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Monitise hits rock bottom

News that the mobile payments technology group's boss was stepping down, coupled with a further cut to revenue guidance, sent the shares down by a quarter
September 9, 2015

Shares in Monitise (MONI) tanked 26 per cent after the mobile payments technology group's adjusted cash profit losses widened by a third to £42m. But what really rattled investors was a further downgrade to revenue guidance, together with news that chief executive Elizabeth Buse is stepping down for "personal reasons". Ms Buse, who only took sole charge in March, has been replaced by her deputy Lee Cameron. Judging by these results, the new boss will have his work cut out.

IC TIP: Hold at 4.29p

Monitise's switch to a subscription-based model, which should lower the upfront costs and technical hurdles of joining its network, has been "slower and more challenging" than anticipated. Shifting from building apps to becoming a new generation platform connecting banks with retailers and telecoms companies was largely to blame for a sharp reduction in software licensing sales. Management previously advised markets not to judge its performance until it returns to profit next year. That guidance was reiterated on results day, although revenue growth is no longer expected.

Management maintains that its cost-cutting drive should see it through this difficult time, while pointing to a recent joint venture with Santander (Sp: BNC) as evidence of its ability to woo banks with its new cloud platform. Prior to these results, broker Jefferies forecasted adjusted cash losses narrowing to £27.7m in 2016 (from £75.6m in full-year 2015).

MONITISE (MONI)
ORD PRICE:4.29pMARKET VALUE:£94m
TOUCH:4.25-4.3p12-MONTH HIGH:47pLOW: 4p
DIVIDEND YIELD:nilPE RATIO:na
NET ASSET VALUE:11p*NET CASH:£88.2m

Year to 30 JunTurnover (£m)Pre-tax profit (£m)Earnings per share (p)Dividend per share (p)
201115.317.2-2.1nil
201236.1-16.9-2.1nil
201372.8-51.1-3.8nil
201495.1-63.4-3.6nil
201589.7-227.4-10.8nil
% change-6---

*Includes intangible assets of £216m, or 10p a share