Final Results
Iomart Group PLC
19 May 2004
IOMART GROUP PLC
PRELIMINARY RESULTS FOR THE 12 MONTHS
ENDED 31 MARCH 2004
Financial highlights
• turnover at £7.36m, up 236% on previous year, with annualised revenues
now c. £12m
• loss after tax and minority interest reduced to £0.66m (1.1p per share
v 3.5p per share for 2002/03)
• net cash outflow restricted to £1.02m after acquisitions and placing
of 5.4m shares
• cash balances of £3.02m on hand
Operational highlights
• new version (V 4) of NetIntelligence launched in an increasingly aware
market
• organic web-services business growth continues enhanced by
acquisitions
• successful acquisition and integration of both NicNames and
Internetters
• 38,000 webservices customers growing at c.1,000 per month (7,000 at
31.3.03)
Prospects
• NetIntelligence positioning endorsed by market though long corporate
sales cycle
• webservices business profitability now established
• planned reduction of share premium account to facilitate future
dividend payments
Contact: Angus MacSween, chief executive officer 0141 931 7025
Nick Kuenssberg, chairman 0141 931 7025
07860 635 191
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
The business year 2003/04 has been demanding but rewarding. The results with
break-even achieved during the second-half and monthly profitability established
by the end of the year demonstrate the effectiveness of the team and the
robustness of the twin-track business model.
The NetIntelligence suite of enterprise security and content management products
has been enhanced and we are in discussion with a number of large corporates for
extensive deployment. We remain convinced that the product suite based on
individual devices rather than ring-fenced servers is increasingly relevant but
the sales cycle within such organisations is long.
The webservices business has performed well. The two small acquisitions of
NicNames in August 2003 and Internetters in January 2004 have both been well
managed and have exceeded expectations. We currently have some 38,000 customers
with monthly additions in excess of 1,000 with further potential through both
organic growth and further acquisitions.
The fundraising in July 2003 through a placing of 5.4 million shares at 15p was
well received and it has been gratifying to see both existing and new
institutional shareholders' continued support. We believe that this confidence
can be maintained.
As we indicated at the time of our interim results we intend to seek shareholder
approval at our Annual General Meeting in June to reduce the share premium
account under Section 135 of the Companies Act 1985. This reduction will offset
accumulated losses and thus allow the company to commence the payment of
dividends as and when appropriate.
Nick Kuenssberg
Chairman
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER'S REPORT
2004 was iomart's first full year of trading without significant structural
changes going on within the business. This has allowed management to focus
solely on trading activities and the resultant organic growth in revenues
reflects the lack of distractions and the hard work put in by all the staff
within the group.
With revenues up from £2.2m to £7.4m and losses reduced from £1.9m to £0.7m, we
are confident that we have a sound and scalable business model with high margin
leading edge products in growing markets.
Our webservices business, selling website and search engine products to the
small and micro business community continues to grow strongly with more than
1,000 net new customers per month.
We acquired two webservices companies during the year, Web Genie Internet
Limited (NicNames) in July and Internetters Limited in January. Both are
performing ahead of forecast at both revenue and contribution level. This gives
us a total of 38,000 customers at year end against 7,000 last year.
NetIntelligence, our security software product continues to attract more and
more attention in the marketplace, from competitors, analysts, commentators and
potential customers alike. We have just launched version 4 of the software which
adds new functionality around personal firewall and antivirus, further improving
our total solution for end point security in the large and increasingly mobile
non-fixed networks arising today. We continue to make progress in penetrating
the corporate market, although sales cycles are still longer than we would like.
Customer wins in the year include Companies House, Scottish Water, Orange, Axa
Investment Managers, Bovis Lendlease.
We have developed a modular approach to selling components of the product which
allows more flexible selling and alignment with existing budgets within large
organisations. This also allows us to address the SME market, and we plan to
establish a new office and launch a direct telesales operation selling email
filter, webfilter and antivirus into this market, exploiting our proven
telesales record.
Results
Turnover for the year of £7.36 million is made up of £6.59 million from ongoing
operations, network security and webservices (co-location, hosting, domain names
and mail), and £0.77 million from acquisitions. This represents over 200% growth
in revenues on a like for like basis, the bulk of which has come from our direct
sales operation in webservices.
Gross margin at 78% overall is consistent with our forecasts.
