Last close As at 05/08/2026
AUD0.33
▲ 0.01 (1.54%)
Market capitalisation
AUD127m
Research: TMT
EML Payments has entered into an agreement to settle all the outstanding deferred consideration payments relating to the acquisition of Prepaid Financial Services Group (PFS) for £15.0m/A$28.8m, which represents a £7.9m/A$15.2m discount to the originally agreed amount. This agreement concludes all outstanding actual and potential liabilities relating to the PFS acquisition in 2020. Combined with the agreed sale of Sentenial for A$54m, this substantially strengthens EML’s balance sheet and simplifies the group’s structure.
EML Payments |
Cutting the final link to PFS vendors |
Revised deferred consideration |
Software and comp services |
12 April 2024 |
Share price performance
Business description
Next events
Analyst
EML Payments is a research client of Edison Investment Research Limited |
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EML Payments has entered into an agreement to settle all the outstanding deferred consideration payments relating to the acquisition of Prepaid Financial Services Group (PFS) for £15.0m/A$28.8m, which represents a £7.9m/A$15.2m discount to the originally agreed amount. This agreement concludes all outstanding actual and potential liabilities relating to the PFS acquisition in 2020. Combined with the agreed sale of Sentenial for A$54m, this substantially strengthens EML’s balance sheet and simplifies the group’s structure.
Year end |
Revenue |
EBITDA* (A$m) |
PBT** |
Diluted |
DPS |
P/E |
EV/EBITDA* |
06/22 |
232.4 |
51.2 |
16.0 |
3.4 |
0.0 |
30.2 |
7.9 |
06/23 |
254.2 |
37.1 |
(22.8) |
(4.9) |
0.0 |
N/A |
10.9 |
06/24e |
262.1 |
55.7 |
27.5 |
5.7 |
0.0 |
17.9 |
7.3 |
06/25e |
238.0 |
62.5 |
41.4 |
8.6 |
0.0 |
11.9 |
6.5 |
Note: *Underlying. **PBT and EPS are normalised, excluding amortisation of acquired intangibles, exceptional items and share-based payments.
Deferred consideration payment finalised
The EML acquisition of PFS in 2020 included deferred consideration in the form of loan notes of £20m plus accrued interest, payable in two instalments on 30 June 2024 and 30 June 2025. At full term, the debt would have been worth £22.9m/ A$44.0m with the first tranche payable of £11.25m/A$21.6m. In the new agreement, EML will settle the entire loan note liability for £15.0m/A$28.8m by 31 July 2024, funded from EML’s cash balance. This represents a £7.9m/A$15.2m discount to the originally agreed amount. All historical earnout arrangements are confirmed at zero (this was already the position on the balance sheet).
Forecasts revised to reflect lower payout
We have revised our forecasts to reflect full payment of the final amount in early H125. We have split the discount of A$15.2m as a one-off credit to financial expense of A$13.65m in H224 and reduced interest expense by A$1.55m in FY25. This reduces our net debt forecast from A$22.6m to A$11.7m at the end of FY24 and increases our net cash forecast from A$3.8m to A$16.0m at the end of FY25. We have not yet factored in the Sentenial disposal as this is subject to regulatory approval from the UK and French authorities.
Valuation: Obstacles removed
The stock continues to trade at a material discount to global payment processor and prepaid card peers on an EV/sales and EV/underlying EBITDA basis, despite several obstacles to profitable growth having been removed. In our view, regulatory approval of the Sentenial disposal, evidence of positive progress with the UK regulator and growth in the remaining business will be key to reducing this discount.
Changes to forecasts
Exhibit 1: Changes to forecasts
FY24e |
FY25e |
||||||||
Old |
New |
Change |
y-o-y |
Old |
New |
Change |
y-o-y |
||
Revenues |
A$m |
262.1 |
262.1 |
0.0% |
3.1% |
238.0 |
238.0 |
0.0% |
-9.2% |
Gross profit |
A$m |
195.2 |
195.2 |
0.0% |
18.3% |
173.9 |
173.9 |
0.0% |
-10.9% |
Gross margin |
74.5% |
74.5% |
0.0% |
9.6% |
73.1% |
73.1% |
0.0% |
-1.4% |
|
Underlying gross profit |
A$m |
195.2 |
195.2 |
0.0% |
12.0% |
173.9 |
173.9 |
0.0% |
-10.9% |
Underlying gross margin |
74.5% |
74.5% |
0.0% |
6.0% |
73.1% |
73.1% |
0.0% |
-1.4% |
|
EBITDA |
A$m |
49.7 |
49.7 |
0.0% |
-2016.3% |
62.5 |
62.5 |
0.0% |
25.7% |
EBITDA margin |
19.0% |
19.0% |
0.0% |
20.0% |
26.3% |
26.3% |
0.0% |
7.3% |
|
Add back one-off costs |
A$m |
6.0 |
6.0 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.0 |
0.0 |
N/A |
N/A |
Underlying EBITDA |
A$m |
55.7 |
55.7 |
0.0% |
50.3% |
62.5 |
62.5 |
0.0% |
12.2% |
Underlying EBITDA margin |
21.3% |
21.3% |
0.0% |
6.7% |
26.3% |
26.3% |
0.0% |
5.0% |
|
Normalised operating profit |
A$m |
32.5 |
32.5 |
0.0% |
-269.7% |
44.8 |
44.8 |
0.0% |
37.7% |
Normalised operating margin |
12.4% |
12.4% |
0.0% |
20.0% |
18.8% |
18.8% |
0.0% |
6.4% |
|
Reported operating profit |
A$m |
(8.3) |
(8.3) |
0.0% |
-97.3% |
32.3 |
32.3 |
0.0% |
-491.5% |
Reported operating margin |
-3.1% |
-3.1% |
0.0% |
115.7% |
13.6% |
13.6% |
0.0% |
16.7% |
|
Normalised PBT |
A$m |
27.5 |
27.5 |
0.0% |
-221.0% |
39.8 |
41.4 |
3.9% |
50.2% |
Reported PBT |
A$m |
(11.5) |
2.2 |
-118.7% |
-100.8% |
27.3 |
28.9 |
5.7% |
1240.2% |
Normalised net income |
A$m |
22.0 |
22.0 |
0.0% |
-221.0% |
31.8 |
33.1 |
3.9% |
50.2% |
NPATA |
A$m |
26.6 |
37.5 |
41.1% |
-239.1% |
31.8 |
33.1 |
3.9% |
-11.8% |
Add back one-off costs |
A$m |
4.8 |
4.8 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
||||
Underlying NPATA |
A$m |
31.4 |
42.3 |
34.8% |
764.2% |
31.8 |
33.1 |
3.9% |
-21.8% |
Reported net income |
A$m |
(9.2) |
1.7 |
-118.7% |
-100.6% |
21.8 |
23.1 |
5.7% |
1240.2% |
Normalised basic EPS |
A$ |
0.06 |
0.06 |
0.0% |
-220.9% |
0.09 |
0.09 |
3.9% |
50.1% |
Normalised diluted EPS |
A$ |
0.06 |
0.06 |
0.0% |
-217.8% |
0.08 |
0.09 |
3.9% |
50.1% |
Reported basic EPS |
A$ |
(0.02) |
0.00 |
-118.7% |
-100.6% |
0.06 |
0.06 |
5.7% |
1239.1% |
NPATA/share |
A$ |
0.07 |
0.10 |
41.1% |
-238.9% |
0.08 |
0.09 |
3.9% |
-11.9% |
Dividend per share |
A$ |
0.00 |
0.00 |
N/A |
N/A |
0.00 |
0.00 |
N/A |
N/A |
Net debt/(cash) |
A$m |
22.6 |
11.7 |
-48.3% |
-42.7% |
(3.8) |
(16.0) |
319.4% |
N/A |
GDV |
A$bn |
154.3 |
154.3 |
0.0% |
19.1% |
174.2 |
174.2 |
0.0% |
12.9% |
Yield |
bp |
17 |
17 |
0 |
-3 |
14 |
14 |
0 |
-3 |
Source: Edison Investment Research
Exhibit 2: Financial summary
A$m |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024e |
2025e |
||
30-June |
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
||
INCOME STATEMENT |
|||||||||
Revenue |
|
|
97.2 |
121.0 |
192.2 |
232.4 |
254.2 |
262.1 |
238.0 |
Cost of Sales |
(24.2) |
(32.9) |
(63.8) |
(74.6) |
(89.1) |
(66.8) |
