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| Business Serve launches Voice Over IP online switchboard |
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31 January 2005 , Mon 12:02 |
Business Serve PLC, one of the UK's leading converged communications providers,
offering both traditional ISP products and telecommunications services including
Voice Over Internet Protocol ('VoIP'), has launched a strategically important
new product, Pipecall iPBX.
Pipecall iPBX is an advanced, cost effective, highly resilient and easy to
implement VoIP solution which maximises the benefits of both Internet and
telecommunication technology. iPBX is, in effect, an online switchboard
providing companies with the same call features as their own sophisticated
switchboard, without the associated costs or infrastructure.
By combining PipeCall's VoIP solution and iPBX's functionality, customers
benefit from a wide range of telephony features, including easy set-up and
greater flexibility across multiple offices. In addition, they are able to make
saving of some 90% in call costs, 75% on line rentals and reduced capital
expenditure as well as maintenance on costly switchboards. (See note to
editors.)
Simon Cleaver, Chief Executive Office Business Serve commented:
'VoIP technology is changing the way companies communicate. Pipecall iPBX is
another element in this revolution. It enables small-medium sized businesses
and larger corporations to rapidly deploy a low cost advanced VoIP
infrastructure and online switchboard with all the associated lower cost of
using broadband telephony technology.
'The launch of Pipecall iPBX strengthens Business Serve's position as one of the
market leaders and innovators in VoIP technology and converged communication
solutions to SMEs and corporates.'
Pipecall IPBX has been designed to provide increased functionality and
flexibility offered by broadband telephony to the SME and corporate marketplace
and is particularly beneficial to multi-site companies.
Pipecall iPBX combines advanced PBX (switchboard) technology with Interactive
Voice Capability and has a fully redundant automatic failover ensuring
reliability at all times. The service is cost effective and quick to install
with no maintenance costs and reduced management constraints in terms of time
and financial resources.
Pipecall iPBX has advanced specifications on standard VoIP solutions:
O Interactive Voice response
O 3/4/5/6/extension digit dialling
O Hunt Groups
O Music on hold
O Consultation on hold
O Call on hold
O Call conferencing
O Call waiting indication
O Call parking
O Remote call pick up
O Remote call queuing
O Attend call transfer
O Call transfer anywhere
O Call forward anywhere
O Voicemail
O 1471 missed call service
O Message waiting indication
O Dedicated fax to email service
O Online control panel with real-time reporting
O Portable 0845 local number
O Automatic redundant failover system
O Call recording (additional extra)
O System customisation (additional extra)
Pipecall IPBX can be used in association with a wide range of Broadband phone
hardware and software. |
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| Business Serve PLC New Data Centre |
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16 December 2004 , Thu 16:07 |
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Business Serve PLC, one of the UK’s leading converged communications providers offering both traditional ISP products and telecommunications services including Voice Over Internet Protocol ('VoIP'), has acquired the lease of a large purpose built datacentre in London Docklands in order to expand the Group’s co-location services.
Leapfield House is a highly resilient 16,000 square foot datacentre, developed and fitted out as a high specification 800 plus rack co-location suite. Business Serve has acquired the lease and equipment in an extremely competitive deal, at a fraction of the cost of developing its own site in Docklands.
The purchase will significantly strengthen the Group’s offering in the co-location market targeted at SMEs and corporates.
The datacentre will also be used as a central hub for Business Serves’ rapidly expanding network. It will provide additional space for the relocation of equipment purchased with each of the six acquisitions made by the Group since its flotation earlier this year. Consolidation of the Group’s operational and network infrastructure will produce costs savings, which will cover the acquisition of the lease.
The datacentre is expected to be operational by June 2005.
Simon Cleaver, Business Serve, Chief Executive, said:
"We have identified and acquired the lease of a London datacentre at a very competitive price. The datacentre enables us to strengthen our position in the co-location market, in addition to enhancing the Group’s operational infrastructure to support our rapidly growing network.
"Acquiring the datacentre represents the next logical step for Business Serve to achieve its stated aim of offering converged communication solutions to the SME and corporate market." |
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30 November 2004 , Tue 10:07 |
ACQUISITION AND ORGANIC GROWTH DRIVE BUSINESS SERVE’S PROFIT UP BY 341% Business Serve PLC, one of the UK’s leading converged communication providers, offering both traditional ISP products and telecommunications services including Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP), announces its Interim Results for the six months to 30 September 2004.
Financial Highlights
· Turnover increased by 67% to £6.8 million (2003 H1: £4.0 million)
· Operating profit before goodwill up 341% to £353,000 (2003 H1:£80,000)
· Pre-tax profit £103,000 (2003 H1: loss £7,000)
· Underlying* earnings per share 1.16p (2003 H1: 0.47p)
* Underlying earnings per share is earning per share before goodwill
Operating Highlights
· Three further acquisitions completed during the period
· Increased automation of products and services
· Expanded portfolio of services to include CBC Broadband
· Re-seller agreement signed with BT’s Framestream Leased Line Product
· Recent acquisition of PipeMedia – Business Serve now offers VoIP telecommunications
Simon Cleaver, Business Serve, Chief Executive, said:
“Since flotation we have completed six acquisitions, which have increased our annualised revenues to over £17.5 million.
“The enhanced product range has enabled the Group to capitalise on the organic growth in the ISP and Telecoms marketplaces, and will enable us to accelerate new customer acquisition and cross-selling opportunities across the customer base.
“In October 2004 we acquired Pipemedia, a UK market leader in VoIP. This acquisition will enable Business Serve to exploit the opportunities which exist within the fast emerging VoIP market”. |
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| BS Acquire Pipe Media 12 10 04 |
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23 February 2005 , Wed 16:05 |
Business Serve plc one of the UK's leading ISPs has today acquired the telecommunication group of affiliated companies, Pipemedia, which comprises Pipemedia Limited, Pipecall Limited and Pipemedia Communications Limited.
Pipemedia is one of the UK's market leaders in the provision of Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and broadband telephone services to both corporate and carrier customers. Its acquisition enables Business Serve to transform into a converged communications provider spanning both the telecommunication and ISP marketplace, as well as providing immediate access to a new and rapidly growing customer base.
Business Serve has acquired Pipemedia for an initial consideration of £300,000 together with 692,841 ordinary shares of 1p each. In addition to the initial consideration, deferred consideration of up to a maximum of £1.5 million, settled equally between cash and shares, may become payable over the next two years, should Pipemedia achieve certain performance targets.
The cash element of the acquisition has been funded by a placing of 2,288,479 new ordinary shares at 43p per share by Teather & Greenwood raising approximately £1 million before expenses. This represents approximately 10% of the Group's issued share capital. Certain Directors of the Group participated in the placing, together subscribing for approximately 186,000 shares. Application has been made for these shares to be admitted to trading on AIM.
Pipemedia was one of the first companies in the UK telecoms market to develop a converged VoIP and traditional telephone service called PipeCall. PipeCall enables business and residential customers to make and receive telephone calls, without the need or cost of a traditional telephone lines, through the use of a broadband connection.
Subscribers to Pipecall pay a minimal set-up fee and a low monthly line rental charge. Business Serve anticipates that users will be able to make cost savings of up to 75% on their traditional landline services. Calls between Pipecall subscribers are free.
Based on unaudited management accounts Pipemedia had revenues of £2.64 million, a loss before tax of £122,000 and net assets of £150,000 as at May 31 2004. For the first three months of the year to 31 August 2004, Pipemedia's unaudited management accounts showed a profit before tax of £45,000 and net assets of £110,000.
The Group continues to trade in line with the Board's expectations.
Simon Cleaver, Chief Executive of Business Serve plc, said:
"Pipemedia is an extremely exciting acquisition for Business Serve. We will now be able to offer "a one-stop-shop" for the provision of both traditional ISP products such as web hosting and broadband, as well as telecommunication services such as carrier pre-selection and VoIP - with all the substantial cost savings that this new service brings.
"This acquisition enables Business Serve to become the UK's leading converged communications Group which differentiates us significantly from competitors within both the ISP and telco marketplaces. We will be able to offer new services to both marketplaces. Our immediate aim is to fully integrate Pipemedia so that we can concentrate as quickly as possible on the cross-sell opportunities between the two customer bases and take full advantage of the opportunities that are emerging from within the VoIP marketplace.
"In the same way this emerging technology has transformed the USA and Japanese telecoms market, it is set to do the same for the UK, which makes for an exciting future for Business Serve."
