Interim Results
Forbidden Technologies PLC
19 September 2002
FORBIDDEN TECHNOLOGIES PLC
Interim Results for the six months ended 30 June 2002
Forbidden Technologies plc, which listed on AIM in February 2000 and develops
and markets proprietary technology for video distribution over the Internet,
announces Interim Results for the six months ended 30 June 2002.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Loss for the period of £147,906 (2001: £87,386)
• Cash balance - £2.95 million
• Significant progress made in all areas of activity
• Delivery of full screen, high quality video streamed via mainstream
connections to hand held computers/PDAs now a reality
• New Java mobile phone codec enables real-time compression
• Continuing delays in adoption of Broadband & 3G justify Forbidden's
strategy of targeting delivery via standard modem connections
Vic Steel, Chairman commented:
'We have made significant progress in the development and refinement of our
video compression technology in each of our target markets and through all of
the key platforms. We have moved towards a product focus and this has eroded
the boundaries between our different Codecs.
'There are signs that the market environment is beginning to improve and we have
a high level of confidence that the firm foundations which we have built over
the past two years are beginning to yield results. We look forward to an
accelerating rate of growth in the months ahead.'
19 September 2002
ENQUIRIES:
College Hill Tel: 020 7457 2020
Nicholas Nelson
Michael Padley
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
Results
In the six months to 30 June 2002 the Company had sales of £5,350 (2001: £691)
and incurred a loss of £147,906 (2001: £87,386). The increased loss was mainly
due to lower interest income (£40,671 less than the comparable period in 2001)
and increased expenditure on commercial development resources. Cash balances
remain strong at £2,950,334.
The Market Place
Three key characteristics were evident in the market place during the first six
months of the year. Firstly broadband penetration and adoption remained very
low in comparison to narrowband. Secondly in mobile telecoms 3G continued to be
delayed and is still a long way from catching up with GPRS/2.5G and thirdly the
pressures across the economy increased the level of risk-aversion in most
companies, slowing the rate of adoption of new technologies.
Product Progress
We have moved towards a product focus and this has eroded the boundaries between
our different Codecs. We have made significant progress in the development and
refinement of our video compression technology in each of our target markets and
through all of the key platforms.
For the advertising market on PCs via websites, we have developed a series of
new features to meet the needs of advertisers and viewers. We can now
incorporate buttons, pre-load facilities and, with ad-server integration can
count clicks and impressions, thus enabling accurate measurement of campaign
reach. Our new suite of tools allows a much wider range of content to be
accessible, and using our Java player we can reach the widest possible audience
without any need for external 'plug-in' software.
One stunning development is our ability to provide full-screen, high quality
colour video on the new generation of hand held computers/PDAs such as the XDA
and iPAQ over existing mobile links. Our new Java mobile phone codec enables
real-time compression with much higher picture quality. These developments will
prove to be invaluable in helping us to establish our business in the corporate
communications, entertainment and related markets.
Business Development
We continue to build the company. We are establishing deeper relationships with
our customers and have increased our internal resources by adding to our
software development team, staffing a compression bureau function, and adding a
further senior sales manager. Although the results of the efforts are not yet
visible from outside the company they are important steps towards contracts with
larger organisations.
Outlook
There are signs that the market environment is beginning to improve and we have
a high level of confidence that the firm foundations which we have built over
the past two years are beginning to yield results. We look forward to an
accelerating rate of growth in the months ahead and would encourage everyone to
visit our website http://www.forbidden.co.uk/ regularly in order to keep up to
date with our progress and related news.
Victor Steel
Chairman
19 September 2002
Profit and Loss Account
for the six months ended 30 June 2002
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
half year to half year to year to
30 June 2002 30 June 2001 31 December 2001
Turnover 5,350 691 2,672
Administrative expenses (220,873) (196,365) (441,594)
Operating loss (215,523) (195,674) (438,922)
Interest receivable 67,617 108,288 188,268
Loss on ordinary activities before taxation (147,906) (87,386) (250,654)
Tax on loss on ordinary activities - - 19,800
Loss for the period (147,906) (87,386) (230,854)
Basic loss per ordinary 0.8 pence share (0.20p) (0.12p) (0.30p)
Reconciliation of movements in shareholders' funds
for the six months ended 30 June 2002
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
half year to half year to year to
30 June 2002 30 June 2001 31 December 2001
£ £ £
Loss for the period (147,906) (87,386) (230,854)
Net reduction in shareholders' funds (147,906) (87,386) (230,854)
Opening shareholders' funds 3,175,053 3,405,907 3,405,907
Closing shareholders' funds 3,027,147 3,318,521 3,175,053
A statement of recognised gains and losses has not been included as part of this
interim report as the Company made no gains or losses in the year other than as
disclosed in the Profit and Loss Account.
The results stated above are all derived from continuing operations.
Cash Flow Statement
for the six months ended 30 June 2002
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
half year to half year to year to
30 June 2002 30 June 2001 31 December 2001
£ £ £
Reconciliation of operating loss to net cash
outflow from operating activities
Operating loss (215,523) (195,674) (438,922)
Depreciation charges 5,221 13,159 31,051
Decrease/(increase) in debtors 23,104 18,118 (3,974)
Decrease in creditors (22,394) (39,607) (8,212)
Net cash outflow from operating activities (209,592) (204,004) (420,057)
Cash flow statement
Cash flow from operating activities (209,592) (204,004) (420,057)
Returns on investment and servicing of finance
141,776 153,729 182,647
Taxation - - (30,211)
Capital expenditure (3,550) (13,516) (22,467)
Management of liquid resources 39,495 (225,115) 38,612
Financing - - -
Decrease in cash in the period (31,871) (288,906) (251,476)
Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net funds
Decrease in cash in the year (31,871) (288,906) (251,476)
Cash used to increase liquid resources (39,495) 225,115 (38,612)
Movement in net funds in the period (71,366) (63,791) (290,088)
Net funds at the start of the period 3,021,750 3,311,838 3,311,838
Net funds at the end of the period 2,950,384 3,248,047 3,021,750
Balance Sheet
as at 30 June 2002
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
half year to half year to Year to
30 June 2002 30 June 2001 31 December 2001
£ £ £
Fixed assets
Tangible assets 9,770 20,383 11,441
Current assets
Debtors 90,694 95,001 187,957
Cash at bank 2,950,384 3,248,047 3,021,750
3,041,078 3,343,048 3,209,707
Creditors
Amounts falling due within one year (23,701) (44,910) (46,095)
Net current assets 3,017,377 3,298,138 3,163,612
Net assets 3,027,147 3,318,521 3,175,053
Capital and reserves
Called up share capital 594,800 594,800 594,800
Share premium account 2,896,500 2,896,500 2,896,500
Capital contribution reserve 125,000 125,000 125,000
Profit and loss account (589,153) (297,779) (441,247)
Equity shareholders' funds 3,027,147 3,318,521 3,175,053
This interim report was approved by the board of directors on 18 September 2002
and were signed on their behalf by
Douglas Blaikie
Financial Director
Basis of preparation
The interim report for the six months ended 30 June 2002 and 2001 is unaudited
and does not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 240 of
The Companies Act 1985. They have been prepared under the historical cost
convention and on a basis consistent with the accounting policies for the year
ended 31 December 2001. The results for the year ended 31 December 2001 and the
balance sheet of that date are an extract from the statutory financial
statements for that year, which have been filed with the Registrar of Companies
and on which the company's auditors gave an unqualified report and did not
contain a statement under Section 237 (2) or (3) of that Act.
Copies of this statement will be available for a period of 14 days from the
Company's registered office: 2-4 St. George's Road, Wimbledon, London SW19 4DP.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange