Interim Results
Infoserve Group PLC
06 December 2006
FOR RELEASE 7.00AM 6 DECEMBER 2006
Infoserve Group plc
('Infoserve' or 'the Company')
Unaudited Interim Financial Statements for the Six Months Ended 30 September
2006
Highlights
* Substantial increase in new customers with renewal rates at 65.4%
* Turnover £1.76 million for the period
* Loss before tax and amortisation of goodwill £1,212,000, in line with
expectations.
* Loss per share before goodwill amortisation 8.04p
* Launch of new products and services
For further information, please contact:
Infoserve Group Plc 0870 556 1001
Steve Barnes
W H Ireland Limited 0161 832 2174
David Youngman
Source Marketing Communications 0113 380 1644
Peter Downey
Commenting on the results, James Newman, Chairman, said:
'The higher profile and additional funding as a result of the AIM flotation has
provided the stability which has enabled the Company to steadily expand its
customer base and improve its product offering and technology. The Board has
confidence that further progress will be made in the second half of the year.'
Steve Barnes, Chief Executive, added
'The second half of the financial year has started well, with continued sales
revenue growth, accelerated keyword data collection and a planned further growth
in our telesales team.'
Infoserve Group plc
Unaudited Interim Financial Statements for the Six Months Ended 30 September
2006
Chairman's Statement
I am delighted to report a period of change and progress for the Company in
this, my first statement as Chairman.
AIM flotation
The Company successfully floated on AIM in late June, raising £2 million. Thanks
must go to all my colleagues on the Board and the Company's advisers for
achieving this milestone without too much disruption to the day-to-day business
operations.
The primary reason for obtaining a quotation on AIM was to give the Company a
higher public profile and a stronger financial base from which to significantly
expand its sales activities and its local search technology.
Results
Turnover for the six months period at £1.76 million was higher than that of the
business for the whole of the year ended 31 December 2005, which was £1.47
million. This growth has been fuelled by the expansion of sales personnel at a
controlled rate in line with the funds available from the flotation. Gross
margins have improved from (38.6)% in the year to 31 December 2005 to 23.2% as
sales productivity increased during the period. Overheads have been controlled
within budgeted levels.
Operating losses before goodwill were £1.14 million for the period. After
goodwill of £78,000 and net interest payable of £70,000, losses before tax were
£1.29 million.
Overall, the trading and financial performance was in line with the Board's
expectations at the time of the flotation.
Dividend
In line with the statement made at the time of the flotation, the Board is not
recommending a dividend as all funds are needed to be invested in the
development of the business.
Infoserve Group plc
Unaudited Interim Financial Statements for the Six Months Ended 30 September
2006
Chairman's Statement
Board
In March, as part of the flotation process, I was appointed to the Board as
Non-executive Chairman of the Group. David Hood, formerly Non-executive Chairman
of Infoserve Limited, became the senior Non-executive Director. The Board also
appointed Andrew Thirkill, an experienced businessman with a marketing
background, as a Non-executive Director to the plc Board in April.
Outlook
The higher profile and additional funding as a result of the flotation has
provided the stability which has enabled the Company to steadily expand its
customer base and improve its product offering and technology. The Board has
confidence that further progress will be made in the second half of the year.
James Newman
Chairman
6 December 2006
Infoserve Group plc
Unaudited Interim Financial Statements for the Six Months Ended 30 September
2006
Chief Executive's Review
• Growth in sales force numbers controlled to use cash resources
intelligently during growth and investment phase.
• Productivity levels per person increased by 9.1%.
• Tight control of overheads.
• Growth in Stockton office with a move to new premises in Darlington in
early 2007.
• Further investment in keyword collection and new site construction -
anticipated launch in the first quarter of 2007.
• Continued investment in Oracle based software to allow seamless information
flow, regarding customers' key goods and services and location, to partner
network.
Our first half-year as an AIM quoted company has seen us continue to establish
ourselves in the local search market. Customer numbers have grown by 70%, with
renewal levels reaching an impressive 65.4%.
We continually strive to give our SME customers exposure for their business
across our Partner Network. Our business model has proved robust and the second
half of the financial year will see us increasing sales force numbers as we move
to our new Darlington premises, and thus scaling up the model further.
The new website launch in 2007 will broaden the appeal of our product offering
to new categories of businesses, as our keyword-driven software will enhance our
ability to match consumer searches with relevant local suppliers.
Infoserve Group plc
The market continues to evolve and grow. We are constantly innovating and
adapting and our development team is keeping us at the forefront of our sector.
As predictions for growth in local search revenues remain substantial - 849
million local searches in the US in July, with UK the second most developed
market (Source: Comscore Networks Study) - future industry growth will continue
to drive revenues forward. Kelsey Group predicts online advertising revenues
will double to $31 billion by 2010 (from $15.7 billion in 2005) with local
search advertising revenues growing from $3.4 billion in 2005 (21.6% of the
total) to $13 billion in 2010 (41.9%).
So far, the second half of the financial year has started well, with continued
sales revenue growth, accelerated keyword data collection and a planned further
growth in our telesales team in the North East once our move to Darlington is
completed in the New Year.
Stephen Barnes
Chief Executive
6 December 2006
Infoserve Group plc
Unaudited Interim Financial Statements for the Six Months Ended 30 September
2006
Unaudited Pro Forma Profit and Loss Account
In order to highlight Infoserve's progress, we set out below the proforma
results for the six months ended 30 September 2006 together with the audited
results for the year ended 31 December 2005.
This comparison, although not direct, shows clearly the substantial sales growth
and improvement in gross margin. The increase in overheads is primarily due to
the cost of recruiting additional sales staff.
Unaudited Audited
Six months to 30 12 months to 31
September 2006 December 2005
£000 £000
Turnover 1,756 1,471
Cost of sales (1,348) (2,039)
Gross Profit/(Loss) 408 (568)
Administrative expenses (1,550) (886)
Amortisation of goodwill (78) -
Operating loss (1,220) (1,454)
Interest receivable 24 4
Interest payable (94) (39)
Loss on ordinary activities before taxation (1,290) (1,489)
Infoserve Group plc
Unaudited Group Profit and Loss Account
for the period from 1 April 2006 to 30 September 2006
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 months to
Notes 30 September
2006
£ 000
Turnover 1,756
Cost of sales (1,348)
Gross profit 408
Administrative expenses (1,550)
Amortisation of goodwill (78)
Operating loss (1,220)
Interest receivable 24
Interest payable (94)
Loss on ordinary activities before taxation (1,290)
Tax on profit on ordinary activities 350
Loss sustained for the period (940)
Loss per share (pence) 2 (8.77)
Loss per share before amortisation of goodwill (pence) 2 (8.04)
Infoserve Group plc
Unaudited Group Balance Sheet
as at 30 September 2006
30 September
2006
£ 000
Fixed assets
Intangible assets 3,758
Tangible assets 416
4,174
Current assets
Stocks -
Debtors 493
Cash at bank and in hand 1,709
2,202
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (1,810)
Net current assets 392
Total assets less current liabilities 4,566
Creditors: amounts falling due after more than (2,566)
one year
2,000
Capital and reserves
Called up share capital 730
Share premium 2,210
Profit and loss account (940)
2,000
Infoserve Group plc
Unaudited Group Cash Flow Statement
for the period from 1 April 2006 to 30 September 2006
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2006
£ 000
Reconciliation of operating loss to net cash
inflow from operating activities
Operating loss (1,220)
Depreciation charges 124
Amortisation of goodwill 78
Decrease in stocks -
Increase in debtors 161
Increase in creditors 490
Net cash inflow from operating activities (367)
CASH FLOW STATEMENT
Net cash inflow from operating activities (367)
Returns on investments and servicing of finance (70)
Purchase of subsidiary net of cash acquired (386)
Capital expenditure (748)
(1,571)
Financing 2,940
Increase in cash 1,369
Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net debt
Increase in cash in the period 1,369
Increase in debt and lease financing (100)
Change in net debt 1,269
Infoserve Group plc
Notes to the Unaudited Interim Financial Statements
For the Six Months Ended 30 September 2006
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. The unaudited results for the six month period have been prepared on a
basis consistent with the accounting policies of the group and do not
constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of section 240 of the
Companies Act 1985.
2. The calculation of the basic earnings per share for the period is based on
the profit after taxation divided by the average number of shares in issue,
being 10,717,617.
3. Infoserve Group Plc acquired Infoserve Limited on 11 April 2006 and
therefore no comparative figures exist for the corresponding period in the
preceding financial period.
4. Expenses of the flotation on AIM amounting to £350,000 have been written
off against the Share Premium Account.
5. A copy of this interim statement is being sent to shareholders and copies
are available from the Company's Registered Office at Infoserve Group plc,
South Side Aviation, Leeds Bradford Airport, Leeds, West Yorkshire,
LS19 7UG.
This information is provided by RNS
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