New markets, new services and new enterprise contracts
HY21 HIGHLIGHTS• Audit Reviewed revenue of $2.49 million up 53.3% on prior corresponding period (pcp)• Australian headquarters established and operational• New contracts with multinational enterprise companies, South32 Coal Holdings (Pty) Ltd (now Seriti Power), Anglo-American subsidiary, Kumba Iron Ore Limited, Perenti subsidiary, AMS African Mining Services and Syngenta• Entered three new markets – Namibia, Zambia and Australia• Signed largest integration deal in company history with Doosan Mobility Innovation• Added three additional services to core remit, light detection and ranging (LiDAR),security monitoring and advanced drone pilot training• Post-balance date acquisition of Arvista Pty Ltd (“Arvista”) to further strengthen Delta Drone’s drone-based data service and technology solutions for its enterprise clients, and further accelerating the Company’s growth in the Australian market31 August 2021 – Global drones-as-a-service provider, Delta Drone International Limited (ASX: DLT) is pleased to provide this business update for the half year ending 30 June 2021 (HY21), along with its Appendix 4D.
Commenting on the Company’s progress Delta Drone International CEO, Christopher Clark said:
“The first half of 2021 has been a significant period for Delta Drone International as we continue to cement ourselves as a leading drones-as-a-service provider in Africa through substantial contract wins with some of the world’s most well-known enterprise and mining companies. We aim to earn the same reputation through our unique service offering and unmatched level of expertise in new markets as our operations ramp up in Australia.”
“The addition of three new services to the Delta Drone International remit has contributed to the Company’s success over the last six months with light detection and ranging (LiDAR), security monitoring and advanced drone pilot training contracts adding to our $2.49 million in revenue.”
“The Delta Drone International Australian headquarters is fully operational with initial hires made in Perth and Adelaide. We are gearing up for a big second half, signing our first contract since the reporting period and conducting beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flight trials with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) that showcases our ability to fly drones safely over people with our patented ParaZero safety systems.
This type of technology will catapult the drone industry into its next era through uses such as urban deliveries and entertainment.”
“Through prudent operations and cost management we are able to use our current cash reserve for a long runway to support current operational needs and future business growth in Australia.”
FINANCIAL OVERVIEW
Receipts from customers for HY21 totalled $2.59 million.
Delta Drone International incurred an operating loss of $1.49 million for H121. This reflects the Company’s current strategy, in using its current cash reserve to support the growth of the business in Australia.
Cash in bank as at 30 June 2021 was $2.95 million, which provides sufficient flexibility for DLT to carry out its current growth strategy.
COMMERCIAL UPDATE
Delta Drone International continues to sign significant contracts with some of the world’s most well-known enterprise companies, further strengthening its position as a leading ‘drones-as-a-service provider’. Key contracts during the period include:
ParaZero OEM integration with Doosan Mobility Innovation
Delta Drone International’s safety specialist brand, ParaZero, signed its largest multinational OEM (original equipment manufacturer) integration deal in March, with industrial equipment world-leader, Doosan Mobility Innovation. ParaZero integrated its patented SafeAir parachute technology with Doosan’s award-winning DS30 endurance drone.
Ag-tech contract with Syngenta
Building on an established partnership with Syngenta since 2018, RocketFarm expanded its remit into Zambia and used its advanced data capabilities to virtually deliver crop visualisation and analysis in real-time while also allowing remote data capture and sharing of Syngenta’s field trials in the region – an essential part of the company’s research and development process which historically, was conducted face-to-face.
Five-year contract extension with South32 Coal Holdings (Pty) Ltd (now Seriti Power)In June, Delta Drone International commenced a significant five-year contract extension with global mining and metals company South32 Coal Holdings (Pty) Ltd (now Seriti Power) in South Africa.
The renewed agreement was signed after a successful six years of Delta Drone International providing its drones-as-a-service capabilities across mine surveying and real-time data collection services.
Contract expansion with global mining customer
In April, Delta Drone International expanded its remit with a longstanding mining customer who required a solution to examine mining site expansion options more accurately.
