ADVFN Logo ADVFN

We could not find any results for:
Make sure your spelling is correct or try broadening your search.

Trending Now

Toplists

It looks like you aren't logged in.
Click the button below to log in and view your recent history.

Hot Features

Registration Strip Icon for discussion Register to chat with like-minded investors on our interactive forums.

NET Netcall Plc

89.00
0.00 (0.00%)
Last Updated: 08:00:00
Delayed by 15 minutes
Share Name Share Symbol Market Type Share ISIN Share Description
Netcall Plc LSE:NET London Ordinary Share GB0000060532 ORD 5P
  Price Change % Change Share Price Bid Price Offer Price High Price Low Price Open Price Shares Traded Last Trade
  0.00 0.00% 89.00 88.00 90.00 89.00 89.00 89.00 17,006 08:00:00
Industry Sector Turnover Profit EPS - Basic PE Ratio Market Cap
Information Retrieval Svcs 36.04M 4.21M 0.0257 34.63 145.89M

Netcall PLC Half-year Report (8935G)

07/03/2018 7:00am

UK Regulatory


Netcall (LSE:NET)
Historical Stock Chart


From Apr 2019 to Apr 2024

Click Here for more Netcall Charts.

TIDMNET

RNS Number : 8935G

Netcall PLC

07 March 2018

7 March 2018

NETCALL PLC

("Netcall", the "Company", or the "Group")

Interim results for the six months ended 31 December 2017

Entry into the low-code market marks next phase of growth for Netcall

Netcall plc (AIM: NET), a leading provider of low-code and customer engagement software, today announces its unaudited interim results for the six months ended 31 December 2017.

Operational Highlights

   -- Entry into the high growth, low-code software market via the acquisition of MatsSoft, enhancing the Group's 
      product portfolio and increasing its addressable market 
 
   -- Significant growth in cloud business including new international customer wins 
 
   -- Continued high level of up-sales and customer retention, now enhanced with the initial low-code cross-sale 
 
   -- Significant low-code pipeline from new and existing customers 
 
   -- Continued product development including the release of: 
 
          -- Liberty 4, a powerful new version of our customer engagement platform; and 
 
          -- a significantly enhanced new version of our low-code platform 
 
   -- MatsSoft recognised as a leader by Forrester in its 2017 Low-Code Platforms for Business Developers report 

Financial Highlights

   -- Revenue increased 32% to GBP10.7m (H1 2017: GBP8.09m) 
 
   -- Recurring revenue strengthened to 71% (H1 FY17 69%) 
 
   -- Annualised recurring revenues(1) increased by 39% to GBP15.7m (H1 2017: GBP11.3m) 
 
   -- Adjusted EBITDA(2) increased by 22% to GBP2.69m (H1 FY17: GBP2.21m) 
 
   -- Adjusted diluted earnings per share increased by 5% to 1.03p (H1 FY17: 0.98p) 
 
   -- Profit before tax was GBP0.28m (H1 F17: GBP 0.92m) after acquisition related expenses 
 
   -- Diluted earnings per share was 0.12p (H1 FY17: 0.58p) after acquisition related expenses 
 
   -- Net debt of GBP0.8m (31 December 2016: cash GBP14.6m) after acquisition consideration and dividend payments 
   1)     annualised revenue from cloud services and support contracts as at 31 December 2017 

2) profit before interest, taxation, depreciation, amortisation, non-recurring transaction expenses and share-based charges

Henrik Bang, CEO of Netcall, commented:

"Customers, who today expect new levels of service, are at the forefront of businesses' technology priorities. Organisations across industries are digitally transforming their operations, leveraging software to enhance customer experiences, drive competitive differentiation and automate processes.

"The combination of our powerful low-code and Liberty customer engagement platforms creates a unique offering and significantly increases our addressable market. Low-code is accelerating digital transformation by putting the power of software creation into the hands of business users so that they, without traditional coding, can rapidly implement the business applications they need to improve and automate their customer engagement activities.

"Our Liberty business continues its successful transition to the cloud, delivering good growth in revenues and profits and we enter the second half with a considerably increased sales pipeline and much excitement for the accelerated growth opportunity available."

For further enquiries, please contact:

 
 Netcall plc                          Tel. +44 (0) 
                                       330 333 6100 
 Henrik Bang, CEO 
  Michael Jackson, Chairman 
  James Ormondroyd, Group Finance 
  Director 
 
 finnCap Limited (Nominated Adviser    Tel. +44 (0) 
  and Broker)                          20 7220 0500 
 Stuart Andrews / James Thompson, 
  Corporate Finance 
 Tim Redfern, Corporate Broking 
 
 Alma PR                               Tel. +44 (0) 
                                       20 8004 4218 
 Caroline Forde / Hilary Buchanan 
  / Robyn Fisher 
 

About Netcall plc

Netcall is a UK company quoted on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange. Netcall helps organisations transform their customer engagement activities and enable digital transformation faster and more efficiently, thereby improving customer experiences and operational efficiencies. Netcall's software product portfolio comprises Liberty, a customer engagement platform, incorporating omnichannel contact centre and workforce optimisation, and a leading low-code platform MATS.

Netcall has over 700 customers in both the private and public sectors. These include two-thirds of the NHS Acute Health Trusts, major telecoms operators such as BT and Vodafone, and leading organisations including Interflora, Lloyds Banking Group, ITV and Nationwide Building Society.

For further information, please consult the Netcall website: www.netcall.com.

The information communicated in this announcement is inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014.

Introduction

We are delighted to report on one of the most exciting periods in the evolution of Netcall. In August 2017 we successfully completed the acquisition of MatsSoft, a cloud-based low-code software provider, which has transformed the Netcall proposition and expanded our addressable opportunity in a high growth market.

Servicing customers is at the forefront of business priorities, and technologies which enhance customer experiences, drive competitive differentiation and automate operations is vital. Organisations need to be able to create and implement new applications in a matter of days and weeks, not months or years. MatsSoft's powerful drag and drop low-code development platform ('MATS') brings the power of rapid software creation into the hands of business users. This capability combined with our Liberty customer engagement platform means that we are able to more fully support businesses with their digital transformation programmes.

We have developed our first new low-code solutions for the public sector, Patient Hub and Citizen Hub, aimed at expanding the uptake of the low-code platform within new and existing customers. In addition to new customer acquisitions we have secured our first cross-sales of MATS into our existing Liberty customer base and have entered the second half of the year with an increased sales pipeline.

The business has performed strongly, reporting Group revenue 32% higher at GBP10.7m (H1 FY17: GBP8.09m), with underlying organic revenue growth of 5%. Recurring revenue increased 35% to GBP7.57m (H1 FY17: GBP5.60m) which equates to 71% (H1 FY17: 69%) of revenues with strong growth in the cloud revenue stream. As at 31 December 2017, the annualised run rate of such revenues increased 39% to GBP15.7m (H1 FY17: GBP11.3m) providing a strong foundation for future growth.

Low-code software market

Digital transformation is creating an increasing gap between the demand for software which is rising sharply and the supply of people capable of making it which is relatively flat. Low-code platforms can accelerate developer speed significantly which enables organisations to close this gap and deliver new, modern software to win, serve, and retain customers.

MATS, with its intuitive graphical drag and drop interface, which does not require traditional coding, puts the power of software development into the hands of the business users who deal with the day to day operational challenges. This expansion of the number of resources together with the speed of development can deliver applications six to 20 times faster than traditional methods. This also allows users with a detailed understanding of the business needs to prototype and experiment rapidly without relying on IT support.

Therefore, low-code is considered fundamental to digital transformation and there is a rapidly growing market adoption of this type of solution.

Strategy

Netcall's purpose is to help organisations transform their customer engagement activities and enable digital transformation faster and more efficiently, empowering them to get a return by driving improved customer experiences and operational efficiencies.

We achieve this by delivering intuitive software which is powerful, easy to use and functional. Our customer engagement capabilities are delivered via our Liberty platform and MATS, our industry leading low-code platform.

The acquisition of MatsSoft will enhance organisations' ability to benefit from Liberty solutions. By gaining access to the powerful capabilities of the low-code platform, customers and partners are able to develop enterprise business applications, with ease and speed, which can integrate or supplement the Liberty solutions. In addition, the low-code platform can be used as a stand-alone solution throughout the organisation to support other business functions, as is the case today, where it is used for a wide range of applications including mortgage applications processing, customer onboarding and customer notifications.

The Board's strategy is to incorporate Liberty functionality into the low-code platform creating a low-code enabled customer engagement suite. The first examples of this are the recently launched Citizen Hub and Patient Hub. These applications together with apps created by customers and partners can be made available via new channels including the MatsSoft App-store, thereby enhancing the distribution and breadth of the platform capabilities.

The Group's key drivers for organic growth include taking advantage of the cloud and low-code market opportunity. The addition of low-code will enable the business to unlock the huge potential from Netcall's large existing customer base with up- and cross-sales.

Furthermore, the MatsSoft addition to the Group opens up the opportunity for faster geographical expansion and international customer acquisition. The MATS platform is a pure cloud-based platform, and has already been implemented internationally via Amazon Web Services.

In addition, the Board continues to look for selective acquisitions with complementary proprietary software and/or additional customers in our target markets.

Business Review

Customer wins

Netcall continues to experience strong demand for its product suite both from existing and new customers including:

   -- A new three-year contract with a global sales & marketing consultancy delivering a low-code SaaS solution to 
      support its digital transformation strategy, initially for 1,000 users located in the United States and India. 
 
   -- A new three-year contract for a low-code SaaS solution with an existing London Borough council customer of 
      Liberty. 
 
   -- A two-year low-code SaaS contract with a top-3 Spanish mobile operator via an IT-services partner, assisting more 
      than 700 users with order processing. 
 
   -- A five-year contract for three councils delivering an advanced automated speech recognition platform for several 
      thousand users. 

Product development

During the period, the Group continued its investment in its MATS low-code and Liberty platforms. This has resulted in continued significant advancement of our capabilities over the period.

Liberty 4

We have released a powerful new version of Liberty which includes modules such as Contact Management, to further enhance visibility of previous customer contacts across all channels, and Agent Evaluation, an integrated offering to our workforce optimisation solution.

Patient and Citizen Hubs

We have used the MATS platform to develop two new offerings designed to unlock the cross-sale potential from within our large existing customer base; the Patient and Citizen Hubs.

Patient Hub is a self-service portal that transforms the way patients and clinicians manage their appointments, whilst reducing overheads for the NHS by automating and digitising letters, printed correspondence and the delivery of questionnaires to patients.

Citizen Hub is a collection of low-code enabled applications and modules that allow local government customers to manage their citizens and processes as well as provide self-service portals and mobile apps.

Version 10 of the MATS platform

Version 10 of the MATS platform has been launched, with a new, responsive and slick user interface to make it even easier to create effective business applications. This provides a new custom code API that allows the platform to be extended and the initial integration with Liberty 4 enabling customer service operators to seamlessly use MATS low-code applications while operating the Liberty 4 contact centre application.

Financial Review

Group revenue increased 32% to GBP10.7m (H1 FY17: GBP8.09m). Organic revenue growth was 5%. MatsSoft contributed GBP2.20m of revenue during the period following the acquisition in August 2017.

Revenue, which is considered to be recurring in nature, derived from cloud and support contracts, increased 35% to GBP7.57m (H1 FY17: GBP5.60m) which equates to 71% (H1 FY17: 69%) of revenues with strong growth in the cloud revenue stream. As at 31 December 2017, the annualised run rate of such revenues increased 39% to GBP15.7m (H1 FY17: GBP11.3m).

Revenue from product and professional service sales increased 26% to GBP3.13m (H1 FY17: GBP2.49m) due to higher Liberty license revenues and a first time contribution of MatsSoft professional services.

The aggregate value, at 31 December 2017, of contracted minimum income that is to be recognised as core revenue in future financial periods increased by 7% to GBP17.3m (H1 FY17: GBP16.6m).

Gross profit margin was 90% (H1 FY17: 91%).

Administrative expenses, before depreciation, amortisation, acquisition and contingent consideration expenses and share-based charges, increased to GBP6.98m (H1 FY17: GBP5.19m) resulting from the enlarged Group following the acquisition of MatsSoft.

Consequently, the Group adjusted EBITDA increased 22% to GBP2.69m (H1 FY17: GBP2.21m), a margin of 25% of revenue (H1 FY17: 27%).

Profit before tax was GBP0.28m (H1 FY17: GBP0.92m) after taking into account acquisition related expenses and interest on borrowings taken out to fund the acquisition of MatsSoft.

The Group tax charge was GBP0.10m (H1 FY17: GBP0.09m) an underlying effective rate of tax of 5% (H1 FY17: 5%) on adjusted profit before tax. The underlying effective rate of tax benefited from enhanced R&D relief and utilisation of previously unrecognised losses brought forward.

Reported diluted earnings per share was 0.12 pence (H1 FY17: 0.58 pence). Adjusted diluted earnings per share was 1.03 pence (H1 FY17: 0.98 pence).

Cash generated from operations before non-recurring transaction cost payments incurred in the last financial year was GBP0.30m (H1 FY17: GBP2.47m) as a result of the unwinding of positive working capital timing differences reported at the last year-end together with the expected result of the consolidation of the MatsSoft business. Cash conversion of profits is expected to return to Group norms in the second-half.

Spending on research and development, including capitalised software development increased by 42% to GBP1.44m (H1 FY17: GBP1.05m) of which capitalised software expenditure was GBP0.83m (H1 FY17: GBP0.68m).

Total capital expenditure was GBP1.07m (H1 FY17: GBP0.77m); the balance after capitalised development, being GBP0.24m (H1 FY17: GBP0.09m) relating to IT equipment and software.

On 4 August 2017, the Company acquired 100% of the issued share capital of MatsSoft for an initial consideration of GBP11.0m and the issue of 3.5m new ordinary shares of 5p each. Potential further amounts of up to GBP2.3m cash and 9.5m new ordinary shares are also payable dependent on achieving specified performance targets achieved over various periods from completion of the acquisition. See note 6 for further details.

Immediately prior to the acquisition of MatsSoft, the Company entered into an agreement with Business Growth Fund for a GBP7.0m investment. The agreement comprises the issue of a GBP7.0m Loan Note and the award of options over 4,827,586 new ordinary shares of 5p each at a price of 58p per share. See note 6 for further details.

As a result of these factors, net debt was GBP0.81m at 31 December 2017 (30 June 2017: net cash GBP12.7m).

On 27 July 2017 the final enhanced dividend of 1.05 pence per share, amounting to a total of GBP1.46m, was paid.

On 12 January 2018, post period end, the Company paid a final ordinary dividend of 1.16 pence per share in respect of the year ended 30 June 2017 amounting to a total of GBP1.66m.

Outlook

The first few months of the second half of the financial year have started very well. We have experienced strong trading and have received significant low-code orders from both new and existing customers, alongside continued demand for our Liberty platform.

The acquisition of MatsSoft has significantly increased our addressable market which, combined with a rapidly growing market for cloud solutions, places Netcall in an advantageous position.

Our underlying business continues its successful transition to the cloud, delivering good growth in revenues and profits and we enter the second half with a considerably increased sales pipeline and much excitement for the accelerated growth opportunity available. With high levels of revenue visibility, a robust balance sheet combined with a healthy sales pipeline and expanded market opportunity, the Board therefore remains confident in the ongoing success of the business.

Unaudited consolidated income statement for the six months to 31 December 2017

 
                                                                 Unaudited           Unaudited         Audited 
                                                             Six months to       Six months to    12 months to 
 GBP'000                                                  31 December 2017    31 December 2016    30 June 2017 
-----------------------------------------------------   ------------------  ------------------  -------------- 
 Revenue                                                            10,712               8,093          16,151 
 Cost of sales                                                     (1,046)               (701)         (1,333) 
------------------------------------------------------  ------------------  ------------------  -------------- 
 Gross profit                                                        9,666               7,392          14,818 
 
 Administrative expenses                                           (9,093)             (6,520)        (13,209) 
 Other income                                                           12                   -               - 
 Other gains/ (losses) - net                                          (15)                   9               8 
------------------------------------------------------  ------------------  ------------------  -------------- 
 
 Adjusted EBITDA                                                     2,688               2,207           4,487 
 Non-recurring transaction costs                                     (456)                   -           (320) 
 Share-based payments                                                (522)               (660)         (1,171) 
 Contingent consideration - post completion services                 (236)                   -               - 
 Depreciation                                                        (127)               (108)           (212) 
 Amortisation of acquired intangible assets                          (323)               (171)           (319) 
 Amortisation of other intangible assets                             (454)               (387)           (848) 
 
 Operating profit                                                      570                 881           1,617 
 
 Finance income                                                         12                  43              74 
 Finance costs                                                       (304)                 (3)             (5) 
------------------------------------------------------  ------------------  ------------------  -------------- 
 Finance (costs)/ income - net                                       (292)                  40              69 
------------------------------------------------------  ------------------  ------------------  -------------- 
 
 Profit before tax                                                     278                 921           1,686 
 
 Tax                                                                  (97)                (88)           (211) 
------------------------------------------------------  ------------------  ------------------  -------------- 
 Profit for the period                                                 181                 833           1,475 
======================================================  ==================  ==================  ============== 
 
 Earnings per share - pence 
 Basic                                                                0.13                0.60            1.06 
 Diluted                                                              0.12                0.58            1.03 
======================================================  ==================  ==================  ============== 
 

All activities of the Group in the current and prior periods are classed as continuing. All of the profit for the period is attributable to the shareholders of Netcall plc.

Statement of comprehensive income for the six months to 31 December 2017

 
                                                                       Unaudited           Unaudited         Audited 
                                                                   Six months to       Six months to    12 months to 
 GBP'000                                                        31 December 2017    31 December 2016    30 June 2017 
 
 
 Profit for the period                                                       181                 833           1,475 
 
 Other comprehensive income 
 Items that may be reclassified to profit or loss 
     Exchange differences on translation of foreign 
     operations                                                                5                   -               - 
 
 Total comprehensive income for the period                                   186                 833           1,475 
============================================================  ==================  ==================  ============== 
 

Unaudited consolidated balance sheet at 31 December 2017

 
                                                             Unaudited           Unaudited         Audited 
 GBP'000                                              31 December 2017    31 December 2016    30 June 2017 
-------------------------------------------------   ------------------  ------------------  -------------- 
 Assets 
 Non-current assets 
 Property, plant and equipment                                     453                 509             473 
 Intangible assets                                              29,968              11,162          11,444 
 Investments                                                       346                 288             288 
 Deferred income tax asset                                         425                 721             505 
--------------------------------------------------  ------------------  ------------------  -------------- 
 Total non-current assets                                       31,192              12,680          12,710 
--------------------------------------------------  ------------------  ------------------  -------------- 
 Current assets 
 Inventories                                                       214                 200             334 
 Trade and other receivables                                     6,235               3,623           4,431 
 Current income tax asset                                            -                  15              11 
 Cash and cash equivalents                                       5,650              14,569          12,724 
--------------------------------------------------  ------------------  ------------------  -------------- 
 Total current assets                                           12,099              18,407          17,500 
--------------------------------------------------  ------------------  ------------------  -------------- 
 Total assets                                                   43,291              31,087          30,210 
==================================================  ==================  ==================  ============== 
 
 Equity and liabilities 
 Equity attributable to the owners of the parent 
 Share capital                                                   7,229               7,054           7,054 
 Share premium                                                   3,015               3,015           3,015 
 Other equity                                                    4,413               2,278           2,278 
 Other reserves                                                  4,211               2,820           3,273 
 Retained earnings                                               2,456               4,731           5,386 
--------------------------------------------------  ------------------  ------------------  -------------- 
 Total equity                                                   21,324              19,898          21,006 
--------------------------------------------------  ------------------  ------------------  -------------- 
 Liabilities 
 Non-current liabilities 
 Borrowings                                                      6,462                   -               - 
 Deferred income tax liabilities                                 1,177                 392             294 
 Provisions                                                      1,110                 316             122 
--------------------------------------------------  ------------------  ------------------  -------------- 
 Total non-current liabilities                                   8,749                 708             416 
--------------------------------------------------  ------------------  ------------------  -------------- 
 Current liabilities 
 Trade and other payables                                        2,422               2,508           2,508 
 Dividend payable                                                1,656               2,843               - 
 Current income tax liabilities                                      -                   -               - 
 Deferred income                                                 7,355               5,130           6,280 
 Provisions                                                      1,785                   -               - 
 Total current liabilities                                      13,218              10,481           8,788 
--------------------------------------------------  ------------------  ------------------  -------------- 
 Total liabilities                                              21,967              11,189           9,204 
--------------------------------------------------  ------------------  ------------------  -------------- 
 Total equity and liabilities                                   43,291              31,087          30,210 
==================================================  ==================  ==================  ============== 
 

