A PROVEN INNOVATOR IN INTERACTIVE MEDIA    
January 06 2009   

Latest Results

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Interim Results for the six months ended 30 June 2008

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HIGHLIGHTS

Highlights for the period

  • Revenue for the six months to 30 June 2008 was £6.7 million, up 4.8% on the same period in 2007
  • Operating profit of £615,000, including £1.2 million gain on the disposal of two of the Group’s Sky channels, compared to a loss of £1.5 million in the same period in 2007
  • General and administrative expenses reduced by 30%

Post period highlights

  • The Group is following a conservative growth strategy, leveraging its extensive portfolio of interactive content and multi-platform technology assets
  • Internationally, the Group continues to work with local partners rather than directly investing in media or airtime purchases itself
  • The Group remains uncertain of the impact of OFCOM proposals to tighten the regulation of UK participation-TV services and awaits completion of the public consultation process in December 2008
  • New opportunities continue to arise from the sustained growth of 3G, IPTV, enhanced broadband, video mobile and wireless broadband services in the UK

Julian Paul, Chairman of Cellcast plc, commented:

“The Group is now a substantially UK-based business and is committed to effective management of its cost base in the current uncertain economic environment while being alert to continuing opportunities among new media services.”

 

CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT

Results

Revenue from continuing operations for the six months to 30 June 2008 was £6.7 million, up 4.8% on the same period in the previous year. Virtually all of this revenue arose in the UK, thus confirming the statement in the 2007 annual report that Cellcast has reverted to being a substantially UK based business (albeit with a continuing stake in Cellcast Asia Holdings “CAH”)

The income statement reflects a substantial reduction in the Group’s overall cost base, with general and administrative expenses down some £300,000 or 30% on the equivalent period in 2007. It also reflects the £1.2 million gain on the previously announced disposal for cash of two of the Group’s premium Sky channels in June 2008.

As a consequence, the Group reports an operating profit from continuing operations of £615,000, compared to a loss of £1.5 million in the same period the previous year. After interest costs and Cellcast’s share of losses in CAH, profit after tax for the period was £342,000, compared to a loss of £1.8 million in the same period the previous year.

This represents basic earnings per share of 0.5p (2007 – loss per share of 3.3p). No dividend is proposed.

Staffing

The reduction in general and administrative overheads noted above has largely been brought about by substantial reductions in the number of staff. In the 2007 annual report I commented that we started 2008 with 71 employees but that by the end of June 2008 there would be only 26 employees in the UK. By the end of September 2008, we expect there will be 22 employees. This is unlikely to be reduced further. Staff costs are the largest component in general and administrative overheads, and a result of these reductions, we anticipate that the monthly run-rate from now on for general and administrative expenses will be of the order of £90,000.

SUMO.tv

In the 2007 annual report, I stated that there were unlikely to be any further SUMO development costs after June 2008. Development work on SUMO has now ceased and there will be no further capitalised costs associated with this project in the second half of 2008. In the six months to 30 June 2008, a further £706,000 of development costs were capitalised, bringing the total to £2.2 million. The directors believe that the cost of this investment is recoverable from future earnings These will be derived through the Group’s continued realisation of benefits from the investment in content and technology for SUMO, particularly in regard to core participation TV applications and formats, which are enabling it to capture new opportunities arising from the sustained growth of 3G, IPTV, enhanced broadband, video mobile and wireless broadband services in the UK.

Cellcast Asia Holdings

The Group continues to have a 37.5% share in Cellcast Asia Holdings (“CAH”) which incorporates all Cellcast’s Indian and Asian interests. Cellcast’s share of CAH losses was £179,000 in the six months to 30 June 2008. CAH is currently engaged in a further round of fund-raising to expand its telecommunication infrastructure to respond to the needs of the growing number of television channels in India as well as covering its working capital, on terms and conditions yet to be agreed. However, the terms under discussion indicate that the current carrying value of Cellcast’s shareholding in CAH of £700,000 will not be impaired. The Group continues to have no further funding obligations in respect of CAH.  A further announcement will be made in due course as and when further financing takes place.

