Final Results
Iomart Group PLC
21 May 2003
iomart results for the year ended 31 March 2003
iomart Group plc, the Glasgow based software and web services business,
announces its consolidated final results for the year ended 31 March 2003.
Highlights
•Reduction in loss to 3.5p per share from 14.7p
•Clear focus on two business streams in growth markets
•Web services business with 7,000 customers adding 1,000 monthly
•NetIntelligence gaining market recognition
•Cash balances of £4 million in hand
•Anticipate monthly group profitability before end of 2003/04
Nick Kuenssberg, chairman, commented:
'The figures show revenues of £2.2 million and a loss of £1.9 million down from
£7.9 million in 2001/02.
We retain cash balances of £4 million which will be sufficient to fund both
incremental marketing spend for NetIntelligence and the further development of
our web services business.
We remain confident about both our businesses. With overhead expense running at
£220,000 per month and a maturing sales platform we believe that monthly group
profitability is achievable before the end of the current financial year.'
Contact: Angus MacSween, chief executive officer 0141 931 7000
Nick Kuenssberg, chairman 07860 635 191
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
The year 2002/03 has seen the company focusing on its two businesses of network
security software and web services. The figures showing revenues of £2.2 million
(2002 - £5.4 million) and a loss of £1.9 million (2002 - £7.9 million)
demonstrate the effects of this focus and the impact of a more robust business
model.
NetIntelligence has been developed into a sophisticated tool in the growing
content management market related to the increased usage of email, internet and
networks by companies both large and small. The latest version 3.07, providing a
full range of detailed management reports, suitable for both corporate and SME
customers, has a significant sales pipeline with some forty customers to date.
Potential for major announcements in the near term emphasises the validity of
this product portfolio. The speed of uptake has however been disappointing and
will probably remain below expectations in the current business climate.New
sales initiatives should begin to create more significant sales revenue before
the end of the current year.
Web services are based on the iomart Internet operation with sales offices
originally in Lancaster and latterly in Barrow, backed up by office and
infrastructure in Glasgow and a third sales team potentially also in Glasgow.
Sales are now running at £2.5 million per annum and progress will be enhanced by
the introduction of new products for our customer base of c 7,000. The ability
of the existing Glasgow hosting business has been underwritten by having
recently won a substantial deal from a major media group.
We exited the operations in Germany early in the year, full provision having
already been made at March 2002 as advised with the 2001/02 results. It is not
anticipated that the 20% holding in Canbox Technologies GmbH will create any
value for shareholders.
Although we have looked at other companies and business opportunities to
complement our offerings, our focus is clear and we have not been distracted. We
retain cash balances of £4 million which will be sufficient to fund both
incremental marketing spend for NetIntelligence and the further development of
our web services business.
The promotion of NetIntelligence demands a new director of sales who started in
April. As a consequence Bill Dobbie will move from an executive to a
non-executive role as at the date of the AGM with a wide-ranging remit for
strategic development. Our tight cohesive board remains appropriate for the
current size and shape of your company's activities.
We remain confident about both our businesses. With overhead expense running at
£220,000 per month and a maturing sales platform we believe that monthly group
profitability is achievable before the end of the current financial year.
Nick Kuenssberg
Non-executive chairman
20 May 2003
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER'S REPORT
The year to end March 2003 has been one of consolidation, cost control and
concentration on building our two business streams. We began April 2002 with a
relatively new software product, NetIntelligence, and an embryonic web services
business, having restructured our telecoms business. Whilst this has reduced
revenues to £2.2 million we have dramatically improved our profit and loss
account from losses of £7.9 million to a loss of £1.9 million.
Our focus is on continuing to bear down on cost, whilst growing aggressively our
web services business via direct sales by c. 1,000 customers a month to ensure a
quality recurring revenue stream and increasing our revenues from direct and
indirect sales of NetIntelligence. Whilst we attained our forecast revenue for
web services, sales of NetIntelligence are still not flowing through as quickly
as we had hoped. However we remain convinced that, with an ever improving
product and the increasing demands around the management of internet and email,
we will start to close significant sales through this year.
