| Preliminary results for the year ended 31 March 2006 |
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FFastFill FFastFill plc (‘FFastFill’ or the ‘Company’), the leading provider of application services to the global derivatives community, announces its preliminary results for the year ended 31 March 2006. Highlights
Commenting on the results, Keith Todd, Executive Chairman of FFastFill, said: The full chairman’s statement and preliminary results are included below. For further information, please contact:
Chairman Statement
Introduction
Financial results for the year 2005/6 The revenue growth has been achieved by increasing the average income per customer and the increase in the number of customers to over 40. Our top 20 customers account for approximately 90% of revenue, and their average income is now £232k per customer, a growth of 16%. During the year, we achieved new customer wins for our application services in addition to the major TT application service contract wins. There was delay in some contract signings, most of which have now been achieved, as well as some delay in user number growth under existing contracts. The CME FX on Reuters service growth is expected to improve following the recent launch of an enhanced version of the service. The investment in technology and service offerings, combined with delays in signing new customers, has had a short-term negative impact on the company’s financial performance in the year ended 31 March 2006; however the Board is convinced that this investment will benefit shareholders in the medium and long term. The EBITDA loss in the period at £2.450 million (2005/6 £2.260 million) increased due to the heavy investment in our service development programme including software development and operational delivery capability ahead of contract wins. We now have available a highly competitive range of services that are delivered from our three data centres in London and Chicago and supported 24 hours a day, 5.5 days a week. The increased Pre-tax loss of £3.328 million (2004/5 £2.879 million) was the result of the lower EBITDA and a higher depreciation charge. We have continued to maintain a rigorous control of costs. However costs were increased in order to expand our delivery capability and to complete the development of a number of service offerings. We have recently re-organised our approach to customer management as our business has become increasingly centred on global customers. As a result of this we have been able to reduce cost by eliminating some overlapping activities. This cost reduction, together with other reductions achieved, means that we start the current year with a lower monthly cost base than that which we incurred on average during last year. We are not expecting any significant change in staffing numbers during the current year. Cash outflow from operating activities was £2.162 million (2004/5 £2.859 million). This improvement was due to reduced working capital requirements. Capital expenditure was £1.171 million (2004/5 £1.138 million) in support of the additional data centre and customer contracts. £759k was financed as part of a customer backed finance lease. The cash balance at 31 March 2006 was £1.230 million (2004/5 £911k). We have also announced a £1.4m placement subject to an EGM on 31 May 2006.
Strategy: Our core application services strategy has remained unchanged; we have however expanded the breadth of the ASP offering to include a third party product, our multi asset class execution capability and our strengthened order book. Business Development: We are seeing significant progress in our ability to win new global customers and to expand the business we do with these large banks. The combination of our offerings, the increased acceptance of our application services approach and our reputation are underpinning this progress. We launched the TT service in October in Chicago and this has led to a number of wins including two global banks. These contracts have demonstrated the value of our strategy to offer third party products as part of our service offering. We recently announced three new services to complement our existing ASP trade execution service and Reuters CME service. European based TT service: We will be launching a London-based service which will be available from July 2006. This will allow us to support the European operations of existing US TT service customers with a European-based offering and will open up new opportunities for London-based trading firms. Multi-asset class trading service: We have now completed the development of our multi-asset class trading system. This will allow firms who predominantly trade listed derivatives to also trade foreign exchange, equities, contracts for difference and bonds via their FFastFill execution screen. New generation ‘Global Order Book’: We announced the availability of the first phase of a new generation of global order book which the board believe will substantially improve order and risk management for participants in the derivatives industry. New functionality will be released during 2006/7 which will include the integration of traditional clearing functionality.Staff: We could not have achieved the progress we have made without the skill and commitment of our teams in London, Chicago and Prague. The board and I would like to thank them for their dedication and commitment. Governance Outlook FFastFill now has a strong order book of over £5 million. The Directors believe that this order book, together with the substantial completion of the company’s investment programme and the implementation of various cost reduction measures, position the company well to achieve EBITDA profitability. The Directors believe that the funds raised via the placing will be sufficient to achieve this goal. Keith Todd
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| Notes |
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| Unaudited | Audited | ||
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| 2006 | 2005 | ||
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| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 |
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|
|
|
|
|
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| Turnover |
|
|
|
|
|
| - continuing operations |
| 4,753 |
| 4,004 |
|
| - discontinued operations |
| - |
| 323 |
|
|
|
|
| 4,753 |
| 4,327 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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| Administrative expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
| - exceptional |
|
| - |
| (92) |
| - other |
|
| (8,160) |
| (7,035) |
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|
|
|
|
|
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| Other operating income |
|
| 31 |
| 51 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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| Operating loss |
|
|
|
|
|
| - continuing operations |
| (3,286) |
| (2,507) |
|
| - discontinued operations |
| - |
| (242) |
|
|
|
|
| (3,376) |
| (2,749) |
| Exceptional items – |
|
|
|
|
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| reorganisation costs |
|
| - |
| (219) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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| Interest receivable and similar |
|
|
|
|
|
| income |
|
| 83 |
| 99 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Interest payable and similar charges |
|
| (35) |
| (10) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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| Loss on ordinary activities |
|
|
|
|
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| before taxation |
|
| (3,328) |
| (2,879) |
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|
|
|
|
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| Tax on loss on ordinary activities |
|
| (8) |
| (7) |
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|
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| Loss on ordinary activities after |
|
|
|
|
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| taxation |
|
| (3,336) |
| (2,886) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Minority interest |
|
| - |
| 4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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| Loss for the financial year |
|
|
|
|
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| attributable to shareholders |
|
| (3,336) |
| (2,882) |
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|
|
|
|
|
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| Basic and diluted loss per share | 2 |
| (1.43p) |
| ( 1.60p) |
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| Unaudited | Audited |
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| 2006 | 2005 |
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| £’000 | £’000 |
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|
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| Loss for the financial year | (3,336) | (2,882) |
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|
|
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| Currency translation differences on foreign currency net |
|
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| investments | (11) | (83) |
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| Total recognised gains and losses relating to the year | (3,347) | (2,965) |
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| Notes | Unaudited | Audited |
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| 2006 | 2005 |
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|
| £’000 | £’000 |
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|
|
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| Fixed assets |
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| Intangible asset |
| 1,680 | 1,799 |
| Tangible assets |
| 1,566 | 1,139 |
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| 3,246 | 2,938 |
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| Current assets |
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| Debtors |
| 1,011 | 2,666 |
| Cash at bank and in hand |
| 1,230 | 911 |
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|
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|
|
|
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| 2,241 | 3,577 |
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| Creditors: amounts falling due within one year |
| (1,940) | (1,978) |
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| Net current assets |
| 301 | 1,599 |
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| Total assets less current liabilities |
| 3,547 | 4,537 |
| Creditors: amounts falling due more than one year |
| (360) | - |
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| Deferred income |
| (930) | (1,953) |
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| Net assets |
| 2,257 | 2,584 |
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| Capital and reserves |
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| Called up share capital | 3 | 2,427 | 1,949 |
| Share premium account | 3 | 25,706 | 23,156 |
| Other reserves | 3 | 235 | 235 |
| Merger reserve | 3 | 890 | 890 |
| Profit and loss account | 3 | (27,001) | (23,654) |
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|
|
|
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| Equity shareholders’ funds | 3 | 2,257 | 2,576 |
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| Minority interest |
| - | 8 |
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|
|
|
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| Total capital employed |
| 2,257 | 2,584 |
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| |
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| Notes | Unaudited | Audited |
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| 2006 | 2005 |
|
|
| £’000 | £’000 |
|
|
|
|
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| Net cash outflow from operating activities | A | (2,162) | (2,859) |
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|
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| Returns on investments and servicing of finance |
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|
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| Interest received |
| 83 | 99 |
| Interest element of finance lease payments |
| (35) | (10) |
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|
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| Net cash inflow from returns on investments and |
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| servicing of finance |
| 48 | 89 |
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| Taxation |
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|
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| Overseas tax paid |
| (6) | (7) |
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|
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| Capital expenditure |
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|
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| Purchase of tangible fixed assets |
| (1,171) | (1,138) |
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| Acquisitions |
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|
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| Purchase of subsidiary undertakings |
| - | (36) |
| Net cash acquired with subsidiary undertaking |
| - | 75 |
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|
|
|
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| Net cash inflow from acquisitions |
| - | 39 |
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|
|
|
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| Cash outflow before financing |
| (3,291) | (3,876) |
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|
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|
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| Financing |
|
|
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| Issue of ordinary shares |
| 3,020 | 3,821 |
| Sale and leaseback |
| 759 | - |
| Capital element of finance lease payments |
| (169) | (1) |
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|
|
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| Net cash inflow from financing |
| 3,610 | 3,820 |
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|
|
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| Increase/(decrease) in cash | B | 319 | (56) |
NOTES TO THE CASH FLOW STATEMENT
for the year ended 31 March 2006
A. Reconciliation of operating loss to operating cash flow
|
| Unaudited | Audited |
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| 2006 | 2005 |
|
| £’000 | £’000 |
|
|
|
|
| Operating loss | (3,376) | (2,749) |
| Reorganisation costs of subsidiaries acquired |
|
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| during the year | - | (177) |
| Depreciation | 744 | 359 |
| Amortisation of goodwill | 182 | 130 |
| Foreign exchange translation differences | (11) | 32 |
| Decrease/(increase) in debtors | 1,767 | (1,218) |
| (Decrease)/increase in creditors | (1,468) | 764 |
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|
|
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| Net cash outflow from operating activities | (2,162) | (2,859) |
B. Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net funds
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| 2006 | 2005 |
|
| £’000 | £’000 |
|
|
|
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| Increase/(decrease) in cash in the year | 319 | (56) |
| Sale and leaseback | 759 | - |
| Repayment of finance leases | (169) | 1 |
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|
|
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| Change in net funds resulting from cash flows | 909 | (55) |
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|
|
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| Net funds at beginning of year | 911 | 966 |
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|
|
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| Net funds at end of year | 1,820 | 911 |
1. Accounting policies
Basis of accounting
The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with applicable accounting standards.
Basis of consolidation
The consolidated accounts incorporate those of FFastFill plc and all of its subsidiary undertakings. Subsidiaries acquired during the year are consolidated using the acquisition method. Their results are incorporated from the date that control passes. All subsidiaries have accounting year ends of 31 March 2006.
Going concern
During the year the group made losses of £3.3 million (2005: £2.9 million) and had net assets at 31 March 2006 of £2.3 million (2005: £2.6 million).
As a result of winning a number of significant new customers during the year, the group’s order book of recurring and run-rate revenue at the end of March was over £5 million. This has already increased further in the period since the end of the year and the group has a strong pipeline of further business from both current and new customers. During the year the group substantially completed its investment programme and the directors have also implemented a number of cost reduction measures.
In addition, since the year end, the company has raised £1.4 million (before expenses) by the placing of 46,669,000 new ordinary shares of 1p, at 3p per share. This placing of shares is subject to EGM approval on 31 May 2006. The company will use the net proceeds to provide further working capital and strengthen the company’s balance sheet.
On this basis, the directors have prepared the accounts on the going concern basis. The accounts do not include any adjustments that would arise if this basis were inappropriate.
2. Loss per share and diluted loss per share
Loss per share is calculated by dividing the loss attributable to ordinary shareholders for each year amounting to £3,336,000 (2005: £2,882,000) for the year ended 31 March 2006 by 233,676,355 (2005: 181,494,031), being the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during each year.
For the purposes of dilution, share options are non-dilutive.
3.Statement of movement on shareholders’ funds
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| Share |
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| Profit | Share- |
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| Share | premium | Other | Merger | and loss | holders’ |
|
| capital | account | reserves | reserve | account | funds |
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| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 |
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| At 1 April 2005 |
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|
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| (audited) | 1,949 | 23,156 | 235 | 890 | (23,654) | 2,576 |
| Loss for the period | - | - | - | - | (3,336) | (3,336) |
| Issue of shares | 478 | 2,658 | - | - | - | 3,136 |
| Share issue costs | - | (108) | - | - | - | (108) |
| Foreign exchange |
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|
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| movement | - | - | - | - | (11) | (11) |
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| At 31 March 2006 |
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| (unaudited) | 2,427 | 25,706 | 235 | 890 | (27,001) | 2,257 |
4. Financial information
The financial information set out in this report does not constitute statutory accounts as defined in section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. The financial information for the year ended 31 March 2006 is unaudited. Information in respect of the year end 31 March 2005 is extracted from the statutory accounts for that year. The auditors’ report on those accounts was unqualified and did not contain a statement under section 237(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985.
4. Dividend
The directors are not declaring a dividend.