eServGlobal |
Core business restructuring starts to pay off |
FY16 results |
Software & comp services |
9 January 2017 |
Share price performance
Business description
Next events
Analysts
eServGlobal is a research client of Edison Investment Research Limited |
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eServGlobal reported FY16 results in line with its recent trading update. The turnaround in the core business is evident with H216 revenues 58% higher than in H116 and adjusted EBITDA losses significantly reducing over H216. Continued contract momentum combined with good cost control puts the company on track to generate positive EBITDA for FY17. At the same time, the HomeSend joint venture expects to see revenue contributions from new partners coming on line and continues to target break-even in CY17.
Year end |
Revenue (A$m) |
EBITDA* |
EPS* |
DPS |
P/E |
EV/EBITDA |
|||||
10/14 |
31.3 |
2.6 |
(0.20) |
0.0 |
N/A |
26.5 |
|||||
10/15 |
25.9 |
(10.4) |
(5.41) |
0.0 |
N/A |
N/A |
|||||
10/16 |
21.6 |
(7.0) |
(3.88) |
0.0 |
N/A |
N/A |
|||||
10/17e |
27.6 |
0.8 |
(0.94) |
0.0 |
N/A |
N/A |
|||||
Note: *EBITDA and EPS are normalised, excluding amortisation of acquired intangibles, exceptional items and share-based payments.
H216 results show recovery in core business
eServGlobal reported FY16 revenues of A$21.6m (-16.6%), in line with its recent trading update, and confirming a pick up in revenues in H216 (H1 A$8.4m, H2 A$13.2m). FY16 adjusted EBITDA loss of A$7.0m was slightly better than our forecast, reflecting costs at the lower end of the expected range, with the H216 EBITDA loss reduced to A$0.4m. The company ended the year with gross cash of A$9.4m and net debt of A$2.4m.
Forecasting positive EBITDA for FY17
We assume that the core business is able to grow revenues at a modest level from the A$13.2m generated in H216, to achieve FY17 revenue growth of 28%. A large proportion of these revenues is already contracted, but the company will need to sign new contracts to achieve our forecast. The recent contract signed with a channel partner in Africa opens up new opportunities in a region very active in mobile money, and complements the company’s strong position in the Middle East. With a small reduction in the cost base from FY16, we forecast a small positive EBITDA for FY17.
Valuation: HomeSend key to upside
Based on a sum-of-the-parts valuation, we calculate a per-share value of 10.1p (down from 10.6p). We value the core business at a discount to mobile software peers to reflect its profitability profile. We assume that the HomeSend JV is successful in reaching break-even in CY17, growing its share of the international remittance market to 2% by FY25. For the value of the JV to be reflected in the share price, investors will need to see regular operational updates tracking new hub members, live corridors, volumes transacted and progress towards profitability.
Review of FY16 results
eServGlobal had already flagged headline results for FY16 in its November trading update, expecting revenues of €14-14.5m and total costs of €19.5m. FY16 revenues of A$21.6m/€14.5m declined 16.6% y-o-y, although on a half-yearly basis, H216 revenues of A$13.2m were substantially higher than the company’s low of A$8.4m in H116. Gross profit of A$6.1m for the year equated to a gross margin of 28.2%, split out as 5.4% in H116 and 42.6% in H216, showing that recent restructuring has put the company back on track. The company benefited from a currency gain of A$3.6m during the year, partially offset by A$2.7m in trade receivable and work-in-progress write-downs and other exceptional costs of A$0.2m. Excluding these items, the company achieved an EBITDA loss of A$7.0m (-A$6.6m in H116, -A$0.4m in H216). This implies that operating costs fell further in H216 (we calculate a fall from A$7.0m in H116 to A$6.1m in H216). Total costs for the year of A$28.6m/€19.1m came in below the expected €19.5m level.
Net finance costs of A$7.1m included $A3.25m in debt restructuring fees and A$1.0m loss from repaying the old debt that we treat as exceptional, leaving underlying finance charges of A$2.86m for the year. The loss generated by the stake in the HomeSend JV of A$4.6m was in line with our forecast.
The company ended the year with a net debt position of A$2.4m, with gross cash of A$9.4m and long-term debt of A$11.8m (repayable June 2019).
Exhibit 1: Summary of FY16 results
A$000s |
FY15a |
FY16e |
FY16a |
Difference |
y-o-y |
Revenues |
25,866 |
21,409 |
21,577 |
0.8% |
-16.6% |
Gross profit |
5,258 |
6,324 |
6,087 |
-3.7% |
15.8% |
Gross margin |
20.3% |
29.5% |
28.2% |
-1.3% |
7.9% |
Normalised EBITDA |
(10,449) |
(7,842) |
(6,982) |
11.0% |
33.2% |
Normalised EBITDA margin |
-40.4% |
-36.6% |
-32.4% |
4.3% |
8.0% |
Normalised EBIT |
(12,469) |
(10,942) |
(10,039) |
8.3% |
19.5% |
Normalised EBIT margin |
-48.2% |
-51.1% |
-46.5% |
4.6% |
1.7% |
Reported EBIT |
(25,062) |
(13,264) |
(9,393) |
29.2% |
62.5% |
Normalised PBT |
(17,656) |
(18,167) |
(17,538) |
3.5% |
0.7% |
Reported PBT |
(30,249) |
(24,005) |
(21,146) |
11.9% |
30.1% |
Normalised net income |
(14,291) |
(14,664) |
(14,226) |
3.0% |
0.5% |
Reported net income |
(32,540) |
(19,334) |
(21,938) |
-13.5% |
32.6% |
Normalised EPS |
(5.41) |
(4.00) |
(3.88) |
3.0% |
28.3% |
Net debt |
14,555 |
3,355 |
2,384 |
-28.9% |
-83.6% |
Source: eServGlobal, Edison Investment Research
Outlook and changes to forecasts
In the core business, the company’s contracted order book of €21m/A$30.3m is 60% higher than a year ago. A large proportion of the deals signed at year-end are for recognition over the current and future years. eServGlobal is still negotiating several material contracts and recently signed a major channel partnership that should help it access parts of Africa it had previously struggled to reach. This provides some comfort that FY17 revenues should be stronger than in FY16.
The company expects to reduce its cost base further, from the A$28.6m/€19.1m incurred in FY16 to below A$26m/€18m in FY17. At the same time, it is tightening up working capital, in particular reducing debtor days.
The HomeSend joint venture has several key contracts that should come on line this year, helping to drive revenues and taking the venture closer to its target to break-even in CY17.
We are forecasting revenue growth of 28% for the core business in FY17 – based on H216 revenues this implies h-o-h growth of 3% in H117 and H217. We forecast a gross margin of 46% for the year and operating expenses before depreciation and amortisation of A$11.9m (down from A$13.1m in FY16) – this results in a small positive EBITDA for the year. We make no change to our forecast for the HomeSend JV contribution, which we estimate will generate a loss of A$3m for FY17.
Exhibit 2: Changes to forecasts
A$'000 |
FY16a |
FY17e new |
y-o-y |
Revenues |
21,577 |
27,629 |
28.0% |
Gross profit |
6,087 |
12,713 |
108.9% |
Gross margin |
28.2% |
46.0% |
17.8% |
Normalised EBITDA |
(6,982) |
791 |
111.3% |
Normalised EBITDA margin |
-32.4% |
2.9% |
35.2% |
Normalised EBIT |
(10,039) |
(2,599) |
74.1% |
Normalised EBIT margin |
-46.5% |
-9.4% |
37.1% |
Reported EBIT |
(9,393) |
(2,799) |
70.2% |
Normalised PBT |
(17,538) |
(7,272) |
58.5% |
Reported PBT |
(21,146) |
(7,472) |
64.7% |
Normalised net income |
(14,226) |
(6,018) |
57.7% |
Reported net income |
(21,938) |
(6,178) |
71.8% |
Normalised EPS |
(3.88) |
(0.94) |
75.8% |
Net debt |
2,384 |
4,057 |
70.2% |
Source: eServGlobal, Edison Investment Research
Exhibit 3: Financial summary
A$'000s |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017e |
||
Year end 31 October |
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
IFRS |
||
PROFIT & LOSS |
|||||||||
Revenue |
|
|
7,017 |
28,070 |
31,003 |
31,261 |
25,866 |
21,577 |
27,629 |
Cost of Sales |
(4,234) |
(12,267) |
(11,789) |
(13,359) |
(20,608) |
(15,490) |
(14,916) |
||
Gross Profit |
2,783 |
15,803 |
19,214 |
17,902 |
5,258 |
6,087 |
12,713 |
||
EBITDA |
|
|
(6,694) |
(1,936) |
1,683 |
2,571 |
(10,449) |
(6,982) |
791 |
Operating Profit (before amort acq intang, SBP and except.) |
(8,601) |
(7,277) |
(660) |
1,987 |
(12,469) |
(10,039) |
(2,599) |
||
Amortisation of acquired intangibles |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
Exceptionals |
0 |
(6,485) |
5,997 |
28,735 |
(12,539) |
(3,533) |
0 |
||
Share-based payments |
(261) |
(624) |
(456) |
(438) |
(54) |
(75) |
(200) |
||
Operating Profit |
(8,862) |
(14,386) |
4,881 |
30,284 |
(25,062) |
(13,647) |
(2,799) |
||
Income from associate |
0 |
0 |
0 |
(2,275) |
(3,831) |
(4,638) |
(2,977) |
||
Net Interest |
164 |
(1,016) |
(386) |
(254) |
(1,356) |
(2,861) |
(1,697) |
||
Profit Before Tax (norm) |
|
|
(8,437) |
(8,293) |
(1,046) |
(542) |
(17,656) |
(17,538) |
(7,272) |
Profit Before Tax (FRS 3) |
|
|
(8,698) |
(15,402) |
4,495 |
27,755 |
(30,249) |
(21,146) |
(7,472) |
Tax |
(560) |
(187) |
5,879 |
(13,515) |
(2,125) |
(596) |
1,494 |
||
Profit After Tax (norm) |
(8,997) |
(5,805) |
(732) |
(379) |
(14,125) |
(14,030) |
(5,818) |
||
Profit After Tax (FRS3) |
(9,258) |
(15,589) |
10,374 |
14,240 |
(32,374) |
(21,742) |
(5,978) |
||
Average Number of Shares Outstanding (m) |
196.8 |
196.8 |
241.1 |
253.1 |
264.0 |
366.6 |
640.2 |
||
EPS - normalised (c) |
|
|
(4.59) |
(3.01) |
(0.36) |
(0.20) |
(5.41) |
(3.88) |
(0.94) |
EPS - FRS 3 (c) |
|
|
(4.73) |
(7.98) |
4.25 |
5.57 |
(12.33) |
(5.98) |
(0.97) |
DPS (c) |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
||
Gross Margin (%) |
39.7% |
56.3% |
62.0% |
57.3% |
20.3% |
28.2% |
46.0% |
||
EBITDA Margin (%) |
(95.4%) |
(6.9%) |
5.4% |
8.2% |
(40.4%) |
(32.4%) |
2.9% |
||
Operating Margin (before am and except.) (%) |
(122.6%) |
(25.9%) |
(2.1%) |
6.4% |
(48.2%) |
(46.5%) |
(9.4%) |
||
BALANCE SHEET |
|||||||||
Fixed Assets |
|
|
20,090 |
16,303 |
14,330 |
43,431 |
42,928 |
33,274 |
28,416 |
Intangible Assets |
13,190 |
9,386 |
3,523 |
9,011 |
6,939 |
5,598 |
3,717 |
||
Tangible Assets |
1,541 |
912 |
482 |
3 |
84 |
32 |
32 |
||
Other Fixed Assets |
5,359 |
6,005 |
10,325 |
34,417 |
35,905 |
27,644 |
24,667 |
||
Current Assets |
|
|
50,814 |
18,136 |
38,855 |
30,761 |
34,895 |
28,240 |
33,149 |
Stock |
|
|
170 |
158 |
74 |
173 |
66 |
72 |
72 |
Debtors |
|
|
40,425 |
14,094 |
21,846 |
26,811 |
24,403 |
17,976 |
22,330 |
Cash |
|
|
10,129 |
3,794 |
4,909 |
3,679 |
4,976 |
9,375 |
9,930 |
Other |
|
|
90 |
90 |
12,026 |
98 |
5,450 |
817 |
817 |
Current Liabilities |
|
|
(40,856) |
(12,934) |
(15,082) |
(18,033) |
(25,520) |
(14,469) |
(18,449) |
Creditors |
(19,952) |
(11,665) |
(11,932) |
(13,010) |
(22,285) |
(14,189) |
(18,169) |
||
Taxation & social security |
(6,904) |
(69) |
(150) |
(2,023) |
(235) |
(280) |
(280) |
||
Short term borrowings |
(14,000) |
(1,200) |
(3,000) |
(3,000) |
(3,000) |
0 |
0 |
||
Long Term Liabilities |
|
|
(1,175) |
(6,431) |
(749) |
(865) |
(19,532) |
(12,649) |
(14,877) |
Long term borrowings |
0 |
(6,000) |
0 |
0 |
(16,531) |
(11,759) |
(13,987) |
||
Other long term liabilities |
(1,175) |
(431) |
(749) |
(865) |
(3,001) |
(890) |
(890) |
||
Net Assets |
|
|
28,803 |
14,989 |
37,154 |
55,070 |
32,359 |
33,823 |
27,467 |
CASH FLOW |
|||||||||
Operating Cash Flow |
|
|
(8,060) |
(11,901) |
(7,207) |
(5,810) |
(12,130) |
(10,712) |
417 |
Net Interest |
1,486 |
(974) |
(580) |
(271) |
(423) |
(175) |
(200) |
||
Tax |
(448) |
(7,813) |
(1,088) |
2,018 |
(3,148) |
(1,159) |
(300) |
||
Capex |
(529) |
(1,966) |
(1,950) |
(6,403) |
(2,921) |
(1,535) |
(1,590) |
||
Acquisitions/disposals |
0 |
23,307 |
0 |
5,418 |
0 |
5,133 |
0 |
||
Financing |
(33,230) |
(77) |
16,140 |
3,964 |
4,365 |
15,929 |
0 |
||
Dividends |
(23,910) |
(111) |
0 |
(146) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
Net Cash Flow |
(64,691) |
465 |
5,315 |
(1,230) |
(14,257) |
7,481 |
(1,673) |
||
Opening net debt/(cash) |
|
|
(60,820) |
3,871 |
3,406 |
(1,909) |
(679) |
14,555 |
2,384 |
HP finance leases initiated |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
Other |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
977 |
(4,690) |
0 |
||
Closing net debt/(cash) |
|
|
3,871 |
3,406 |
(1,909) |
(679) |
14,555 |
2,384 |
4,057 |
Source: eServGlobal, Edison Investment Research
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