RNS Number : 2190V
  Upstream Marketing and Comms Inc.
  27 May 2008
   

    Chairman's and chief executive's report


    The Board is pleased to report Upstream Marketing and Communications Inc.'s audited results for the year ended 31 December 2007.

    Highlights

    *     Revenue up 71% to US$4.613 million (2006: US$2.693 million);
    *     Total assets up from US$1.0 million to US$1.7 million, representing a 72% increase.

    This is the first full-year results report since the completion of the reverse acquisition of Upstream Asia Limited and the change of
the Company's name to Upstream Marketing and Communications Inc. in October 2006.  In the time since the reverse takeover, Upstream has made
significant headway in building top-line revenue and strengthening its service offering to focus on continued growth moving towards
profitability.

    Upstream is the holding company for six wholly-owned trading subsidiaries that form an Asia-Pacific-wide marketing and corporate
communications services network. Upstream is positioned to help companies use public relations, public affairs, digital and other
communications to make the most of their business opportunities in the region. Upstream has offices in Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai,
Singapore, Sydney, and Taipei as well as branded affiliates in Tokyo and other partners throughout the world.  

    Revenues for the year were US$4.613 million, representing a 71% increase over the previous year. Upstream posted a US$ 0.643 million
loss before taxation for the full year after operating expenses of US$4.922 million and share based payment charge of US$0.329 million. This
compares to the loss before taxation announced in its interim results statement fro the six months to 30 June 2007 of US$0.730 million. The
Group therefore recorded a strong financial improvement in the second half of the year, primarily as a result of an increase in
profitability from the operating division, Upstream Asia, and from a reduction in costs related to maintaining the listed holding company.
As at the year-end, the Group was cash positive on a quarterly basis. 

    The increase in full year revenue can be attributed to strong organic growth arising from a robust business environment in China and in
other growing Asian economies, and also from the acquisition and subsequent integration of a Sydney-based public relations firm, renamed
Upstream Australia, in April 2007.

    In 2007, Upstream secured a number of new ongoing retainer and one-off project assignments with blue-chip multinational clients
including Alstom, California Fitness, the Cultural Year of Greece in China, Disney Channel, Embraer, Fiat Group, Fidessa, JP Morgan,
Jumeirah, Monsanto, Skype, SoftBank China & India Holdings, Sony-Ericsson, and SWIFT. 

    Current Trading and Outlook 

    The Group's pipeline of new business remains encouraging, and the Asia-Pacific economies showing signs of continued growth despite the
slowing of the US and European economies.  The corporate and financial sector is increasingly a source of revenue as banks, financial
institutions, and technology service providers look to Asia-Pacific to expand their businesses. The consumer and travel sector remains
strong throughout the Asia Pacific region, particularly in China.  Upstream was named one of China's 10 Most Prominent Public Relations
Agencies of 2007 by influential Chinese business newspaper Fortune Times.

    Revenue and profit growth strategies initiated by the Group in 2007, and carried forward into 2008, include:
    -    Building on existing client relationships by expanding the scope of work provided to include other offices
         and practice areas across the region;
    -    Winning significant new client assignments from leads generated by Upstream's strong marketing efforts and
         international networks. Already in 2008 new client assignments have been won from Akamai, American Standard,
         Capgemini, CommunicAsia, Convergys, Neustar, and VP Bank; 
    -    Developing new and emerging sources of revenue, such as public affairs and digital marketing;
    -    Creating value from new and existing partnerships. The Group has joined an additional international
         agency network (GlobalFluency) and had sold certain assets of its Media Services Asia business for a
       one-time payment of US$350,000; and
    -    Selective acquisitions that bring new geographic coverage, specialist expertise and revenue.  

    The directors believe that the Group's focus on delivering marketing and corporate communications services in Asia-Pacific region will
continue to grow. The Group expects to deliver further returns from the investments in people and business infrastructure which it has made
over the past few years, and is well positioned to capitalize on the business opportunities that the region's fast growing economies offer.



