AND here 'tis: It's all here, just what you wanted to know. GLAH... Mal
29 August 2022
Ms Ramona Seeto
Advisor, Listings Compliance (Sydney)
ASX 20 Bridge Street Sydney NSW 2000
By e‐mail:
Dear Ms Seeto
Re: Kleos Space S.A. (‘KSS’): Aware Query
Kleos Space S.A. (KSS or the Company) refers to your letter dated 25 August 2022, received on 26
August 2022, referencing the Company’s Half Yearly Report and Accounts for the period ended 30
June 2022 (the HY Report).
The Company’s responses to the queries in your letter are as follows:
1. For each of the following events, please state whether KSS is of the view that the information is
information that a reasonable person would expect to have a material effect on the price or value
of its securities: 1.1. the first satellite failure; 1.2 that KSS’s revenue would not be impacted by the
failure; 1.3 the second satellite failure; 1.4 that KSS’s revenue would be impacted by the failure;
and 1.5 the final outcome of the technical review resulting in the impairment of all four satellites.
The Company does not consider these matters to constitute information which a reasonable
person would expect to have a material effect on the price or value of its securities.
2. For any events identified in question 1 where KSS’s answer is “no”, please advise the basis for that
view.
The Company formed the view that there are primarily three elements that would play into
whether a reasonable person would expect the events identified in question 1 to have a material
effect on the price or valuation of the Company’s securities.
Kleos Space S.A. 7 Rue de l’Innovation, L‐1896 Kockelscheuer, Luxembourg ‐ ARBN 625 668 733 / RCS B215591
2
Revenue Risk
The Company notes that no existing customer contracts are dependent on the first cluster of
satellites commissioned (KSM1 cluster), nor is the Company’s ability to provide services
dependent on the functioning of this cluster. Therefore, no current revenue streams are
impacted by the relevant failures.
Because all revenue targets have been based on the operating capability of the subsequent KSF
series of satellite clusters, the expected delays in achieving targeted revenue, previously flagged
by the Company in its quarterly activities report for the June 2022 quarter, are unrelated to the
failure of the KSM1 satellites, and relate to timing of completion of the commissioning process
for the KSF‐1 and KSF‐2 clusters.
Systemic Technical Risk
Because the Company does not design or manufacture the satellites itself, impairments of this
nature are specific to a manufacturer. As it is public knowledge that the KSM1 satellites were
designed and manufactured by a different manufacturer than the KSF series of satellites, any
design/hardware issues would be limited to the KSM1 cluster only, and thus would not
systemically impact the Company’s overall ability to generate revenue.
Goodwill Risk
The KSM1 cluster (Scouting Mission) was intended as the demonstrator for the constellation,
used for the testing and development of signal and geospatial intelligence intellectual property,
which was successfully completed. As the technology was proven and the business model has
always been dependent upon the more advanced KSF series of satellites, the Company formed
the view that the failure of a demonstrator satellite would not have an impact on the Company’s
reputation with customers or on an investor’s investment decision.
3. Please state the date on which KSS first became aware of each of the events referenced at
question 1, and the circumstances surrounding KSS becoming aware at that time.
In January 2022, the first satellite stopped operating and the second satellite stopped operating
in April 2022. Due to the complexity associated with satellites and their underlying designs, it is
not uncommon for technical issues to result in extended periods of non‐operation while
potential solutions are being evaluated and implemented. In many instances, these technical
issues are subsequently resolved, and the satellites go back into operation.
During the period between January 2022 and August 2022, the Company’s management was
engaged in extensive consultation with the manufacturer regarding remediation of the technical
issues, as well as evaluating alternative software solutions that would maximise a cluster’s
revenue‐generating capabilities. In mid/late August, management concluded that the KSM1
cluster would not commercially support the Company’s business requirements.
4. Why did KSS not inform the market of the satellite failures prior to the release of its half year
report and accounts, and why did KSS fail to release this information in the form of a standalone
price‐sensitive announcement?
As detailed above, KSS did not consider that the satellite failure would reasonably be expected
to have a material impact on the price of its securities, given that:
1. the affected satellites were part of a developmental cluster which was not anticipated to
make a material contribution to revenue in FY2022 and beyond;
2. there was no risk of this type of impairment spreading to other satellite clusters, due to
the change in satellite manufacturer for the Company’s revenue‐generating satellite
clusters; and
3. due to the nature of resolving technical issues on satellites, there was insufficient
information for management to present to the Board to assist in its impairment
assessment until late‐August.
Due to uncertainty regarding the ability to measure the recoverable amount attributable to the
cash‐generating unit to which the KSM satellites belonged, the satellite cluster was impaired as a
matter of prudence, given the difficulty of establishing a recoverable value for the relevant
satellites, and noting that the impairment loss could be reversed in a subsequent accounting
period. This was largely a technical accounting process undertaken as a matter of financial
prudence by the Company’s Board on 22/3 August 2022.
Following the Board’s impairment decision, the failure of the satellites and subsequent
impairment were prominently highlighted upfront in the HY Report, under the heading
“Significant changes in the state of affairs” and the HY Report was marked as market sensitive.
KSS therefore did not consider it necessary to release a further announcement on the matter.
5. Please confirm that KSS is complying with the Listing Rules and, in particular, Listing Rule 3.1.
The Company confirms that KSS is complying with Listing Rule 3.1.
6. Please confirm that KSS’s responses to the questions above have been authorised and approved
in accordance with its published continuous disclosure policy or otherwise by its board or an
officer of KSS with delegated authority from the board to respond to ASX on disclosure matters.
The Company confirms that this response has been authorised and approved by its Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer and communicated to the full Board.
Yours faithfully
Andy Bowyer, Chief Executive Officer
ASX Limited [[Listings]] ASX Customer Service Centre 131 279 | asx.com.au
25 August 2022
Reference: 57920 Ms Vanessa Chidrawi Company Secretary Kleos Space S.A
Dear Ms Chidrawi
Kleos Space S.A (‘KSS’): Aware Query
ASX refers to the following:
A. KSS’s announcement entitled “Half Yearly Report and Accounts” lodged on the ASX Market
Announcements Platform on 24 August 2022, which disclosed (emphasis added):
i. Under ‘Significant changes in the state of affairs’:
“Assessed the impairment of two KSM1 demonstrator cluster satellites which experienced a
technical malfunction. Subsequent to an extensive technical review including consultation with
the supplier and a review of possible performance mitigations, in August 2022 it was concluded
that these two satellites could no longer perform their mission. Because these satellite failures
reduced the cluster’s capabilities, all four satellites have been impaired at this stage. As explained
in note 12 to the financial statements, the Company has therefore accounted for an impairment
of €2,994,919 in the first six months of 2022, relating to satellite equipment in use.”
ii. At note 12 to the financial statements:
“During the first quarter of 2022, a suspected mechanical failure was detected in one of the
KSM1 Cluster satellites (KSM1-b) which was under supplier review and did not impact the
revenue generating ability of the cluster. During the second quarter of 2022 a suspected
technical failure was identified on a second KSM1 Cluster satellite (KSM1-a). Subsequent to an
extensive technical review including consultation with the supplier and review of possible
performance mitigations, in August 2022 it was concluded that these two satellites could no
longer perform their mission. An impairment review was performed resulting in a zero
recoverable amount. Because these satellite failures reduced the cluster’s/CGU’s capabilities
below the minimum number of satellites required to satisfy the CGU’s operational requirements,
all four satellites (representing the entirety of KSM1 cluster) have been impaired. The Company
has therefore accounted for an impairment of €2,994,919 in the first six months of 2022 as the
initial technical issues (subsequently confirmed) giving rise to the impairment arose prior to
30 June 2022.” iii. In the audit review report:
“We draw your attention to Notes 1 and 12 of the interim consolidated financial statements with
regards to the consequences for the Group of the impairment of all satellites in Cluster 1 (KSM1)
as well as the delay in completion of the commissioning of Cluster 2 (KSF1) satellites. These
technical issues have delayed the generation of revenues which indicates, amongst other
matters disclosed in Notes 1 and 12, that a material uncertainty exists that may cast doubt on
the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern. Our conclusion is not modified in respect of
this matter.”
2/4 ASX Customer Service Centre 131 279 | asx.com.au
B. Listing Rule 3.1, which requires a listed entity to immediately give ASX any information concerning it
that a reasonable person would expect to have a material effect on the price or value of the entity’s
securities.
C. The definition of “aware” in Chapter 19 of the Listing Rules, which states that:
“an entity becomes aware of information if, and as soon as, an officer of the entity (or, in the case of a
trust, an officer of the responsible entity) has, or ought reasonably to have, come into possession of the
information in the course of the performance of their duties as an officer of that entity” and section 4.4
in Guidance Note 8 Continuous Disclosure: Listing Rules 3.1 – 3.1B “When does an entity become aware
of information.”
D. Listing Rule 3.1A, which sets out exceptions from the requirement to make immediate disclosure,
provided that each of the following are satisfied.
