Quarterly Results
InterX PLC
29 November 2000
InterX plc
Quarterly Results
Three months ended 5 November 2000
HIGHLIGHTS
* Three new direct customers won, including Totaljobs.com
* Turnover for the quarter was £2.0 million compared to £1.5 million for
the previous quarter
* Cash at 5 November 2000 was £34.4 million (5 August 2000: £34.5 million)
* Profit on sale of properties occupied by Ideal Hardware Limited was £1.9
million
* Losses per share, before exceptional items and amortisation of goodwill,
were 16.72p (previous quarter 12.99p)
* Partnership with Northgate Information Solutions plc
Philip Crawford, Group Chief Executive, commented;
'It has been another quarter where we have continued to grow the
infrastructure necessary to support our future growth, and in which we can
demonstrate continued success in the vital areas of revenue growth, customer
wins and new product development.
Our partnership with Northgate will enable us to leverage core competencies
and effectively deliver complete Internet solutions to customers when taking
their products and services online.
These results demonstrate the we are on track for the year and that we are
rising to the challenges with commitment and confidence.'
For further information, please contact:
InterX plc 020 8817 4136
Laura Hotham
Citigate Dewe Rogerson 020 7638 9571
Freida Davidson
Georgina Peiser
Philippa Greey
INTERX PLC
First Quarter Results to 5 November 2000
Chairman's statement
I am pleased to announce this set of quarterly results for InterX plc
('InterX' or the 'Group') - the first of this financial year. We have
continued to grow the infrastructure necessary to support our future growth,
and have made further progress in the vital areas of revenue growth, customer
wins, new partnerships and product development.
On the basis that these results for the quarter to 5 November 2000 are the
Group's first set of full quarterly results as a software business, a formal
comparison with previous periods is not appropriate on the basis that the
distribution business was sold in the last week of the previous financial year
(Year to 5 August 2000). However, it is appropriate to compare our revenues in
the quarter with only our software business revenue in the previous quarter.
Key highlights are:
* Turnover for the software business for the quarter was £2.0 million
compared to £1.5 million for the previous quarter;
* Product licence revenue was £700,000 in the quarter compared to £200,000
in the previous quarter;
* Losses per share for the quarter before exceptional items and
amortisation of goodwill were 16.72 pence (Previous Quarter: 12.99 pence);
* Cash at 5 November 2000 was £34.4 million (5 August 2000: £34.5
million); and
* Profit on sale of properties occupied by Ideal Hardware Limited ('the
Properties') was £1.9 million.
Operating Review
New Customers
During the period we gained three new direct customers, and, in addition, we
are working with one of our current customers to develop a new web service on
behalf of a third party.
I am delighted to announce that InterX has been appointed by Totaljobs.com to
develop further its online service. Part of the Reed Elsevier group of
businesses, Totaljobs.com is one of the UK's leading online recruitment
consultancies.
Totaljobs.com has signed up to use InterX BladeRunner to upgrade its existing
website, a site which has received in excess of 1.4 million separate visits in
the last month. InterX BladeRunner's unique ability to supply content to
multiple devices and platforms secured its choice as the most appropriate
solution for Totaljobs.com, as it looks to extend its service across multiple
new digital formats.
Another new customer is a subsidiary of Diligenti Limited ('Diligenti'), a
company in which we have an investment. One of the US's leading publishers of
online news and information to healthcare professionals, this company will be
using InterX BladeRunner to develop its online services both within the USA
and internationally.
This win is the first in the life sciences sector since we announced our
intention to add the life sciences industry to our list of targeted vertical
markets. Our third new client, which has asked not to be named for reasons of
commercial confidentiality, is also in this sector.
These contract wins not only contributed to the increase in our licence and
service revenues in the quarter reported, but also provide additional licence
and service revenues in the coming months.
Product Development
On 9 November 2000, we announced the launch of the latest version ('Version
5.0') of InterX BladeRunner - our Internet application platform product
('IAP'). On the same day we held technology and market briefing sessions with
journalists, fund managers and analysts in the City.
InterX BladeRunner Version 5.0 is a next-generation eCRM and content
management platform. It is the first IAP to adopt a 'modelling' approach to
the implementation of online applications. It provides accelerated time to
market, faster speed to device, and the opportunity for greater return on
investment.
On 30 November 2000 we are holding the customer launch for InterX BladeRunner
Version 5.0 at our partner's, Sun Microsystems, 'Customer Briefing Centre' in
the City. Most encouragingly, the event was oversubscribed within a day of its
announcement - necessitating the requirement to offer additional sessions.
We believe that this demonstrates the compelling nature of our technology
proposition and its relevance to the real commercial issues facing evolving
e-businesses.
Integration Partnerships
Fundamental to our plans to increase the reach of our technology is the
continuing development of partnerships with leading e-business consultancies.
I am therefore delighted to announce that InterX and Northgate Information
Solutions plc ('Northgate') have agreed to work together in a joint sales
partnership. Northgate is a leading front office IT solutions deployment
company that provides mission critical systems to many corporate customers and
new digital economy organisations.
This partnership will enable both InterX and Northgate to leverage core
competencies and effectively deliver complete internet solutions to customers
when taking their products and services online.
Together with our European training partner, Azlan Group PLC ('Azlan'), and in
addition to the four integration partners we have announced to date, we are
providing InterX BladeRunner Version 5.0 training to staff from two other
e-business consultancies.
We currently have customers who are operating their e-businesses on both sides
of the Atlantic and on mainland Europe. Our technology has critical
functionality benefits for any e-business wishing to embark upon an
internationalisation strategy.
Vital to achieving our plans for international growth, however, is the
development of an infrastructure capable of supporting the strategic
international goals of both our customers and prospective customers. We are
actively recruiting on mainland Europe for the senior management required to
take responsibility for specific international regions, and are developing
relationships with international integration partners and consultancies.
We are also developing plans to commence the active marketing of our products
in both the USA and Asia. I am therefore pleased to announce that we have
augmented our training partner for Europe, Azlan, with the appointment of the
Genisys Group, as our training partner for India and South-East Asia. Located
at its new development centre in Bangalore, India, the Genisys Group not only
provides us with an international regional training resource, but also with a
high quality software development resource - and one with many multinational
clients.
Financial Review
Profit and Loss Account
Turnover and loss before tax, exceptional items and amortisation of goodwill
for the three months to 5 November 2000, were £2.0 million and £5.8 million
respectively. Product licence revenues were £700,000. Turnover for the
previous quarter, on like for like basis was £1.5 million, of which £200,000
was in respect of Product licence revenues.
Loss before tax after exceptional items of £1.8 million (profit (net)) and
amortisation of goodwill of £10.2 million was £14.2 million.
Exceptional items consisted of a profit on the sale of the Properties of £1.9
million and a charge of £89,000 representing National Insurance on Share
Options.
Losses per share, before exceptional items and amortisation of goodwill, were
16.72p. Losses per share, after exceptional items and amortisation of
goodwill, were 40.75p.
Balance Sheet
Goodwill reduced to £180.3 million at 5 November 2000 from £190.5 million at 5
August 2000 reflecting the charge of £3.4 million per month calculated on the
basis of the goodwill being amortised over 5 years.
Tangible assets reduced to £3.8 million reflecting primarily the disposal of
the Properties.
Investments reduced to £3.1 million reflecting our share of losses of our
associated Companies of £984,000.
Included within Other Debtors is £10 million, in respect of funds provided to
our associated company, Diligenti, in accordance with the loan facility we
have provided. The balance consists primarily of net deferred consideration
from the sale of Ideal Hardware Limited of £1.8 million.
Cash Flow
At 5 August 2000 and 5 November 2000 cash amounted to £34.5 million, and £34.4
million respectively. During this period, proceeds from the sale of properties
of £16 million were received, loans were made to Diligenti of £9.9 million and
capital expenditure totalled £1.6 million.
Prospects
With the completion of our new offices in West London, we have improved our
scalability. Our new corporate re-branding exercise is complete and central to
our new aggressive marketing push. Additionally, our recruitment programmes
are continuing to attract high-quality staff, especially in the key areas of
sales and marketing.
The ability to manage the potential conflict between the need to develop a
robust long-term business, and the requirement to provide regular indications
of early success, will, during these formative periods, remain one of our
biggest challenges.
We are rising to the challenges with commitment and confidence.
