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Bridges' Fiscal Year Revenues Up 33%; EBITDA Up 54%


February 26, 2002

Bridges.com Inc. (TSE:BIT), North America's leading provider of career and educational planning solutions, today reported results for its fiscal year ending November 30, 2001. The following message is from Bridges' CEO and President Doug Manning.

CEO'S MESSAGE

Bridges has continued to thrive during these turbulent times, growing our business by more than 33% on a year-over-year basis, increasing our organizational effectiveness, and positioning our company to rapidly capitalize on new and existing markets.

Despite an unprecedented year of global business disruption and financial market volatility, Bridges continues to deliver exceptional growth, building a successful, self-sustaining business focused on the development and distribution of market-leading products for individuals facing a lifetime of career and educational choices.

In addition to these global challenges, Bridges also successfully completed the majority of the integration of our two formerly separate business units: our original legacy business and Careerware. To gain greater organizational efficiencies, 2001 was a year focused on the consolidation and reengineering of technical platforms and the restructuring of our business systems.

Revenues for the fourth quarter were $6.96 million, a 12.6% increase from the $6.18 million reported for the same period in fiscal 2000. For the quarter, EBITDA reached $2.51 million, an increase of 80.3% from the $1.39 million reported for Q4, fiscal year 2000.

For the fiscal year ending November 30, 2001, revenues climbed to $19.52 million, an increase of 33.5% compared to $14.62 million from the previous fiscal year. EBITDA was $3.27 million, an increase of 54.6% compared to the $2.11 million for fiscal year 2000. Earnings on a year-to-date basis continue to be impacted by Bridges' rapid write-down of goodwill and software costs from the Careerware acquisition, resulting in amortization of $3.76 million and a net loss for 2001 of $1.18 million. Positive cash flow from operating activities of $3.18 million for the fiscal year 2001 resulted in a 14.7% increase compared to the $2.77 million for fiscal year 2000. Bridges continues to maintain a strong balance sheet with cash and short-term investments in excess of $6.95 million.

During the fourth quarter Bridges purchased an additional 118,600 of its shares. As of November 30, 2001 a total of 450,000 shares had been purchased under the Normal Course Issuer Bid announced February 21,2001, of which 431,200 shares have already been cancelled.

During this year of integration Bridges invested in its future by committing more than $2.7 million in new technology, integrating three different administrative systems into one customer management tool and initiating development of a product infrastructure that enables us to integrate and expand our suite of online product solutions. The integration of our sales force, our business systems, our customer support functions, and our training teams was successfully completed during the year. Bridges enters 2002 stronger and better positioned to grow in our target markets.

Business Development
The emerging Knowledge Economy continues to create an abundance of opportunity for Bridges. Our focus is on creating tools and training that enables individuals to establish clear career-life goals -- a real need for individuals trying to thrive in our economy of rapid change. Bridges' proprietary content, integrated learning tools, and broad range of services provide a strong learning platform for individuals proactively pursuing their career-life goals.

Bridges' services are sold directly to educational and government institutions, as well as to individuals and corporations. These distribution channels, supported by our strategic partners, deliver our resources to end users at every point along the continuum of life's career transitions. From elementary students exploring future careers to retirees pursuing their vocational passion, Bridges' services connect people to opportunity.

Our focus for 2002 is on increasing our market leading presence, leveraging that position through high margin partnerships and re-deploying our proprietary content to capitalize on adjacent space markets. Bridges is pursuing these three distinct strategies to enhance our growth in 2002.

Consolidating our Core Market -- Serving more schools with more products
Several initiatives will drive strong growth in our core market. The most exciting opportunity is our eGuidanceCenter venture with Peterson's, a Thomson Learning company. This product solution is targeted at school Principals and provides resources to encourage parents to become more involved in their child's preparation for their first career/life transition - the move from high school to some form of post-secondary pursuit. 100 ‘Leader Schools' will be trained in Q1 2002, with an ambitious sales plan beginning in Q2. Schools will also benefit from several other Bridges initiatives in 2002. Institutional training initiatives have expanded, our elementary product (Paws in Jobland) will benefit from our newly employed sales team, and an overall expanded sales and marketing team will promote use of a suite of Bridges' products that satisfy state, provincial and national standards. These ventures are a key element of Bridges' strategy to increase average revenue per site by providing a comprehensive range of product solutions for K-12 schools with a particularly strong focus on serving our strategically important high schools clients.

Leveraging our Leading Position -- Offering more services for graduating seniors
Bridges will continue to develop its position for emergence of the e-application market. Our goal to provide best-of-breed e-application products to our 40% market share in high schools sets the stage for excellent high margin revenue opportunities. Bridges expects to generate revenues from our existing and new partnerships in 2002. Through these strategic suppliers we seek to expand our offerings to include online applications to student loans, scholarships, test preparation for SAT and ACT tests, and applications for employment. Providing these electronic solutions is crucial in aiding graduating high school students and young adults embarking on their first major career-life transition.

Re-deploying our Proprietary Content -- Strengthening our reach in adjacent markets
2002 will feature the ambitious expansion of Bridges' content and resources to further serve corporate, governmental, and consumer markets. Through our Drake Beam Morin partnership, we will pursue corporate outplacement and staff retention applications for our products. Our national sales team will focus on increasing sales of our products to libraries, correctional facilities and military sites. Our regional sales teams will continue to increase sales in employment centres, colleges, rehabilitation centres, and skills centres across North America. These highly leveragable, low cost opportunities enable Bridges to improve its profitability by taking existing products to adjacent space markets to serve an even greater number of people in career transition.

Bridges continues to benefit from its significant business momentum, which is further supported by strong fiscal management and excellent productivity from our highly qualified staff. The majority of our integration work is behind us and we have a very clear direction for the business -- seeking to enable people to proactively manage career-life transitions. We have "raised the bar" for the level of service and product quality a school, government agency or corporation can expect in the process of enabling others to create a meaningful future for themselves.

Conference Call

Bridges will host a conference call and webcast to discuss its financial results for the third fourth quarter and year-end 2001.

Date & Time:Tuesday, February 26, 2002 at 1 p.m. Eastern (10 a.m. Pacific)
Who:Doug Manning -- Chief Executive Officer and President
John Walker -- Chief Financial Officer

To listen to the conference call, please dial 1-800-478-9326 or 1-416-695-5801 ten minutes before the scheduled start of the call. No password is required. If you experience problems during the call or reaching the numbers above, please call Darome Teleconferencing at 1-800-268-9072 or 1-416-695-6740.

A live webcast (listen-only mode) at the time of the conference call will be available at: http://www.vcall.com/EventPage.asp?ID=80806.

The news release announcing Bridges' Q4 and year-end results will be distributed through Canadian Corporate News before markets open on February 26. The news release will also be posted on Bridges' Web site.

Replays of the conference call will be available through midnight on March 12, 2002. A webcast replay will be available at the Web site noted above. Replay information is as follows:

Replay: 1-416-695-5800 / 1-800-408-3053
Passcode: 1011005

If you have any questions, please contact: Pat Horrill, Bridges.com at 1-250-869-4357 or 1-800-281-1168.


Consolidated Financial Statements - November 30, 2001 and 2000

BRIDGES.COM INC. Consolidated Balance Sheets

      November 30,

ASSETS 

 2001

2000

Current

   

Cash and cash equivalents

$6,952,794

$8,232,897

      Accounts receivable

6,611,783

5,179,998

      Prepaid expenses and other

690,369

612,415


 

14,254,946

14,025,310

Capital assets

4,681,239

2,538,408

Goodwill and other intangibles, net

     3,077,346

6,954,379

Future income taxes

542,127

642,599


 

$22,555,658

$24,160,696


LIABILITIES
   

Current

   

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

$3,155,955

$1,842,467

      Deferred revenue

3,246,207

3,257,961

      Current portion of capital lease obligations

149,196

127,738


 

6,551,358

5,228,166

Capital lease obligations, net of current portion

96,001

245,213


 

6,647,359

5,473,379


SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

   

Common stock

18,220,754

19,643,889

Deficit

(2,312,455)

(956,572)


 

15,908,299

18,687,317


 

$22,555,658

$24,160,696


BRIDGES.COM INC. Consolidated Statements of Operations and Deficit

     
 

Three months ended November 30,

Years ended November 30,

 

2001 Unaudited

2000 Unaudited

2001

2000

REVENUE

$6,957,558

$6,180,383

$19,524,945

$14,626,157

COSTS OF REVENUE

1,735,781

1,924,022

5,715,298

4,459,760

GROSS MARGIN

5,221,777

4,256,361

13,809,647

10,166,397

EXPENSES

       

Sales and marketing

1,389,232

1,589,492

5,925,294

4,288,276

      Research and development

190,189

181,431

632,015

725,725

      General and administrative

1,135,111

1,095,035

3,980,510

3,036,676

 

2,714,532

2,865,958

10,537,819

8,050,677

EARNINGS BEFORE AMORTIZATION,

       

OTHER INCOME AND INCOME TAXES

2,507,245

1,390,403

3,271,828

2,115,720

      Amortization of capital assets

(410,322)

(365,662)

(1,083,962)

(762,133)

      Amortization of other intangibles

(550,175)

(550,174)

(2,200,697)

(1,467,130)

      Other income

226,578

356,664

650,906

537,449

EARNINGS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND

       

AMORTIZATION OF GOODWILL

1,773,326

831,231

638,075

423,906

      Income tax expense

766,753

403,877

259,158

223,731

EARNINGS BEFORE AMORTIZATION OF GOODWILL

1,006,573

427,354

378,917

200,175

      Amortization of goodwill, net of future income taxes

(302,398)

(419,084)

(1,559,649)

(1,012,599)

NET INCOME ( LOSS)

704,175

8,270

(1,180,732)

(812,424)

         

Deficit, Beginning of Period

(2,932,699)

(964,843)

(956,572)

(144,148)

Excess of purchase cost over carrying value of common

       

      shares cancelled

(83,931)

-

(175,151)

-

Deficit, End of Period

$(2,312,455)

$(956,573)

$(2,312,455)

$(956,572)

Basic earnings before amortization of goodwill per share

$0.08

$0.04

$0.03

$0.02

Basic and diluted (loss) per share

$0.05

$0.00

$(0.09)

$(0.07)

Diluted earnings before amortization of goodwill per share

$0.07

$0.03

$0.03

$0.01



 BRIDGES.COM INC. Consolidated Statements
of Cash Flows

Three months ended November 30,

 Years ended November 30,

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

2001 Unaudited

2000 Unaudited

2001

2000

Net Income (loss) for the year

$704,175

$8,270

$(1,180,732)

$(812,424)

Items not affecting cash

       

Amortization of capital assets

410,322

365,662

1,083,962

762,133

      Amortization of other intangibles

550,175

550,173

2,200,697

1,467,130

      Amortization of goodwill, net of future income taxes

302,398

314,126

1,559,649

1,012,599

      Future income taxes

724,753

982,844

217,158

223,731

      Changes in operating assets and liabilities

(653,466)

152,665

(699,639)

119,123

 

2,038,357

2,373,740

3,181,095

2,772,292

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

       

      Acquisition of Careerware

-

-

-

(11,430,236)

      Purchase of capital assets, net of related accounts payable

(528,544)

(1,009,124)

(2,735,160)

(1,675,702)

 

(528,544)

(1,009,124)

(2,735,160)

 (13,105,938)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

       

      Issuance of special warrants

-

(25,922)

-   

16,297,486

      Issuance of common shares

3,157

(404,003)

23,725

161,545

      Shares purchased for cancellation

(55,470)

-

 (55,470)

-

      Shares purchased and cancelled

(231,634)

-

(816,640)

-

      Repayment of obligations under capital lease

(33,820)

(79,500)

(127,753)

(79,500)

      Advances for share purchase loans

(548,645)

-

(749,900)

-

 

(866,412)

(509,425)

(1,726,038)

 16,379,531

NET CASH (OUTFLOW) INFLOW DURING THE PERIOD

643,401

855,191

(1,280,103)

6,045,885

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD

6,309,393

7,377,706

8,232,897

2,187,012

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD

$ 6,952,794

$ 8,232,897

$ 6,952,794

$ 8,232,897

Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures:

       

Interest paid

$ 9,932

$ 47,263

$ 50,738

$ 50,243

Supplemental Non-Cash Investing
and Financing Disclosures:

       

Capital assets acquired under capital leases

$ - 

$ 452,451

$ - 

$ 452,451

Common shares issued on conversion of special warrants

$ - 

$ -

$ - 

$ 16,297,486

For a complete set of Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statement please refer to: www.corporate.bridges.com or www.sedar.com.

About Bridges
Bridges is North America's leading provider of career information services, training, and self-directed career and educational planning tools. Over 15,366 schools, libraries, employment centres, military sites, post-secondary schools and rehabilitation facilities subscribe to Bridges' customized products. Bridges serves the career development needs of millions of students and adults seeking educational or career planning assistance. Its resources are also uniquely adapted to service a wide range of corporate, consumer and global markets. The company, which has offices in Canada and the U.S., is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol: BIT. For more information, see www.bridges.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this news release, including statements, which may contain words such as "could", "expect", "believe", "will" and similar expressions, and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause the actual results, performances or achievements of Bridges to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, plans and timing for the introduction or enhancement to the company's services and products; expectations concerning future revenue and earnings; market opportunities; general economic and business conditions; loss of key employees; integration of acquisitions; stock market volatility; supply and demand for services offered by Bridges; changes in laws and regulations; Bridges ability to compete successfully, and adapt to technological advances and changing industry standards and other factors.

All forward-looking statements in this news release are based on management's reasonable beliefs, intentions and expectations with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions as of the date of this release. In light of the many risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected, the company cannot give assurance that the forward-looking statements contained in this report will be realized. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Bridges assumes no obligation to update its forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent information or events.

Contacts:

Norm Thompson
Executive VP, Corporate Development
Bridges.com Inc.
Phone: 250-869-4200
or 1-800-281-1168
E-mail: nthompson@bridges.com
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