Accelerating growth through technology
Light Science Technologies Holdings PLC brings together four companies in three growing market sectors. Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), Contract Electronics Manufacturing (CEM) and Passive Fire Protection (PFP).
We specialise in creating and manufacturing bespoke solutions for clients across a range of markets. Indoor growing, sensors, lighting, control systems, software, oil, gas, and passive fire protection.
Our companies share many synergies and focus on providing solutions to some of today’s key global issues, including food security, dependable supply chains and fire protection.
The group operates in sectors currently estimated to be worth over 80 billion pounds.
Source: nurturGROW LED lighting installed in UK major strawberry grower site
Achievements in 2022
£60m+
Combined forward orders/contracts and pipeline
500k+
Shipped goods across the Group
41%
Revenue growth over last 3 years
£1.1m
Record revenue month – November 2022
10
Global events attended
8
Global awards won for our products and business
10%+
Revenue growth YoY
£18m+
Forward orders into 2023+
7
New products launched into CEA market
Attractive market opportunities
Trends driving market growth
Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA)
Our CEA division designs and manufactures technology products and control systems for glasshouses, polytunnels, vertical growing, hoophouses and other indoor growing environments.
Rising population, climate change and a need for greater food security and sustainability, make Controlled Environment Agriculture a high growth market. The market will be worth over 30 billion pounds by 2030.
Together, the CEA division has over 35 years’ experience supporting growers to increase their crop yield and profitability, extending the growing season whilst cutting waste, water, energy, labour and other costs.
Contract Electronics Manufacturing (CEM)
UK Circuits and Electronics Solutions Ltd is a UK-based Contract Electronic Manufacturer offering an end-to-end full turnkey service. We provide design, rapid prototypes, manufacture, quality, and testing for printed circuit boards using surface mount and conventional (through-hole) assembly.
Passive Fire Protection (PFP)
Passive Fire Protection enables buildings to meet legislation and reduce the risk of fire spreading. The change in the Building Safety Act 2021 following the 2017 tragic events at Grenfell, highlighted the critical importance of building fire safety.
Injecta Fire Barrier was one of the first UK independent installers of the patented Injectaclad system that is used to reinstate a building’s cavity fire barrier. The solution is easy to install, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective without the need to remove any existing facade. The market was estimated to be worth 50 billion pounds in 2023.
The LST Holdings group has manufactured products for the fire protection industry for over a decade and witnessed significant growth in the sector.
Case study: Helping growers reduce energy
Running for six months, the project trialed three different light combinations to see which produced the most yield for the least energy. With the aim of championing crop production using technology, the project was carried out in partnership with CHAP at the Stockbridge Technology Centre (STC), in their advanced glasshouse facility in Selby, North Yorkshire.
Case study: Making year round growing a reality
We are working with a major soft fruit grower in the UK to help them to extend their growing season into the winter months using a bespoke light recipe for strawberries. They partnered with us, as our technology not only helped them lower energy but will also increase the yield from each harvest.
Latest company updates
Why Invest?
We work in dynamic and attractive growth markets
With the high potential of the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) sector, including a market size estimated at £20.5 billion and a projected CAGR of 21.1% by in 2025*, our tech-led products are ideally placed to help growers create profitable and sustainable crops.
With increasing demand in UK printed circuit boards due to Brexit and the impact of the global supply chain, our Manchester based facilities offer an end to end full turnkey service. We provide design, rapid prototypes, manufacture, quality and testing for printed circuit boards using surface mount and conventional (through hole) assembly.
We champion sustainability and solving global food shortage
With Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) allowing food to be grown nearer to existing populations and in any climate, we are helping to disrupt the food supply chain and make food more accessible and sustainable for everyone.
Our patent-pending sustainable horticulture lights have been designed to support the circular economy with over 90% of the components reusable and a lifecycle of over 25 years.
We use technology to help our customers grow more with less
Our full-service Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) solution includes analysing customers’ crop growing requirements to provide bespoke, low-energy, and sustainable equipment.
We monitor our customers’ indoor growing environments to maintain optimal growing conditions through lighting and sensor technology (once fully developed) which can help maximise crop yields, whilst minimising energy usage.
We have a strong base for accelerated growth
We achieved 24% growth in 2020 with full manufacture maintained throughout COVID-19 crisis. This has given us the perfect platform for accelerated growth and allowed us to fund the design and development of our products ready for market in 2021. Our business model focuses on a recurring revenue model, reducing the risk of investment.
*Figures validated from Global Grow Lights Market (2020) report by Mordor Intelligence. Using the combined revenue share of Europe and APAC to show the total available market in 2024. The total serviceable market is based on applying 44.7% LED sales. Figures converted from USD to GBP at 0.79493 – Source Xe.com (19 July 2020). 21.1% is for the light emitting diodes segment of the market.
Investment summary
Light Science Technologies Holdings (LSTH) has built on its established UK-based contract electronic manufacturing (CEM) business by launching highly innovative products for the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) market. This market is growing rapidly as farmers address the issues of climate breakdown and food security. Although most of the group’s revenues are currently attributable to the CEM division, our note focuses on the CEA activity because of its superior growth prospects.
