Oxford Metrics (LSE:OMG) — Preliminary Results

0:01 Good afternoon, and welcome to the OXFORD METRICS PLC preliminary results investor presentation. Throughout this recorded presentation, investors will be in listen only mode. Questions are encouraged, and they can be submitted at any time using the q and a tab situated on the right hand corner of your screen. Simply type in your questions and press send. The company may not be in a position to answer every question received during the meeting itself. However, the company can review your questions submitted today and publish responses where it's appropriate to to do so. Before we begin, I would like to submit the following poll. And I would now like to hand you over to CEO, Imogen O'Connor. Good afternoon to you. Hello, and thank you for joining us today. I'm Imogen O'Connor, CEO, and I'm joined today by our CFO, Zoe Fox.

0:47 Here's what we'll cover with you today. First, I'll give you an overview of the business and our fiscal year twenty five performance highlights. Then I'll hand over to Zoe to take you through the financials. Then it'll be back to me to talk through our market opportunity, strategy, and outlook. OXFORD METRICS is an innovation led technology business, transforming how the world captures, analyzes, and applies motion and image data. We do this through our two divisions. Our motion capture division operates through our leading BiCom brand. The business has a rich heritage and is the gold standard in motion measurement and analysis across the life sciences, entertainment, and engineering sectors. Some of our customers include the likes of Nike, Electronic Arts, and Sega.

1:36 In fiscal year twenty five, motion capture contributed just over 71% of our group revenues. The major opportunities ahead lie in new applications for our markerless technology, emerging geographies, entering new verticals, and strategic partnerships. Our other division, smart manufacturing, consists of IVS and the Sempra Group. These companies focus on machine vision and measurement technologies used in quality control and automation. Its key end markets include medical devices, electronics, aerospace, and automotive. Smart manufacturing contributed 29% of group revenues in fiscal year twenty five. The opportunities here are significant, driven by the transformation to the digital factory, AI and automation adoption, regulatory requirements, and the need for greater production efficiency.

2:36 Across both divisions, our value proposition is increasingly unified. We capture and measure whether through motion, imaging, or precision metrology, and then we analyze that data using advanced models, many of which are powered by AI. These insights help customers make better decisions whether automating defect detection, improving first time production accuracy, building triple a vision visual content, advancing diagnostics and rehab strategies, enabling world class research, and accelerating creative iteration. In essence, we transform complex imaging and measurement data into intelligence that enables customers to create, innovate, heal, and assure quality across many industries.

3:27 We're now going to play a short video that gives you an insight into the tangible benefits we're providing across many industries through our motion capture and smart manufacturing technologies. In a world where precision and accuracy of data is increasingly the cornerstone of efficiency, innovation, and strategic decision making, one company is redefining the way we understand and harness information. Built on over forty years of technical know how and proprietary IP and leveraging the latest AI technologies, OXFORD METRICS stands at the intersection of science, medicine, entertainment, industry, and manufacturing, using cutting edge capabilities to transform the way we live, heal, create, and build.

4:17 By capturing every subtle shift and precise action, Oxford Metrics enables scientists to use data to decode the complexities of human motion and uncover new frontiers in physical performance, injury prevention, and robotics. Oxford METRICS makes capturing the essence of human expression and movement possible, breathing life into digital characters, turning scripts and storyboards into immersive, dynamic worlds and experiences. Oxford Metrics ensures that the machines and processes that build our world operate with perfect synchronization and measurement, providing data driven insights to reduce waste, prevent downtime, protect workers, and ensure that every product that leaves the factory meets exacting quality standards.

5:09 OXFORD METRICS story is one of versatility and transformation As automation, digital twins, robotics, and AI transform industries, the need for high precision motion measurement is rapidly increasing, and OXFORD METRICS is helping shape what comes next. Despite challenging market conditions, which you can read across many industries, we're pleased with our performance this year. We have focused on what we can control, and we've delivered on this. We've achieved both organic and inorganic revenue growth. Our order intake has increased in motion capture by 21% year on year with continued strong margins.

