Final Results
Arc International PLC
28 February 2001
ARC INTERNATIONAL PLC
RESULTS FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER
AND YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2000
2000 marks a record year for the Company in terms of strong revenue growth,
technology advances and key operational milestones
Elstree, UK - 28 February 2001: ARC International plc ('ARC International' or
the 'Company'; LSE: ARK.L), a leading designer and developer of customisable,
high-performance microprocessors and related intellectual property solutions,
today announced results for the fourth quarter and the year ended 31 December
2000. The Company's revenues experienced further growth during the fourth
quarter. Revenues for the year totalled £10.6 million and the Company closed
the year with a strong cash position of £145.8 million in hand.
The Company has also announced a number of significant licensees including:
IBM, Infineon Technologies, VTech Communications and Austria Mikro Systeme
International.
Highlights
Quarter ended 31 December 2000
* Turnover up 10% to £3.5 million, compared with £3.2 million in the third
quarter
* Net loss reduced to £4.7 million from £5.3 million in the third quarter
* 17 key design licences and nine additional customers won in the fourth
quarter
* New licence agreements announced with - IBM, Infineon Technologies,
VTech Communications and Austria Mikro Systeme International
* Release of an integrated Bluetooth(TM) package for developers who want to
add wireless technology to their products
Year ended 31 December 2000
* Total turnover increased to £10.6 million, compared with £1.9 million in
1999
* Further diversification of customer base and expanded turnover streams -
73 licences from 44 customers at 31 December 2000, compared with 26
licences from 17 customers at 31 December 1999
* Successful integration of V Automation Inc. and Precise Software
Technologies Inc., both acquired in March 2000
* Considerable growth in the number of employees worldwide from 102 at the
end of 1999 to 279 at the end of 2000
* Successful completion of initial public offering on London Stock
Exchange, raising approximately £126.4 million in net proceeds in
September 2000
Commenting on the results, Bob Terwilliger, Chief Executive Officer, said:
'It has been an exciting year for ARC and we are very pleased to be announcing
such encouraging results for our first year-end as a public company.
'Our rapid growth was driven by excellent progress in building our portfolio
of customers. This now includes three of the world's leading 10 semiconductor
manufacturers and six of the world's leading 30 original equipment
manufacturers.
'Today's important licensee announcements include several with whom we have
been working for some time and are now able to make public for the first time.
Most notably, IBM has been a licensee since 1998, while Infineon and VTech
became licensees in the third quarter of 2000.
'The flexibility of our microprocessor and related intellectual property is
enabling customers to apply our technology successfully across a wide range of
market segments in telecommunications, networking and consumer electronics. In
particular, we believe it helps them speed up product development and bring
their differentiated products to the market faster than with traditional
technologies.
'I am confident that in 2001 we will continue to build upon the strong
platform that we have created for the Company.'
For further information, please contact:
Bob Terwilliger
CEO, ARC International plc
020 8236 2800
Simon Poulton
CFO, ARC International plc
020 8236 2800
Peter Aubusson
Investor Relations Manager,
ARC International plc
020 8236 2800
Sue Pemberton
Citigate Dewe Rogerson
020 7638 9571
All the above will be available on 020 7638 9571 on 28 February.
Operating Review - A review of 2000
During the year, ARC International made substantial progress on many fronts.
Our key operational focus was on driving the growth of the business, which we
achieved with turnover advancing to £10.6 million, compared with turnover in
1999 of £1.9 million. This turnover growth was attributable to broader market
penetration and customer acceptance of ARC's technology, generating an
increase in licence fees for our intellectual property, as well as our
acquisitions of V Automation Inc. and Precise Software Technologies Inc. in
March 2000. By the year-end, we had increased our total design licences to 73
licences from 44 customers, compared with 26 licences from 17 customers at the
end of 1999.
Customers
We believe that the breadth of our customer base reflects the growing
acceptance we have gained for our intellectual property in the four years
since ARC became the first company to introduce user-configurable
microprocessor technology. Our licensees include three of the world's leading
10 semiconductor manufacturers and six of the world's leading 30 original
equipment manufacturers. Our licensees include: Austria Mikro Systeme
International, Brightcom, Flextronics Semiconductor, Fujitsu, IBM, Infineon
Technologies, SanDisk, Texas Instruments, Vitesse, VTech Communications and
Xemics.
We have today announced several important licence agreements:
* Infineon Technologies, a leading innovator in the international
semiconductor industry, has licensed ARC's microprocessor for its next
generation digital subscriber line (DSL) transceiver technology.
* IBM has been a licensee since 1998. The details of the specific
application of ARC's technology remain confidential until the product is
available in the market.
* VTech Communications, one of the world's leading consumer electronics
corporations, is using ARC's microprocessor in its cordless phones,
providing both the microcontroller and DSP capability in the same core.
* Austria Mikro Systeme International, one of Europe's leading designers
of systems based on mixed analogue and digital circuit design, has
licensed ARC's microprocessor for a variety of low power product designs
using Bluetooth(TM) and MP3 applications.
As at 31 December 2000, we have six customers shipping nine products that
incorporate the Tangent processor, including set-top boxes, cordless
telephones, network routers and digital cameras.
Alliances
We have developed key strategic alliances that enable our customers to
accelerate product design and reduce their time to market, and consequently
achieve profits more rapidly than was previously possible.
Key alliances formed in 2000 and early 2001 include:
* Xilinx, pioneers of the field-programmable gate array (FPGA), an
electronic device that enables designers to build systems instantly onto a
chip rather than have them manufactured at a semiconductor foundry. ARC's
Tangent processor is now available in Xilinx devices from a worldwide
network of design centres.
* Flextronics Semiconductor, a leading supplier of application specific
integrated circuits services, is working with us to enable ARC's customers
to gain access to Flextronics' design and global manufacturing
capabilities.
* WindRiver's VxWorks(TM) real time operating system and Tornado development
environment are now available for ARC's Tangent processor core. We are
providing customers using our user-configurable core with a complete and
integrated development solution.
* Corelis' JTAG emulators are now available for a configurable processor,
offering powerful development and test capabilities normally only provided
by bulky and expensive external hardware. The two new emulators make use
of ARC's unique on-chip debug capabilities to provide features that
support any processor clock speed at which the target system runs.
Applications of ARC's Technology
We focus on developing the ARC technology for use in telecommunications,
networking and consumer electronics. The flexibility provided by the
configurability of the ARC Tangent processor and the related hardware and
software intellectual property, enables customers to apply ARC technology
across a wide range of markets. For example, Hyperchip is using our technology
to produce a very specialised ultra high speed network router, while at the
other extreme the ARC technology has enabled SanDisk to reduce costs in its
high volume flash data storage products.
We believe that the versatility of our microprocessor and the integrated
hardware and software intellectual property that we offer enables our
customers to speed up product development and bring their differentiated
products to the market faster than with traditional technologies.
Technology developments
We have advanced ARC's technology substantially during the year.
In the first quarter, we commenced shipment of ARC 3, our third generation
microprocessor.
In May, at the network technology sector's premier industry event, Networld
and Interop, five of our customers exhibited products using ARC technology.
In June, BrightCom announced the first single-chip Bluetooth(TM) wireless
technology protocol processor, incorporating ARC's technology.
In November, we launched our own low-cost package of intellectual property for
customers developing Bluetooth(TM) solutions, which is planned to be available
for delivery in the second quarter of 2001.
During the autumn, we announced the introduction of our next generation
microprocessor, the Tangent-A4, incorporating hardware and software
intellectual property elements of the technologies from our subsidiary
businesses, MetaWare, Precise Software Technologies and VAutomation, as well
as third party partners.
Since the end of the year, we have commenced deliveries of the Tangent-A4 to
customers.
Expansion
The number of our employees increased in both Europe and North America in line
with our business plan. At the end of 2000, we had 279 employees worldwide,
compared with 102 employees at the end of 1999. In addition to the UK, our
employees are principally located in North America in San Jose, California;
Nashua, New Hampshire; and Ottawa, Canada.
We moved to a new UK headquarters in Elstree, Hertfordshire, and opened or
moved to new offices in France, Germany, Israel and Sweden.
In addition to the existing research and development facilities at Elstree and
Ottawa, we invested in a strengthened research and development group at our
North American headquarters in San Jose, California.
Acquisitions
We acquired Precise Software Technologies of Ottawa, Canada, and VAutomation
of Nashua, New Hampshire, USA in March 2000. These acquisitions, in addition
to the acquisition of MetaWare in 1999, enable the ARC International group
companies to provide an enlarged solution for developing complete electronic
systems based on a single chip. ARC's sales team can now offer the customer an
integrated solution based on the microprocessor, development tools, and any
additional software or hardware intellectual property that might be required.
We have applied, and will continue to apply, significant resources to
developing and managing the engineering resources and technology capabilities
of each of the group's companies to provide our customers with proven,
integrated solutions.
Initial Public Offering
ARC International was successfully admitted to the Official List of the United
Kingdom Listing Authority and to trading on the London Stock Exchange in
September 2000. Our initial public offering raised £126.4 million (net of
expenses) which is being used to develop the business further.
Outlook
We believe that our user-configurable microprocessor technology offers
important competitive advantages in terms of our ability to provide customers
with an integrated solution that reduces a product's time to market. We
believe that as the number of applications for embedded processors increases,
ARC's flexible technology will enable customers to continue to create
customised solutions. We believe that the long-term prospects of the embedded
processor intellectual property market remain strong.
In 2001, we are confident that we will build upon the strong platform that we
have created for the Company. Our objectives for the year are to extend our
technological leadership and maintain revenue growth through deeper
penetration of our three main vertical markets: telecommunications, networking
and consumer electronics. We also intend to secure more blue-chip customers
and build further on our relationships with OEMs. At this early stage, we
believe that we are on course to achieve our objectives.
Financial Review
Fourth Quarter ended 31 December 2000
Total turnover for the fourth quarter was £3.5 million, up 10% on the previous
quarter. The increase from the previous quarter was principally attributable
to the addition of nine new customers and 17 new licence agreements. Turnover
in the fourth quarter was comprised of: £2.7 million in licence fees, compared
with £2.5 million in the third quarter; £679,000 in maintenance and services,
compared with £534,000 in the third quarter; and £165,000 in royalties,
compared with £135,000 in the third quarter.
Cost of sales was £0.3 million in the quarter, resulting in a gross margin of
92%, compared with £0.3 million in the previous quarter, resulting in a gross
margin of 91%.
Total operating expenses, inclusive of costs of sales, amortisation of
goodwill and depreciation, were £10.5 million in the quarter, an increase of
19% from £8.9 million in the previous quarter.
Research and development costs in the quarter were £3.6 million, an increase
of 40% from £2.6 million in the previous quarter. This principally reflects
continued investment in engineering headcount, both within the quarter and
late in the third quarter. Engineering headcount rose 5% to 162 during the
quarter.
Sales and marketing costs in the quarter were £3.9 million, compared with £2.7
million in the previous quarter. The higher expense in this quarter is, in
part, due to the expansion late in the third quarter of our sales force in
North America, Europe and Asia. Sales and marketing headcount remained at 77
during the quarter having increased by 18% since the end of the second
quarter. In addition, trade show and related costs were higher in this quarter
than in the previous quarter.
General and administration costs in the quarter were £1.7 million, an increase
of 76% from £0.9 million in the previous quarter. The main reason was an
increase in headcount costs associated with managing our rapidly growing
business and other costs associated with our conversion to publicly quoted
company status.
The provision for National Insurance Contributions on the exercise of share
options was reduced by a credit of £0.2 million in the quarter, compared with
a charge of £1.2 million in the previous quarter.
Interest income was £2.3 million in the quarter, compared with £0.4 million in
the previous quarter. This increase was due to the strengthened cash position
following receipt of proceeds from the Company's initial public offering in
September 2000.
The net loss in the quarter decreased to £4.7 million, compared with £5.3
million in the previous quarter.
Year ended 31 December 2000
Turnover
Our total turnover increased from £1.9 million in 1999 to £10.6 million in
2000. This increase was primarily attributable to an increase in the number of
our customers and licence fees together with acquisitions made in the year. Of
our total turnover in 2000, £7.0 million was attributable to continuing
operations and £3.6 million was attributable to acquisitions. Our design
licences have increased from 26 licences from 17 customers at 31 December 1999
to 73 licences from 44 customers at 31 December 2000.
Our turnover from customers in North America increased from £1.6 million in
1999 to £7.9 million in 2000, representing approximately 75% of our total
turnover in 2000. We expect the turnover that originates in North America to
increase in absolute terms but to decrease as a percentage of worldwide
turnover as turnover outside North America increases.
In 2000, no single customer represented more than 10% of our turnover.
Licence fees increased from £1.5 million in 1999 to £8.2 million in 2000. This
increase in licence fees was attributable to an increase in the number of our
customers and licence fees attributable to our acquired businesses. We expect
licence fees to increase in absolute terms, but decrease slightly as a
percentage of total turnover, as the proportion of maintenance and royalties
increases.