“3.1A Listing rule 3.1 does not apply to particular information while each of the following is satisfied
in relation to the information:
3.1A.1 One or more of the following applies:
It would be a breach of a law to disclose the information;
The information concerns an incomplete proposal or negotiation;
The information comprises matters of supposition or is insufficiently definite to warrant
disclosure;
The information is generated for the internal management purposes of the entity; or
The information is a trade secret; and
3.1A.2 The information is confidential and ASX has not formed the view that the information has
ceased to be confidential; and
3.1A.3 A reasonable person would not expect the information to be disclosed.”
E. ASX’s policy position on the concept of “confidentiality”, which is detailed in section 5.8 of Guidance
Note 8 Continuous Disclosure: Listing Rules 3.1 – 3.1B. In particular, the Guidance Note states that:
“Whether information has the quality of being confidential is a question of fact, not one of the intention
or desire of the listed entity. Accordingly, even though an entity may consider information to be
confidential and its disclosure to be a breach of confidence, if it is in fact disclosed by those who know it,
then it ceases to be confidential information for the purposes of this rule.”
Request for information
Having regard to the above, ASX asks KSS to respond separately to each of the following questions and requests
for information:
1. For each of the following events, please state whether KSS is of the view that the information is
information that a reasonable person would expect to have a material effect on the price or value of its
securities:
1.1 The first satellite failure;
1.2 That KSS’s revenue would not be impacted by the failure;
1.3 The second satellite failure;
1.4 That KSS’s revenue would be impacted by the failure (as indicated at paragraph A.iii); and
3/4
ASX Customer Service Centre 131 279 | asx.com.au
1.5 The final outcome of the technical review resulting in the impairment of all four satellites.
2. For any events identified in question 1 where KSS’s answer is “no”, please provide the basis for that view.
3. Please state the date on which KSS first became aware of each of the events referenced at question 1,
and the circumstances surrounding KSS becoming aware at that time.
4. Why did KSS not inform the market of the satellite failures prior to the release of its half year report and
accounts, and why did KSS fail to release this information in the form of a standalone price-sensitive
announcement?
5. Please confirm that KSS is complying with the Listing Rules and, in particular, Listing Rule 3.1.
6. Please confirm that KSS’s responses to the questions above have been authorised and approved in
accordance with its published continuous disclosure policy or otherwise by its board or an officer of KSS
with delegated authority from the board to respond to ASX on disclosure matters.
When and where to send your response
This request is made under Listing Rule 18.7. Your response is required as soon as reasonably possible and, in
any event, by no later than 9:30 AM AEST Tuesday, 30 August 2022. You should note that if the information
requested by this letter is information required to be given to ASX under Listing Rule 3.1 and it does not fall
within the exceptions mentioned in Listing Rule 3.1A, KSS’s obligation is to disclose the information
‘immediately’. This may require the information to be disclosed before the deadline set out in the previous
paragraph and may require KSS to request a trading halt immediately.
Your response should be sent to me by e-mail at [email protected]. It should not be sent
directly to the ASX Market Announcements Office. This is to allow me to review your response to confirm that
it is in a form appropriate for release to the market, before it is published on the ASX Market Announcements
Platform.
Trading halt
If you are unable to respond to this letter by the time specified above, you should discuss with us whether it is
appropriate to request a trading halt in KSS’s securities under Listing Rule 17.1. If you wish a trading halt, you
must tell us:
the reasons for the trading halt;
how long you want the trading halt to last;
the event you expect to happen that will end the trading halt;
that you are not aware of any reason why the trading halt should not be granted; and
any other information necessary to inform the market about the trading halt, or that we ask for.
We require the request for a trading halt to be in writing. The trading halt cannot extend past the
commencement of normal trading on the second day after the day on which it is granted. You can find further
information about trading halts in Guidance Note 16 Trading Halts & Voluntary Suspensions.
Suspension
If you are unable to respond to this letter by the time specified above, ASX will likely suspend trading in KSS’s
securities under Listing Rule 17.3.
4/4
ASX Customer Service Centre 131 279 | asx.com.au
Listing Rules 3.1 and 3.1A
In responding to this letter, you should have regard to KSS’s obligations under Listing Rules 3.1 and 3.1A and
also to Guidance Note 8 Continuous Disclosure: Listing Rules 3.1 – 3.1B. It should be noted that KSS’s obligation
to disclose information under Listing Rule 3.1 is not confined to, nor is it necessarily satisfied by, answering the
questions set out in this letter.
Release of correspondence between ASX and entity
We reserve the right to release a copy of this letter, your reply and any other related correspondence between
us to the market under listing rule 18.7A.
Questions
If you have any questions in relation to the above, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours sincerely
Ramona Seeto
Adviser, Listings Compliance (Sydney)
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