Enquiries:
Jason Drummond, CEO
Jonathan Wales, CFO
Virtual Internet plc Tel: 020 7460 4060
John Bick, Holborn Tel: 020 7929 5599
john.bick@holbornpr.co.uk
Virtual Internet plc, a leading provider of Internet hosting, naming and online brand management services for businesses internationally, today announces its results for the nine-month period ended 31 July 2000.
Financial
Highlights |
3 month
period ended 31 July
2000 |
9 month
period
ended
31 July
2000 |
10
month period
ended
31 July
1999 |
13 month
period
ended
31 October
1999 | |
|
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
|
Turnover |
1,622,300 |
4,162,224 |
914,241 |
1,885,553 |
|
Gross
profit |
1,095,884 |
2,905,816 |
603,162 |
1,189,734 |
|
Adjusted loss before
taxation* |
(1,003,287) |
(2,888,583) |
(659,623) |
(1,334,820) |
|
Loss on ordinary
activities before taxation |
(1,990,051) |
(6,237,385) |
(2,644,803) |
(4,406,343) |
|
Adjusted loss per
share |
4.09p |
12.84p |
4.46p |
7.76p |
|
Loss per share - basic
and diluted |
8.01p |
27.72p |
17.87p |
25.61p |
|
Cash at bank
|
21,691,881 |
21,691,881 |
842,849 |
828,815 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*Adjusted by excluding
goodwill amortisation and employee benefit trust
charge. |
|
·
Continued focus on growing revenue
streams from higher value services and applications
9 months ended 31 July 2000
Turnover for the nine months ended 31 July 2000 increased by 355 per cent to £4,162,224 from £914,241 for the ten month period ended 31 July 1999. Gross profit was £2,905,816 compared with £603,162 for the period ended 31 July 1999. Gross profit margins over the period were above 65 per cent. The loss before taxation, goodwill amortisation and the Employee Benefit Trust charge amounted to £2,888,583 compared with £659,623 for the ten month period ended 31 July 1999. The Group had cash resources of £21.7 million as at 31 July 2000.
At
the time of the Groups last interim statement, the Board highlighted that a
detailed review of the International offices was being undertaken. Following
this review, new senior management appointments have been made in Italy and the
US and the Australian office has been closed. These actions focus the Group on
the better prospects in Europe and the US.
The overall strategic objective for the Group remains clear; to build a dominant provider of managed web and application hosting services in Europe, and to become a global leader of Internet brand and trade mark protection services.
The Group has been focused both on acquiring new customers and taking existing customers up the value chain into a broader range of higher value services. The strategy is proving successful as many customers take a broader range of the Groups services.
The Group has increased the number of active hosted and managed domains from 25,000 at 31 October 1999 to 73,000 at 31 July 2000 and following the earlier successful launch of the managed web and application hosting business the Group is encouraged by the rate at which new and existing customers are taking up higher value services. The board believes that due to the increasingly competitive pricing on domain names a proven ability to up sell customers to higher value services is key.
The board believes that the ongoing investment in application hosting services (ASP) will become an important revenue stream over the next two years, as the introduction of low cost and high performance Internet connectivity (DSL) will enable small to medium size businesses to benefit from lower cost, outsourced applications. Among the applications to be offered the Group will provide Microsoft Exchange 2000.
The wholesale partnership with Sage (announced August 2000) has confirmed the Groups position as a leading supplier of Internet services to the customers of established companies in the telecommunications and IT sectors.
During the period a key aim for the management was to ensure the successful launch of Nomodo, the Groups on-line automated domain name registration and hosting service. Nomodo has now been launched into the UK market, and whilst it is too soon to make any meaningful appraisal, early indications show that the service has been well received by users. The phased European roll out of Nomodo will commence in Q4 2000.
2
Net Searchers the Groups Internet brand and trade mark protection services business, has continued to perform strongly. Over the past three months it has successfully attracted a number of major new clients, including some significant successes from the recently opened office in Paris.
Virtual Internet has made encouraging progress during the period, growing the revenue base in line with its expectations. The Board is confident of delivering strong revenue growth and building on its position as a leading provider of Internet services to businesses internationally.
Jason
Drummond
Chief
Executive Officer
14 September
2000
3
SUMMARISED GROUP PROFIT
AND LOSS ACCOUNT
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Unaudited Unaudited
9 month 10 month 13 month
period period period
ended ended ended
31 July 31 July 31 October
Note 2000 1999 1999
£ £ £
Turnover
4,162,224
914,241
1,885,553
Cost of sales
1,256,408
311,079
695,819
Gross profit 2,905,816 603,162 1,189,734
Selling and distribution costs 986,024 270,125 640,862
Administrative expenses:
Before goodwill amortisation and exceptional items 5,057,769 952,468 1,792,123
Goodwill amortisation 2,465,795 1,678,766 2,511,523
Employee Benefit Trust charge 2 876,012 340,795 635,500
8,399,576 2,972,029 4,939,146
(6,479,784) (2,638,992) (4,390,274)
Other operating income 10 9,056 12,728
Group operating loss
(6,479,774)
(2,629,936)
(4,377,546)
Share of (loss)/ profit of associated undertaking - (81) 2,483
Total operating loss: Group and share of associate (6,479,774) (2,630,017) (4,375,063)
Interest receivable and similar income 353,130 14,283 13,105
Interest payable and similar charges (110,741) (29,069) (44,385)
Loss on ordinary
activities before taxation
(6,237,385)
(2,644,803)
(4,406,343)
Tax on loss on ordinary activities - - -
Retained loss for the period (6,237,385) (2,644,803) (4,406,343)
Loss per share -
basic and diluted
3
27.72p
17.87p
25.61p
Loss per share adjusted 3 12.84p 4.46p 7.76p
4
GROUP
STATEMENT OF TOTAL RECOGNISED GAINS AND LOSSES
________________________________________________________________________
Unaudited Unaudited
9 month 10 month 13 month
period ended period ended period ended
31 July 31 July 31 October
2000 1999 1999
£ £ £
Loss for the financial period attributable to members
of the parent company
(6,237,385)
(2,644,803)
(4,406,343)
Exchange difference on retranslation of
net assets of
subsidiary undertakings
8,470
5,221
(5,593)
Total recognised loss relating
to
the period
(6,228,915)
(2,639,582)
(4,411,936)
5
GROUP BALANCE
SHEET
____________________________________________________________________________________
Unaudited Unaudited
31 July 31 July 31 October
2000 1999 1999
£ £ £
FIXED
ASSETS
Intangible assets
11,451,134
14,744,861
13,912,103
Tangible assets
1,330,351
643,012
770,598
12,781,485 15,387,873 14,682,701
CURRENT
ASSETS
Stocks 70,000 25,000 20,000
Debtors 1,761,368 499,487 751,860
Cash at bank and in hand 21,691,881 842,849 828,815
23,523,249 1,367,336 1,600,675
CREDITORS: amounts falling due within one year 2,042,668 1,737,285 1,595,411
NET CURRENT ASSETS/(LIABILITES) 21,480,581 (369,949) 5,264
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT
LIABILITIES
34,262,066
15,017,924
14,687,965
CREDITORS: amounts falling due after more than one year
174,275
171,273
165,565
PROVISIONS FOR LIABILITIES
AND CHARGES
68,505
34,383
75,500
34,019,286 14,812,268 14,446,900
CAPITAL AND RESERVES
Called up share capital 6,094,729 5,203,466 5,330,966
Share premium account 26,017,369 836,938 1,862,838
Other reserves 12,548,039 11,411,446 11,665,032
Profit and loss account (10,640,851) (2,639,582) (4,411,936)
Shareholders funds: Equity 34,019,286 14,812,268 14,446,900
6
GROUP STATEMENT OF
CASHFLOWS
______________________________________________________________________________________
Unaudited Unaudited
9 month 10 month 13 month
period period period
ended ended ended
31 July 31 July 31 October
2000 1999 1999
Note £ £ £
Net cash outflow from
operating activities 4 (3,234,042) (712,769) (1,323,427)
Returns on investments and servicing of finance
Interest received 353,130 14,283 13,105
Interest paid (110,741) (29,069) (44,385)
242,389 (14,786) (31,280)
Taxation
Corporation tax paid - - -
Capital expenditure
Payments to acquire tangible fixed assets (762,702) (310,688) (419,486)
Acquisitions and disposals
Purchase of subsidiary undertaking - (574,222) (574,222)
Net overdrafts acquired with subsidiary undertaking - (24,892) (24,892)
- (599,114) (599,114)
Net Cash outflow before
mANAGEMENT OF LIQUID RESOURCES AND financing (3,754,355) (1,637,357) (2,373,307)
MANAGEMENT OF LIQUID
RESOURCES
Increase in short term deposits
(21,420,776)
(650,000)
(279,224)
Financing
Issue of ordinary share capital 24,918,294 2,445,436 3,598,836
Movement in short-term loans (7,519) (3,218) (8,808)
Movement in long-term loans 8,710 (34,262) (17,130)
Repayment of loan notes (279,224) - (370,776)
24,640,261 2,407,956 3,202,122
(decrease)/Increase in cash (534,870) 120,599 549,591
7
GROUP STATEMENT OF
CASHFLOWS
_______________________________________________________________________________________
RECONCILIATION OF NET CASH FLOW TO MOVEMENT IN NET
FUNDS
Unaudited Unaudited
9 month 10 month 13 month
period period period
ended ended ended
31 July 31 July 31 October
2000
1999
1999
£ £ £
(Decrease)/increase in cash (534,870) 120,599 549,591
Cash outflow from movement in loans 278,033 37,480 396,714
Cash outflow from increase in liquid resources 21,420,776 650,000 279,224
Change in net funds resulting from cash flows 21,163,939 808,079 1,225,529
Loans acquired with subsidiaries - (256,347) (256,347)
Other - (650,000) (650,000)
Movement in net funds/(debt) 21,163,939 (98,268) 319,182
Net funds at beginning of period 319,182 - -
Net funds at end of
period/(debt)
21,483,121
(98,268)
319,182
8
_______________________________________________________________________________________
1. basis of preparation of interim financial information
The financial information
for all periods has been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set
out in the groups statutory accounts for the period ended 31 October 1999. The financial information for the period
ended 31 July 1999 has been restated accordingly. Expenses are accrued in accordance with
the same principles used in the preparation of the annual
accounts.
2. cost of share option scheme and employee benefit trust
In accordance with Urgent
Issues Task Force Statement 17 (UITF 17), the company recognises a charge to the
profit and loss account for the amount by which the fair market value of any
share options or benefits likely to be issued exceeds their respective exercise
price on the date of the grant.
These costs are recognised on a straight line basis over the period to
which they relate.
Certain employees of the
company are potential beneficiaries of shares or share options which may become
available to the Employee Benefit Trust of the company. Although no employee has an absolute
right to receive any shares or interest in shares under the terms of the
Employee Benefit Trust, the company recognises a charge for the full amount of
all potential entitlements communicated to employees as at the balance sheet
date. In addition, provision is
made for the estimated liability for Employers National Insurance on the
expected number of shares which will be issued, using the market value of the
companys shares at the balance sheet date.
Unaudited Unaudited
9 month 10 month 13 month
period period period
ended ended ended
31 July 31 July 31 October
2000 1999 1999
£ £ £
Recognised in arriving at operating profit:
Charge in connection with Employee Benefit Trust (EBT) 883,007 306,414 560,000
Provision for Employers National Insurance liability in
connection with EBT (6,995) 34,381 75,500
876,012 340,795 635,500
9
_______________________________________________________________________________________
3. LosS PER ORDINARY SHARE
|
Unaudited 9 month period ended
31 July
2000 |
Unaudited
10
month period ended
31 July
1999 |
13 month
period ended 31 October
1999 |
The
calculation of basic loss per ordinary share is based on the effective
weighted average number of shares in issue during the
period |
No. 22,499,443 |
No. 14,802,486 |
No. 17,206,480 |
The adjusted loss per
share is based on the loss after tax before goodwill amortisation and the
charge in connection with the Employment Benefit Trust
(EBT): |
|
|
|
|
£ |
£ |
£ |
Loss after tax as
reported |
6,237,385 |
2,644,803 |
4,406,343 |
Less: Goodwill
amortisation |
(2,465,795) |
(1,678,766) |
(2,511,523) |
Charge in connection with EBT |
(883,007) |
(306,414) |
(560,000) |
|
2,888,583 |
659,623 |
1,334,820 |
The effective weighted average
number of ordinary shares used in the adjusted loss per share calculation are
the same as used in calculating the basic loss per share.
4. reconciliation of operating loss to net cash outflow from operating activities
Unaudited Unaudited
9 month 10 month 13 month
period period period
ended ended ended
31 July 31 July 31 October
2000
1999
1999
£ £ £
Operating loss (6,479,774) (2,630,017) (4,375,063)
Depreciation 198,123 81,672 62,884
Amortisation of goodwill 2,465,795 1,678,766 2,511,523
Share of loss/(profit) in associated undertakings - 81 (2,483)
Increase in stocks (50,000) (11,000) (6,000)
Increase in debtors (1,009,508) (273,561) (525,934)
Increase in creditors 765,310 100,495 376,146
Increase in other provisions (see note 2) (6,995) 34,381 75,500
Charge in connection with Employee Benefit Trust
under UITF 17 (see note 2) 883,007 306,414 560,000
Net cash outflow from operating activities (3,234,042) (712,769) (1,323,427)
10
_______________________________________________________________________________________
5. publication of non-statutory accounts
The financial information
contained in this statement does not constitute statutory accounts as defined in
section 240 of the Companies Act 1985.
The financial information for the full preceding period is based on the
statutory accounts for the financial period ended 31 October 1999. Those accounts, upon which the auditors
issued an unqualified opinion, have been delivered to the Registrar of
Companies.
11
INDEPENDENT REVIEW
REPORT
to Virtual Internet
plc
Introduction
We have been instructed by the
company to review the financial information set out on pages 2 to 9 and we have
read the other information contained in the report for the nine month period
ended 31 July 2000 and considered whether it contains any apparent misstatements
or material inconsistencies with the financial
information.
Directors
responsibilities
The report for the nine months
ended 31 July 2000, including the financial information contained therein, is
the responsibility of, and has been approved by the directors. The Listing Rules of the Financial
Services Authority require that the accounting policies and presentation applied
to the figures for the nine month period ended 31 July 2000 should be consistent
with those applied in preparing the preceding annual accounts except where any
changes, and the reasons for them, are disclosed.
Review work
performed
We conducted our review in
accordance with guidance contained in Bulletin 1999/4 issued by the Auditing
Practices Board. A review consists
principally of making enquiries of group management and applying analytical
procedures to the financial information and underlying financial data and, based
thereon, assessing whether the accounting policies and presentation have been
consistently applied unless otherwise disclosed. A review excludes audit procedures such
as tests of controls and verification of assets, liabilities and
transactions. It is substantially
less in scope than an audit performed in accordance with Auditing Standards and
therefore provides a lower level of assurance than an audit. Accordingly we do not express an audit
opinion on the financial information.
Review
conclusion
On the basis of our review we are
not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the financial
information as presented for the nine months ended 31 July
2000.
Ernst &
Young
London
14 September
2000
12