Outlook

With global economic uncertainties having a significant impact on consumer spending in 2008, the Group intends to follow a conservative growth strategy by leveraging its developed interactive content and multi-platform technology assets. At the same time the Group will renew its focus on providing innovative products and services to capture the opportunities arising from the growing uptake of 3G services, IPTV, and video mobile services in the UK market, all of which require compelling content to drive subscriptions.

The public consultation process on proposals by the UK regulator OFCOM to tighten the regulation of television and radio programmes which rely on premium rate telephone services is due to be completed in December 2008. The Group welcomes regulation intended to offer further protection to consumers, which is good for the interactive entertainment industry, its sustainability and growth. However, the technology driving convergence, together with the new tools facilitating audience participation, are blurring the lines between editorial and advertising, and this remains a significant challenge for regulators addressing new media services.

The international business model has been adapted to the extent that the Group will in future partner with third-parties willing to underwrite the costs of distribution in consideration of a higher revenue share, rather than directly investing in media or airtime purchases itself. This will enable us to minimise risk and better manage our resources in support of our content and application development and related B2B solutions.

Julian Paul
Chairman
30 September 2008

 

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS

    Unaudited Unaudited Audited
    6 months ended 6 months ended Year ended
    30/06/08 30/06/07 31/12/07
    £ £ £
Continuing Operations        
REVENUE            6,704,265        6,396,314 12,008,998
Cost of sales   (6,320,339) (6,141,539) (11,119,565)
GROSS PROFIT   383,926           254,775 889,433
Operating costs and expenses:        
   General and administrative   (703,084) (1,012,081) (2,061,806)
   Share option expense   (52,465) (492,708) (150,665)
   Amortisation and depreciation   (207,979) (234,831) (489,200)
   Profit on sale of channels   1,195,064 - -
Total operating costs and expenses   231,536 (1,739,620) (2,701,671)
PROFIT / (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS   615,462 (1,484,845) (1,812,238)
         
Other interest receivable & similar income   2,339 2,122 4,898
Interest payable & similar charges   (96,743) (7,634) (168,586)
Share of loss in associates   (178,820) - (180,567)
PROFIT / (LOSS) BEFORE TAX   342,238 (1,490,357) (2,156,493)
         
Current taxation   - - -
Deferred taxation   - - 84,698
Total taxation   - - (84,698)
Profit / (loss) after tax for continuing operations   342,238 (1,490,357) (2,241,191)
         
Discontinued operations        
Profit / (loss) for the period from discontinued operations   - (279,586) 18,591
Total profit / (loss) for the period   342,238 (1,769,943) (2,222,600)
         
Gain / (loss) attributable to minority interest   - (22,943) 30,684
Profit / (loss) for the year attributable to equity holders of the parent   342,238 (1,747,000) (2,253,284)
         
PROFIT / (LOSS) FOR THE PERIOD   342,238 (1,769,943) (2,222,600)
         
EARNINGS / (LOSS) PER SHARE        
Basic and diluted   0.5p (3.3)p (3.7)p
         
         

Note: The profit from operations for the period arises from the Group's continuing operations and the profit / (loss) after tax is attributable to equity holders of the parent company.


 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

    Unaudited Unaudited Audited
    30/06/08 30/06/07 31/12/07
    £ £ £
ASSETS        
NON-CURRENT ASSETS        
Intangible assets   2,665,417 1,763,857 2,212,605
Property, plant and equipment   351,234 951,540 511,096
Investments in associates   382,397 4,933 561,217
Deferred tax   - 84,698 -
    3,399,048 2,805,028 3,284,918
         
CURRENT ASSETS        
Trade and other receivables   2,201,380 3,480,259 2,270,027
Cash and cash equivalents   321,793 134,310 7,533
    2,523,173 3,614,569 2,277,560
TOTAL ASSETS   5,922,221 6,419,597 5,562,478
         
         
         
CAPITAL AND RESERVES        
Called up share capital   2,265,398 1,726,656 2,265,398
Share premium account   5,498,626 5,317,756 5,498,626
Merger reserve   1,300,395 1,300,395 1,300,395
Cumulative translation reserve   (3,320) 58,085 (5,159)
Retained earnings   (6,803,230) (6,499,907) (7,197,933)
Equity attributable to equity holders of the parent   2,257,869 1,902,985 1,861,327
Minority interest   - (53,627) -
Total equity   2,257,869 1,849,358 1,861,327
         
LIABILITIES        
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES        
Finance Leases   - 51,147 -
Current liabilities        
Trade and other payables   3,226,417 4,519,092 3,219,042
Borrowings   437,935 - 482,109
TOTAL LIABILITIES   3,664,352 4,570,239 3,701,151
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY AND LIABILITIES   5,922,221 6,419,597 5,562,478
         

All the above equity Shareholders' Funds are attributable to equity holders of the parent company.


 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

As at 30 June 2008 Share Share Merger Cumulative Retained Shareholders Minority Total
  Capital Premium Reserve Translation Earnings Funds interest  
        Reserves        
  £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £
Balance at 1 January 2008  2,265,398  5,498,626  1,300,395 (5,159)  (7,197,933) 1,861,327               - 1,861,327
Gain / (loss) for the period               342,238          342,238               -      342,238
Exchange translation               1,839                1,839            1,839
Total recognised gain / (loss) for the year               -               -               -         1,839       342,238          344,077               -      344,077
Share based payment charge                 52,465            52,465          52,465
Balance at 30 June 2008  2,265,398  5,498,626  1,300,395       (3,320)  (6,803,230)       2,257,869               -   2,257,869

The above equity and reserves are attributable to equity holders of the parent company.

As at 31 December 2007 Share Share Merger Cumulative Retained Shareholders Minority Total
  Capital Premium Reserve Translation Earnings Funds interest  
        Reserves        
  £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £
Balance at 1 January 2007  1,331,619  4,775,743  1,300,395       24,995  (5,245,614)       2,187,138      (30,684)   2,156,454
Gain / (loss) for the year          (2,253,284)      (2,253,284)       30,684  (2,222,600)
Exchange translation            (30,154)                -          (30,154)         (30,154)
Total recognised gain / (loss) for the year               -               -               -      (30,154)  (2,253,284)      (2,283,438)       30,684  (2,252,754)
Share based payment charge              150,665          150,665        150,665
Warrant issue charge              150,300          150,300        150,300
Proceeds of share issue     933,779     722,883             1,656,662     1,656,662
Balance at 31 December 2007  2,265,398  5,498,626  1,300,395       (5,159)  (7,197,933)       1,861,327               -   1,861,327

The above equity and reserves are attributable to equity holders of the parent company.

As at 30 June 2007 Share Share Merger Cumulative Retained Shareholders Minority Total
  Capital Premium Reserve Translation Earnings Funds interest  
        Reserves        
  £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £
Balance at 1 January 2007 1,331,619 4,775,743 1,300,395 24,995 (5,245,614) 2,187,138 (30,684) 2,156,454
Loss for the period         (1,747,000) (1,747,000) (22,943) (1,769,943)
Exchange translation       33,090   33,090   33,090
Total recognised gain / losses for the period - - - 33,090 (1,747,000) (1,713,910) (22,943) (1,736,853)
Share based payment charge         492,708 492,708   492,708
Proceeds of share issue 395,037 604,963       1,000,000   1,000,000
Share issue costs   (62,951)       (62,951)   (62,951)
Balance at 30 June 2007 1,726,656 5,317,755 1,300,395 58,085 (6,499,906) 1,902,985 (53,627) 1,849,358

The above equity and reserves are attributable to equity holders of the parent company.

CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENTS

    Unaudited
6 months ended
Unaudited
6 months ended
Audited
Year ended
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents   30/06/08 30/06/07 31/12/07
    £ £ £
         
Net cash inflow / (outflow) from operations a 988,832 15,391 (432,743)
         
Income taxes   - -   -  
         
Interest received   2,339 2,122 4,898
         
Net cash inflow / (outflow) from operating activities   991,171 17,513 (427,845)
         
Net cash outflow from investing activities b (500,929) (737,844) (1,207,154)
         
Net cash generated from / (used in) financing activities c (177,821) 908,117 1,705,029
         
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents   312,421 187,786 70,030
         
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   7,533 (53,476) (53,476)
         
Exchange gains and losses   1,839 - (9,021)
         
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   321,793 134,310 7,533

NOTES

Notes to the financial statement are available in the pdf download

 

Page last up-dated: 30 September 2008
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