Group Profit and Loss Account
for the three month period ended 5 November 2000 (2000: year ended 5 August)
Period ended 5 November 2000 Year ended 5
(unaudited) August 2000
(audited)
Notes Before Exceptional items Total
exceptional and amortisation
items and of goodwill
amortisation
of goodwill
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Turnover
Product licences 700 - 700 400
Services 1,301 - 1,301 1,417
Other - - - 401,328
2 2,001 - 2,001 403,145
Cost of sales (1,930) - (1,930) (372,450)
Gross profit
Product licences 700 - 700 400
Services (629) - (629) 1,392
Other - - - 28,903
2 71 - 71 30,695
Other operating income - - - 1,430
Distribution costs
- Trading - - - (14,439)
- Ideal restructuring - - - (467)
- - - (14,906)
Administrative expenses
- Research and development (647) - (647) -
- Sales and marketing (1,197) - (1,197)
-
- General and (3,566) - (3,566) (21,749)
administrative
- Amortisation of goodwill - (10,207) (10,207) (13,609)
- National Insurance on 3 - (89) (89) -
share options
- Purchase of domain name 3 - - - (603)
- IT Network write off of 3 - - - (1,359)
website
(5,410) (10,296) (15,706) (37,320)
Operating loss 2 (5,339) (10,296) (15,635) (20,101)
Share of results of 4 (984) - (984) (445)
associated undertakings
Profit on sale of fixed 4 - 1,905 1,905 -
assets
Profit on sale of 4 - - - 400
subsidiary undertaking
(6,323) (8,391) (14,714) (20,146)
Interest receivable 484 - 484 759
Interest payable - - - (1,233)
(5,839) (8,391) (14,230) (20,620)
Tax on loss on ordinary activities - 153
Deficit for the period 7 (14,230) (20,467)
INTERX PLC
Group Profit and Loss Account
for the three month period ended 5 November 2000 (2000: year ended 5 August)
Period ended 5 Year ended 5 August
November 2000 2000 (audited)
(unaudited)
Earnings per share (basic) (40.75p) (79.69p)
Less : exceptional items and
amortisation of goodwill (net of
taxation)
Amortisation of goodwill 29.23p 52.99p
National Insurance on share 0.25p -
options
Ideal restructuring costs - 1.82p
Purchase of domain name - 2.35p
IT Network write off of - 5.29p
website
Profit on disposal of fixed (5.45p) -
assets
Profit on sale of subsidiary - (1.56p)
undertaking
Earnings per share before (16.72p) (18.80p)
exceptional items and amortisation
of goodwill
There were no recognised gains or losses in either period other than those in
the Group profit and loss account.
The turnover and operating loss arose from continuing operations.
INTERX PLC
Group Balance Sheet
at 5 November 2000 (2000: year ended 5 August)
At At
5 November 5 August
2000 2000
Notes (unaudited)(audited)
£'000 £'000
Fixed Assets
Goodwill 180,319 190,526
Intangible assets 183 212
Tangible assets 3,854 15,965
Investments 3,152 4,136
187,508 210,839
Current Assets
Trade debtors 2,867 1,574
Loan to associated undertaking 9,856 -
Other debtors 8,941 7,772
Cash at bank and in hand 34,398 34,504
56,062 43,850
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (11,050) (8,323)
Net Current Assets 45,012 35,527
Total assets less current liabilities 232,520 246,366
Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one (152) (68)
year
232,368 246,298
Capital and Reserves
Called up share capital 1,748 1,742
Share premium account 55,679 55,385
Capital redemption reserve 31 31
Other reserves 198,066 198,066
Profit and loss account (23,156) (8,926)
Equity Shareholders' Funds 7 232,368 246,298
INTERX PLC
Group Cashflow Statement
for the three month period ended 5 November 2000 (2000: year ended 5 August)
Notes Period ended 5 Year ended 5
November 2000 August 2000
(unaudited) (audited)
£'000 £'000
Net cash flow from operating 8 (5,467) (34,742)
activities
Returns on investments and servicing
of finance
Interest received 473 759
Interest paid - (1,378)
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from 473 (619)
returns on investments and servicing
of finance
Taxation - (468)
Capital expenditure and financial
investment
Purchase of intangible fixed assets - (81)
Purchase of tangible fixed assets (1,551) (3,668)
Sale of tangible fixed assets 16,000 39
Loan to associated undertaking (9,856) -
Purchase of trade investment - (663)
Sale of trade investment - 663
Net cash inflow/(outflow) for 4,593 (3,710)
capital expenditure
Acquisitions and disposals
Purchase of subsidiary undertaking - (2,832)
Net cash acquired with subsidiary - 384
undertaking
Disposal of subsidiary undertaking - 11,597
Net overdraft sold with subsidiary - 19,935
undertaking
Investment in associated - (6,634)
undertakings
Net cash inflow from disposals and - 22,450
acquisitions
Dividends paid - (1,695)
Net cash outflow before financing (401) (18,784)
Financing
Repayment of loans - (7,861)
Issue of ordinary share capital 300 52,953
Capital element of finance lease (5) (45)
rental payments
Net cash inflow from financing 295 45,047
(Decrease)/increase in cash in the (106) 26,263
period
Reconciliation of net cash flow to
movement in net funds
(Decrease)/increase in cash in the (106) 26,263
period
Net cash outflow from decrease in 5 7,906
debt
Change in net funds resulting from (101) 34,169
cash flows
New finance leases - (250)
Finance leases acquired with - (136)
subsidiary undertaking
Finance leases sold with subsidiary - 238
undertaking
Arrangement fee amortisation - (67)
Movement in net funds in the year (101) 33,954
Net funds at start of year 9 34,401 447
Net funds at end of year 9 34,300 34,401
INTERX PLC
For the three months ended 5 November 2000
Notes
1. Basis of preparation
The comparative figures for the year ended 5 August 2000 have been extracted
from the Group's statutory accounts to that date; these received an
unqualified audit report, did not contain a statement under section 237(2) or
237(3) of the Companies Act 1985 and will be filed with the Registrar of
Companies. This interim statement, which is unaudited and does not constitute
statutory accounts, has been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies
laid down in those statutory accounts.