5:57 Adjusted EBIT has improved, and our working capital and cash generation strengthened significantly versus last year. We have aligned our innovation with our growth opportunities and launched our next generation AI powered mocap solution. We've also expanded our addressable markets with new products, and our acquisitions in smart manufacturing added new IP, markets, and technology. We are also in a stronger position to scale as we've strengthened our leadership team with two managing director hires. Sempra and IVS are being merged to drive synergy and EBIT improvement. And overall, we remain firmly focused on long term growth markets for the group. So now I will hand you over to Zoe for the financial review.

6:49 Thank you, Imogen, and good afternoon. As Imogen has said, we're pleased with our performance in the period. We saw an improvement in order intake, 45% increase for the group, which includes inorganic as well as organic growth. But importantly, we saw motion capture up 21%. And as we saw we also saw an 8% rise in revenue year on year, taking it from GBP 41,500,000 to GBP 44,800,000. We've got continued higher margins just below 65% and adjusted EBIT increased by around 29% to GBP 2,200,000 from GBP 1,700,000.

7:36 And importantly, both revenue and adjusted EBIT were in line with our market consensus. Cash remains robust at GBP 37,300,000 after funding buybacks, dividends, R and D and acquisitions. And cash generated from operating activities before tax was GBP 6,700,000 compared with GBP 300,000 last year, reflecting our tight control of working capital, particularly on our inventories. Overall, from a finance point of view, we have seen good progress with growth in revenue, adjusted EBIT and good operational cash generation. To provide some context on our comparative performance, it's useful to look at order intake, our opening orders as well as over the last few years.

8:28 FY twenty twenty two and FY twenty twenty three benefited from unusually high order volumes, driven primarily by COVID supply chain issues, which were delivered over the FY twenty twenty three and H1 twenty twenty four periods. Order intake is now normalized, and we are seeing a continued improvement and growth in intake as seen on the left hand graph. Moving on to the revenue and EBIT graph, you can see the growth in the revenue and that the graph show that compared to FY 2023, revenues were similar but delivered at higher margins. The margin differences reflect inflation, salary increases and importantly, our investment in R and D, particularly in our Markalus technology.

9:19 Markalus represents a significant strategic step, expanding our long term proposition and enabling broader market reach. As we move forward, FY 2025 provides a more normalized comparative base going forward, which the order intake increase and profitability increase. Taking a look at our adjusted EBIT bridge from FY 2024 versus FY 2025. And adjusted EBIT is used to measure the performance of the business excluding certain items, which we consider do not reflect the trading performance of the period or by excluding by its greater clarity over financial trends and assist with the year on year analysis.

10:06 The adjustments in the year totaled 2,600,000 versus financial year '24 of $3,600,000 They include our usual adjustments, the share based payment charges, amortization of intangibles arising on acquisitions, costs relating to the closure of IMU New Zealand in FY 2024. And then also in this year, we have an impairment of 750,000 due to technical obsolescence in motion capture markerless project reflecting the nature of machine learning technology development, which was superseded when the product was released during FY 2025. Our adjusted EBIT increased 29% year on year, following from the GBP 1,700,000 on the left hand side of the graph to the GBP 2,200,000 on the right side.

11:03 The key drivers for this increase were contributions from our newly acquired smart manufacturing businesses, Stemper and Amber Optics at an approximate 1,000,000, 38% of organic growth in our IVS business, along with cost saving initiatives across the group and continued high gross margins. Our R and D investment shifted with lower expensed R and D and a higher capitalized development, reflecting investment in new products and the launch of Markless. This had a net benefit to the P and L of GBP 900,000. We did see a reduction in motion capture sale volume consistent with the headwinds from the reduction in U. S. Academic funding.

11:50 However, this was offset by that organic growth in IBS and new acquisitions, profit contribution and cost savings across the group to provide a growth of 29% in adjusted EBIT in the year. Looking at our cash bridge, cash of GBP 50,700,000 in FY 2024 and moving along to the cash of GBP 37,300,000 FY 2025. We have an EBITDA of GBP 5,500,000. We've got capitalized R and D of GBP 3,300,000, along with GBP 400,000 of the CapEx. Working capital improvements added GBP 1,200,000 cash, benefiting from that inventory improvement, which moved from GBP 7,700,000 to GBP 5,900,000 for the year end despite having acquiring additional stock from our new acquisition, Sempra.

