Software firm Datalex will report lower-than-expected revenues for the second half of 2003 due to delays in signing customer contracts.
In a statement to the stock exchange yesterday, Datalex said delays in the closure of software contracts would affect its revenue and bottom line expectations for the period.
Shares in Datalex fell three cents to close at 57 cents, following the announcement.
The company said turnover was expected to be broadly in line with its results for the first six months of 2003. The firm reported revenues of $14.6 million (€12 million) for that period and a loss of $5.6 million.
Despite the sales warning, Datalex said the outlook remained generally positive.
The sales warning comes at a sensitive time for Datalex, which in October announced that its chief executive, Mr Neil Beck, would step down as soon as the firm could find a replacement.
At the time Mr Beck said he was stepping down for personal reasons. He has been commuting between the United States and Ireland since he joined Datalex in 2001. His family is based in the US. A Datalex spokesman said yesterday the search for a replacement was continuing and a number of candidates for the job had been interviewed.
"Neil Beck is still there so the company is not rudderless," the spokesman added.