Maintenance and services increased from £0.3 million in 1999 to £1.9 million
in 2000. This increase was attributable to the increase in the number of our
customers and revisions to the pricing and term of our maintenance made during
1999, as well as our acquisition of VAutomation and Precise. We expect
maintenance and services turnover to increase in absolute terms as the number
of our customers increases, but to remain flat as a percentage of total
turnover in the short-term.
Royalties increased from £0.1 million in 1999 to £0.5 million in 2000.
Royalties in 2000 were related to nine end-products currently in production,
such as routers, digital cameras and set-top boxes. To date, we have not
recognised significant turnover from royalties. We expect to recognise
significant royalties as our customer base commences production of
end-products which incorporate the Tangent processor. We also expect turnover
from royalties to increase significantly in absolute terms and as a percentage
of total turnover in the longer term.
Cost of sales increased in absolute terms from £0.4 million in 1999 to £0.9
million in 2000, but decreased as a percentage of total turnover from 19% in
1999 to 8% in 2000. The increase in cost of sales in absolute terms was
attributable to a corresponding increase in maintenance and services over the
period. The decrease in cost of sales as a percentage of total turnover was
attributable to increased efficiencies in the provision of maintenance and
services and timing differences. We expect cost of sales to continue at
approximately this level in the foreseeable future.
Total operating expenses, inclusive of depreciation and amortisation of
goodwill but exclusive of costs of sales, increased from £7.2 million in 1999
to £29.1 million in 2000, partly attributable to our acquisitions of V
Automation and Precise. This increase also included a charge of £1.1 million
(1999 £nil) relating to National Insurance Contributions in respect of share
options granted between April 1999 and September 2000.
Our personnel increased from 102 employees at 31 December 1999 to 279
employees at 31 December 2000, including 75 employees as a result of the
acquisitions of VAutomation and Precise.
Research and development expenses increased from £3.3 million in 1999 to £9.3
million in 2000. This increase was attributable to an increase in the number
of our research and development personnel from 63 employees at 31 December
1999 to 162 employees at 31 December 2000. We anticipate that research and
development expenses will continue to represent a substantial proportion of
our operating expenses.
Sales and marketing expenses increased from £2.3 million in 1999 to £10.2
million in 2000. The significant increase in sales and marketing expenses in
2000 was attributable to an increase in the number of our sales and marketing
personnel and other increased marketing expenses associated with our efforts
to increase public awareness of the Tangent processor and to further enhance
our market position. Sales and marketing personnel increased from 28 employees
at 31 December 1999 to 77 employees at 31 December 2000. We expect sales and
marketing expenses to increase in absolute terms and to remain a reasonably
constant proportion of total turnover.
General and administrative expenses increased from £0.8 million in 1999 to £
4.4 million in 2000. General and administrative personnel increased from 11
employees at 31 December 1999 to 40 employees at 31 December 2000, including
our non-executive directors. We expect general and administrative expenses to
continue to increase in absolute terms as we continue to hire additional
personnel, but decrease as a percentage of total turnover in the long term. We
also expect general and administrative expenses to increase in absolute terms
in future periods as a result of the costs associated with the reporting and
corporate communication requirements applicable to listed public companies.
Amortisation of goodwill increased from £0.6 million in 1999 to £3.4 million
in 2000. This increase was attributable to an increase in goodwill generated
from our acquisitions of VAutomation and Precise, together with a full year
charge in respect of goodwill generated from our acquisition of MetaWare.
Net interest income consists primarily of interest income generated from
financing activities, after allowing for interest on operating and finance
leases. Interest income increased from £0.1million in 1999 to £3.0 million in
2000. This increase was attributable to interest received on the proceeds of
private placements in March and July 2000 and our initial public offering in
September 2000.
To date, we have not paid any significant corporation taxes due to estimated
accumulated tax losses of £5.1 million as of 31 December 1999 and £21.1
million as of 31 December 2000. Due to the uncertainty of the realisation of
the benefits of our net operating loss carry forwards in future tax returns,
we have not recognised any deferred tax assets. Our U.K. net operating loss
carry forwards do not expire.
The balance sheet was strengthened during the year by funds raised through two
private placements and our listing on the London Stock Exchange. Net assets at
31 December 2000 were £164.6 million (including net cash of £145.9 million)
compared with £11.0 million at 31 December 1999.
The net cash outflow from operations was £14.3 million, capital expenditure
was £3.8 million and the cash element for the acquisitions of Precise Software
Technologies and V Automation was £3.2 million. Net interest income was £2.9
million and cash from financing was £158.3 million in total. The movement in
net cash over the year was a £140.1 million inflow.
The board of directors does not recommend the payment of a final dividend in
respect of the financial year. We currently intend to retain future earnings,
if any, to fund the development and growth of our business and do not
anticipate paying cash dividends.
ARC International plc
Consolidated profit and loss account
For the year ended 31 December 2000
3 months ended Year ended Year ended
31 December 31 December 31 December
2000 2000 1999
(unaudited) (unaudited) (audited)
£'000 £'000 £'000
Turnover
Continuing 2,407 7,001 1,914
Acquisitions 1,099 3,563 -
--------- --------- ---------
3,506 10,564 1,914
Operating costs
Goodwill amortisation (1,020) (3,379) (574)
Other operating costs (9,528) (26,550) (6,956)
----------- ----------- -----------
(10,548) (29,929) (7,530)
Total operating loss
Continuing (5,322) (16,274) (5,616)
Acquisitions (1,720) (3,091) -
----------- ----------- -----------
Loss before interest and tax (7,042) (19,365) (5,616)
Interest receivable and similar income 2,329 3,008 115
Interest payable and similar charges (3) (18) (5)
----------- ----------- -----------
Loss on ordinary activities before tax (4,716) (16,375) (5,506)
Tax on loss on ordinary activities - - -
----------- ----------- -----------
Retained loss for the period (4,716) (16,375) (5,506)
----------- ----------- -----------
Loss per share (7.72)p (4.29)p
Diluted loss per share (7.72)p (4.29)p
Summary of operating expenses
Operating costs
Cost of sales (291) (862) (360)
Research and development (3,569) (9,298) (3,288)
Sales and marketing (3,890) (10,218) (2,288)
General and administration (1,660) (4,351) (793)
NIC on share options 153 (1,116) -
Depreciation of fixed assets (271) (705) (227)
Amortisation of goodwill (1,020) (3,379) (574)
------------- ------------- -------------
Total operating expenses (10,548) (29,929) (7,530)
------------- ------------- -------------
ARC International plc
Consolidated statement of total recognised gains and losses
for the year ended 31 December 2000
3 months ended Year ended Year ended
31 December 31 December 31 December
2000 2000 1999
(unaudited) (unaudited) (audited)
Loss for the period £'000 £'000 £'000
Currency translation difference (4,716) (16,375) (5,506)
Total loss for the period (117) (381) (33)
--------- --------- ---------
(4,833) (16,756) (5,539)
--------- --------- ---------
ARC International plc
Consolidated balance sheet
as at 31 December 2000
As at As at
31 December 2000 31 December 1999
(unaudited) (audited)
£'000 £'000
Fixed Assets
Intangible assets 16,355 5,744
Tangible assets 4,060 738
----------- -----------
20,415 6,482
----------- -----------
Current Assets
Debtors 6,561 1,531
Cash at bank and in hand 2,569 5,330
Investments - bank deposits 143,289 500
------------- -------------
152,419 7,361
Creditors - amounts within one year (8,180) (2,838)
------------- -------------
Net current assets 144,239 4,523
Total assets less current liabilities 164,654 11,005
Creditors - Amounts after one year (17) (12)
------------- -------------
Net Assets 164,637 10,993
------------- -------------
Capital and reserves
Called up share capital 273 53
Share premium account 149,061 15,603
Exchangeable shares 5,025 -
Merger reserve 107 107
Profit and loss account (14,492) (4,788)
Other reserves 24,663 18
------------- -------------
Total shareholders' funds 164,637 10,993
------------- -------------
ARC International plc
Consolidated cash flow statement
for the year ended 31 December 2000
Year ended Year
ended
31 31
December December
2000 1999
note (unaudited) (audited)
£'000 £'000
Net cash outflow from operating activities 1 (14,299) (4,536)
Returns on investments and servicing of finance
Interest received 2,869 115
Bank interest paid (13) (4)
Interest element on finance lease rentals (5) (1)
------------ --------
2,851 110
------------ --------
Net cash inflow from returns on investments and 2,851 110
servicing of finance
Capital expenditure and financial investment
Purchase of tangible fixed assets (3,820) (310)
Sale of tangible fixed assets - 3
------------ --------
(3,820) (307)
------------ --------
Acquisitions
Purchase of subsidiary undertakings (3,167) (1,458)
Net cash acquired 186 139
------------ --------
(2,981) (1,319)
------------ --------
Net cash outflow before management of liquid (18,249) (6,052)
resources and financing
------------ --------
Management of liquid resources
Movement on term deposits (137,959) (2,709)
------------ --------
Financing
Financing - issue of ordinary share capital - IPO 126,355 -
and options
Financing - issue of ordinary share capital - 31,971 9,194
Private placings
Capital element of finance lease rentals (8) (1)
Decrease in borrowings (21) -
------------ --------
Net cash inflow from financing 158,297 9,193
------------ --------
Increase in cash during the period 2,089 432