Administrative expenses (excluding restructuring expenses) were £6.56m against
£3.81m last year with the increase primarily made up of the costs of more direct
sales staff. In addition, restructuring costs of £0.04 million (2003 - £0.47
million) were incurred, all of which relates to the transfer of the business of
NicNames from their previous base in Aldershot to Glasgow. During the year our
web hosting telesales operation in Barrow moved to larger premises and we opened
a new telesales office at our existing premises in Glasgow.
A total of £0.44 million of capital expenditure was incurred during the year,
mainly in respect of the new telesales operations, replacement of older more
expensive equipment and additional servers to support the increased levels of
business during the year.
The group operating loss was £0.83 million compared with a total of £2.40
million for the previous year.
Bank interest receivable amounted to £0.11 million. Interest payable on finance
leases, net of provisions, was £0.01 million.
The loss for the year before taxation was £0.72 million. There is no liability
to corporation tax on the results for the year and research and development tax
credits totalling £0.12 million are due to be refunded to the group, resulting
in a loss after taxation for the year of £0.60 million (2003 - £1.89 million).
Minority interests in the profit of iomart Internet Limited amounted to £0.06
million (2003 - Credit of £0.02 million), giving a loss for the financial year
of £0.66 million.
The loss per share for the year was 1.1p compared to 3.5p for the year ended 31
March 2003.
Cash and borrowings
Cash balances at 31 March 2004 were £3.02 million. Borrowings under finance
leases amounted to £0.29 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
Webservices continues to grow strongly and we believe the direct sales model
gives us a significant advantage against our competitors who have to drive
potential customers to their websites. There is still a very large population of
the small business community who are uncomfortable going on-line to purchase web
services.
The recurring revenue element within the model is a powerful driver of growth
going forward.
We will continue to look at potential acquisitions as they arise, if valuations
are sensible, and have proven we can integrate successfully to maximise value
from them.
With the launch of version 4 of NetIntelligence we now believe we have taken a
further lead in functionality around end point security. With our abilities in
telesales and the growing requirements of small business in this area we are
confident we can capture market share at the low end. The corporate world is
beginning to wake up to the challenges addressed by NetIntelligence and we
expect the groundwork done over the last 18 months to begin to pay off in the
coming year.
We look forward to another year of strong growth, building on last year's second
half performance.
Angus MacSween
Chief executive officer
CONSOLIDATED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT
Year ended 31 March 2004
Year ended
31 March 31 March
2004 2003
£'000 £'000
TURNOVER
Acquisitions 771 -
Continuing operations 6,592 2,174
-------- --------
7,363 2,174
Discontinued operations - 18
-------- --------
Total turnover 7,363 2,192
Cost of sales (1,589) (312)
-------- --------
Gross profit 5,774 1,880
-------- --------
Administrative expenses (6,560) (3,809)
Restructuring expenses (43) (466)
-------- --------
Total administrative expenses (6,603) (4,275)
-------- --------
OPERATING PROFIT/(LOSS)
Acquisitions 109 -
Continuing operations (938) (2,395)
-------- --------
(829) (2,395)
Discontinued operations - -
-------- --------
Operating loss (829) (2,395)
Net interest 109 171
-------- --------
LOSS ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES BEFORE TAXATION (720) (2,224)
Tax credit on loss on ordinary activities 123 334
-------- --------
LOSS ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES AFTER TAXATION FOR THE YEAR (597) (1,890)
Equity minority interests (59) 18
-------- --------
LOSS FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR (656) (1,872)
======== ========
Loss per ordinary share (pence)
Basic and diluted (1.1p) (3.5p)
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 2004
2004 2003
£'000 £'000
FIXED ASSETS
Intangible assets 748 13
Tangible assets 517 376
-------- --------
1,265 389
-------- --------
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors 2,145 793
Cash at bank and in hand 3,025 4,042
-------- --------
5,170 4,835
CREDITORS: amounts falling due within one year (2,070) (1,170)
-------- --------
NET CURRENT ASSETS 3,100 3,665
-------- --------
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 4,365 4,054
CREDITORS: amounts falling due after more than one year (220) (292)
EQUITY MINORITY INTERESTS (129) 30
-------- --------
NET ASSETS 4,016 3,792
======== ========
CAPITAL AND RESERVES
Called up share capital 598 538
Capital redemption reserve 1,200 1,200
Share premium account 19,907 19,087
Profit and loss account (17,689) (17,033)
-------- --------
TOTAL EQUITY SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS 4,016 3,792
======== ========
CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT
Year ended 31 March 2004
Year ended
31 March 31 March
2004 2003
£'000 £'000
Net cash outflow from operating activities (1,311) (1,822)
Returns on investments and servicing of finance 75 171
Taxation 334 -
Capital expenditure and financial investment (442) (92)
Acquisitions and disposals (403) -
-------- --------
Cash outflow before financing (1,747) (1,743)
Financing 730 (734)
-------- --------
Decrease in cash in the year (1,017) (2,477)
======== ========
Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net funds
Decrease in cash in the year (1,017) (2,477)
Cash outflows from debt and lease financing 250 734
-------- --------
Change in net funds from cash flows (767) (1,743)
Opening net funds 3,501 5,244
-------- --------
Closing net funds 2,734 3,501
======== ========
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
Year ended 31 March 2004
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 2004 or the year
ended 31 March 2003 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 year ended
31 March 2003 have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The statutory
financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2004 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 2003.
3. ANALYSES OF OPERATIONS
Continuing Acquisitions Total Continuing Dis-continued Total
year year year year year year
ended 31 ended 31 ended 31 ended 31 ended 31 ended 31
March March March March March March
2004 2004 2004 2003 2003 2003
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Turnover 6,592 771 7,363 2,174 18 2,192
Cost of sales (1,398) (191) (1,589) (303) (9) (312)
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------
Gross profit 5,194 580 5,774 1,871 9 1,880
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------
Administrative
expenses (6,132) (428) (6,560) (3,800) (9) (3,809)
Restructuring
expenses - (43) (43) (466) - (466)
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------
Total
administrative
expenses (6,132) (471) (6,603) (4,266) (9) (4,275)
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------
Operating
profit/(loss) (938) 109 (829) (2,395) - (2,395)
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== =======
Turnover from continuing operations comprises revenue from network security and
webservices, excluding VAT.
4. OPERATING LOSS
Year Year
ended 31 ended 31
March March
2004 2003
£'000 £'000
Operating loss is after charging/
(crediting)
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets:
Owned assets 293 214
Leased assets 27 283
Impairment write down of tangible fixed
assets - 230
Amortisation of intangible fixed assets 59 118
Impairment write down of intangible - 148
assets
Rentals under operating leases 293 261
Amortised deferred grant income (5) -
Auditors' remuneration - company audit fees 11 10
- group audit fees 19 26
- other services 24 34
======== ========
The discount rate used in assessing the fixed asset write down in 2003 was
8.4%.
5. TAX ON LOSS ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES
Year Year
ended 31 ended 31
March March
2004 2003
£'000 £'000
Research and development tax credit 123 334
======== ========
The differences between the total current tax shown above and the amount
calculated by applying the standard rate of UK corporation tax to the loss
before tax is as follows.
Year Year
ended 31 ended 31
March March
2004 2003
£'000 £'000
Loss on ordinary activities before tax (720) (2,224)
======== ========
Tax credit @ 30% (216) (667)
Non qualifying depreciation 24 47
Disallowed expenditure 4 84
Deferred tax movement not provided 108 382
Movement in short term timing differences (2) (47)
Consolidation adjustments (18) 2
Rate differences 31 40
Prior year adjustments - (175)
Capital allowances in excess of
depreciation 10 -
Statutory deductions on exercise of share
options (64) -
-------- --------
(123) (334)
======== ========
5. TAX ON LOSS ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES (CONTINUED)
There is no tax charge in the year due to the availability of losses. Unrelieved
losses of £13.8 million (31 March 2003 - £13.0 million) are carried forward and
are available to reduce the tax liability in respect of suitable future trading
profits.
Research and development tax credits have been claimed in respect of expenditure
incurred on the development of the group's NetIntelligence software. These
credits are at the rate of 16% of the amount of expenditure allowed as a
deduction from taxable income, which is 150% of the development expenditure
incurred.
Deferred tax
A deferred tax asset has not been recognised in respect of losses carried
forward as there is insufficient evidence that the asset will be recovered. The
amount of the asset not recognised is approximately £4.5 million. The asset
would be recovered if suitable taxable profits were to be generated in the
future.
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.
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 Year
ended 31 ended 31
March March
2004 2003
£'000 £'000
Loss for the financial period and basic
earnings attributed to ordinary
shareholders (656) (1,872)
======== ========
No No
'000 '000
Weighted average number of ordinary
shares 57,649 53,796
======== ========
Loss per share (1.1p) (3.5p)
======== ========
7. RECONCILIATION OF OPERATING LOSS TO NET CASH OUTFLOW FROM OPERATING
ACTIVITIES
Year Year
ended 31 ended 31
March March
2004 2003
£'000 £'000
Operating loss (829) (2,395)
Depreciation 320 497
Amortisation of intangible assets 59 118
Write down of tangible fixed - 230
assets
Write down of intangible fixed - 148
assets
(Increase)/decrease in debtors (1,429) 468
Increase/(decrease) in creditors 568 (888)
-------- --------
Net cash outflow from operating
activities (1,311) (1,822)
======== ========
8. ANALYSIS OF CASH FLOWS FOR HEADINGS NETTED IN THE CASH FLOW STATEMENT
Year Year
ended 31 ended 31
March March
2004 2003
£'000 £'000
Returns on investments and servicing of
finance
Other interest receivable 112 204
Bank overdraft and other - (1)
borrowings
Finance leases and hire purchase
contracts (37) (32)
-------- --------
75 171
======== ========
Taxation
Research and development tax
credits received 334 -
======== ========
Capital expenditure and financial
investment
Payments to acquire tangible fixed
assets (444) (92)
Proceeds of disposal of fixed
assets 2 -
-------- --------
(442) (92)
======== ========
Acquisitions
Purchase of subsidiary undertakings (576) -
Net cash acquired with subsidiaries 173 -
-------- --------
(403) -
======== ========
Financing
Issue of ordinary shares 880 -
Issue of shares to minority
interest 100 -
Capital element of finance
lease
rentals and hire purchase (250) (734)
contract -------- --------
payments
730 (734)
======== ========
9. ANALYSIS OF CHANGE IN NET FUNDS
At 31 Cash At 31
March flow March
2003 2004
£'000 £'000 £'000
Cash at bank and in hand 4,042 (1,017) 3,025
Finance leases and hire
purchase (541) 250 (291)
------- ------- --------
Net funds 3,501 (767) 2,734
======= ======= ========
10. PURCHASE OF SUBSIDIARY UNDERTAKINGS
Web Genie Internet Limited Internetters Limited Total
Net Fair value Fair Net Fair value Fair Fair
book adjustments value book adjustments value value
value value
Net assets
acquired:
Tangible fixed
assets 49 (32) 17 2 - 2 19
Debtors 46 (6) 40 99 (11) 88 128
Cash at bank
and in hand 169 - 169 4 - 4 173
Creditors (246) - (246) (32) (106) (138) (384)
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
18 (38) (20) 73 (117) (44) (64)
====== ====== ====== ======
Goodwill 477 317 794
------ ------ ------
457 273 730
Satisfied by:
Cash 346 230 576
Deferred
consideration 111 43 154
------ ------ ------
457 273 730
====== ====== ======
Web Genie Internet Limited
The fair value of the net assets acquired has been revised from £18,000 to net
liabilities of £20,000. This is principally due to the write down of fixed
assets.
The deferred consideration is unconditional and is payable in equal monthly
instalments with the final payment due in July 2005.
Internetters Limited
The fair value of the net assets acquired has been revised from £73,000 to net
liabilities of £44,000. This is due to additional provisions against debtors,
provisions for expenses and a provision for deferred revenue in accordance with
the group's accounting policy.
The deferred consideration includes an element which was conditional on the
performance of the company from the date of acquisition to 30 April 2004. This
conditional element has now been agreed and the revised total payable is
included in the amount shown above. The total deferred consideration was paid
during April and May 2004.
10. PURCHASE OF SUBSIDIARY UNDERTAKINGS (CONTINUED)
Summarised profit and loss accounts for each of the companies acquired for the
period prior to acquisition and the previous accounting period are set out
below:
Web Genie Internet Limited Internetters Limited
Year Period Year Period
ended ended ended ended 30
31 May 24 July 30 June January
2003 2003 2003 2004
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Turnover 856 106 771 363
========= ========= ========= =========
Operating
profit/(loss) (26) 17 6 7
Net Interest 2 - - -
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Profit/(loss)
for the
financial
period (24) 17 6 7
========= ========= ========= =========
There were no recognised gains and losses other than the loss for the financial
period.
During the year Web Genie Internet Limited utilised £36,000 of the group's
operating cash flows and contributed £1,000 in respect of returns on investments
and servicing of finance, and Internetters Limited contributed £53,000 towards
the group's operating cash flows and £1,000 in respect of returns on investments
and servicing of finance.
11. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The 2004 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 2004 at
12 noon.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange