This is the Company’s fourth full reporting period since the completion of its merger with Financial Times Interactive Data (FTID, formerly Financial Times Asset Management).
On a pro forma basis, reported as if the DBC and FTID businesses had been combined on January 1, 2000, revenues for the first quarter of 2001 totaled $83.8 million, a 5% increase from the comparable period in 2000. Pro forma EBITDA for the first quarter of 2001 totaled $24.5 million, or $0.27 per share, a 26% increase from the same period in 2000.
Stuart Clark, president and chief executive officer, commented, DBC’s underlying performance in the first quarter was in line with our expectations. Our financial results were affected by a $2 million reserve taken against all receivables owed to us by Bridge Information Systems Inc., which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February 2000. Excluding this reserve, EBITDA would have totaled $26.5 million.
Mr. Clark noted, Our institutional business continues to be strong, generating $71 million or 85% of the Company’s revenues and virtually all of our EBITDA. On a pro forma basis, revenues from DBC’s institutional clients increased by 9% compared to the first quarter of 2000. Excluding the effects of foreign exchange, pro forma institutional revenues grew by 11%. The strength of our institutional business more than offset the weakness in our retail segment, which has been adversely affected by the downturn in the stock market. It has been, and continues to be, our objective to achieve double digit growth on the institutional side. We are pleased that sales across our data and analytic products have continued to be strong despite the difficult economic conditions.
Mr. Clark continued, In March 2001 we announced the re-branding of DBC’s Institutional Services Division as FT Interactive Data. The FT brand is highly respected across the global financial community and we are very pleased to be able to use it as part of the new image we are creating for our institutional business. The use of the FT brand has been particularly effective for us in Europe, where our growth rate in the first quarter was the highest of all our geographic areas.
Mr. Clark concluded, To align DBC more closely with our core institutional business, we have also begun the process of changing the Company’s name to Interactive Data Corporation. This name is better known by our institutional customers and more aptly communicates our expanded mission and the many opportunities that await us. In addition, reflecting their confidence in the Company’s business, DBC’s board of directors recently authorized the repurchase of up to two million shares of the Company’s common stock. Our priority has traditionally been to build our cash so that DBC would have the financial resources we needed to develop our business going forward. Given our March 31, 2001 cash position of $66 million and no outstanding debt, we now have the option to buy back shares as well.
Financial Results
For the quarter ended March 31, 2001, the Company reported revenues of $83.8 million versus $64.4 million for the first quarter of 2000. Results for the two periods are not comparable due to DBC’s merger with FTID on March 1, 2000, which was accounted for as a reverse merger. EBITDA totaled $24.5 million, or $0.27 per share, for the first quarter of 2001 versus $18.7 million, or $0.27 per share, for the first quarter of 2000. Net income totaled $157,000, or essentially breakeven per share, versus a loss of $5.2 million, or $0.08 per share, in the first quarter of 2000. DBC’s financial results for the first quarter of 2000 included a pre-tax loss of $6.4 million from the Company’s equity stake in MarketWatch.com, Inc., which the Company sold in December 2000. The transaction closed on January 9, 2001.
About Data Broadcasting Corporation
Data Broadcasting Corporation is a leading global provider of financial and business information to institutional and individual investors. The Company supplies time sensitive pricing, dividend, corporate action and descriptive information for more than 3.5 million securities traded around the world, including hard-to-value unlisted fixed income instruments. At the core of the business are its extensive database expertise and technology resources.
DBC delivers real-time, end-of-day and historically archived data to customers through a variety of products featuring Internet, dedicated line, satellite and dial-up delivery protocols. Through a broad range of partnerships and alliances, the Company provides links to most of the world’s best-known financial service and software companies for trading, analysis, portfolio management and valuation.
DBC, with approximately 1,600 employees, is headquartered in Bedford, Massachusetts and has more than 20 offices in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia, including the world’s key financial centers of New York, London and Tokyo. DBC is majority owned by Pearson plc (NYSE: PSO), an international media company, whose businesses include the Financial Times Group, Pearson Education, and the Penguin Group.
