Monitise expects to break even in H2

Source: Monitise

Monitise plc (LSE: MONI) ("Monitise" or the "Company") announces an unaudited trading update for the six months ended 31 December 2015.

Financial Update and Outlook

· H1 FY 2016 revenue is expected to be approximately £33m, with revenue in the second half anticipated to be broadly similar

· Existing businesses generating positive EBITDA going forward

· Targeted investment in developing our new cloud-based offering, FINkit®

· Decisive action on costs has been taken and a further material reduction in total costs is expected in H2 FY 2016

o Total costs of £53m in H1 FY 2016 projected to reduce by approximately £3m per month in second half

· Monitise is projecting H2 FY 2016 to be EBITDA positive following H1 FY 2016 EBITDA loss of approximately £20m

· Whilst timing of cashflows for onerous contracts and restructuring adversely impacts cash balances, which are now expected to fall below previous guidance of a £45m minimum, gross cash at 31 December 2015 of £53m and prospective EBITDA positive trading for H2 FY 2016 means the business is sufficiently well funded to meet its future plans

Accounting Adjustments

· Following a reassessment of the Company's strategic plan a further review of intangible assets has been undertaken and it is anticipated that a non-cash impairment charge in relation to these non-Cloud assets of £160-170m will be made

· During the period exceptional costs of £6m have been recognised as part of the business restructuring. An offsetting exceptional credit of £5m has been recognised following a restructuring of customer contracts

Operational Update

· Our customer relationships have remained strong during this period, our pipeline is robust and continues to develop, we are well progressed with a number of our existing and prospective customers who are interested in utilising our cloud-based offering through FINkit®, and we have successfully proven the capabilities of FINkit® through a customer proof of concept

· Tighter cost discipline will be maintained throughout FY 2016 and beyond whilst we continue to invest in our cloud business, making sure such investment is proportionate to the size and timing of customer contracts

· Ongoing cost disciplines have improved transparency and accountability enabling each business unit to have full ownership of their respective P&Ls

· We continue to evaluate all assets within the Monitise group to ensure they remain core to our proposition

The Company expects to publish its 2016 interim results on 12 February 2016.

Monitise CEO Lee Cameron said: "Since I became CEO in September, I have focused on stabilising and restructuring the business and ensuring that we continue to develop our cloud proposition. The combination of a significantly reduced cost base, tight management of our existing business units and increasing interest for our cloud capability give the Board confidence that Monitise will achieve EBITDA breakeven in H2 FY 2016." 

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