Jade Software narrows annual loss on $8.5m Empower sale

Craig Richardson, managing director at Jade Software. Photo / Supplied

Jade Software Corp, the Christchurch-based software developer, narrowed its annual loss after selling off trans-Tasman human resource and payroll business Empower HR for $8.5 million.

The company made a net loss of $96,000 in the 12 months ended Dec. 31, down from a loss of $849,000 a year earlier, according to its annual report.

Revenue from continuing operations fell 4 per cent to $33.7 million, with earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation dropping by about a third to $2.4 million.

The bottom-line profit was bolstered by a $2.5 million gain from its discontinued Empower operation, of which $2 million came from the December sale of the unit to software support group Fusion5. The balance will be payable in the first half of 2012.

"Management committed to a plan to sell the operations in early 2011, following a strategic focus on the group's growth businesses being JADE, JOOB, Wynyard, Methodware and Master Terminal," the company said in a note, referring to some of its existing brands.

Chair Ruth Richardson, the former Finance Minister, said the sale of Empower "captured value for Jade and ensured the handover of an asset acquired some year ago in better shape than we found it."

The "board is now positioned to make decisions on capital required to accelerate growth in the fast growing operational risk, intelligence and enforcement markets," where the company hopes to tap into making securely accessible mobile phone applications through its JOOB brand and its security solutions brand, Wynyard Group, she said.

As at Dec. 31, Jade Software had $5.4 million in cash and equivalents.

Managing director Craig Richardson said Jade Software is in its final year of its transformation programme.

"While it remains difficult to forecast during these challenging economic times, we have done the right things to ensure we have every opportunity to succeed in the year ahead," he said.

Jade Software recognised $1.2 million in government grants in the year, and was awarded $3.2 million over three years from the government's Technology Development Grant Programme in 2010.

The company spent $10.5 million on research and development in the year, though that fell to $4.4 million after it capitalised those costs.

The company is controlled by British financial services firm Skipton Building Society, with a 57 per cent stake, and investment syndicate USA Health Investors, with 26 per cent. New Zealand investors own about 14 per cent of the company, including founder Gilbert Simpson's 1.7 per cent stake.