as at 09:50:17, Tuesday 09 March, 2021 (NZDT)
MKTUPDTE: PX1: Plexure surpasses market guidance
PX1
09/03/2021 09:50
MKTUPDTE
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MKTUPDTE: PX1: Plexure surpasses market guidance
As part of its capital raise and secondary listing on the ASX, Plexure Group
Limited (Plexure) provided the market with financial guidance on 11 November
2020.
Plexure now expects to surpass that guidance based on its unaudited forecast:
- Total revenue for the year ended 31 March 2021 is expected to be $29.2m,
$0.2m (1%) above the November 2020 ASX forecast of $29.0m and $4.0m, or
15.8%, ahead of the March 2020 result, subject to any major movements in the
New Zealand dollar.
- Costs incurred since the November 2020 forecast have been lower than
anticipated, principally due to a slower ramp-up in headcount numbers.
- Forecast EBITDA loss of $5.6m is 20%, or $1.4m, less than originally
forecast.
Revenue from licences is expected to be 4%, or $0.7m, below the original
forecast, however this has been offset by an increase in services revenue of
9%, or $0.9m. The net result being that total revenue of $29.2m is 1%, or
$0.2m, above the original ASX forecast.
Platform costs are 4%, or $0.4m, above the ASX forecast. The ASX forecast
also included a positive impact of $0.2m from a lease change that has not
eventuated. Other expenses that have been lower than anticipated include
business development costs, office expenses and general expenses. ASX
listing costs were also higher than originally forecast.
Employment and contractor expenses are 5%, or $1 m, below the ASX forecast
number. This is reflected in staff numbers which are forecasted to be 153 at
year-end as opposed to the 190 included in the ASX forecast. The original
forecast was based on the ASX listing and funds raised being completed in
November 2020 with recruitment starting in January 2021 and staff coming on
board in March 2021.
Overall, the impact of slightly increased revenue, offset by lower
expenditure has meant that the the forecast EBITDA loss of $5.6 m is 20%, or
$1.4m, less than originally forecast.
Note that all numbers provided for the year ended 31 March 2021 are
unaudited.
Impact of COVID-19
The majority of countries which Plexure operates in are still impacted by
COVID-19. Overall, Plexure is seeing less redemption activity, and this is
reflected in licence revenue being $0.7m behind the ASX forecast. However,
due to the current use of a store based revenue model, the Company has
largely been shielded from the reduction in activity.
Another side effect of COVID-19 has been the tightening of the labour market
in New Zealand, specifically in the technology sector. The increasing demand
for technology staff along with closed borders has had an impact on Plexure's
ability to hire the staff that it requires. This is an emerging risk and
Plexure is now utilising a number of different strategies to increase its
recruitment of staff.
For more information please contact:
Andrew Dalziel
CFO
Email: andrew.dalziel@plexure.com
Mob: +64276777575
About Plexure
Plexure is a mobile engagement solutions provider. Enhancing relationships
between brands and their customers throughout the entire customer journey.
Global brands use the Company's products to engage consumers on mobile
devices and drive actionable outcomes with personalised offers, mobile order
and pay and loyalty. Plexure's software integrates with operational systems
to remove friction and create a seamless purchase experience.
Plexure helps to create profitable, sticky customers by identifying where
customers are, what they want and then facilitating their purchases. The
Company's technology platform and product offering covers five key
capabilities:
o Personalised offers
o Next generation loyalty programmes
o Mobile order and pay
o Analytics
o Seamless operations integration
Brands that use Plexure experience an increase in customer numbers, visit
frequency, higher average transaction values, larger share of wallet and
improved customer satisfaction scores.
The Company now has over 219 million end users on its platform in 61
countries.
Plexure has offices in Auckland, Chicago, Atlanta, New York, Tokyo, London
and Copenhagen. Clients include McDonald's, White Castle, Super Indo and
Loyalty New Zealand.