating certain structural obstacles that have impeded us from accessing substantial third-party funding since our public listing.

 

On December 20, 2024, as contemplated by the Term Sheet, the Company entered into an investment agreement (the “Investment Agreement”) which includes a commitment from Mudrick Capital to fund up to $50 million to the Company in its next funding round (the “Equity Placement”), with $25 million funded on a non-contingent basis, and a backstop commitment for an additional $25 million to be funded by Mudrick Capital if the Company is not able to raise such amount in the Equity Placement. The Company intends to launch the Equity Placement in Q1 2025.

 

The Term Sheet also includes a commitment, subject to certain conditions, for Mudrick Capital to convert half or approximately $130 million, of the Company’s 7.00% / 9.00% Convertible Senior Secured PIK Toggle Notes due 2026 (the “Notes”), at a conversion price of $2.75 per ordinary share, substantially reducing the Company’s debt and significantly deleveraging our balance sheet. The conversion is expected to take place in proximity to our extraordinary general meeting, schedule to convene on December 23, 2024. The parties also agreed to provide greater certainty for future investors by amending the December 16, 2021 Indenture (the “Indenture”) governing the Notes to fix the conversion price for the Notes remaining outstanding to $3.50 per ordinary share. Other amendments to the Indenture include increasing the interest rate applicable to the Notes to 10.00% and 12.00%, respectively, and extending the maturity date of the Notes to December 2028.

 

As part of the agreement, our founder, Stephen Fitzpatrick, will remain on the board of directors (the “Board”), continuing to provide strategic direction as we progress through our certification program. The parties have also renewed their commitment to the Company’s remaining in the UK, agreeing to continue to operate from our UK headquarters, maintaining our brand identity and focus on innovation.

 

Operational Developments

 

In November 2024, our latest full-scale VX4 prototype achieved its first piloted, untethered vertical take-off and landing, marking the start of Phase 2 in our flight test program. Powered by advanced battery packs delivering up to 1.4 MW of peak power, the VX4 exceeded expectations in hover performance, control, and stability during testing. This milestone expands the VX4's flight envelope beyond initial tethered hovers, testing the aircraft under increasingly demanding conditions to meet stringent safety and regulatory standards.

 

Phase 2, made possible by an expanded CAA Permit to Fly, focuses on assessing stability, battery efficiency, aerodynamics, and overall performance across different speeds. We will now progress through Phase 2 while working with the CAA to extend our Permit to Fly and move onto Phase 3 – wingborne flight tests. Phase 4 will involve transitioning between thrustborne and wingborne flight modes.

 

In October 2024, we were awarded the Shaping the Future Award by the UK’s Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) at its Technology & Innovation Awards 2024. The award celebrates zero-carbon emissions technology being developed in the UK for future commercial aircraft types and which represents a step change in UK capability in this area. Vertical won the award for its cutting-edge battery system for the VX4.

 

Leadership Appointments

 

In September 2024, Stephen Welch was appointed to the Board as an independent non-executive director, and has served as the chairperson of the Board since November 2024. He has over 30 years' experience working for financial sponsors and investors at the Executive, Chair or non-executive director level and comes with extensive capital raise, investment strategy and refinancing experience across several sectors including energy, media, insurance, infrastructure, and technology globally. Mr. Welch has held board seats on various companies and previously has also been a partner at McGrathNicol (a former division of KPMG) and a Senior Managing Director at FTI Consulting.

 

 

 

 

In November 2024, the Board appointed Stuart Simpson, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, to serve as an executive director of the Company.

 

Developments Related to Our Securities

 

On September 16, 2024, the shareholders of the Company authorized the Board to effect a reverse share split of all of the Company’s outstanding ordinary shares. On September 16, 2024, the Board approved the implementation of a reverse share split at a ratio of one-for-ten shares, which became effective on September 20, 2024, adjusting all outstanding stock-based awards, including options, restricted stock units and warrants (the “Reverse Share Split”).

 

On November 15, 2024, the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) notified us, and publicly announced, that the NYSE determined to commence proceedings to delist the Company’s public warrants, ticker symbol “EVTLW” (the “Public Warrants”), from the NYSE and that trading in the Public Warrants would be suspended immediately. The notice indicated that the NYSE has determined that the Public Warrants are no longer suitable for listing based on “abnormally low selling price” levels, pursuant to Section 802.01D of the NYSE Listed Company Manual. On December 4, 2024, the NYSE filed a Form 25 with the Securities and Exchange Commission, removing the Public Warrants from their listing on the NYSE. We do not intend to appeal the NYSE’s determination to delist the Public Warrants. Presently, ten (10) Public Warrants are exercisable for one (1) ordinary share of the Company, at an exercise price of $115.00. The Public Warrants will expire on December 16, 2026, five years after the date of the Business Combination, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation. Trading in our ordinary shares, ticker symbol “EVTL,” will continue on the NYSE and is unaffected by this action.

 

Key Factors Affecting Operating Results

 

Prototype Flights Tests

 

In September 2022, following a series of rigorous ground-based tests, including lift, vibration and propeller thrust, our first full-scale VX4 prototype started flight tests. By August 2023, operating under CAA approvals, this prototype had successfully completed a thrustborne flight test campaign (including lifting, hovering, flying and landing vertically, by the thrust of the aircraft’s propulsion system). The flight tests included numerous hovers, both tethered (with a pilot) and untethered, expanding the low-speed flight envelope under remotely piloted conditions and powered by our proprietary battery systems.

 

On August 9, 2023, following the completion of our remote thrustborne flight test campaign, we conducted further uncrewed flight tests of the VX4 prototype aircraft under stress scenarios before its planned retirement, to understand how the aircraft would perform outside of its expected operating conditions. During one of these further flight tests, an unexpected fault occurred, causing the aircraft to enter into a stable descent before being damaged on impact with the ground. We completed a swift and thorough investigation and submitted a report to the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB). Both the AAIB’s and our reports concluded that the primary cause of the accident was due to an adhesive bond failure of a propeller blade. We had already redesigned the early generation propeller prior to the accident and are no longer using the same supplier.

 

In July 2024, we completed the build of our second more advanced full-scale VX4 prototype. This prototype incorporates additional technology from our partners that we expect to implement into our certification aircraft. The aircraft has been designed and built in collaboration with our global aerospace partners, including GKN Aerospace, Honeywell, Hanwha, Molicel, Leonardo and Syensqo, and features our next generation propellers and new proprietary battery technology, designed and manufactured at our Vertical Energy Centre.

 

The CAA issued a Permit to Fly in July 2024 following a rigorous evaluation of the engineering, design, test data and aircraft, and we began our piloted flight test campaign, completing our first tethered piloted flight in July 2024. In September, the latest VX4 completed Phase 1 of its piloted flight test program at the Vertical Flight Test Centre and in November 2024, it achieved piloted, untethered vertical take-off and landing for the first time as Phase 2 of its flight test program began. Vertical is currently developing an identical full-scale prototype which will accelerate the VX4’s flight test program and demonstration capability. Once assembled, we will take flight test learnings from both prototypes into the design and development of the certified VX4 model.

 

 

 

 

Prototype flight tests are a critical factor affecting the operating results of the Company. These tests provide essential data and insights that inform the design, safety, and performance of our aircraft. Successful flight tests validate our technological advancements and regulatory compliance, which are crucial for progressing towards certification and commercialization. Conversely, any material setbacks or delays in the flight test program can impact our timelines, costs, and investor confidence.

 

Commercialization

 

We have deployed a sales strategy engaging in direct sales to operator customers and third-party distribution networks. Our salesforce has identified and targeted key prospects from a pool of over 5,000 airlines with ICAO codes worldwide that are seeking to capitalize on the growth of the AAM market. As part of this approach, we have entered into arrangements with several commercial partners for multiple pre-orders and pre-order options for our aircraft. Customers include American Airlines, Avolon, Bristow, Marubeni, Kakao Mobility, Iberojet, FLYINGGROUP as well as (through Avolon’s VX4 placements) Japan Airlines (JAL), Gol, Gözen Holdings and AirAsia. Marubeni has made a pre-delivery payment to reserve delivery slots for the first 25 VX4 aircraft of its conditional pre-order of up to 200 aircraft. In addition, American Airlines has committed to pay a predelivery payment in exchange for our commitment to reserve delivery slots for the first 50 VX4 aircraft of American Airline’s conditional preorder of 250 aircraft (and pre-order option for a further 100 aircraft). This pre-delivery payment is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including the entering into a master purchase agreement that will contain the final terms for the purchase of the aircraft. All such preorders, options and commitments are not legally binding, are conditional and may be terminated without penalty at any time by either party and any pre-delivery payments may be fully refundable upon certain circumstances.

 

Development of the Advanced Air Mobility Market

 

We believe that deploying a new type of aerial mobility network in and between cities represents an extensive market opportunity that we expect to expand over time. We intend to seize on the untapped demand for getting into and out of city centers globally, as certain existing travel methods can be impractical, inconvenient or unaffordable. Our long-term financial performance ultimately depends on the demand for such short distance aerial transportation and the growth of the AAM market. We, and the eVTOL sector more generally, seek to displace the current incumbents by taking market-share and/or benefitting from the incremental growth in demand.

 

There are two critical factors that will enable us to secure a prominent position in the AAM market: firstly, our ability to develop, certify and manufacture our aircraft, and secondly, the adoption of eVTOL as an alternative mode of transport. Our success in development and manufacturing will be dependent on overcoming several challenges around key manufacturing considerations, such as wing borne capability and battery efficacy. We plan to continue to invest in our infrastructure, workforce and research and development efforts to ensure that we will be able to deliver our aircraft to our customers in a timely manner.

 

While we believe that there will be a significant market for AAM in the future, there is a possibility that consumer resistance may be significant, as there may be misconceptions about eVTOL safety, performance and reliability. Additional factors impacting the pace of adoption of AAM and aerial transportation include but are not limited to: perceptions about eVTOL quality and cost; perceptions about the limited range over which eVTOL may be flown on a single battery charge; the evolution and availability of competing forms of transportation, such as ground or air taxi or ride-hailing services; the development of adequate infrastructure; consumers’ perception about the convenience and cost of transportation using eVTOL relative to ground-based alternatives; and, in particular, improvements in fuel efficiency, autonomy, or electrification of cars. In addition, macroeconomic factors could impact demand for AAM services, particularly if end-user pricing is at a premium to ground-based transportation alternatives. If the market for AAM does not develop as expected, this would impact our ability to generate revenue or grow our business.

 

 

 

 

Competition

 

We face immediate competition from other eVTOL manufacturers, suppliers and operators as well as ground-based mobility solutions and local and regional incumbent helicopter and aircraft charter services. While we expect to be one of the pioneering companies to market eVTOL aircraft, we expect this industry to be increasingly competitive, and it is possible that our competitors could launch in one or more markets ahead of us. Even if we are among the first to market, any anticipated advantages may not crystallize if new companies or existing aerospace companies launch competing solutions in the markets in which we intend to operate and/or if any of our competitors obtain large-scale capital investment to speedily scale up their distribution capability. Existing AAM operators may also take actions to protect their customer base, which could prevent us from gaining market share in markets in which we intend to operate. For a more comprehensive discussion, please see Item 3.D. “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business and Industry” in our Annual Report.

 

Regulatory Landscape

 

We are, and will be, subject to significant regulation relating to aircraft safety and testing, accessibility, battery safety and testing and environmental regulation in the United Kingdom, European Union, the United States and other markets in which we intend to operate. These requirements create additional costs and possibly production delay in connection with design, testing and manufacturing of our aircraft. For more information, see Item 4.B. “Business Overview— Our Regulatory Strategy” and Item 3.D. “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Regulatory Environment” in our Annual Report.