The versatility of DLT’s drones-as-a-service model along with the latest drone technology and knowledge of its specialised mining drone pilots, allowed DLT to deliver a tailored LIDAR solution and keep the work in-house.
The project is a testament to the value the drones-as-service model provides by delivering solutions outside DLT’s core remit to assist customers with daily business challenges.
ParaZero contract with Kumba Iron Ore Limited in South Africa
During May, DLT’s safety specialist brand, ParaZero, signed its first customer contract in South Africa with leading enterprise mining company Anglo American subsidiary, Kumba Iron Ore Limited (Kumba).
Kumba will enhance its safety operations by installing ParaZero’s SafeAir parachute safety system at scale to their on-site drone fleet.
The contract was a result of the synergy benefits of the combined Delta Drone and ParaZero businesses and represents the potential for cross-promotion through all Delta Drone International’s specialist brands.
AMS African Mining Services for stockpile measurement
Delta Drone International was recontracted by Perenti subsidiary, AMS African Mining Services for a three-month stockpile volume measurement project. Delta Drone International deployed its mining specific drone fleet once a week to accurately track on-site stock volumes so AMS could better optimise their supply chain and have a better understanding of how much work the site had left on its project.
Complex auditing projects with Interwaste and BDO
In June Delta Drone International was recommissioned by global accounting firm BDO to again provide its tailored drone solution to count more than 25,000 sheep for a client verification audit.
The project was completed in 2.5 hours with 99.9% accuracy – a task that historically would require a team of auditors and days to complete with greatly reduced accuracy.In addition, Delta Drone International was commissioned by Interwaste on a contract to provide advanced thermal imaging data to assist the organisation create more detailed air quality reports to monitor the environmental conditions of waste and landfill sites in South Africa.
Using thermal imaging technology, DLT was able to capture visual temperature datasets in near real-time, transmit them, through the cloud to the customer so they could be complemented by traditional data sources to create more dynamic air quality reports that more accurately show changes in micro-climate or local environmental conditions.
OPERATIONAL UPDATE
Delta Drone International continues to cement its position as a leading ‘drones-as-a-service’ provider. The Company has expanded operations into Namibia, Zambia and Australia, and continues to work with leading regulation authorities to ensure safe drone practices.
Namibia expansion Drone Safety & Legal (Pty) Ltd. (DSL), an accredited training subsidiary of Delta Drone International expand its training operations into Namibia to deliver advanced drone operations training for enterprise companies.
The courses have been designed specifically for enterprise drone operators with anintermediate understanding of aerial data capture, to gain deeper insights into the magnitude of ways advanced drone use and its associated services can add value to their operations.
University of Pretoria Drone Pilot Course
Delta Drone International became the first organisation to provide specialised Remote Pilot License (RPL/ RePL) drone courses in Africa in conjunction with the University of Pretoria. Drone Safety & Legal (Pty) Ltd. designed the RPL course specifically to support the mining, agriculture and engineering sectors in the region. DSL expert trainers provided the practical, safety and licencing instruction, while University of Pretoria lecturers provided the related theory.
Australian operations update
Delta Drone International’s Australian operations continue to build, with initial Project Engineers hired in Western Australia to support the region’s vast mining sector. The new hires have enabled the South Australian team to build on the agriculture opportunities of the business, with key partnerships established in the state.
DLT is working closely with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and is preparing for its first BVLOS flight trials with the Australian regulator. BVLOS trials are key to the industry’s evolution through demonstrations of the latest technology and safety standards that showcase how drones can safely fly over people and populated areas.Post-balance date, Delta Drone announced the acquisition of Arvista Pty Ltd to furtherstrengthen the Company’s drone-based data service and technology solutions for itsenterprise mining clients, and further accelerating its growth in the Australian market.
OUTLOOK
Delta Drone International is focused on growing revenue with a significant investment in sales and marketing to harness the reputation of its technology and operations leadership as it executes its Australian growth strategy. Additionally, the Company is enhancing its operational efficiencies as it works to reduce and control overhead costs within the business to ensure a longer runway for the Company to focus on execution.
This announcement has been authorised for release by the Board of Delta Drone International Limited.