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| BS Acquire Vital Online 04 10 04 |
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23 February 2005 , Wed 16:05 |
BUSINESS SERVE CONTINUES ITS STRATEGY OF ACQUIRING OTHER INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS
Business Serve plc, one of the UK's leading ISPs, has completed its fifth acquisition since flotation for an initial consideration of £200,000 in cash and 50,000 ordinary shares, plus a maximum Earn Out of £150,000.
The Group has acquired the assets of the ISP division of Vital Online Ltd which specialises in providing Internet services to the SME and Corporate market. The company, which will trade as Vital ISP (part of the Business Serve Group), has a turnover of approximately £700,000 and has a varied product range, including Co-location, NT Hosting, Firewalls, Leased lines and Broadband. It has a customer base that ranges from providing bespoke services to corporate customers and the public sector such as North Yorkshire County Council, to providing standard connectivity and hosting solutions for the SME marketplace.
Simon Cleaver, Chief Executive of Business Serve plc, said: 'The acquisition of Vital ISP has further strengthened our position within the Corporate Market bringing increased diversity to the Group's existing customer base, particularly within the public sector where Vital is strong in the education market. As with all acquisitions to date, there will be cost savings made in terms of network and infrastructure synergies and the opportunity to cross sell itsservices to new customers.' |
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| Directorship Changes 16 08 04 |
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23 February 2005 , Wed 16:05 |
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Business Serve plc, one of the UK’s leading ISPs, has appointed today Keith Jones as Group Sales Director. Tim Longton, Operations Director, is leaving the Group - his responsibilities will be assumed by Nigel Wadsworth.
Keith, aged 52, will report to Group Chief Executive Simon Cleaver. He will be responsible for leading the Group’s enlarged sales force with its rapidly increasing range of products and accelerate the cross selling opportunities to the Group’s 40,000 customer base.
Keith has been involved in the IT sector for over 25 years. He joins from Energis Communications, where he was responsible for heading a team of sales consultants selling the whole spectrum of Energis Data, Contact Centre and Internet Solutions. Previously, Keith was appointed in a specific role at Xenon Network Services to reorganise the structure of the company, in both sales and support, and developing new sales policies across all channels. Keith was also Regional Sales Manager at GE Capital IT Solutions prior to being employed by Xenon.
Simon Cleaver, Business Serve Chief Executive, said:
“Tim has been very active in building the business over the last few years and the Board wishes him well.
“With his industry track record, Keith’s appointment substantially strengthens the Board. Keith has a proven strong managerial, team building and sales ability. As we have grown rapidly over the last four years, it is now imperative that with our increasing product range, we have a dedicated sales director who will bring increased cohesion across all our sales channels.”
Previous directorships: Xenon Computer Systems Limited (Appointed: April 1995 and Resigned: August 1998).
Save as set out above, there is no further information to disclose in respect of Keith Jones under paragraph (f) of schedule 2 to the AIM rules. |
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| Business Serve Launch New Website 06 07 04 |
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06 July 2004 , Tue 14:08 |
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| BS Acquire KB Media 01 07 04 |
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23 February 2005 , Wed 16:05 |
Business Serve plc Acquires KB Media – Its 4th Acquisition Since Flotation 01/07/2004 08:39:24
by Business Serve News Desk
Business Serve plc, one of the UK’s leading ISPs, has completed another acquisition for a total consideration of £404,000 in cash and the issue of 159,000 Ordinary Shares at 62.9p per share. This brings the total number of acquisitions made by the Group since its flotation on AIM in February 2004 to four.
The Group has acquired the assets and customer bases of KB Media Limited (“KB Media”), which specialises in selling broadband targeted at the reseller market. The company has a customer base of over 4,000 and following the integration of KB Media, Business Serve will have in excess of 40,000 customers.
Simon Cleaver, Chief Executive of Business Serve plc, said:
“As with all our acquisitions, KB Media has strengthened the range of services offered and will create further up-sell and cross-sell opportunities within our expanded customer base.”
“KB Media was chosen for the ease of integration into the Group as it comfortably fits into our Indirect Sales division. Significant cost savings will be achieved through the effective use of our existing infrastructure, network synergies and increased purchasing power.”
“This further acquisition continues Business Serve’s aggressive acquisition strategy in the highly fragmented ISP marketplace and brings the total acquisitions made by Business Serve to ten within the last three years.” |
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| New Acquisition DSVR and Year End Results 26/05/2004 19:43:20 |
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15 June 2004 , Tue 09:01 |
Business Serve Enters Virtual Hosting Market with Acquisition of Designer Servers Ltd
Business Serve plc, one of the UK’s leading ISPs, has today completed its third acquisition since it floated on AIM in February 2004, with the purchase of Manchester-based Designer Servers Ltd (‘DSVR’) for a total consideration of £1.87 million.
The Group has acquired the entire issued share capital of DSVR, which specialises in selling virtual hosting to the business, web designer and reseller markets, for a consideration of £1.77 million in cash and the issue of 143,781 Ordinary Shares at 69.5p per share.
For the 12 months to 30 April 2004, DSVR had an unaudited turnover of £1.58 million, approximately 22% growth in sales on the previous year. Unaudited net liabilities at 31 March 2004 were £410,000 including deferred sales of £360,000. The current annualised revenue is approximately £1.80 million.
The acquisition of DSVR extends Business Serve's range of services to include virtual hosting. Virtual hosting has a number of cost advantages over traditional ‘dedicated’ hosting solutions.
DSVR’s virtual hosting service allows its users to have complete control of the configuration of their hosting environment, without the need to lease or own individual physical hardware themselves. Virtual hosting has become increasingly important, as customers demand lower cost and greater flexibility from their Internet services.
Simon Cleaver, Business Serve's Chief Executive, said:
“The acquisition of DSVR completes another part of the jigsaw for Business Serve as we enter the virtual server market. The extended product range combined with the high level of automation within this company made DSVR an attractive proposition. The automation in particular has ensured the easy provision of services and continued customer satisfaction which is highlighted by a retention rate of over 90%."
“The combination of good sales growth, very high customer renewal rates and the cost savings that integration with Business Serve will bring, makes for a winning formula and an exciting future for the expanding group.”
Business Serve Profits Jump 91% - Driven by Acquistion and Organic Growth
Business Serve plc, one of the UK’s leading ISPs, published its maiden preliminary results for the year to 31 March 2004 and completes its third acquisition since its flotation on AIM in February 2004.
Turnover increased by 17% to £9.5 million (2003: £8.1 million)
Pre-tax profit before goodwill up by 42% to £322,000 (2003: £227,000)
Pre-tax profit almost doubles to £100,000 (2003: £52,000)
Underlying* earnings per share up 79% to 2.38p (2003: 1.33p)
Acquisition of Designer Servers Limited (‘DSVR’) for £1.87 million
third acquisition since flotation (see separate statement)
Customer base more than doubled to 38,000, increasing opportunities to cross sell
Significantly expanded portfolio of products and services
* Underlying Earnings Per Share is earning per share before goodwill
Simon Cleaver, Business Serve's Chief Executive, said
“Last year has been extremely exciting for Business Serve. We have made a number of substantial acquisitions and obtained a listing on AIM in February 2004."
“As we stated at the float, we intend to use the £4.5 million raised to implement our acquisition strategy and purchase other businesses which compliment and expand our services. Including today’s acquisition, our annualised revenue is now running at nearly £14 million, which is a major step up from last year’s £8million."
“We are in talks with a number of other potential targets and I am very confident about our future prospects." |
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| A survey of e-commerce – A Perfect Market |
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15 June 2004 , Tue 15:04 |
A survey of e-commerce – A Perfect Market
E-commerce is coming of age, but not in the way predicted in the ‘bubble years’.
The wild predictions made at the height of the boom, namely, that vast chunks of the world economy would move into cyberspace, in one way or another, are coming true. The raw numbers tell only part of the story. According to AdoC (America Dept of Commerce), online sales in the world’s biggest market last year rose by 26% to $55 billion. But the actual value of transactions currently concluded online is dwarfed by the extraordinary influence the Internet is exerting over purchases carried out in the offline world. That influence is becoming an integral part of e-commerce.
To start with, the Internet is profoundly changing consumer behaviour. One in five customers walking into a Sears department store to buy an electrical appliance will have researched their purchase online. More surprisingly, three out of four people start shopping for new cars online, even though most end up buying them from traditional dealers. The difference is that these customers come to the showroom armed with information about the car and the best available deals.
Half of the 60 million consumers in Europe who have an Internet connection bought products offline after having investigated prices and details online, according to research by Forrester, a research consultancy. Forrester says that people begin to shop online for simple, predictable products such as DVDs and then graduate to more complex items.
Web Sites Matter
This has enormous implications for business. A company that neglects its website may be committing commercial suicide. A website is increasingly becoming a gateway to a company’s brand, products and services – even if the firm does not sell online. A useless website suggests a useless company and a rival is only a mouse click away. It is not only price transparency that makes Internet consumers so powerful; it is also the way the net makes it easy for them to be so fickle. If they do not like a website they move on
To some extent the offline and online worlds may merge. Multi channel selling could involve a combination of traditional shops, a printed catalogue, a phone-in service and an e-commerce-enabled website. The popular perception is that online retail sales rely heavily on gadgets, mostly bought by young men. Not so. Over the Christmas 2003 holiday period the most popular category was clothing, up by 40%. The rising number of Broadband links with over 100 million connections now live fuelled the overall growth. This same growth in Broadband has boosted Britain’s overall online spending market by 36% to almost £5 billion last year, which means it grew nearly ten times faster than total retail spending. |
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| BS Acquire Domain Names GB and Real Touch |
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31 March 2004 , Wed 22:09 |
Business Serve plc Acquires Two UK Based ISPs 31/03/2004 11:21:25
by Business Serve News Desk
Business Serve plc, one of the UK's leading ISPs, has completed today its first two acquisitions since it floated on AIM in February 2004.
The Group has acquired the assets and customer base of an automated online company, Domain Names GB.com Ltd, for a consideration of £400,000 in cash.
The company specialises in selling domain names and hosting packages. With a customer base of over 18,000, this acquisition significantly increases the number of Business Serve customers and provides the Group with the opportunity to cross-sell its existing portfolio of services to an enlarged customer base.
Business Serve has also acquired the assets and customer base of RealTouch Internet Ltd for £60,000 in cash. RealTouch is a small ISP which offers managed servers and hosting for a range of customers including Panasonic.
These purchases continue Business Serve’s acquisition strategy in the highly fragmented ISP marketplace and brings the total acquisitions made by Business Serve to seven within the last three years.
"Whilst these two are reasonably small asset purchases, they fit our strategic acquisition criteria. They will quickly become earnings enhancing and can be easily integrated into the Group. However, most importantly, they provide us with excellent opportunities to cross-sell our services to new customers", said Simon Cleaver, Business Serve’s Managing Director.
"Our business model, which combines organic growth in a growing market with integration and cross-selling opportunities from acquisitions, is going well. We are in discussions to make further acquisitions over the next few months, but also remain focused on selling our services and products to the rapidly increasing customer base." |
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| Business Serve Floats on Aim |
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03 February 2004 , Tue 12:03 |
Business Serve floats on AIM 03/02/2004 08:36:07
by Business Serve News Desk
Business Serve plc, a North West-based Internet Service Provider, is celebrating after a successful £17.5 million Alternative Investment Market (AIM) listing today.
Founded via a series of mergers starting in March 2000, Business Serve plc provides a range of Internet services to more than 18,500 customers around the country. The fast growing firm employs over 180 people across its sites in Salford, Lancaster, Bradford and London.
Business Serve is one of the first Internet Service Providers (ISP) to float since the end of dotcom frenzy of the late 1990s.
Managing Director, Simon Cleaver, said: "We are extremely excited about the float as it places us firmly in position to become a reckonable force within the ISP marketplace."
"Our strategy has always been to focus on the acquisition of established customer bases and ISP infrastructure within the fragmented ISP market, in addition to the organic growth of the Company, and the flotation will enable Business Serve to place an increased emphasis on this strategy."
Top ten accountancy firm, Baker Tilly, guided Business Serve's directors through the deal. Manchester-based Corporate Finance partner, Gary Houghton, says: "Business Serve's flotation on AIM truly reinforces the message that, as we're already seeing at Baker Tilly, the AIM market is open for business again with activity levels generally on the increase.
"This is a focussed and dynamic business led by individuals determined to succeed in a tough and highly competitive sector. Today's AIM float is a major step in the company's ongoing development."
DWF in Manchester provided the legal advice and City firm, Teather & Greenwood acted as nominated brokers. |
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Copyright (c) Trisha Thompson 15.06.04
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