12:53 We've got net acquisition spend was GBP 4,200,000, so that's the spend Sempra and Amber Optics. We've got interest income contributed GBP 1,700,000. We paid GBP 4,200,000 to own dividends and executed GBP 8,300,000 through the buyback, which reflects the initial 6,000,000 plus a further 4,000,000 during the year. Overall operational cash generated before tax was 6,700,000 up from the 400,000 in FY twenty four. When looking at the performance of two divisions, Smart Manufacturing now represents a larger proportion of the sales at 29% and up from 7% of last year.

13:41 Both divisions had clear drivers behind their performance this year. In motion capture, we continue to innovate, manage costs tightly and position ourselves for new markets with the launch of Marklet as well as seeing improvements in the EMEA, I and APAC regions. In Smart Manufacturing, we focused heavily on operational efficiency, strengthening systems, improving margins and pairing the Sempra and IBS merger, which will create a strong and more scalable platform. Looking at geographies, North America was down as expected around 30% year on year, affected by the academic funding headwinds, while all other regions delivered growth.

14:27 Capital allocation. We have a fair amount of feedback from our shareholders on our capital allocation and our intent. So we thought it would be helpful to set out how we've deployed capital over the past few years, both in returning value to shareholders and investing for growth, and then some additional information on the strategy going forward. In FY 2025, capital return to shareholders is GBP 12,500,000, including buyback of GBP 8,300,000 and dividends GBP 4,200,000. Other allocation includes R and D investment, where we've capitalized GBP 3,300,000 and acquisitions at a net cash of GBP 4,200,000. Our capital allocation priorities for the future, however, remain clear.

15:15 We have organic growth and innovation. We will continue to invest in our R and D and our product development and innovation enhance our capabilities commercially and our customer experience continue to drive efficiencies in the operations as we scale. We continue also with our M and A, targeting small bolt on acquisitions that will accelerate our growth, which will add rich IP, adds technology and market and geography reach, maintaining our disciplined valuation policy. When looking at our shareholder returns, there is continuation of the in flight buyback program.

16:00 There is still a further GBP 1,500,000 to utilize out of the GBP 10,000,000 and we are continuing with a dividend payment for this year. We are paying at GBP 3.25, which will be an outlay of approximately GBP 3,800,000, which although is currently uncovered, reflects the confidence in the future and the strong cash generation of the business. But we are reviewing the policy, and we recognize we need to return to cover on the payment. The full capital allocation plan will be shared following shareholder consultation. And finally, to summarize our financial performance, we've delivered revenue growth of 8% and an adjusted EBIT of growth of 29%.

16:49 We've had robust order intake up 45% when taking into consideration our new acquisitions and up 21% year on year in motion capture. We've delivered strong operational cash generation, continued with the working capital improvements and reported around a 30% reduction in inventory year on year. And we have implemented continued tight cost control and efficiencies, not just through the integration of smart manufacturing businesses, but also across motion capture business, building the platform for improving profit margins and growth of the businesses. We've entered the New Year in a strong position, supported by the robust balance sheet and cash resources, Three point the 37,300,000 cash allows us to continue investing in our growth through small bolt on m and a and organic growth.

17:46 And I'll hand back to him, madam. Thank you, Joey. I'm now going to speak to you about the great opportunity we see in our two divisions and the market drivers. In the motion capture market, where we cover a human and object measurement, our current total addressable market is around 236,000,000 projected to reach $524,000,000 by 230. This growth is driven by expanding use cases, adoption of the Markerless technology into existing and new markets, and wider adoption of motion capture across geographies. Our hybrid technology consisting of marker based and Markerless used simultaneously will strengthen our offering to our existing customer base and open up new applications.

18:34 In the smart manufacturing market, the vision and inspection metrology markets within are growing, expected to reach $15,600,000,000 and $1,200,000,000 by 2030 respectively. This growth was driven by increasing regulations in sectors such as medical and aerospace and by the broader digital transformation across manufacturing and industry. Across both markets, we compete from a position of strength. In motion capture, we are the got recognized gold standard. And in smart manufacturing, our technology addresses industries where reliability and accuracy are paramount. Our strategic focus in motion capture will be to accelerate the adoption of our Markless and hybrid solutions by enhancing their commercial and technical capabilities.

19:24 In smart manufacturing, we will combine our Vision IP with a more repeatable product portfolio by merging IVS and Sempra and shifting away from bespoke projects to drive scalable, higher margin growth. M and A is smart on Fraction, we will continue to seek earnings accreted small bolt on acquisitions that expand our technology market and geographic reach. Further, with focused and stronger teams in place, we can explore cross divisional AI strategies and technology sales. At the half year, we signaled that we're working on refining the group strategy to reflect the evolution of the business, the launch of Markalus, the build out of smart manufacturing, and the appointment of dedicated divisional managing directors.

20:13 That work is now well advanced and has a clear direction of travel focused on scaling our core technologies, increasing the proportion of recurring revenue, and maintaining disciplined capital allocation, including selective bolt on m and a. Following the appointment of our new chair in November, the board believes it is right that he is fully involved in finalizing this plan. We therefore intend to set out a strategy in h one fiscal year twenty six, including priorities and the three year framework we will use to measure progress and expect to present it at an investor event, the details of which will be announced in due course. Machine learning already enhances our marker based technologies as we've been using AI in our solutions since 2018.

21:03 Our Markless research project began in 2019 with the full investment secured in 2021 to build machine learning AI team. Our recently launched Markless technology has been developed using our proprietary Vicon Vision Archive, a large and growing motion dataset. This dataset is being used to continually train and evolve our proprietary Vicron Vision model, which provides the data for our customers to work with. In vision inspection, AI has been used since 2019 for image and object classification. We train our models on an image data bank to provide the required metrics for the factory information systems to process and report.

21:49 Its value is clear. It enables our vision inspection systems to cope with unpredictable defects, changing lighting and other real world variations without stopping production whilst maintaining throughput and accuracy. AI isn't new to OXFORD METRICS, but its impact is accelerating our technology. I'll now take you through our areas of focus for fiscal year twenty six followed by our outlook. So looking ahead to to fiscal year twenty six, in our motion capture division, we will execute strongly on our expanded outbound sales function, focus on emerging territories who are adopting motion capture on a broader scale, form tactical partnerships that can extend our reach, and expand our markless and hybrid capabilities in the entertainment market and launch into life sciences, a major global market.

22:46 In our smart manufacturing division, we will merge IVS and Sempra to build a scalable growth engine and deliver synergies across both companies and the wider division, make a shift towards repeatable products that drive better margins and EBIT expansion, and continue to pursue disciplined earnings accretive small bolt on m and a. So to conclude, we're pleased with the progress made this year and excited about the opportunities ahead. We entered the new year in line with management expectations with a clear focus on execution, supported by a strong balance sheet, which gives us the flexibility to invest in our organic and inorganic growth strategies.

23:33 An energized leadership team with new divisional managing directors and board chair, we have the platform and scalability to drive EBIT improvements. Thank you. That's great, Image and Zoe. Thank you very much indeed for your presentation. I will now turn on your cameras. Ladies and gentlemen, please do continue to submit your questions using the q and a tab situated on the top right corner of your screen. While the company take a few moments to review those questions submitted today, I would like to remind you that a recording of this presentation, along with a copy of the slides and the published Q and A can be accessed via our investor dashboard. Imogen, if I may now hand back to you to take us through the Q and A, I'll pick up the mute at the end. Thank you. Okay. Thank you very much, everybody. So thank you, everyone, for coming to our presentation today, and thank you for the questions that we've received pre pre the meeting and those who have submitted questions throughout presentation.

