Final Results

Farsight PLC 28 November 2003 FARSIGHT PLC PRELIMINARY RESULTS FOR THE YEAR TO 31 MAY 2003 Results for the year reflect a difficult year but one in which Farsight has undergone a radical transformation with its core business now repositioned on technology led security solutions for corporate clients. Highlights Loss before tax reduced to £2,456,000 (2002: £3,353,000) New monitoring connections being secured every month Strong sales prospects Second version of e-surveillance software to be released in 2004 New loan facility agreed, subject to shareholders' approval Enquiries Chris Thomas, Chief Executive 01733 352 435 Farsight plc Chairman's Statement Introduction Earlier this year I indicated that the foundation had been laid for the rebuilding of Farsight plc. In the last twelve months the company has undergone a radical transformation with our core business successfully repositioned on technology led security solutions for corporate clients. A new management team has confronted the issues of change and cost reduction, and put in place a business plan that is producing progress month by month in terms of growth, improved operational performance, innovation and software design and improved financial results. The operating loss on continued operations after the exceptional goodwill charge was £621,000. Tough decisions were taken during the year, culminating in a Board resolution to put AIMS into liquidation at the end of February 2003. However, this enabled the business to regroup around the core remote video monitoring activity, to reduce costs and was the catalyst for the re-organisation of our technology support services which are today channelled through the Farsight Technology operating division. This refocusing of resources is responsible for Farsight's ability to present itself as one of the leading innovators within the security sector. The market of the future will increasingly require skilled software and IT support in the integration of our customers' networks to provide low cost, effective security solutions using internet protocol ('IP') technology as the mechanism of delivery. Results and dividends for the year to 31 May 2003 Operating loss on all operations was £2,818,000; (2002; loss of £3,441,000) on turnover of £1,027,000; (2002: turnover of £2,712,000). The loss includes £289,000 of amortised goodwill (2002: £289,000) and £1,174,000 of provision against impairment in the value of goodwill. The operating loss on continued operations was reduced to £1,795,000 (2002: £1,838,000). No dividend is recommended. Trading review and current activity The sales team led by Graham Johnson has successfully won new monitoring and consultancy business every month since we implemented a new sales plan last autumn. The effect has been to almost double the number of connections into the Peterborough monitoring station and we have rationalised our activity away from 'old' blue-collar activities towards white-collar security operations typified by the facility management and property sectors. In November 2003 we signed Heads of Terms for a substantial contract in partnership with Johnson Workplace Management to deliver security costs savings to one of the UK's largest IT companies in excess of £1 million per annum over five years, the contract is scheduled to start on 1 December 2003. These savings are possible by replacing increasingly expensive manned guards with cctv installations across IP networks using Farsight's e-surveillance suite of software. All this amounts to a major opportunity to build the Group in the next two to three years. The Board's clear strategy is to continue to invest in our commercial presence in the security markets and take advantage of the clear cost savings our technology allows us to exploit in partnerships with our channel partners. We have continued to build close relationships with new channel partners. In the past seven months, two 'open days' have been held at the Observatory in Peterborough co-jointly hosted by Panasonic. Farsight has successfully developed and expanded its range of relationships with the larger, established cctv installation companies. Our e-surveillance business has finally matured to the point where our IP know-how and software is in a position to generate increasing revenues in the years ahead. The widespread use of company networks and the general acceptance of the benefits of ADSL technologies today allow the exploitation of e-surveillance. Most major new security installations will be IP based and Farsight is well placed to exploit the opportunity. Further, we are planning to release our own shrink-wrapped e-surveillance software to closed user communities in the second half of this financial year. The Farsight Technology operating division continues to provide IT support services to customers like Cahoot Bank and SAIC. We aim to grow our support services business during the next 18 months, and our sales prospects list is lengthening. The company's technical and operational performance continues to be a major priority. In the past six months Farsight has gained SSAIB (Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board) accreditations for our monitoring station in Peterborough. In addition, we also gained formal status as a certified Microsoft Partner. This reinforces our capability to deliver high quality support to customer IT and IP networks. Funding At the EGM on 11 October 2002, all resolutions including those in relation to the placing and open offer of up to 150,000,000 new ordinary shares and the change of name to Farsight plc, were approved by shareholders. As a result of this exercise, £1.5 million was raised. As at 31 May the Group indebtedness was £186,000. Since this fundraising the Company has had to utilise cash outflows. In order to continue to fund the continued development of the monitoring and e-surveillance business and to settle the last of the legacy debts the group requires additional working capital. I am pleased to report that today the Company has negotiated a Secured convertible Loan Facility of up to £750,000. Details of this facility are set out in a circular being sent to shareholders together with the report and accounts. Board changes There have been no changes to the Board since the interim results. The Board intends to appoint a further non-executive director in the coming months. Conclusion The company is well placed to take advantage of the market opportunity as security networks increasingly utilise IP technology. Our consulting know-how and e-surveillance software are increasingly sought after and with further small cost reductions to come over the next six months, the Company is continuing to re-establish its financial credibility. The process of rebuilding the Farsight business continues and we can now also look for appropriate growth opportunities to accelerate this process in order to increase the scale the business needs. A T G Wix Chairman Consolidated Profit and Loss Account for the year ended 31 May 2003 2003 2002 £'000 £'000 Turnover Continuing operations 669 637 Acquisitions - 2,075 Discontinued operations 358 - 1,027 2,712 Cost of sales (1,186) (1,123) Gross (loss)/profit (159) 1,589 Net operating expenses (1,366) (3,052) Exceptional net operating expenses (1,293) (1,978) Total net operating expenses (2,659) (5,030) Operating loss before goodwill (1,355) (1,174) Goodwill (1,463) (2,267) Operating loss after goodwill (2,818) (3,441) Operating loss Continuing operations (1,795) (1,838) Acquisitions - (1,603) Discontinued operations (1,023) - Total operating loss (2,818) (3,441) Profit on sale of discontinued operations 400 141 Interest payable and similar charges (41) (56) Interest receivable 3 3 Loss on ordinary activities before taxation (2,456) (3,353) Taxation - - Loss on ordinary activities after taxation for the financial year (2,456) (3,353) and withdrawn from reserves Loss per ordinary share (0.997)p (2.94)p Fully diluted loss per ordinary share (0.997)p (2.94)p Reconciliation of Movements in Group Shareholders' Funds at 31 May 2003 2003 2002 £'000 £'000 Loss for the financial year (2,456) (3,353) Proceeds of share capital issues 1,408 1,723 Net decrease in shareholders' funds (1,048) (1,630) Opening shareholders' funds 1,585 3,215 Closing shareholders' funds 537 1,585 The company has no gains or losses other than the results for the year as set out above. There is no difference between the loss on ordinary activities before taxation and the retained loss for the year stated above and their historical cost equivalents. Balance Sheet at 31 May 2003 2003 2002 £'000 £'000 Fixed assets Intangible assets 885 2,348 Tangible assets 408 612 Investments - - 1,293 2,960 Current assets Debtors amounts falling due outside one year - - Debtors amounts falling due within one year 248 475 Cash at bank and in hand 14 2 262 477 Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year (1,003) (1,716) Net current (liabilities)/assets (741) (1,239) Total assets less current liabilities 552 1,721 Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year (13) (134) Provision for liabilities and charges Deferred Tax (2) (2) Net assets 537 1,585 Capital and reserves Share capital 7,452 5,902 Share premium account 4,493 4,635 Capital redemption reserve 20 20 Profit and loss account (12,502) (8,972) Equity Shareholders' funds 537 1,585 Consolidated Cash Flow Statement for the year ended 31 May 2003 2003 2002 £'000 £'000 Net cash outflow from operating activities (1,061) (329) Returns on investments and servicing of finance Interest received 3 3 Interest element of finance lease payments (40) (52) Interest paid (1) (4) (38) (53) Taxation United Kingdom corporation tax paid (85) - Capital expenditure and financial investment Purchase of tangible fixed assets (12) (26) (12) (26) Acquisitions and disposals Purchase of subsidiaries - (1,600) Net cash acquired with subsidiary - 43 Net (cash)/overdraft disposed with subsidiary (28) 6 (28) (1,581) Net cash outflow before management of liquid resources and financing (1,224) (1,989) Financing Issue of new share capital 1,408 988 Capital element of finance lease payments (149) (79) Net cash inflow from financing 1,259 909 Increase/(decrease) in cash in the year 35 (1,080) Reconciliation of Operating Loss to Net Cash Flow from Operating Activities 2003 2002 £'000 £'000 Operating loss Operating loss before goodwill (1,355) (1,174) Goodwill (1,463) (2,267) Total operating loss (2,818) (3,441) Amortisation of intangible fixed assets 289 289 Provision against impairment in value of intangible fixed assets 1,174 1,978 Depreciation of tangible fixed assets 211 205 Decrease in stocks - 18 Decrease in debtors 271 576 (Decrease)/increase in creditors (188) 46 Net cash flow from operating activities (1,061) (329) Notes to the Preliminary Results for the year ended 31 May 2003 1. Loss per ordinary share Basic loss per share (LPS) is calculated by dividing the loss attributable to ordinary shareholders, namely a loss of £2,456,000 (2002: loss £3,353,000) by 246,422,277 ordinary shares (2002: 114,218,694 ordinary shares), being the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue and ranking for dividend during the year. 2003 Weighted 2002 Weighted average number average number of shares of shares '000 '000 Earnings / Per share Earnings / Per share (loss) amount (Pence) (loss) amount (Pence) £'000 £'000 Basic LPS (2,456) 246,422 (0.997) (3,353) 114,219 (2,94) 2. Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net debt 2003 2002 £'000 £'000 Movement in cash in year 35 (1,080) Cash inflow from change in debt 149 79 Change in net debt resulting from cash flows 184 (1,001) Net debt movement on disposal of subsidiary - 8 Movement in net debt in the year 184 (993) Net (debt)/funds at 1 June, 2002 (370) 623 Net debt at 31 May, 2003 (186) (370) 3. Analysis of net debt At 1 June, At 31 May, 2002 Cash Flow 2003 £'000 £'000 £'000 Cash at bank and in hand 2 12 14 Overdrafts (89) 23 (66) (87) 35 (52) Finance leases (283) 149 (134) (370) 184 (186) 4. Statutory Accounts The financial information contained in this announcement does not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. The figures for the year ended 31 May 2002 have been extracted from the statutory accounts which have been filed with the Register of Companies and which are available on request from the Company Secretary. The auditor's report on those accounts was unqualified and did not contain any statement under section 237(2) or section 237(3) of the Companies Act 1985. The statutory accounts for the financial year ended 31 May 2003 have been approved by the Directors and are available for collection at the offices of AGN Shipleys, 10 Orange Street, Haymarket, London WC2 7DQ or in electronic form on the company's website, www.farsight.co.uk. The auditors' report on these accounts was unqualified and did not contain any statement under section 237(2) or section 237(3) of the Companies Act 1985. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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