(64.1) |
||
Gross Profit |
73.0 |
88.1 |
128.4 |
157.8 |
165.1 |
195.2 |
173.9 |
||
EBITDA |
|
|
29.7 |
32.5 |
42.2 |
34.3 |
(2.6) |
49.7 |
62.5 |
Normalised operating profit |
|
|
25.6 |
22.4 |
31.6 |
18.4 |
(19.2) |
32.5 |
44.8 |
Amortisation of acquired intangibles |
(7.5) |
(11.1) |
(20.2) |
(16.5) |
(18.2) |
(10.0) |
(10.0) |
||
Exceptionals |
(3.0) |
(13.6) |
(11.2) |
1.4 |
(262.9) |
(25.8) |
0.0 |
||
Share-based payments |
(4.2) |
(6.1) |
(5.0) |
(3.0) |
(1.8) |
(5.0) |
(2.5) |
||
Reported operating profit |
10.9 |
(8.5) |
(4.8) |
0.3 |
(302.0) |
(8.3) |
32.3 |
||
Net Interest |
(0.0) |
(0.7) |
(1.4) |
(2.4) |
(3.6) |
(5.0) |
(3.4) |
||
Joint ventures & associates (post tax) |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
||
Exceptionals |
(1.8) |
1.3 |
(17.1) |
1.8 |
23.9 |
15.4 |
0.0 |
||
Profit Before Tax (norm) |
|
|
25.6 |
21.6 |
30.2 |
16.0 |
(22.8) |
27.5 |
41.4 |
Profit Before Tax (reported) |
|
|
9.0 |
(7.9) |
(23.3) |
(0.3) |
(281.8) |
2.2 |
28.9 |
Reported tax |
(0.6) |
0.7 |
(5.4) |
(4.5) |
(3.1) |
(0.4) |
(5.8) |
||
Profit After Tax (norm) |
20.5 |
17.2 |
24.1 |
12.8 |
(18.2) |
22.0 |
33.1 |
||
Profit After Tax (reported) |
8.5 |
(7.1) |
(28.7) |
(4.8) |
(284.8) |
1.7 |
23.1 |
||
Minority interests |
(0.2) |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
||
Discontinued operations |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
||
Net income (normalised) |
20.3 |
17.2 |
24.1 |
12.8 |
(18.2) |
22.0 |
33.1 |
||
Net income (reported) |
8.3 |
(7.1) |
(28.7) |
(4.8) |
(284.8) |
1.7 |
23.1 |
||
Basic ave. number of shares outstanding (m) |
249 |
304 |
360 |
371 |
374 |
374 |
375 |
||
EPS - basic normalised (A$) |
|
|
0.081 |
0.056 |
0.067 |
0.035 |
(0.049) |
0.059 |
0.088 |
EPS - normalised fully diluted (c) |
|
|
7.812 |
5.489 |
6.579 |
3.398 |
(4.869) |
5.736 |
8.610 |
EPS - basic reported (A$) |
|
|
0.033 |
(0.023) |
(0.080) |
(0.013) |
(0.762) |
0.005 |
0.062 |
Dividend (A$) |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
||
Revenue growth (%) |
36.9 |
24.4 |
58.9 |
20.9 |
9.4 |
3.1 |
(-9.2) |
||
Gross Margin (%) |
75.1 |
72.8 |
66.8 |
67.9 |
64.9 |
74.5 |
73.1 |
||
EBITDA Margin (%) |
30.6 |
26.9 |
21.9 |
14.8 |
-1.0 |
19.0 |
26.3 |
||
Normalised Operating Margin |
26.4 |
18.5 |
16.4 |
7.9 |
-7.5 |
12.4 |
18.8 |
||
BALANCE SHEET |
|||||||||
Fixed Assets |
|
|
162.9 |
872.1 |
685.3 |
827.3 |
581.3 |
511.6 |
498.1 |
Intangible Assets |
104.6 |
371.7 |
350.1 |
448.5 |
192.5 |
153.8 |
140.0 |
||
Tangible Assets |
5.4 |
14.6 |
11.2 |
12.7 |
10.6 |
11.3 |
12.0 |
||
Investments & other |
53.0 |
485.8 |
323.9 |
366.1 |
378.3 |
346.6 |
346.0 |
||
Current Assets |
|
|
313.8 |
1,008.6 |
1,603.5 |
1,855.1 |
2,413.2 |
1,762.1 |
1,710.9 |
Stocks |
18.2 |
22.3 |
16.4 |
21.5 |
27.5 |
27.6 |
26.7 |
||
Debtors |
14.4 |
21.7 |
22.0 |
35.8 |
38.9 |
39.3 |
36.0 |
||
Cash & cash equivalents |
33.1 |
118.4 |
141.2 |
73.7 |
71.4 |
66.4 |
16.0 |
||
Other |
248.2 |
846.2 |
1,424.0 |
1,724.1 |
2,275.5 |
1,628.8 |
1,632.3 |
||
Current Liabilities |
