SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Gold/Mining/Energy : Informission - web, B2B, & telecom software -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?


To: Gilbert Drapeau who wrote (176)3/14/2001 8:30:09 AM
From: Gilbert Drapeau  Read Replies (2) | Respond to of 192
 
NURUN Reaffirms its Positive Outlook for 2001

MONTREAL, QUEBEC--MARCH 14, 2001 - 08:00 EST

NURUN Inc., a subsidiary of Quebecor Inc., today
reaffirmed its positive outlook for 2001, based on the expansion
of the Company's international network and the steady growth in
its revenue backlog.
The Company expects double digit revenue growth, gross margin
year-over-year improvement and positive EBITDA (earnings before
interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) for 2001.
Additional and more detailed guidance on the Company's financial
outlook will be given at the time of its first quarter earnings
announcement.
"The performance of our e-business services should improve on a
sequential basis throughout the year as business picks up in our
existing offices and as we build momentum in the new offices we
are opening in Europe and the United States at the request of our
major clients such as L'Oréal," said Jacques-Hervé Roubert,
President and Chief Executive Officer.
"Over the past few months and weeks, we have won or renewed a
number of major accounts, including General Motors in Detroit,
units of PPR (Pinault-Printemps-La Redoute) Group in Paris, MTV
and Galbani in Italy, as well as several others in Montreal,
Quebec City and New York, and our longstanding clients such as
L'Oréal and Danone continue to give us new projects. Although
business conditions remain difficult, we have every reason to be
optimistic about the medium and long-term prospects for our
e-business services," added Mr. Roubert.
During the last six months, NURUN completed a major restructuring
and refocused on its core activities, which should also generate
benefits in the coming quarters and longer term.
/T/
* The Company has exited marginally profitable activities to
concentrate on e-business as well as its subsidiary Mindready which
recently completed its IPO.
* Cost reduction measures have been implemented, mainly at the
corporate office, for recurring annual cost savings of $2 million.
* The balance sheet has been addressed with a major goodwill and
asset write-down, positioning the Company for future profitability.
* The Company is implementing a major program to re-engineer and
harmonize business processes across its network in order to improve
operating efficiencies, productivity and return on investment.
* In sales and marketing, NURUN has mobilized its resources to
benefit from its close relationship with Quebecor World, its sister
company, particularly to leverage global and U.S. accounts.
* Finally, the NURUN management team has gained experience and
maturity with the arrival of several new members, particularly in
the strategic areas of operations and finance.
/T/
The Company enjoys a sound financial position, with cash, cash
equivalents and short-term investments of $73.9 million at the
beginning of 2001. The Company also notes that its exclusion from
the TSE 300 was not related in any way to its financial or
operational performance.

NURUN Inc.
NURUN Inc. (Toronto Stock Exchange: IFN), a subsidiary of the
Quebecor Inc. group, is a leading global network developing
e-business strategies designed to support multi-channel sales and
marketing activities for select clients in the "click and mortar"
environment. NURUN employs more than 1,200 professionals in 19
major cities worldwide. More information about NURUN can be found
at www.nurun.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
Except for historical information contained herein, the statements
in this document are forward-looking and made pursuant to the safe
harbor provisions of the Private Securities Reform Litigation Act
of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown
risks and uncertainties, which may cause our actual results in
future periods to differ materially from forecasted results.
Those risks include, among others, changes in customer demand for
our services, changes in labor and equipment costs and
availability, seasonal changes in customer orders, pricing actions
by our competitors and general changes in economic conditions.