Coda Octopus Group, Inc. (CODA) Q2 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

Coda Octopus Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:CODA) Q2 2023 Earnings Conference Call June 14, 2023 10:00 AM ET

Company Participants

Jackie Keshner – Gateway Group, Inc.

Annmarie Gayle – Chairman & CEO

Gayle Jardine – Acting CFO

Conference Call Participants

Brian Kinstlinger – Alliance Global Partners

Walter Ramsley – R-Squared

David Wright – Henry Investment Trust

Operator

Good morning, and welcome to Coda Octopus Group’s Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2023 Earnings Conference Call. My name is Christine, and I’ll be your operator for today. Before this call, Coda Octopus issued its financial results for the fiscal second quarter ended April 30, 2023 including a press release, a copy of which will be furnished in the report filed with the SEC and will be available in the Investor Relations section of the company’s website.

Joining us on today’s call from Coda Octopus are its Chair and CEO, Annmarie Gayle; and its CFO, Gayle Jardine. Following their remarks, we will open the call for questions.

Before we begin, Jackie Keshner, from the Gateway Group will make a brief introductory statement. Ms. Keshner, please proceed.

Jackie Keshner

Thank you. Good morning, everyone, and welcome to Coda Octopus’ second quarter fiscal year 2023 earnings conference call. Before management begins their formal remarks, we would like to remind everyone that some statements we are making today may be considered forward-looking statements under securities law and involve a number of risks and uncertainties.

As a result, we caution you that there are a number of factors many of which are beyond our control, which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.

For more detailed risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our forward-looking statements, please see the disclosures and our earnings release and public filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made, except as required by law.

We refer you to our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for detailed disclosures and descriptions of our business, as well as uncertainties and other variable circumstances including, but not limited to risks and uncertainties identified in our Form 10-K and Form 10-Q for the second quarter. You may get Coda Octopus’ Securities and Exchange Commission filings free by visiting the SEC website at www.sec.gov.

I would also like to remind everyone that this call is being recorded and will be made available for replay via link in the Investor Relations section of Coda Octopus’ website.

Now I will turn the call over to the company’s Chair and CEO, Annmarie Gayle. Annmarie?

Annmarie Gayle

Thanks, Jackie, and good morning, everyone. Thank you for joining us for our second quarter 2023 earnings call. As a management, we have established over many years a good track record of running a profitable and sound business. We have also spent the last four years on the development of our new generation of underwater products and solutions, including our Echoscope PIPE and our Diver Augmented Vision Display system, DAVD, which underpin our growth strategy.

Management’s core focus is now on organically growing the business. Our current business target is growing the Marine Technology business this year by 22.2% to reach $18 million and growing the Services business by 6.7% to reach $8 million. We have a strong balance sheet and do not envisage the requirements for new capital to fund our growth.

Although, at the end of this quarter, we are behind on our full year 2023 business plan financial goals, we continue to be laser focused on our growth strategy and executing against this. From Echoscope rental, and sales projects we’re working on have unpredictably (ph) slowed, mainly in Asia, and therefore, in the second quarter, we did not achieve our revenue target for Echoscope solution.

I’d now like to summarize our second quarter highlights. Within our current business strategy, the two pillars of growth for our company are our Echoscope real-time 3D imaging sonar, the new generation of Echoscope PIPE and our recently launched Diver Augmented Vision Display system, DAVD system, which is in adoption by the U.S. Navy.

I will therefore focus my remarks on these two pillars. Turning firstly to the Echoscope. The underwater imaging sonar market is growing largely due to the new generation of underwater vehicles focused on bringing new capabilities to the subsea and underwater market. One of the key requirements for the defense market for these new vehicles is real-time 3D spatial perception and scene awareness technology.

It is therefore our strategy to work on increasing the number of defense underwater vehicle programs, which the Echoscope technology is embedded in. If we are successful with our strategy, this would open up long tail and recurring revenues for the business under these programs, which is similar to the business model of our engineering business.

In the second quarter, Echoscope sales were down and this is largely due to anticipated sales in Asia territory that did not come through in the second quarter as expected. We, however, continue to focus on our overriding strategy to increase our market share of the imaging sonar markets. In this quarter, we provided support to two of the defense programs that utilize our Echoscope. These programs are now entering their customer trial phase.

Turning to DAVD. The tethered DAVD system has now moved from the Navy’s R&D phase to their field adoption phase. And in the second quarter, we sold $1 million DAVD systems which will be distributed to new commands with the Navy, within our 2023 financial year fiscal projections, we have $2 million revenue targeted for DAVD.

Thus, in the second quarter, we have achieved 50% of our targeted revenues for this product and with the opportunities we are currently pursuing, we believe we will meet our 2023 fiscal year target for the DAVD.

We continue to pivot from an R&D focus to sales and marketing and brand building. The second quarter saw us having top quality engagements, some of these were closed door invitation only events with our target markets and we continued to raise awareness about our technology.

We participated in several events for the promotion of our products and services, including two key events, which were by invitation. Special Operations Forces Week 2023, which was hosted in partnership with United States Special Operations Command and Military Diver Training Continuum in Panama City, which had in excess of 250 military divers participating, a significant target market for the untethered version of DAVD.

We also showcase and presented the DAVD tethered solution at the Dutch Diving Regulatory body, SWOD, Special Weapons Ordnance Device exchange events in Papendrecht, Netherlands, which had a large turnout of diving companies, fire department, and that Depends, Labor Inspectorate in attendance.

We had successful demonstration of DAVD to the Dutch Navy in a vessel rescue penetration training facility in the Netherlands. We also had successful completion of DAVD trials with a major European offshore provider, who is actively discussing options for adoption. We also had successful engagement and demonstration of DAVD to new market opportunities for the Deep Saturation diving sector and multiple nation Special Forces untethered diving solutions.

We successfully supported two different defense underwater vehicle programs of US Prime Defense Contractors with their Echoscope PIPE integration in preparation for their ongoing sea trials with their end user customers. In the quarter, we also saw strong inquiries for rental of the DAVD solution for projects that had hindered by low visibility water condition.

In the second quarter, therefore, we had solid momentum and progress around our key pillars of growth both the DAVD and Echoscope PIPE. Looking forward, we are also discussing potential adoption by a Japanese construction company, sales of the valuation system for the DAVD untethered solution and working with U.S. project sponsor for the full adoption of the DAVD untethered system in 2024.

Turning to the DAVD adoption curve. DAVD is an important part of our growth strategy and we think it is important to update the market on the likely adoption curve for this recently launched technology. The customer adoption curve for nearly all such opportunities is the same. Stage one, initial demonstration and trials to establish interest. Then stage two, customer specific trials which are designed around their workflow typically on live operational missions. And stage three, decision on adoption and investment plan. This process can take up to two years to culminate in a decision.

To summarize where we are with some of these initiatives around the DAVD, therefore, turning firstly to DAVD tethered variant. DAVD tethered variant is an approved Navy use item, and it’s now in the field and adopted by the US Navy. The Navy has started purchasing field assistance as distinct from R&D systems. In this second quarter, we sold $1 million DAVD tethered systems. We’re now actively marketing this variant in both the commercial and defense sectors, including extending our model to lease and rental options.

Turning to DAVD untethered variant. The DAVD untethered variant is now delivered and under evaluation with project sponsors and we expect some initial evaluation systems to be purchased for broader field assessment in the third quarter. This variant was the center piece of the Special Operation Forces and Military Diver Training Continuum Event we attended in the quarter.

Coda Octopus will continue to support the field evaluation by providing training and other technical support that may be required by the project sponsor. Interest has grown in the DAVD in new diving communities and we are working with teams in the saturation diving community for both the U.S. Navy and Commercial European Dive Contractors.

Turning now to ongoing trials and adoption discussions. We have four second stage of foreign defense agency trials scheduled in our third and fourth quarters. One European offshore service provider in third stage and discussing investment plans, one European offshore service provider in second stage and we have already done DAVD customization work on the technology for this service provider.

We are actively discussing adoption options with one major Japanese offshore construction company, who is an established user of our Echoscope and who owns up to 15 Echoscopes within their operations. Due to their established use of our Echoscope technology, we believe the adoption process is likely to be much quicker, and we have provided commercial terms on the adoption to this customer.

Turning to expansion of the business model for DAVD technology allowing market access. We also believe from recent business development efforts that we could fast track adoption through rental and lease of the DAVD technology. This will also broaden the accessibility of the technology in the marketplace. We continue to believe that the likely inflection point for the DAVD therefore is in finance year 2024, where we hope to have acquisition budget lines established with other customers outside of the U.S. Navy and where the U.S. Military commands has started purchasing DAVD untethered system, our biggest opportunity for the product following completion of their evaluation period.

To conclude, therefore, we remain comfortable targeting approximately $25 million in revenue for our technology business on a standalone basis in financial year 2024. In financial year 2022, this business, that is the Marine Technology Business had revenue of approximately $15 million and this year, we’re targeting $18 million for this business on a standalone basis and at the same time maintaining our profitability.

Turning now to new products and other progress. A number of key technologies were developed as part of the DAVD system, including the Digital Audio Communication Module and the subsea Edge Enhanced Video Module. The first of these has already been requested as a standalone product by the U.S. Navy and we have a purchase order to deliver the first small batch in our third quarter.

We are also in discussions with several vehicle manufacturers for the integration of our subsea Edge Enhanced Video Modules. These technologies allow us to expand our product portfolio through discrete packaging of already developed technology to further add and diversify our market reach and revenue. This product is also exciting for the company as the purchase process is significantly shorter due to the price point of these modules.

We also believe that there is a real need to advance underwater communication systems by moving from analog communications to digital communications, which is what this new digital audio communications module is designed for. The addressable market for this we believe is significant, if our product meets the addressable market brief.

Now turning to our Marine Engineering Business. We continue to reiterate that this segment is important for our group as it has strong pedigree in defense engineering with stellar relationships with prime defense contractors spanning decades. These are important relationships for our group strategy. There is a strong crossover of engineering skills, which is vital for us to maintain competitive lead in real-time 3D imaging sonar and our diving technology.

This business, that is the Marine Engineering Business supplies sub-assemblies into broader mission critical programs on the sub-contracts with prime defense contractors. This gives them the opportunity to have repeat orders to these sub-assemblies for the life of the program. Within this business segment, we are navigating headwinds from supply chain issues across various defense programs.

The supply chain difficulties apply not only to our own sourcing of components, but also crucially to our customers’ own supply chain issues in parts of the program unrelated to us. This is resulting in the broader program design requirements being slower to lock in due to the general unavailability of components. This has led to many instances of multiple iterations of the design proposal being submitted for the same work package, which in turn has resulted in slower order take, order intake in our first and second quarters.

However, we have two new programs which are now moving from their prototype phase into production phase where we expect to receive purchase order for the manufacturing of these sub-assemblies. We have successfully completed the environmental assessment test for one of these programs recently and we expect to receive the manufacturing order for these in the financial year.

We have also started to deliver the first of a small batch of Thermite mission computers to a NATO country. This will cumulatively positively impact this business and is an important first step in restoring the services business to its $10 million revenue profile over the next two years.

Let me now turn the call over to our acting CFO, Gayle Jardine to walk you through our financials before I provide my closing remarks. Gayle?

Gayle Jardine

Thank you, Annmarie, and good morning, everyone. Let me take you through our fiscal second quarter financial results. Let’s begin with revenue. In the second quarter of 2023, we recorded total revenue of $5.3 million compared to $5 million in the second quarter last year, an increase of 6.4%.

The Marine Technology business generated revenue of $3.6 million, compared to $3.5 million last year second quarter, a 2.6% increase. We’re excited about the mix of sales and as previously mentioned by Annmarie, in the second quarter, we sold $1 million of DAVD units, which is 50% of our DAVD revenue target for this financial year.

Looking now at gross profit margin. In the second quarter of 2023, we generated gross profit of $3.6 million, compared to $3 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2022. Gross margin in the second quarter of 2023 was 68.3%, especially 60.8% in the same year ago period.

In our Marine Technology business or product business, gross margin fell slightly to 75.3% in the second quarter of 2023 compared to 76.6% in the prior year second quarter, reflecting changes in the mix of sales. In the second quarter this year, we had more units of hardware in the mix of sales with less units of rentals and services.

Our Marine Engineering business gross margin was 53.9% versus 23.9% in the prior year second quarter. In the prior period, there was a high concentration of revenues from a particular low margin project.

Now moving to our operating expenses. Total operating expenses for the second quarter of 2023 increased 8.5% to $2.8 million, compared to $2.6 million in the second quarter of 2022, driven by a 10.3% increase in selling, general and administrative expenses, due to net increase and professional fees for services such as tax and audit.

Our selling, general and administrative costs in the second quarter of 2023 totaled $2.2 million, increasing from $2 million in the prior year second quarter. As a percentage of revenue, our selling, general and administrative cost for the second quarter 2023 increased to 42.3% of total revenue compared to 40.8% in the second quarter of fiscal 2022.

Looking forward on our cost structure, given the significant progress we’ve made in R&D in the last four years, we remain focused on aligning a significant portion of our resources and strategy from research and development to global business development, brand building, and investor relations. We believe we have developed world class products and solutions that provide market leading positions for CODA. And that we can make meaningful progress in our markets through these investments to create shareholder value.

Now to focus on operating income, which in the second quarter of 2023 was $855,000 compared to $481,000 in the second quarter of 2022. Operating margin was 16.1% compared to 9.7% in the second quarter last year. Net income before taxes in the second quarter of 2023 was $1 million compared to $493,000 in the second quarter of 2022. Net income after taxes in our second quarter 2023 was $1 million or $0.09 per diluted share, compared to $611,000 or $0.05 per diluted share in the same quarter last year.

Finally, looking at our balance sheet. As of April 30, 2023, we had $23.5 million in cash and cash equivalents on hand and no debt. This represents a $1.1 million cash decrease in the quarter due to the timing of our federal tax and state tax payments for the prior year, as well as prepayments for tax in this year, which totaled $1.27 million. This tax payment is also reflected in a $1 million reduction in our current liabilities. For the year-to-date, we have had a cash build of $0.5 million.

That completes my financial summary. Now, I will turn the call back over to Annmarie for closing remarks. Annmarie?

Annmarie Gayle

Thank you, Gayle. As stated previously, although, in the second quarter, we are behind in our business plan, we are focused on executing our existing plan and growth strategy. We have significant momentum around our gross pillars and again our focus is converting these into tangible near term opportunities for the business. Management will continue its efforts to explore the rental and lease model for the DAVD with the objective of galvanizing market adoption.

We also have a near term growth catalyst from the Digital Audio Communications Module. If we’re successful with this module, it will provide the company with diversification of revenue which counterbalances the longer sales cycle of both the Echoscope and the DAVD and potentially as a good stream of additional revenues for the company. We have a demonstrated track record of consistent profitability, and we have a solid on leverage balance sheet with cash on hand and no debt, which gives us confidence in our outlook for CODA.

Furthermore, with our solid balance sheet, we do not envisage needing growth capital for the growth targets we have set out for the next two years. We’re now happy to take your questions. Operator?

Question-and-Answer Session

Operator

Thank you. [Operator Instructions] Our first question comes from the line of Brian Kinstlinger with Alliance Global Partners. Please proceed with your question.

Brian Kinstlinger

Great. Thanks so much, and thank you for all the very detailed information on your markets in your end, and the exciting things going on. I wanted to start with your financial targets for fiscal ’23, especially the $18 million for marine projects. This would mark a substantial increase in demand for the second half of the year, especially with only a modest contribution, if I heard you right, which is about $1 million more for the DAVD. So first, have you seen an improvement in the Asian market? And then, whether you have or have not. what does give you the confidence in the second half of the year? You’re going to see much stronger results compared to the first half.

Annmarie Gayle

Brian, hi. It’s Annmarie. Thank you very much for the question. Yes. We’re really off plan, as I said and really, by this time, we really should have done around $9 million and that largely what we’ve seen really good level of inquiries, good level of proposal writings and good quality of opportunities that we are pursuing. However, what we’ve really seen is the slower pace of conversion from the Asian market, but nothing leads us to believe that the opportunities have gone away.

We still think that they’re valid opportunities for 2023. So whilst I believe that we are definitely off plan and we’ve got a lot of more to do to achieve that $18 million, I really think from what I am seeing for our business is that we still could be very close to the projections, the internal projections. Look, we haven’t reforecasted because then, we have no reason to do so.

As we said, what we’re seeing is slower pace of conversion, but nothing indicating that the opportunities that we are pursuing have gone away. They’ve just slowed. And that’s, not unusual, I mean, our sales cycle and quarterly fees are not necessarily linear, although within our projections, they are just for modeling purposes, linear. But, really, our focus is full year revenues and believe on a full year basis, we have no reason at this stage to reforecast that.

Brian Kinstlinger

Okay. And then as it relates to your two underwater vehicles in trials with the Echoscope PIPE. Is CODA’s technology the only one selected for those trial phases? And how long do you expect a trial phase might last?

Annmarie Gayle

Well, we don’t know what’s on the defense vehicles that are being, what other senses are there. We only know that our sensor is part of that solution. And I think that the two programs that we worked on this quarter, I think that they are at their advanced stage and from information we have, if this program or trials are successful, they’re likely to do a small batch in the beginning of Q1 next year, but it’s subject of course to their trials being successful and they continue to execute at the pace that we’re currently executing.

Brian Kinstlinger

Great. In the last quarter, you talked about having four of these underwater vehicles in the U.S. and one outside the U.S. Maybe share any details you commented on two. Are the other three, have they gone away? Are they still in the pipeline? There’s just no update on them. Just trying to understand how that pipeline may or may not have changed.

Annmarie Gayle

No. The pipeline is the same. One program is in Japan and four programs in the U.S. In fact, one program is a commercial opportunity. They have launched their new program. And I think that we are selling into that program. So I think they’ve done successful trials with their underwater vehicle. And I think that they are in the process of — I think this will be for them, a rental model to — I think that program is alive.

Our technology is part of their solution and the other programs are ongoing. But in this quarter, I think what I tried or the business is trying to emphasize is that the programs that we supported are advancing and moving from just their development fees into customer trials phase and we’re excited about that because it’s a significant move forward under the program.

Brian Kinstlinger

Got it. Thank you. And then my last question for now is, in the past, you’ve communicated — recent past, you’ve communicated your plan to invest more in sales and marketing. I see SG&A moved up a little bit, but not a material amount, at least in my opinion. Can you talk about where you are with that piece of the plan and what you have left, if you have something to invest in sales and marketing?

Annmarie Gayle

Yeah. So we’ve been doing a lot of legwork in the territories that are important to us. So Europe is really, really important. Asia is really important and the U.S. market. So let’s start with Asia. Really, what we are doing in Asia is expanding our network of agents and really what the business needs to do is to put boots on the ground to support agents and support our customers there. So the investment we’re making for marketing is supporting our agents in the field with support staff in country.

And that’s the model that we think will be very effective for our customers there because what our customers want to know, especially for these programs that we’re working on, especially for the DAVD, that there’s a code of that can provide support in country. So we’re in the process of moving support engineers into Japan to start with and China and South Korea. So that’s the first leg.

And of course, as I’ve mentioned, expanding our agents’ network, which means that appointing more agents and we have done that in the last since this year. We have appointed a number of new agents and provided training. In fact, in June, we have quite a big team going out to China to do not just demonstrations, but extensive training and our senior hydrographic severe will be there for several weeks providing support and training to our agents.

So we think that the best way for the countries where we don’t speak the language, the best way to support our customers like expanding our agent network, ensure that our agents are free and (ph) in country support for the opportunities that are ongoing and also when a customer has a problem on the ground, that, who the people are at hand to see this is what you need to do or the system needs to go back to base.

But we feel that this is the best model for us. So that’s that in the U.S., we continue to attend a lot of significant events and we are although our marketing costs were down, I think that on a full year basis, it’s just timing we will see marketing being much higher than last year because then we’ve got quite a lot of activities planned for the back end of the year.

And in the U.S., we’re still looking to recruit focused business development stuff, and that’s ongoing. And similarly in Europe, we are looking for people, but they’ve got to be the right people with the right background. But I’m pleased to see that we’re expanding our agents’ network at the same time and providing quite a lot of support and training for ongoing opportunities.

Brian Kinstlinger

Right. I would ask about the DAVD, but you provided so much good detail that I don’t really have any questions about it. So thanks for all your time.

Annmarie Gayle

Thank you very much, Brian. Thank you.

Operator

[Operator Instructions] Our next question comes from the line of Walter Ramsley with R-Squared. Please proceed with your question.

Walter Ramsley

Thank you. Hello, Annmarie. Thanks for all the information. I had a request, I guess, if you could elaborate a little further on the slow performance in Asia. You said the customers are dragging their feet a little bit. Is that because their own business is slowing down or what’s provoking that?

Annmarie Gayle

Well, we don’t have a lot of visibility as to the reason for the slow pace of conversion, either we’re told that projects is just moved a little bit to the right it’s not gone away. So, we don’t have any reason to be concerned, wherein good line of communications with our agent network, with the opportunities that we’re pursuing. And what we’re told is that they’ve just moved to the right. So I can’t give you more color as to the reason, but what I can say is that at this point, I am not alarmed because I believe it’s just a question that the project is pushed out a little bit from the scheduled Q2 to later on in the year.

Walter Ramsley

Okay. And as far as the Echoscopes and the military, I mean, my understanding is that the military around the world is really accelerating development of these underwater drones, essentially, is that the case or are they, kind of not moving as quickly as you would like either?

Annmarie Gayle

Well, it’s — look, the programs that we are really targeting for getting our vehicles embedded in, there’s a lot of front end work, because then if you think of a vehicle being manufactured to the end user requirement, that will take a couple of years. The work that Coda Octopus needs to do is to be part of that front end. It’s a little bit like Tesla. If Tesla is to bring out a new model or vehicle, all the specification for that model is locked down. And when that vehicle is then produced and supplied to the market, it’s the same specification for that model, that’s what we are doing.

So the program might take a couple of years, but, really, that is simply what happens when you’ve got new generation of anything. There’s a prototype phase, then there’s trial phase, then there is production phase. We are doing a lot of prototype or front end work to ensure we are part of that solution. And this is what gives us the confidence that in the future, that we are going to capture more market share because we’re certainly in a number of programs and it doesn’t stop with the five programs that we talked about last year.

Every year, this is our laser focus what are the new programs that Coda Octopus technology can get into and we’re having lots of discussions. In fact, one of the things that we had in the U.S. last year and that now is now been launched to the market. And as I said, we have sold a handful of system last year that same program has come back to us for a different program that they’re now developing for a different sonar within our series of sonar.

So we’re getting good repeat opportunities from — first of all, during that front end work, we’re a part of that solution, that solution works for them. They come back to CODA with a good and excellent track record and then we get on to another program. So I feel we’re doing a lot of the right things and really, the impact of those right things, which are the front end work that we’re doing to be part of that story where we’ll start yielding the results, Walter, of next year and onwards. So that’s really what we need to do. So [Multiple Speakers] and at the same time.

Walter Ramsley

That sounds correct. Okay. And then just one last question, these new military programs in particular, when they do a bake off on a new program, what’s your success rate? Do you win them all?

Annmarie Gayle

When we do a bake off, what do you mean? I’m not sure I understand what you mean?

Walter Ramsley

Well, they put out a request for bid or whatever it is to get an underwater vision system for their new secret drone. And so you put in your proposal and do other companies put in proposals and do you have a competition and what’s your success rate?

Annmarie Gayle

Well, I don’t know if because the way it works, it’s like a handful of I mean, most of these companies that are doing or producing underwater vehicle for defense market will be your prime defense contractors in the U.S., in Japan, in South Korea. And really, they really have a requirement already that says, and where we win is because they’re looking for real-time 3D imaging sonar technology and the one program knows of the CODA solution and we’re contacted. And also, where we were at the military continuum in Panama City. There was a huge swell around not just the DAVD system but the CODA Echoscope.

