Final Results

Comeleon PLC 29 November 2001 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 29 NOVEMBER 2001 MAIDEN PRELIMINARY FINAL RESULTS for the twelve months ended 30th September 2001 2000/2001; Successful growth and development of the business Comeleon is pleased to announce its maiden preliminary final results for the twelve months ended 30th September 2001. Key Points: * Rapid growth in order book * Current sales and order book ahead of Plan * Financial performance better than expectations * New UK headquarters and production facilities completed * Opening and full Nokia Approval of USA facility * Key contracts signed * Licensing agreements with Coca Cola (contracts exchanged) and others * E-commerce development and Interactive Design Studio * Recruitment: first stage complete - 80 people * Existing capacity to meet output targets for 2001/02 Jon Pither, Chairman, said: 'The rapid progress of the Company during the past twelve months has provided a solid foundation for its next stages of growth and development. During our first full financial year we have performed well in establishing production capability and a strong position in the market place both in Europe and the United States.' For further information, please contact: Roy Stanley, Chief Executive Officer Today on: 020 7466 5000 Tim Robinson, Finance Director thereafter on: 01207 693301 Comeleon plc www.comeleon-ir.co.uk Tim Anderson Lisa Baderoon Buchanan Communications Limited Tel No: 0207 466 5000 www.buchanan.uk.com CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT This is my first year end statement as Chairman of Comeleon and it gives me great pleasure to report on the enormous progress made over its first 12 months as a public company. However, to put all of its achievements into perspective, I would like first to outline current trading. The order intake since October 1 stands at over £500k, which is 227% ahead of plan; and is more than our turnover for the whole of the last financial year. Significantly, we have just received full Nokia Approval for our new site in North Carolina which was opened in August, and exchanged contracts for a licensing agreement with Coca Cola for the representation of its brand on mobile phones and computer peripherals in the US. The short-term order book is being driven by a number of factors. Our UK design and production facilities were fully approved by Nokia, Motorola, Siemens and Sendo in July . Since that point we have implemented additional production capacity and can now offer a wide range of products, licensed images and services. We are pursuing all planned routes to market with significant success. We are selling direct to the retail market, to large distribution outlets, to corporate entities (including OEM sales) and also to consumers over our website. Our offering is scalable and we are capable of producing anything from a 'one-off' to large volume in a cost effective way. Our website, through the Interactive Design Studio, provides an on-line method for consumers to customise their mobiles. This service was initially offered through phone providers such as Siemens and Virgin Mobile. However, in November it was extended to give consumers direct access. At the same time the service has developed from providing a comprehensive range of designs which the consumer could select, into the position where a unique image can be created from photographs and other means. There is also the superiority of our product and process, compared to the competition, which is steadily driving demand. The flexibility of our process takes away both image risk and inventory risk for our customers. Furthermore, as part of our design capability, we track fashion trends which are marketed to companies in a way that can complement their product range, reinforce their brand and uniquely market new ideas. Sales and orders are the true proof of value, however the license from Coca Cola where contracts have already been exchanged, is a significant endorsement of Comeleon's rapid evolution and market position. Permission to use a global brand of this magnitude indicates how seriously Comeleon's technology is now considered. Comeleon's technology is progressively being recognised as a means of enhancing consumer goods in ways which were previously impossible or uneconomic. We are currently imaging products in three consumer electronic markets and over the next year we hope to announce the application of our technology to other consumer products and for its introduction into at least two other industries. Comeleon is developing at an exciting pace since the end of its first financial year as a public company. However, this was only possible because of the sound foundations established during the year under review. It was just over a year ago in December 2000 that the Company successfully raised £9.4 million through an AIM listing on the London Stock Exchange to fund its growth and development. The period since then saw the initial period of growth in sales which, along with other financial performance factors, were better than anticipated in the Company's business plan. Sales were up against Plan by 24% at £417k and the loss for the 12 months to September was better than Plan. The level of interest within the consumer electronics market for the Comeleon technology has grown quickly and the Company has firmly established its reputation in this market. The first goal was to become the imaging partner of choice for the major mobile telephone manufacturers mentioned above. The Board believes that this goal has been achieved. Comeleon has signed contracts with these major manufacturers allowing branded, genuine product to be sold into all planned routes to market. The installation of plant and equipment is complete for the next phase of business development. The Company has the capacity to achieve its planned projections for the next year. The implementation of this has gone very well and there are a number of cost, investment and technical improvements that will benefit the Company over this next phase of its growth. Financial Review The financial performance for the Group during the period exceeded management's expectations. Sales for the period were £413,000, nearly 24% more than originally planned. The loss before tax and exceptional administrative expenses for the 12 months to September was under £3.0 million, and again better than originally planned, demonstrating tight control of the business. Exceptional charges totalling £916,619 have been incurred in the year, comprising £250,000 of flotation costs and £666,619 of non-cash expenses relating to options awarded in connection with the flotation. Closing Tangible assets of £1.7 million represent the capital spend in both UK and US facilities. Following the successful fund raising of £9.4 million in December 2000, cash balances at the year end remained ahead of plan at £3.8 million. This performance and improvement on management's planned expectations is a direct result of the Group's focused development strategy. The current confirmed order intake of over £500k for the new financial year also demonstrates the increasing attraction of our product offerings in the markets we serve. Operating Review Comeleon continues to enhance its technology. The imaging process is now more flexible and improvements have been made in the consumable cost base of the process. This has been achieved by technical enhancements, which have been incorporated into our process patent which is pending. The company is confident that further aspects of the technology can be developed that will have significant benefits to the process. Comeleon is committed to further develop the process in order to maintain its technical lead in the market. We have invested in our new sales, manufacturing and design Headquarters based at Tanfield Lea, County Durham, with 40,000 square feet of office and shopfloor space. Production processes have been fully installed and commissioned in the new building. Because of the enhancements to the process described above the capital costs associated with increasing capacity has been less than planned. This will also be reflected in anticipated capital investment over the next year. The Company has a capacity to produce 30,000 units per week out of this site. Comeleon has successfully recruited key production, engineering and sales staff to build its growth capability. There are currently 80 people on the payroll in total. The training and development of the team is ongoing. This part of the development of the business has gone exceptionally well. The Company has established a 12,000 square foot technical and production facility in North Carolina, USA to take advantage of the significant opportunities in the North American market. The capacity of the facility will be 2000 units per week rising to 5000 units per week during 2002. Comeleon continues to trade well on its web site. The level of business to consumer activity is increasing rapidly. One of the most significant developments has been the introduction of the Interactive Design Studio (IDS). This allows consumers to download their own images on the Internet and for Comeleon to place these images onto products and deliver directly to the consumer. Two major companies, Siemens and Virgin Mobile, have adopted the IDS onto their web sites; a development which has significant potential for us. The Company is also transacting commercially across the web on a 'business to business' basis with over 80 dealers registered online. A number of Hotlinks have been established with major accessories retailers, allowing consumers to visit our web site. Prospects In its first year Comeleon established sound business foundations which have enabled us to build an impressive order book since implementing production capacity and gaining OEM Approvals. Similarly, the response from the market to the capability and flexibility of the Comeleon technology is very strong and as such we believe that the business opportunities available to the company going forward will be significant. In particular that the majority of mobile telephone manufacturers are now working with Comeleon - is a major achievement and considerable endorsement for us. The exchange of contracts for the license from Coca Cola is a real coming of age for the business and its technology. The management team are now focused on the goal of significantly increasing revenues over the next financial year. John Pither Chairman 29 November 2001 CONSOLIDATED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT For the 12 months ended 30 September 2001 12 months ended 6 months 30 September 2001 ended 30 September 2000 Note £ £ TURNOVER 412,872 3,627 Cost of sales (715,268) (3,248) Gross (loss) / profit (302,396) 379 Other operating income 30,000 - Administrative expenses (2,627,915) (1,038,691) Exceptional Administration expenses 2 (916,619) - OPERATING LOSS (3,816,930) (1,038,312) Other interest receivable and similar income 245,497 - Interest payable and similar charges (74,187) (18,057) LOSS ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES BEFORE TAXATION (3,645,620) (1,056,369) Tax on loss on ordinary activities 3 - - LOSS ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES AFTER TAXATION (3,645,620) (1,056,369) RETAINED LOSS FOR THE FINANCIAL PERIOD TRANSFERRED TO RESERVES (3,645,620) (1,056,369) All activities derive from continuing operations. The group has no recognised gains and losses other than the profit for the current and preceding periods and therefore no separate Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses has been presented. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET As at 30 September 2001 As at As at 30 September 30 September 2001 2000 £ £ FIXED ASSETS Intangible assets 828,060 167,203 Tangible assets 1,699,107 81,368 2,527,167 248,571 CURRENT ASSETS Stocks 189,837 - Debtors 596,253 37,146 Cash at bank and in hand 3,847,856 446,146 4,633,946 483,292 CREDITORS: amounts falling due within one year (1,251,129) (1,787,551) NET CURRENT ASSETS/(LIABILITIES) 3,382,817 (1,304,259) TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 5,909,984 (1,055,688) CREDITORS: amounts falling due after more than one (588,271) (47,044) year PROVISION FOR LIABILITIES AND CHARGES - - 5,321,713 (1,102,732) CAPITAL AND RESERVES Called up share capital 126,613 1 Shares to be issued 666,619 - Share premium account 8,589,543 - Merger Reserve 615,614 Profit and loss account (4,676,676) (1,102,732) EQUITY SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS 5,321,713 (1,102,732) 1. BASIS OF PREPARATION This preliminary announcement does not comprise statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. The statutory accounts as at 30 September 2001 will be filed with the Registrar of Companies and sent to shareholders in due course together with the auditors' report thereon. This preliminary announcement has been prepared in accordance with the principles set out in Financial Reporting Standards ('FRS') 6 'Acquisitions and Mergers'. The results are shown here for a 12 month period and the preceding 6 month period in order to provide consistency with the interim results published on 27 June 2001 and the financial information given in the company's prospectus. The company's statutory accounts will, when published, include a proforma consolidated profit and loss account for the 18 month period ended 30 September 2001 and a statutory profit and loss account for the 13 month period ended 30 September 2001. 2. EXCEPTIONAL ADMINISTRATION EXPENSES £250,000 of the costs incurred in relation to the flotation of the group on the London Stock Exchange have been recognised in the profit and loss account in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard (FRS) 4. £666,619 is a non-cash amount calculated on options awarded in connection with the flotation. 3. TAX ON LOSS ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES No liability to taxation arises on the loss for the period (31 March 2000 - £ nil). There are, subject to the agreement of the Inland Revenue, losses of approximately £ 3,107,000 (31 March 2000- pre trading expenditure of £30,000) available to carry forward and set against future profits from the same trade. 4. EARNINGS PER ORDINARY SHARE Loss per share has been calculated using the weighted average number of shares in issue during the relevant financial periods. The weighted average number of shares in issue is 10,921,269, and the earnings, being loss on ordinary activities after taxation and minority interest are £3,645,620. 12 months ended 30 September 2001 p Loss per share (33.38) Loss per share before Exceptional Administrative expenses (24.99)
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