Women in Finance Partners with IBSGI SA to Assist 50,000 Women Business Owners Utilizing Its BizWorld Digital Commerce Platform
March 26 2008 - 7:00AM
Business Wire
IBSG International, Inc., (the �Company�), (OTC BB: IBIN) a holding
company for four technology and software subsidiaries, announced
today that Women in Finance (WIF), a South African Organization
promoting women within business, has partnered with IBSGI SA to
offer IBSG�s BizWorld Digital Commerce Platform to its small,
medium and micro enterprises (SMME�s). The value of the license is
US$3.2 million over four years, with a total projected estimated
value for the transaction of approximately US$8.5 million WIF is a
national organisation promoting women within business, and
assisting in the empowerment of women and small businesses
particularly, but not exclusively, with regards to financial
literacy and finances. Founded in November 2005, the organization
serves more than 50,000 women-owned businesses. WIF is funded in
conjunction with ABSA Bank and the South African federal
government, and functions as one of the bank�s premier
organizations. ABSA is one of the largest banks in Africa, serving
an estimated 500,000 businesses. �I believe this platform is
beneficial, in that it provides the practical tools that allow
SMME�s to develop and grow their businesses in an ever-growing
network of like-minded small business owners,� said Colleen Larsen,
CEO of Women in Finance. �The benefits of this platform will
enhance the offerings Women in Finance is providing through the
Showcase Your Business brand, and will ensure the greater
sustainability of SMME�s in South Africa through the support it
provides.� WIF is the driving force behind the United Businesswomen
of South Africa, an association formed to provide a collaborative
support structure to organizations (whether for profit or not)
involved in the empowerment of women, and to leverage their
untapped potential. 18 organizations currently affiliate under this
umbrella. The various services offered by WIF include support
structures for women, networking, role modeling and mentorship,
increased access to training, entrepreneurship and collaboration
with various parties who can help women-owned businesses meet their
objectives. The South African government has a budget surplus of
30%. As large South African enterprises have restructured and
downsized, small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) have come to
play an increasingly important role in South Africa's economy and
development. The sector has grown significantly. Management�s
research has shown that in 1996, around 19% of those employed were
in the informal sector of the economy, and by 1999 this had risen
to 26%. Given this increase, management believes that the
government has therefore targeted investing in the SMME sector as
an economic empowerment vehicle for previously disadvantaged
people. �Setting up and growing a business can be incredibly hard
work, and Women in Finance is an organization that inspires the
entrepreneurial spirit of the women of South Africa and fosters
amongst them a willingness to help each other,� said Ingrid
Ovenstone, Director of IBSGI SA. �This partnership between IBSGI SA
and Women in Finance will take WIF to a new level, one where SMME�S
have access to internet-based tools to benefit and grow their
businesses. I am very excited to be part of this project, as I
believe the SMME�s that utilize the platform will derive incredible
benefit from it.� Dr. Michael Rivers, CEO of IBSGI, said, �We
continue to enhance our business based on existing relationships.
We have protected IBSGI, to some degree, by developing a
geographically diverse client base, and in 2007, we had a record
year in large part because we are not at the mercy of a single
market.� The Company recently filed its Form 10-K, in which it
reported that revenue increased approximately $7.0 million, or 92%,
from approximately $7.6 million in FY2006 to approximately $14.6
million in FY2007. Net income increased approximately $4.2 million,
or 597%, from approximately $0.7 million, or $0.10 per fully
diluted earnings per share in FY2006 to approximately $4.9 million,
or $0.57 per fully diluted earnings per share in FY2007. About IBSG
International, Inc. (www.ibsgi.com) IBSG International, Inc. is a
holding company for four technology and software subsidiaries:
Intelligent Business Systems Group, Inc. (IBSG), a provider of
turnkey digital service center software; Secure Blue, Inc., a
Sarbanes-Oxley and security software solution provider; Intelligent
Business Systems Development (IBSD), a software development,
maintenance and data storage company; and IBSGI - UK, a consultant
company focused on development of IT projects for Governmental
bodies and multinational corporations. IBS Group offers enterprise
solutions designed to enhance the operating efficiency and create
revenue for State Small Business Development Centers, business
associations (e.g., business associations) and Fortune 1000
corporations by licensing its unique turnkey digital service center
software, which provides a broad range of digital budgetary,
administrative and commercial services (B2B, e-commerce, government
to business and enterprise business services) on a single platform
known as the BizWorldPro�. Secure Blue, Inc. provides a robust
economical Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) compliance and security software
suite, Secure Blue SOX Pro. It is targeted at small- and mid-cap
public companies as well as private companies requiring SOX
compliance to enable them to continue working with public
companies. As software providers, system integrators and
Application Service Providers, IBS Group, Inc. and Secure Blue,
Inc. generate revenue from license sales, system modifications,
systems support and a percentage of monthly customer fees. The
typical IBS Group/Secure Blue license agreement has a five-year
term which is updated on an annual basis. IBS Development, Inc.
will provide ongoing support of International�s other subsidiaries,
IBS Group and Secure Blue. The company provides development, system
support and secure data storage, and will maintain offices in the
US and India, where its current offshore development and support
team is located. IBSGI - UK establishes IT projects for various
countries and multi-national corporations around the world. IBSGI -
UK has already introduced the BizWorldPro platform to a number of
countries and continues to provide demonstrations of the system on
an international scale. For multinational corporations, the
projects are normally recognized offset program qualified and
provide a required contractual obligation of these corporations.
IBSGI � UK maintains relationships with various multinational
corporations and operates from centrally located offices in London.
Safe Harbor Forward-Looking Statements Except for historical
information contained herein, the statements in this release are
forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe
harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. The above information does not guarantee any successful
closing of new business. No assurances can be given that any
projections related to gross revenues or profit margins will be
realized. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown
risks and uncertainties that may cause the companies� actual
results in future periods to differ materially from forecasted
results. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited
to, market conditions, competitive factors, the ability to
successfully complete additional financings and other risks.
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