|
|
(299.0) |
(1,357.8) |
(1,792.8) |
(2,100.1) |
(2,709.9) |
(2,050.8) |
(1,959.7) |
Creditors |
(33.9) |
(47.5) |
(62.9) |
(65.7) |
(82.3) |
(68.3) |
(56.2) |
||
Tax and social security |
(0.8) |
(2.6) |
(6.0) |
(2.8) |
(3.1) |
(3.1) |
(3.1) |
||
Short term borrowings |
(15.0) |
0.0 |
(1.4) |
(1.8) |
(23.0) |
(78.1) |
0.0 |
||
Other |
(249.4) |
(1,307.7) |
(1,722.5) |
(2,029.8) |
(2,601.5) |
(1,901.3) |
(1,900.4) |
||
Long Term Liabilities |
|
|
(33.5) |
(82.6) |
(81.1) |
(145.2) |
(110.1) |
(41.7) |
(42.5) |
Long term borrowings |
0.0 |
(35.8) |
(36.9) |
(81.6) |
(68.8) |
0.0 |
0.0 |
||
Other long term liabilities |
(33.5) |
(46.8) |
(44.2) |
(63.6) |
(41.3) |
(41.7) |
(42.5) |
||
Net Assets |
|
|
144.2 |
440.2 |
414.9 |
437.1 |
174.6 |
181.3 |
206.9 |
Minority interests |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
||
Shareholders' equity |
|
|
144.2 |
440.2 |
414.9 |
437.1 |
174.6 |
181.3 |
206.9 |
CASH FLOW |
|||||||||
Op Cash Flow before WC and tax |
28.4 |
31.2 |
41.2 |
33.3 |
(2.3) |
49.7 |
62.5 |
||
Working capital |
2.0 |
3.6 |
31.7 |
(68.4) |
9.0 |
(29.4) |
(11.7) |
||
Exceptional & other |
(0.7) |
(12.7) |
(17.3) |
0.4 |
(2.6) |
(1.2) |
0.0 |
||
Tax |
(0.6) |
0.7 |
(5.4) |
(4.5) |
(3.1) |
(0.4) |
(5.8) |
||
Net operating cash flow |
|
|
29.2 |
22.8 |
50.2 |
(39.1) |
0.9 |
18.7 |
45.1 |
Capex |
(5.8) |
(11.0) |
(12.6) |
(14.1) |
(11.7) |
(11.2) |
(11.8) |
||
Acquisitions/disposals |
(44.0) |
(142.5) |
(3.5) |
(57.1) |
10.9 |
(5.3) |
(28.8) |
||
Net interest |
(0.0) |
(0.7) |
(1.4) |
(2.4) |
(3.6) |
(5.0) |
(3.4) |
||
Equity financing |
0.4 |
240.8 |
0.6 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
||
Dividends |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
||
Other |
(0.4) |
(7.0) |
(11.0) |
(1.9) |
(2.2) |
(2.2) |
(2.2) |
||
Net Cash Flow |
(20.6) |
102.3 |
22.2 |
(114.6) |
(5.7) |
(5.0) |
(1.1) |
||
Opening net debt/(cash) |
|
|
(39.0) |
(18.1) |
(82.5) |
(103.0) |
9.7 |
20.4 |
11.7 |
FX |
(0.3) |
(2.0) |
0.6 |
(1.1) |
3.4 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
||
Other non-cash movements |
0.0 |
(35.8) |
(2.4) |
3.0 |
(8.4) |
13.7 |
28.8 |
||
Closing net debt/(cash) |
|
|
(18.1) |
(82.5) |
(103.0) |
9.7 |
20.4 |
11.7 |
(16.0) |
Source: EML Payments, Edison Investment Research
|
|
Research: Investment Companies
Lowland Investment Company’s (LWI’s) unconstrained, multi-cap investment policy differentiates it from most peers in the AIC UK Equity Income sector. It offers investors broad market exposure, outside of the large, traditional ‘income stocks’ at a 13% discount to NAV. The underperformance of small- and mid-cap companies versus larger peers has slowed and a turnaround would be very positive for LWI. Portfolio returns are already benefiting from acquisition activity, spurred by low valuations, and LWI has been outperforming its benchmark for the past 18 months. Meanwhile, quarterly DPS is running at 4.9% above the previous year, an annualised rate of 6.4p, reflecting a prospective yield of 5.3%.