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ITR Spdr Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF (Based ON Barclays Capital Intermediate U.S. Corporate (delisted)

34.56
0.00 (0.00%)
Last Updated: 01:00:00
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Share Name Share Symbol Market Type
Spdr Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF (Based ON Barclays Capital Intermediate U.S. Corporate (delisted) AMEX:ITR AMEX Common Stock
  Price Change % Change Share Price High Price Low Price Open Price Shares Traded Last Trade
  0.00 0.00% 34.56 0 01:00:00

Interim Results

11/03/2003 3:30pm

UK Regulatory


RNS Number:5787I
Interregnum PLC
11 March 2003

Tuesday 11th March 2003 
 
                                 PRESS RELEASE 
 
                                INTERREGNUM PLC 
 
        Financial results for the 6 months ended 31 December 2002 
 
                  Increase in non-investment advisory fees 
 
Financial highlights 
 
* Overall turnover of #449,000 (2001: #603,000) reflecting reduced arrangement fees for investment activity 
* Turnover for non-investment advisory business increased by 55% to #342,000 (2001: #220,000) 
* Cash outflow reduced to #641,000 (2001: #2,836,000)  
* Pre-tax loss on ordinary activities reduced to #577,000 (2001: #648,000) 
* Total recognised loss #468,000 (2001: #1,685,000) 
* Costs reduced to #1,271,000 (2001: #1,656,000) principally through a reduction in headcount and overheads 
* Portfolio value increased to #2.63 million (June 2002: #2.24 million) as a result of value of quoted portfolio
  companies uDate.com Inc ("uDate") and Open Text Corporation ("Open Text") 
* Net cash of #1,113,000 (June 2002: #1,754,000) 
* Loss per share of 0.88p basic (2001: 1.00p) 
 
Corporate progress 
 
* uDate sold, subject to final completion. A material fee and equity in new parent company USA Interactive expected
  in current financial year. 
* Sale of Computerwire generated a transaction fee of #517,000 with an additional consideration of up to #700,000 
* New advisory offerings established, in particular, focused on larger technology companies 
* Advisory Board Chairman, Dr. John Forrest, CBE, appointed. Progress made to appoint further Advisory Board members
  to support new advisory business origination. 
 
Commenting on the results, Ken Olisa, Chairman of Interregnum plc, said: 
 
"Although the context in which we work has been unfavourable in the extreme in the period under review, given the
on-going market uncertainty and further downward pressure on the IT sector, Interregnum has continued to adapt to the
changing market by transitioning from a venture capital model to a balanced investment and advisory business. 
 
"Our advisory-only revenues grew significantly in the period, reflecting our ability to productise our advisory
service offerings attuned to the current environment, in particular, establishing new advisory offerings focused on
larger technology companies. We are delighted that Dr. John Forrest, is joining Interregnum as Chairman of our new
Advisory Board and look forward to working with him in generating exciting new business opportunities for the firm.
We intend to announce further appointments to the Advisory Board in due course. 
 
"There can be no doubt that information technology will continue to be a core industry and one that will stage a
recovery in step with the next economic cycle. It remains Interregnum's strategy to ensure that we are best
positioned to take advantage of that recovery when it comes. With over two hundred years of international operational
expertise in the IT industry gained over the last three economic cycles, we are one of the very few businesses able
to advise clients on strategies to survive the downturn." 
 
 
                                          - Ends - 
 
For further information, please contact: 
 

                                                                                     
Interregnum                        020 7494 3080  
Ken Olisa, Chairman & CEO                         
Martin Cooper, Finance Director                   
                                                                                     
Merlin Financial                   020 7606 1244  
Vanessa Maydon                                    
Clare Maciocia                                    
                                                                                     
 

                                                                                       
Attached:    Chairman's Statement                      
             Profit & Loss Account                     
             Balance Sheet                             
             Cashflow Statement                        
             Notes to the Interim financial statement  
 
 
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT 
 
Introduction

As is well recorded elsewhere, the second half of 2002 saw market uncertainty increase as the global economy
continued to founder and the threat of war added to the generally conservative procurement and investment climates. 
 