3 ------------ --------
1.Reconciliation of operating profit to operating cash flow for the years
ended 31 December 2000 and 1999
31 December 31 December
2000 1999
(unaudited) (audited)
£'000 £'000
Operating profit (19,365) (5,616)
Depreciation 705 227
Amortisation of goodwill 3,379 574
Profit on disposal of fixed asset - (2)
Share option grant credit 230 18
(Increase)/decrease in debtors (4,189) (648)
Increase/(decrease) in creditors 4,941 911
-------------- --------------
Net cash flow from operating activities (14,299) (4,536)
-------------- --------------
2. Analysis of net funds
(unaudited) Cash at Bank Investments Finance Total
bank loans leases
£000 £000 £000 £000 £000
At 31 December 1999 500 - 5,330 (15) 5,815
Exchange (20) - - - (20)
Cash flow 2,089 21 137,959 8 140,077
Acquisitions - (36) - (20) (56)
(excl.cash)
Transfers - - - - -
---------- ---------- ------------ ---------- ----------
At 31 December 2000 2,569 (15) 143,289 (27) 145,816
---------- ---------- ------------ ---------- ----------
3. Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net funds
Year ended Year ended
31 December 31 December
2000 1999
(unaudited) (audited)
£000 £000
Increase in cash in the period 2,089 432
Cash outflow from increase in liquid resources 137,959 2,709
------------- -------------
140,048 3,141
Investments/(borrowings) acquired with (56) 22
subsidiaries
Movement in borrowings 29 (15)
Exchange movements (20) -
------------- -------------
Movement in funds 140,001 3,148
Net funds at beginning of period 5,815 2,667
------------- -------------
Net funds at end of period 145,816 5,815
------------- -------------
The preliminary results for the year ended 31 December 2000 are unaudited. The
financial information set out in the announcement does not constitute the
Company's statutory accounts for the years ended 31 December 2000 or 31
December 1999. The financial information for the year ended 31 December 1999
is derived from the statutory accounts for that year which have been delivered
to the Registrar of Companies. The auditors reported on those accounts; their
report was unqualified and did not contain statement under either Section 237
(2) or Section 237 (3) of the Companies Act 1985. The statutory accounts for
the year ended 31 December 2000 will be finalised on the basis of the
financial information presented by the directors in this preliminary
announcement and will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies.
Notes to editors
ARC International is a leading designer and developer of customisable,
high-performance microprocessor cores and related intellectual property
technology for telecommunications, voice and data networking, and consumer
electronics embedded systems. ARC's Tangent processor is an application
specific processor (ASP) which can be customised for use in a wide variety of
increasingly sophisticated products. ARC's technology enables designers to
reduce time to market and to work with the semiconductor manufacturers and
technologies of their choice.
With headquarters in Elstree, England, ARC International plc and its group
companies employed 279 people at the year end in research and development,
sales, and marketing offices across North America and Europe. MetaWare
Incorporated, Precise Software Technologies Inc. and VAutomation Inc. are
wholly owned subsidiaries of ARC International plc, providing software
development tools, hardware and software intellectual property and real time
operating systems offering multiple integrated products for system on a chip
development.
ARC International plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE:ARK). The
company's website is located at www.arccores.com
ARC and Tangent-A4, are trademarks of ARC International (UK) Limited/ARC
International plc. All other brands or product names are the property of their
respective holders.
Statements made in this press release that are not historical facts include
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Important
factors that could cause actual results to differ from those indicated by such
forward-looking statements include, among others, market acceptance of the ARC
technology; fluctuations in and unpredictability of the Company's quarterly
results; general economic and business conditions; regulatory policies adopted
by governmental authorities; assumptions regarding the Company's future
business strategy; changes in technology; competition; ability to attract and
retain qualified personnel; risks associated with the Company's international
operations; and other uncertainties that are discussed in the 'Investment
Considerations' section of the Company's listing particulars dated 28
September 2000 filed with the United Kingdom Listing Authority and the
Registrar of Companies in England and Wales.