FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of November, 2002
QXL ricardo PLC
Landmark House
Hammersmith Bridge Road
London W6 9EJ
United Kingdom
Tel: 44-208-962 7100
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.)
Form 20-F..X.. Form 40-F.....
(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934.)
Yes ..... No ..X..
(If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ________ )
PRESS RELEASE
QXL ricardo plc - Second Quarter and Interim Results 1 November 2002
Continued strong increase in transactions
Launch of fixed price and classifieds channels
QXL ricardo plc ("QXL" or the "Group"; LSE: QXL.L; Nasdaq: QXLC; Frankfurt:
QXL.F), the pan-European online auction company, today announces its results for
the second quarter ended 30 September 2002 and its interim results for the six
months ended 30 September 2002.
Second Quarter ended 30 September 2002 - Highlights
- - Transaction volumes increased 76% over the quarter ended 30 September
2001
- - Gross profit increased 16% over the quarter ended 30 September 2001 to
GBP1.33 million
- - Operating expenses (before exceptionals) decreased 44% compared to the
quarter ended 30 September 2001 to GBP4.1 million
- - Trading loss decreased 56% over the quarter ended 30 September 2001 to
GBP2.7 million
- - Launch of fixed price and classifieds channels
Six Months ended 30 September 2002 - Highlights
- - Transaction volumes increased 56% over the six months ended 30
September 2001
- - Gross profit increased 31% over the six months ended 30 September 2001
to GBP2.9 million
- - Operating expenses (before exceptionals) decreased 48% compared to the
six months ended 30 September 2001 to GBP8.8 million
- - Trading loss decreased 60% over the six months ended 30 September 2001
to GBP5.9 million
Commenting on the results, Mark Zaleski, said:
"We are pleased with our growth in transaction volumes of 25% compared to the
previous quarter and with the launch of our fixed price and classifieds
channels, providing a full marketplace offering for our customers. The ongoing
development of a more intuitive and faster platform has allowed us to
restructure our technology operations, which will result in significant cost
savings going forward and which we expect to accelerate our path to
profitability."
For further enquiries please contact
QXL ricardo plc
Mark Zaleski, Chief Executive Officer
Robert Dighero, Chief Financial Officer
Alison Cabot, VP Communications +44 208 962 7231
Financial Highlights
(UK GAAP)
Quarter Ended Quarter Ended 6 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
30 September 30 September 30 September 30 September
2002 2001 2002 2001
GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
Turnover 1,333 1,155 2,924 2,712
Gross Profit 1,333 1,145 2,900 2,214
Trading loss 2,718 6,142 5,864 14,666
Loss on ordinary activities 5,320 7,883 10,195 18,584
Reconciliation of Trading loss to Loss on ordinary activities
Quarter Ended Quarter Ended 6 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
30 September 30 September 30 September 30 September
2002 2001 2002 2001
GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
Trading loss 2,718 6,142 5,864 14,666
Goodwill amortisation 1,788 1,886 3,575 4,274
Reversal of VAT provision (376) - (376) -
Restructuring costs 1,258 - 1,258 -
Total operating loss 5,388 8,028 10,321 18,940
Net interest receivable (68) (145) (126) (356)
Loss on ordinary activities
before taxation 5,320 7,883 10,195 18,584
Chief Executive Officer's Review
Top line performance
Transaction volumes increased 76% over the quarter ended 30 September 2001 and
25% over the previous quarter. This increase over the previous quarter was in
spite of some seasonal slowdown, but included a contribution for the first time
from the operations of Aucland in France. Average transaction values decreased
to approximately GBP29, compared to approximately GBP36 for the previous quarter
and GBP47 in the September 2001 quarter. This change has been the result of a
shift in the mix of products sold by our members and in our geographic spread.
In particular in the last quarter average transaction value has been impacted by
the inclusion in our numbers of the operations of Aucland, which has
historically had a lower average transaction value than the QXL Group.
The Group's gross profit for the quarter increased to GBP1.33 million, a 16%
increase over the quarter ended 30 September 2001 and a 15% decrease over the
previous quarter. This quarter on quarter decrease was due to the reduction in
average transaction value and weaker promotional revenues and advertising over
the summer period.
Trading loss
For the past eight consecutive quarters we have achieved a significant reduction
in trading loss. This quarter we experienced an exceptional restructuring
charge, a significant part of which related to a redevelopment and shift of our
technology operations to a lower cost environment. The result of this
restructuring will be a product which provides our community with a faster and
more intuitive site experience as well as resulting in significantly reduced
technology costs over the next few quarters. A further benefit of the
technology shift will be the opportunity to operate with simplified backend
processes and thereby realise some further cost savings in the coming quarters.
In addition to this restructuring, we continue to review our corporate costs,
including head office staffing needs and our Nasdaq listing. On 3 July 2002 we
announced our intention to withdraw our listing and terminate trading of our
shares on the Amtlicher Handel of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. We expect this
delisting to become effective on 30 November 2002.
Fixed price and classifieds channel launches
In addition to auctions, we recently added two new product channels to our
platform--fixed price and classifieds. We now offer the QXL Marketplace,
providing three distinct trading channels for our customers, whereby in certain
categories they can choose which pricing mechanism or selling method is best
suited to their product.
The fixed price channel launched initially in the UK and German markets under
the brands QXL Instant and ricardorado.de respectively. The first categories to
have been launched are DVDs and CDs with software and games to follow shortly.
In October, the UK and Polish markets introduced classifieds channels.
Aucland acquisition
We are very pleased with the progress of the acquisition of aucland.fr, which
completed on 16 July 2002. Upon acquisition, we merged the business with our
existing QXL business in France and now operate the combined operation under the
Aucland brand. The acquisition has been very well received by Aucland's
customer base and has shown good growth since completion. We have also acquired
the customers from Aucland's Spanish operation, which we have now merged with
QXL's customer base in Spain. We also intend to operate this combined operation
under the Aucland brand.
Country Operations
In addition to our strong performance in France we were particularly pleased
with the performance of our Scandinavian, Swiss and Polish operations in the
last quarter. Going forward we intend to continue to focus our resources on
those countries where we have stronger market positions.
Financial Review
Second Quarter Ended 30 September 2002
The Group's second quarter results showed continued reductions in trading loss
compared to the previous quarter.
For the quarter ended 30 September 2002, the Group completed agency-based
auctions of merchandise and services with gross auction value of GBP27.2
million. This represents an 8% increase over the quarter ended 30 September
2001 and a 3% increase over the quarter ended 30 June 2002.
Turnover for the quarter ended 30 September 2002 decreased 16% to GBP1.3 million
from GBP1.6 million for the quarter ended 30 June 2002 and increased 15% over
the quarter ended 30 September 2001. The decline in turnover compared to the
June quarter was primarily a result of the reduction in average transaction
value and weaker promotional revenues and advertising over the summer period.
Gross profit for the quarter increased 16% to GBP1.33 million from GBP1.15
million in the quarter ended 30 September 2001 and decreased 15% from GBP1.6
million in the quarter ended 30 June 2002. This decrease compared to the
previous quarter was in line with the decrease in turnover.
Due to a continued focus on increasing the cost effectiveness of our marketing
programmes, sales and marketing expenses (excluding goodwill, exceptional items
and bad debt provisions) decreased 30% to GBP1.8 million for the quarter ended
30 September 2002 from GBP2.6 million for the quarter ended 30 June 2002 and
decreased 51% from GBP3.8 million in the quarter ended 30 September 2001. Bad
debt provision decreased 33% to GBP331,000 from GBP492,000 in the quarter ended
30 September 2001 as new billing systems became established.
Technology and development costs (excluding exceptional items and goodwill)
increased 30% to GBP877,000 in the quarter ending 30 September 2002 from
GBP673,000 in the quarter ended 30 June 2002 and decreased 50% from GBP1.8
million to the quarter ended 30 September 2001. The increase compared to the
previous quarter was due to additional costs relating to the integration of the
Aucland platform in the Group's technology base as well as certain costs
incurred in launching the fixed price and classified products. Ongoing, the
group expects technology costs to decrease over the next few quarters as a
result of the restructuring.
General and administrative costs decreased 3% to GBP995,000 in the quarter ended
30 September 2002, from GBP1,027,000 in the quarter ended 30 June 2002 and
decreased 26% from GBP1.4 million in the quarter ended 30 September 2001. The
decrease was the result of a continued focus on cost efficiency in overhead
costs.
Goodwill charges in the quarter ended 30 September 2002 amounted to GBP1.8
million compared to GBP1.8 million in the previous quarter and GBP1.9 million in
the quarter ended 30 September 2001.
The Group also incurred an exceptional restructuring charge of GBP1.3 million in
the quarter ended 30 September 2002 as a result of technology related and other
cost restructuring designed to ensure that the Group has the appropriate
infrastructure and cost base going forward. No exceptional restructuring charge
was incurred in the quarter ended 30 September 2001.
The Group also reversed GBP376,000 of an exceptional provision amounting to
GBP538,000 relating to a VAT dispute in France that had been made in the
previous year.
As a result of the above, Trading loss (Operating loss before goodwill and
exceptionals) in the quarter ended 30 September 2002 decreased 14% to GBP2.7
million from GBP3.1 million in the quarter ended 30 June 2002 and decreased 56%
from GBP6.1 million in the quarter ended 30 September 2001.
Loss on ordinary activities before taxation in the quarter ended 30 September
2002 was GBP5.4 million compared to losses of GBP4.9 million in the quarter
ended 30 June 2002 and GBP7.9 million in the quarter ended 30 September 2001.
Six Months Ended 30 September 2002
Turnover for the six months ended 30 September 2002 increased 8% to GBP2.9
million from GBP2.7 million for the six months ended 30 September 2001.
Cost of sales decreased 95% to GBP24,000 for the six months ended 30 September
2002, from GBP500,000 for the six months ended 30 September 2001 as the Group
ceased conducting auctions on a principal basis.
Gross profit for the six months ended 30 September 2002 increased 31% to GBP2.9
million from GBP2.2 million in the six months ended 30 September 2001. This
increase was primarily due to the continued development of transaction fees
across the Group's operations.
Sales and marketing expenses (excluding goodwill, exceptional items and bad debt
provisions) decreased 49% to GBP4.5 million for the six months ended 30
September 2002, from GBP8.8 million in the six months ended 30 September 2001.
Bad debt provision decreased 15% to GBP698,000 in the six months ended 30
September 2002 from GBP820,000 in the six months ended 30 September 2001.
Technology and development costs (excluding exceptional items and goodwill)
decreased 74% to GBP1.6 million in the six months ending 30 September 2002 from
GBP4.3 million in the six months ended 30 September 2001.
General and administrative costs (excluding exceptional items) decreased 32% to
GBP2.0 million in the six months ended 30 September 2002, from GBP3.0 million in
the six months ended 30 September 2001.
Goodwill charges in the six months ended 30 September 2002 amounted to GBP3.6
million compared to GBP4.3 million in the six months ended 30 September 2001.
In the six months ended 30 September 2002, the Group reversed GBP376,000 of an
exceptional provision relating to a VAT dispute in France. No similar reversal
or charge occurred in the six months ending 30 September 2001.
The Group also incurred an exceptional restructuring charge of GBP1.3 million in
the six months ended 30 September 2002. No exceptional restructuring charge was
incurred in the six months ended 30 September 2001.
Trading loss (Operating loss before goodwill and exceptionals) in the six months
ended 30 September 2002 decreased 60% to GBP5.9 million from GBP14.7 million in
the six months ended 30 September 2001.
Losses on ordinary activities before taxation in the six months ended 30
September 2002 were GBP10.2 million compared to losses of GBP18.6 million in the
six months ended 30 September 2001.
At 30 September 2002 the Group had cash and cash equivalents of GBP6.8 million
and further funding facilities under the Equity Commitment of GBP10.67 million,
providing, if fully drawn, a total of GBP17.5 million of financing. However,
given the potential dilution for shareholders and the costs involved in drawing
down funds under the Equity Commitment at the current share price, we intend to
minimise the amount of funds drawn down under the Equity Commitment as much as
is possible bearing in mind our general financing needs. No funds have been
drawn pursuant to the Equity Commitment since March 2002.
Current Trading and Outlook
We are pleased with the significant improvements in transaction volumes and with
our continued progress in cost reductions and expect to benefit from the
restructuring being undertaken in future quarters. We are fully aware of our
cash position and remain focussed on taking the decisions necessary to bring the
Group to profitability including an ongoing review of our organizational
structure to ensure that the size of the organisation is appropriate to its
profit-generating ability.
We continue to expect the majority of our country operations to reach local
operational profitability before the end of the year. These factors combined
with the recent restructuring of our technology cost base and our ongoing cost
control programme, give us confidence in the outlook for the business despite
the difficult economic environment and our challenging cash position.
QXL ricardo plc
Consolidated profit and loss account
Second Quarter and Six Months Results - UK GAAP
Quarter Quarter Six months Six months
Ended Ended Ended Ended
30 September 30 September 30 September 30 September
2002 2001 2002 2001
Unaudited Unaudited Unaudited Unaudited
GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
Turnover
Operations before acquisitions 1,251 1,155 2,842 2,712
Acquisitions 82 - 82 -
Continuing operations 1,333 1,155 2,924 2,712
Cost of sales 0 10 24 498
Gross profit 1,333 1,145 2,900 2,214
Distribution costs 4,705 6,601 9,504 14,351
Administrative expenses 2,016 2,572 3,716 6,803
Operating loss
Operations before acquisitions (5,179) (8,028) (10,111) (18,940)
Acquisitions (209) - (209) -
Continuing operations (5,388) (8,028) (10,320) (18,940)
Net interest receivable 68 145 125 356
Loss on ordinary activities before
taxation
(5,320) (7,883) (10,195) (18,584)
Tax on loss on ordinary activities - - - -
Minority interest 6 30 50 1,188
Retained loss (5,314) (7,853) (10,145) (17,396)
Operating expenses above analysed as:
Sales and marketing 1,847 3,782 4,492 8,816
Bad debt provision 331 492 698 820
Restructuring costs - S&M 739 - 739 -
Goodwill amortisation - S&M 1,788 2,327 3,576 4,715
Distribution costs 4,705 6,601 9,505 14,351
General and administrative 995 1,352 2,022 2,986
Goodwill amortisation - technology &
development
- (441) - (441)
Technology & development 878 1,761 1,551 4,344
Restructuring costs - technology & 519 - 519 -
development
Reversal of VAT provision (376) - (376) -
Share based compensation - (100) - (86)
Administrative expenses 2,016 2,572 3,716 6,803
QXL ricardo plc
Consolidated profit and loss account
Second Quarter and Six Months Results - UK GAAP
Quarter Quarter Six months Six months
Ended Ended Ended Ended
30 September 30 September 30 September 30 September
2002 2001 2002 2001
Unaudited Unaudited Unaudited Unaudited
Loss per equity share (basic and diluted)
Loss after taxation (GBP '000) (5,314) (7,853) (10,145) (17,396)
Weighted average number of ordinary shares
outstanding ('000) 883,791 702,749 863,674 671,123
Net loss per share (basic and diluted) -
pence (0.6) (1.1) (1.1) (2.6)
Statement of total recognised gains and losses
Retained loss (5,314) (7,853) (10,145) (17,396)
Exchange adjustments (99) 107 (103) (168)
Total recognised loss for the period (5,413) (7,746) (10,248) (17,564)
QXL ricardo plc
Consolidated Balance Sheet -UK GAAP
30 September 30 September 31 March
2002 2001 2002
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
Fixed assets:
Intangible assets 7,152 16,815 10,727
Tangible assets 639 4,925 1,050
Investments - 70 25
7,791 21,810 11,802
Current assets:
Stock 33 80 34
Debtors and prepayments 3,508 6,333 3,656
Cash at hand and at bank 6,846 16,979 14,093
10,387 23,392 17,783
Creditors: amounts falling due within 1 year
(3,886) (6,965) (5,200)
Net current assets: 6,501 16,427 12,583
Total assets less current liabilities 14,292 38,237 24,385
Creditors: amounts falling due after 1 year (48) (112) (91)
Convertible bonds (14,492) (10,094) (14,632)
Net (liabilities) /assets (248) 28,031 9,662
Called up share capital 891 709 837
Share premium account 225,846 222,798 225,637
Merger reserve 9,137 9,137 9,137
Profit & loss account (235,464) (204,595) (225,216)
Total equity shareholders' funds 410 28,049 10,395
Equity minority interest (658) (18) (733)
Deficit / capital employed (248) 28,031 9,662
QXL ricardo plc
Consolidated Cashflow Statement - UK GAAP
Six months Six months Year
Ended Ended Ended
30 September 30 September 31 March
2002 2001 2002
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
Net cash outflow from operating activities (7,685) (15,382) (24,468)
Returns on investment and servicing of finance 260 439 1,002
Capital expenditure and financial investment (77) (347) (209)
Acquisitions - (243) -
Cash outflow before management of liquid
resources and financing (7,502) (15,533) (23,675)
Management of liquid resources - 13,042 13,042
Financing 255 8,227 13,518
Increase/(decrease) in cash (7,247) 5,736 2,885
Background on QXL ricardo
QXL ricardo plc ("QXL") is a pan-European online auction community, conducting
online auctions in eleven languages. The QXL online auction community
facilitates trading 24 hours a day, seven days a week in an efficient,
convenient and entertaining environment, enabling buyers to bid on merchandise
and services from across Western Europe which are sold by QXL members and
merchants. QXL also enables sellers to locate and trade with buyers in new
geographic markets. A wide selection of merchandise and services is available on
its online auction community, ranging from computer software and hardware,
consumer electronics, household appliances and collectibles to travel-related
items and sports equipment. QXL is a publicly traded company with its shares
listed on the Official List of the United Kingdom Listing Authority, the Nasdaq
National Market and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
QXL provides access to the QXL trading community in:
UK - www.qxl.com and www.qxl.co.uk; Germany - www.ricardo.de; France -
www.aucland.fr; Italy - www.qxl.it; Netherlands - www.ricardo.nl; Norway -
www.qxl.no; Denmark - www.qxl.dk; Spain - www.aucland.es; Poland -
www.allegro.pl; Sweden - www.qxl.se; Finland - www.qxl.fi; Switzerland -
www.ricardo.ch
This press release may contain forward-looking statements that relate to the
Company's plans, objectives, estimates and goals. The Company's business is
subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including risks associated with:
funding requirements; acquisitions; only having a limited operating history;
regulation of auctions and the Internet; probable variability in the Company's
quarterly operating results; the Company's results of operations not being
indicative of future performance; significant losses being incurred as a
result of expansion of the Company's business; dependence on growth of online
commerce market; risks associated with development and growth of the
Company's foreign language web sites; intense competition; failure to develop
the Company's brand; failure to expand the Company's systems; risks associated
with managing internal growth and retaining and recruiting personnel;
international expansion; online commerce security; risks associated with not
developing new services, features and functions; risks associated with
intellectual property rights; fraudulent activity of our members and
suppliers; and seasonality. These and other risks and uncertainties, which are
described in more detail in the Company's Registration Statement dated 7
October 1999, on Form F-1 and Annual Report dated 27 August 2002 on Form 20-F
filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, in the Company's
prospectuses and listing particulars filed with the UK Listing Authority and
the Registrar of Companies in England and Wales (the most recent being dated
18 March 2002), in the German Sales and Listing Prospectus dated 23 October
2000 filed with the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (as supplemented on 10 November
2000), could cause the Company's actual results and developments to be
materially different from those expressed or implied by any of these
forward-looking statements.
QXL ricardo PLC
Date 1 November 2002 By:___/s/ Tom Parkinson___
Tom Parkinson
General Counsel and Company Secretary