Final Results
Company |
Tuesday 25 April 2006
WILink plc, (WLK.LSE, WLK.L) a leading provider of online investor relations
and web-based corporate communications solutions, announces its audited results
for the 12 months ended 31 December 2005 and confirms bid for company by
Waterfall Acquisition Inc.
Highlights of the results include:
- 2005 revenues increased by 1.5% to £17.8m (2004 £17.5m)
- Operating loss widens from £0.08m to £1.8m
- Proforma operating profit* decreased by 41.4% to £1.7m (2004 £2.9m)
- Independent directors recommend acceptance of bid at 300p
* Proforma operating profit excludes exceptional administrative expenses of £
202,704 (2004: £225,468) and goodwill amortisation of £3,286,510 (2004: £
2,786,734)
Chairman's Statement
2005 results
Trading performance for the year 2005 was mixed. Overall revenues grew 1.5 per
cent from £17.5 million in 2004 to £17.8 million in 2005. Web Events revenues
grew 83.9 per cent, fuelled by the Communicast acquisition in late 2004. North
America revenues grew 18.6 per cent from £7.8 million to £9.2 million. However,
Nordic revenues fell 41.8 per cent, and Rest of Europe revenues were static.
The unexpected downturn in Nordic revenues, together with the planned
significant investment in sales, marketing and IT resources, especially in Web
Events, had an adverse impact on profitability. Operating losses widened from £
0.08 million in 2004 to £1.8 million in 2005. Proforma operating profits* fell
from £2.9 million to £1.7 million.
Current trading
Trading in the first quarter of 2006 showed an improvement on the same period
in 2005, but full year prospects remain uncertain. North America is
experiencing strong revenue growth, especially from Web Events, but Europe
remains sluggish. In Nordic, the Company is in the process of re-launching the
business and transitioning to the same PrecisionIR business model operated in
the rest of the world. Client and channel partner reaction to the change has
been highly encouraging but investor demand, the main revenue driver, will not
be visible before the end of June 2006. Proforma operating profits have
improved compared to the first quarter of 2005 but the lack of European
momentum and visibility on Nordic revenues before the end of June 2006 make for
year end uncertainty.
Offer to acquire WILink plc
During 2005 we undertook a detailed and lengthy review aimed at securing
strategic investment in WILink to fund acquisition-led growth in Web Events. In
total, more than 30 potential investors expressed interest in the opportunity
and finally in December a Letter of Intent from Waterfall Acquisition Inc. was
signed. Due diligence is complete and Waterfall has today confirmed its formal
offer for WILink at 300p per share. The independent directors are recommending
acceptance of this offer and shareholders including directors and external
investors have given irrevocable undertakings to accept the offer representing
approximately 78% of the shares outstanding.
In the light of the review, we believe that ownership by a private-equity fund
is the appropriate strategic option for WILink. The business has a significant
client and customer base which is proving difficult to exploit within the
constraints of the public market. While many of WILink's target acquisitions
are currently loss-making, they are capable of attractive returns longer-term,
once the business is integrated into WILink's business model.
* Proforma operating profit excludes exceptional administrative expenses of £
202,704 (2004: £225,468) and goodwill amortisation of £3,286,510 (2004: £
2,786,734)
For further information, please contact:
WILink plc
Peter Wakeham, Executive Chairman +44 (0) 7860 589586
Patrick Galleher, Chief Executive Officer +1 804 327 3450
Steffan Williams +44 (0) 20 7307 5330
Statements made in this release regarding the Company's or management
intentions may be deemed to be forward looking statements. The Company's actual
results may differ materially from those projected in the forward looking
statements, and there can be no assurance that estimates of future results will
be achieved.





Non Statutory Accounts
The above financial information does not constitute statutory accounts as defined in section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. The comparative financial information is based on the statutory accounts for the financial year ended 31 December 2004. Those accounts, upon which the auditors issued an unqualified opinion, have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. Statutory accounts for the year ended 31 December 2005 will be delivered to the Registrar.
