Preliminary Results
BrainJuicer Group PLC
12 April 2007
Press release 12 April 2007
BrainJuicer Group PLC
('BrainJuicer' or 'the Company')
Audited Preliminary Results for the Year ended 31 December 2006
Reported under IFRS
BrainJuicer Group PLC (AIM: BJU), a leading international online market research
agency, announces its maiden audited preliminary results for the year ended 31
December 2006.
£'000 2003 2004 2005 2006
Before Listing Total
Listing expenses
expenses
Revenue 1,032 2,614 2,936 4,608 4,608
Operating Profit (304) 187 2 477 (354) 123
Profit after Tax (301) 191 (38) 291 (354) (63)
Highlights
• Revenue increased by 57% to £4,608,000 (2005: £2,936,000)
• Operating profit (before listing costs) increased to £477,000
(2005: £2,000)
• Profit after tax (before listing costs) increased to £291,000 (2005:
loss £38,000)
• 172% revenue growth in the Netherlands in its second year of operation
• Continued strong performance in the UK division
• Awarded global mandate from one of the top 50 companies in the world
• Established our business in the US
• Strengthened our management team with appointment of a senior researcher
from Research International to run the UK office and another from Millward
Brown to run the US office
• Rolled out 2 important new products: Predictive Markets and Quali-Taxi(TM)
• Successful AIM IPO
Commenting on the results, John Kearon, Chief Executive of BrainJuicer Group
PLC, said: '2006 was a very significant year for BrainJuicer. The Company now
has 40 employees, strong relationships with approximately 80 clients, including
ten of the world's top 50 companies, an innovative suite of products, a presence
in three countries, a team of highly credible market research professionals, and
a group of experienced software engineers. Our research platform, which was
developed in-house, has won several respected industry awards and we are fast
earning a reputation as an innovation leader in our industry. In our view, this
combination would be very difficult to replicate and places us in a powerful
position for sustainable growth within an attractive, rapidly growing market.
'We have established a truly international footprint, adding the US to our Dutch
and UK businesses and attracting two extremely talented and experienced
researchers to run the US and UK offices. Our R&D unit, BrainJuicer Labs,
introduced two highly innovative new products which contributed to our strong
growth, accounting for 15% of turnover in their first year. Significantly in
2006, we believe we became the first online research agency to win a global
mandate from a top 50 company and we ended the year with a successful listing on
AIM.'
For further information, please contact:
BrainJuicer Group PLC Tel: +44 (0)20 7043 1000
John Kearon, Chief Executive Officer
john.kearon@brainjuicer.com
James Geddes, Chief Financial Officer
james.geddes@brainjuicer.com
Teather & Greenwood Tel: +44 (0)20 7426 9000
James Maxwell / Fred Walsh / Simon Brown
james.maxwell@teathers.com
Media enquiries:
Abchurch Communications Tel: +44 (0)20 7398 7700
Heather Salmond / Joanne Shears
heather.salmond@abchurch-group.com
Chairman's Statement
Introduction
2006 has been a significant year in the life of the Company, including
geographic expansion, considerable growth, and culminating in the successful
flotation on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange in December 2006.
The Company's financial performance has been strong and in line with
expectations. Turnover for the year increased by 57% to £4,608,000 (2005:
£2,936,000). Operating profit rose from £2,000 in 2005 to £477,000 before
listing expenses in 2006, and profit after taxation rose from a loss of £38,000
to a profit of £291,000 before listing expenses, over the same period.
Both of BrainJuicer's established business units, in the UK and Holland,
performed well and the new unit in the US made a good start. Most of the
Company's revenue is transaction based, with 92% deriving from bespoke projects
and 8% deriving from Quali-Taxi(TM), our added-value version of what is termed
an 'omnibus' in the industry i.e. simple, short, standard surveys.
The Company generated £187,000 of cash from operations (before listing expenses)
which together with the net proceeds from the flotation increased cash to
£1,233,000. We have no borrowings.
As this is BrainJuicer's first set of results as a public company, here is a
brief summary of the Company's history.
BrainJuicer was founded in 1999 with a conviction of the need to improve the
insightfulness and inspiration of quantitative research. This conviction was
based on the firm belief that consumer focussed companies, the largest buyers of
market research, could make a step-change improvement in their innovation
process if they had access to more profound consumer information than was
otherwise available. There was also a compelling argument that technology could
be developed that used the internet to deliver research in a quicker, more
creative and ultimately more effective way than was previously possible.
Over the first two years, the Company focussed on developing its methodology,
conducting trials, and eventually winning BrainJuicer's first significant client
in 2002. In January 2003, Unilever Ventures invested £550,000 for an equity
stake of approximately 40%, and we have since been steadily and patiently
building our team, client relationships and the software technology. With our
listing on AIM, we have a mechanism to enable Unilever Ventures to exit over
time, and access to capital to pursue acquisition targets.
Starting a business from scratch isn't always easy and is rarely plain sailing.
We are a highly creative and innovative company. Despite being small, our
clients are some of the largest, and most demanding, buyers of market research
in the world and are hugely appreciative of our innovative research tools and
high service ethic. Any company innovating in a market must be prepared for
failures and knock-backs along the way. This is something we have embraced from
the beginning and it has proved a winning strategy. We intend to maintain our
bold approach to innovation and continue to delight our clients, in order to
achieve our long term goal of becoming one of the top 10 global Market Research
agencies.
Over the seven years of the Company's existence, we have created a suite of
innovative research products, put in place an infrastructure and technology
platform, and established a talented team of credible research professionals.
In our view this combination would be very difficult to replicate, and places us
in a powerful position for sustainable growth, within an attractive rapidly
growing market. I am confident that we will continue to win in the market place
and that our client base will continue to grow.
Geographic Expansion
Following the success BrainJuicer has enjoyed in the Netherlands, the Board
decided to take the important step of moving into the US. As well as being the
single largest market, the US is also the most developed and competitive online
research market in the world with 35% of all research now being conducted
online. Establishing a strong presence in the US is key to becoming a major
international research agency. As with the Company's move into the Netherlands,
we entered the market in a low cost, low risk manner. First year losses were
£66,000, which the Board views as a modest investment for what we now have: a
four person high level account management team, and some significant new
clients. The Board believes the business is now well placed to make significant
in-roads in this coming year and is looking to continue the international
expansion in a similarly controlled and cost effective manner.
BrainJuicer Labs
As an innovation leader in the online market research industry, we are
constantly striving to create new ways to enable our clients to better
understand their consumers and to innovate more successfully. BrainJuicer Labs
is our R&D capability made up of internal and external specialists that work on
a project basis. In 2006 we rolled out Predictive Markets, a product which can
help screen large numbers of concepts quickly, accurately and insightfully.
Predictive Markets won a prestigious industry award for Best Methodology Paper,
and accounted for 7% of turnover. We also introduced Quali-Taxi(TM), a high
value-add 'omnibus' product which without any promotional or advertising spend,
accounted for 8% of turnover in its first year.
Clients
We were delighted with the way our client relationships have developed this
year, and the jewel in the crown was the award of a global mandate from one of
the top 50 companies in the world. We are mandated to test all of this client's
consumer insights (a consumer insight is a precursor, in this particular
company, to all product development). We feel that this is real tangible
evidence that we are beginning to become recognised as a genuine alternative to
the large incumbent agencies.
Board of Directors
Our Board comprises two executive directors, myself and James Geddes (our CFO),
and two non-executive directors, Mark Muth and Simon Godfrey. James, Mark and
Simon have each been with been with us since January 2003 and have contributed
enormously to the success of the business in the intervening period.
James Geddes is a Chartered Accountant originally at Touche Ross (now Deloitte)
and prior to joining BrainJuicer was CFO of IoBox, an early stage company that
was sold for €230m. He has a tremendous talent for understanding what it takes
to turn start-ups into significant players.
Mark Muth is one of three directors of Unilever Ventures, and has over 20 years'
experience in banking and venture capital. Having been a director of many early
stage companies, Mark understands the highs and lows of the early years and has
been invaluable in helping us navigate the Company to its current position.
Simon Godfrey has over 30 years' experience in quantitative research; he founded
and ran SGA, one of the largest UK research suppliers when acquired by WPP in
1998. Simon's experience of delivering research to large clients makes him an
extremely wise, knowledgeable and valuable member of the Board.
The Board is well balanced, operates in an effective manner for a company of our
size, and takes its responsibilities to our shareholders seriously. We
recognise the need to split the roles of Chairman and CEO to further comply with
best practice, and are looking to appoint a non-executive Chairman later this
year.
Team
Our management team comprises myself, James Geddes, and the Managing Directors
of our 3 businesses; the UK (Jim Rimmer), the Netherlands (Evert Bos) and the US
(Ari Popper).
I believe that BrainJuicer is now in the enviable position of possessing a
talented and experienced team who are committed to building the Company into a
major international research house and a leader in online research.
Evert Bos joined the team at the end of 2004 to manage the Dutch business.
Evert was previously head of Market Research at Bestfoods, a subsidiary of
Unilever, in the Netherlands. Evert's 12 years of marketing and research
experience have been invaluable in building a successful Dutch business.
Jim Rimmer joined the team in June 2006 to manage the UK business. Jim has over
20 years' research experience, previously as General Manager at SGA Research
International. Already the UK research teams have benefited from Jim's
exceptional research talent and coaching ability to delight our clients and
build our brand share and reputation.
