PayPoint plc : Annual Report & Notice of 2015 AGM

PayPoint plc (the 'Company')

25 June 2015

Publication of Annual Report and Notice of 2015 Annual General Meeting

The Company has today published its Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2015 ('2015 Annual Report') on its website www.paypoint.com

In accordance with Listing Rule 9.6.1, the 2015 Annual Report and notice of Annual General Meeting will shortly be available for public inspection on the National Storage Mechanism (NSM) - Morningstar (www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/nsm ).

The Company will hold its 2015 Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, 22 July 2015 at 12 noon at Canaccord Genuity, 88 Wood Street, London EC2V 7QR.

In addition, following the release on 28 May 2015 of the Company's preliminary results for the year ended 31 March 2015, which are also available at www.paypoint.com, the Company makes the following additional disclosure in compliance with Rule 6.3.5 of the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the UK Financial Conduct Authority. Together these constitute the information required to be communicated to the media in unedited full text through a Regulatory Information Service. This information is not a substitute for reading the full 2015 Annual Report and Financial Statements.

STATEMENT OF DIRECTORS' RESPONSIBILITIES

The directors are responsible for preparing the annual report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law, the directors are required to prepare the group financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted by the European Union (EU) and Article 4 of the IAS Regulation and have also chosen to prepare the parent company financial statements under IFRS as adopted by the EU. Under company law, the directors must not approve the accounts unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and of the profit or loss of the company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, International Accounting Standard 1 requires that directors:

• properly select and apply accounting policies;
• present information, including accounting policies, in a manner that provides relevant, reliable, comparable and understandable information;
• provide additional disclosures when compliance with the specific requirements in IFRS are insufficient to enable users to understand the impact of particular transactions, other events and conditions on the entity's financial position and financial performance; and
• make an assessment of the company's ability to continue as a going concern.

The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the company's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the company's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Responsibility statement

The directors confirm that to the best of their knowledge:

• the financial statements, prepared in accordance with IFRS, give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities,
• financial position and profit or loss of the company and the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole;
• the strategic report includes a fair review of the development and performance of the business and the position of the company and the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole, together with a description of the principal risks and uncertainties that they face; and
• the annual report and financial statements, taken as a whole, are fair, balanced and understandable and provide the information necessary for shareholders to assess the company's performance, business model and strategy.

The Annual Report on pages 1 - 42 was approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 28 May 2015 and signed on behalf of the Board by:

