EX-99.(C)(3) 3 dex99c3.htm FAIRNESS OPINION SUPPLEMENT AND PRESENTATION MATERIALS Fairness Opinion Supplement and presentation materials

EXHIBIT 99 (c)(3)

 

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SourcingLink.net, Inc.

 

Presentation to the Board of Directors

Fairness Opinion Supplement

 

As of: September 26, 2003

 

Report Date: September 26, 2003

 

As Amended: October 20, 2003

 

This analysis is based upon information supplied by SourcingLink.net, Inc. Friend & Company (“Friend”) has relied upon and assumed, without independent verification, the accuracy and completeness of the financial and other information provided to us. Any recipient of this document hereby agrees that all information contained herein is confidential, and that they will treat it as such, and will not, without prior written consent from Friend, directly or indirectly, disclose, copy or distribute such information. For additional information, please contact Friend at the address or telephone number listed below.

 

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a Division of B. Riley & Co. • Member NASD and SIPC

 

3333 Michelson Dr. © Suite 650 © Irvine, CA © 92612 ©Telephone: (949) 852-9911 © Fax: (949) 852-0430

 


 

 


Qualification Of Report:

 

THE FOLLOWING PAGES CONTAIN MATERIAL PROVIDED TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS (THE “DIRECTORS”) OF SOURCINGLINK.NET, INC. (“SOURCINGLINK” OR THE “COMPANY”) BY FRIEND & COMPANY (“FRIEND”) FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING A FAIRNESS OPINION REGARDING THE PROPOSED SPLIT TRANSACTION AND PRIVATE PLACEMENT. THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE TRANSACTIONS ARE SET OUT MORE FULLY IN THE COMPANY’S DRAFT PROXY STATEMENT TO THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (“SEC”). FRIEND WILL BE RENDERING AN OPINION TO THE DIRECTORS AS TO THE FAIRNESS, FROM A FINANCIAL POINT OF VIEW, TO SOURCINGLINK’S SHAREHOLDERS OF THE CONSIDERATION TO BE PAID IN THE SPLIT TRANSACTION AND THE SALE PRICE PER SHARE OFFERED IN THE PRIVATE PLACEMENT.

 

THE ACCOMPANYING MATERIAL WAS PREPARED ON A CONFIDENTIAL BASIS SOLELY FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AN ORAL PRESENTATION TO THE DIRECTORS AND NOT WITH A VIEW TOWARD COMPLYING WITH DISCLOSURE STANDARDS UNDER STATE AND FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS. THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS MATERIAL WAS FURNISHED BY THE COMPANY. FRIEND HAS RELIED ON, BUT DID NOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY TO INDEPENDENTLY INVESTIGATE OR VERIFY, THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS AND FAIRNESS OF ALL SUCH INFORMATION, AND THE CONCLUSIONS CONTAINED HEREIN ARE CONDITIONED UPON COMPANY INFORMATION BEING ACCURATE, COMPLETE AND FAIR IN ALL RESPECTS.

 

ALL ESTIMATES, FORECASTS AND PROJECTIONS CONTAINED HEREIN HAVE BEEN PREPARED BY THE COMPANY OR ARE DERIVED FROM ESTIMATES, FORECASTS AND PROJECTIONS PREPARED BY THE COMPANY, WHICH INVOLVE NUMEROUS AND SIGNIFICANT SUBJECTIVE DETERMINATIONS. THE ESTIMATES, FORECASTS AND PROJECTIONS CONTAINED HEREIN MAY OR MAY NOT BE ACHIEVED AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PROJECTED RESULTS AND THOSE ACTUALLY ACHIEVED MAY BE MATERIAL. WITH RESPECT TO THE FINANCIAL FORECASTS AND PROJECTIONS EXAMINED BY FRIEND, FRIEND ASSUMED THAT THEY WERE REASONABLY PREPARED ON BASIS REFLECTING THE BEST CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ESTIMATES AND GOOD FAITH JUDGMENTS OF THE COMPANY AS TO FUTURE PERFORMANCE FOR ALL PERIODS SPECIFIED THEREIN. NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, IS MADE AS TO THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS OR FAIRNESS OF SUCH INFORMATION AND NOTHING CONTAINED HEREIN IS, OR SHALL BE RELIED UPON AS, A PROMISE OR REPRESENTATION, WHETHER AS TO THE PAST OR THE FUTURE. NEITHER FRIEND NOR ANY OF ITS ADVISORS TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF ANY OF THE ACCOMPANYING MATERIAL. FRIEND HAS NOT BEEN REQUESTED TO, AND DID NOT MAKE AN INDEPENDENT EVALUATION OR APPRAISAL OF THE ASSETS OR LIABILITIES (CONTINGENT OR OTHERWISE KNOWN OR UNKNOWN) OF THE COMPANY, NOR HAVE THEY BEEN FURNISHED WITH ANY SUCH EVALUATIONS OR APPRAISALS.

 

 


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Qualification of Report (Continued):

 

THE PREPARATION OF A FAIRNESS OPINION INVOLVES VARIOUS DETERMINATIONS AS TO THE MOST APPROPRIATE AND RELEVANT METHODS OF FINANCIAL ANALYSES AND THE APPLICATION OF THOSE METHODS TO PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES AND, THEREFORE, SUCH AN OPINION IS NOT READILY SUSCEPTIBLE TO SUMMARY DESCRIPTION. FURTHERMORE, FRIEND DID NOT ATTRIBUTE ANY PARTICULAR WEIGHT TO ANY ANALYSIS OR FACTOR CONSIDERED BY IT, BUT RATHER MADE QUALITATIVE JUDGMENTS AS TO THE SIGNIFICANCE AND RELEVANCE OF EACH ANALYSIS AND FACTOR. ACCORDINGLY, FRIEND’S ANALYSES MUST BE CONSIDERED AS A WHOLE. CONSIDERING ANY PORTION OF SUCH ANALYSES OR THE FACTORS CONSIDERED, WITHOUT CONSIDERING ALL ANALYSES AND FACTORS, COULD CREATE A MISLEADING OR INCOMPLETE VIEW OF THE PROCESS UNDERLYING THE CONCLUSIONS EXPRESSED HEREIN. IN ITS ANALYSES, FRIEND MADE MANY ASSUMPTIONS WITH RESPECT TO INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE, GENERAL BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AND OTHER MATTERS, MANY OF WHICH ARE BEYOND THE CONTROL OF THE COMPANY. ANY ESTIMATES CONTAINED IN THESE ANALYSES ARE NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF ACTUAL VALUES OR PREDICTIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS OR VALUES, WHICH MAY BE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE OR LESS FAVORABLE THAN AS SET FORTH HEREIN. IN ADDITION, ANALYSES RELATING TO THE VALUE OF BUSINESSES DO NOT PURPORT TO BE APPRAISALS OR TO REFLECT THE PRICES AT WHICH BUSINESSES ACTUALLY MAY BE SOLD.

 

THESE MATERIALS ARE FOR THE USE OF THE DIRECTORS ONLY AND MAY NOT BE USED FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE WITHOUT FRIEND’S WRITTEN CONSENT. THE CONCLUSIONS EXPRESSED HEREIN ARE SUBJECT TO THE ASSUMPTIONS AND OTHER MATTERS CONTAINED IN THE WRITTEN FAIRNESS OPINION BEING DELIVERED TO THE DIRECTORS.

 

3333 Michelson Dr.   ·  Suite 650   ·  Irvine, CA   ·  92612   ·  Telephone: (949) 852-9911   ·  Fax: (949) 852-0430

 

 


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Executive Summary   CONFIDENTIAL   LOGO

 

Engagement Overview


 

Table of Contents

 

     Section

Executive Summary    I
Considerations and Observations    II
Common Stock Trading Analysis    III
Valuation Analysis    IV

•      Methodology Overview

•      Comparable Company Analysis

•      Selected Precedent Merger and Acquisition Analysis

•      Selected Precedent Going Private Transaction Analysis

    

Appendix

   V

 

 

 


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Executive Summary   CONFIDENTIAL   LOGO

 

Engagement Overview


 

  The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of SourcingLink.net, Inc., (“SourcingLink” or the “Company”) has engaged Friend & Company (“Friend”) to opine as to the fairness, from a financial point of view, of:

 

  the $0.15 price per pre-split share for the Split Transaction to the stockholders receiving the cash consideration (the “Split Opinion”); and

 

  the sale price per share of SourcingLink’s common stock to be issued in connection with the Private Placement to SourcingLink and its stockholders (the “Private Placement Opinion”).

 

  Friend was asked by the board of directors to consider both the fairness relating to the Split Transaction and the Private Placement separately. As such, Friend has not made any opinions, orally, written or otherwise, as to the comparability of the price per pre-split share for the Split Transaction and the price per share for the common stock to be issued in the Private Placement and no comparison of the two transactions should be implied or inferred.

 

  In rendering its Opinions, among other things, Friend:

 

  Considered applicable valuation methodologies utilized for similar transactions;

 

  Reviewed the draft proxy statement and associated documents related to the proposed Split Transaction;

 

  Reviewed SourcingLink’s Forms 10-KSB for the years ended March 31, 1998 through 2003, and its Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended June 30, 2003;

 

  Reviewed certain financial and operating information provided to Friend & Company by management relating to SourcingLink’s business, including its budget for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2004;

 

  Visited SourcingLink’s headquarters in San Diego, California;

 

  Interviewed SourcingLink’s management to discuss SourcingLink’s operations, historical financial statements and future prospects;

 


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Executive Summary   CONFIDENTIAL   LOGO

 

Engagement Overview, cont.


 

  Reviewed certain contracts, including material customer contracts, including, but not limited to, the contract with Carrefour S.A., which expired in the first part of fiscal 2004. Friend & Company noted that the Carrefour S.A. contract has generated the majority of SourcingLink’s revenue and cash flow in fiscal years 2003, 2002 and 2001;

 

  Reviewed SourcingLink’s historical market prices and trading volume of its publicly traded common stock, along with publicly available financial data on SourcingLink;

 

  Reviewed publicly available financial data and stock market performance data of public companies that Friend & Company deemed generally comparable to SourcingLink; and

 

  In arriving at our Private Placement Opinion, Friend also considered, among other things, the following:

 

  The current market price of SourcingLink’s common stock and the prospects, or lack thereof, of higher prices in the near to intermediate future;

 

  SourcingLink’s lack of prospects for raising alternative debt or equity financing;

 

  SourcingLink’s past inability to meet its sales and operating profit budgets, as discussed with SourcingLink’s management;

 

  The going concern qualifying statement made by SourcingLink’s former auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, in their Report of Independent Auditors for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003;

 


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Executive Summary   CONFIDENTIAL   LOGO

 

Engagement Overview, cont.


 

  The use of proceeds from the Private Placement, which were disclosed to Friend, are primarily to effect the proposed Split Transaction. Friend & Company noted that the closing prices of SourcingLink’s common stock over the past year are at a significant discount to the consideration in the proposed Private Placement. In addition, SourcingLink has failed to generate positive earning per share throughout its history. We noted that the proposed Private Placement would allow SourcingLink’s stockholders to receive a premium price for their common stock, paid in cash with minimum transaction costs;

 

  SourcingLink’s primary source of revenue and cash flow for the fiscal years 2003, 2002 and 2001 has come from the contract with Carrefour S.A., which expired in the first part of fiscal 2004;

 

  SourcingLink continues to lose money on a monthly basis and at June 30, 2003, it had an accumulated deficit of approximately $24.4 million. If SourcingLink is unable to obtain the funds necessary to continue to operate its business, it would be required to reduce operating spending, which could materially and adversely affect its business.

 

  The analysis does not address the underlying business decision by the Company to proceed with or effect the transactions, or the structure thereof, the relative merits of the transactions compared to any alternative business strategy or transaction in which the Company might engage, or whether any alternative transaction might produce superior benefits.

 

  Nothing in this analysis should be construed to imply or constitute a recommendation to SourcingLink stockholders as how to vote with respect to the Split Transaction or Private Placement or any action a stockholder should take with respect to the proposed transactions.

 

  Based on the foregoing analysis, Friend will deliver an opinion to the Board of Directors of SourcingLink stating that (i) the consideration offered to the stockholders receiving the consideration in the Split Transaction is fair, from a financial point of view, to those stockholders receiving the consideration, and (ii) the sale price per pre-split share offered in the Private Placement is fair, from a financial point of view, to SourcingLink and its stockholders.

 


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Executive Summary    CONFIDENTIAL    LOGO

 

Transaction Overview


 

The Split Transaction

 

  SourcingLink desires to amend its Certificate of Incorporation to effect a reverse stock split and cash payment of fractional shares followed immediately by a forward stock split. The reverse/forward stock split is proposed to terminate SourcingLink’s reporting obligations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

  Under the structure of the Split Transaction, the Company will effect a reverse split of SourcingLink’s common stock at a ratio of 5,100 to 1 followed immediately by a forward split at a ratio of 1 to 5,100 shares of common stock (the “Split Transaction”).

 

  Upon completion of the Split Transaction, stockholders holding less than one full share after giving effect to the reverse 5,100 to 1 stock split will receive a payment of $0.15 per share (the “Purchase Price”) for each share of common stock held immediately prior to the effective time of the reverse split (each, a “Pre-Split Share”).

 

  If the reverse stock split is completed, stockholders with less than 5,100 Pre-Split shares will have no further interest in SourcingLink and will become entitled only to payment for their Pre-Split shares.

 

  The Split Transaction is expected to result in the cash-out of approximately 1,566,000 shares of common stock at the purchase price of $0.15 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of not more than approximately $235,000.

 

  The intended effect of the Split Transaction will be to reduce the number of stockholders of record to less than 300, thereby allowing the Company to terminate its reporting obligations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

  In order to be approved, 6,349,398 shares of common stock must be voted in favor of the Split Transaction.

 


 

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Executive Summary    CONFIDENTIAL    LOGO

 

Transaction Overview, cont.


 

The Private Placement

 

  SourcingLink desires to issue and sell 3,333,333 shares of common stock at $0.15 per share and seven-year warrants to purchase up to an additional aggregate of 366,667 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.15 per share in a private placement to an institutional investor, St. Cloud Investments Ltd. (“St. Cloud”) pursuant to a non-binding letter of intent between St. Cloud and the Company.

 

  The warrants contain a call right in favor of SourcingLink for a period ending on June 30, 2004. Such call right, when exercised, requires the warrantholder to exercise the warrants for the number of shares of common stock specified by SourcingLink.

 

  As of September 26, 2003, there were 12,698,794 shares of SourcingLink common stock outstanding. After completion of the Private Placement, St. Cloud will own approximately 27.3% of SourcingLink’s common stock.

 

  St. Cloud is an existing investor in the Company and owns approximately 8.6% of the Company’s common stock, as of August 22, 2003.

 

  SourcingLink’s goal in the additional financing is to raise sufficient capital needed to fund the Split Transaction.

 

  The Private Placement is subject to the approval by SourcingLink’s stockholders of the Split Transaction.

 


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Executive Summary    CONFIDENTIAL    LOGO

 

Valuation Methodology Overview


 

In evaluating the Split Transaction we performed the following valuation analysis:

 

  Comparable Public Company Analysis

 

  Precedent Transaction Analysis

 

  Going Private Transaction Analys is

 

Additionally, we performed the following analysis:

 

  Premiums paid analysis

 

  Historical stock trading and volume analysis

 


 

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Executive Summary    CONFIDENTIAL    LOGO

 

Valuation Analysis Summary


 

VALUATION ANALYSIS SUMMARY

 

     Low

            High

    Median

    Transaction

 

Comparable Company Analysis

                                        

Implied price per share

   $ 0.14           $ 0.50     $ 0.27     $ 0.15  

Precedent Transaction Analysis

                                        

Implied price per share

   $ 0.09           $ 0.65     $ 0.22     $ 0.15  

Premiums Paid

                                        

One day prior

     5.7 %           227.2 %     48.1 %     200.0 %

One week prior

     -0.8 %           177.1 %     50.6 %     177.8 %

Four weeks prior

     -17.5 %           212.5 %     65.2 %     182.1 %

Going Private Transactions

                                        

Implied price per share

   $ 0.08           $ 0.61     $ 0.13     $ 0.15  

Premiums Paid

                                        

One day prior

     5.7 %           156.0 %     41.6 %     200.0 %

One week prior

     4.4 %           177.8 %     45.3 %     177.8 %

Four weeks prior

     -33.3 %           169.5 %     45.8 %     182.1 %

 

 


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Considerations & Observations    CONFIDENTIAL    LOGO

 

Overview: SourcingLink.net


 

  SourcingLink competes in an industry that is extremely competitive and in which many of its competitors possess a significant amount of financial and operation resources.

 

  The Company’s largest customer to date, Carrefour, S.A. (“Carrefour”), completed its contract with the Company in the beginning of fiscal 2004. Carrefour has generated the majority of SourcingLink’s revenue and cash flow in fiscal years 2003, 2002 and 2001.

 

  The Company has depended on revenue from its professional services operations for the generation of the majority of its revenues, of which the Carrefour contract provided for the majority of that revenue. In addition, SourcingLink management expects that its professional services revenue in fiscal year 2004 will decline from the level achieved in fiscal 2003.

 

  SourcingLink faces long sales and implementation cycles, which prohibit management from accurately predicting the source and extent of future cash flows.

 

  Revenues have declined for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2003 versus the prior year, as well as for the three months ended June 30, 2003 versus the three months ended June 30, 2002.

 

  The Company continues to lose cash on a monthly basis. In the quarter ended June 30, 2003, SourcingLink’s operating activities used cash of $90,000 per month and had a net loss for the three-month period of $371,000.

 

  In order to compensate for the drop in revenues due to the completion of the Carrefour contract, the Company has reduced certain operating expenses to lower the rate of consumption of cash. The Company plans to maintain this lower level of investment in sales and marketing, management and product development of its solutions and services until it can secure new customers and/or obtain additional equity financing.

 


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Considerations & Observations    CONFIDENTIAL    LOGO

 

Historical and Projected Financials

Income Statement


 

SourcingLink.net, Inc.

Consolidated Income Statements

($000s)

 

                       3 months ended

   

Trailing
Twelve Months

Ended

       
Twelve Months Ended March 31,    2001

    2002

    2003

    6/30/02

    6/30/03

    6/30/03

    2004

 
     Audited     Audited     Audited     Unaudited     Unaudited     Unaudited     Projected  

Revenue

                                                        

Professional services

  

$

3,521

 

  $ 3,613     $ 3,095     $ 861     $ 484     $ 2,718     $ 1,860  

Subscribers

     491       59       185       45       43       183       723  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


Total revenues

     4,012       3,672       3,280       906       527       2,901       2,584  

Cost of revenues

                                                        

Professional services

     958       1,130       1,015       260       195       950       538  

Subscribers

     633       228       197       48       39       188       304  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


Total cost of revenues

     1,591       1,358       1,212       308       234       1,138       842  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


Gross profit

     2,421       2,314       2,068       598       293       1,763       1,742  

Operating expenses

                                                        

Selling, general and administrative

     3,028       3,216       2,518       711       540       2,347       2,962  

Product development

     954       773       780       157       98       721       718  

Depreciation and amortization

     254       341       395       103       27       319       217  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


Total operating expenses

     4,236       4,330       3,693       971       665       3,387       3,897  

Operating income (loss)

     (1,815 )     (2,016 )     (1,625 )     (373 )     (372 )     (1,624 )     (2,155 )

Other expense (income), net

     21       21       (85 )     (85 )     1       1       (0 )

Interest income (expense)

     243       86       20       9       2       13       —    

Net income before taxes

     (1,593 )     (1,951 )     (1,520 )     (279 )     (371 )     (1,612 )     (2,154 )

(Provision) benefit for income taxes

     —         —         —         —         —         —         (10 )

Net income (loss)

   $ (1,593 )   $ (1,951 )   $ (1,520 )   $ (279 )   $ (371 )   $ (1,612 )   $ (2,164 )
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


Per Share Data

                                                        

Earnings (loss) per share — fully diluted

   $ (0.20 )   $ (0.24 )   $ (0.16 )   $ (0.03 )   $ (0.04 )   $ (0.17 )   $ (0.17 )

EBITDA Calculation

                                                        
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


Operating Income (EBIT)

   $ (1,815 )   $ (2,016 )   $ (1,625 )   $ (373 )   $ (372 )   $ (1,624 )   $ (2,155 )

Add: Depreciation & Amortization

     254       341       395       103       27       319       217  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


EBITDA

   $ (1,561 )   $ (1,675 )   $ (1,230 )   $ (270 )   $ (345 )   $ (1,305 )   $ (1,938 )

 


 

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Considerations & Observations    CONFIDENTIAL    LOGO

 

Historical and Projected Financials, cont.

Balance Sheet


 

SourcingLink.net, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheet

($000s)

 

     March 31,

   June 30,    March 31,  
     2002

   2003

   2003

   2004

 
Assets    Audited    Audited    Unaudited    Projected  

Current Assets

                             

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 2,934    $ 1,346    $ 1,076    $ 1,555  

Accounts receivable, net

     61      171      177      417  

Other current assets

     105      59      97      80  
    

  

  

  


Total current assets

     3,100      1,576      1,350      2,052  

Property and equipment, net

     503      129      102      242  

Other assets

     8      46      46      46  
    

  

  

  


Total assets

   $ 3,611    $ 1,751    $ 1,498    $ 2,340  
    

  

  

  


Liabilities and Shareholders Equity

                             

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

   $ 909    $ 733    $ 698    $ 925  

Deferred revenue

     330      146      299      2,606  
    

  

  

  


Total current liabilities

     1,239      879      997      3,532  

Long term debt

     —        —        —        —    
    

  

  

  


Total liabilities

     1,239      879      997      3,532  

Stockholders’ equity

     2,372      872      501      (1,192 )

Total liabilities & stockholders’ equity

   $ 3,611    $ 1,751    $ 1,498    $ 2,340  
    

  

  

  


Total interest bearing debt

     —        —        —        —    

Working capital

     1,861      697      353      (1,480 )

 

 


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Common Stock Trading Analysis   CONFIDENTIAL   LOGO

 

Historical Stock Chart

 


 

SNET 1-Year Stock Chart

September 27, 2002 to September 26, 2003

 

 

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Date

 

 


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Common Stock Trading Analysis   CONFIDENTIAL   LOGO

 

Historical Stock Chart, cont.


 

SNET 6-Month Stock Chart

March 27, 2002 to September 26, 2003

 

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Date

 


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Common Stock Trading Analysis   CONFIDENTIAL   LOGO

 

Historical Stock Chart, cont.


 

SNET 3-Month Stock Chart

June 27, 2002 to September 26, 2003

 

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Date

 


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Common Stock Trading Analysis    CONFIDENTIAL    LOGO

 

Volume at Price Chart


 

Because an abnormally large number of shares (996,400) were traded on July 10, 2003, Friend chose to also analyze a volume at price chart that is adjusted to exclude the trading volume of that day in an attempt to look at a more “normalize” volume at price chart. That chart is located on the right and on the following pages.

 

SNET 1-Year Volume at Price

September 27, 2002 to September 26, 2003

 

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Price Segment

 

SNET 1-Year Volume at Price — Adjusted

September 27, 2002 to September 26, 2003

 

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Price Segment

 


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Common Stock Trading Analysis    CONFIDENTIAL    LOGO

 

Volume at Price Chart, cont.


 

SNET 6-Month Volume at Price

March 27, 2002 to September 26, 2003

 

 

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Price Segment

 

SNET 6-Month Volume at Price — Adjusted

March 27, 2002 to September 26, 2003

 

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Price Segment

 


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Common Stock Trading Analysis    CONFIDENTIAL    LOGO

 

Volume at Price Chart, cont.