24:30 So I'll first question is how could the recent m m and a activity in the entertainment industry, for example, the proposed Netflix, Warner Brothers on now Paramount Plus, obviously, deal affect OXFORD METRICS competitive position and strategic opportunities? Well, it will only really directly affect OXFORD METRICS if it delays projects that involve motion capture. So that's really the the way that we see the the MNA activity affecting us. I think, Zoe, you take this question too. Yeah. How will The UK budget affect OXFORD METRICS increasing costs? Well, it it won't significantly or materially impact impact Oxford METRICS for a couple of reasons. I mean, the salary sacrifice and pensions, obviously, will in 2029, but currently, the national minimum wage increase, Oxford METRICS, we are Real Living Wage Foundation accredited.

25:35 What that means is Real Living Wage is worked out on actual costs to live in The UK rather than the minimum set by the government. So it does tend to be a higher level than the minimum way wage. So we haven't got any impact from the increase of the minimum wage in our in our in our businesses at this point in time. Obviously, the EV changes will have an impact to our employees as they're not quite as attractive. We have relatively small fleets, so the tax on them will again be immaterial for the business. Thanks, Faye. Could you give us an update on the m and a activity? So we have covered this a few times during the presentation, but we are still concentrating on those small bolt on acquisitions that can accelerate our smart manufacturing strategy, technology rich, extend market reach, and geography rich.

26:26 It's selective, and we follow our strict published financial criteria, earnings accretive, able management teams in a good route to profit or profitable. And we continue our program of having lots of conversations and qualifying in and out quickly there. So the next question is how much will Markless contribute to the group? So Markless is a transformational technology for motion capture. So we're increasing its technical and capabilities to more Mark customers and markets and reviewing our commercial models. We expect to present in more detail about this at the forthcoming investor event. But over the medium term, it's fair to say that we see Markulus acting as a catalyst for a higher proportion of software and recurring revenues across the group.

27:15 Greg h asks no. That's a little bit further on. What is our biggest challenge? Yes. This is a good question. I think, really, our biggest challenge is the macro events and conditions of The United States. As the recovery of this market and funding is unclear. But we are taking positive actions to optimize our offering for perhaps more limited budgets, such as the launch of the Valkyrie six camera that we announced in the summer to to help out with that. Zoe, I think you're taking the next question. Yes. Which is given that the shares are currently trading below book value, can you comment on whether the board intends to extend the increase of share buyback program? And how are you thinking about buybacks versus the use of capital at the valuation?

28:08 I think possibly in the presentation, that's hopefully been answered a little bit for you. But just to sort of recap, we are reviewing our capital allocation alongside the final stages of the five year strategy, and we'll look to feedback at the investor event that we are planning after full consultation with our shareholders. You know, we are looking at the dividend policy, the buyback, investment as well within our business in organic and inorganic growth. Okay. It's a long next question. Long next question. So I'm not gonna read out the whole question, but it it's basically asking about that we the adjusted share based pay what's the actual quantum in the costs of all the adjustments that we've made to get to our adjusted EBIT. Now this year, the let the adjustments totaled 2,600,000.

29:08 Last year was 3,600,000. Now we have similar adjustments in there that the business has done on previous years. So you've got the share based payment, the amortization of acquired intangibles, as well as some more one off costs that we wouldn't expect to see reoccurring in in the futures. So part of that is the cost associated with the running down and closing down of the IMU New Zealand. Going forward, they will be very minimal. We have just some legacy contracts still still with that business. And then the other one is 750,000 for for the impairment of development.

29:58 So so, yeah, we wouldn't expect these costs to be ongoing in the business. K. I'll just there's a few other questions that have asked a little bit more detail around that development impairment of 750,000 around, the market technology. So the market technology is a machine learning, obviously, technology, and the impairment is down to technical obsolescence of development that didn't actually make it into the final product that we launched in in the fiscal year, and it was superseded during that period and therefore has been amortized accordingly. Mhmm. And impaired accordingly. Sorry. Okay. So question nine. Greg, h, thank you for your question. Can motion capture act as a platform to boost smart manufacturing?

30:48 So in terms of where we're looking there is on the video, there was a, just a little shot from our Capital Markets Day of eighteen months ago where we showed our Markless technology actually tracking a technician around a smart manufacturing workbench. So we do see potential for Markless perhaps to to to leapfrog over into technician tracking or, factory floor tracking. In motion capture, of course, we use we're using AI and machine learning as are certain areas in our smart manufacturing companies. Obviously, there's a a clear strategy there to make sure that we're using best practice in in our AI strategy and the tools that we use as well. Moving on to question 10 from Mark. Quite a long question, but in in essence, the organic revenue growth that we're targeting for smart manufacturing in short, medium term, Laurie?

31:42 Yeah. So, obviously, we've had great organic growth in f y twenty five or 38% in smart manufacturing. We're market numbers are consensus out there are we're looking at around 10% from an organic point. That is a conservative estimate, we believe. And, you know, there's lots of work going on with that smart manufacturing of integrating the two business, etcetera, will all help improve that those growth rates, hopefully. Great. Another question from Sam around 38% organic growth. How is it calculated? It is purely looking at the organic growth. So it's excluding the new acquisitions, Sempra, and excluding that bolt on, that smaller bolt on and Amber Optics.

32:32 It's purely looking at IBS sales on a year on year basis. K. Which one we have? Gross margins. And gross margins for smart manufacturing, I mean, the division is slightly different. You've got the Sempra is a lot more of distribute model, and then IBS is high. So the the business together, we are estimating to be about mid fifties. Yes. And, of course, with the strategy that we're going to be pushing out with the products projects to products, that's all about improving margin in that in that division and pulling that margin up higher over the period of time as as products are higher margin than the project work that we do.

33:25 Question on the opening order book. So question is opening order books, order in hand looks worrying low for FY '25. Is this headwind for FY '26? No. Absolutely. It isn't. We what we've seen in the last year or so is our order book normalizing. If you go back to pre COVID levels that this business or the motion capture business particularly did not have high order books, you know, circa 1,000,000, 2,000,000 were very, very normal. So it's not worrying. What is our key driver is looking at order intake, and that's obviously, we can see that has a 21% increase. Question on the finance expense not explained.

34:12 Finance expense not explained. I think perhaps a bit dig down into the notes. It it probably is, but there is some financing costs and FX within that that relates to IMU New Zealand. So, again, not a recurring cost. Okay. Alright. Some interesting ones coming in now. Okay. Let's So the outlook for bolt on acquisitions. Well, there's a lot of lot of good companies out there as I I talked about before, but you do need to have a lot of conversations to to really find the ones that are going to to fit in with your overarching strategy and that that also importantly meet our valuation criteria as well.

35:00 Okay. We talked about the impairment. Yeah. There's a question here, number 15, about EPS. Oh, yes. And given significant numbers of adjustments to EPS, would it also make sense to to just add the tax charge? I don't I don't think it would. I mean, the other impact on this number, I think it's not only tax, it's also the interest. We've obviously got a reduction in interest as we've, you know, utilized cash. We've returned £12,500,000 of cash to investors this year. So, of course, that will reduce down our interest going forward. So so it absolutely should be bear in mind when we're looking at that EPS.

35:50 But I think, yeah, I think our adjustments, it's it's more looking at that EBIT adjustment, I think, number is more appropriate for the business at this point in time. Okay. And I think probably for the final sort of question answer is I'll group together quite a few themes that we've had in some of the questions around, the numbers that are out in the market, what we intend to do with our cash, buybacks, tender offers, etcetera, etcetera, is that this is, you know, the priority for the invest forthcoming investor event is to lay out that framework for the three year, period in more detail. It's to review, which is in review our capital allocation policy, including return to shareholders via buyback or dividends, etcetera, m and a, all under review, and will be, you know, a big part of that investor event to come.

36:48 So I think, on that basis, I think we'll close-up. Thank you, everybody, for your questions and for, spending time today learning a bit more about OXFORD METRICS. Thank you. Fantastic. Image and Zoe, thank you for updating investors today. Could I please ask investors not to close this session as you will now be automatically redirected to to provide your feedback in order that the board can better understand your views and expectations. This will only take a few moments to complete, and I'm sure we'll be greatly valued by the company. On behalf of the management team of OXFORD METRICS PLC, we would like to thank you for attending today's presentation, and good afternoon to you all.