16 March 2007
PayPoint plc
Trading Statement
Trading has been ahead of analysts' forecasts with transaction
volumes and revenues to the end of February 29% and 32% ahead of the
same period last year respectively. The expected relatively higher
growth in lower margin Irish transactions has resulted in net
revenue1 growth of 29%. Operating margins are running at a similar
level to the same period last year.
Terminal growth should exceed our target of 17,000 by the end of the
current financial year. We expect to continue rolling out new agents
at the current rate after the end of this financial year. ATM
installations continue to grow more slowly than last year, running at
a net increase of about 35 new sites per month. Good quality sites
have become more difficult to find but we expect to continue to roll
out new ATM sites during the next financial year.
Energy prepayment volumes have continued to grow, benefiting from
increased gas and electricity prices. Recently announced price
reductions are likely to reduce transaction numbers in gas
prepayments unless average payment values fall in proportion. Bill
payment volumes are well ahead of the same period last year, mainly
due to the BBC TV Licensing contract award.
Mobile top-up volumes are over 18% ahead of the same period last year
driven largely by the growth in terminals.
ATM transactions have grown substantially, with the average monthly
transactions per machine higher than the same period last year.
The computer hardware platforms for PayPoint Internet Payment
Services (comprising Metacharge and SECPay, both of which were
acquired this year) will be combined into one operation in the first
half of the next financial year, and the SECPay Ripon location will
close. Software integration will follow to allow product offerings
from either system to be delivered to all merchants including all
bank acquiring relationships.
PayPoint's preliminary results announcement will be on 17 May 2007.
Note
1 Net revenue is revenue less agent commission and the cost of Irish
mobile top-ups
Enquiries:
PayPoint plc 01707 600 300
Dominic Taylor, Chief Executive
George Earle, Finance Director
Finsbury 020 7251 3801
Rollo Head
Don Hunter
About PayPoint
PayPoint is the UK's and Ireland's leading cash and internet payments
company, handling over £4 billion in over 360 million payments
annually for over 5,000 clients and merchants. The company operates
with several significant payment streams:
* The PayPoint branded retail network numbers over 17,500 terminals
located in local shops (including Co-ops, Spar, Costcutter,
NISA-Today's, Londis and thousands of independents) in all parts
of the UK and Ireland. Terminals handle cash bill payments,
mobile phone top-ups, transport tickets, London Congestion
Charges, BBC TV licences and a wide variety of other payment
types for all of the leading utilities, telecoms suppliers and
many consumer service companies. This network is used by
consumers, free of charge, over 7 million times a week. The
network has 97.3% population cover on a 1 mile urban or 5 miles
rural measure;
* Additional multiple retailer connections into the electronic till
systems (EPoS) of 3,000 outlets including BP, Somerfield and
Superdrug for mobile top ups and selected payments from the
PayPoint range;
* The PayPoint ATM network has 1850 'LINK'-branded machines across
the UK, also typically in convenience stores. These machines levy
a small convenience fee for each withdrawal; and
* PayPoint Internet Payment Services, trading as Metacharge and
SECPay, provides secure credit and debit card payments for over
4,000 web merchants linking into all the major UK acquiring
banks.
PayPoint floated on the London Stock Exchange in September 2004 and
was the Financial Times 'New Company of the Year'. The company has a
market capitalisation of c. £375 million. In year ended March 2006,
revenue was £120 million with profit before tax of £20 million.
PayPoint has been awarded the Queen's Award for Enterprise and is
widely recognised for its leadership in prepayment systems, smart
technology and consumer service.
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