samedi 29 octobre 2005
Highlights
Acquisition of KJC, one of the UK's larger independent cellular mobile phone dealerships with approximately 300,000 customers and 30 retail outlets in the South of England
Fibernet network agreement to turn PNC into a facilities-based network operator from a switchless reseller
PNC to partner Fibernet in roll-out of DSL services to SMEs
PNC moves from AIM to Official List
KJC acquisition facilitates additional organic growth of current PNC internet telephony business through branded e-commerce points of sale
PNC management team, with proven mobile telecoms skills, to move company forward to next generation of converged telecoms, media and internet solutions for business
http://www.pnctele.com/press/press_release_16.htm
Information on PNC
PNC is a specialist independent telecoms reseller, offering a diverse portfolio of value-added products including personal numbering, audiotext and telemarketing. The Company is a marketing-led business which earns revenues by selling a variety of value-added telephony and Internet products to the consumer and business markets.
To date, the Company has operated as a switchless reseller and is independent of any one particular network supplier. A switchless reseller can operate without the need for a switch-based network. However, the margin as a switchless reseller is not as high as for a switched reseller where the full benefit of interconnect determination applies. With the reducing costs of technology and the Company's growing volume of customer call minutes, the Directors believe that there is now significant benefit for the Company in having its own switch infrastructure. On 8 June 2000, the Company entered into a 17 year IRU (Indefeasible Right of Use) agreement with Fibernet Limited ("Fibernet"). The planned acquisition of three switches and the siting of these at three of Fibernet's own points of presence (Leeds, London and Bristol) will enable the Company to gain direct access to other national networks. The Company will be a licensed operator in its own right and so gain access to the higher interconnect payments that are available between operators (such as BT and Cable & Wireless). The transformation from being a switchless to a switched reseller is a natural step in the Company's development. The Directors believe this move will benefit margins and enhance the Company's ability to offer competitive rates to its customers.
In September 1999, the Company launched its first range of Internet products. These products generate revenues from the Internet by adding value to websites or creating a communications link between existing telephony services and the Web. Products include PAWS, which enables websites to charge premium rate access fees for information obtained on the Web; Speak Free, which allows Internet customers to dial through to a telephone call centre using a freephone access icon; and www.SmartOne.co.uk, which is PNC's free Internet service provider platform.
http://www.pnctele.com/press/press_release_16.htm
Information on KJC
KJC is one of the UK's larger independent cellular mobile phone dealerships with most of its business operations based in the South of England. Its channels to market include mail order, retail and corporate sales. KJC has been operating in the mobile phone market for 12 years and is currently producing new customer connections at a rate of more than 10,000 per month.
KJC is an appointed dealer for all four UK mobile operators (Vodafone, Cellnet, Orange and One2One). KJC has also, for the last 3 years, acted as a dealer for PNC and proved its ability in distributing personal numbering products - and has been able to successfully cross-sell personal numbers to new customers at the time of their buying a mobile. KJC currently operates 30 retail outlets which accounted for almost half of the audited turnover for the seven months ended 31 March 2000.
http://www.pnctele.com/press/press_release_16.htm
Background of the business
In 1988, with the emergence of mobile phones as a new and growing market, KJC became a mobile phone dealer. Selling by mail order and from an increasing number of high street locations, it has established a mail order operation and has built a sales team selling to corporate clients. KJC is in the process of implementing its e-commerce strategy for conducting business over the Internet.
KJC operates its own warehouse facility with a fully automated and integrated stock control system and a repair centre which is used for basic component repairs. KJC also has a wholesale equipment business, known as English Telecom. This sources mobile handsets for the business.
The Directors believe that KJC is well positioned to take advantage of the integration of the Internet and mobile communications and other related market activities. As a dealer, KJC has a direct relationship with its customer at the time of sale and with the advent of new mobile technologies such as WAP, GPRS and UMTS in the coming years, the Directors believe that these customer relationships can be leveraged.
KJC has entered into affinity deals under which it has the exclusive rights for the sale of "premiership football club team" branded mobiles for a number of football league clubs.