 

SNET 3-Month Volume at Price

June 27, 2002 to September 26, 2003

 

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Price Segment

 

SNET 3-Month Volume at Price — Adjusted

June 27, 2002 to September 26, 2003

 

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Price Segment

 

 


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Valuation Analysis   CONFIDENTIAL   LOGO

 

Valuation Methodology Overview


 

In determining a range of fairness for the price per Pre-Split share for the Split Transaction and the sale price per share offered in the Private Placement, Friend relied on two fundamental valuation approaches and an analysis of the Company’s common stock and trading volume over the past year:

 

  Comparable Public Company Analysis — estimates value based on comparison of the target company’s financial statistics with financial statistics of relevant comparable public companies.

 

  Precedent Transaction Analysis — estimates value based on comparison of multiples paid for comparable companies in arms-length negotiated mergers or acquisitions.

 

  Going Private Transaction Analysis — estimates value based on comparison of multiples paid for companies in which the intent of the transaction is to take the company private. This analysis was only used as a test for fairness for the Split Opinion.

 

Other Valuation Approaches Considered

 

Discounted Cash Flow Method

 

The DCF approach utilizes the concept that the worth of a business is best represented by the present value of the estimated cash flow streams it can generate in the future. The estimated cash flow streams of a business enterprise are then adjusted to reflect the time value of money as well as the associated business and economic risks of that enterprise. While the DCF approach is the most theoretically valid approach, it relies on the ability of the appraiser and Company management to forecast cash flows with reasonable accuracy and assess the risk associated with those cash flows. As with any forecast, there is an element of uncertainty involved.

 

Because SourcingLink’s management does not generally prepare long-term projections and as recent sales and earnings have not met expectations as established in the Company’s annual budget (as expressed to Friend by Company management), an alternative would be to use the Company’s historical earnings as a proxy for expected earnings. However, since the Company has no history of positive earnings and does not expect to have positive earnings in the projected fiscal year ending March 31, 2004, the DCF approach to valuation was deemed not appropriate by Friend.

 

 


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Executive Summary    CONFIDENTIAL    LOGO

 

Transaction Overview, cont.


 

Adjusted Net Book Value Method

 

Adjusted Net Book Value Method technique values each of the assets and liabilities as its estimated current market value and adjusts the equity figure accordingly. The approach is generally applicable to businesses which are holding companies, liquidation candidates, have substantial capital investment in tangible assets or for which the operating earnings are relatively insignificant as an indicator of investment value. However, the assumption that a business enterprise is worth the value of its underlying book assets is not accurate in most industries. As such, Friend deemed this method to not be appropriate for this Opinion given the particular characteristics of the transaction and that SourcingLink is insolvent from a tangible book value basis.

 

 


LOGO   

18


Selected Public Company Analysis   CONFIDENTIAL   LOGO

 

Valuation Analysis, cont.


 

Comparable Company Analysis

 

  Compares subject company to publicly traded companies involved in the same or similar line of business.

 

  Valuation multiples are derived from the operating data calculated as a multiple of Enterprise Value (“EV”).

 

     Market Value of Equity

+

   Total Interest Bearing Debt

-  

  

Cash


=

   Enterprise Value

 

  Typical multiples

 

— EV/EBITDA

 

— EV/SALES

 

  Multiples are then evaluated and adjusted to reflect relative strengths and weaknesses between the guideline companies and the subject company.

 

  Selected multiples are applied to the operating data of the subject company to arrive at a market-based indication of value.

 

  Accordingly, the analysis is not entirely mathematical; rather it involves complex considerations and judgments concerning differences in financial and operating characteristics and other factors.

 

 


LOGO         19


Selected Public Company Analysis   CONFIDENTIAL   LOGO

 

Valuation Analysis, cont.


 

The relevant companies are as follows:

 

Verticalnet, Inc. (NasdaqNM:VERT)

 

Verticalnet is a provider of collaborative supply chain solutions that enable companies to drive costs and inventory out of their supply base through more effective sourcing and supplier collaboration. With a comprehensive set of collaborative supply chain software applications including spend analysis, strategic sourcing, collaborative planning and order management, Verticalnet offers a broad integrated supply chain solution. Its collaborative supply chain solutions enable companies and their entire network of business partners to reap the benefits of working together and sharing information. Verticalnet® Strategic Sourcing, Collaborative Planning, and Order Management enable companies to more effectively manage the Supply Management processes resulting in better visibility, reduced cost, lower inventory and streamlined administrative effort. The Company’s software is sold based on traditional license and maintenance agreements as well as through a newly introduced monthly subscription model. Under a monthly subscription plan, a customer’s software investment is timed more closely with project benefits allowing projects to rapidly become self-funding. Additionally, by instituting monthly subscription pricing, Verticalnet prospects can often afford to pay for the software out of their operating budgets, rather than having to justify a capital expenditure.

 

QRS Corp, Inc. (NasdaqNM:QRSI)

 

QRS is a provider of collaborative commerce solutions for the retail industry trading community. Its products and services help thousands of retailers, vendors, manufacturers, suppliers, wholesalers and distributors to connect and communicate electronically, transact business, collaborate on processes and decisions, and differentiate their brands in the global marketplace. Its products and services are typically integrated with our customers’ enterprise information technology systems in order to deliver greater benefits and efficiencies to these customers.

 

QRS market our products and services in three Solutions Groups: Software Applications, Trading Community Management and Global Services. Software Applications automate and help optimize business processes between companies. Specifically, they support the following business functions: product data synchronization; collaborative product planning, design, production, and shipment; online merchandising, promotions and sales; and supply chain exception management. Software Applications include both enterprise applications installed on customers’ computer systems and hosted applications installed on our computer systems.

 

Trading Community Management solutions allow retailers, vendors and their trading partners to exchange electronic business documents (such as purchase orders, invoices and advance ship notices) and collaborate on business processes (such as inventory management and financial reconciliation). These electronic transactions are conducted over a value added network (VAN) or over the Internet. QRS’ products and services eliminate paper transactions, mail delays and manual data entry errors as the communication of these electronic business documents is typically integrated with the accounting and inventory systems of our customers and their trading partners.

 


LOGO         20


Selected Public Company Analysis   CONFIDENTIAL   LOGO

 

Valuation Analysis, cont.


 

Commerce One, Inc. (NasdaqNM:CMRC)

 

Commerce One provides software and services for setting up and operating online business-to-business (B2B) trading exchanges connecting customers, partners, and suppliers. Its applications help automate sourcing and procurement operations and allow companies to collaborate with their trading partners in order to optimize supply chain operations. It also offers data translation and mediation software that allows companies using different internal information systems to share

product specification data. In addition, the company provides consulting, maintenance, and support services.

 

Commerce One Conductor provides its customers with a platform to build and manage composite processes as well as a library of “Process Accelerators” to offer a template of best practices and to speed the time to value of key manufacturing processes. Once deployed, these templates are stored in Conductor and are designed for reuse and access by all applications within the systems. The Commerce One Conductor platform and Process Accelerators work together to enable companies and applications to connect, create and maintain shared business processes regardless of their underlying workflow, semantics, user rules and applications.

 

FreeMarkets, Inc. (NasdaqNM:TRFX)

 

FreeMarkets, Inc. provides software, services and information to help companies improve their sourcing and supply management processes and enhance the capabilities of their supply management organization. The Company’s customers are buyers of industrial parts, raw materials, commodities and services. The Company’s solutions combine software, services and information to address the global supply management market. FreeMarkets serves its customers from 18 locations in 14 countries on five continents.

 

Since its inception, FreeMarkets has provided software and services to help companies identify savings, enhance their sourcing efficiency and achieve their strategic sourcing goals by enabling them to source goods and services in our online markets. In providing these services FreeMarkets work with its customers to identify and screen suppliers and to assemble a request for quotation that provides detailed, clear and consistent information for suppliers to use in our online markets. Its web-based technology enables suppliers from around the world to submit bids for our customers’ purchase orders in real-time interactive competition featuring “downward price” dynamic bidding. While we have provided this technology-enhanced service to buyers since 1995, we began to describe it using the “FullSource” name in 2001.

 


LOGO         21


Selected Public Company Analysis   CONFIDENTIAL   LOGO

 

Valuation Analysis, cont.


 

Cyber Merchants Exchange, Inc. (OTC BB:CMEE)

 

Cyber Merchants Exchange, Inc. (C-Me) is a business-to-business international trading company that creates efficiencies for retailers to source and finance international purchases. The Company builds private extranets, Internet Sourcing Networks, for its retail partners. The Company also provides vendors with a Virtual Trade Show, a vertical marketplace for vendors to display their product in an open environment accessible to any buyer around the world. In addition, C-Me’s Global Financial Platform allows United States retailers to purchase overseas merchandise without the need of issuing a Letter of Credit. The Company also established the Apparel Sourcing Association Pavilion Trade Show, an international sourcing and manufacturing trade show that brings manufacturers from around the world to one venue to greet, meet and sell to buyers. The Company is developing two additional services, the Wholesale Auction Center and Factory Outlet Mall.

 

In January 2001, the Company began to focus and continues to focus on sourcing overseas goods for small retailers and off-price retailers such as Value City Department Stores, Ross Stores, Factory 2-U Stores, Ames Department Stores and others who do not have their own import departments. The Company is using email to show the overseas’ stock lots, or close out, merchandise in a standard format, and then C-Me’s sales staff personally presents pre-qualified goods to the retailer who responds to the Company’s email marketing. The Company’s management team believes that having both an efficient and easy-to-use electronic trading system and a national sales force in place will significantly contribute to the Company’s ability to successfully compete in the marketplace.

 

Global Sources Ltd. (NasdaqNM:GSOL)

 

Global Sources Ltd. provides services that allow global buyers to identify suppliers and products, and enable suppliers to market their products to a large number of buyers. The Company’s primary online service is creating and hosting marketing Websites that present suppliers’ product and company information Global Sources Online. The Company offers electronic cataloging services for buyers and suppliers. My Catalogs enable buyers to maintain customized information on suppliers. Private Supplier Catalogs are password-protected online environments where suppliers can develop and maintain their own product and company data. Complementing these services are various trade magazines and CD-ROMs. Its businesses are conducted primarily through Trade Media Ltd., its wholly owned subsidiary. Through certain other wholly owned subsidiaries, it also organizes conferences and exhibitions on technology-related issues and licenses Asian Sources/Global Sources Online and catalog services.

 


LOGO         22


Selected Public Company Analysis   CONFIDENTIAL   LOGO

 

Valuation Analysis, cont.


 

Click Commerce, Inc. (NasdaqNM:CKCM)

 

Click Commerce, Inc. provides business-to-business partner relationship management software products that connect large, global manufacturing companies with their distribution channel partners. The Click Commerce solution, which consists of the Partner Portal, 14 business applications and the Click Commerce Developer Studio, automates communication and business processes across the distribution channel. The Click Commerce system is personalized to each individual user, accommodating each user’s language, time zone and currency preferences. Companies using its software products can receive and track orders, provide warranty information and provide product and pricing information to their channel partners. The Company’s system is specifically designed to use the Internet, and integrates with existing back-office computer systems without requiring significant additional technology expenditures.

 


LOGO         23


Selected Public Company Analysis    CONFIDENTIAL    LOGO

 

Valuation Analysis, cont.


 

Public Comparable Company Market Multiples

($ thousands, except per share data)

 

Company Name


   Symbol

   Price1

   Revenue

   EBITDA

    EPS

   

Enterprise

Value2


   LTM Multiples

                  

EV/

Revenue


  

EV/

EBITDA


Verticalnet

   VERT    $ 1.30    $ 35,084    $ 24,203     $ 1.73     $ 16,827    0.48x    0.70x

QRS Corp.

   QRSI    $ 9.05    $ 126,874    $ 14,575     $ 0.26     $ 110,056    0.87x    7.55x

Commerce One

   CMRC    $ 2.41    $ 67,347    $ (63,605 )   $ (2.75 )   $ 87,628    1.30x    n/m

Freemarkets

   FMKT    $ 9.19    $ 151,817    $ (4,876 )   $ (0.45 )   $ 275,130    1.81x    n/m

Cyber Merchants Exchange

   CMEE    $ 0.21    $ 3,531    $ (1,319 )   $ (0.31 )   $ 1,456    0.41x    n/m

Global Sources

   GSOL    $ 7.96    $ 87,526    $ 14,787     $ 0.20     $ 162,103    1.85x    10.96x

Click Commerce

   CKCM    $ 2.02    $ 15,520    $ (2,637 )   $ (0.31 )   $ 4,566    0.29x    n/m

                               

High

   1.85x    10.96x
                               

Low

   0.29x    0.70x
                               

Mean

   1.00x    6.40x
                               

Median

   0.87x    7.55x
                               

Adj. Mean3

   0.97x    NM

Notes:

n/m =   Not Meaningful.

n/a  =    Not Available

 

(1)    Price equals 20-day closing average as of September 17, 2003

(2)    Enterprise Value (EV) = equity market capitalization plus interest bearing debt less cash.

(3)    Adjusted Mean excludes high and low observations.

 


LOGO         24


Selected Public Company Analysis    CONFIDENTIAL    LOGO

 

Valuation Analysis, cont.


 

Public Comparable Company Market Multiple Analysis

($ thousands, except per share data)

 

SourcingLink.net, Inc.

($000s)

 

     LTM Revenues1

     Low

   Median

   High

Selected Public Company Enterprise Value Multiple Range

     0.29x      0.87x      1.85x

Operating Data

   $ 2,901    $ 2,901    $ 2,901

Implied Enterprise Value Range

   $ 854    $ 2,516    $ 5,373
    

  

  

Add: cash2

   $ 925    $ 925    $ 925

Less: debt

     —        —        —  
    

  

  

Implied Equity Value Range

   $ 1,779    $ 3,441    $ 6,298
    

  

  

Implied Equity Value Range Per Share

   $ 0.14    $ 0.27    $ 0.50

(1) As of June 30, 2003
(2) As of August 31, 2003

 

 


LOGO         25


Selected Precedent Transaction Analysis    CONFIDENTIAL    LOGO

 

Valuation Analysis, cont.


 

Precedent Transaction Analysis

 

  Similar to Public Company approach – estimates value based on comparison of multiples paid for comparable companies in arms’-length negotiated mergers or acquisitions.

 

  Analysis may be impacted by several factors that may introduce “noise” into the analysis, including:

 

    Premiums (bidding war)

 

    Discounts

 

    Market environment not identical for transactions occurring at different times

 

    Circumstances pertaining to specific companies (i.e. distress)

 

  Data on transactions may be incomplete or unavailable.

 

  Critical components:

 

    “Fit” of comparables

 

    Valuation metrics

 

    Market conditions

 

 


LOGO       26


Selected Precedent Transaction Analysis   CONFIDENTIAL   LOGO

 

Valuation Analysis, cont.


 

Precedent Transaction Analysis

Transactions with SIC Code: 7372 — Prepackaged Software

January 1, 2001 to August 26, 2003; Transaction values less than $50 million

($ Millions)

 

                        Target Company LTM Data

     Multiple

Date

Effective


 

Target Name


  

Acquiror Name


  

% of

Shares

Acq.


   Transaction
Value1


   Sales

   EBITDA

     EV/Sales

08/08/2003

 

Made2Manage Systems Inc

   Battery Ventures VI LP    100.00    $ 30.51    $ 30.10    $ 0.49      1.01x

07/22/2003

 

Elevon Inc

   SSA Global Technologies Inc    100.00    $ 20.25    $ 32.90    $ 2.43      0.62x

03/17/2003

 

Viador Inc

   MASB Inc    100.00    $ 3.88    $ 5.30    $ (3.46 )    0.73x

03/14/2003

 

TCSI Corp

   Rocket Software Inc    100.00    $ 10.69    $ 7.70    $ (8.68 )    1.39x

03/06/2003

 

Extensity Inc

   Geac Computer Corp Ltd    100.00    $ 46.06    $ 25.70    $ (13.46 )    1.79x

02/14/2003

 

Clarent Corp

   Verso Technologies Inc    100.00    $ 9.80    $ 110.50    $ (159.08 )    0.09x

12/19/2002

 

Excelon Corp

   Progress Software Corp    100.00    $ 24.49    $ 41.80    $ (74.61 )    0.59x

12/09/2002

 

InforMax Inc

   Invitrogen Corp    100.00    $ 42.75    $ 16.90    $ (20.41 )    2.53x

12/03/2002

 

ClickAction Inc

   infoUSA Inc    100.00    $ 4.10    $ 10.10    $ (1.63 )    0.41x

12/02/2002

 

INSpire Insurance Solutions

   CGI Group Inc    100.00    $ 5.40    $ 55.20    $ (9.06 )    0.10x

10/15/2002

 

Interlinq Software Corp

   Harland Finl Solutions Inc    100.00    $ 33.55    $ 8.70    $ 3.30      1.79x

03/22/2002

 

QueryObject Systems Corp

   CrossZ Solutions SpA    100.00    $ 0.90    $ 1.90    $ (9.60 )    0.47x

02/16/2002

 

ALPNET Inc

   SDL PLC    100.00    $ 7.28    $ 48.90    $ (2.30 )    0.15x

12/27/2001

 

Liquent Inc

   Information Holdings Inc    100.00    $ 42.58    $ 22.10    $ (10.90 )    1.93x

12/21/2001

 

net.Genesis Corp

   SPSS Inc    100.00    $ 43.03    $ 19.50    $ (39.50 )    2.21x

12/06/2001

 

Telescan Inc

   Ziasun Technologies Inc    100.00    $ 5.91    $ 32.00    $ (16.60 )    0.18x

12/05/2001

 

Eprise Corp

   Divine Inc    100.00    $ 44.84    $ 20.10    $ (26.00 )    2.23x

11/16/2001

 

Telemate Net Software Inc

   Verso Technologies Inc    100.00    $ 16.07    $ 9.70    $ (15.44 )    1.66x

09/26/2001

 

Learn2.com Inc

   E-Stamp Corp    100.00    $ 6.46    $ 22.10    $ (13.30 )    0.29x

09/11/2001

 

Mbrane

   Birdstep Technology ASA    100.00    $ 1.80    $ 32.50    $ (24.90 )    0.06x

08/27/2001

 

Microware Systems Corp

   RadiSys Corp    100.00    $ 15.24    $ 14.00    $ (3.19 )    1.09x

06/19/2001

 

CUseeMe Networks Inc

   First Virtual Communications    100.00    $ 20.32    $ 12.10    $ (9.70 )    1.68x

05/03/2001

 

Alysis Technologies Inc

   Pitney Bowes Inc    100.00    $ 22.16    $ 8.70    $ (11.35 )    2.55x

04/30/2001

 

Fourth Shift Corp

   AremisSoft Corp    100.00    $ 40.03    $ 64.20    $ 0.45      0.62x

03/28/2001

 

Prime Response Inc

   Chordiant Software Inc    100.00    $ 33.00    $ 20.50    $ (15.35 )    1.61x

02/11/2002

 

Leapnet Inc

   Investor Group    85.00    $ 10.01    $ 35.60    $ (24.70 )    0.28x

12/21/2001

 

Eagle Point Software Corp

   JB Acquisitions LLC    73.20    $ 23.84    $ 18.00    $ (0.10 )    1.32x

05/31/2002

 

Ecometry Corp

   SG Merger Corp    65.14    $ 21.94    $ 28.90    $ (8.50 )    0.76x

03/27/2001

 

Document Sciences Corp

   Document Sciences Corp    54.93    $ 12.00    $ 22.60    $ 0.31      0.53x

11/30/2001

 

Scientific Learning Corp

   Warburg Pincus    35.02    $ 5.00    $ 16.30    $ (18.23 )    0.31x

05/30/2003

 

Sandata Technologies Inc

   Sandata Acquisition Corp    30.00    $ 1.57    $ 17.20    $ 2.33      0.09x

01/31/2003

 

Printcafe Software Inc

   Creo Inc    24.17    $ 3.34    $ 46.50    $ (43 )    0.07x

01/14/2002

 

Organic Inc

   Seneca Investments LLC    19.30    $ 5.75    $ 90.40    $ (60.30 )    0.06x
                          High    2.55x
                         

Low

   0.06x
                         

Mean

   0.95x
                         

Median

   0.62x
                         

Adjusted Mean2

   0.92x

Notes:

 

Source: Thompson Financial Securities Data

n/m = Not Meaningful.
n/a = Not Available

 

(1) Transaction Value = Total dollar value of consideration paid, including all payment types. All terms are approximate.
(2) Adjusted Mean excludes high and low observations.

 


LOGO         27

 

 


Selected Precedent Transaction Analysis   CONFIDENTIAL   LOGO

 

Valuation Analysis, cont.


 

Precedent Transaction Analysis

($ thousands, except per share data)

 

SourcingLink.net, Inc.

($000’s)

 

     LTM Revenues1

     Low

   Median

   High

Selected Public Company

                    

Enterprise Value Multiple Ranges

     0.06x      0.62x      2.55x

Pro Forma LTM Historical Operating Data

   $ 2,901    $ 2,901    $ 2,901

Implied Enterprise Value Range

   $ 161    $ 1,809    $ 7,388

Add: cash2

   $ 925    $ 925    $ 925

Less: debt

     —        —        —  
    

  

  

Implied Equity Value Range

   $ 1,086    $ 2,734    $ 8,313

Implied Equity Value Range Per Share

   $ 0.09    $ 0.22    $ 0.65

(1) As of June 30, 2003
(2) As of August 31, 2003

 


LOGO         28


Selected Precedent Transaction Analysis   CONFIDENTIAL   LOGO

 

Valuation Analysis, cont.

Premiums Paid Analysis


 

Premiums Paid Analysis — Precedent Transactions

Transactions with SIC Code: 7372 — Prepackaged Software

January 1, 2001 to August 26, 2003; Transaction values less than $50 million

($ Millions)

 

Date

Effective


  

Target Name


  

Acquiror

Name


  

% of

Shares

Acq.


