STROUD, GLOUCESTERSHIRE, United Kingdom, April 4, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- VI Group Plc. ("VI" or "the Company") (AMEX:GVI) (LSE:VIG), one of the leading software providers to the mold and die industry, today announces another year of significant growth in its revenues for the year ended 31st December 2002. Profits have been impacted by the investments made in acquiring a new product line during the year and other investments designed to position the Company for future growth, but are ahead of recent expectations.
SUMMARY
-- Revenue up 21.1% to $11.3m (2001: $9.3m)
-- EBITDA of $778,000 (2001: $1,492,000)
-- Pre tax profits reduced to $376,000 (2001: $1,010,000), but
ahead of recent expectations
-- Acquisition of Vero Tooling Systems of Canada completes the
VI presence in the North American market around the "Detroit
mold and die area"
-- Acquisition of Machining Strategist business adds 3D CAM
distribution and provides a foundation for enhanced future
CAM sales
-- Very strong growth in North America, plus continued
expansion in Germany and Italy despite economic
uncertainties in all areas
Don Babbs, Chief Executive of VI, commented:
"In a very busy year for VI, we have grown revenues faster than our competitors and against the background of a poor economic climate. As we envisaged, we have taken part in the consolidation of the CAM market and invested heavily in the future expansion of our business. We are confident that product sales will continue to grow substantially."
Included: Chairman's Statement
Operating and Financial Review
Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets
Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Operations
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
VI Group is reporting its financial results for 2002 against a background of unprecedented world uncertainty -- record stock market lows, a further year of falling UK manufacturing production, US economic difficulties and another problematic year for the automotive sector. Despite this background, VI has achieved a 21% growth in revenues to $11.3m (2001: $9.3m) and invested heavily for its future prosperity, resulting in a pre-tax profit of $0.4m (2001: $1.0m).
We have been quick to put the $4.6m of funds raised in the Spring to good use in structuring for further growth and in the acquisition of the Machining Strategist product line. Few companies in our sector have managed to grow sales significantly during 2002 and these investments have provided for an acceleration of our future growth plans. There is a lag between the timing of the investments and the return, and the result was an initial reduction in profit in the financial year prior to achieving the full sales benefit.
The Company successfully listed on the American Stock Exchange ( AMEX ) in New York in October 2002 and this development provides further currency for future acquisition possibilities in North America where valuations are now more inviting than before. With this strategy in mind, the Company has entered into an agreement with Hemisphere Capital to initially provide a convertible loan of $1.0m with the availability of further acquisition finance in the future.
The Machining Strategist acquisition is an important step in providing a shop floor based 3D CAM product as part of our mold and die offering and will be a fundamental element in the portfolio for developing our OEM channels.
The acquisition of the Canadian company of our former distributor Vero Tooling also provided an opportunity to address seamlessly the important mold and die corridor between Detroit and Toronto.
Once again, the efforts and sacrifices of our staff in expanding our business that have been paramount to the year's growth should not be overlooked. Much of our success has resulted from the efforts of product managers and developers to provide ever improving products that match customer requirements. These endeavors have been complemented by the diligence and dedication of our customer support staff, resulting in further improvements in our software maintenance business.
The Company continues its twin strategy of broadening the product offering to achieve organic growth and market share whilst taking an opportunistic approach to the consolidation of the CAM market.
The current year is, once again, a difficult year to forecast but I am confident that we will see significant growth following the investments made in 2002.
Stephen Palframan Chairman 4th April 2003
OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW
VI Group has produced yet another year of strong revenue growth, an increase of 21% on 2001, against a difficult economic background. The Company grew particularly strongly in the two highly competitive markets of North America (where sales more than doubled) and Germany (+18%), thanks to well organized local sales activities and improved product capabilities. With the exception of the UK, where the continuing engineering recession had a negative effect on sales (-3%) our more traditional market strongholds of Italy (+6%) and Japan (+8%) also grew despite their own market uncertainties.
Following the investment by new and existing institutional investors in April the Company embarked on a plan to further accelerate growth -- in development terms, completing its product line by providing end to end design-to-build capabilities; and in sales terms, by the expansion of resources for our direct sales offices. This foundation for accelerated growth had the short term effect of keeping earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) lower at $778,000 (2001: $1,492,000), and reducing pre-tax profits to $376,000 (2001: $1,010,000).
New Operations
The Company opened new branch offices in France near Lyon and Lille with the objective of directly addressing the second largest European mold and die software market. This operation should improve our market presence in a country where our technology has already been widely acknowledged. Similarly the purchase of our Canadian distributor, Vero Tooling also provides us with an opportunity to build on their experience in the important 'border' mold and die sector by integrating the operation with our existing Detroit office. Since the acquisition in July, the two offices have been working closely together on some of the largest mold builder accounts in North America.
The most significant event of the year was our largest acquisition to date. The Company purchased the Machining Strategist business belonging to NC Graphics (Cambridge) Ltd.: Machining Strategist is a 3D computer aided manufacturing (CAM) product with a good reputation as a fast and easy to use CAM system. The development team now forms our Cambridge based Technology Center from which we will further develop Machining Strategist as an automated shop floor programming system. Many of Machining Strategist's techniques will be incorporated in our VISI-Series products during this year.
Operating Expenses
Gross profit increased to $8.9m, representing 79% of revenue (2001: $7.3m and 78%) after deducting the cost of product sales and providing maintenance services.
Selling expenses rose 51% to $4.4m attributable in part to the new activities outlined above as well as the inclusion of the first full financial year of operation of the Detroit office. Administrative expenses were 47% higher at $2.5m for similar reasons. The Company also strengthened its information technology infrastructure to one more appropriate for its expanded activities and this contributed to increased administration costs.
Product Development and Other Operating Income
The last quarter saw a new release of VISI-Series which includes a large number of additional design capabilities for the production of electrodes, automatic drilling of complex mold plates, the parametric design of progressive die strips and numerous 3D modeling features. These additions have been well received by distributors and customers alike and place VISI-Series very firmly in the lead as a premier mold design package. Product development costs increased slightly at $1.2m but this fails to reflect an underlying growth of about 37% when the effects of development grants are excluded and are the result of additional investments made in expanding the breadth of the product.
The Company finally received approval of its application for a Eureka grant based on a collaborative European research and development project for mold making software. The project started in July 2001 and is scheduled to continue until the end of December 2003. This grant has been partially recognized as a reduction of development costs.
Taxation and Earnings per Share
The Company made a loss of $74,000 (2001: Profit of $595,000) after applying a tax charge of $450,000. Most of this tax charge originates in Italy. It includes taxes not relating directly to current profitability and so distorts any calculation of a tax rate as measured against pre-tax profits.
Basic and fully diluted losses per share were 0.2 cents (2002: Earnings per share 2.9 cents) reflecting the tax charge and reduced pre-tax profit.
Cash flow and net funds
Cash outflow from operations was $0.5m compared to $0.1m in 2001 as a result of the additional spending in the expansion of sales outlets and the product line. Cash balances at the year end were $1.9m (2001: $0.7m), with $0.7m of short-term borrowings (2001: $0.6m), giving a net cash figure of $1.2m (2001: $0.1m). The increase in net funds reflects the residual amount of cash remaining from the funds raised earlier in the year.
Finance raising and investor activities
The Company raised $4.6m of funds from institutional investors in May against the issue of 14.7 million new shares. Both new and existing institutional shareholders participated in this placement which has undoubtedly assisted the Company in accelerating its growth.
The Company proceeded with its plan to list American Depositary Receipts ("ADR's") on the American Stock Exchange and trading commenced on October 28th 2002 with each ADR representing twenty underlying common shares.
In conclusion, 2002 has been a growth year in which we have invested for future returns. Naturally, not all of these activities could bear their full fruit during 2002 and we expect still further growth during the coming year.
Don Babbs Chief Executive 4th April 2003
Note: As the Company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange AIM market and the American Stock Exchange ( AMEX ) it is issuing two simultaneous announcements concerning the results. The results will appear differently in each announcement as they are made in UK GBP and US$ and according to the differing UK and US accounting standards ("GAAP").
VI Group Plc.
Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets
Year ended
31 December
2002 2001
Assets: $'000 $'000
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents 1,907 746
Accounts Receivable, net of allowance
For doubtful accounts of $376, $115 6,673 4,347
Inventory 32 40
Prepaid expenses and other assets 2,343 1,173
Total current assets 10,955 6,306
Property Plant and Equipment net 1,024 573
Accounts and loan note 118 536
Other assets 3,285 731
Total assets 15,382 8,146
Liabilities and shareholder equity
Current Liabilities:
Bank overdraft and other short term debt 758 627
Current portion of long term debt 122 86
Accounts payable 923 766
Accrued liabilities and other creditors 2,506 1,524
Income taxes 396 251
Total current liabilities 4,705 3,254
Capital lease obligations 224 56
Bank & Mortgage loans 13 29
Accrued liabilities 389 280
Total Liabilities 5,330 3,619
Shareholders' equity
Common stock 292 175
Additional paid-in capital 8,922 4,286
Retained earnings (accumulated defecit) 646 720
Accumulated other comprehensive income 192 (654)
(loss)
Total shareholders' equity 10,052 4,527
Total liabilities and shareholders' 15,382 8,146
equity
VI Group Plc.
Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Operations
Year ended
31 December
2002 2001
$'000 $'000
Net Revenue
Product Revenue 8,599 7,770
Service Revenue 2,678 1,538
Total net revenue 11,277 9,308
Cost of Revenue
Cost of product (1,501) (1,412)
Cost of service (884) (595)
Total cost of revenue (2,385) (2,007)
Gross Profit 8,892 7,301
Operating Expenses
Selling Expenses 4,362 2,886
General and administration 2,520 1,719
Product development 1,232 1,204
Total operating expenses excluding
depreciation and amortisation 8,114 5,809
Earnings before interest, tax,
depreciation and amortization 778 1,492
('EBITDA')
Depreciation 292 234
Amortization of goodwill and other 145 250
tangible assets
Total operating expenses 8,551 6,293
Income from operations 341 1,008
Continuing operations 66 1,008
Acquisitions 275
341 1,008
Other Income
Net interest income 35 2
Income before income taxes 376 1,010
Income tax (450) (415)
Net Income (Loss) (74) 595
Earnings (loss) per share
- Basic $(0.002) $0.029
- Diluted $(0.002) $0.029
VI Group Plc.
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Year ended
31 December
2002 2001
$'000 $'000
Cash flows from operating activities (74) 595
Net Income
Income charges not affecting cash:
Depreciation and amortization 437 484
(Profit) loss on disposal of property,
plant and
equipment (28) 12
Exchange differences 593 102
Movements in working capital:
Increase in accounts receivable and (2,418) (1764)
prepaid expenses
Decrease (increase) in inventory 14 (2)
Increase in accounts payable and other 1,018 452
liabilities
Cash flow from operating activities (458) (121)
Cash flows from investing activities
Additions to property, plant and (701) (281)
equipment
Additions to software licenses (1,328) (20)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant
and equipment 75 22
Purchase of businesses (1,357) (398)
Cash flow from investing activities (3,311) (677)
Cash flow from financing activites
Issue of share capital 4,753 367
Bank overdraft increase 19 183
Mortgage loans repayments (66) (58)
Capital lease repayments 224 (20)
Cashflows from financing activities 4,930 472
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash
equivalents 1,161 (326)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of
year 746 1,072
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year 1,907 746
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