    David Ketchum, Chief Executive        Shahed Mahmood, Chairman

    27 May 2008                                          27 May 2008

    www.aboutupstream.com




    Consolidated Income Statement


 Continuing operations                                Note      2007      2006
                                                             US$'000   US$'000


 Turnover                                                      5,514     2,693
 Material cost of sales                                        (901)         -

 Revenue                                                       4,613     2,693
 Other income                                                     65       170

 Total income                                                  4,678     2,863

 Other operating expenses                                    (4,992)   (2,952)

 Loss from operations prior to share based payment
 charge and write off of goodwill                              (314)      (89)

 Share based payment charge                                    (329)         -
 Write off of goodwill                                             -  (10,783)

 Loss from operations and loss before taxation                 (643)  (10,872)

 Taxation expense                                      3           -         -

 Loss for the year                                             (643)  (10,872)


 Total and continuing loss per share attributable to
 the equity holders of the Company                          US Cents  US cents
 - Basic and diluted                                   4      (0.47)   (11.51)
    

 

      Consolidated balance sheet


                                              2007     2006
                                           US$'000  US$'000
                                         
 ASSETS                                  
                                         
 Non-current assets                      
 Property, plant and equipment                 180       88
 Intangible assets                             198        -
                                               378       88
                                         
 Current assets                          
 Trade and other receivables                 1,092      612
 Cash and cash equivalents                     264      307
                                         
                                             1,356      919
 Total assets                                1,734    1,007
                                         
 LIABILITIES                             
                                         
 Current liabilities                     
 Trade and other payables                    1,404      602
 Deferred income                                55       26
 Current tax provision                          25        3
                                             1,484      631
 Non-current liabilities                 
 Deferred tax provision                         38        -
                                         
 Total liabilities                           1,522      631
                                         
 EQUITY                                  
                                         
 Share capital and shares to be issued         745      617
 Reserves                                    (533)    (241)
 Equity attributable to equity holders         212      376
 of the Company and total equity         
                                         
 Total equity and liabilities                1,734    1,007


    
 
    Consolidated statement of changes in equity


                                     Share    Share  Capital  Foreign  Retained     Total
                                   capital  premium           exchang  earnings    equity
                                       and           reserve        e
                                    shares
                                        to                    reserve
                                 be issued
                                   US$'000  US$'000  US$'000  US$'000   US$'000   US$'000

 At 1 January 2006                      16      136        -      (1)      (68)        83
 Exchange difference on                  -        -        -       14         -        14
 consolidation
 Loss for the year                       -        -        -        -  (10,872)  (10,872)
 Total recognised income and             -        -        -       14  (10,872)  (10,858)
 expense for the year
 Issue of new shares prior to            2      159        -        -         -       161
 reverse acquisition
 Issue of new shares on reverse        106    3,700        -        -         -     3,806
 acquisition
 Share issue costs                       -      (9)        -        -         -       (9)
 Adjustment on reverse                 493      153    6,547        -         -     7,193
 acquisition
 At 31 December 2006 and               617    4,139    6,547       13  (10,940)       376
 1 January 2007
 Exchange difference on                  -        -        -      (5)         -       (5)
 consolidation
 Loss for the year                       -        -        -        -     (643)     (643)
 Total recognised income and             -        -        -      (5)     (643)     (648)
 expense for the year
 Share issue                           118      104        -        -         -       222
 Share issue costs                       -     (67)        -        -         -      (67)
 Share based payments                   10      209        -        -       110       329
 At 31 December 2007                   745    4,385    6,547        8  (11,473)       212
                                       *  
                           


    * Includes US$113,000 shares to be issued in connection with the acquisition of Macro Consulting Pty Limited.

    The capital reserve movement of US$6,547,000 arises on the reverse acquisition of Upstream Asia Limited.




    Consolidated cash flow statement


                                                            2007      2006
                                                         US$'000   US$'000

 Operating activities
 Loss after taxation                                       (643)  (10,872)
 Adjustments for:
 Finance income                                              (3)       (3)
 Finance costs                                                18         -
 Depreciation of property, plant and equipment                60        37
 Share based payment costs                                   329         -
 Amortization of intangibles                                  41         -
 Write off of goodwill                                         -    10,783

 Operating cashflow before working capital changes         (198)      (55)

 (Increase)/decrease in trade and other receivables        (275)        29
 Increase/(decrease) in trade and other payables             579      (90)
 Increase in deferred income                                  29        26

 Cash generated by/(used from) operations                    135      (90)
 Tax paid                                                    (7)      (10)

 Net cash inflow/(outflow) used in operating activities      128     (100)

 Investing activities
 Finance income                                            3      3
 Purchases of property, plant and equipment            (124)   (89)
 Reverse acquisition expenses                              -  (730)
 Cash acquired on acquisitions                            67     95
 Business acquisition costs                             (27)      -

 Net cash outflow from investing activities             (81)  (721)

 Financing activities
 Finance costs                                          (18)      -
 Issue of shares                                           -    928
 Share issue costs                                      (67)    (9)
 Net cash  (outflow)/inflow from financing activities   (85)    919

 Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents   (38)     98
 Cash and cash equivalents as at 1 January               307    104
 Effect of exchange rate fluctuations                    (5)    105

 Cash and cash equivalents as at 31 December             264    307


    1. GENERAL INFORMATION

    The Company was incorporated as a Corporation in the Cayman Islands which does not prescribe the adoption of any particular accounting
framework. The Board has therefore adopted International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union (IFRSs). 

    The Company's shares are listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.  

    The principal accounting polices of the Group remain unchanged from those set out in the Group's 2006 annual report and financial
statements.


    2.    SEGMENTAL INFORMATION

    (a)    Primary reporting format - business segment:

    As defined under International Accounting Standard 14 (IAS14), the only material business segment the Group has is that of marketing and
public relations. 

    (b)    Secondary reporting format - geographical segment:

    Under the definitions contained in IAS 14, the only material geographic segment that the Group operates in is the Asia-Pacific region.

    3.    TAXATION EXPENSE

                                    2007     2006
                                 US$'000  US$'000

 Current year income tax charge      12         -
 Deferred tax credit                (12)        -
                                       -        -


    The income tax charge for the year has been calculated at the rates prevailing in the relevant jurisdictions.

    A reconciliation of the tax expense to the loss before taxation using the statutory rates for the countries in which the Company and its
subsidiaries are domiciled to the tax expense at the effective tax rates, and a reconciliation of the statutory tax rates to the effective
tax rates, are as follows :

                                                        2007              2006
                                             US$'000       %   US$'000       %

 Loss before taxation                          (643)          (10,872)

 Tax at the domestic income tax rates          (113)  (17.5)   (1,903)  (17.5)
 Expenses not deductible for tax (primarily
 goodwill written off)                             -       -     1,889    17.4
 Tax effect of unrecognised tax losses           101    15.7        14     0.1

 Current year income tax charge                   12     1.8         -       -


    The Group has unrelieved tax losses of approximately $270,000 (2006 :$170,000), the utilisation of which is uncertain and consequently
no deferred tax asset has been recognised.

    4.    LOSS PER SHARE

    (a)    Basic loss per share

    The calculation of basic loss per share is based on the loss attributable to equity holders of the parent Company of US$643,000 (2006:
loss of US$10,872,000) and the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the year of 135,376,825 (2006: 94,479,385).

    (b)    Diluted loss per share

    The impact of the share options is anti-dilutive.  


    5.    pUBLICATION OF NON STATUTORY ACCOUNTS

    The financial information set out in this preliminary announcement does not constitute statutory accounts as defined in Section 240 of
the Companies Act 1985.  

    The consolidated balance sheet at 31 December 2007 and the consolidated income statement, consolidated statement of changes in equity,
consolidated cash flow statement and associated notes for the year ended 31 December 2007 have been extracted from the Group's 2007
financial statements upon which the auditors opinion is unqualified and does not include any statement under Section 237 of the Companies
Act 1985.

    The accounts for the year ended 31 December 2007 will be posted to shareholders and laid before the Company at the Annual General
Meeting in due course. Copies will also be available from the registered office of the Company and via the website.

This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
  END 
 
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