Ari Popper joined the team at the end of 2006 to manage the US business. Ari
was previously a Vice President at Millward Brown in the US and one of the
senior managers of their LA office. His nine years of marketing and research
experience, extensive knowledge of the biggest customers in the US and desire to
build a major new force in the US market made it a perfect fit on both sides.
We have for a while felt that our creative techniques and innovative approach to
market research creates a stimulating and creative work environment into which
we can attract some of the most talented and experienced research professionals
from the large incumbents. So it was particularly gratifying to supplement our
team with Jim and Ari during 2006.
Our staff are loyal and dedicated and have coped remarkably well with the
challenges of working in a fast moving, high growth environment. I am very
grateful, and am committed to ensuring we continue to hire equally talented
staff.
Business and Financial Review
Our Business
We are a full service online market research agency. Our target market
comprises consumer goods and services companies which are, in the main, the
largest buyers of market research in the world. We operate in Europe and the US
which together form the geography from which the majority of the world's
research is purchased. Although BrainJuicer is not as large as some
competitors, we compete head-on with the large traditional market research
providers who dominate the market.
We have a distinct, yet proven research approach, which is supported by our
proprietary software technology. The combination enables us to collect and
deliver quantitative data together with qualitative diagnostics quickly and
efficiently.
Our core products are firmly aimed at helping our clients throughout their
development process (be it development of products, packaging or advertising),
particularly during the difficult 'fuzzy front end' of the typical innovation
funnel, when lots of ideas and concepts need to be tested in an insightful yet
cost efficient way. Our projects tend to be bespoke and high in value, yet can
be delivered at low cost, relative to that of our competitors.
We have conducted research in over 50 countries, in more than 30 languages, for
over 80 clients (including 10 of the top 50 global companies). We have two
offices in the UK, and one in each of the Netherlands and the US.
We own a panel of 33,000 respondents in the UK, but in the main access
panellists from third party suppliers.
Whilst we are a relatively young company, we have been recognised with the
following awards:
• Best Methodology Paper (ESOMAR);
• Most Innovative Use of IT (Effective IT Awards); and
• Service Business of the Year (Start-up Awards).
Our Objectives
We have three simple operational imperatives:
• to deepen our client relationships by continuing to exceed expectations in
each and every project we undertake;
• to continue to create new online research techniques, which enable our
clients to engage with their consumers more intimately and more
immediately; and
• to continue to improve the sophistication of our technology and the quality
of our internal processes.
We believe that this combination will enable:
• higher average revenue, and therefore profit, per project;
• significant growth from our existing client base; and
• increased capacity from our operations;
which together will result in growth which is both highly profitable and
sustainable.
We also believe that this will provide a stimulating work environment into which
we can continue to attract, and retain, high calibre market research
professionals and software engineers.
Having successfully established our business in the Netherlands and the US, we
will be looking to expand our geographic footprint in Europe and to follow our
clients into China. Our overseas offices use our central UK infrastructure to
service their operational, financial and administrative needs, so providing we
can find the right people, we can open overseas offices cheaply and quickly.
Our Operations
We were pleased with the strong performance of each of our three account
management teams. Gross profit, our primary top-line performance metric, grew
in the UK by 20% and in Holland by 143%, which together with a first year gross
profit of £278,000 in the US, resulted in overall gross profit growth of 50%.
We achieved this growth with only a small increase in overall headcount, from an
average of 34 in 2005 to 38 in 2006.
New Products
BrainJuicer Labs continued to innovate, and we rolled out two new products in
2006: Predictive Markets and Quali-Taxi(TM). Our new products start life as
experimental projects, then are written up as research papers, extensively
trialled with client partners and finally, are launched.
Predictive Markets. The basic premise behind Predictive Markets is the
counter-intuitive proposition that in a properly controlled environment, crowds
can make better decisions than experts. We have tested, and have found that a
crowd of non-experts, when operating through a market mechanism, can be just as
accurate as established research approaches. Using this insight, Predictive
Markets, is able to test a multitude of concepts and ideas accurately and at
very much lower cost than traditional techniques. In 2005, this won an ESOMAR
award for Best Methodology Paper, and after further trials was launched during
Q2 of 2006. It accounted for 7% of turnover in its first year.
Quali-Taxi(TM). A Quali-Taxi(TM) is our version of an omnibus (a survey in which
questions from many organisations are compiled and presented to a nationally
representative sample of the population at certain predetermined times, and
delivered a few weeks later). However, unlike an omnibus, a Quali-Taxi(TM) gives
a client its own tailored survey which starts whenever the client wants, with
only that client's questions, and includes our qualitative, as well as the
standard quantitative, question types. In its first year, Quali-Taxi(TM)'s
generated £366,000 in revenue, without any significant up-front investment, or
any advertising or other promotional spend.
Clients
Our top 20 clients, representing 75% of our revenue, are all large well-known
consumer focussed companies. In the main we have developed our relationships
with these key accounts well. 70% grew substantially in 2006, 10% were new to
us, and only 20% declined. We were particularly pleased to be entrusted with a
global mandate from one of our largest clients, for all of their Insight
testing. This has led to a step-change improvement in our relationship with
this client.
It is also pleasing that most of our clients use BrainJuicer on an on-going
basis; 85% of our 2006 revenue was from repeat business, and 15% from new
clients won during the year. Average spend per project increased from £11,468
in 2005 to £13,317 in 2006.
Our Financials
Operating Profit
Our revenue growth drove up operating profit from what was essentially
break-even in 2005 (£2,000) to £477,000 before listing costs. Our key
productivity and efficiency metric, gross margin per hour, increased to £171 per
hour (2005: £165 per hour).
Administrative expenses increased 29% from £2,284,000 to £2,942,000 (excluding
listing expenses of £354,000). £343,000 of this relates to employee costs and
overheads in our US office which opened in late 2005. In addition, we paid a
bonus of £291,000 (zero in 2005).
We have a scalable business model and can continue to grow with only modest
increases in the headcount of our management, administrative and technical teams
(approximately half of our headcount).
Taxation
Our effective tax rate in 2006 before disallowable listing expenses was 35.1%
(2005: nil). This is above the standard rate of taxation of 30% in the UK
principally due to certain legal fees and preference share interest charges
being disallowable for corporation tax purposes, and US tax losses for which we
have taken no credit this year. We anticipate the effective rate of tax will
decline in future years.
Cash flow
In listing on AIM, we issued 1,388,900 new ordinary shares at £1.08, raising
proceeds of £1,500,000. We incurred listing expenses of £455,000 of which
£354,000 was charged to the income statement and £101,000 offset against share
premium. The net proceeds were £1,045,000.
We generated cash from operations before listing expenses of £187,000 (2005:
£207,000 outflow). This is especially pleasing given the early stage nature of
our Dutch business and investment in establishing our US business.
Balance sheet
We have low levels of capital expenditure - £92,000 this year in improving our
UK offices and in some IT equipment.
Non-current assets also include a deferred tax asset of £213,000 which relates
to the future corporate tax deductions available to the Group when share option
holders exercise their share options. Of this amount, £207,000 has been
credited directly to equity, as required by International Financial Reporting
Standards ('IFRS').
Trade receivables (including accrued income) have grown from £788,000 to
£1,612,000. Debtor days have grown from 74 to 88 but remain in control, and we
had no bad debts.
Trade and other payables have increased from £409,000 to £944,000 principally
due to year end bonus accruals.
Financial liabilities relate to dividends due to preference shareholders, which
accrued until they were converted to ordinary shares. We anticipate having
sufficient distributable reserves to pay these dividends during 2007.
International Financial Reporting Standards ('IFRS')
We have prepared our Annual Report under IFRS. The main difference between UK
GAAP and IFRS impacting BrainJuicer is:
• Credit to equity of £207,000 relating to the recognition of a deferred tax
asset of £213,000 for the future anticipated tax deduction relating to our
stock option charge.
We have also included a charge for stock options in accordance with IFRS 2
'Share-based payment' of £22,000 (2005: £26,000) (this would also have been a UK
GAAP requirement this year).
A full list of our accounting policies under IFRS can be found in note 2 of this
preliminary announcement.
Prospects
We believe our market positioning, our client relationships and our low cost
scaleable business model set us up for sustainable, highly profitable growth.
John Kearon
Chief Executive Officer
12 April 2007
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2006
2006 2005
Note £'000 £'000
ASSETS
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment 78 -
Deferred tax asset 213 -
291 -
Current assets
Inventories 45 13
Trade and other receivables 1,612 788
Cash and cash equivalents 1,233 64
2,890 865
Total assets 3,181 865
EQUITY
Capital and reserves attributable to equity holders of the
Company
Share capital 126 111
Share premium account 1,390 -
Merger reserve 477 445
Foreign currency translation reserve (5) 1
Other reserve 255 26
Retained earnings (277) (214)
Total equity 1,966 369
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables 944 408
Current income tax liabilities 163 -
Financial liabilities 108 -
1,215 408
Non-current liabilities
Financial liabilities - 88
Total liabilities 1,215 496
Total equity and liabilities 3,181 865
CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT FOR YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2006
Note 2006 2006 2006 2005
Before
Listing Listing
expenses expenses Total
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Revenue 3 4,608 - 4,608 2,936
Cost of sales (1,189) - (1,189) (650)
Gross profit 3,419 - 3,419 2,286
Administrative expenses (2,942) (354) (3,296) (2,284)
Operating profit 477 (354) 123 2
Investment income 3 - 3 4
Finance costs (32) - (32) (44)
Profit / (loss) before taxation 448 (354) 94 (38)
Income tax expense (157) - (157) -
Profit / (loss) for the financial year 291 (354) (63) (38)
Attributable to equity holders of the
Company (63) (38)
Earnings per share attributable
to the equity holders of the Company
Basic loss per share 4 (0.9p) (0.6p)
Diluted loss per share 4 (0.9p) (0.6p)
All of the activities of the group are classed as continuing.
CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT FOR YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2006
2006 2005
Note £'000 £'000
Net cash used by operations 5 (167) (207)
Interest paid (1) -
Net cash used by operating activities (168) (207)
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchases of property, plant and equipment (92) -
Interest received 3 4
Net cash (used by)/generated from investing activities (89) 4
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from initial public offering net of share issue expenses 1,399 -
Proceeds from other issue of ordinary shares 27 -
Net cash generated from financing activities 1,426 -
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 1,169 (203)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 64 267
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 1,233 64
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2006
Share Share Merger Foreign Other Retained Total
capital premium reserve currency reserve earnings
account translation
reserve
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
At 1 January 2005 111 - 445 - - (176) 380
Exchange differences on -
consolidation - - 1 - - 1
Loss for the financial year - - - - - (38) (38)
Total income / (expense)
recognised for 2005 - - - 1 - (38) (37)
Share-based payment charge - - - - 26 - 26
- - - 1 26 (38) (11)
At 31 December 2005 111 - 445 1 26 (214) 369
Exchange differences on
consolidation - - - (6) - - (6)
Deferred tax credited to
equity - - - 207 - 207
Loss for the financial year - - - - - (63) (63)
Total income / (expense)
recognised for 2006 - - - (6) 207 (63) 138
Shares issued prior to
Group reconstruction - - 21 - - - 21
Transfer of liability
element of preferred shares
to equity - - 11 - - - 11
Shares issued on IPO 14 1,486 - - - - 1,500
Share issue costs deducted
from equity - (101) - - - - (101)
Share options exercised
subsequent to Group
reconstruction 1 5 - - - - 6
Share-based payment charge - - - - 22 - 22
15 1,390 32 (6) 229 (63) 1,597
At 31 December 2006 126 1,390 477 (5) 255 (277) 1,966
1. Basis of Preparation
The financial information set out above in respect of 31 December 2006 does not
constitute statutory accounts as defined in section 240 of the Companies Act.
The financial information contained in this announcement has been extracted from
the 2006 financial statements upon which the auditors' opinion is unqualified
and does not include any statement under Section 237 of the Companies Act 1985.
Whilst not yet an AiM requirement, the Group has chosen to prepare its maiden
preliminary announcement in accordance with International Financial Reporting
Standards ('IFRSs') as adopted in the European Union and as applied in
accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 1985. The disclosures
required by IFRS 1, First-time Adoption of International Financial Reporting
Standards, in respect of the transition from accounting principles generally
accepted in the United Kingdom ('UK GAAP') to IFRS are provided in note 6.
The preliminary announcement has been prepared under the historical cost
convention.
First time adoption of IFRS
As permitted by IFRS 1, the following key exemptions have been taken in the
transition to IFRS. Recognition and measurement requirements of IFRS 2 'Share
Based Payments' have only been applied to equity instruments granted after 7
November 2002 that had not vested by 1 January 2005. Cumulative translation
differences for all foreign currency operations have been reset to nil as at 1
January 2005.
2. Principal accounting policies
The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these
consolidated results are set out below. These policies have been consistently
applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated.
Basis of consolidation
On 14 November 2006, the Company acquired, in return for the issue of new equity
share capital, the entire issued share capital of BrainJuicer Limited. As the
shareholders were identical before and after this transaction, this share for
share exchange qualifies as a common control transaction and a group
reorganisation and falls outside of the scope of IFRS 3, Business Combinations.
Consequently, merger accounting has been adopted. No goodwill has been
recorded and the difference between the parent Company's cost of investment and
BrainJuicer Limited's share capital and share premium is presented as a merger
reserve within equity on consolidation. Comparative amounts are restated as if
the combination had taken place at the beginning of the earliest comparative
period presented. Accordingly, the Group financial statements have been
prepared as if the Group was in existence for the whole of the current and prior
years.
The consolidated financial statements incorporate the financial statements of
the Company and all entities controlled by it after eliminating internal
transactions. Control is achieved where the Group has the power to govern the
financial and operating policies of a Group undertaking so as to obtain economic
benefits from its activities. Undertakings' results are adjusted, where
appropriate, to conform to group accounting policies.
Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment is stated at historical cost less accumulated
depreciation. Depreciation is provided to write off the cost of all property,
plant and equipment to its residual value on a straight-line basis over its
expected useful economic lives, which are as follows:
Leasehold improvements 5 years or over the period of the lease,
if shorter
Furniture, fittings and equipment 5 years
Computer hardware 2 to 3 years
Impairment of property, plant and equipment
At each balance sheet date, the Group reviews the carrying amounts of its
property, plant and equipment for any indication that those assets have suffered
an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of
the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss,
if any. The recoverable amount is the higher of the fair value less costs to
sell and value in use.
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash in hand and bank deposits available on
demand.
Trade receivables
Trade receivables are stated at fair value, taking into account estimated
irrecoverable amounts which are recognised where there is evidence that the full
amount of the trade receivable is not collectible, and are charged to the income
statement.
Inventories - work in progress
Work in progress comprises directly attributable costs on incomplete market
research projects and is held in the balance sheet at the lower of cost and net
realisable value.
Trade payables
Trade payables are stated at fair value and are not interest bearing. Fair
value normally equates to the amount payable due to their short term nature.
Income taxes
Current income tax liabilities comprise those obligations to fiscal authorities
relating to the current or prior reporting period, that are unpaid at the
balance sheet date. They are calculated according to the tax rates and tax laws
applicable to the fiscal periods to which they relate, based on the taxable
profit for the year. All changes to current tax assets or liabilities are
recognised as a component of tax expense in the income statement, except where
it relates to items charged or credited directly to equity.
Deferred income taxes are calculated using the liability method on temporary
differences. This involves the comparison of the carrying amounts of assets and
liabilities in the consolidated financial statements with their respective tax
bases. In addition, tax losses available to be carried forward as well as other
income tax credits to the Group are assessed for recognition as deferred tax
assets.
Deferred tax liabilities are always provided for in full. Deferred tax assets
are recognised to the extent that it is probable that the underlying deductible
temporary differences will be able to be offset against future taxable income.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are calculated, without discounting, at tax
rates that are expected to apply to their respective period of realisation,
provided they are enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date.
Deferred tax is recognised as a component of tax expense in the income
statement, except where it relates to items charged or credited directly to
equity.
Operating lease agreements
Rentals applicable to operating leases where substantially all of the benefits
and risks of ownership remain with the lessor are charged to the income
statement net of any incentives received from the lessor on a straight line
basis over the period of the lease.
Revenue recognition
Revenue is recognised when the right to consideration has been obtained for each
market research project, which is normally after delivery of the project debrief
to the client. Delivery of the debrief is the most significant act of each
project.
Employee benefits
All accumulating employee-compensated absences that are unused at the balance
sheet date are recognised as a liability.
Share-based payment transactions
The Group issues equity settled share-based compensation to certain employees
(including directors). Equity settled share-based payments are measured at fair
value at the date of grant. The fair value determined at the grant date of the
equity-settled share-based payment is expensed on a straight-line basis over the
vesting period, together with a corresponding increase in equity, based upon the
Group's estimate of the shares that will eventually vest. These estimates are
subsequently revised if there is any indication that the number of options
expected to vest differs from previous estimates. Any cumulative adjustment
prior to vesting is recognised in the current period. No adjustment is made to
any expense recognised in prior periods.
Fair value is measured by an external valuer using the Black-Scholes pricing
model. The expected life used in the model has been adjusted, based on
management's best estimate, for the effects of non-transferability, exercise
restrictions and behavioural considerations.
Where the terms of an equity-settled transaction are modified, as a minimum an
expense is recognised as if the terms had not been modified. In addition, an
expense is recognised for any increase in the value of the transaction as a
result of the modification, as measured by the date of modification.
Where an equity-settled transaction is cancelled, it is treated as if it had
vested on the due date of the cancellation, and any expense not yet recognised
for the transaction is recognised immediately. However, if a new transaction is
substituted for the cancelled transaction, and designated as a replacement
transaction on the date that it is granted, the cancelled and new transactions
are treated as if they were a modification of the original transaction, as
described in the previous paragraph.
Foreign currencies
Monetary assets and liabilities in foreign currencies are translated into
sterling at the rates of exchange prevailing at the balance sheet date.
Transactions in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at the rate of
exchange prevailing at the date of the transaction. Exchange gains and losses
are included in the income statement for the period.
For consolidation purposes, the trading results and cash flows in foreign
currencies, arising in foreign subsidiaries, are translated into sterling at
average exchange rates for the period. Assets and liabilities denominated in
foreign currencies are translated using the rate of exchange prevailing at the
balance sheet date. Exchange differences arising upon consolidation are taken
directly to the cumulative foreign currency translation reserve. Such
translation differences are recognised as income or expense in the period in
which the operation is disposed of.
Segment reporting
A segment is a distinguishable component of the group that is engaged in
providing products or services within a particular economic environment
(geographical segment).
Financial instruments/ liabilities
Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the
substance of the contractual arrangements entered into. An equity instrument is
any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the entity
after deducting all of its financial liabilities.
Where the contractual obligations of financial instruments (including share
capital) are equivalent to a similar debt instrument, those financial
instruments are classed as financial liabilities. Financial liabilities are
presented as such in the balance sheet. Finance costs and gains or losses
relating to financial liabilities are included in the income statement. Finance
costs are calculated so as to produce a constant rate of return on the
outstanding liability.
Where the contractual terms of share capital do not have any terms meeting the
definition of a financial liability then this is classed as an equity
instrument. Dividends and distributions relating to equity instruments are
debited direct to equity.
Compound instruments
Compound instruments comprise both a liability and an equity component. At date
of issue, the fair value of the liability component is estimated using the
prevailing market interest rate for a similar debt instrument. The liability
component is accounted for as a financial liability.
The residual is the difference between the net proceeds of issue and the
liability component (at time of issue). The residual is the equity component,
which is accounted for as an equity instrument.
The interest expense on the liability component is calculated applying the
effective interest rate for the liability component of the instrument. The
difference between this amount and any repayments is added to the carrying
amount of the liability in the balance sheet.
Share capital
Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Equity instruments issued by the
Company are recorded at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs.
Share premium
Share premium represents the excess over nominal value of the fair value of
consideration received for equity shares, net of expenses of the share issue.
Other reserve
The other reserve represents equity-settled share-based employee remuneration
until such share options are exercised and deferred tax taken directly to equity
in respect of such options.
Merger reserve
The merger reserve represents the difference between the parent company's cost
of investment and a subsidiary's share capital and share premium where a
business combination qualifies as a common control transaction.
Foreign currency translation reserve
The foreign currency translation reserve represents the differences arising from
translation of investments in overseas subsidiaries.
3. Segment information
The Group operates in one business segment, that of market research. Whilst
there are a number of products within the business segment, management reporting
is principally based on location of service delivery. Accordingly the Group
presents its primary segment analysis on this basis:
Year ended 31 December 2006
United Europe Rest of the Group Total
Kingdom World
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Total segment revenue 3,065 1,198 375 - 4,638
Inter segment revenue (30) - - - (30)
Segment revenue 3,035 1,198 375 - 4,608
Segment result 860 529 (66) (1,200) 123
Investment income 3
Finance costs (32)
Profit before taxation 94
Taxation (157)
Loss for the financial year (63)
Segment assets 1,072 855 237 1,264 3,428
Segment liabilities (712) (179) (300) (271) (1,462)
Net assets 360 676 (63) 993 1,966
Capital expenditure 86 3 3 - 92
Depreciation 13 1 - - 14
Group costs include directors' remuneration and central project costs which are
not directly attributable to geographic segments.
Group assets include centrally held cash at bank and deferred tax assets. Group
liabilities include income tax and financial liabilities.
Year ended 31 December 2005
United Europe Rest of the Group Total
Kingdom World
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Total segment revenue 2,533 440 - - 2,973
Inter segment revenue (23) (14) - - (37)
Segment revenue 2,510 426 - - 2,936
Segment result 891 142 - (1,031) 2
Investment income 4
Finance costs (44)
Loss before taxation (38)
Taxation -
Loss for the financial year (38)
Segment assets 631 234 - - 865
Segment liabilities (331) (77) - (88) (496)
Net assets 300 157 - (88) 369
Capital expenditure - - - - -
Depreciation - - - - -
Group costs include directors' remuneration and central project costs which are
not directly attributable to geographic segments.
Group liabilities include income tax and financial liabilities.
4. Earnings per share
(a) Basic
Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the profit attributable to
equity holders of the Company by the weighted average of ordinary shares in
issue during the year.
2006 2005
£'000 £'000
Loss attributable to equity holders of the Company (63) (38)
Listing expenses 354 -
Adjusted profit/(loss) before listing expenses attributable to equity holders of 291 (38)
the Company
Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue 7,196,792 6,126,465
Basic loss per share (0.9p) (0.6p)
Adjusted basic earnings/(loss) per share before listing expenses 4.0p (0.6p)
(b) Diluted
Diluted earnings per share is calculated by adjusting the weighted average
number of shares outstanding to assume conversion of all dilutive potential
ordinary shares. For share options, a calculation is made in order to determine
the number of shares that could have been acquired at fair value (determined as
the average annual market share price of the Company's shares) based on the
monetary value of the subscription rights attached to outstanding share options.
The number of shares calculated in this way is compared with the number of
shares that would have been issued assuming the exercise of the share options.