Unaudited consolidated statement of changes in equity at 31 December 2017

 
                                Share      Share     Other       Other    Retained     Total 
 GBP'000                      capital    premium    equity    reserves    earnings    equity 
--------------------------  ---------  ---------  --------  ----------  ----------  -------- 
 Balance at 1 July 
  2016                          7,027      3,015     2,278       2,300       7,996    22,616 
--------------------------  ---------  ---------  --------  ----------  ----------  -------- 
 Proceeds from share 
  issue                            27          -         -           -           -        27 
 Increase in equity 
  in relation to 
  options issued                    -          -         -         581                   581 
 Tax credit relating 
  to share options                  -          -         -           1           -         1 
 Reclassification 
  following exercise 
  or lapse of share 
  options                           -          -         -        (62)          62         - 
 Dividends to equity 
  holders of the 
  company                           -          -         -           -     (4,160)   (4,160) 
 Transactions with 
  owners                           27          -         -         520     (4,098)   (3,551) 
--------------------------  ---------  ---------  --------  ----------  ----------  -------- 
 Profit and total 
  comprehensive income 
  for the period                    -          -         -           -         833       833 
--------------------------  ---------  ---------  --------  ----------  ----------  -------- 
 Balance at 31 December 
  2016                          7,054      3,015     2,278       2,820       4,731    19,898 
--------------------------  ---------  ---------  --------  ----------  ----------  -------- 
 Balance at 1 January 
  2017                          7,054      3,015     2,278       2,820       4,731    19,898 
--------------------------  ---------  ---------  --------  ----------  ----------  -------- 
 Increase in equity 
  reserve in relation 
  to options issued                 -          -         -         466           -       466 
 Reclassification 
  following exercise 
  or lapse of share 
  options                           -          -         -        (13)          13         - 
 Transactions with 
  owners                            -          -         -         453          13       466 
--------------------------  ---------  ---------  --------  ----------  ----------  -------- 
 Profit and total 
  comprehensive income 
  for the period                    -          -         -           -         642       642 
--------------------------  ---------  ---------  --------  ----------  ----------  -------- 
 Balance at 30 June 
  2017                          7,054      3,015     2,278       3,273       5,386    21,006 
--------------------------  ---------  ---------  --------  ----------  ----------  -------- 
 Balance at 1 July 
  2017                          7,054      3,015     2,278       3,273       5,386    21,006 
--------------------------  ---------  ---------  --------  ----------  ----------  -------- 
 Proceeds from share 
  issue                             -          -         -           -           -         - 
 Issue of ordinary 
  shares as consideration 
  for acquisition 
  for a business 
  combination                     175          -     2,135           -           -     2,310 
 Increase in equity 
  in relation to 
  options issued                    -          -         -         975           -       975 
 Tax charge relating 
  to share options                  -          -         -        (36)           -      (36) 
 Reclassification 
  following exercise 
  or lapse of share 
  options                           -          -         -         (6)           6         - 
 Dividends to equity 
  holders of the 
  company                           -          -         -           -     (3,117)   (3,117) 
--------------------------  ---------  ---------  --------  ----------  ----------  -------- 
 Transactions with 
  owners                          175          -     2,135         933     (3,111)       132 
--------------------------  ---------  ---------  --------  ----------  ----------  -------- 
 Profit for the 
  period                            -          -         -           -         181       181 
 Other comprehensive 
  income for the 
  period                            -          -         -           5           -         5 
--------------------------  ---------  ---------  --------  ----------  ----------  -------- 
 Total comprehensive 
  income for the 
  period                            -          -         -           5         181       186 
--------------------------  ---------  ---------  --------  ----------  ----------  -------- 
 Balance at 31 December 
  2017                          7,229      3,015     4,413       4,211       2,456    21,324 
--------------------------  ---------  ---------  --------  ----------  ----------  -------- 
 

Unaudited consolidated cash flow statement for the six months to 31 December 2017

 
                                                                         Unaudited           Unaudited         Audited 
                                                                     Six months to       Six months to    12 months to 
 GBP'000                                                          31 December 2017    31 December 2016    30 June 2017 
--------------------------------------------------------------  ------------------  ------------------  -------------- 
 Cash flows from operating activities 
 Profit before income tax                                                      278                 921           1,686 
 Adjustments for: 
   Depreciation                                                                127                 108             212 
   Amortisation                                                                776                 558           1,167 
   Loss on disposal of intangible assets                                         -                   -               8 
   Share-based payments                                                        521                 660           1,171 
   Net finance (costs)/ income                                                 292                (40)            (69) 
 Changes in working capital 
   Inventories                                                                 120                  26           (108) 
   Trade and other receivables                                               (591)               1,547             699 
   Trade and other payables                                                (1,970)             (1,313)           (399) 
--------------------------------------------------------------  ------------------  ------------------  -------------- 
 Cash (used)/ generated from operations                                      (447)               2,467           4,367 
 
 Analysed as: 
 Cash generated from operations before payment of 
  non-recurring transaction costs                                              298               2,467           4,367 
 Non-recurring transaction cost payments                                     (745)                   -               - 
--------------------------------------------------------------  ------------------  ------------------  -------------- 
 
 Interest paid                                                               (207)                 (3)             (5) 
 Income tax refund/ (paid)                                                      11                 (4)             (4) 
--------------------------------------------------------------  ------------------  ------------------  -------------- 
 Net cash (used)/ generated from operating activities                        (643)               2,460           4,358 
--------------------------------------------------------------  ------------------  ------------------  -------------- 
 Cash flows from investing activities 
 Payment for acquisition of subsidiary, net of cash acquired              (10,974)                   -               - 
 Purchases of property, plant and equipment                                   (54)                (52)           (121) 
 Development expenditure                                                     (830)               (676)         (1,331) 
 Purchases of other intangible assets                                        (123)                (38)           (283) 
 Interest received                                                              12                  43             112 
--------------------------------------------------------------  ------------------  ------------------  -------------- 
 Net cash used in investing activities                                    (11,969)               (723)         (1,623) 
--------------------------------------------------------------  ------------------  ------------------  -------------- 
 Cash flows from financing activities 
 Proceeds from issue of ordinary shares                                          -                  27              27 
 Proceeds from borrowings                                                    7,000                   -               - 
 Dividends paid to Company's shareholders                                  (1,461)             (1,317)         (4,160) 
--------------------------------------------------------------  ------------------  ------------------  -------------- 
 Net cash used in financing activities                                       5,539             (1,290)         (4,133) 
--------------------------------------------------------------  ------------------  ------------------  -------------- 
 Net (decrease)/ increase in cash and cash equivalents                     (7,073)                 447         (1,398) 
 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period                           12,724              14,122          14,122 
 Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents                 (1)                   -               - 
--------------------------------------------------------------  ------------------  ------------------  -------------- 
 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period                                  5,650              14,569          12,724 
==============================================================  ==================  ==================  ============== 
 

Notes to the financial information for the six months ended 31 December 2017

1. General information

Netcall plc (AIM: "NET", "Netcall", or the "Company") is a leading provider of customer engagement software. It is a public limited company which is quoted on AIM (a market of the London Stock Exchange). The Company's registered address is 3(rd) Floor, Hamilton House, 111 Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 1BB and the Company's registered number is 01812912.

2. Basis of preparation

The Group interim results consolidate those of the Company and its subsidiaries (together referred to as the 'Group'). The principal trading subsidiaries of Netcall are Netcall Telecom Ltd and MatsSoft Ltd.

These consolidated interim financial statements (the 'results') have been prepared in accordance with those IFRS standards and IFRIC interpretations issued and effective or issued and early adopted as at the time of preparing these statements (February 2017). This results announcement does not constitute statutory accounts of the Group within the meaning of sections 434(3) and 435(3) of the Companies Act 2006 (the 'Act'). The balance sheet at 30 June 2017 has been derived from the full Group accounts published in the Annual Report and Accounts 2016, which has been delivered to the Registrar of Companies and on which the report of the independent auditors was unqualified and did not contain a statement under either section 498(2) or section 498(3) of the Act.

The results have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in the Group's 30 June 2017 statutory accounts, which are based on the recognition and measurement principles of IFRS in issue as adopted by the European Union ("EU"). No changes to accounting policies are expected for the year ending 30 June 2018.

The results for the six months ended 31 December 2017 were approved by the Board on 6 March 2018. A copy of these interim results will be available on the Company's web site www.netcall.com from 8 March 2018.

The principal risks and uncertainties faced by the Group have not changed from those set out on page 7 of the annual report for the year ended 30 June 2017.

3. Segmental analysis

The Board considers that there is one operating business segment being the design, development, sale and support of software products and services, which is consistent with the information reviewed by the Board when making strategic decisions. Resources are reviewed on the basis of the whole of the business performance.

The key segmental measure is adjusted EBITDA which is profit before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation, acquisition and reorganisation expenses and share-based payments, which is set out on the consolidated income statement.

4. Earnings per share

The basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the net profit attributable to equity holders of the Company by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the year excluding those held in treasury:

 
                                                                     Six months to       Six months to    12 months to 
                                                                  31 December 2017    31 December 2016    30 June 2017 
--------------------------------------------------------------  ------------------  ------------------  -------------- 
 Net earnings attributable to ordinary shareholders (GBP'000s)                 181                 833           1,475 
 Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue (000s)                142,134             138,702         138,950 
 Basic earnings per share (pence)                                             0.13                0.60            1.06 
==============================================================  ==================  ==================  ============== 
 

The diluted earnings per share has been calculated by dividing the net profit attributable to ordinary shareholders by the weighted average number of shares in issue during the year, adjusted for potentially dilutive shares that are not anti-dilutive.

 
                                                                     Six months to       Six months to    12 months to 
                                                                  31 December 2017    31 December 2016    30 June 2017 
--------------------------------------------------------------  ------------------  ------------------  -------------- 
 Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue (000s)                142,134             138,702         138,950 
 Adjustments for share options (000s)                                        4,922               4,807           4,904 
 Weighted average number of potential ordinary shares in issue 
  (000s)                                                                   147,056             143,509         143,854 
--------------------------------------------------------------  ------------------  ------------------  -------------- 
 Diluted earnings per share (pence)                                           0.12                0.58            1.03 
==============================================================  ==================  ==================  ============== 
 

Adjusted basic and diluted earnings per share has been calculated to exclude the effect of acquisition, contingent consideration and reorganisation costs, share-based payment charges, amortisation of acquired intangible assets and utilisation of historic tax losses. The Board believes this gives a better view of ongoing maintainable earnings. The table below sets out a reconciliation of the earnings used for the calculation of earnings per share to that used in the calculation of adjusted earnings per share:

 
                                                                     Six months to       Six months to    12 months to 
 GBP'000s                                                         31 December 2017    31 December 2016    30 June 2017 
--------------------------------------------------------------  ------------------  ------------------  -------------- 
 Profit used for calculation of basic and diluted EPS                          182                 833           1,475 
 Non-recurring transaction costs                                               456                   -             320 
 Share-based payments                                                          521                 660           1,171 
 Amortisation of acquired intangible assets                                    323                 171             319 
 Contingent consideration - post-completion services                           235                   -               - 
 Unwinding of discount - contingent consideration provisions                    52                   -               - 
 Tax adjustment                                                              (258)               (262)           (479) 
 Profit used for calculation of adjusted basic and diluted EPS               1,511               1,402           2,806 
==============================================================  ==================  ==================  ============== 
 
 
                                            Six months to       Six months to    12 months to 
 Pence                                   31 December 2017    31 December 2016    30 June 2017 
-------------------------------------  ------------------  ------------------  -------------- 
 Adjusted basic earnings per share                   1.06                1.01            2.02 
 Adjusted diluted earnings per share                 1.03                0.98            1.95 
=====================================  ==================  ==================  ============== 
 

5. Dividends

Dividends paid or declared during the period were as follows:

 
 
 
                                                                                   Statement of          December 2017 
 Six months to                                       Cash flow statement      changes in equity          balance sheet 
 December 2017              Paid   Pence per share             (GBP'000)              (GBP'000)              (GBP'000) 
---------------------  ---------  ----------------  --------------------  ---------------------  --------------------- 
 
 Interim enhanced 
  dividend for year 
  to June 2017           27/7/17             1.05p                 1,461                  1,461                      - 
 Final ordinary 
  dividend for year 
  to June 2017           12/1/18             1.16p                     -                  1,656                  1,656 
                                                                   1,461                  3,117                  1,656 
 -------------------------------  ----------------  --------------------  ---------------------  --------------------- 
 
 
                                                                                   Statement of          December 2016 
 Six months to                                       Cash flow statement      changes in equity          balance sheet 
 December 2016              Paid   Pence per share             (GBP'000)              (GBP'000)              (GBP'000) 
---------------------  ---------  ----------------  --------------------  ---------------------  --------------------- 
 
 Interim enhanced 
  dividend for year 
  to June 2016           27/7/16             0.95p                 1,317                  1,317                      - 
 Final ordinary 
  dividend for year 
  to June 2016           11/1/17             1.10p                     -                  1,526                  1,526 
 Enhanced dividend 
  for year to June 
  2016                   11/1/17             0.95p                     -                  1,317                  1,317 
---------------------  ---------  ----------------  --------------------  ---------------------  --------------------- 
                                                                   1,317                  4,160                  2,843 
 -------------------------------  ----------------  --------------------  ---------------------  --------------------- 
 

An interim enhanced dividend of 1.05 pence per share, amounting to a total of GBP1.46 million, was paid to shareholders whose names appeared on the register at the close of business on 14 July 2017 on 27 July 2017.

A final ordinary dividend of 1.16 pence per share in respect of the year ended 30 June 2017 amounting to a total of GBP1.66m was approved at the Annual General Meeting held on 23 November 2017. This dividend was paid on 12 January 2018.

6. Acquisitions & Financing

(a) Acquisition of MatsSoft Limited

On 4 August 2017 the Company acquired 100% of the issued share capital of MatsSoft Limited ('MatsSoft'), a cloud-based low-code software provider. The acquisition is expected to add to the Group's cloud business and provided it with access to the fast-growing low-code market.

The fair value of consideration is GBP15.4m comprising:

 
                                      GBP'000 
----------------------------------   -------- 
 Cash consideration                    10,974 
 Shares issued(1)                       2,310 
 Contingent cash consideration(2)       1,489 
 Contingent share consideration 
  - share price target(3)                 582 
 Contingent share consideration 
  - potential new contract(4)              73 
-----------------------------------  -------- 
                                       15,428 
 ----------------------------------  -------- 
 

(1) the Company issued 3,499,864 new ordinary shares of 5p each at an issue price of 66p per share.

(2) the contingent cash consideration arrangement requires the Company to pay the former owners of MatsSoft up to a maximum undiscounted amount of GBP2.31m subject to MatsSoft achieving certain financial hurdles post-acquisition to 4 August 2019. A number of the former owners of MatsSoft continue to work in the business and in accordance with IFRS 3 a proportion of the contingent consideration is treated as remuneration and expensed in the income statement. The fair value of the contingent cash consideration arrangement of GBP1.49m has been estimated by calculating the present value of the future expected cash flows. The estimates are based on a discount rate of 9% and an allocation of 35% of the contingent cash consideration to post-completion service remuneration.

(3) the contingent share consideration - share price target arrangement requires the Company to issue the former owners of MatsSoft up to 5,599,783 new ordinary shares of 5p each subject to the Company's share price reaching certain price hurdles up to GBP1.20 per share by 4 August 2019. The fair value of this contingent consideration of GBP0.89m has been determined using the Monte Carlo valuation model. The significant inputs into the model were the mid-market share price of 66.5p at the acquisition date, volatility of 25%, dividend yield of 1.85%, an expected option life of 4 years, an annual risk-free interest rate of 0.203%, and an allocation of 35% of the contingent share consideration to post-completion service remuneration.

(4) the contingent share consideration - potential new contract arrangement requires the Company to issue the former owners of MatsSoft up to 3,948,851 new ordinary shares of 5p each subject to MatsSoft achieving certain new revenues from a potential new contract post-acquisition to 31 December 2019. The fair value of this contingent consideration arrangement of GBP0.07m has been estimated by calculating the present value of the future expected shares to be awarded. The estimates are based on a discount rate of 9%, a value per share of GBP0.66 and an allocation of 35% of the contingent share consideration to post-completion service remuneration.

The total contingent consideration expensed as post-completion services remuneration in the period was GBP0.24m (H1-FY17 GBPnil).

The assets and liabilities recognised as a result of the acquisition are as follows:

 
                                           GBP'000 
---------------------------------------   -------- 
 Intangible assets: proprietary 
  software                                   2,662 
 Intangible assets: order backlog               14 
 Intangible assets: trade name                 245 
 Property, plant & equipment                    53 
 Deferred income tax asset                       2 
 Trade & other receivables                   1,108 
 Cash & cash equivalents                         - 
 Deferred income tax liabilities             (832) 
 Trade & other payables                    (1,492) 
 Deferred income                           (1,817) 
----------------------------------------  -------- 
 Net identifiable liabilities acquired        (57) 
 Add: goodwill                              15,484 
----------------------------------------  -------- 
 Net assets acquired                        15,428 
----------------------------------------  -------- 
 

The goodwill is attributable to the workforce and the value projected to be generated through future new business and the expected benefits from integrating MatsSoft into Netcall.

The cash outflow as a result of the acquisition is as follows:

 
                                   GBP'000 
-------------------------------   -------- 
 Cash consideration                 10,974 
 Less: cash acquired                     - 
 Net cash out flow - investing 
  activities                        10,974 
--------------------------------  -------- 
 

(b) Acquisition related costs

The Company incurred professional advisor fees of GBP0.46m (2017: GBP0.32) in connection with the acquisition of MatsSoft Ltd and in the prior period an alternative potential acquisition which was not progressed. These costs are included in 'other expenses'.

(c) Loan Note

Immediately prior to the acquisition of MatsSoft on 4 August 2017 the Company entered into a subscription agreement with Business Growth Fund ('BGF') for a GBP7.0m investment. The investment comprises the issue of a GBP7.0m Loan Note and the award of options over 4,827,586 new ordinary shares of 5p each at a price of 58p per share. The Loan Note has an annual interest rate of 8.5% payable quarterly in arrears and is repayable in six instalments from 30 September 2022 to 31 March 2025.

The GBP7.0m investment has been allocated to the fair value of the Loan Note, GBP6.42m, and the fair value of the share options granted, GBP0.58m. The fair value of the share options was determined using the Binomial valuation method. The significant inputs into the model were the mid-market share price of 66.5p at the grant date, volatility of 25%, dividend yield of 1.85%, an expected option life of 5 years, and an annual risk-free interest rate of 0.267%. The total expense relating to the fair value of the share options is being charged to the income statement over the 5-year option life. The total share-based payment charge in the period relating to these options is GBP0.05m (H1-FY17 GBPnil).

7. Net debt reconciliation

 
                                          31 December 2017   31 December 2016   30 June 2017 
---------------------------------------  -----------------  -----------------  ------------- 
 Cash and cash equivalents                           5,650             14,569         12,724 
 Borrowings - repayable after one year             (6,462)                  -              - 
 Net debt                                            (812)             14,569         12,724 
=======================================  =================  =================  ============= 
 

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END

IR GMGGFNVNGRZM

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 07, 2018 02:00 ET (07:00 GMT)

1 Year Netcall Chart

1 Year Netcall Chart

1 Month Netcall Chart

1 Month Netcall Chart

Your Recent History

Delayed Upgrade Clock