These effects added further downward pressure across the already depressed IT sector as major customers postponed
purchasing decisions and venture capitalists postponed investment. 
 
The combination of these factors and the consensus that they are unlikely to improve in the medium term, further
reduced the number of serious players in the UK's IT investment and advisory sector.  
 
Although the context in which we work has been unfavourable in the extreme, Interregnum has continued to adapt to the
changing market by transitioning from a venture capital model to a balanced investment and advisory company. 
 
Results 
 
Our operating loss was reduced over the six months to 31 December 2002 to #788,000 (2001: #1,041,000) reflecting
action take by the Board to reduce expenses in line with our revenue stream. Expenses in the period totalled
#1,271,000 (2001: #1,656,000) with total revenue of #449,000 (2001: #603,000).  
 
The total recognised loss after interest, exits and revaluation was substantially reduced to #468,000 (2001:
#1,685,000). 
 
The value of the portfolio rose marginally over the period to #2,633,000 (June 2002: #2,243,000) following the small
increase in value of the quoted companies uDate and Open Text in our portfolio.  
 
Our cash balance was reduced over the period to #1,113,000 (June 2002: #1,754,000)  
 
As a consequence of the above, the loss per share was reduced to #0.0088p (2001: #0.01). 
 
Operational Review 
 
This slow but steady progress to become a balanced investment and advisory company can be measured against our four
key operating priorities:  
 
* Protecting and building portfolio value  
* Increasing advisory fee income  
* Reducing costs and overheads  
* Increasing investment firepower  
 
 
Building portfolio value 
 
Prior to the dot.com boom, returns from IT venture capital investments were not expected to materialise in less than
five to 10 years. The ending of that boom has restored expectations to historical levels - building businesses is
long and painstaking work. Over the period we were able to record a marginal increase in the value of our portfolio
from #2,243,000 to #2,633,000 and a profit of #178,000 on the sale of Computerwire to Datamonitor plc in October
2002. Furthermore, our two public company holdings - uDate and Open Text, both quoted on NASDAQ - showed modest and
counter-cyclical increases in value. uDate, in which we have a small equity position and for whom we act as an
advisor, announced its conditional sale to USA Interactive in December 2002 which we anticipate, if successfully
concluded, will be of material benefit to Interregnum in the current financial year.  
 
Our investment activities have been minimal and have taken the form of secured debt, rather than straight equity, in
keeping with the higher risks involved with investing in the current climate. 
 
Increasing advisory fees 
 
Our overall turnover fell by 25% during the period to #449,000 (2001: #603,000). However, this masked a fundamental
shift in the character of the income which, in previous periods, was dominated by arrangement fees billed to investee
companies rather than from advisory-only clients. In the six months under review advisory-only revenues grew 55% to
#342,000 (2001: #220,000). We have achieved this change by developing productised offerings attuned to the current
environment, an example of which is our Research & Development Tax Credit service which assists IT companies to
reclaim cash from the Inland Revenue. So far we have successfully raised over #1,000,000 in aggregate for 17 clients.
This has been achieved by combining our financial and technology expertise in interpreting and applying the Inland
Revenue rules and we are now aggressively promoting the service more widely.
In December 2002, we acted for uDate as one of the advisors in its sale to USA Interactive. This transaction is in
its final stages of completion and is expected to close within our financial year. If it does conclude as planned,
Interregnum will earn a material fee and convert our holding in uDate into shares in USA Interactive.

 
We have continued our shift to work for larger technology companies by undertaking research and valuation projects
and to assist us in this initiative we have established an Advisory Board to consist of influential leaders of the
global technology sector. We were delighted, therefore to welcome Dr. John Forrest CBE, (a non-executive director of
3i plc and Chairman of the Government Spectrum Management Advisory Group), as the Advisory Board's inaugural Chairman
and look forward to announcing the first members in the near future.  
 
Reducing costs and overheads 
 
Our vigorous approach to expense reduction continued throughout the period resulting in a fall of #385,000 to
#1,271,000 (2001: #1,656,000). Contributing to this fall were: 
 
* A reduction in headcount to 15 (2001:29) although with the core Director and senior team remaining  
* A senior salary reduction programme which produced a per capita salary cost of #59,000 (2001: #65,000)  
* Lowering of overheads by #180,000 despite redundancy costs and bad debt write-offs  
 
The cost reductions were loaded towards the end of the period and we anticipate carrying a lower run rate in the
second half.  
 
Increasing investment firepower 
 
Given our own relatively low resources we are not currently investing outside our own portfolio. However, we have
continued to foster relationships with other institutional investors to secure support for our better portfolio
companies. I have written in previous statements of the seed and early-stage capital drought which followed the
dot.com boom deluge. Unfortunately private equity investors remain disinclined to become active in this sector and
our plans to raise a substantial fund therefore remain on tick-over, awaiting the inevitable rekindling of appetite
for technology investing.  
 
Outlook 
 
At a time when the public markets are experiencing considerable downward pressures and the likelihood of deflation
haunts the world's economies, the IT industry is undergoing a fundamental change with Internet computing taking over
from the PC as the engine of growth. In addition, as in the previous technology shifts - from mainframe to
mini-computer and mini-computer to PC - the effects are traumatic and Darwinian in nature as long-established players
fail to adapt sufficiently fast to survive. However increasing demand for the competitive advantages conferred by IT
mean that each seismic shift triggers the birth of a new generation of energetic innovative entrepreneurs. 
 
There can be no doubt, therefore, that although the industry's profile may change, information technology will
continue to be a core industry in which a premium will be paid for effective innovation and that will stage a
recovery in step with the next economic cycle. 
 
It remains Interregnum's strategy to ensure that we are best positioned to take advantage of that recovery when it
comes. The unique combination of our corporate finance skills and over 200 years of international operational
experience in the IT industry gained over the last three economic cycles, places us as one of the very few businesses
able to advise clients on strategies to survive the downturn. Over the coming months we intend to continue to promote
our tailored offerings, such as the R&D tax credit scheme, while leveraging our Corporate Venturing capacity and our
Advisory Board in order to advise larger technology companies.  
 
The next few months will be at least as difficult as the past year or so. However, the Board and staff of Interregnum
are determined to ensure that our people, offerings, base and brand are applied to create sustainable shareholder
value. 
 
Thank you for your support. 
 
Ken Olisa 
Chairman and CEO 
 
 
 
Portfolio 
 

                                                                                       
                                Client                  % holding      Carrying value  
                                                                     before provisions 
                                                                                       
                                Altis                        4.0%                    0 
                                BAI (Adaptive, Inc)         13.0%              656,000 
                                Best International             - *              38,902 
                                Blue Arc                       -               101,906 
                                Chyron                         -                     0 
                                eLink Suite                 25.0%              607,839 
                                ItsWine                      3.4%               11,043 
                                Knowledge=Power                -                    64 
                                Mediasurface                   -                11,897 
                                Metapraxis                  14.0%              180,000 
                                Monactive                      -                     0 
                                NanoMagnetics                3.0%              500,000 
                                NetInfo                      7.5%              120,000 
                                Open Text                      -               237,715 
                                Raidtec                        -                   306 
                                Respond                     23.8%            2,329,967 
                                Sapphire                     3.8%               50,000 
                                Speed-trap                     -                15,000 
                                Transacsys                     -                   533 
                                Trilogy                      1.0%               28,390 
                                uDate                          -               195,209 
                                Yospace                       49%              635,000 
                                                                             5,719,771 
                                                                                       
                                Provision**                                 -3,088,995 
                                                                             2,630,776 
                                                                                       
                                                                                       
 

                                                                                                                      
* - indicates a negligible holding  
                                                                              
** The Board reviewed the carrying value of investments in two stages. First, it
applied the approach set out by      the BVCA to early-stage, development-stage
and quoted investments. Secondly, given the difficult trading conditions   and
the uncertain nature of the economic environment going forward, it was
considered necessary to make a further provision against investments. The
further provision made has not been shown on a line-by-line basis in the table
above due to the commercially sensitive nature of such provisions.              
                                                    
 
 
Key Performance Indicators 
 

                                                                                                                      
                                                 Six months to               Six months to           Twelve months to 
                                                   31 December                 31 December                    30 June
                                                          2002                        2001                       2002 
  PORTFOLIO                                                                                                           
  Portfolio value (#m)                                    2.6                        14.7                         2.5 
  Portfolio base cost (#m)                               15.0                        12.1                        14.7 
  Investment (#m)                                         0.3                         1.2                         3.9 
  Investments made                                          5                           7                          10 
  Portfolio holdings                                       22                          27                          25 
  Investments written off                                   1                           0                           3 
                                                                                                                      
  BALANCE SHEET                                                                                                       
  Cash balance (#m)                                       1.1                         5.1                         1.8 
  Net assets/share (issued) (#)                         0.068                       0.330                       0.075 
  DSO (Days sales outstanding)                             98                         103                          55 
                                                                                                                      
  PROFIT & LOSS ACCOUNT                                                                                               
  Revenue (#m)                                           0.45                        0.60                        1.33 
  Advisory (#m)                                          0.34                        0.22                        0.59 
  Investment (#m)                                        0.11                        0.38                        0.74 
                                                                                                                      
  Costs - Salary(#m)                                     0.67                        0.96                        1.92 
  Costs - admin(#m)                                      0.60                        0.69                        2.00 
  Interest and other income (#m)                         0.08                        0.42                        0.30 
  Exits (#m)                                             0.18                        0.00                        0.00 
  Profit /(Loss) (#m)                                  (0.58)                      (0.65)                     (18.40) 
  Headcount                                                15                          29                          21 
 

Consolidated profit and loss account 
Six months ended 31 December 2002 
 

                                                                                                                      
                                                         Six months to               Six months to            Year to 
                                                           31 December                 31 December            30 June 
                                                                  2002                        2001               2002 
                                    Note                   (unaudited)                 (unaudited)          (audited) 
                                                                  #000                        #000               #000 
                                                                                                                      
  Turnover                          2                              449                         603              1,327 
                                                                                                                      
  Administrative expenses                                      (1,271)                     (1,656)            (3,923) 
  Other operating income                                            34                          39                 81 
                                                                                                                      
  Operating loss                                                 (788)                     (1,014)            (2,515) 
                                                                                                                      
  Profit on sale of investment                                     178                           -                  - 
  Interest receivable                                               33                         381                222 
  Amounts written off investments                                    -                           -           (16,091) 
  Interest payable                                                   -                        (15)               (13) 
                                                                                                                      
  Loss on ordinary activities                                    (577)                       (648)           (18,397) 
  before taxation                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                      
  Taxation                                                           -                           -                  - 
                                                                                                                      
  Retained loss for the period                                   (577)                       (648)           (18,397) 
  Loss per share - basic and        3                          (0.88p)                     (1.00p)           (28.12p) 
  diluted                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                      
  Statement of total recognised                                                                                       
  gains and losses                                                                                                    
                                                         Six months to               Six months to            Year to  
                                                           31 December                 31 December            30 June  
                                                                  2002                        2001               2002 
                                                           (unaudited)                 (unaudited)          (audited) 
                                                                  #000                        #000               #000 
                                                                                                                      
  Loss for financial period                                      (577)                       (648)           (18,397) 
                                                                                                                      
  Unrealised surplus/(deficit) on                                  109                     (1,037)                206 
  revaluation of fixed asset                                                                                          
  investments                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                      
  Total recognised losses for the                                (468)                     (1,685)           (18,191) 
  financial period                                                                                                    
  

                                                                                                                    
Consolidated balance sheet 
31 December 2002 
                                                                                                                   
                                                    Note                As at               As at           As at  
                                                             31 December 2002    31 December 2001    30 June 2002 
                                                                  (unaudited)         (unaudited)       (audited) 
                                                                         #000                #000            #000 
      Fixed assets                                                                                                
      Tangible assets                                                     280                 369             315 
      Investments                                   4                   2,633              14,726           2,243 
                                                                        2,913              15,095           2,558 
                                                                                                                  
      Current assets                                                                                              
      Debtors                                       5                     770               1,613             855 
      Investments held for resale                                           -                   -             289 
      Cash at bank and in hand                                          1,113               5,160           1,754 
                                                                        1,883               6,773           2,898 
                                                                                                                  
      Creditors: Amounts falling due in one year    6                   (346)               (445)           (539) 
      Net current assets                                                1,537               6,328           2,359 
                                                                                                                  
                                                                        4,450              21,423           4,917 
                                                                                                                  
      Capital and reserves                                                                                        
      Called up share capital                                           3,272               3,272           3,272 
      Share premium                                                    18,877              18,877          18,877 
      Revaluation reserve                                                 389               2,600             280 
      Merger reserve                                                  (2,407)             (2,407)         (2,407) 
      Profit and loss account                                        (15,681)               (919)        (15,105) 
                                                                                                                  
                                                                        4,450              21,423           4,917 
                                                                                                                  
 
Consolidated cash flow statement 
Six months ended 31 December 2002 
 

                                                                                                                      
                                                             Six months to                 Six months to     Year to  
                                                               31 December                   31 December     30 June 
                                                                      2002                          2001        2002 
                                       Note                    (unaudited)                   (unaudited)    (audited) 
                                                                      #000                          #000         #000 
                                                                                                                      
  Net cash flows from operating        7                             (848)                       (1,267)      (2,084) 
  activities                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                      
  Returns on investments and                                            22                           136          209 
  servicing of finance                                                                                                
                                                                                                                      
  Taxation                                                               -                             -          (1) 
                                                                                                                      
  Capital expenditure and financial                                    185                       (1,284)      (3,942) 
  investment                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                      
  Cash outflow before use of liquid                                  (641)                       (2,415)      (5,818) 
  resources and financing                                                                                             
                                                                                                                      
  Financing                                                              -                         (421)        (423) 
                                                                                                                      
  Decrease in cash                                                   (641)                       (2,836)      (6,241) 
                                                                                                                      
 
 

                                                                                                                     
  Reconciliation of net cash flow                                                                                    
  to movement in net debt                                                                                            
                                                            Six months to                 Six months to      Year to  
                                                              31 December                   31 December      30 June 
                                                                     2002                          2001         2002 
                                                              (unaudited)                   (unaudited)    (audited) 
  Decrease in cash in the period                                     #000                          #000         #000 
  Decrease in debt and lease financing                                                                               
  Loan                                                              (641)                       (2,836)      (6,241) 
  Exchange movements                                                    -                             2            2 
                                                                        -                           422          421 
  Change in net debt                                                    -                             3            3 
                                                                                                                     
  Net funds at 1 July 2002                                          (641)                       (2,409)      (5,815) 
  Net funds at 31 December 2002                                                                                      
                                                                    1,754                         7,569        7,569 
                                                                    1,113                         5,160        1,754 
 

                                                                                                                      
  Notes to the Interim financial statements                                                                           
  For the six months to 31 December 2002  
                                                                            
                                                                                                                      
  1      Basis of perparation                                                               
         The interim financial statements have been prepared on the basis of the            
         accounting policies set out in the Group's statutory accounts for the year         
         ended 30 June 2002, and are unaudited. The interim financial statements do         
         not constitute statutory financial statements within the meaning of                
         section 240 of the Companies Act 1985.                                             
                                                                                                                      
         Comparative figures for the year ended 30 June 2002 are an abridged                
         version of the Group's full accounts which carry an unqualified audit              
         report.                                                                            
                                                                                                                      
  2      Turnover                                                                                           
         By geographical market                                                                                         
    
                                                       Six months to       Six months to      Year to                  
                                                          31December          31December      30 June                 
                                                                2002                2001         2002                 
                                                         (unaudited)         (unaudited)    (audited)                 
                                                                #000                #000         #000                 
                                                                                                                      
  United Kingdom                                                 374                 458        1,121                 
  Rest of Europe                                                  38                 139          168                 
  USA and Canada                                                  37                   6           38                 
                                                                                                                      
                                                                 449                 603        1,327                 
                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                      
  3      Loss per share                                                                                     
  The calculation of basic earnings per share is calculated on a Group loss of #577,000 (6 months to 31               
  December 2001 loss of #648,000, and year to 30 June 2002 loss of #18,646,373) and a weighted average                
  ordinary 5p shares in issue during the period of 65,433,107 (6 months to 31 December 2001 65,141,092                
  and year to 30 June 2002 65,433,107).                                                                               
                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                      
  Due to the loss of #576,000 (6 months to 31 December 2001 loss of #648,000, and year to 30 June 2002                
  loss of #18,646,373) there is no further dilution of the earnings or the number of shares 65,433,107 (6             
  months to 31 December 2001 65,141,092 and year to 30 June 2002 65,433,107)                                          
                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                      
  4   Investments                                                                                        
                                                                                                                      
  Cost                                                                                                                
  1st July 2002                                    2,243                                                              
  Additions                                        281                                                                
  Revaluation                                      109                                                                
                                                   2,633                                                              
                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                      
 

                                                                   
  5    Debtors  
                                                                                                             
                                                      Six months to               Six months to      Year to 
                                                         31December                  31December      30 June 
                                                               2002                        2001         2002  
                                                        (unaudited)                 (unaudited)    (audited) 
                                                               #000                        #000         #000 
                                                                                                             
          Trade debtors                                         328                         558          265 
          Others debtors                                        249                         869          373 
          Prepayments & accrued income                           93                          86          117 
                                                                                                             
                                                                670                       1,513          755 
          Due in more than one year                             100                         100          100 
                                                                                                             
                                                                770                       1,613          855 
                                                                                                             
                                                                                                             
                                                                                       
  6    Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year  
                                                                                       
                                                                                                                    
                                                        Six months to                    Six months to      Year to  
                                                           31December                       31December      30 June 
                                                                 2002                             2001         2002  
                                                          (unaudited)                      (unaudited)    (audited) 
                                                                 #000                             #000         #000 
                                                                                                                    
    Trade creditors                                               284                              298          284 
    Corporation tax                                                 -                                1            - 
    Other taxes and social security cost                           31                               59           54 
    Other creditors                                                 6                                6           30 
    Accruals and deferred income                                   25                               81          171 
                                                                                                                    
                                                                  346                              445          539 
                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                    
                                                                     
  7    Cash flows  
                                                                                                                      
                                                             Six months to                 Six months to      Year to 
                                                               31 December                   31 December      30 June 
                                                                      2002                          2001         2002 
                                                               (unaudited)                   (unaudited)    (audited) 
                                                                                                    #000         #000 
  Reconciliation of operating loss to net cash flow from                                                              
  operating activities                                                                                                
                                                                                                                      
  Operating loss                                                     (788)                       (1,014)      (2,515) 
  Depreciation                                                          61                            68          119 
  Movement in debtors                                                   71                          (74)          461 
  Movement in creditors                                              (192)                         (237)        (144) 
  Exchange profit/(loss)                                                 -                          (10)          (5) 
                                                                                                                      
  Net cash flow from operating activities                            (848)                       (1,267)      (2,085) 
 
 
Interim Statement 
Copies of the Interim statement are being sent to shareholders. Additional copies will be available to the public
free of charge from the Company's registered office: 22/23 Old Burlington St, London W1S 2JJ 



                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END
IR JBMATMMMBBBJ

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