SMARTPAY POSTS REMARKABLE TURNAROUND
Thursday, May 26, 2011
12 Month EBITDA$7,155,000
Improves By More Than 250%
AUCKLAND, 26 May 2011 - SmartPay (NZX: SPY), a
leading provider of payments and transactional solutions in New
Zealand and Australia, today announced its financial results for
the year ended 31 March 2011 with record earnings before
interest expense, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of
$7.155 million. Consistent with the previous year EBITDA
encompasses all income from terminal rentals including the finance
component.
"Two years ago we set ourselves a very tough objective and
provided market guidance to grow our EBITDA, take actions to
improve cash flow, and develop significant on-going and recurring
revenues," says SmartPay Managing Director Ian Bailey.
"The board is extremely pleased with the result. The SmartPay
team has achieved the goal and delivered a 252% improvement in
EBITDA, off the back of improved sales and significantly improved
gross profit. Further, we have posted our first net profit after
tax, albeit modest, even after significant interest costs."
Financial highlights for the year to 31 March
2011:
- Revenue, up 20% to $47.3 million (2010: $39.4
million)
- Gross profit, up 86% to $20.6 million (2010: $11.1
million)
- EBITDA at $7.155 million, up 252% (2010: $2.0
million)
- EBIT of $3.4 million compared to an EBIT loss of
-$245k in 2010
- Net Profit after tax, $0.1 million, a turnaround
of $2.7 million (2010: -$2.6 million)
"SmartPay has demonstrated success, proving the inherent value
in the company's business model and strategy. The directors are
confident that the business is capable of delivering long term and
sustainable earnings growth," says Bailey.
The company's financial performance is matched by its
operational performance, with a number of important steps taken to
position SmartPay for future growth including:
- An imminent ASX listing to deliver improved shareholder value
and liquidity.
- The launching of SmartPay Subscriptions Limited - to bulk fund
the company's rapidly growing rental book at lower interest
rates.
- Launching a Redeemable Preference Share offer to reduce
corporate funding costs.
- Restructuring of manufacturing function to an outsourced
manufacturing model.
- Obtaining certification - on both sides of the Tasman - for the
PAX range of EFTPOS terminals and related products.
- Winning a significant amount of new business with some of New
Zealand's best known retail brands.
- Expanding its sales development programmes into the Australian
market.
"Next year we expect to maintain or improve our EBITDA despite
volume reductions in New Zealand as the terminal replacement
programmes concludes mid-year. Growth is expected from our
Australian business as the market there requires an estimated
600,000 terminals to be replaced over the next 3 - 5 years. However
with reduced overheads, better margin controls and lower interest
costs we expect to see further increases in bottom line profit,
with this continuing to increase for the foreseeable future as the
ongoing recurring revenues streams of our subscription model
continue to bring value to the business."
Bailey adds that SmartPay is also pursuing the company's ASX
listing to increase liquidity and increase shareholder value.
"The ASX listing is also desirable as P/E values for companies
similar to SmartPay are currently in the 10 - 14 range on the ASX,
whilst SmartPay, on the NZX, remains at a P/E of around 5.
Additionally, there are also significant opportunities to grow the
business both organically and by acquisition in our core target
markets in Australia.
"SmartPay already has a base to start from in Australia with
relationships with Live Group, Bendigo Bank, and selected target
vertical markets such as the club market via our relationship with
Generate Group.
"After consolidating SmartPay's success in the New Zealand
market, now is the right time to increase our expansion into
Australia. We want to take advantage of significant opportunities
using the same financial model we use in New Zealand as many of our
corporate customers are Australian-based or have Australian
affiliates.
"As a leader in our field, with a unique range of added value
services we believe that we can replicate our success in Australia,
and already have proof that our model works in that market," says
Bailey.
During the year, SmartPay appointed Chief Executive Officer
Andrew Donaldson, who is responsible for the New Zealand business,
as Managing Director Ian Bailey and Australian-based Chairman Wayne
Johnson oversee the push into Australia supported by other New
Zealand based executives and sales staff.
Bailey adds that SmartPay will be seeking a full ASX listing,
comprising a prospectus and full application to the ASX for access
to the main board. The company's current intention is to maintain
dual NZX/ASX listings.
"Naturally, we are devoting our most experienced managers and
executives to this initiative. As part of this process we have
already met with a number of brokers in Australia who are showing
interest in supporting the stock."
With a record of three consecutive years of sales, gross profit
and EBITDA growth, SmartPay wouldn't be resting on its laurels,
says Bailey.
"To the contrary, we have achieved what we said we would do, but
there is still more to be done. In New Zealand a key focus is to
access more cost effective funding so that we can reduce interest
costs and improve our bottom line, whilst in Australia it is to
grow the business.
"In New Zealand, we have already secured Kiwibank as a funder
for our rental book, and together with our wholly owned bulk
funding subsidiary SmartPay Subscriptions Limited and the issue of
redeemable preference shares we expect to see interest costs
decrease significantly in the coming years.
"Now that we have delivered on our guidance, we expect that main
stream banks will begin to regard SmartPay in a new light, and help
us lower our cost of funds even further."
During the current year, SmartPay achieved certification for the
PAX EFTPOS terminals in both trans-Tasman markets and moved to an
outsourced manufacturing model to reduce costs and investment in
inventories. China-based PAX is the fifth largest EFTPOS terminal
supplier in the Asia Pacific markets, producing more than 300,000
units per annum.
SmartPay will offer customers a wider range of PAX-manufactured
EFTPOS hardware - including S80 counter tops, SP30 pin pads, S90
mobile, S90 Wi-Fi - and software at the forefront of compliance and
security standards.
SmartPay's focus will continue to provide value added payments
and transaction solutions - using a rental model - to corporate and
retail merchants in Australasia. The company is also well
positioned to capitalise on emerging technologies such as
contactless cards, mobile payments and Internet payments to drive
further revenue.
"SmartPay's future is very bright. It is pleasing to announce
this result, which is one that every SmartPay employee and director
can be proud of."
ENDS
For further information contact:
Ian Bailey, Managing Director, SmartPay, Mobile +64 21 664
941
Wayne Johnson, Chairman SmartPay Mobile +61 411 544 449
Andrew Donaldson, CEO, SmartPay +64 27 255 4682
Julien Leys, JML Communications, +64 21 655 598
About SmartPay Limited
SmartPay is a leading provider of integrated merchant services
utilising the Internet and broadband connectivity.
SmartPay's product set includes:
- Telecommunications products and services including Voice Over
IP, Broadband, EFTPOS terminals and secure EFTPOS internet
connectivity
- Audio and video, music, messaging and media via its Retail
Radio product set.
- Prepayment products and transactional processing services for
the taxi industry.
SmartPay Core Products include:
•
Wi-Fi - one of the largest networks in New Zealand
•
In-store Audio Visual Promotional Systems - Retail Radio
•
Internet enabled EFTPOS equipment sales and rental
•
Gift Cards
•
Secure Internet Payments
•
Mobile Top-up
•
Calling Cards
•
Bill Payment Solutions
•
Voice over IP (VOIP)
•
Online Payments
For more information visit - www.smartpayltd.com