So there’s a lot of word-of-mouth that this is the only imaging sonar that will meet that brief for imaging in real-time 3D in zero visibility, water conditions. In fact, yesterday, I saw a paper that was — or the Coda Octopus technology around and that paper was unequivocal that this is the most advanced sonar technology in the market and the most capable and we just saw that yesterday. And, so there is — no it’s not controversial that our technology is the most advanced. And I think that the small number of prime defense contractors that are operating in the space, we’re kind of well known. So it’s not usually a competition for the sensor that they’re integrating in their vehicles. It usually starts with a dialogue that they’re trying to do this within what the details they can provide.

And then we answer a series of questions and then we provide them with data sheets and it goes on until they reach the point where they say, okay. We would like to buy a system for our fees, first fees. So we see very [Technical Difficulty] that we have good connections with the primes and that’s not just in the U.S., in Japan, in South Korea, where for example, on a number of programs in South Korea already, and that we’ve started supplying via sonar into their new vessels. So it’s a small community of users for real-time 3D imaging. And, unfortunately, I mean, unfortunately, rather, CODA is the show in town.

Walter Ramsley

Yeah. Sounds great. Thanks for answering all those questions. Congratulations.

Annmarie Gayle

Thank you very much, Walter.

Operator

Our next question comes from the line of David Wright with Henry Investment Trust. Please proceed with your question.

David Wright

Hey, Annmarie. Good morning. Thanks for having the call.

Annmarie Gayle

Good morning.

David Wright

Question, can you tell us the status of the search for a permanent CFO and whether or not you have a particular geography in mind for that CFO would be stationed.

Annmarie Gayle

Thank you very much, David for your questions. Yes, that’s ongoing. We’ve had a number of use (ph). Well, the position is opened, both in Edinburgh and in Orlando. And so we’re having some good quality conversations at the moment, and we’re hoping to make an appointment, in the next more number of months. So that’s where we are. But we we’re getting some good quality conversations and we’re hoping, as I said before to make an appointment in a small number of months. But of course, we want to emphasize, we want to make sure the right candidate for Coda Octopus.

David Wright

Okay. And just to go back into the script, I wanted to make sure I didn’t — I didn’t misunderstand you. When you were speaking right after describing the DAVD adoption curve and going through, you got to untethered and talked about what was going on with untethered. And then I thought I heard you refer to something called the saturation diving community. Did I understand the word saturation correctly?

Annmarie Gayle

Yes, you did. Exactly. Those are new communities that coming out of the SWOD that we — the SWOD event we attended in Papendrecht in the Netherlands and also at the Military Continuum in the U.S. We started conversations with different teams, including the deep diving saturation team. So these are new conversations that we’ve started and for around the DAVD.

David Wright

Okay. If you have another minute, could you just kind of briefly describe what is saturation diving?

Annmarie Gayle

Well, I probably, it’s just deeper diving where you dive in like a chamber environment. So it just means right at the moment, we’re doing more on surface diving and we sometimes dive a little deeper at the dive belt, but the saturation diving is much deeper diving and that’s where you would have things like the diving suits, and that’s really where the technology would be embedded in the diving suits.

David Wright

Okay. Well, thanks for the elaboration.

Annmarie Gayle

Simply deeper diving.

David Wright

Right. I wasn’t sure if it meant, lots and lots of divers saturating an area.

Annmarie Gayle

No.

David Wright

So thanks for explaining. Very good. Well, continue the good luck going forward.

Annmarie Gayle

Thank you very much. Thank you, David. Thank you.

Operator

Thank you. We have reached the end of the question-and-answer session. Ms. Gayle, I would now like to turn the floor back over to you. Ms. Gayle, I would now like to turn the floor back over to you

Annmarie Gayle

Thank you for joining our call today and for your interest in our company. Have a great rest of your day.

Operator

Thank you for joining us. Thank you for joining us for today’s Coda Octopus conference call. You may now disconnect your lines.

Annmarie Gayle

Thank you.