Nick Wiles, Chairman
Dominic Taylor, Chief Executive

RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

Risk area	Potential impact	Mitigation strategies
Loss or inappropriate usage of data	The group's business requires the appropriate and secure use of consumer and other sensitive information. Mobile telephone and internet-based electronic commerce requires the secure transmission of confidential information over public networks, and several of our products are accessed through the internet. Fraudulent activity, cyber-crime or security breaches in connection with maintaining data and the delivery of our products and services could harm our reputation, business and operating results.	The group has established rigorous information security, anti-fraud and whistleblowing standards, procedures, and recruitment and training schemes, which are embedded throughout its business operations. The group also screens new employees carefully. Continued investments are made in IT security infrastructure, including the significant use of data and communications encryption technology.
Dependence upon third parties to provide data and certain operational services	The group's business model is dependent upon third parties to provide operational services, the loss of which could significantly impact the quality of our services. Similarly, if one of our outsource providers, including third parties with whom we have strategic relationships, were to experience financial or operational difficulties, their services to us would suffer or they may no longer be able to provide services to us at all, significantly impacting delivery of our products or services.	The group selects and negotiates agreements with strategic suppliers and agents based on criteria such as delivery assurance and reliability. Single points of failure are avoided, where practicable and economically feasible. Controls are regularly reviewed and improved to minimise risk of retailer churn caused by financial loss to retailers through fraudulent third party activity.
Exposure to legislation or regulatory reforms and risk of non-compliance	The group is largely unregulated by financial services regulators, although in the UK we have Payment Institution status for prefunded cash payments to consumers and to allow the online payments business to act as a master merchant for SME online merchants. The group's agents which offer money transfer are licensed as Money Service Businesses by HMRC. Our Mobile and Online business is subject to Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards regulated by the card schemes. Regulatory reform could increase the cost of the group's operations or deny access to certain territories in the provision of certain services. Noncompliance with law, regulation, privacy or information security laws could have serious implications in cost and reputational damage to the group.	The group's legal department works closely with senior management to adopt strategies to educate legislature, regulators, consumer and privacy advocates and other stakeholders to support the public policy debate, where appropriate, to ensure regulation does not have unintended consequences over the group's services. The group has in place a business ethics policy which requires compliance with local legislation in all the territories in which the group operates. A central compliance department co-ordinates all compliance monitoring and reporting. Subsidiary managing and finance directors are required to sign annual compliance statements.
Interruptions in business processes or systems	The group's ability to provide reliable services largely depends on the efficient and uninterrupted operation of our computer network systems, financial settlement systems, data and call centres, as well as maintaining sufficient staffing levels. System or network interruptions, recovery from fraud or security incidents or the unavailability of key staff or management resulting from a pandemic outbreak could delay and disrupt our ability to develop, deliver or maintain our products and services, causing harm to our business and reputation and resulting in loss of customers or revenue.	Comprehensive business continuity plans and incident management programmes are maintained to minimise business and operational disruptions, including fraudulent activity, system failure or pandemic incidents. Support arrangements have been established with third party vendors and there are strict standards, procedures and training schemes for business continuity.
Dependence on recruitment and retention of highly skilled personnel	The ability of the group to meet the demands of the market and compete effectively is, to a large extent, dependent on the skills, experience and performance of its personnel.  Demand is high for individuals with appropriate knowledge and experience in payments, IT and support services.  The inability to attract, motivate or retain key talent could have a serious consequence on the group's ability to service client commitments and grow our business.	Effective recruitment programmes are on-going across all business areas, as well as personal and career development initiatives.  The executive management reviews talent potential at quarterly meetings.  Compensation and benefits programmes are competitive and also reviewed regularly.
Exposure to materially adverse litigation	The group contracts with a number of large service organisations for which it provides services essential to their customers.  Failure to perform in accordance with contractual terms could give rise to litigation.	The group seeks to limit exposure in its contracts.  Mitigating actions are taken where contractual exposures are above the norm, including insurance coverage, where appropriate and economically sustainable.
Technology change may render products obsolete	There are rapid changes in technology in the payments industry including the development of new payment methods, particularly on smart phones and tablets, but also as a consequence of technology changes in other areas e.g. smart meters, which will replace the use of the energy keys and gas cards currently used to pay for prepaid energy.  Such changes may render current products and services obsolete.	IT development resource is directed at a group level and developments are in hand to ensure the group has relevant products in place to meet the demands brought about by changing technology.  For smart meters, a multi-channel product has been developed and launched.
Exposure to country and regional risk (political, financial, economic, social) in North America, United Kingdom, Romania, France and Ireland	The group's geographic footprint subjects its businesses to economic, political and other risks associated with international sales and operations.  A variety of factors, including changes in a specific country's or region's political, economic or regulatory requirements, as well as the potential for geopolitical turmoil, including terrorism and war, could result in loss of services, prevent our ability to respond to agreed service levels or fulfil other obligations.  These risks are generally outside the control of the group.	The group's portfolio is diversified by geography, by product, by sector and by client in order to protect itself against many of these fluctuations, especially those that are restricted to individual territories and market sectors, although the bulk of its operations and revenues are UK based.
Exposure to consolidation among clients and markets	Consolidation of retailers and clients could result in reductions in the group's revenue and profits through price compression from combined service agreements or through a reduced number of clients.	No single client accounts for more than 9% of the group's net revenue, and no single retailer accounts for more than 4% of the group's net revenue, which reduces the probability of this potential risk having a significant impact on the group's business. In addition, the group continues to expand in its developing businesses, and in CashOut (reversing the flow of money through its retail networks).
Acquisitions may not meet expectations	The group's acquisitions, strategic alliances and joint ventures may result in financial outcomes that are different than expected.  The net sale proceeds from the proposed sale of the parking and online payment processing business may not exceed their carrying value.   Yodel, our joint venture partner in Collect+, is seeking increases in its charges to the joint venture.  It is not clear the extent to which, if any, these proposals will be adopted.	The group assesses all acquisitions rigorously, using both in-house experts and professional advisers. In addition, the group conducts regular reviews to monitor performance.
Exposure to the unpredictability of financial markets (foreign exchange, interest rate and other financial risks)	As the group operates on an international basis, it is exposed to the risk of currency fluctuations and the unpredictability of financial markets in which it operates.	The group's financial risk management seeks to minimise potentially adverse effects on the group's financial performance.
Exposure to increasing competition	The group operates in a number of geographic, product and service markets that are highly competitive and subject to technological developments for example the introduction of smart meters and new payment solutions.  Competitors may develop products and services that are superior to ours or that achieve greater market acceptance than our products and services, which could result in the loss of clients, merchants and retailers or a reduction in revenue.	The group is committed to continued research and investment in new data sources, people, technology and products to support its strategic plan.
Loss or infringement of intellectual property rights	The group's success depends, in part, upon proprietary technology and related intellectual property rights. Some protection can be achieved but in many cases, little protection can be secured.  Third parties may claim that the group is infringing their intellectual property rights or our intellectual property rights could be infringed by third parties.  If we do not enforce or defend the group's intellectual property rights successfully, our competitive position may suffer, which could harm our operating results.	The group, where appropriate and feasible, relies upon a combination of patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret laws, as well as various contractual restrictions, to protect our proprietary technology and continues to monitor this situation.  The group also vigorously defends all third party infringement claims.
Data centre security breaches	The group is highly dependent on information technology networks and systems to process, transmit and store electronic information.  Fraudulent or unauthorised access, including security breaches of our data centres, could create system disruptions, shutdowns or unauthorised disclosure of confidential information.	The group's data centres are protected against physical break-ins.  The group has strict standards and procedures for security and fraud prevention.

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Enquiries:

Susan Court
Company Secretary, PayPoint plc
Tel: [phone]

ABOUT PAYPOINT
PayPoint is an international leader in payment technologies, its solutions transforming payments for everyone from consumer and financial services companies to retailers, utilities, media, e-commerce, gaming and government clients.

PayPoint delivers payments and services through its unique combination of local shops, mobile and online distribution channels, delivered both through its owned businesses and by integrating the best services from more specialised suppliers. It handles over £14 billion from over 812 million transactions annually for more than 5,500 clients and merchants.

With the backing of 24/7 operations centres with dual site processing, PayPoint is widely recognised for its leadership in payment systems, smart technology and service.

Retail networks
The PayPoint retail network across the UK numbers over 27,800 local shops, including Co-op, Spar, McColls, Costcutter, Sainsbury's Local, Tesco Express, One Stop, Asda, Londis and thousands of independents, where it processes energy meter pre-payments, bill payments, benefit payments, mobile phone top-ups, transport tickets, BBC TV licences, cash withdrawals and a range of other transactions. In Romania, the retail network numbers over 9,200 terminals in local shops, helping people to make cash bill payments, money transfers, road tax payments and mobile phone top-ups. In the Republic of Ireland, over 500 terminals in shops and credit unions process mobile top-ups and bill payments.

In the UK, Collect+, a joint venture with Yodel, provides a parcel drop-off and pick-up service at more than 5,800 PayPoint retailers. PayPoint's ATM network numbers more than 4,000 'LINK' branded machines across the UK, and 9,800 PayPoint terminals enable retailers to accept credit and debit cards.

Mobile and Online
PayPoint Mobile and Online handles over 145 million payments for parking, payments and consumer services.   In the UK, Canada, USA, France, Switzerland and Australia, its parking solutions make it easy for people to pay for parking by mobile, increasingly through its own app. It also provides electronic parking permits, automatic number plate recognition systems for car parks and penalty charge notices.

PayPoint's online payments platform is linked to 16 acquiring banks in the UK, Europe and North America, delivering secure credit and debit card payments for over 4,600 online merchants, including MoonPig, WHSmith, London and Zurich Insurance, Moneysupermarket.com, Severn Trent and British Gas. Its suite of products ranges from a transaction gateway to a bureau service, in addition to value-added services such as FraudGuard, an advanced service that mitigates the risk of fraud in card not present transactions, Cardlock, an innovative solution for PCI compliance, PayCash through the PayPoint network and Cashier, one of the most advanced hosted digital payment solutions.

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Source: PayPoint plc via Globenewswire

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