Results
Turnover for the year of £2.19 million is made up of £2.17 million from ongoing
operations, network security and web services (co-location, hosting, domain
names and mail), and £0.02 million from the discontinued operations in Germany.
Administrative expenses totalled £3.81 million, which represents a considerable
decrease on the total of £11.08 million for the previous period. In addition,
restructuring costs of £0.47 million were incurred. We have continued to reduce
our administrative expenses to reflect our current business. We have carried out
an extensive impairment review of all tangible and intangible fixed assets and
have fully written down those where we do not anticipate any recoverable value.
Going forward the requirement for capital expenditure is expected to be modest.
The group operating loss was £2.40 million compared with a total of £11.84
million, of which £6.98 million was attributable to continuing operations for
the previous period.
Bank interest receivable amounted to £0.20 million. Interest payable on finance
leases and hire purchase contracts was £0.03 million.
The loss for the year before taxation was £2.22 million. There is no liability
to corporation tax on the results for the year and research and development tax
credits totalling £0.33 million are due to be refunded to the group, resulting
in a loss after taxation for the year of £1.89 million (2002 - £7.90 million).
The loss per share for the year was 3.5p compared to 14.7p for the 15 months
ended 31 March 2002.
Cash and borrowings
Cash balances at 31 March 2003 were £4.04 million. Borrowings under finance
leases amounted to £0.54 million. The group had no other debt outstanding.
Financial instruments
The group's financial instruments comprise cash and liquid resources and various
items such as trade debtors and trade creditors that arise directly from its
operations. The main purpose of these financial instruments is to provide
finance for the group's operations. The main risk to the group is interest rate
risk arising from floating rate interest rates. All transactions of the holding
company and the UK subsidiaries are in UK sterling and the group does not use
derivative instruments.
Financial Position
The group's financial position remains strong with sufficient cash reserves to
fund the current business plan and take the group through to profitability.
Prospects
We are continuing to meet our revenue and customer acquisition forecasts in web
services, focussed on providing web hosting and related services to small
business. We believe there are significant growth opportunities in this sector
as knowledge and understanding of the internet matures within the small and
micro business community.
Our challenge with NetIntelligence remains to break into the security and
content management market in a meaningful way. The next twelve months will be
critical in this regard but we remain confident that the leadership we have in
functionality will win us important reference customers in the year ahead.
Angus MacSween
Chief executive officer
20 May 2003
CONSOLIDATED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT
Year ended 31 March 2003
Note Year 15 months
ended 31 March ended 31 March
2003 2002
£'000 £'000
TURNOVER
Continuing operations 3 2,174 1,719
Discontinued operations 3 18 3,680
---------
---------
Total turnover 2,192 5,399
Cost of sales 3 (312) (3,339)
--------- ---------
Gross profit 3 1,880 2,060
--------- ---------
Administrative expenses (3,809) (11,079)
Restructuring expenses (466) (3,021)
--------- ---------
Total administrative expenses 3 (4,275) (14,100)
Other operating income - 203
--------- ---------
Net operating expenses 3 (4,275) (13,897)
--------- ---------
OPERATING LOSS
Continuing operations 3 (2,395) (6,976)
Discontinued operations 3 - (4,861)
---------
---------
Operating loss 4 (2,395) (11,837)
Profit on sale of businesses - 3,609
---------
---------
(2,395) (8,228)
Net interest 5 171 327
--------- ---------
LOSS ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES BEFORE
TAXATION
(2,224) (7,901)
Tax on loss on ordinary activities 334 -
--------- ---------
LOSS ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES AFTER
TAXATION FOR THE YEAR/PERIOD
(1,890) (7,901)
Equity minority interests 18 5
--------- ---------
LOSS FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR/PERIOD (1,872) (7,896)
========= =========
Loss per ordinary share (pence)
Basic 6 (3.5p) (14.7p)
There have been no recognised gains and losses attributable to the shareholders
other than the loss for the current financial year and preceding financial
period and accordingly, no statement of total recognised gains and losses is
shown.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
31 March 2003
2003 2002
£'000 £'000
FIXED ASSETS
Intangible assets 13 279
Tangible assets 376 1,011
-------- --------
389 1,290
-------- --------
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors 793 927
Cash at bank and in hand 4,042 6,519
-------- --------
4,835 7,446
-------- --------
CREDITORS: amounts falling due (1,170) (2,513)
within one year -------- --------
NET CURRENT ASSETS 3,665 4,933
-------- --------
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 4,054 6,223
CREDITORS: amounts falling due after more than (292) (571)
one year
EQUITY MINORITY INTERESTS 30 12
-------- --------
NET ASSETS 3,792 5,664
======== ========
CAPITAL AND RESERVES
Called up share capital 538 538
Capital redemption reserve 1,200 1,200
Share premium account 19,087 19,087
Profit and loss account (17,033) (15,161)
-------- --------
TOTAL EQUITY SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS 3,792 5,664
======== ========
These financial statements were approved by the board of directors on 20 May
2003.
Signed on behalf of the board of directors
Angus MacSween
Director
CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT Note Year 15 months
Year ended 31 March 2003 ended 31 March ended 31 March
2003 2002
£'000 £'000
Net cash outflow from operating 7 (1,822) (7,833)
activities
Returns on investments and servicing of
finance 8 171 327
Capital expenditure and financial
investment 8 (92) (577)
Acquisitions and disposals 8 - 4,030
--------- ------------
Cash outflow before financing (1,743) (4,053)
Financing 8 (734) (1,454)
--------- ------------
Decrease in cash in the year/period (2,477) (5,507)
========= ============
Reconciliation of net cash flow to
movement in net funds
Decrease in cash in the year/period (2,477) (5,507)
Cash outflows from debt and lease 9 734 1,454
financing --------- ------------
Change in net funds from cash flows 9 (1,743) (4,053)
New hire purchase and finance leases 9 - (101)
Opening net funds 5,244 9,398
--------- ------------
Closing net funds 9 3,501 5,244
========= ============
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
Year ended 31 March 2003
1. BASIS OF PREPARATION
The financial information set out above does not constitute the company's
statutory financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2003 or the fifteen
month period ended 31 March 2002 but is derived from those financial statements.
Those financial statements have been reported on by the Company's auditors. The
report of the auditors was unqualified and did not contain a statement under
S.237 (2) or (3) Companies Act 1985. The statutory financial statements for the
fifteen month period ended 31 March 2002 have been delivered to the Registrar of
Companies. The statutory financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2003
will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies following the Company's Annual
General Meeting.
2. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The financial statements have been prepared on the basis of the accounting
policies set out in the Group's statutory financial statements for the year
ended 31 March 2002.
3. ANALYSES OF OPERATIONS
Dis- Total Dis- Total
Continuing continued year Continuing continued 15 months
year year ended 31 March 15 months 15 months ended 31 March
ended 31 March ended 31 March 2003 ended 31 March ended 31 March 2002
2003 2003 £'000 2002 2002 £'000
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Turnover 2,174 18 2,192 1,719 3,680 5,399
Cost of (303) (9) (312) (559) (2,780) (3,339)
sales -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Gross profit 1,871 9 1,880 1,160 900 2,060
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Administrative (3,800) (9) (3,809) (6,712) (4,367) (11,079)
expenses
Restructuring (466) - (466) (1,572) (1,449) (3,021)
expenses -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total (4,266) (9) (4,275) (8,284) (5,816) (14,100)
administrative
expenses
Other - - - 148 55 203
operating -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
income
Net operating (4,266) (9) (4,275) (8,136) (5,761) (13,897)
expenses -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Operating (2,395) - (2,395) (6,976) (4,861) (11,837)
loss ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Turnover from continuing operations comprises revenue from network security and
web services, excluding VAT.
The results of Canbox Technologies GmbH up to 31 May 2002, the date it ceased to
be a subsidiary, and the comparatives for the 15 month period ended 31 March
2002 are shown under discontinued operations.
4. OPERATING LOSS
Year 15 months
ended 31 March ended 31 March
2003 2002
£'000 £'000
Operating loss is after charging/
(crediting)
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets:
Owned assets 214 432
Leased assets 283 1,117
Impairment write down of tangible fixed 230 1,452
assets
Amortisation of intangible fixed 118 499
assets
Impairment write down of intangible 148 506
assets
Loss on sale of assets - 15
Rentals under operating leases 261 492
Revenue grants - (55)
Amortised deferred grant income - (148)
Auditors' - company audit 6 10
remuneration fees
- group audit 20 26
fees
- other services 34 134
======== ========
The discount rate used in assessing the fixed asset write down is 8.4%.
5. NET INTEREST
Year 15 months
ended 31 March ended 31 March
2003 2002
£'000 £'000
Investment income:
Bank interest receivable 204 587
-------- --------
Interest payable and similar charges:
Bank overdraft and other borrowings (1) (3)
Finance leases and hire purchase (32) (257)
contracts -------- --------
(33) (260)
-------- --------
Net interest 171 327
======== ========
6. LOSS PER ORDINARY SHARE
Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the earnings attributable to
ordinary shareholders by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue
during the year/period.
FRS 14 requires presentation of diluted EPS when a company could be called upon
to issue shares that would decrease net profit or increase net loss per share.
For a loss making company with outstanding share options, net loss per share
would only be increased by the exercise of out-of-the-money options. Since it
seems inappropriate to assume that option holders would act irrationally and
there are no other diluting future share issues, diluted EPS has not been
presented.
Year 15 months
ended 31 March ended 31 March
2003 2002
£'000 £'000
Loss for the financial period and basic earnings attributed to ordinary
shareholders (1,872) (7,896)
No No
'000 '000
Weighted average number of ordinary shares 53,796 53,796
Loss per share (3.5p) (14.7p)
7 RECONCILIATION OF OPERATING LOSS TO NET CASH OUTFLOW FROM OPERATING
ACTIVITIES
Year 15 months
ended 31 March ended 31 March
2003 2002
£'000 £'000
Operating loss (2,395) (11,837)
Depreciation 497 1,549
Amortisation of intangible assets 118 499
Write down of tangible fixed assets 230 1,452
Write down of intangible fixed assets 148 506
Loss on sale of assets - 15
Foreign exchange translation - 18
differences
Decrease in debtors 468 907
Decrease in creditors (888) (942)
-------- --------
Net cash outflow from operating (1,822) (7,833)
activities ======== ========
8. ANALYSIS OF CASH FLOWS FOR HEADINGS NETTED IN THE CASH FLOW STATEMENT
Year 15 months
ended 31 March ended 31 March
2003 2002
£'000 £'000
Returns on investments and servicing of
finance
Other interest receivable 204 587
Bank overdraft and other borrowings (1) (3)
Finance leases and hire purchase (32) (257)
contracts -------- --------
171 327
======== ========
Capital expenditure and financial
investment
Payments to acquire tangible fixed (92) (656)
assets
Proceeds of disposal of fixed assets - 135
Payments to acquire intangible fixed - (56)
assets -------- --------
(92) (577)
======== ========
Acquisitions
Purchase of subsidiary undertakings - (310)
Purchase of businesses - (907)
Net cash acquired with subsidiary - 310
-------- --------
- (907)
-------- --------
Sale of businesses
Sale of dial up access - 2,960
Sale of ADSL - 1,977
-------- --------
- 4,937
-------- --------
Total acquisitions and disposals - 4,030
======== ========
Financing
======== ========
Capital element of finance lease
rentals and hire purchase contract
payments (734) (1,454)
======== ========
9. ANALYSIS OF CHANGE IN NET FUNDS
At 31 March At 31 March
2002 2003
£'000 £'000
Cash flow
£'000
Cash at bank and in hand 6,519 (2,477) 4,042
Finance leases and hire purchase (1,275) 734 (541)
-------- -------- --------
Net funds 5,244 1,743 3,501
======== ======== ========
10 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The 2003 annual general meeting of the company will be held at Fleming Pavilion,
Todd Campus, West of Scotland Science Park, Glasgow G20 0XA on 24 June 2003 at
12 noon.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange