eSpeed, Inc. (ticker: ESPD, exchange: Nasdaq) News Release - Monday, January 31, 2000
eSpeed's Revenue From Electronic Transactions Increases 142
eSpeed Reports Revenues of $14.0 Million for the 1999 Fourth Quarter,
$38.2 Million for the Year
Revenues Exceed Expectations
NEW YORK, Jan. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- eSpeed, Inc. (Nasdaq: ESPD), a leading provider of real-time business-to-business electronic marketplaces, today announced impressive financial results for the fourth quarter and period ended December 31, 1999.
Revenues for the quarter ended December 31, 1999 totaled $14.0 million, a 21% increase over third quarter revenues. The Company reported a net loss of $6.0 million, or $(0.13) per share for the 1999 fourth quarter, after posting a net loss of $3.4 million in the third quarter. Fully electronic transaction revenues totaled $6.3 million, a 142% increase over the third quarter, and transaction revenues overall increased 38% over the third quarter.
For the period March 10, 1999 (date eSpeed, Inc. commenced operations) through December 31, 1999, the Company reported total revenues of $38.2 million. The Company's net loss was $12.6 million, or $(0.28) per share for the same period.
Commenting on eSpeed's performance, Howard W. Lutnick, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer said, "Our products are rolling out on target and they are being received enthusiastically. eSpeed is powered by the combined strength of the leading trading technology in the industry, and the brightest minds in the industry. Our business is exciting on all fronts, with fourth quarter fully electronic trading volumes greater than projected, and revenue from electronic transactions up 142% from last quarter."
"eSpeed technology currently handles $150 billion in financial transactions daily. Since our system is scalable and extendable, the same technology that processes trillions of dollars in financial transactions can handle transactions in any non-financial product as well. eSpeed is the trading platform for fast, cost-efficient B2B marketplaces and exchanges in virtually any vertical market segment," added Mr. Lutnick. "Whether the product is Treasury bonds, electricity or industrial products, eSpeed technology can provide the end to end, B2B solution."
Frederick T. Varacchi, President and COO of eSpeed added, "Our technology is built and paid for, it's been proven in one of the largest marketplaces in the world and it's proprietary- this is the formula for successful growth as eSpeed moves aggressively into new markets." Of eSpeed's 370 employees, 330 are technology professionals who work in-house creating the software, programs and transactional infrastructure that provide the technological backbone of eSpeed. Varacchi, who is himself a former Chief Technology Officer, noted that the eSpeed trading platform is based on the company's patented, rules-based processing method known as Interactive Matching.
Varacchi also noted that "With the $144 million in proceeds received from our initial public offering, we intend to dramatically increase spending on technology and personnel to continue to maintain eSpeed's competitive technological advantage. It is critical for us to ensure our technological platform remains the envy of the B2B business world."
"We have continued to increase the number of clients using the eSpeed system. This strong acceptance of the eSpeed trading platform, the absence of a Y2K market slowdown and an increase in market volatility contributed to a greater revenue stream than expected," added Kevin Piccoli, eSpeed's Chief Financial Officer. Piccoli also noted that the company's bottom line reflected a lower than anticipated level of operating expenses. "We anticipate that we will continue to add significantly to our technology staff throughout the year," Piccoli added.
Commenting on future plans, CEO Howard Lutnick added, "Our eSpeed system has a flexible design which allows us to quickly and easily add new products and services. Our strategy is to continue to add new products and markets to the eSpeed platform to create real-time electronic marketplaces for virtually any B2B or financial product. Toward this end, we are actively pursuing partners, either through joint ventures, acquisition, or other alliances that want to join eSpeed in creating the fastest, most efficient B2B marketplaces in the world."
During the quarter, eSpeed, Inc. completed its initial public offering of 10,350,000 shares at $22 per share on December 10, 1999, of which 7 million shares were sold by the Company raising $144 million in proceeds.
About eSpeed
eSpeed, Inc. operates multiple buyer/multiple seller real-time business- to-business electronic marketplaces. eSpeed's suite of marketplace tools provides an end-to-end solution -- transaction processing, network distribution, risk management, back-end processing and billing -- for the trading of any product via the Internet or over eSpeed's global private network. eSpeed currently provides the marketplace infrastructure for over 20 financial markets, transacting over $150 billion of financial instruments daily. eSpeed is headquartered in New York. Additional information on eSpeed is available via the Internet at http://www.espeed.com .
Statements contained in this Press Release which are not historical facts are forward-looking statements, as the term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors, which include, but are not limited to: the Company's limited operating history, its expected incurrence of future losses and negative cash flow from operations for the foreseeable future, its ability to enter into marketing and strategic alliances, to effectively manage its growth, to expand the use of its electronic systems, and to induce customers to use its marketplaces and services and other factors that are discussed in the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
eSpeed, Inc. and Subsidiaries CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL CONDITION December 31, 1999
UNAUDITED
Assets
Cash $201,001 Securities purchased under reverse repurchase agreements 134,644,521 Receivable from affiliates Fixed assets, at cost 12,556,627 Less accumulated depreciation and amortization (3,086,555) Fixed assets, net 9,470,072 Prepaid expenses, principally computer maintenance agreements 11,495 Total assets $144,327,089
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Liabilities: Payable to affiliates, net $6,743,929 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 2,071,347 Total liabilities 8,815,276
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity: Preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share; 50,000,000 shares authorized, no share issued or outstanding -- Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 200,000,000 shares authorized; 10,350,000 shares issued and outstanding 103,500 Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 40,650,000 shares issued and outstanding 406,500 Additional paid in capital 147,588,726 Accumulated deficit (12,586,913) Total stockholders' equity 135,511,813
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $144,327,089
eSpeed, Inc. and Subsidiaries CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS For the period from March 10, 1999 (date of commencement of operations) to December 31, 1999
UNAUDITED
Quarter ended March 10 to June 25, Sept. 24, Dec. 31, March 26, 1999 1999 1999 1999
Revenues: Transaction revenues Fully electronic $76,621 $1,153,471 $2,590,715 $6,259,035 Voice assisted 664,597 3,900,345 3,817,144 3,395,220 Open outcry 379,316 1,376,962 1,075,426 692,695 Total transaction revenues 1,120,534 6,430,778 7,483,285 10,346,950 Interest income 347,804 System service fees from affiliates 827,716 4,138,578 4,138,578 3,354,702 Total revenues 1,948,250 10,569,356 11,621,863 14,049,456
Expenses: Compensation and employee benefits 1,267,838 6,403,446 7,033,656 6,797,386 Occupancy and equipment 676,023 2,854,350 3,102,063 3,659,913 Professional and consulting fees 185,985 1,596,097 1,833,266 1,533,448 Communications and client networks 221,159 1,103,081 1,121,552 909,278 Transaction service fees paid to affiliates 26,817 403,715 906,750 2,190,663 Administrative fees paid to affiliates 93,701 461,266 512,233 594,858 Options granted to Cantor employees -- -- -- 2,841,053 Other 15,235 500,034 606,850 1,536,011 Total expenses 2,486,758 13,321,989 15,116,370 20,062,610
Loss before benefit for income taxes (538,508) (2,752,633) (3,494,507) (6,013,154)
Income tax benefit: Federal State and local 13,635 69,694 88,478 40,082 Total tax benefit 13,635 69,694 88,478 40,082
Net loss ($524,873) ($2,682,939) ($3,406,029) ($5,973,072)
Per share data: Basic net loss per share ($0.01) ($0.06) ($0.08) ($0.13)
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding: 44,000,000 44,000,000 44,000,000 45,530,000
March 10 to Dec. 31, 1999
Revenues: Transaction revenues Fully electronic $10,079,842 Voice assisted 11,777,306 Open outcry 3,524,399 Total transaction revenues 25,381,547 Interest income 347,804 System service fees from affiliates 12,459,574 Total revenues 38,188,925
Expenses: Compensation and employee benefits 21,502,326 Occupancy and equipment 10,292,349 Professional and consulting fees 5,148,796 Communications and client networks 3,355,070 Transaction service fees paid to affiliates 3,527,945 Administrative fees paid to affiliates 1,662,058 Options granted to Cantor employees 2,841,053 Other 2,658,130 Total expenses 50,987,727
Loss before benefit for income taxes (12,798,802)
Income tax benefit: Federal State and local 211,889 Total tax benefit 211,889
Net loss ($12,586,913)
Per share data: Basic net loss per share ($0.28)
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding: 44,495,000
CONTACT: analysts - Kevin Piccoli, 212-938-4844, or media - Chris Staszak, 212-938-3712, both of eSpeed, Inc.; or investors - Christie Mazurek of Financial Relations Board, 212-661-8030, for eSpeed, Inc.
SOURCE eSpeed, Inc.
CONTACT: analysts - Kevin Piccoli, 212-938-4844, or media - Chris Staszak, 212-938-3712, both of eSpeed, Inc.; or investors - Christie Mazurek of Financial Relations Board, 212-661-8030, for eSpeed, Inc./ |