 

Trends and Other Factors Affecting our Business

 

We are closely monitoring the possible impact that ongoing geopolitical conflicts (including the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine and the conflicts in the Middle East) and tensions may have on the Company and any adverse effects they could have on our business and strategic plans. Although we do not believe that any ongoing geopolitical conflicts have had a direct impact upon us, we are continuing to monitor and evaluate if our design and development activities, regulatory certification processes and ability to maintain our current business relationships and contract with prospective customers, suppliers and other counterparties, as well as to progress to the production, manufacturing and commercialization of the VX4, could be adversely affected by such conflicts.

 

We also continue to closely monitor the possible effects of general economic factors on our business and planning, including among other things the impact of inflation, financial and credit market fluctuations. These factors have, and may continue to, put pressure on our costs for employees and materials and services we procure from our suppliers.

 

For additional information on risks posed by geopolitical conflicts and general economic factors, see “Item 3.D “Risk Factors.” in our Annual Report.

 

A. Operating Results

 

Components of Results of Operations

 

Revenue

 

We are currently in the research and development phase of our journey to commercialization of eVTOL technology. We have not generated any revenue from design, development, manufacturing, engineering, sale or distribution of our aircraft. No revenue was generated during the nine months ended September 30, 2024.

 

Operating Expenses

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

Research and development expenses consist of relevant staff costs, including salary and benefits, third-party engineering consultants, materials, equipment, components and tooling, and program consumables and testing. Costs associated with development projects such as aircraft programs, component programs and software products are expensed rather than capitalized as intangible assets under construction. We expect research and development expenses to increase as we continue to develop our aircraft technology. The accounting policies applied remain consistent with those of the previous financial year and corresponding interim reporting period. For more information about our accounting policy for intangible assets, refer to note 2 in our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report.

 

 

 

 

Administrative Expenses

 

Administrative expenses consist of the costs associated with employment of our non-engineering staff, including salary and benefits, the costs associated with our premises, and the depreciation of our fixed assets, including depreciation of “right of use” assets in relation to our leased property. We expect administrative expenses to increase as our overall activity levels increase due to an expanding property footprint, as well as the need for additional resources in enabling functions to support our engineering activities. We also expect administrative expenses to increase as we hire additional personnel and consultants to support our compliance with the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and other SEC rules and regulations.

 

Administrative expenses also include share-based payment expenses in connection with the award and vesting of certain 2021 Incentive Plan and EMI options during the nine months ended September 30, 2024.

 

See note 5 to our unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial information included elsewhere in this filing.

 

Related Party Administrative Expenses

 

Related party administrative expenses reflect costs from Imagination Industries Incubator Ltd. (“i3”), which is an entity controlled by Stephen Fitzpatrick, our majority shareholder and director. The nature of these costs is the provision of a limited number of flexible desk spaces at the United House in London, UK.

 

Other Operating Income

 

Other operating income consists of government grants to support our development activities as well as the research and development credit related to the United Kingdom research and development tax relief schemes.

 

Net Finance Income (net of finance costs)

 

Finance income and costs consist primarily of fair value movements on our convertible loan notes and warrants, interest calculated on lease liabilities, and both realized and unrealized foreign exchange movements caused by the fluctuation of exchange rates between the US Dollar, Euro, and any other currencies that are utilized in our operations.

 

Income tax credit

 

The Company receives UK small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) R&D tax relief, which is reported within Income tax credit. The Company also receives R&D tax relief relating to the UK R&D expenditure credit (RDEC), which is reported within Other operating income. Qualifying expenditures largely comprise R&D staff employment costs, R&D components, consumables, parts, tooling and outsourced contracting support for R&D activities and utilities costs.

 

Results of Operations

 

The following table sets forth the unaudited condensed consolidated interim statements of operations in British pounds sterling for the periods presented.

 

   Nine Months Ended September 30, 
  

2024

 

   2023
(as restated)
     
   (in £
thousands)
   (in £
thousands)
   % Change 
Revenue  -   -   - 
Cost of sales  -   -   - 
Gross profit   -    -    - 
Research and development expenses   -45,060    -42,888    5%
Administrative expenses   -32,170    -34,397    -6%
Related party administrative expenses   -57    -59    -3%

 

 

 

 

   Nine Months Ended September 30, 
  

2024

 

   2023
(as restated)
     
   (in £
thousands)
   (in £
thousands)
   % Change 
Other operating income   34,358    2,829    1,114%
Operating loss   -42,929    -74,515    -42%
Net finance (costs)/income   -12,792    16,073    -180%
Related party finance costs   -    -    - 
Total net finance (costs)/income   -12,792    16,073    -180%
Loss before tax   -55,721    -58,442    -5%
Income tax credit   10,061    16,600    -39%
Net loss   -45,660    -41,842    9%

  

For the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2024

 

Research and development expenses

 

Research and development increased by £2,172 thousand, or 5% from £42,888 thousand during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 to £45,060 thousand during the nine months ended September 30, 2024.

 

This increase was primarily in relation to the completion of our second VX4 prototype aircraft. This more advanced prototype has resulted in additional expenditure on much of our strategic partners’ technology as we seek to integrate their industry leading expertise. We continue to invest in the research, design and development of our proprietary third-generation propellers and battery technology.

 

Administrative expenses

 

Administrative expenses decreased by £2,227 thousand, or 6% from £34,397 thousand during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 to £32,170 thousand during the nine months ended September 30, 2024.

 

Share-based payment expenses, in relation to the EMI Option Agreements and the 2021 Incentive Plan, which are included within administrative expenses, reduced by £2,872 thousand during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023. This is due to a lower share price at the date of award for awards vesting during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023 in addition to the vesting profile of awards in each respective period. Please see note 5 to our unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements included elsewhere in this filing for further information on share-based payments.

 

Related party administrative expenses

 

Related party administrative expenses decreased by £2 thousand, or 3% from £59 thousand during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 to £57 thousand during the nine months ended September 30, 2024.

 

Other operating income

 

Other operating income increased by £31,529 thousand, or 1,114% from £2,829 thousand during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 to £34,358 thousand during the nine months ended September 30, 2024.

 

Effective May 22, 2024, Vertical and Rolls-Royce entered into an agreement to terminate the contract with Rolls-Royce to design an Electric Propulsion Unit. Pursuant to the agreement, Vertical received $34 million (recognized as £27,910 thousand) from Rolls-Royce.

 

Income from government grants increased from £1,960 thousand during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 to £5,462 thousand during the nine months ended September 30, 2024. We continue to be eligible and in receipt of government grant funding from the United Kingdom's Aerospace Technology Institute and Innovate UK in relation to our proprietary propeller and battery technologies. The receivable installments are recognized in other operating income as the matching sanctioned expenditure is incurred, with a retrospective claim process.

 

 

 

 

Finance (costs)/income

 

Net finance costs increased by £28,865 thousand, or 180% from finance income of £16,073 thousand during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 to finance costs of £12,792 thousand during the nine months ended September 30, 2024.

 

This reflects increased fair value losses, which increased by £34,029 thousand, or 174%, from fair value gains of £19,492 thousand during the nine months ending September 30, 2023 to fair value losses of £14,537 thousand during the nine months ended September 30, 2024. Relating to warrants and Convertible Senior Secured Notes, this results from a lower share price as at September 30, 2024 compared to September 30, 2023.

 

This was partially offset by increased foreign exchange gains, which increased by £9,379 thousand, or 334%, from £2,808 thousand during the nine months ending September 30, 2023 to £12,187 thousand during the nine months ended September 30, 2024. This resulted from the strengthening of British pounds sterling against the U.S. dollar. Please see note 6 to our unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements included elsewhere in this filing for further information.

 

Income tax credit

 

Income tax credit decreased by £6,539 thousand, or 39% from £16,600 thousand during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 to £10,061 thousand during the nine months ended September 30, 2024. The nine months ended September 30, 2023 included £7,549 thousand received relating to eligible research and development expenditure incurred in the previous periods; whereas amounts reported for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 relates to eligible research and development expenditure incurred in the current period only.

 

Correction of error

 

In March 2024, we identified an error relating to the classification of the SME tax relief that we receive from HMRC in our statements of income and comprehensive income for the six-month period ended June 30, 2023 and for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2023. During the periods noted, the tax credit was erroneously classified within other operating income.

 

While we experience recurring unrelieved trading losses, we elect to surrender such losses and, instead, claim a payable tax credit. Accordingly, the SME tax credit should have been classified as an income tax credit rather than as other operating income within the statements of income and comprehensive income.

 

The impact of the restatement on the statement of income and comprehensive income and statement of cash flows is presented within note 17 of our unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements included elsewhere in this filing.

 

Off -Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We did not have during the period presented, and we do not currently have, any off-balance sheet financing arrangements or any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, including entities sometimes referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, which were established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes.

 

JOBS Act

 

We are an emerging growth company, as defined in the JOBS Act. We intend to rely on certain reduced reporting and other requirements that are otherwise generally applicable to public companies. As an emerging growth company, we are not required to, among other things, (i) provide an auditor’s attestation report on our system of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which would otherwise be required beginning with our second annual report on Form 20-F, and (ii) comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements (auditor discussion and analysis).

 

 

 

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

Certain new accounting standards and interpretations have been issued by the IASB, but are not yet effective for the September 30, 2024 reporting period and have not been early adopted by us and our subsidiaries. These standards are not expected to have a material impact on us in the current or future reporting periods or in connection with foreseeable future transactions. Please see note 2 to our unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements included elsewhere in this filing.

 

B. Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

The functional currency of the Company is USD and the functional currency of VAGL is GBP. The financial statements are presented in GBP, which is the Company and VAGL’s presentation currency. Note that in this section certain narrative financial information is shown in GBP and other information is shown in USD; typically, this is because we have incurred the majority of our costs in the UK and in GBP, while we expect customer payments and any external funding to be raised in USD.

 

We have incurred net losses since inception and to date have not generated any revenue from the design, development, manufacturing, engineering and sale or distribution of electric aircraft. Commensurate with being in the development phase of our journey to commercialization of the VX4, we have invested heavily in research to support the development of our aircraft. As of September 30, 2024, we had £42.8 million of cash and cash equivalents on hand. As of the date of this report, we had approximately £25 million of cash and cash equivalents on hand. We maintain cash balances with financial institutions in excess of insured limits. We have prepared a cash flow forecast and have considered our ability to continue as a going concern for the foreseeable future, being at least 12 months following the date of this filing. In accordance with our cash flow forecast, we currently project our cash outflows from operations to be approximately £70 million, which will be used primarily to fund the creation and testing of the prototype aircraft. Accordingly, we currently project that our existing resources will only be sufficient to fund our ongoing operations into, but not longer than, the first quarter of 2025. We require additional capital to continue to fund our ongoing operations beyond that point.

 

On November 25, 2024, we entered into the Term Sheet to address the Company’s more immediate cash requirements and facilitate longer-term fundraising. The material terms set out in the Term Sheet include funding for the Company’s operations towards the end of 2025, while also removing or mitigating certain structural obstacles that have impeded the Company from accessing substantial third-party funding since its public listing.

 

On December 20, 2024, as contemplated by the Term Sheet, the Company entered into an investment agreement (the “Investment Agreement”), by and among the Company, VAGL, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, Imagination Aero Investments Limited ("Imagination Aero”), a company wholly owned by Mr. Fitzpatrick and Mudrick Capital. Once consummated, the terms of the Investment Agreement would provide funding for the Company’s operations towards the end of 2025. The Investment Agreement includes a commitment from Mudrick Capital to fund up to $50 million to the Company in its next funding round (the “Equity Placement”), with $25 million funded on a non-contingent basis, and a backstop commitment for an additional $25 million to be funded by Mudrick Capital if the Company is not able to raise such amount in the Equity Placement. The closing of the funding commitment by Mudrick Capital is conditional upon the Company’s undertaking in good faith a robust equity process and certain other customary closing conditions. The Company intends to launch and complete the Equity Placement during the first quarter of 2025 before the Company has used all its existing resources.

 

The Investment Agreement is subject to certain closing conditions, including but not limited to the implementation of certain amendments to the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association (“Articles”) requiring approval by a two-thirds majority of the votes cast by the Company’s shareholders at a general meeting of shareholders. On December 13, 2024, the Company provided notice to its shareholders that it is convening an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders on December 23, 2024 for the purpose of holding a vote on such amendments to the Articles. On December 15, 2024, Stephen Fitzpatrick, the Company’s majority shareholder holding greater than two-thirds of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares as of the date hereof, committed to vote in favor of the amended Articles by way of legally binding obligations to support the transactions contemplated by the Term Sheet, including the amendments to the Articles.

 

The prompt and timely consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Term Sheet and the Investment Agreement, including the fulfilment of the related closing conditions and receipt of the funding in the Equity Placement, is required to extend our projected cash runway beyond the first quarter of 2025. Should the Company fail to do so, management would be forced to immediately reduce or delay our expenditures, materially reduce the scope of operations, and/or assess other contingency planning alternatives.

 

 

 

 

On November 1, 2024, the Company received a Notice of Default from Mudrick Capital, the sole holder of all of the Company’s outstanding Convertible Senior Secured Notes, relating to certain defaults under the Indenture relating to the Company’s Convertible Senior Secured Notes, including the absence of a guarantee by VAGL, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company and owner of all material intellectual property of the Group. In addition, the Indenture contains a covenant requiring the Company to retain a minimum of $10 million of cash; we forecast that this covenant may be breached in the first quarter of 2025, should we not raise additional capital in a timely manner. If uncured, any such default or breach (collectively, the “Specified Defaults”) would result in an event of default occurring under the Indenture, which could permit the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Investor to accelerate the maturity of the Convertible Senior Secured Notes and ultimately claim against its collateral and/or may cause the Company to declare insolvency and file for bankruptcy, or be forced into involuntary bankruptcy proceedings.

 

On December 15, 2024, Mudrick Capital, the Company, VAGL and Imagination Aero entered into a Forbearance Agreement, pursuant to which Mudrick Capital agreed to forbear from exercising any of its rights under the Indenture upon the occurrence of an event of default arising as a result of any of the Specified Defaults until February 1, 2025 or as otherwise agreed by the parties thereto (the “Forbearance Period”). While the Forbearance Agreement does not provide a waiver in respect of any such event of default, Mudrick Capital has separately committed to provide a waiver in respect of all such events of defaults. Should an event of default come into being and not be cured, and should any of the conditions to Mudrick Capital’s waiver not be met, Mudrick Capital would be entitled to exercise its rights of acceleration and enforcement immediately following the end of the Forbearance Period.

 

Regardless of the outcome of the currently anticipated funding round, which includes Mudrick Capital’s commitment to fund up to $50 million, the Company will be required to raise further additional capital to continue to fund its ongoing operations beyond Q4 2025. Consequently, our ability to continue as a going concern is highly dependent on its ability to secure the funds from the currently anticipated funding round, which is contingent upon satisfaction of certain conditions precedent, and to raise further additional funds to finance the Group’s ongoing operations. Management is committed to continue to seek and raise additional funds and may seek to issue further equity in doing so.

 

There can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain such investment on acceptable terms, or on necessary timelines, or at all, to provide sufficient funds to meet our ongoing funding requirements.

 

As a result, the timely completion of financing is critical to our ability to deliver on our business plan and to continue as a going concern. The inability to obtain future funding could impact our financial condition and ability to pursue our business strategies, including being required to delay, reduce or eliminate some of our research and development programs, or being unable to continue operations or to continue as a going concern. Our dependency on raising additional capital indicates that a material uncertainty exists that may raise significant doubt (or substantial doubt as contemplated by PCAOB standards) about our ability to continue as a going concern and therefore we may be unable to realize our assets and discharge our liabilities in the normal course of business. Our forecasts are based on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we may exhaust our available capital resources sooner than we currently expect. Please refer to note 2 to our unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements included elsewhere in this filing.

 

Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including:

 

·research and development expenses as we continue to develop our eVTOL aircraft;

 

·expenditures in the expansion of our testing and certification capacities;

 

·additional operating costs and expenses for production ramp-up and raw material procurement costs;

 

·general and administrative expenses as we scale our operations;

 

·interest expense from any debt financing activities; and

 

·selling and distribution expenses as we build, brand and market our electric aircraft.

 

We received approximately $253 million in connection with the Business Combination, which after direct transaction costs included $94 million in proceeds from the PIPE Investment and $192 million from the Convertible Senior Secured Notes, which consummated substantially simultaneously with the Business Combination, net of transaction costs. In addition, as at September 30, 2024 we had received $8.5 million, and, subject to demand in the market for our ordinary shares, retain the option to receive additional funding (up to approximately a further $87 million net of transaction costs) in connection with and over the remainder of the three-year term of the Equity Subscription Line that commenced on August 5, 2022, which would further support our capital requirements towards our business milestones. See “Equity Subscription Line”. Effective May 22, 2024, we reached an agreement with Rolls-Royce to terminate the contract with Rolls-Royce to design an Electric Propulsion Unit (EPU). Under the agreement, we received a cash amount from Rolls-Royce in an amount equal to $34 million. We are also continuing to explore opportunities to raise additional capital to further support our funding situation into the foreseeable future.

 

 

 

 

We have also received conditional preorders and preorder options, including from American Airlines, Avolon, Bristow, Iberojet, and Marubeni, among others. Certain of these preorders require that the purchaser pay a predelivery payment, which is credited against any future amount due and payable. While the customer’s obligation to pay such predelivery payments is subject to various conditions, and they are expected to be refundable in certain circumstances, we expect to receive them prior to delivering aircraft to each customer.

 

Until we generate sufficient operating cash flow to cover our operating expenses, working capital needs and planned capital expenditures, or if circumstances evolve differently than anticipated, we expect to utilize a combination of government funding, plus equity and debt financing, as well as any pre-delivery payments to the extent realized, to fund any future capital needs. Funds raised through equity securities may result in dilution to our shareholders. Any equity securities issued may also provide for rights, preferences or privileges senior to those of holders of ordinary shares. Additionally, if we raise funds by issuing debt securities, these debt securities may have rights, preferences, and privileges senior to those of preferred and common shareholders. The terms of debt securities or borrowings may impose significant restrictions on our operations. Adequate additional financing may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all.

 

Moreover, the capital markets have in the past, and may in the future, experience periods of upheaval and the availability and cost of equity and debt financing may be impacted by global macroeconomic conditions such as international political conflict, supply chain issues as well as rising inflation and interest rates. Further, the global economy, including credit and financial markets, has recently experienced extreme volatility and disruption, including severely diminished liquidity and credit availability, rising interest and inflation rates, declines in consumer confidence, declines in economic growth, increases in unemployment rates and uncertainty about economic stability. Each of these factors has the potential to impact our liquidity and future funding requirements, including but not limited to, our ability to raise additional capital when needed and on acceptable terms, if at all. The duration of an economic slowdown is uncertain and the impact on our business is difficult to predict.

 

In recent periods, our principal use of cash has been funding our research and development activities and other personnel costs. Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including our revenue growth rate, the timing and amount of cash received from our customers, the expansion of sales and marketing activities and the timing and extent of spending to support our development efforts. In the future, we may enter into arrangements to acquire or invest in complementary businesses, products and technologies. We will need to seek additional equity or debt financing, which we may not be able to raise such financing on acceptable terms, or at all. If we are unable to raise additional capital or generate cash flows necessary to continue our research and development and invest in continued innovation, we may not be able to compete successfully or may need to scale back investments, which could materially impact our certification timeline, which would harm our business, results of operations, and financial condition. If adequate funds are not available, we may need to reconsider our expansion plans or limit our research and development activities, which could have a material adverse impact on our business prospects and results of operations.

 

Convertible Senior Secured Notes

 

On October 26, 2021, we entered into a convertible note subscription agreement (the “Convertible Senior Secured Notes Subscription Agreement”) by and among the Company, Broadstone and Mudrick Capital Management L.P. (the “Convertible Senior Secured Notes Investor”). Concurrently with the consummation of the Business Combination, pursuant to the terms of the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Subscription Agreement, (i) the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Investor purchased Convertible Senior Secured Notes of and from the Company in an aggregate principal amount of $200,000,000 for an aggregate purchase price of $192,000,000 (the “Purchase Price”), and the Company issued and sold to the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Investor the Convertible Senior Secured Notes in consideration for the payment of the Purchase Price, and (ii) the Company issued to the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Investor 4,000,000 warrants, each representing the right to purchase one ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share (the “Convertible Notes Warrants”).

 

 

 

 

As adjusted for the Reverse Share Split, the Convertible Senior Secured Notes are initially convertible into up to 1,818,182 ordinary shares (excluding any interest, and subject to adjustments as provided in the Indenture at an initial conversion rate of 9.09091 ordinary shares per $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Senior Secured Note, subject to adjustments to such rate as provided in the Indenture, at any time prior to the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately before the maturity date of the Convertible Senior Secured Notes.

 

Upon the occurrence of a Fundamental Change (as defined in the Indenture), the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Investor has the right, at its option, to require us to repurchase for cash all or any portion of its Convertible Senior Secured Notes in principal amounts of $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof, at a fundamental change repurchase price equal to the principal amount of the Convertible Senior Secured Notes to be repurchased multiplied by any applicable fundamental change redemption multiplier as specified in the Indenture, plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Convertible Senior Secured Notes to be repurchased.

 

The Convertible Senior Secured Notes bear interest at the rate of 7.00% per annum if we elect to pay interest in cash or 9.00% per annum if we elect to pay interest in-kind, and interest is paid semi-annually in arrears. As of September 30, 2024, the Company elected to pay all incurred interest in-kind in an amount equal to $49,177 thousand. Upon the occurrence, and during the continuation, of an event of default, an additional 2.00% will be added to the stated interest rate. The Convertible Senior Secured Notes will mature on the fifth anniversary of issuance and will be redeemable at any time by us, in whole but not in part, for cash, at par plus, if redeemed before the second anniversary of issuance, certain make-whole premiums as specified in the indenture governing the Convertible Senior Secured Notes. The Convertible Senior Secured Notes Subscription Agreement also contains other customary representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the parties thereto.

 

Pursuant to the Term Sheet, the Company and the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Investor have agreed to amend the Indenture to, among other things, provide for a fixed conversion price for the Notes remaining outstanding of $3.50 per ordinary share, increase the interest rate applicable to the Notes, both in respect of cash interest and PIK interest, to 10.00% and 12.00%, respectively, and extend the maturity date of the Notes to December 15, 2028. Additionally, the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Investor has agreed to convert half, or approximately $130 million, of the principal amount of the Company’s then-outstanding Notes held by it, at a conversion price of $2.75 per Company ordinary share.

 

As noted above, on November 1, 2024, the Company received a Notice of Default from Mudrick Capital, the sole holder of all of the Company’s outstanding Convertible Senior Secured Notes. Mudrick Capital has committed to forbear from exercising its rights in relation to an event of default arising in relation to the Specific Defaults, and has separately committed to waive any such event of default, subject to certain conditions.

 

Equity Subscription Line

 

On August 5, 2022, we entered into the Purchase Agreement and Nomura Registration Rights Agreement with Nomura. Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, we have the right to sell to Nomura up to $100 million in aggregate gross purchase price of our newly issued ordinary shares from time to time during the three-year term of the Purchase Agreement (the “Equity Subscription Line”). The purchase price of our ordinary shares that we elect to sell Nomura pursuant to the Purchase Agreement is determined by reference to the volume weighted average price of the ordinary shares (“VWAP”) during an applicable purchase period on the day of the applicable purchase date for which we have timely delivered written notice to Nomura directing it to purchase ordinary shares under the Purchase Agreement, less a fixed 4.25% discount to such VWAP. Sales of ordinary shares pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, and the timing of any sales, are solely at our option, and we are under no obligation to sell any securities to Nomura under the Purchase Agreement. Pursuant to the Nomura Registration Rights Agreement, we filed a registration statement with the SEC registering 20 million ordinary shares of the Company to be sold to Nomura under the Purchase Agreement. As of September 30, 2024, we had sold approximately 110,000 ordinary shares of the 2 million ordinary shares (as adjusted for the Reverse Share Split) registered for resale under the Equity Subscription Line at a weighted average share price of $77.00, net of transaction costs.

 

 

 

 

Aerospace Technology Institute (“ATI”) & U.K. Research and Innovation (“UKRI”) Grant Funding Programs

 

VAGL is the recipient of an ATI grant from the U.K. Government totaling up to £14.3 million from the U.K.’s announced aggregate investment of £113 million in hydrogen and all-electric flight technologies across all grant recipients. This grant is being drawn down in installments over the duration of the project, which is expected to continue through 2025. As of September 30, 2024, we have received approximately £3.7 million of the ATI grant. The grant is being used by the Company to develop a prototype propulsion battery system for aerospace applications, including as part of the Company’s eVTOL aircraft. Receipt of the grant follows the issuance by the applicable government agency of the formal grant offer letter and entry into by the Company of a collaboration agreement with a university partner, both of which events occurred in March 2023, and is also subject to the terms and conditions of the award set out in the grant offer letter (which include, among others, that the ATI funding will contribute only 50% of the Company’s eligible costs in connection with the prototype battery development).

 

VAGL is also the recipient of an ATI grant from the U.K. Government totaling approximately £8.1 million to research, design and develop the Company’s third-generation propellers and eVTOL aircraft propulsion system. VAGL is a member of a consortium comprised of the University of Glasgow, the University of Bristol, Cranfield University and Helitune. This grant is being drawn down in installments over the duration of the project, which is expected to continue for approximately three years. Receipt of the grant is subject to the terms and conditions of the award set out in the formal grant offer letter dated February 9, 2024, and signed by all parties as of February 16, 2024, which include, among other things, that the ATI funding will contribute only 50% of the Company’s eligible costs in connection with the propeller development. As of September 30, 2024, we have received approximately £0.4 million of the ATI grant.

 

In addition, VAGL is the recipient of a UKRI grant from the U.K. Government totaling approximately £2.3 million to develop and demonstrate end-to-end operations that will drive the development of a commercially viable AAM network in the U.K.. This grant is being drawn down in installments over the duration of the project, which is expected to continue for approximately three years. Receipt of the grant is subject to the terms and conditions of the award set out in the formal grant offer letter dated August 2022, which include, among other things, that the UKRI funding will contribute only 60% of the Company’s eligible costs in connection with the project. As of September 30, 2024, we have received approximately £1.8 million of the UKRI grant.

 

Shelf Registration Statement

 

On November 9, 2023, we filed a shelf registration statement on Form F-3 with the SEC under which we may offer and sell from time to time in one or more offerings, our ordinary shares, preferred shares, warrants, rights and units having an aggregate offering price of up to $180 million (the “Shelf Registration”). The Shelf Registration statement was declared effective by the SEC on November 16, 2023. To date, no securities have been sold under this shelf registration statement on Form F-3. As of the filing of our Annual Report, until such time as our non-affiliate public float exceeds $75 million, we will be limited in respect of the amount of funds we may raise through the issuance of securities under the Shelf Registration, which in any 12-month period may not exceed one-third of the aggregate market value of our ordinary shares held by non-affiliates of the Company, which limitation may change over time based on our share price, number of ordinary shares outstanding and the percentage of ordinary shares held by non-affiliates.

 

SF Investment

 

On February 22, 2024, we entered into the SF Investment Agreement (the “SF Investment Agreement) with Imagination Aero, a company wholly owned by Stephen Fitzpatrick, our majority shareholder, former Chief Executive Officer and a non-executive member of our board of directors, pursuant to which Imagination Aero agreed to purchase, and we agreed to issue and sell to Imagination Aero, up to $50 million of (i) newly issued ordinary shares and (ii) 50,000,000 SF Warrants, in each case at purchase prices specified in the SF Investment Agreement and subject to the terms and conditions set out in the SF Investment Agreement. In accordance with the SF Investment Agreement, on March 13, 2024, we received $25 million in gross proceeds in GBP converted based on the agreed exchange rate specified in the SF Investment Agreement in consideration for newly issued ordinary shares and SF Warrants.

 

On December 20, 2024, the Company entered into the Investment Agreement, pursuant to which all obligations under the SF Investment Agreement are deemed expired, including in respect of the funding commitment thereunder regarding a second tranche of $25 million, with obligations being replaced by the right for Stephen Fitzpatrick to participate for $25 million in the Equity Placement on the same economic terms as other investors, or in the event he elects not to participate in the Equity Placement, a 12-month option to invest $25 million in ordinary shares of the Company at a strike price equal to the per share purchase price paid by investors in the Equity Placement.

 

 

 

 

Rolls-Royce Settlement Agreement

 

Effective May 22, 2024, we entered into an agreement with Rolls-Royce to terminate the contract with Rolls-Royce to design an Electric Propulsion Unit (EPU). Pursuant to the agreement, we received a cash payment from Rolls-Royce in an amount equal to $34 million. This follows Rolls-Royce's announcement in November 2023 of its intention to seek a partner or buyer for its advanced air mobility activities. In connection with the agreement, Rolls-Royce transferred to the Company its Vertical’s ordinary shares, which Rolls-Royce acquired from the Company in a private investment transaction in 2021.

 

Cash Flows

 

The following table presents the summary consolidated cash flow information for the periods presented.

 

   Nine Months Ended September
30,
 
   2024   2023 
         
   (in £ thousands) 
Net cash used in operating activities   25,517    49,746 
Net cash from investing activities   1,407    61,518 
Net cash from/(used in) financing activities   18,955    360 

 

Net cash used in operating activities

 

Net cash used in operating activities decreased by £24,229 thousand, or 49%, from £49,746 thousand for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 to £25,517 thousand for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. This decrease was primarily due to the receipt of cash arising from the settlement agreement with Roll-Royce and receipts from research and development tax relief during the current period.

 

Net cash from investing activities

 

Net cash from investing activities decreased by £60,111 thousand, or 98%, from £61,518 thousand for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 to £1,407 thousand for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. This decrease was primarily due to the maturity of short-term deposits placed during the prior year.

 

Net cash from financing activities

 

Net cash from financing activities increased by £18,595 thousand, from £360 thousand for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 to £18,955 thousand cash for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. This increase was primarily due to proceeds from the SF Investment Agreement during the nine months ending September 30, 2024.

 

Material Cash Requirements for Known Contractual and Other Obligations

 

We are a party to many contractual obligations involving commitments to make payments to third parties. These obligations impact our short-term and long-term liquidity and capital resource needs. Certain contractual obligations are reflected on the consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2024, while others are considered future commitments. Our contractual obligations primarily consist of research and development expenditure incurred in the advancement of our aircraft program. For information regarding our lease obligations, refer to note 18 to our consolidated financial statements included within our Annual Report and note 15 to our unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements included elsewhere in this filing.

 

C. Research and Development, Patents and Licenses, etc.

 

For a discussion of our research and development policies, see “Research and Development” in Item 4.B. of our Annual Report and note 2 to our consolidated financial statements included within our Annual Report.

 

D. Trend Information

 

Other than as disclosed above and elsewhere in this filing, we are not aware of any trends, uncertainties, demands, commitments or events during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our revenues, income, profitability, liquidity or capital resources, or that would cause the disclosed financial information to be not necessarily indicative of future operating results or financial conditions.

 

 

 

 

E. Critical Accounting Estimates

 

Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with IFRS, as issued by the IASB. In preparing our consolidated financial statements, we make assumptions, judgments and estimates that can have a significant impact on amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements. We base our assumptions, judgments and estimates on historical experience and various other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. We regularly reevaluate our assumptions, judgments and estimates. Our critical accounting estimates and judgments are described in note 3, critical accounting judgments and key sources of estimation uncertainty, to our unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements included elsewhere in this filing.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

The above discussion 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. All statements, whether express or implied, other than statements of historical facts contained in this filing, including without limitation, statements regarding the design and manufacture of our eVTOL aircraft, our future results of operations and financial position, the features and capabilities of the VX4, our business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, including, among others, 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, statements regarding the liquidity, growth and profitability strategies, our ability and plans to raise additional capital to fund our operations, our plans to mitigate the risk that we are unable to continue as a going concern, factors and trends affecting our business and guidance as described in this section entitled “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” are forward-looking statements.

 

In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “could,” “intends,” “targets,” “projects,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “forecasts,” “aims,” “potential” or “continue,” “is/are likely to” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions, though not all forward-looking statements use these words or expressions.

 

Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and actual results or events may differ materially from those projected or implied in those statements. Important factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to:

 

·The potential occurrence of an event of default under the Indenture and an enforcement of collateral securing the Convertible Senior Secured Notes by the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Investor;

 

·Our limited operating history and that we have not yet manufactured any non-prototype aircraft or sold any aircraft to eVTOL aircraft customers;

 

·Our business plans require a significant amount of capital and we may not be able to raise additional funds when we need or want them, or at all, to fund our operations, which could force us to curtail or even cease our planned operations and the pursuit of our growth strategy;

 

·Our limited cash and cash equivalents, recurring losses from operations and dependency on raising additional capital indicate that a material uncertainty exists that may cast significant doubt (or substantial doubt as contemplated by PCAOB standards) regarding our ability to continue as a going concern;

 

·If we are unable to produce, certify or launch aircraft in the volumes or timelines projected;

 

 

 

 

·Our aircraft may not perform at the level we expect and may potentially have defects;

 

·Our dependence on our partners and suppliers for the components in our aircraft and for our operational needs;

 

·Being an early-stage company with a history of losses, we expect to incur significant expenses and continuing losses in the foreseeable future;

 

·Our markets are still in relatively early stages of growth, and such markets may not continue to grow, grow more slowly than we expect or fail to grow as large as we expect;

 

·Any accidents or incidents involving eVTOL aircraft developed by us or our competitors could harm our business;

 

·Our eVTOL aircraft may not be certified by transportation authorities for production and operation within any projected timeline, or at all;

 

·All of the pre-orders we have received for our aircraft are conditional and may be terminated at any time by either party and any pre-delivery payments may be fully refundable upon certain circumstances;

 

·Our aircraft may not perform at the level we expect and may have potential defects;

 

·Our business has grown rapidly and expects to continue to grow significantly, and any failure to manage that growth effectively could harm our business;

 

·Our dependence on recruiting and retaining our senior management team and other highly skilled personnel;

 

·We 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; and

 

·The other matters described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023.

 

We caution you against placing undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect current beliefs and are based on information currently available as of the date a forward-looking statement is made. Forward-looking statements set forth herein speak only as of the date of this filing. We will not and do not undertake any obligation to revise forward-looking statements to reflect future events, changes in circumstances or changes in beliefs, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. In the event that any forward-looking statement is updated, no inference should be made that we will make additional updates with respect to that statement, related matters or any other forward-looking statements. Any corrections or revisions and other important assumptions and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements, including discussions of significant risk factors, may appear in our public filings with the SEC, which are accessible at www.sec.gov, and which you are advised to consult.

 

You should read the above discussion with the understanding that our actual future results, levels of activity, performance and events and circumstances may be materially different from what we expect.

 

 

Exhibit 99.3

 

Vertical Aerospace Ltd

 

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Information for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023

 

Contents

 

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income for the nine months periods ended September 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023   2
     
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Financial Position as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023   3
     
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months periods ended September 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023   4
     
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Changes in Equity for the nine months periods ended September 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023   5
     
Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Information   6

 

 1 

 

 

Vertical Aerospace Ltd

 

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income

 

      3 months ended September 30,
(as restated)
   9 months ended September 30,
(as restated)
 
   Note  2024
£ 000
   2023
£ 000
   2024
£ 000
   2023
£ 000
 
Research and development expenses  4   (13,109)   (15,388)   (45,060)   (42,888)
Administrative expenses  4   (11,460)   (10,131)   (32,170)   (34,397)
Related party administrative expenses  4   (15)   (17)   (57)   (59)
Other operating income  6   1,595    (31)   34,358    2,829 
Operating loss      (22,989)   (25,567)   (42,929)   (74,515)
Finance income  7   15,599    5,268    14,617    28,320 
Finance costs  7   (24,762)   (13,389)   (27,409)   (12,247)
Net finance income/(costs)  7   (9,163)   (8,121)   (12,792)   16,073 
Loss before tax      (32,152)   (33,688)   (55,721)   (58,442)
Income tax credit      3,613    3,616    10,061    16,600 
Net loss for the period      (28,539)   (30,072)   (45,660)   (41,842)
Change in fair value from own credit risk  14   22,293    -    22,293    - 
Foreign exchange translation differences      (8,573)   5,636    (7,411)   (1,286)
Total other comprehensive income/(loss) for the period      13,720    5,636    14,882    (1,286)
Total comprehensive loss for the period      (14,819)   (24,436)   (30,778)   (43,128)
                        
Basic and diluted loss per share  8  £(1.48)  £(1.60)  £(2.37)  £(2.20)

 

The accompanying accounting policies and notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

Items of other comprehensive income may be reclassified to profit or loss.

 

 2 

 

 

Vertical Aerospace Ltd

 

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Financial Position

 

   Note  September 30,
2024
£ 000
   December 31,
2023
£ 000
 
Non-current assets             
Property, plant and equipment      3,395    3,821 
Right of use assets      1,978    2,453 
Intangible assets      265    1,018 
       5,638    7,292 
Current assets             
Trade and other receivables  10   21,159    26,413 
Restricted cash      1,700    1,700 
Cash and cash equivalents      42,806    48,680 
       65,665    76,793 
Total assets      71,303    84,085 
              
Equity             
Share capital  9   17    17 
Other reserves  9   111,828    86,757 
Treasury share reserve  9   (803)   - 
Share premium  9   273,824    257,704 
Accumulated deficit      (440,194)   (394,257)
Total shareholders deficit      (55,328)   (49,779)
Non-current liabilities             
Lease liabilities      1,588    1,977 
Provisions      370    256 
Derivative financial liabilities  13   108,636    109,291 
Trade and other payables  11   3,728    3,922 
       114,322    115,446 
Current liabilities             
Lease liabilities      534    643 
Warrant liabilities  12   287    907 
Trade and other payables  11   11,488    16,868 
       12,309    18,418 
Total liabilities      126,631    133,864 
Total equity and liabilities      71,303    84,085 

 

The accompanying accounting policies and notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

 3 

 

 

Vertical Aerospace Ltd

 

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Cash Flows

 

      9 months ended
September 30,
 
   Note  2024
£ 000
   2023
(as restated)
£ 000
 
Cash flows from operating activities             
Net loss for the period      (45,660)   (41,842)
Adjustments to cash flows from non-cash items             
Depreciation and amortization  4   1,591    1,527 
Depreciation on right of use assets  4   475    495 
Finance costs/(income)  7   12,792    (16,073)
Share based payment transactions  5   6,408    9,280 
Income tax credit      (10,061)   (16,600)
Non-cash gain (settled in treasury shares)      (803)   - 
       (35,258)   (63,213)
Working capital adjustments             
(Increase)/decrease in trade and other receivables      (523)   3,999 
(Decrease)in trade and other payables  11   (5,574)   (1,851)
Income taxes received      15,838    11,319 
Net cash (outflow) from operating activities      (25,517)   (49,746)
              
Cash flows from investing activities             
Decrease in financial assets at amortized cost      -    59,886 
Acquisitions of property plant and equipment      (413)   (1,601)
Acquisition of intangible assets      -    (159)
Interest received      1,820    3,392 
Net cash inflow from investing activities      1,407    61,518 
              
Cash flows from financing activities             
Proceeds from share issuance  9   -    808 
Proceeds from issues of shares to related party      15,629    - 
Proceeds from issues of warrants to related party      3,907    - 
Payments to lease creditors      (581)   (448)
Net cash inflow from financing activities      18,955    360 
Net (decrease)/increase in cash at bank      (5,155)   12,132 
Cash at bank, beginning of the period      48,680    62,927 
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes      (719)   (896)
Cash at bank, end of the period      42,806    74,163 

 

The accompanying accounting policies and notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

 4 

 

 

Vertical Aerospace Ltd

 

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Changes in Equity

 

   Share
capital
£ 000
   Share
premium
£ 000
   Other
reserves
£ 000
   Accumulated
deficit
£ 000
   Total
£ 000
     
At January 1, 2023   16    257,197    94,857    (344,752)   7,318      
Loss for the period   -    -    -    (41,842)   (41,842)     
Translation differences   -    -    (1,269)   -    (1,269)     
Total comprehensive loss   -    -    (1,269)   (41,842)   (43,111)     
Share based payment transactions   -    -    9,290    -    9,290      
Exercise of share options   1    736    -    -    737      
Transfer of reserves   -    -    (8,922)   8,922    -      
At September 30, 2023   17    257,933    93,956    (377,672)   (25,766)     

 

   Share
capital
£ 000
   Share
premium
£ 000
   Treasury
share
reserve
   Other
reserves
£ 000
   Accumulated
deficit
£ 000
   Total
£ 000
 
At January 1, 2024   17    257,704    -    86,757    (394,257)   (49,779)
Loss for the period   -    -    -    -    (45,660)   (45,660)
Change in fair value from own credit risk   -    -    -    22,293    -    22,293 
Translation differences   -    -    -    (7,411)   -    (7,411)
Total comprehensive loss   -    -    -    14,882    (45,660)   (30,778)
Share based payment transactions   -    -    -    6,005    -    6,005 
Share issuance to related party   -    15,629    -    -    -    15,629 
Issuance of warrants to related party        -    -    3,907    -    3,907 
Share issuance to open market   -    491    -         -    491 
Repurchase of ordinary shares   -    -    (803)   -    -    (803)
Transfer of reserves   -    -    -    277    (277)   - 
At September 30, 2024   17    273,824    (803)   111,828    (440,194)   (55,328)

 

The accompanying accounting policies and notes form an integral part of these Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements.

 

 5 

 

 

Vertical Aerospace Ltd

 

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Information

 

1General information

 

Vertical Aerospace Ltd (the "Company", or the "Group" if together with its subsidiaries) is incorporated under the Companies Law (as amended) of the Cayman Islands. The address of its principal executive office is: Unit 1 Camwal Court, Bristol, United Kingdom. The Group’s main operations are in the United Kingdom and these financial statements are presented in pounds sterling and all values are rounded to the nearest thousand (£’000) except when otherwise indicated.

 

These financial statements were approved by the board of directors on December 19, 2024.

 

Principal activities

 

The principal activity of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, Vertical Aerospace Group Ltd (“VAGL”), is the development and commercialization of vertical take-off and landing electrically powered aircraft (“eVTOL”).

 

2Significant accounting policies

 

Basis of preparation

 

This unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial report for the nine-month reporting period ended September 30, 2024 has been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) applicable to the preparation of interim financial statements, IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting.

 

The interim report does not include all the notes of the type normally included in an annual financial report. Accordingly, this report is to be read in conjunction with the annual report for the year ended December 31, 2023.

 

The accounting policies adopted are consistent with those of the previous financial year.

 

The unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial report has been prepared on a historical cost basis, as modified by the revaluation of certain financial assets and liabilities (including derivative financial instruments) which are recognized at fair value through profit and loss.

 

Items included in the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial report are measured using the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity and its subsidiaries operate (‘the functional currency’). The financial information is presented in pounds sterling ('£' or 'GBP'), which is the Group’s functional and presentation currency, and all amounts are presented in and rounded to the nearest thousand unless otherwise indicated.

 

 6 

 

 

Vertical Aerospace Ltd

 

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Information

 

2Significant accounting policies (continued)

 

Basis of consolidation

 

Vertical Aerospace Ltd is the parent of the Group and has 100% ownership interest and voting rights of Vertical Aerospace Group Limited, which is its only material subsidiary.

 

The consolidated financial statements incorporate the financial positions and the results of operations of the Group. Control is achieved when the Group is exposed, or has rights, to variable returns from its involvement with the investee and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the investee. The financial statements of the subsidiaries are prepared for the same reporting period as the Company using consistent accounting policies. Intercompany transactions, balances and unrealized gains on transactions between Group companies are eliminated.

 

Significant accounting policies and key accounting estimates

 

The accounting policies adopted are consistent with those of the previous financial year, with the exception of newly adopted policies as discussed below.

 

Reverse Stock Split

 

On September 16, 2024, the shareholders of the Company authorized the Board of Directors to affect a reverse stock split of all outstanding shares of common stock. On September 16, 2024, the Board of Directors approved the implementation of a reverse stock split at a ratio of one-for-ten shares, which became effective on September 20, 2024.

 

The Company’s outstanding stock-based awards, including options, restricted stock units and warrants, were also adjusted to reflect the one-for-ten reverse stock split of the Company’s common stock. Outstanding stock-based award units were proportionately reduced and the respective exercise prices, if applicable, were proportionately increased. The reverse stock split affected all shareholders uniformly and did not alter any shareholder’s percentage interest in the Company’s equity. No fractional shares were issued in connection with the reverse stock split. Shareholders who would otherwise be entitled to a fractional share of common stock were instead entitled to receive a pro rata portion of the net proceeds obtained from the aggregation and sale of the fractional shares resulting from the reverse stock split (reduced by any customary brokerage fees, commissions and other expenses).

 

The reverse stock split resulted in a proportional decrease in the number of authorized ordinary shares and preferred shares, and a proportional increase in the par value of the ordinary shares and preferred shares, in each case in accordance with the reverse stock split ratio. All share and per share amounts in these condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes hereto have been retrospectively adjusted to account for the effect of the reverse stock split.

 

Company-specific credit risk

 

For financial liabilities for which the fair value option is elected, the Company separately presents in Other Comprehensive Income the portion of the total fair value change attributable to Company-specific credit risk as opposed to reflecting the entire amount in the profit or loss for the period. The Company measures the portion of the change in fair value attributable to Company-specific credit risk as the excess of total change in fair value over the change in fair value that results from a change in a base market risk, including a risk-free interest rate and benchmark rates.

 

 7 

 

 

Vertical Aerospace Ltd

 

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Information

 

Going Concern

 

Management has prepared a cash flow forecast for the Group and has considered the ability for the Group to continue as a going concern for the foreseeable future, being at least 12 months after the issuance of these financial statements.

 

The Group is currently in the research and development phase of its journey to commercialize eVTOL technology. Commensurate with being in the development phase, the Group has invested heavily in research to support the development of its aircraft. The Group is not currently generating revenue and has incurred net losses and net cash outflows from operating activities since inception.

 

As of September 30, 2024, the Group had £42.8 million of cash and cash equivalents on hand and a net shareholder deficit of £55.3 million. As of the issuance of these financial statements, the Group had approximately £25 million of cash and cash equivalents on hand.

 

To position itself to deliver upon its stated operational objectives, management currently projects its net cash outflows from operations within the next 12 months after issuance of these financial statements to be approximately £70 million, which will be used primarily to fund the creation and testing of the prototype aircraft.

 

Accordingly, the Group projects that its current existing resources will only be sufficient to fund its ongoing operations into, but no longer than, the first quarter of 2025. The Group requires additional capital to continue to fund its ongoing operations beyond that point.

 

On November 24, 2024, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") resolved in favor of an agreement in principle (the “Agreement in Principle”), which has been documented in a term sheet, dated November 24, 2024, by and among the Company, Vertical Aerospace Group Limited ("VAGL”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, Stephen Fitzpatrick, the Company’s majority shareholder and director, Imagination Aero Investments Limited ("Imagination Aero”), a company wholly owned by Mr. Fitzpatrick, and Mudrick Capital Management L.P., the Company’s primary creditor and senior secured lender (“Mudrick Capital”) (the “Term Sheet”), to address the Company’s more immediate cash requirements and facilitate longer-term fundraising. The material terms set out in the Term Sheet include funding for the Company’s operations towards the end of 2025, while also removing or mitigating certain structural obstacles that have impeded the Company from accessing substantial third-party funding since its public listing.

 

On December 20, 2024, as contemplated by the Term Sheet, the Company entered into an investment agreement (the “Investment Agreement”), by and among the Company, VAGL, Imagination Aero and Mudrick Capital. Once consummated, the terms of the Investment Agreement would provide funding for the Company’s operations into the fourth quarter of 2025. The Investment Agreement includes a commitment from Mudrick Capital to fund up to $50 million to the Company in its next funding round (the “Equity Placement”), with $25 million funded on a non-contingent basis, and a backstop commitment for an additional $25 million to be funded by Mudrick Capital if the Company is not able to raise such amount in the Equity Placement. The closing of the funding commitment by Mudrick Capital is conditional upon the Company undertaking, in good faith, a robust equity process and certain other customary closing conditions. The Company intends to launch and complete the Equity Placement during the first quarter of 2025 and before the Company has used all its existing resources.

 

On February 22, 2024, the Company entered into the SF Investment Agreement (the “SF Investment Agreement) with Imagination Aero who, pursuant to which and subject to certain conditions, committed to fund an investment of $25 million with a further investment of up to $25 million (the “Further Investment”), with payment due by August 14, 2024. The Investment Agreement agrees that the SF Investment Agreement shall be deemed expired, including in respect of the second tranche $25 million further investment commitment, of which no portion had been received.

 

The Investment Agreement is subject to certain closing conditions, including but not limited to the implementation of certain amendments to the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association (“Articles”) requiring approval by a two-thirds majority of the votes cast by the Company’s shareholders at a general meeting of shareholders. On December 13, 2024, the Company provided notice to its shareholders that it is convening an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders on December 23, 2024 for the purpose of holding a vote on such amendments to the Articles. Also on December 15, 2024, Stephen Fitzpatrick, the Company’s majority shareholder holding greater than two-thirds of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares as of the date hereof, committed to vote in favor of the amended Articles by way of legally binding obligations to support the transactions contemplated by the Term Sheet, including the amendments to the Articles.

 

 8 

 

 

Vertical Aerospace Ltd

 

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Information

 

Going Concern (continued)

 

The prompt and timely consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Term Sheet and the Investment Agreement, including the fulfilment of the related closing conditions and receipt of the funding in the Equity Placement, is required for the Group to extend its projected cash runway beyond the first quarter of 2025. Should the Group fail to do so, management would be forced to immediately reduce or delay the Group’s expenditures, materially reduce the scope of operations, and/or assess other contingency planning alternatives.

 

On November 1, 2024, the Company received a Notice of Default from Mudrick Capital, , the sole holder of all of the Company’s outstanding Convertible Senior Secured Notes, relating to certain defaults under the indenture (the “Indenture”) relating to the Company’s Convertible Senior Secured Notes, including the absence of a guarantee by VAGL, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company and owner of all material intellectual property of the Group. On December 15, 2024, Mudrick Capital, the Company, VAGL and Imagination Aero entered into a Forbearance Agreement, pursuant to which Mudrick Capital agreed to forbear from exercising any of its rights under the Indenture upon the occurrence of an event of default arising as a result of any of the Specified Defaults until February 1, 2025 or as otherwise agreed by the parties thereto (the “Forbearance Period”). While the Forbearance Agreement does not provide a waiver in respect of any such event of default, Mudrick Capital has separately committed to provide a waiver in respect of all such events of defaults. Should an event of default come into being and not be cured, and should any of the conditions to Mudrick Capital’s waiver not be met, Mudrick Capital would be entitled to exercise its rights of acceleration and enforcement (see below) immediately following the end of the Forbearance Period.

 

In addition, the Indenture contains a covenant requiring the Group to maintain a minimum cash balance of at least $10 million at all times. The Group currently projects that it will breach this covenant in the first quarter of 2025 should additional the funding noted above not be received in a timely manner. If uncured, any such default or breach (collectively, the “Specified Defaults”) would result in an event of default occurring under the Indenture, which would permit Mudrick Capital to accelerate the maturity of the Convertible Senior Secured Notes and ultimately enforce against its collateral, including the shares representing 100% of the ownership interest in the Group’s operating subsidiary VAGL, and/or may cause the Company to declare insolvency and file for bankruptcy, or be forced into involuntary bankruptcy proceedings.

 

Regardless of the outcome of the currently anticipated funding round, which includes Mudrick Capital’s commitment to fund up to $50 million, the Company will be required to raise further additional capital to continue to fund its ongoing operations through and beyond the fourth quarter of 2025. The timely receipt of an amount equal or equivalent to the $50 million commitment is required for the Group to extend its projected cash runway into the fourth quarter of 2025 (from the first quarter of 2025, as discussed above) and to extend the date at which the Group would otherwise breach its minimum cash covenant pursuant to the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Indenture to the third quarter of 2025 (from the first quarter of 2025, as discussed above).

 

Consequently, the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern is highly dependent on its ability to secure the funds from the currently anticipated funding round in January 2025, which is contingent upon satisfaction of certain conditions precedent, and to raise further additional funds to finance the Group’s ongoing operations. Management is committed to continue raise additional funds and may seek to issue further equity in doing so.

 

However, there can be no assurance that the Group will be able to raise additional funds on acceptable terms (or on necessary timelines) to provide sufficient funds to meet the Group’s ongoing funding requirements. The timely completion of financings in 2025 is critical to the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern. The inability to obtain future funding could impact the Group’s financial condition and ability to pursue its business strategies, including being required to delay, reduce or eliminate some of its research and development programs, or being unable to continue operations or continue as a going concern. The dependency on raising additional capital indicates that a material uncertainty exists that may cast significant doubt (or raise substantial doubt as contemplated by PCAOB standards) on the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern and therefore the Group may be unable to realise the assets and discharge the liabilities in the normal course of business. The consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Group will continue as a going concern, which contemplates the continuity of operations, realisation of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the ordinary course of business and do not include any adjustments that would result if the Group were unable to continue as a going concern.

 

 9 

 

 

Vertical Aerospace Ltd

 

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Information

 

3Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty

 

The preparation of the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial information in conformity with IFRS requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent liabilities at the date of the financial information and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period.

 

The Company’s most significant estimates and judgments involve the valuation of the share-based consideration, including the fair value of share options and the valuations of derivative liabilities including convertible loan notes. During the period the Company introduced an adjustment to the credit spread used in the estimation of the fair value of convertible loan notes to reflect changes in company-specific credit risk during the period.

 

These estimates are based on historical data and experience, as well as various other factors that management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Such estimates often require the selection of appropriate valuation methodologies and models and may involve significant judgment in evaluating ranges of assumptions and financial inputs. Actual results may differ from those estimates under different assumptions, financial inputs, or circumstances.

 

In preparing these unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements, the significant judgments made by management in applying the Group’s accounting policies and the key sources of estimation were the same as those that applied to the consolidated financial statements as at and for the year ended December 31, 2023.

 

 10 

 

 

Vertical Aerospace Ltd

 

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Information

 

4Expenses by nature

 

Included within administrative expenses, research and development expenses, and related party administrative expenses are the following expenses.

 

   3 months ended
September 30,
   9 months ended
September 30,
 
   2024
£ 000
   2023
£ 000
   2024
£ 000
   2023
£ 000
 
Research and development staff costs (excluding share-based payment expenses)   7,349    5,352    20,029    17,234 
Research and development consultancy   2,224    4,046    9,619    11,495 
Research and development components, parts and tooling   3,536    5,990    15,412    14,159 
Total research and development expenses   13,109    15,388    45,060    42,888 
Administrative staff costs (excluding share-based payment expenses)   2,326    2,835    7,013    8,382 
Share based payment expenses   1,623    2,224    6,408    9,280 
Consultancy costs   706    621    1,879    1,961 
Legal and financial advisory costs   1,689    143    3,460    1,268 
HR advisory and recruitment costs   200    140    549    804 
IT hardware and software costs   1,890    1,675    5,297    4,760 
Related party administrative expenses   15    17    57    59 
Insurance expenses   130    653    282    1,663 
Marketing costs   912    198    1,686    476 
Premises expenses   535    583    1,679    1,486 
Other administrative expenses   803    354    1,851    2,295 
Depreciation expense   280    230    838    643 
Amortization expense   217    306    753    884 
Depreciation on right of use property assets   149    169    475    495 
Total administrative costs   11,475    10,148    32,227    34,456 
                     
Total administrative and research and development expenses   24,584    25,536    77,287    77,344 

 

Staff costs excluding share-based payment expenses relates primarily to salary and salary related expenses, including social security and pension contributions.

 

 11 

 

 

Vertical Aerospace Ltd

 

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Information

 

5Share-based payments

 

The Group has established two employee option plans. The EMI Scheme was closed to employees during 2021, and the 2021 Incentive Plan was implemented in 2022. For more information about the option plans, please refer to the Group’s annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023. The total expense recognised by the company during the year in respect of these plans is shown below:

 

The total expense recognised by the company during the year in respect of these plans is shown below:

 

   September 30,
2024
£’000
   September 30,
2023
£’000
 
EMI Scheme   279    720 
2021 Incentive plan   5,860    8,504 
Non-Executive Director awards   269    56 
Total Expense Recognised   6,408    9,280 

 

A summary of options granted under the plans is show below:

 

EMI Scheme

 

   September 30, 2024   December 31, 2023 
   Number   Average
exercise price
(£)
   Number   Average
exercise price
(£)
 
Outstanding, start of period   1,170,231    2.50    2,101,108    1.90 
Granted during the period   -    -    -    - 
Exercised during the period   -    -    (768,692)   1.00 
Forfeited during the period   (165,553)   1.40    (162,185)   2.40 
Outstanding, end of period   1,004,678    2.70    1,170,231    2.50 

 

The number of options which were exercisable at September 30, 2024 was 642,564 (December 31, 2023: 495,681) with exercise prices ranging from £0.40 to £11.50. The expected average remaining vesting period has been determined 1.11 years (December 31, 2023: 1.78 years).

 

2021 Incentive Plan

 

   September 30, 2024   December 31, 2023 
   Number   Average
exercise price
(£)
   Number   Average
exercise price
(£)
 
Outstanding, start of period   998,598    1.20    435,567    14.40 
Granted during the period   397,804    0.40    737,060    0.60 
Exercised during the period   (75,597)   -    (102,452)   - 
Forfeited during the period   (48,182)   0.80    (71,577)   7.70 
Outstanding, end of period   1,272,623    1.10    998,598    1.20 

 

 12 

 

 

Vertical Aerospace Ltd

 

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Information

 

5Share-based payments (continued)

 

The number of options which were exercisable at September 30, 2024 was 416,068 (December 31, 2023: 173,006) with exercise prices ranging from £nil to £8.95. Options exercised during the period related solely to nil-cost options. The number of options outstanding as at the end of the period consists of 1,146,073 nil cost options, 124,698 Company Share Option Plan (CSOP) options and 1,852 cost share options. The expected average remaining vesting period has been determined as 2.50 years (December 31, 2023: 3.30 years).

 

The fair value of all options granted during the period has been determined with reference to the share price at grant date.

 

6Other operating income

 

The analysis of the Group's other operating income for the period is as follows:

 

   3 months ended
September 30,
   9 months ended
September 30,
 
   2024
£ 000
   2023 (as
restated)
£ 000
   2024
£ 000
   2023 (as
restated)
£ 000
 
Rolls-Royce settlement   -    -    27,910    - 
Government grants   1,349    87    5,462    1,960 
R&D tax relief   246    (118)   986    869 
    1,595    (31)   34,358    2,829 

 

Rolls-Royce settlement

 

Effective May 22, 2024, the Company entered into an agreement with Rolls-Royce to terminate the contract with Rolls-Royce to design an Electric Propulsion Unit (EPU). Pursuant to the agreement, the Company received a cash payment from Rolls-Royce for an amount equal to $34 million. In addition, the Company also received a non-cash transfer of 140 thousand of the Company’s own ordinary shares valued at $1 million recognised within a treasury shares reserve.

 

Government grants

 

Government grants relate to amounts receivable from the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) relating to the research and development of eVTOL technologies. The grant is made to fund research and development expenditure and is recognized in other operating income in the period to which the expense relates.

 

R&D tax relief

 

The Company receives R&D tax relief relating to the UK R&D expenditure credit (RDEC), which is reported within Other operating income. The Company also receives UK small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) R&D tax relief, which is reported within Income tax credit.

 

 13 

 

 

Vertical Aerospace Ltd

 

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Information

 

7Finance income/(costs)

 

   3 months ended
September 30,
   9 months ended
September 30,
 
   2024
£ 000
   2023
£ 000
   2024
£ 000
   2023
£ 000
 
Fair value movements on convertible loan notes   (20,451)   -    (14,537)   - 
In-kind interest on convertible loan notes   (4,269)   (4,059)   (12,752)   (12,023)
Foreign exchange loss   -    (9,281)   -    - 
Interest expense on leases   (38)   (48)   (120)   (156)
Other   (4)   (1)   -    (68)
Total finance costs   (24,762)   (13,389)   (27,409)   (12,247)

 

   3 months ended
September 30,
   9 months ended
September 30,
 
   2024
£ 000
   2023
£ 000
   2024
£ 000
   2023
£ 000
 
Interest income on deposits   654    1,064    1,822    2,768 
Foreign exchange gain   14,648    -    12,187    2,808 
Fair value movements on convertible loan notes (note 13)   -    2,982    -    19,492 
Fair value movements on warrant liabilities (note 12)   297    1,222    602    3,252 
Other   -    -    6    - 
Total finance income   15,599    5,268    14,617    28,320 

 

8Loss per share

 

Basic earnings per share, in this case a loss per share, is calculated by dividing the loss for the period attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent by the number of ordinary shares outstanding.

 

Because a net loss for all period presented has been reported, diluted loss per share is the same as basic loss per share. Therefore, all potentially dilutive common stock equivalents are antidilutive and have been excluded from the calculation of net loss per share.

 

On September 20, 2024, the implementation of a reverse stock split at a ratio of one-for-ten shares became effective. The reverse stock split resulted in a proportional decrease in the number of authorized ordinary shares and preferred shares, and a proportional increase in the par value of the ordinary shares and preferred shares, in each case in accordance with the reverse stock split ratio. All share and per share amounts in these condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes hereto have been retrospectively adjusted to account for the effect of the reverse stock split

 

The calculation of loss per share is based on the following data:

 

   3 months ended
September 30,
2024
£000
   3 months ended
September 30,
2023
£ 000
   9 months ended
September 30,
2024
£ 000
   9 months ended
September 30,
2023
£ 000
 
Net loss for the period   (28,539)   (30,072)   (45,660)   (41,842)

 

   £   £   £   £ 
Basic and diluted loss per share   (1.48)   (1.60)   (2.37)   (2.20)

 

   No. of shares   No. of shares   No. of shares   No. of shares 
Weighted average issued shares   19,313,638    19,208,324    19,229,978    19,094,574 

 

 14 

 

 

Vertical Aerospace Ltd

 

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Information

 

9Share capital and reserves

 

Allotted, called up and fully paid shares  September 30,
2024
   December 31,
2023
 
   No.   £   No.   £ 
Ordinary of $0.001 each   22,338,930    16,854    22,124,924    16,681 
    22,338,930    16,854    22,124,924    16,681 

 

Ordinary shares have full voting rights, full dividend rights. The Company is authorised to issue 100,000,000 ordinary shares.

 

On March 13, 2024 and in relation to the SF Investment Agreement, the Company issued 200,000 ordinary shares resulting in proceeds of £15,629 thousand and share premium of £15,629 thousand ($20,000 thousand).

 

Effective May 22, 2024, the Company entered into an agreement with Rolls-Royce to terminate the contract with Rolls-Royce to design an Electric Propulsion Unit (EPU). The agreement provides for the transfer from Rolls-Royce to the Company of Vertical’s ordinary shares, which Rolls-Royce acquired from the Company in a private placement transaction in 2021. A treasury share reserve of £803 thousand reflecting 140,000 shares has been recognised as a result.

 

Subsequent to the period end, on November 25, 2024, the Company entered into an Agreement in Principle, which once consummated would result in Mudrick Capital converting half, or approximately $130 million, of the principal and accrued interest of the Company’s outstanding Convertible Senior Secured Notes due 2026, at a conversion price of $2.75 per ordinary share. Upon such conversion, the Company would issue 47,343,586 shares to Mudrick Capital.

 

Nature and purpose of other reserves

 

   September 30,
2024
£ 000
   December 31,
2023
£ 000
 
Share based payment reserve   27,146    21,140 
Credit risk reserve   22,293    - 
Foreign currency translation reserve   (5,927)   1,484 
Warrant reserve   13,475    9,292 
Merger reserve   54,841    54,841 
    111,828    86,757 

 

The share-based payments reserve is used to recognize the grant date fair value of options issued to employees but not exercised. The translation reserve arises as a result of the retranslation of overseas subsidiaries and the Company’s USD denominated balances in consolidated financial statements. The warrant reserve is used to recognize the fair value of warrants issued in exchange for a fixed amount of cash or another financial asset for a fixed number of the Company’s ordinary shares (‘fixed-for-fixed condition’). In accordance with the SF Investment Agreement, 50 million warrants were issued on March 13, 2024 resulting in £3,907 thousand ($5,000 thousand) being recognised within the warrant reserve. The merger reserve is used to reflect any difference between the consideration and the book value of net assets acquired as part of a business combination. The credit risk reserve recognises the impact of fair value movements in derivative financial liabilities that are related to changes in the Company’s own credit risk.

 

 15 

 

 

Vertical Aerospace Ltd

 

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Information

 

10Trade and other receivables

 

   September 30,
2024
£ 000
   December 31,
2023
£ 000
 
R&D tax relief receivable   11,109    16,416 
Government grants and VAT receivable   4,192    4,060 
Prepayments   4,993    5,062 
Other receivables   865    875 
    21,159    26,413 

 

Included within R&D tax relief receivable is £10,123 thousand for R&D tax relief claimed under the HMRC SME Scheme (December 31, 2023: £15,838 thousand) and £986 thousand claimed under the HMRC RDEC scheme (December 31, 2023: £578 thousand).

 

Expected credit losses were not significant in 2024 or 2023. For more information on the Group’s exposure to credit and market risks, including impairments and allowances for credit losses, relating to trade and other receivables please refer to the Group’s annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023.

 

11Trade and other payables

 

Amounts falling due within one year:

 

   September 30,
2024
£ 000
   December 31,
2023
£ 000
 
Trade payables   3,603    3,726 
Accrued expenses   6,628    12,146 
Social security and other taxes   924    981 
Outstanding defined contribution pension costs   333    15 
    11,488    16,868 

 

Amounts falling due after more than one year:

 

   September 30,
2024
£ 000
   December 31,
2023
£ 000
 
Deferred fees and charges   3,728    3,922 

 

For more information on the Group’s exposure to market and liquidity risks, including maturity analysis, related to trade and other payables please refer to the Group’s annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023.

 

 16 

 

 

Vertical Aerospace Ltd

 

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Information

 

12Warrant Liability

 

The following warrants are in issue but not exercised:

 

   September 30,
2024
   December 31,
2023
 
Public Warrants   15,264,935    15,264,935 
Mudrick Warrants   4,000,000    4,000,000 
Outstanding, end of period   19,264,935    19,264,935 

 

Recorded as a liability, the following shows the change in fair value during the period ended September 30, 2024:

 

Change in fair value during the period  £ 000 
December 31, 2023   907 
Change in fair value   (602)
Exchange differences on translation   (18)
September 30, 2024   287 

 

As a result of the Reverse Stock Split, each public warrant was automatically adjusted to become exercisable for 1/10 of one ordinary share, meaning that ten public warrants must be exercised for a holder of public warrants to receive one ordinary share of the Company at $115 per share. The public warrants expire on December 15, 2026 or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.

 

13Derivative financial liabilities

 

Convertible Senior Secured Notes consists of the following:

 

   Mudrick
£ 000
 
As at December 31, 2023   109,291 
Fair value movements (other than from change in own credit risk)   14,537 
In-kind interest paid and accrued   12,752 
Exchange differences on translation   (5,651)
Change in fair value from own credit risk   (22,293)
As at September 30, 2024   108,636 

 

On December 16, 2021, Mudrick Capital purchased Convertible Senior Secured Notes of an aggregate principal amount of £151,000 thousand ($200,000 thousand) for an aggregate purchase price of £145,000 thousand ($192,000 thousand). The Convertible Senior Secured Notes are initially convertible into up to 1,818,182 ordinary shares at an initial conversion rate of 9.09091 ordinary shares per £824 ($1,000).

 

In accordance with IFRS 9, this is treated as a hybrid instrument and is designated in its entirety as fair value through profit or loss except where separately presenting in Other Comprehensive Income the portion of the total fair value change attributable to Company-specific credit risk. The valuation methods and assumptions are shown in note 14.

 

 17 

 

 

Vertical Aerospace Ltd

 

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Information

 

13Derivative financial liabilities (continued)

 

The Company has elected to pay interest in-kind at 9% per annum. Interest is paid semi-annually in arrears and on June 15, 2024 the Company authorised the interest by increasing the nominal amount of the outstanding Convertible Senior Secured Notes by £8,483 thousand ($10,730 thousand). Several covenants exist including retention of $10 million cash. Accordingly, cash at bank includes £7,455 thousand deemed to be retained for this purpose as at September 30, 2024.

 

Subsequent to the period end, on November 25, 2024, the Company entered into an Agreement in Principle, which once consummated would result in Mudrick Capital converting half, or approximately $130 million, of the principal and accrued interest amount of the Company’s outstanding Convertible Senior Secured Notes due 2026, at a conversion price of $2.75 per ordinary share.

 

The terms of the Agreement in Principle also include amendments to the terms of the Convertible Senior Secured Notes agreement, which amongst other things:

 

-provide for a fixed Conversion Price for the Notes remaining outstanding of $3.50 per ordinary share;
-with effect from December 15, 2024, provide for a fixed interest rate of 10% for Cash Interest and 12% for interest in-kind;
-and for the Maturity Date to be December 15, 2028.

 

14Financial instruments

 

To provide an indication about the reliability of the inputs used in determining fair value, the Company classifies its financial instruments into the three levels prescribed under the accounting standards. Financial liabilities at fair value through profit and loss:

 

   September 30, 2024
£ 000
   December 31, 2023
£ 000
 
   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3 
Convertible Senior Secured Notes   -    -    108,636    -    -    109,291 
Warrant liabilities   287    -    -    1,578    -    - 
    287    -    108,636    1,578    -    109,291 

 

The fair value of financial instruments is deemed to be equivalent to the carrying value. All gains or losses are recognised within Net finance income/(costs) and there have been no transfers into or out of any levels of the fair value hierarchy during the period.

 

Level 1: The fair value of financial instruments traded in active is based on quoted market prices at the end of the reporting period. As such, warrants issued but not exercised are valued with reference to observable market prices as at the reporting date ($0.02 per warrant).

 

Level 3: If one or more of the significant inputs is not based on observable market data, as is the case for the issued Convertible Senior Secured Notes, the instrument is included in level 3.

 

 18 

 

 

Vertical Aerospace Ltd

 

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Information

 

14Financial instruments (continued)

 

The fair value of the convertible senior secured notes has been estimated using an option pricing model, in accordance with the International Valuation Standards definition of “market value”. The following inputs have been used:

 

   September 30,
2024
   December 31,
2023
 
Interest rate (%)   9.0    9.0 
Risk-free rate (%)   3.56    4.0 
Expected life (years)   2.25    3.0 
Dividend yield (%)   -    - 
Volatility (%)   90.0    90.0 
Credit spread (%)   37.50    27.5 

 

Company specific inputs include the expected probability and timing of future equity financing, in addition to the probability and timing of a future fundamental change. Changes in Company-specific credit risk made during the period, by way of a 11.0 percentage point increase in credit spread, resulted in downward adjustments to the resultant valuation of £22,293 thousand.

 

For more information about the convertible senior secured notes, please refer to the Group’s annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023.

 

15Related party transactions

 

Key management personnel compensation

 

Key management personnel are the members of the Board and executive officers.

 

   September 30,
2024
£ 000
   September 30,
2023
£ 000
 
Salaries and other short term employee benefits   990    662 
Payments to defined contribution pension schemes   11    11 
Share-based payments   2,425    56 
    3,426    729 

 

Aggregate gains made on the exercise of share options for the Directors during the period totalled £nil (September 30, 2023: £8,156 thousand).

 

Summary of transactions with other related parties

 

On September 11, 2023 the Company appointed Stuart Simpson as Chief Financial Officer and on May 1, 2024 the Company appointed Stuart Simpson as Chief Executive Officer, replacing Stephen Fitzpatrick who remains a member of the Board of Directors. On July 1, 2024, Stuart Simpson was awarded 200 thousand share options, vesting on a quarterly basis until March 31, 2028.

 

On May 1, 2024 the Company appointed Ben Story as a member of the Board of Directors.

 

On September 16, 2024, the Company appointed Vincent Casey as a member of the Board of Directors.

 

On September 20, 2024, the Company appointed Stephen Welch as a member of the Board of Directors. Pursuant to a remuneration arrangement between Stephen Fitzpatrick, the Company’s current majority shareholder and a director of the Company, and Stephen Welch, a portion of Stephen Welch’s compensation for his services rendered as a director the Company (including as a member of any committee of the Board) is paid by Stephen Fitzpatrick. However, subsequent to the period end, on December 20, 2024, the Company entered into an Investment Agreement whereby it agreed to reimburse Stephen Fitzpatrick for all documented fees and expenses incurred up to the date of the partial conversion of Convertible Notes in connection with Stephen Welch's position on the Board, subject to a cap of $75 thousand.

 

Subsequent to the period end, and from November 6, 2024, Mike Flewitt no longer served as the chair nor as a member of the Board of Directors. Stephen Welch was appointed as the chair of the board as from this date.

 

 19 

 

 

Vertical Aerospace Ltd

 

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Information

 

15Related party transactions (continued)

 

During the period a total of 76,142 share options and restricted stock units were awarded to independent members of the Board of Directors.

 

On February 22, 2024 the Company entered into the SF Investment Agreement with Imagination Aero Ltd., a company wholly owned by Stephen Fitzpatrick, pursuant to which Imagination Aero agreed to purchase, and the Company agreed to issue and sell to Imagination Aero, up to $50 million of (i) newly issued ordinary shares and (ii) 50,000,000 SF Warrants. In accordance with the SF Investment Agreement, on March 13, 2024, $25 million in gross proceeds were received for 2 million shares and 50 million warrants.

 

Pursuant to the terms of the SF Investment Agreement, subject to certain conditions, Imagination Aero Ltd. committed to fund a second tranche of the equity investment in the amount of $25 million, with payment due by August 14, 2024.

 

The Company has not received payment of any portion of this amount, and subsequent to the period end, on December 20, 2024, the Company entered into an Investment Agreement whereby the SF Investment Agreement shall be terminated in respect of the second tranche $25 million funding commitment.

 

Furthermore, and subsequent to the period end on December 20, 2024 the Company entered into an Investment Agreement whereby Stephen Fitzpatrick would be granted the right to participate for $25 million in Company’s forthcoming Equity Placement on the same economic terms as other investors, or in the event he elects not to participate, a 12 month option to invest $25 million in Ordinary Shares of the Company at a strike price equal to the per share purchase price paid by investors in the Equity Placement.

 

In the first nine months of 2024, Imagination Industries Ltd, a company controlled by Stephen Fitzpatrick provided and charged the Group with services totalling £57 thousand (2023: £59 thousand), of which no amounts remained outstanding as at September 30, 2024 (September 30, 2023: £nil).

 

16Post balance sheet events

 

On November 24, 2024, the Company entered into an Agreement in Principle and subsequently on December 20, 2024 entered into Investment Agreement with Mudrick Capital. The material terms of the Agreement of Principle include the following:

 

Partial Conversion of Convertible Notes

 

Mudrick Capital is to convert half, or approximately $130 million, of the outstanding principal and accrued interest amount of the Company’s outstanding Convertible Loan Notes held by it, at a conversion price of $2.75 per Company ordinary share. Upon such conversion, the Company would issue 47,343,586 shares to Mudrick Capital.

 

Immediately following such conversion, it is expected that Mudrick Capital will become the ultimate beneficial owner of the Company.

 

Fixing of Conversion Price for Outstanding Notes and Other Indenture Amendments

 

Subject to certain conditions, the Indenture governing the Convertible Loan Notes, dated as of December 16, 2021, is to be amended to reflect the following, among other things:

 

·to provide for a fixed conversion price for the Notes remaining outstanding of $3.50 per ordinary share;
·the interest rate applicable to the Notes, both in respect of cash interest and PIK interest, are to be increased to 10.00% and 12.00%, respectively;
·the maturity date of the Notes is to be extended to December 15, 2028;

 

 20 

 

 

Vertical Aerospace Ltd

 

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Information

 

16Post balance sheet events (continued)

 

Funding Commitments and Options

 

Mudrick Capital has committed to fund up to $50 million to the Company in its next funding round (the “Equity Placement”), subject to the following:

 

·$25 million is to be funded by Mudrick Capital on a non-contingent basis;
·a backstop commitment for an additional $25 million to be funded by Mudrick Capital if the Company is not able to raise such amount in the Equity Placement

 

The closing of the funding commitment by Mudrick Capital is conditional upon the Company undertaking in good faith a robust equity process and certain other customary closing conditions.

 

Stephen Fitzpatrick is to have:

 

·the right to participate for $25 million in the Equity Placement on the same economic terms as other investors in the Equity Placement; or
·in the event he elects not to participate in the Equity Placement, a 12-month option to invest $25 million in ordinary shares of the Company at a strike price equal to the per share purchase price paid by investors in the Equity Placement;

 

SF Investment Agreement

 

All obligations under the SF Investment Agreement by and between the Company and Imagination Aero dated February 22, 2024 are deemed expired (including in respect funding commitment thereunder regarding a second tranche $25 million) with obligations being replaced by the above mentioned participation rights. All veto rights and reserved matters in favor of Stephen Fitzpatrick are deemed removed. The Company has agreed to reimburse Stephen Fitzpatrick for the reasonable and documented fees, expenses and disbursements of legal counsel incurred in connection with the Investment Agreement and the SF Investment Agreement.

 

17Correction of error

 

In March 2024, the Group identified an error related to the classification of the SME tax relief that it generates from HMRC in its statements of income and comprehensive income for the six-month period ended June 30, 2023 and for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2023. During the periods noted, the tax credit was erroneously classified within other operating income.

 

Whilst the Group experiences recurring unrelieved trading losses, it elects to surrender such losses and, instead, claim a payable tax credit. Accordingly, the SME tax credit should have been classified as an income tax credit rather than as other operating income within the statements of income and comprehensive income.

 

The impact of the restatement on the statement of income and comprehensive income and statement of cash flows is presented in the following tables.

 

There is no impact on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Financial Position as at June 30, 2023 or September 30, 2023.

 

 21 

 

 

Vertical Aerospace Ltd

 

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Information

 

17Correction of error (continued)

 

The following tables present the effects of the changes in presentation of these amounts, compared to the previously reported Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income (in thousands):

 

   Three Months Ended
September 30, 2023
   Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2023
 
   As
Reported
   Adjustment   As
Corrected
   As
Reported
   Adjustment   As
Corrected
 
Research and development expenses   (15,388)   -    (15,388)   (42,888)   -    (42,888)
Administrative expenses   (10,131)   -    (10,131)   (34,397)   -    (34,397)
Related party administrative expenses   (17)   -    (17)   (59)   -    (59)
Other operating income   3,585    (3,616)   (31)   19,429    (16,600)   2,829 
Operating loss   (21,951)   (3,616)   (25,567)   (57,915)   (16,600)   (74,515)
Finance income   5,268    -    5,268    28,320    -    28,320 
Finance costs   (13,389)   -    (13,389)   (12,247)   -    (12,247)
Net finance income/(costs)   (8,121)   -    (8,121)   16,073    -    16,073 
Loss before tax   (30,072)   (3,616)   (33,688)   (41,842)   (16,600)   (58,442)
Income tax credit   -    3,616    3,616    -    16,600    16,000 
Net loss for the period   (30,072)   -    (30,072    (41,842)   -    (41,842)
Foreign exchange translation differences   5,636    -    5,636    (1,286)   -    (1,286)
Total comprehensive loss for the year   (24,436)   -    (24,436)   (43,128)   -    (43,128)

 

 22 

 

 

Vertical Aerospace Ltd

 

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Information

 

17Correction of error (continued)

 

The following tables present the effects of the changes in presentation of these cash flows, compared to the previously reported Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Cash Flows (in thousands):

 

   Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2023
 
   As
Reported
   Adjustment   As
Corrected
 
Cash flows from operating activities               
Net loss for the period   (41,842)   -    (41,842)
Adjustments to cash flows from non-cash items               
Depreciation and amortization   1,527    -    1,527 
Depreciation on right of use assets   495    -    495 
Finance (income)/costs   (16,073)   -    (16,073)
Share based payment transactions   9,280    -    9,280 
Income tax credit   -    (16,600)   (16,600)
    (46,613)   (16,600)   (63,213)
Working capital adjustments               
Decrease/(increase) in trade and other receivables   (1,282)   5,281    3,999 
Increase/(decrease) in trade and other payables   (1,851)   -    (1,851)
Income taxes received   -    11,319    11,319 
Net cash flows used in operating activities   (49,746)   -    (49,746)

 

 23