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.

Companies

Itaconix (ITX)
UK 100