2006 2005
£'000 £'000
Loss attributable to equity holders of the Company (63) (38)
Interest expense on convertible preference shares 31 43
(Loss) / profit used to determine diluted earnings per share (32) 5
Listing expenses 354 -
Adjusted profit used to determine adjusted diluted earnings per share 322 5
Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue 7,196,792 6,126,465
Assumed conversion of convertible preference shares 4,014,201 4,817,041
Share options 364,377 312,209
Weighted average number of ordinary shares for diluted earnings per share 11,575,370 11,255,715
Diluted loss per share (0.9p) (0.6p)
Adjusted diluted earnings/(loss) per share before listing expenses 2.8p (0.6p)
The share options and convertible preference shares are considered to be
anti-dilutive in 2005 and anti-dilutive after listing expenses in 2006.
5. Cash used by operations
2006 2005
£'000 £'000
Profit /(loss) before taxation 94 (38)
Depreciation 14 -
Net finance costs 29 40
Share-based payment expense 22 26
Increase in inventory (32) (5)
Increase in receivables (824) (222)
Increase/(decrease) in payables 536 (9)
Exchange differences (6) 1
Net cash used by operations (167) (207)
6. First time adoption of IFRS
Key impact analysis
The analysis below sets out the most significant adjustments arising from the
transition to IFRS.
1) Presentation of financial statements
The format of the Group's primary financial statements has been presented in
accordance with IAS 1 'Presentation of Financial Statements'.
2) Share-based payment
IFRS 2, 'Share based payment' requires that an expense for equity settled share
based payment be recognised in the financial statements based on their fair
value at the date of grant. This expense, which is in relation to employee
share options granted under an EMI scheme, is recognised over the vesting period
of the options.
IFRS 2 has been applied to all options granted after 7 November 2002 and not
fully vested by 1 January 2005, the Group's date of transition to IFRS.
3) IAS 19 Employee benefits
Under IAS 19, all accumulating employee-compensated absences that are unused at
the balance sheet date must be recognised as a liability. There is no similar
requirement under UK GAAP. In addition, employee benefits which fall within the
scope of IAS 19 have been recognised in the Group's balance sheet.
4) Foreign exchange differences
Under IAS 21 'The effects of changes in foreign exchange rates', exchange
differences arising upon consolidation are taken directly to a cumulative
translation reserve rather than to the profit and loss account. Such
translation differences are recognised as income or expense in the period in
which the operation is disposed of.
Differences between UK GAAP applicable at 1 January 2005 and UK GAAP at the date
of this report reflect the implementation of the following standards:
• Financial Reporting Standard No. 20 'Share-based payments'; and
• Financial Reporting Standard No. 26 'Financial Instruments: Measurement'
Reconciliation of equity as at 1 January 2005 (date of transition to IFRS)
UK GAAP Employee IFRS
benefits
£'000 £'000 £'000
ASSETS
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment - - -
Deferred tax asset - - -
- - -
Current assets
Inventories 8 - 8
Trade and other receivables 566 - 566
Cash and cash equivalents 267 - 267
Total assets 841 - 841
EQUITY
Share capital 111 - 111
Share premium account 445 - 445
Other reserves - - -
Retained earnings (166) (10) (176)
Total equity 390 (10) 380
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables 355 10 365
Current income tax liabilities 53 - 53
408 10 418
Non-current liabilities
Financial liabilities 43 - 43
Total liabilities 451 10 461
Total equity and liabilities 841 - 841
Reconciliation of income statement for the year ended 31 December 2005
UK GAAP Share-based Employee IFRS
payment benefits
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Revenue 2,936 - - 2,936
Cost of sales (650) - - (650)
Gross profit 2,286 - - 2,286
Administrative expenses (2,253) (26) (5) (2,284)
Operating profit 33 (26) (5) 2
Investment income 4 - - 4
Finance costs (44) - - (44)
Loss before taxation (7) (26) (5) (38)
Income tax expense - - - -
Loss for the financial year (7) (26) (5) (38)
Reconciliation of equity as at 31 December 2005
UK GAAP Share-based Employee Foreign IFRS
payment benefits exchange
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
ASSETS
Non-current assets
Tangible fixed assets - - - - -
Deferred tax asset - - - - -
- - - - -
Current assets
Inventories 13 - - - 13
Trade and other receivables 788 - - - 788
Cash and cash equivalents 64 - - - 64
865 - - - 865
EQUITY
Share capital 111 - - - 111
Merger reserve 445 - - - 445
Foreign currency translation reserve - - - 1 1
Other reserve - 26 - - 26
Retained earnings (172) (26) (15) (1) (214)
Total equity 384 - (15) - 369
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables 393 - 15 - 408
Current income tax liabilities - - - - -
393 15 408
Non-current liabilities
Financial liabilities 88 - - - 88
Total liabilities 481 15 496
Total equity and liabilities 865 - - - 865
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange