BRANCHEZ-VOUS! increased its revenues by 48% in 2004
Montréal, April 14, 2005 -- BRANCHEZ-VOUS! inc. (TSX Venture : BZV) has disclosed its financial results for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004. 2004 showed very good operating results, mostly due to a general growth of the advertising market compared to the previous fiscal year. Revenues increased by 48%, from $1,153,000 in 2003 to $1,707,000 in 2004.This growth is stronger than the one experienced by the overall Canadian Internet advertising market, estimated by the Interactive Advertising Bureau of Canada to be at 24.5% in 2004. "We think we have increased our share of the Canadian and Quebec markets in 2004", says Patrick Pierra, CEO of BRANCHEZ-VOUS!. Earnings before other items increased by 117%, from $185,000 in 2003 to $405,000 in 2004. Earnings before other items represented 23% of sales in 2004 compared to 16% of sales in 2003.
The Corporation's results suffered from two non-recurring items which related to a projected corporate reorganization that was subsequently cancelled in December 2004. In 2004, the Corporation registered a non-cash expense of $194,000 corresponding to the depreciation of the residual value of the investment, on March 6, 2003, of $350,000 into Passeport Media International Inc. (PMI), which was to be part of a reverse take-over included in the projected reorganization. BRANCHEZ-VOUS! has just sold the investment back to PMI in consideration for $100,000 in cash. "We are glad to leave PMI founding shareholders to their own path, so that we can return our focus back to our successful Internet operations", says Patrick Pierra. In 2003, the investment in PMI was registered at the equity value and caused a shared-loss for a satellite in the amount of $56,000.
Related to the cancelled corporate reorganisation, the Corporation registered an exceptional charge of $ 171,000 for corporate fees in 2004. A similar charge of $ 40,000 occurred in 2003. These two non recurring items reduced the net earnings to $ 39,000 in 2004, down from $ 90,000 in 2003. Earnings contributed to the shareholders. equity, which increased from $ 532,000 in 2003 to $ 571,000 in 2004. As at December 31, 2004, BRANCHEZ-VOUS! had $ 54,000 in cash and cash equivalents and $ 336,000 in short-term investments.
Selected annual information
All figures in $. For fiscal year ended:
December 31, 2004 ; December 31, 2003 ; December 31, 2002
Revenues: 1,707,000 ; 1,153,000 ; 894,000
Earnings (loss) before other elements: 405,000 ;185,000 ;163,000
Net earnings: 39,000 ; 90,000 ; 161,000
Basic and diluted earnings per share: 0.00 ; 0.00 ; 0.01
Total assets: 897,000 ; 713,000 ; 353,000
Long term financial liabilities: 0 : 0 : 1,500
Shareholders' equity: 571 000 ; 532 000 ; 77 000
Average number of shares outstanding: 28,935,117 ; 28,285,117 ; 25,285,117
Book value per share: 0.02 ; 0.02 ; 0.00
About BRANCHEZ-VOUS! inc.
BRANCHEZ-VOUS! inc. is a leading Montreal-based new media company. It owns and operates BRANCHEZ-VOUS.com, the largest independent portal in Quebec, which primarily targets an audience of active adult users working in and/or interested by technology; and it operates the BRANCHEZ-VOUS! Network, the largest French-language internet advertising network, comprised of approximately 50 web sites - including ten sites owned and operated by Astral Media.
Additional information on the Corporation can be obtained on SEDAR and at www.branchez-vous.com/inc/english The TSX Venture exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.
Contact:Patrick Pierra
President and CEO
Phone: 514-842-3838 ext. 249
http://www.branchez-vous.com/contacts/