  

Transaction

Value1


  

Premium

1 day

prior to

announce-

ment

date


   

Premium

1 week

prior to

announce-

ment

date


   

Premium

4 weeks

prior to

ann. date


 
08/08/2003    Made2Manage Systems Inc    Battery Ventures VI LP    100.00    $ 30.51    35.7 %   42.5 %   37.4 %

03/14/2003

   TCSI Corp    Rocket Software Inc    100.00    $ 10.69    48.6 %   62.5 %   48.6 %
03/06/2003    Extensity Inc    Geac Computer Corp Ltd    100.00    $ 46.06    128.1 %   143.7 %   89.3 %
12/09/2002    InforMax Inc    Invitrogen Corp    100.00    $ 42.75    142.9 %   151.9 %   115.9 %
10/15/2002    Interlinq Software Corp    Harland Finl Solutions Inc    100.00    $ 33.55    227.2 %   161.5 %   212.5 %
12/27/2001    Liquent Inc    Information Holdings Inc    100.00    $ 42.58    139.0 %   146.7 %   152.2 %
12/21/2001    net.Genesis Corp    SPSS Inc    100.00    $ 43.03    50.0 %   40.8 %   140.8 %
12/05/2001    Eprise Corp    Divine Inc    100.00    $ 44.84    173.2 %   177.1 %   148.7 %
11/16/2001    Telemate Net Software Inc    Verso Technologies Inc    100.00    $ 16.07    48.1 %   54.8 %   89.2 %
08/27/2001    Microware Systems Corp    RadiSys Corp    100.00    $ 15.24    41.7 %   70.0 %   23.6 %
06/19/2001    CUseeMe Networks Inc    First Virtual Communications    100.00    $ 20.32    51.2 %   28.5 %   -15.8 %
04/30/2001    Fourth Shift Corp    AremisSoft Corp    100.00    $ 40.03    64.4 %   46.2 %   111.4 %
03/28/2001    Prime Response Inc    Chordiant Software Inc    100.00    $ 33.00    17.2 %   84.2 %   3.2 %
02/11/2002    Leapnet Inc    Investor Group    85.00    $ 10.01    5.7 %   5.7 %   33.1 %
12/21/2001    Eagle Point Software Corp    JB Acquisitions LLC    73.20    $ 23.84    42.2 %   50.6 %   65.2 %
05/31/2002    Ecometry Corp    SG Merger Corp    65.14    $ 21.94    74.2 %   68.8 %   80.0 %
03/27/2001    Document Sciences Corp    Document Sciences Corp    54.93    $ 12.00    18.5 %   36.2 %   68.4 %
11/30/2001    Scientific Learning Corp    Warburg Pincus    35.02    $ 5.00                   
05/30/2003    Sandata Technologies Inc    Sandata Acquisition Corp    30.00    $ 1.57                   
01/31/2003    Printcafe Software Inc    Creo Inc    24.17    $ 3.34                   
01/14/2002    Organic Inc    Seneca Investments LLC    19.30    $ 5.75                   
              

High

   227.2 %   177.1 %   212.5 %
              

Low

   5.7 %   5.7 %   -15.8 %
              

Mean

   76.9 %   80.7 %   82.6 %
              

Median

   50.0 %   62.5 %   80.0 %
              

Adjusted Mean2

   71.7 %   79.3 %   80.5 %

Notes:

 

Source: Thompson Financial Securities Data

n/m =   Not Meaningful.

n/a  =    Not Available

 

(1)    Transaction Value = Total dollar value of consideration paid, including all payment types. All terms are approximate.

(2)    Adjusted Mean excludes high and low observations.

 

 

 


LOGO    29


Going Private Transaction Analysis   CONFIDENTIAL   LOGO

 

Valuation Analysis, cont.


 

Going Private Transaction Analysis

 

  Similar to Precedent Transaction approach — estimates value based on comparison of multiples paid for comparable companies in arms’-length negotiated mergers or acquisitions in which the intention of the transaction is to take the target company private.

 

  Analysis regards transactions from a wide variety of industry sectors. Friend chose to use all industries except financial services and natural resources.

 

  Analysis may be impacted by several factors that may introduce “noise” into the analysis, including:

 

    Premiums (bidding war)

 

    Discounts

 

    Particular reasons for taking company private

 

    Market environment not identical for transactions occurring at different times

 

    Circumstances pertaining to specific companies (i.e. distress)

 

  Data on transactions may be incomplete or unavailable.

 

  Critical components:

 

    Valuation metrics

 

    Market conditions

 


LOGO    30


Going Private Transaction Analysis   CONFIDENTIAL   LOGO

 

Valuation Analysis, cont.


 

Going Private Transaction Analysis

All industries except financial services and natural resources

January 1, 2002 to August 26, 2003; Transaction values less than $50 million

($ Millions)

 

                                   Multiple

Date

Effective


   Target Name

  

Target Short

Business Description


   Acquiror Name

  

% of

Shares
Acq.


   Transaction
Value1


  

Target

Company LTM
Sales


   EV/Sales

                                        

01/09/2002

   Iwerks Entertainment Inc    Mnfr theatre systems    SimEx Inc    100.00    $ 15.0    $ 23.2    0.65x

02/22/2002

   Colonial Holdings Inc    Own, op racetrack facilities    Gameco Inc    100.00    $ 36.1    $ 30.9    1.17x

01/03/2002

   Children’s Comprehensive Svcs    Pvd education,treatment svcs    Ameris Acquisition Inc    100.00    $ 44.1    $ 131.7    0.33x

01/24/2002

   Blimpie International Inc    Own, op restaurants    Investor Group    100.00    $ 25.8    $ 30.1    0.86x

05/24/2002

   Interfoods of America Inc    Own, op franchised restaurants    Interfoods Acquisition Corp    100.00    $ 7.3    $ 152.1    0.05x

03/27/2002

   RockShox Inc    Mnfr bicycle suspension sys    SRAM Corp    100.00    $ 5.6    $ 60.3    0.09x

04/15/2002

   Viasource Communications Inc    Pvd broadband install svcs    180 Connect Inc    100.00    $ 44.0    $ 215.1    0.20x

06/20/2002

   MedGrup Corp    Pvd med coding,consulting svc    Provider HealthNet Svcs Inc    100.00    $ 12.7    $ 5.4    2.35x

07/23/2002

   Technisource Inc    Pvd technical support svcs    Intellimark Holdings Inc    100.00    $ 42.8    $ 134.8    0.32x

12/17/2002

   Flight International Group Inc    Provide airplane charter svcs    Raytheon Aerospace Co    100.00    $ 19.6    $ 44.8    0.44x

09/06/2002

   Lante Corp    Pvd Internet solutions svcs    SBI & Co    100.00    $ 42.4    $ 33.9    1.25x

10/22/2002

   Tab Products Co    Mnfr document mgmt solutions    HS Morgan    100.00    $ 31.8    $ 103.9    0.31x

01/02/2003

   Disc Graphics Inc    Pvd packaging services    Investor Group    100.00    $ 10.1    $ 49.5    0.20x

12/03/2002

   US Diagnostic Inc    Own, op imaging facilities    Presgar Medical Imaging Inc    100.00    $ 14.1    $ 46.0    0.31x

03/17/2003

   Viador Inc    Dvlp Internet software    MASB Inc    100.00    $ 3.9    $ 5.3    0.73x

12/30/2002

   DSET Corp    Pvd ecommerce svcs    NE Technologies Inc    100.00    $ 1.5    $ 6.0    0.26x

06/27/2003

   NetLojix Communications Inc    Internet Service Provider{ISP}    Investor Group    100.00    $ 0.3    $ 15.6    0.02x

03/17/2003

   STM Wireless Inc    Mnfr satellite commun equip    Sloan Capital Partners LLC    100.00    $ 4.0    $ 20.9    0.19x

05/01/2003

   ImageX Inc    Pvd ecommerce information svcs    Kinkos Inc    100.00    $ 16.1    $ 34.9    0.46x

08/12/2003

   DSI Toys Inc    Mnfr, whl toys    DSI Acquisition Inc    100.00    $ 5.1    $ 49.8    0.10x

08/08/2003

   Made2Manage Systems Inc    Dvlp software    Battery Ventures VI LP    100.00    $ 30.5    $ 30.1    1.01x

05/05/2003

   Acorn Products Inc    Mnfr, whl hand,edge tools    Oaktree Capital Management
LLC
   92.50    $ 20.7    $ 91.2    0.23x

02/11/2002

   Leapnet Inc    Dvlp Internet software    Investor Group    85.00    $ 10.0    $ 35.6    0.28x

02/22/2002

   Black Hawk Gaming & Dvlp Co    Own, op casinos and hotels    Gameco Inc    66.00    $ 36.3    $ 95.0    0.38x

05/31/2002

   Ecometry Corp    Pvd software solutions    SG Merger Corp    65.14    $ 21.9    $ 28.9    0.76x

04/23/2003

   ARV Assisted Living Inc    Provide nursing care services    Prometheus Assisted Living
LLC
   56.50    $ 39.2    $ 158.4    0.25x

08/19/2002

   Balanced Care Corp    Pvd residential care svcs    IPC Advisors SARL    46.71    $ 4.0    $ 56.3    0.07x

03/04/2002

   Ugly Duckling Corp    Own, op used car dealerships    Ernest C Garcia II    39.20    $ 17.0    $ 448.6    0.04x

07/26/2002

   Pierre Foods Inc    Produce prepared sandwiches    Investor Group    37.00    $ 5.3    $ 232.1    0.02x

01/18/2002

   National Home Centers Inc    Op home products supply stores    Dwain Neumann    36.50    $ 3.7    $ 100.6    0.04x

05/30/2003

   Sandata Technologies Inc    Dvlp software    Sandata Acquisition Corp    30.00    $ 1.6    $ 17.2    0.09x

01/03/2003

   R-B Rubber Products Inc    Mnfr, whl rubber products    Dash Multi-Corp Inc    29.90    $ 3.0    $ 12.4    0.24x

02/28/2003

   Landair Corp    Trucking company    Investor Group    29.00    $ 19.7    $ 102.5    0.19x

02/04/2003

   Royal Precision Inc    Mnfr steel golf club shafts    Royal Associates Inc    23.00    $ 0.3    $ 23.6    0.01x

05/12/2003

   Pak Mail Centers of America    Pvd mailing, packaging svcs    Pak Mail Acquisition Corp    20.60    $ 0.0    $ 4.3    0.01x

01/14/2002

   Organic Inc    Dvlp Internet mktng software    Seneca Investments LLC    19.30    $ 5.8    $ 90.4    0.06x

04/11/2003

   WorldPort Communications Inc    Pvd telecom svcs    WorldPort Communications Inc    15.70    $ 3.1    $ 7.3    0.42x

05/07/2002

   Century Builders Group Inc    Residential construction co    New Century Homebuilders Inc    9.50    $ 3.5    $ 79.3    0.04x
                           High           2.35x
                        

 

Low

          0.01x
                        

 

Mean

          0.38x
                        

 

Median

          0.24x
                        

 

Adjusted Mean2

          0.34x

Notes:
Source:   Thompson Financial Securities Data
n/m = Not Meaningful.
n/a = Not Available

 

(1) Transaction Value = Total dollar value of consideration paid, including all payment types. All terms are approximate.
(2) Adjusted Mean excludes high and low observations.

LOGO              31

 

 


Going Private Transaction Analysis    CONFIDENTIAL    LOGO

 

Valuation Analysis, cont.


 

Going Private Transaction Analysis

($ thousands, except per share data)

 

SourcingLink.net, Inc.

($000’s)

 

     LTM Revenues1

     Low

   Median

   High

Selected Public Company

                    

Enterprise Value Multiple Ranges

     0.01x      0.24x      2.35x

Pro Forma LTM Historical Operating Data

   $ 2,901    $ 2,901    $ 2,901

Implied Enterprise Value Range

   $ 28    $ 706      6,828

Add: cash2

   $ 925    $ 925    $ 925

Less: debt

     —        —        —  
    

  

  

Implied Equity Value Range

   $ 953    $ 1,631    $ 7,753

Implied Equity Value Range Per Share

   $ 0.08    $ 0.13    $ 0.61

(1) As of June 30, 2003
(2) As of August 31, 2003

 

 


LOGO    32


Selected Public Company Analysis   CONFIDENTIAL   LOGO

 

Valuation Analysis, cont.

Premiums Paid Analysis


 

Premiums Paid Analysis — Going Private Transactions

All industries except financial services and natural resources

January 1, 2002 to August 26, 2003; Transaction values less than $50 million

($ Millions)

 

Date

Effective


 

Target Name


 

Target Short

Business Description


 

Acquiror Name


 

% of

Shares

Acq.


 

Transaction

Value1


 

Premium

1 day

prior to

announce-

ment

date


   

Premium

1 week

prior to

announce-

ment

date


   

Premium

4 weeks

prior to

ann. date


 

02/22/2002

  Children’s Comprehensive Svcs   Pvd education,treatment svcs   Ameris Acquisition Inc   100.00   $ 44   39.9 %   31.9 %   36.4 %

07/26/2002

  Blimpie International Inc   Own,op restaurants   Investor Group   100.00   $ 26   86.7 %   90.5 %   62.8 %

01/18/2002

  Technisource Inc   Pvd technical support svcs   Intellimark Holdings Inc   100.00   $ 43   43.4 %   48.2 %   73.9 %

01/03/2002

  Lante Corp   Pvd Internet solutions svcs   SBI & Co   100.00   $ 42   100.0 %   77.4 %   57.1 %

01/14/2002

  Tab Products Co   Mnfr document mgmt solutions   HS Morgan   100.00   $ 32   26.6 %   20.1 %   13.6 %

01/24/2002

  Disc Graphics Inc   Pvd packaging services   Investor Group   100.00   $ 10   73.3 %   65.5 %   51.7 %

05/31/2002

  DSET Corp   Pvd ecommerce svcs   NE Technologies Inc   100.00   $ 2   87.5 %   76.5 %   71.4 %

02/11/2002

  NetLojix Communications Inc   Internet Service Provider{ISP}   Investor Group   100.00   $ 0   100.0 %   100.0 %   -33.3 %

08/19/2002

  ImageX Inc   Pvd ecommerce information svcs   Kinkos Inc   100.00   $ 16   156.0 %   169.5 %   169.5 %

07/23/2002

  DSI Toys Inc   Mnfr,whl toys   DSI Acquisition Inc   100.00   $ 5   11.9 %   4.4 %   9.3 %

09/06/2002

  Made2Manage Systems Inc   Dvlp software   Battery Ventures VI LP   100.00   $ 31   35.7 %   42.5 %   37.4 %

10/22/2002

  Acorn Products Inc   Mnfr,whl hand,edge tools   Oaktree Capital Management LLC   92.50   $ 21   39.4 %   22.8 %   40.0 %

01/03/2003

  Leapnet Inc   Dvlp Internet software   Investor Group   85.00   $ 10   5.7 %   5.7 %   33.1 %

05/30/2003

  Black Hawk Gaming & Dvlp Co   Own,op casinos and hotels   Gameco Inc   66.00   $ 36   16.7 %   22.1 %   34.3 %

01/02/2003

  Ecometry Corp   Pvd software solutions   SG Merger Corp   65.14   $ 22   74.2 %   68.8 %   80.0 %

04/23/2003

  ARV Assisted Living Inc   Provide nursing care services   Prometheus Assisted Living LLC   56.50   $ 39   52.9 %   56.0 %   58.5 %

02/28/2003

  Balanced Care Corp   Pvd residential care svcs   IPC Advisors SARL   46.71   $ 4   150.0 %   177.8 %   150.0 %

12/30/2002

  Pierre Foods Inc   Produce prepared sandwiches   Investor Group   37.00   $ 5   53.9 %   158.1 %   150.0 %

06/27/2003

  National Home Centers Inc   Op home products supply stores   Dwain Neumann   36.50   $ 4   26.1 %   20.7 %   33.3 %

05/05/2003

  Sandata Technologies Inc   Dvlp software   Sandata Acquisition Corp   30.00   $ 2   32.6 %   32.6 %   51.6 %

04/11/2003

  R-B Rubber Products Inc   Mnfr,whl rubber products   Dash Multi-Corp Inc   29.90   $ 3   83.0 %   69.7 %   75.0 %

05/01/2003

  Landair Corp   Trucking company   Investor Group   29.00   $ 20   25.0 %   31.1 %   24.9 %

08/12/2003

  Organic Inc   Dvlp Internet mktng software   Seneca Investments LLC   19.30   $ 6   13.8 %   17.9 %   -17.5 %

08/08/2003

  WorldPort Communications Inc   Pvd telecom svcs   WorldPort Communications Inc   15.70   $ 3   22.0 %   19.1 %   -2.0 %
       

High

  156.0 %   177.8 %   169.5 %
       

Low

  5.7 %   4.4 %   -33.3 %
       

Mean

  56.5 %   59.5 %   52.5 %
       

Median

  41.6 %   45.3 %   45.8 %
       

Adjusted Mean2

  54.3 %   56.7 %   51.1 %

Notes:

Source: Thompson Financial Securities Data

n/m = Not Meaningful.

n/a = Not Available

 

(1) Transaction Value = Total dollar value of consideration paid, including all payment types. All terms are approximate.
(2) Adjusted Mean excludes high and low observations.

 


LOGO         33


    CONFIDENTIAL   LOGO

 

Changes to Fairness Opinion Supplement


 

  Friend’s Fairness Opinion to the SourcingLink board of directors was orally delivered on September 26, 2003. Accordingly, the text of this supplement on the prior pages contains information regarding the Split Transaction and the Private Placement based on information known as of that date. Since then, one of the fact sets describing the Private Placement has changed.

 

  On October 17, 2003, St. Cloud purchased from four prior investors in SourcingLink all of their respective equity holdings in SourcingLink. As a result of this transaction and St. Cloud’s previous investments in the Company, St. Cloud currently beneficially owns approximately 47.8% of SourcingLink’s outstanding stock.

 

  In the event that the Private Placement is completed, St. Cloud’s beneficial ownership of SourcingLink’s outstanding stock will increase from approximately 47.8% to approximately 63.7%.

 

  Friend and Company has reviewed this change in ownership and its relevance to our prior analysis and conclusions and confirmed that our opinion that the sale price per share of SourcingLink’s Common Stock to be issued in connection with the Private Placement is fair to SourcingLink and its stockholders, in light of this change, from a financial point of view. The letter to SourcingLink’s board of directors on the following page confirms this understanding.

 


LOGO         34


Bring Down Letter   CONFIDENTIAL   LOGO

 

Changes to Fairness Opinion Supplement, cont.


 

October 20, 2003

 

Board of Directors

SOURCINGLINK.NET, INC.

16855 West Bernardo Drive

San Diego, CA 92127

 

Members of the Board:

 

Pursuant to our fairness opinion dated September 26, 2003 relating to the non-binding letter of intent between SourcinkgLink.net, Inc. (“SourcingLink” or the “Company”) and St. Cloud Investments Ltd. (“St. Cloud”), which provides for the issuance and sale in a private placement of 3,333,333 shares of SourcingLink’s common stock (the “Common Stock”) at $0.15 per share and a warrant to purchase up to an additional 366,667 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.15 per share (the “Private Placement”) to St. Cloud, a principal stockholder, we have reexamined our analyses, incorporating recent information concerning St. Cloud’s beneficial ownership of SourcingLink’s Common Stock prior to and after the proposed Private Placement. Based on the foregoing, the impact of these recent developments produced results that are, taken as a whole, immaterial to our prior analyses and conclusions.

 

Therefore, as of the date hereof, subject to all of the terms and conditions and assumptions of the fairness opinion dated September 26, 2003 (the “Private Placement Opinion”), we hereby confirm our opinion that the sale price per share of SourcingLink’s Common Stock to be issued in connection with the Private Placement is fair to SourcingLink and its stockholders from a financial point of view.

 

Very truly yours,

 

/s/ Friend + Company

 

FRIEND & COMPANY

 

 


LOGO         35


Appendix   CONFIDENTIAL   LOGO

 

Comparable Company Statistics


Comparable Company Market Statistics

(000’s)

(except per share data)

 

    

Verticalnet

VERT

NASDAQ

30-Jun-03


   

QRS Corp

QRSI

NASDAQ

30-Jun-03


   

Commerce One
CMRC

NASDAQ

30-Jun-03


   

Freemarkets
FMKT

NASDAQ

30-Jun-03


         

Click Commerce
CKCM

NASDAQ

30-Jun-03


 

Company

Ticker Symbol

Exchange

Operating Data: LTM as of


          

Cyber Merchants
Exchange CMEE

NASDAQ

31-Mar-03


   

Global
Sources
GSOL

NASDAQ

30-Jun-03


   

Revenue

   $ 35,084     $ 126,874     $ 67,347     $ 151,817     $ 3,531     $ 87,526     $ 15,520  

Costs of Sales

     4,557       64,732       41,831       74,095       2,285       10,950       8,488  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


Gross Profit

     30,527       62,142       25,516       77,722       1,246       76,576       7,032  

Research & Development

     4,640       12,707       50,582       27,662.00       0       5,324.00       2,685.00  

S, G & A

     6,577       45,599       66,807       71,673       2,593       65,442       7,761  

EBIT1

     19,310       3,836       (91,873 )     (21,613 )     (1,347 )     5,810       (3,414 )

Interest Expense (Income), Net

     7,767       (376 )     (3,209 )     (3,521 )     201       (784 )     (574 )

Other Income (Loss)

     —         —         —         —         —         (246 )     354  

Earnings (Loss) Before Income Taxes

     11,543       4,212       (88,664 )     (18,092 )     (1,548 )     6,348       (2,486 )

Net Income

   $ 28,486     $ 4,164     ($ 87,184 )   ($ 18,965 )   ($ 2,348 )   $ 5,391     ($ 2,486 )

EPS

   $ 1.73     $ 0.26     ($ 2.75 )   ($ 0.45 )   ($ 0.31 )   $ 0.2     ($ 0.3 )

EBITDA

     24,203       14,575       (63,605 )     (4,876 )     (1,319 )     14,787       (2,637 )

EBITDA (%)

     69.0 %     11.5 %     n/m       n/m       n/m       16.9 %     n/m  

Balance Sheet Data:

                                                        
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


Cash & Equivalents

   $ 5,278     $ 34,183     $ 13,981     $ 119,490     $ 134     $ 47,343     $ 12,225  

Accounts Receivable, net

     1,510       15,541       5,138       22,660       483       3,865       4,656  

Prepaids & Other

     2,702       2,925       7,134       7,638       982       4,963       1,043  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


Total Current Assets

     9,490       52,649       26,253       149,788       1,599       56,171       17,924  

Fixed Assets, net

     353       8,441       5,307       14,656       12       11,038       1,112  

Goodwill & Intangible, net

     1,350       9,282       17,381       4,465       689       0       466  

Other Assets, net

     698       8,457       36,524       10,045       15       2,328       470  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


Total Assets

     11,891       78,829       85,465       178,954       2,315       69,537       19,972  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


Accounts Payable

     3,817       6,661       3,051       3,998       518       4,703       737  

Accruals

     —         9,670       2,924       4,752       —         5,885       3,222  

Notes Payable, current

     115       832       —         1,428       40       —         —    

Capital leases, current

     —         —         —         —         —         —         327  

Deferred Revenue

     352       2,338       17,205       —         —         20,224       4,958  

Other

     1,266       6,331       13,816       18,642       —         546       1,473  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


Total Current Liabilities

     5,550       25,832       36,996       28,820       558       31,358       10,717  

Capital leases, long term

     —         —         —         0       —         —         —    

L-T Debt

     728       —         25,000       438       —         —         —    

Other

     —         5,986       3,128       2,462       —         15,767       1,042  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


Total Liabilities

     6,278       31,818       65,124       31,720       558       47,125       11,759  

Shareholders Equity

     5,613       47,011       20,341       147,234       1,756       22,412       8,213  

Total Liabilities & Shareholders Equity

   $ 11,891     $ 78,829     $ 85,465     $ 178,954     $ 2,315     $ 69,537     $ 19,972  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


Investment in Working Capital 1

   ($ 1,338 )   ($ 7,366 )   ($ 24,724 )   $ 1,478     $ 906     ($ 22,530 )   ($ 5,018 )

Working Capital as a % of Sales

     -3.8 %     -5.8 %     -36.7 %     1.0 %     25.7 %     -25.7 %     -32.3 %

Total Interest Bearing Debt 2

     843       832       25,000       8,166       40       —         327  

(1) Excludes cash and short-term investments; represents those assets and liabilities spontaneously generated by the Company’s principal operations.
(2) Total Interest Bearing Debt = Long-term debt plus current maturities plus liquidation preference of preferred stock.

 

 


LOGO    36


Appendix   CONFIDENTIAL   LOGO

 

Comparable Company Statistics, cont.


 

Comparable Company Market Statistics, Cont.

(000’s)

(except per share data)

 

Company

Ticker Symbol

Exchange

Latest Twelve Months as of:


  

Verticalnet

VERT

NASDAQ

30-Jun-03


   

QRS

Corp

QRSI

NASDAQ

30-Jun-03


   

Commerce

One

CMRC

NASDAQ

30-Jun-03


   

Freemarkets

FMKT

NASDAQ

30-Jun-03


   

Cyber

Merchants
Exchange

CMEE

NASDAQ

30-Jun-03


   

Global
Sources

GSOL

NASDAQ

30-Jun-03


   

Click
Commerce

CKCM

NASDAQ

30-Jun-03


 

Per Share Data:

                                                        

  

LTM Shares Outstanding (000’s)

     16,419       15,844       31,742       42,031       7,473       26,314       8,137  

Earnings Per Share

   $ 1.73     $ 0.26     ($ 2.75 )   ($ 0.45 )   ($ 0.31 )   $ 0.20     ($ 0.31 )

Market Values & Share Price

                                                        

  

Market Value of Equity

     21,262       143,407       76,609       386,454       1,551       209,446       16,464  

Closing prices as of Valuation

   $ 1.28     $ 8.78     $ 2.42     $ 8.05     $ 0.23     $ 8.06     $ 2.08  

20-Day Average Stock Price

     1.30       9.05       2.41       9.19       0.21       7.96       2.02  

52 Week Price Range

                                                        

      

High

   $ 2.40     $ 9.79     $ 6.06     $ 9.86     $ 0.50     $ 11.10     $ 4.37  

Low

   $ 0.60     $ 3.27     $ 1.37     $ 3.50     $ 0.20     $ 3.36     $ 0.98  

Daily Volume (12-week average)

     287,189       126,960       308,471       438,635       425       7,229       68,237  

Daily Volume (10-day average)

     293,030       85,220       304,420       396,240       500       2,950       105,040  

Enterprise Value

                                                        

  

Market Value of Equity

   $ 21,262     $ 143,407     $ 76,609     $ 386,454     $ 1,551     $ 209,446     $ 16,464  

Total Interest bearing Debt

     843       832       25,000       8,166       40             327  

Liquidation Preference of Preferred Stock

                                          

less: Cash

     5,278       34,183       13,981       119,490       134       47,343       12,225  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


Enterprise Value

   $ 16,827     $ 110,056     $ 87,628     $ 275,130       1,456     $ 162,103     $ 4,566  

Valuation Multiples

                                                        

  

EV/Sales

     0.48 x     0.87 x     1.30 x     1.81 x     0.41 x     1.85 x     0.29 x

EV/EBITDA

     0.70 x     7.55 x     n/m       n/m       n/m       10.96 x     n/m  

Price/Earnings

     0.75 x     34.44 x     n/m       n/m       n/m       38.85 x     n/m  

Price/Book

     3.79 x     3.05 x     3.77 x     2.62 x     0.88 x     9.35 x     2.00 x

(1) EBITDA = Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, and other non-cash charges; EBIT = Operating income.
(2) Total interest bearing debt = Long-term debt plus current maturities and preferred stock.

 

 


LOGO         37


Appendix   CONFIDENTIAL   LOGO

Comparable Company Statistics, cont.


 

Notes: Public Company Summary

 

Income Statement & Balance Sheet

 

Vercitalnet

(IS) Net Income — excludes income from operations of discontinued operations and loss on disposal of discontinued operations.

(IS) Net Income — excludes repurchase of convertible redeemable preferred stock.

 

QRS Corp.

(IS) EBIT — excludes impairment loss and restructuring charges.

 

Commerce One

(IS) COGS — excludes charges for the impairment and amortization of the technology agreement with Covisint.

(IS) EBIT — excludes restructuring costs and impairment of intangible assets, fixed assets and equity investments.

 

Modem Media

(IS) EBIT — excludes investment write-down and restructuring charges and terminated merger-related costs.

(IS) Net Income — excludes cumulative effect of accounting change for goodwill.

 

Freemarkets

(IS) EBIT — excludes write-off of in-process research and development and goodwill amortization impairment.

(IS) Net Income — excludes cumulative effect of accounting change for goodwill.

 

Cyber Merchants Exchange

(IS) Net Income — excludes amortization of negative goodwill.

(IS) Net Income — excludes impairment write-down and loss on disposal related to investment in ABNet.

 

Click Commerce

(IS) EBIT — excludes restructuring and other charges.

 

 


LOGO         38


Appendix   CONFIDENTIAL   LOGO

 

Comparable Company Statistics, cont.


 

Historical Comparable Company Summary Statistics

($000s) except per share data

 

Ticker

Exchange

  

Verticalnet

VERT

NASDAQ


   

QRS Corp

QRSI

NASDAQ


   

Commerce One

CMRC

NASDAQ


   

Freemarkets

FMKT

NASDAQ


   

Cyber

Merchants Exch.

CMEE

NASDAQ


   

Global
Sources

GSOL

NASDAQ


   

Click
Commerce

CKCM

NASDAQ


 

Revenue

                                                        

Latest twelve months (LTM)

   $ 35,084     $ 126,874     $ 67,347     $ 151,817     $ 3,531     $ 87,526     $ 15,520  

2002

   $ 43,724     $ 136,034     $ 105,529     $ 170,441     $ 2,466     $ 87,486     $ 18,276  

2001

   $ 36,119     $ 143,124     $ 408,569     $ 155,342     $ 757     $ 95,285     $ 43,855  

2000

   $ 7,906     $ 142,072     $ 401,796     $ 90,467     $ 56     $ 103,053     $ 36,680  

3-yr. CAGR

     64.3 %     -3.7 %     -44.9 %     18.8 %     299.1 %     -5.3 %     -24.9 %

Forward Revenue Estimates(1)

                                                        

2003

     n/a       n/a     $ 36,600     $ 155,037       n/a       n/a       n/a  

2004

     n/a       n/a     $ 34,000     $ 173,667       n/a       n/a       n/a  

Growth Rate

     n/m       n/m       n/m       n/m       n/m       n/m       n/m  

2003 Growth Rate over LTM

     n/m       n/m       -45.7 %     2.1 %     n/m       n/m       n/m  

Cost of Goods Sold

                                                        

LTM

   $ 4,557     $ 64,732     $ 41,831     $ 74,095     $ 2,285     $ 10,950     $ 8,488  

2002

   $ 6,530     $ 72,663     $ 70,243     $ 76,129     $ 1,843     $ 11,581     $ 9,064  

2001

   $ 25,769     $ 88,856     $ 242,838     $ 78,582     $ 674     $ 11,757     $ 13,383  

2000

   $ 9,830     $ 87,626     $ 148,956     $ 56,024     $ 0     $ 13,337     $ 10,826  

Research & Development

                                                        

LTM

   $ 4,640     $ 12,707     $ 50,582     $ 27,662     $ 0     $ 5,324     $ 2,685  

2002

   $ 8,975     $ 14,460     $ 76,922     $ 27,019     $ 0     $ 5,378     $ 4,230  

2001

   $ 23,757     $ 13,017     $ 118,159     $ 20,067     $ 0     $ 8,393     $ 9,656  

2000

   $ 17,168     $ 9,210     $ 102,676     $ 19,121     $ 0     $ 6,665     $ 6,895  

EBITDA

                                                        

LTM

   $ 24,203     $ 14,575     ($ 63,605 )   ($ 4,876 )   ($ 1,319 )   $ 14,787     ($ 2,637 )

2002

   $ 22,077     $ 5,952     ($ 115,463 )   $ 9,403     ($ 1,356 )   $ 13,835       (7,219 )

2001

   ($ 29,218 )   ($ 1,034 )   ($ 211,634 )   ($ 26,739 )   ($ 3,943 )   $ 12,319     ($ 9,462 )

2000

   ($ 44,954 )   ($ 17,200 )   ($ 51,521 )   ($ 56,684 )   ($ 3,305 )   ($ 51,573 )   ($ 5,713 )

EBIT

                                                        

LTM

   $ 19,310     $ 3,836     ($ 91,873 )   ($ 21,613 )   ($ 1,347 )   $ 5,810     ($ 3,414 )

2002

   $ 11,763     ($ 5,638 )   ($ 166,791 )   ($ 9,991 )   ($ 1,400 )   $ 4,846     ($ 9,104 )

2001

   ($ 164,840 )   ($ 43,062 )   ($ 688,100 )   ($ 45,083 )   ($ 3,571 )   $ 3,385     ($ 13,122 )

2000

   ($ 192,240 )   ($ 53,486 )   ($ 339,864 )   ($ 66,314 )   ($ 3,342 )   ($ 55,642 )   ($ 8,838 )

 


LOGO         39


Appendix   CONFIDENTIAL   LOGO

 

Comparable Company Statistics, cont.


 

(000’s)

(except per share data)

                                                        
    

Verticalnet

VERT


   

QRS Corp

QRSI


   

Commerce
One

CMRC


   

Freemarkets

FMKT


   

Cyber

Merchants
Exch.

CMEE


   

Global
Sources

GSOL


   

Click
Commerce

CKCM


 

Net Income

                                                        

LTM

   $ 28,486     $ 4,164     ($ 87,184 )   ($ 18,965 )   ($ 2,348 )   $ 5,391     ($ 2,486 )

2002

   $ 15,228     ($ 4,074 )   ($ 162,411 )   ($ 7,460 )   ($ 2,500 )   $ 4,307     ($ 8,073 )

2001

   ($ 401,571 )   ($ 35,079 )   ($ 689,530 )   ($ 43,200 )   ($ 3,789 )     775     ($ 14,973 )

2000

   ($ 139,355 )   ($ 42,377 )   ($ 339,274 )   ($ 58,266 )   ($ 3,313 )   ($ 68,221 )   ($ 13,326 )

Earnings per Share

                                                        

LTM

   $ 1.73     $ 0.26     ($ 2.75 )   ($ 0.45 )   ($ 0.31 )   $ 0.20     ($ 0.31 )

2002

   $ 1.11     ($ 0.26 )   ($ 5.55 )   ($ 0.18 )   ($ 0.33 )   $ 0.16     ($ 1.00 )

2001

   ($ 36 )   ($ 2 )   ($ 24 )   ($ 1 )   ($ 0 )   $ 0     ($ 2 )

2000

   ($ 1 )   ($ 3 )   ($ 2 )   ($ 1 )   ($ 0 )   ($ 3 )   ($ 0 )

Forward EPS Estimates (1)

                                                        

2003

     n/a       n/a     ($ 1.76 )   $ 0.02       n/a       n/a       n/a  

2004

     n/a       n/a     ($ 1.34 )   $ 0.23       n/a       n/a       n/a  

Gross Margin

                                                        

LTM

     87.0 %     49.0 %     37.9 %     51.2 %     35.3 %     87.5 %     45.3 %

2002

     85.1 %     46.6 %     33.4 %     55.3 %     25.3 %     86.8 %     50.4 %

2001

     28.7 %     37.9 %     40.6 %     49.4 %     10.9 %     87.7 %     69.5 %

2000

     -24.3 %     38.3 %     62.9 %     38.1 %     100.0 %     87.1 %     70.5 %

Average

     44.1 %     43.0 %     43.7 %     48.5 %     42.9 %     87.2 %     58.9 %

Research & Development (% of Sales)

                                                        

LTM

     13.2 %     10.0 %     75.1 %     18.2 %     0.0 %     6.1 %     17.3 %

2002

     20.5 %     10.6 %     72.9 %     15.9 %     0.0 %     6.1 %     23.1 %

2001

     65.8 %     9.1 %     28.9 %     12.9 %     0.0 %     8.8 %     22.0 %

2000

     217.2 %     6.5 %     25.6 %     21.1 %     0.0 %     6.5 %     18.8 %

Average

     79.2 %     9.1 %     50.6 %     17.0 %     0.0 %     6.9 %     20.3 %

EBITDA Margin

                                                        

LTM

     69.0 %     11.5 %     -94.4 %     -3.2 %     -37.3 %     16.9 %     -17.0 %

2002

     50.5 %     4.4 %     -109.4 %     5.5 %     -55.0 %     15.8 %     -39.5 %

2001

     -80.9 %     -0.7 %     -51.8 %     -17.2 %     -461.6 %     12.9 %     -21.6 %

2000

     -568.6 %     -12.1 %     -12.8 %     -62.7 %     -5952.2 %     -50 %     -15.6 %

Average

     -132.5 %     0.8 %     -67.1 %     -19.4 %     -1626.5 %     -1.1 %     -23.4 %

EBIT Margin

                                                        

LTM

     55.0 %     3.0 %     -136.4 %     -14.2 %     -38.1 %     6.6 %     -22.0 %

2002

     26.9 %     -4.1 %     -158.1 %     -5.9 %     -56.8 %     5.5 %     -49.8 %

2001

     -456.4 %     -30.1 %     -168.4 %     -29.0 %     -471.8 %     3.6 %     -29.9 %

2000

     -2431.6 %     -37.6 %     -84.6 %     -73.3 %     -6018.0 %     -54.0 %     -24.1 %

Average

     -701.5 %     -17.2 %     -136.9 %     -30.6 %     -1646.2 %     -9.6 %     -31.5 %

 

 


LOGO         40


Appendix   CONFIDENTIAL   LOGO

 

Comparable Company Statistics, cont.


 

(000’s)

(except per share data)

                                                       
   

Verticalnet

VERT


   

QRS

Corp

QRSI


   

Commerce

One

CMRC


   

Freemarkets

FMKT


   

Cyber

Merchants Exch.

CMEE


   

Global
Sources

GSOL


   

Click
Commerce

CKCM


 

Net Income Margin

                                                       

LTM

    81.2 %     3.3 %     -129.5 %     -12.5 %     -66.5 %     6.2 %     -16.0 %

2002

    34.8 %     -3.0 %     -153.9 %     -4.4 %     -101.4 %     4.9 %     -44.2 %

2001

    -1111.8 %     -24.5 %     -168.8 %     -27.8 %     -500.6 %     0.8 %     -34.1 %

2000

    -1762.6 %     -29.8 %     -84.4 %     -64.4 %     -5965.5 %     -66.2 %     -36.3 %

Average

    -689.6 %     -13.5 %     -134.1 %     -27.3 %     -1658.5 %     -13.6 %     -32.7 %

BALANCE SHEET HIGHLIGHTS

                                                       

Cash and Equivalents

                                                       

Current

  $ 5,278     $ 34,183     $ 13,981     $ 119,490     $ 134     $ 47,343     $ 12,225  

2002

  $ 7,979     $ 37,356     $ 77,263     $ 119,916     $ 710     $ 37,208     $ 34,013  

2001

  $ 50,252     $ 36,407     $ 273,893     $ 87,819     $ 205     $ 20,236     $ 40,677  

Goodwill & Intangibles, net

                                                       

Current

  $ 1,350     $ 9,282     $ 17,381     $ 4,465     $ 689     $ 0     $ 466  

2002

  $ 1,800     $ 10,970     $ 2,506     $ 4,355     $ 613     $ 0     $ 0  

2001

  $ 30,410     $ 14,455     $ 142,319     $ 14,634     $ 1,509     $ 3     $ 0  

Total Assets

                                                       

Current

  $ 11,891     $ 78,829     $ 85,465     $ 178,954     $ 2,315     $ 69,537     $ 19,972  

2002

  $ 18,453     $ 81,949     $ 159,422     $ 193,667     $ 2,925     $ 62,650     $ 42,282  

2001

  $ 125,631     $ 93,928     $ 828,941     $ 189,392     $ 5,602     $ 53,602     $ 54,694  

Total Debt

                                                       

Current

  $ 843     $ 832     $ 25,000     $ 1,866     $ 40     $ 0     $ 327  

2002

  $ 7,708     $ 1,360     $ 25,000     $ 2,830     $ 0     $ 0     $ 690  

2001

  $ 23,601     $ 0     $ 19,000     $ 4,438     $ 400     $ 0     $ 1,542  

Book Value

                                                       

Current

  $ 5,613     $ 47,011     $ 20,341     $ 147,234     $ 1,756     $ 22,412     $ 8,213  

2002

  $ 1,642     $ 44,131     $ 47,490     $ 157,511     $ 2,692     $ 18,522     $ 34,521  

2001

  ($ 91,339 )   $ 46,709     $ 623,815     $ 149,645     $ 4,809     $ 11,601     $ 44,438  

Goodwill & Intangibles (% of Total Assets)

                                                       

Current

    11.4 %     11.8 %     20.3 %     2.5 %     29.7 %     0.0 %     2.3 %

2002

    9.8 %     13.4 %     1.6 %     2.2 %     20.9 %     0.0 %     0.0 %

2001

    24.2 %     15.4 %     17.2 %     7.7 %     26.9 %     0.0 %     0.0 %

 

 

 


LOGO         41


Appendix   CONFIDENTIAL   LOGO

 

Comparable Company Statistics, cont.


 

(000’s)

(except per share data)

                                                       
   

Verticalnet

VERT


   

QRS Corp

QRSI


   

Commerce

One

CMRC


   

Freemarkets

FMKT


   

Cyber

Merchants Exch.

CMEE


   

Global
Sources

GSOL


   

Click
Commerce

CKCM


 

Debt/Equity (Book)

                                                       

Current

    15.0 %     1.8 %     122.9 %     1.3 %     2.3 %     0.0 %     4.0 %

2002

    -8.4 %     3.1 %     52.6 %     1.8 %     0.0 %     0.0 %     2.0 %

2001

    -25.8 %     0.0 %     3.0 %     3.0 %     8.3 %     0.0 %     3.5 %

Stock Price

                                                       

Current — 20-Day Average

  $ 1.30     $ 9.05     $ 2.41     $ 9.19     $ 0.21     $ 7.96     $ 2.02  

52 Week High

  $ 2.40     $ 9.79     $ 6.06     $ 9.86     $ 0.50     $ 11.10     $ 4.37  

52 Week low

  $ 0.60     $ 3.27     $ 1.37     $ 3.50     $ 0.20     $ 3.36     $ 0.98  

2002

  $ 0.79     $ 6.60     $ 2.75     $ 6.43     $ 0.22     $ 4.90     $ 2.02  

2001

  $ 1.45     $ 14.10     $ 35.70     $ 23.97     $ 0.20     $ 4.00     $ 3.16  

2000

  $ 6.66     $ 12.81     $ 25.31     $ 19.00     $ 2.50     $ 8.75     $ 20.88  

Shares Outstanding

                                                       

Current

    16,419       15,844       31,742       42,031       7,473       26,314       8,137  

2002

    13,709       15,801       29,277       42,376       7,473       26,309       8,093  

2001

    11,301       15,617       28,752       40,731       7,584       26,304       8,048  

2000

    97,421       15,279       169,591       39,070       7,590       26,304       32,236  

Market Value of Equity

                                                       

Current

  $ 21,262     $ 143,407     $ 76,609     $ 386,454     $ 1,551     $ 209,446     $ 16,464  

Latest 4 Quarters — High

  $ 39,405     $ 155,116     $ 192,355     $ 414,425     $ 3,736     $ 292,085     $ 35,557  

Latest 4 Quarters — Low

  $ 9,851     $ 51,811     $ 43,486     $ 147,108     $ 1,495     $ 88,415     $ 7,974  

2002

  $ 10,830     $ 104,288     $ 80,511     $ 272,478     $ 1,644     $ 128,914     $ 16,347  

2001

  $ 16,386     $ 220,193     $ 1,026,447     $ 976,322     $ 1,517     $ 105,216     $ 25,433  

2000

  $ 648,824     $ 195,726     $ 4,292,341     $ 742,334     $ 18,974     $ 230,160     $ 673,086  

M.V.. as % of B.V..

                                                       

Current

    378.8 %     305.1 %     376.6 %     262.5 %     88.3 %     934.5 %     200.5 %

2002

    -11.9 %     236.3 %     169.5 %     173.0 %     61.1 %     696.0 %     47.4 %

2001

    -17.9 %     471.4 %     164.5 %     652.4 %     31.5 %     907.0 %     57.2 %

ENTERPRISE VALUE

                                                       

Equity Market Value

  $ 21,262     $ 143,407     $ 76,609     $ 386,454     $ 1,551     $ 209,446     $ 16,464  

Plus: Total Interest Bearing Debt

    843       832       25,000       1,866       40       —         327  

Less: Cash

    5,278       34,183       13,981       119,490       134       47,343       12,225  
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


Enterprise Value

  $ 16,827     $ 110,056     $ 87,628     $ 268,830     $ 1,456     $ 162,103     $ 4,566  

 

 


LOGO         42


 

Appendix   CONFIDENTIAL   LOGO

 

Comparable Company Statistics, cont.


 

    

Verticalnet

VERT


  

QRS

Corp

QRSI


  

Commerce

One

CMRC


  

Freemarkets

FMKT


  

Cyber

Merchants Exch.

CMEE


  

Global
Sources

GSOL


  

Click
Commerce

CKCM


VALUATION MULTIPLES

                                  

LTM Multiples

                                  

EV/Revenues

   0.5x    0.9x    1.3x    1.8x    0.4x    1.9x    0.3x

EV/EBITDA

   n/m    n/m    n/m    n/m    n/m    n/m    n/m

Price/Earnings

   0.7x    34.4x    n/m    n/m    n/m    38.9x    n/m

Price/Book Value

   3.8x    3.1x    3.8x    2.6x    0.9x    9.3x    2.0x

Forward Revenue Multiples

                                  

2003

   n/a    n/a    2.4x    1.7x    n/a    n/a    n/a

2004

   n/a    n/a    0.0x    0.0x    n/a    n/a    n/a

Forward Year P/E Ratios

                                  

2003

   n/a    n/a    n/m    383.10    n/a    n/a    n/a

2004

   n/a    n/a    n/m    40.50    n/a    n/a    n/a

EV/Revenues

                                  

LTM—High

   1.0x    1.0x    3.0x    2.0x    1.0x    2.8x    1.5x

LTM—Low

   0.2x    0.1x    0.8x    0.2x    0.4x    0.5x    -0.3x

2002

   0.3x    0.5x    0.1x    1.0x    1.2x    1.0x    -0.4x

2001

   -1.3x    1.3x    1.9x    9.9x    30.8x    0.8x    -0.4x

2000

   n/a    n/a    n/a    n/a    n/a    n/a    n/a

EV/EBITDA

                                  

LTM—High

   1.4x    8.4x    n/m    n/m    n/m    16.6x    n/m

LTM—Low

   0.2x    1.3x    n/m    n/m    n/m    2.8x    n/m

2002

   0.5x    11.5x    n/m    16.5x    n/m    6.6x    n/m

2001

   n/m    n/m    n/m    n/m    n/m    6.9x    n/m

2000

   n/m    n/m    n/m    n/m    n/m    n/m    n/m

Price/Earnings Ratio

                                  

LTM—High

   1.4x    37.3x    n/m    n/m    n/m    54.2x    n/m

LTM—Low

   0.3x    12.4x    n/m    n/m    n/m    16.4x    n/m

2002

   0.7x    n/m    n/m    n/m    n/m    29.9x    n/m

2001

   n/m    n/m    n/m    n/m    n/m    135.8x    n/m

2000

   n/m    n/m    n/m    n/m    n/m    n/m    n/m

Price/Book Value

                                  

LTM—High

   7.0x    3.3x    9.5x    2.8x    2.1x    13.0x    4.3x

LTM—Low

   1.8x    1.1x    2.1x    1.0x    0.9x    3.9x    1.0x

2002

   n/m    2.4x    1.7x    1.7x    0.6x    7.0x    0.5x

2001

   n/m    4.7x    1.6x    6.5x    0.3x    9.1x    0.6x

Note: n/a = not applicable; n/m = not meaningful.

(1) Source: I/B/E/S Earnings Estimates. Represents mean consensus estimates.
(2) Earnings figures exclude extraordinary items and other one-time occurrences.
(3) EBIT is earnings before interest and taxes or operation income
(4) EBITDA is earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization
(5) Total Debt includes total long-term debt, current portion of long-term debt and liquidation preference of preferred stock.
(6) EBITDA is estimated from Yahoo! Finance

 

 


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