2. Segmental information
The Group has no material operations other than those in the UK. Turnover,
gross and operating profit for the three month period ended 5 November 2000
related to the Technology business of product licences and associated
services, with no material turnover to overseas customers. The turnover and
operating loss for InterX Technology Limited for the year ended 5 August 2000
were £3.2m (1999:£2.2m) and £1.7m (1999; profit:£152,000) respectively. Group
turnover and gross profit for the year ended 5 August 2000 was as follows:
Year ended 5 August 2000 (audited)
Electronic Product Parent Technology Distribution Total
Intelligence Company
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Turnover 1,280 - 1,817 400,048 403,145
Cost of sales (560) - (25)(371,865) (372,450)
Gross profit 720 - 1,792 28,183 30,695
Other operating - - - 1,430 1,430
income
Distribution costs
Trading - - - (14,439) (14,439)
Ideal - - - (467) (467)
restructuring
- - - (14,906) (14,906)
Administrative
expenses
General and (5,214) (2,737) (2,924) (10,874) (21,749)
administrative
Amortisation of - - (13,609) - (13,609)
goodwill
Purchase of domain - (603) - - (603)
name
IT Network write (1,359) - - - (1,359)
off of website
(6,573) (3,340) (16,533) (10,874) (37,320)
Operating (loss)/ (5,853) (3,340) (14,741) 3,833 (20,101)
profit
Group turnover and gross profit by destination were as follows:
Year ended 5 August 2000 (audited)
UK Europe Total
£'000 £'000 £'000
Turnover 362,460 40,685 403,145
Gross profit 29,154 1,541 30,695
Margin 8.0% 3.8% 7.6%
3. Exceptional items reported before operating loss
The National Insurance on share options in the three month period ended 5
November 2000 relates to a provision required to cover National Insurance on
the excess of the market value over the exercise price of share options
granted.
The Ideal Hardware restructuring costs in the year ended 5 August 2000 arose
from redundancy programmes which were implemented.
The purchase of the interx.com domain name in the year ended 5 August 2000 has
been charged to the profit and loss account.
In the year ended 5 August 2000 the IT Network costs relate to the impairment
of the website development, previously capitalised.
4. Profit on disposal of fixed assets/profit on sale of subsidiary undertaking
The profit on disposal of fixed assets relates to the disposal to the owners
of Ideal of two properties currently occupied by Ideal.
The profit on sale of subsidiary undertaking relates to the disposal of the
group's interest in the ordinary share capital of Ideal Hardware Limited
('Ideal').
5. Taxation
The taxation credit for the period has been calculated at an estimated tax
rate of 31%.
6. Earnings per share
Earnings per share for the period is based on the loss attributable to the
weighted average of 34,924,226 (5 August 2000 : 25,682,338) ordinary shares in
issue during the period.
7. Share capital and reserves
Movements in share capital and reserves were as follows:
Share Share Capital Other Profit and Total
capital premium redemption reserves loss account
reserve
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
At 6 August 1,742 55,385 31 198,066 (8,926) 246,298
2000
Issues of 6 294 - - - 300
shares
Deficit for - - - - (14,230) (14,230)
the period
At 5 November 1,748 55,679 31 198,066 (23,156) 232,368
2000
8. Reconciliation of operating loss to net cash flow from operating
activities:
Period ended 5 November 2000 Year ended 5
(unaudited) August 2000
(audited)
£'000 £'000
Operating loss (15,635) (20,101)
Depreciation charges 420 3,063
Amortisation of goodwill 10,207 13,609
Amortisation of intangible 29 23
fixed assets
Amount written off web - 1,359
development
Loss on disposal of fixed - 163
assets
Increase in stock - (17,060)
Increase in debtors (2,450) (36,103)
Increase in creditors 1,962 20,305
Net cash flow from operating (5,467) (34,742)
activities
9. Analysis of net funds
At 6 August 2000 Cash At 5 November 2000
(audited) flow (unaudited)
£'000 £'000 £'000
Cash at bank and in 34,504 (106) 34,398
hand
Finance leases (103) 5 (98)
Total net funds 34,401 (101) 34,300
A copy of this report is being sent to all shareholders. Copies are available
to the public on request from the Company's registered office, at 27 Great
West Road, Brentford, Middlesex TW8 9AS.