IOMINVESTCOM
02 Jun 2017
Trading Update - Sound Solid Trading UpdatePhoto-Me (PHTM.L), the instant-service equipment group, announces the following trading update for the year ended 30 April 2017 ahead of its final results which will be published on Tuesday, 27 June 2017.The Group made excellent progress in the financial year, reflecting the success of its strategy of investing in new products, growing its laundry business and favourable currency movements.The photo identification and laundry businesses continued to perform well.Further progress was made in the deployment of photo ID security technology during the year. In France, the vast majority of photobooths have been upgraded for ANTS to enable direct and secure transmission of ID photos and data to the government database for driving licence applications. In Ireland, the Group's encrypted photo ID upload technology, launched in partnership with the Irish Government for the new Online Passport Application service, will be rolled out to 300 secure digital upload enabled photobooths by the end of 2017. The Group has now also started the progressive roll-out of the ANTS booths in Germany.The expansion of the laundry business in Europe has continued apace, with consistent expansion of the estate of owned and operated laundry units currently in operation, primarily located in France, Ireland, Belgium and Portugal. During the second half of the year, the Group actively started deploying its Revolution laundry units in the UK, where some 100 machines were available to consumers at the end of the year. Revolution, the 24/7 outdoor self-service machine range, has been extended to include two reduced footprint models, Compact and Mini, targeted at the Far East market. During the second half of the year, the Group's programme to open further launderettes was consistent with the announced plan. The first Launderette shop opened in Japan during the last quarter and it is proving to be very successful.The Board expects the financial year ended 30 April 2017 will be in line with market expectations, with significant revenue growth and record progress in profit before tax (+c.20% compared with 2016), supporting the Group's stated commitment to increase the total ordinary dividend by 20% year on year.
claude reins
31 Mar 2017
Re: Extended continental passport system... I think that PHTM is more apptreciated overseas -like ROI! - than in the UK. It did take a step back when the big promises form Japan have not materialised, but I hope that the UK takes a more positive view and gets going along the same lines as France and now the ROI. Thanks for the posting.
Conan the vegetarian
30 Mar 2017
Re: Extended continental passport system to ... For those of you not 'au fait' with this system, you can now renew an adult passport here in Ireland, online. Our main evening news featured the minister for foreign affairs, sitting in a (clearly marked) 'Photo-Me' booth using the system which not only prints out your passport picture, but e-mails it to you, so that you can attach it to your online application.I work in the photographic field (servicing Photo kiosks and the like) and believe me - this is good. The selfie story was and is a non starter. (A big thank you to the mail on Sunday or whoever it was ran the story, because I managed to buy in @ £1.42)One final point. PHTM is not a one trick pony, amongst other things the outdoor launderettes seem to be doing particularly well - every time I've gone to use one, the washers and dryers are all busy, and people are waiting to use them - I know it's only anecdotal, but that's what's happening on the ground.Photome is never going to give you the instant 30% 1 day gains of a junior miner / oily, but even at todays prices, I don't see much downside.Personally, with a very tight spread (for AIM) and no stamp duty, I'm buying on dips, selling near range top, but keeping a core holding.
claude reins
30 Mar 2017
Extended continental passport system to ROI Good news that Republic of Ireland have taken on the PHTM technology. What a pity that the UK doesnt do the same thing. Falsfied passports are clearly easy to do. Direct links make sense. When the 'old' report appeared in the UK weekend press a few weeks/months ago, it generated a lot of ill-considered comments about photographic usage would soon be outdated. All of that no doubt is possible, but will cost, and money is something governments dont have. This sems to be relativelty straightforward software and gives a helluva sight more protection than selfies!Strong hold.
claude reins
08 Mar 2017
Re: Boots closing 220 of 320 in-store photo ... PHTM just added to the pot selling the freehold of their UK place for a cool couple of £million profit.
Go Dink
01 Mar 2017
Boots closing 220 of 320 in-store photo labs Sky reporting. Will put 400 jobs at risk.Possibly opportunity for PHTM?GD.
Thedarkkn1ght
28 Feb 2017
No Debt; £70M in Cash at hand Stable/rising profitsDividend ~ 5%BUY
BouleVersee
23 Jan 2017
Re: Paul Scott's view If the pass has already been sold and one can already submit an online application uploading a photo taken on a mobile or digital camera, one wonders why Photo-Me is bothering to introduce security measures into their booth system. If I had known about this I and other members of my family would not have topped up our holdings recently. The following is from the Passport Office's website:"PhotosIf you use the new online passport renewal service you’ll need someone to take a photo of you using a digital camera or smartphone.If you use the old ‘existing’ online service, send your application by post, or use the Passport Check and Send service, you’ll need 2 identical new photos of yourself.Your application can be delayed if you don’t follow the rules about passport photos.CountersignatoriesIf you can’t be recognised from the photo in your existing passport, get your application form and 1 of your photos signed by someone else to prove your identity."Lord Harris of Haringey, who sits on the national security strategy joint committee, was quoted in The Times as saying that the Home Office was "leaving it open for people to manipulate photographs and potentially endanger security. Quite so, This is even more worrying than the huge drop in value of my shares. I don't find the company's announcement very reassuring, despite recent large purchases by the Board..Why is this only coming to light now if applications have been able to be made in this way for some time?
IOMINVESTCOM
23 Jan 2017
Paul Scott's view Share price: 154p (-10%)No. shares: 376.4mMarket cap: £580mShare Price MovementShares were down by almost 20% at one point this morning, giving a trading opportunity as they are now down by just 10%!The above-linked RNS has been released in response to newspaper articles saying that it may be "curtains for photobooths" - as Home Office rules no longer require photos by a machine or a professional.These were introduced some time last year, but have only now made it into the media.Response from PHTM:The Company believes its latest technology represents a major growth opportunity as the most secure photo ID solutions available and that accepting photos from mobile phones for official documents is incompatible with developing security requirements.Photo-Me's solutions have been adopted by ANTS (Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés, a national agency linked to the French Ministry of Transport and issuing secured official personal documents) as well as by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the Republic of Ireland where trials are underway for photobooth secure online passport applications. Furthermore, it is currently in ongoing discussions with Her Majesty's Passport Office in order to equip its photobooths in the United Kingdom with the technology used in France.It's a strong statement, but who can predict what government decisions might be made?I previously spoke very positively on this company, and won't make a U-turn. I do think investors should try to quantify the risk associated with this. The UK accounted for 19% of total operating profit last year, and since then PHMT bought the UK photo division of Asda. So the UK photo segment is important to the investment case. And perhaps there is a risk that other countries might eventually follow suit with the UK Home Office, despite heightened terrorism risks.On balance, I'd bet that governments will generally tend to err on the side of caution (better to be accused of being too strict, than too laissez-faire).This is a difficult puzzle, and enlightened reader comments are more than welcome. I'd still have a favourable overall impression of this business, but maybe the shares should be trading cheaper now, than they are currently, to give investors a bit more upside for taking on the risk of the worst-case scenario?[link]
Ramptastic
23 Jan 2017
Re: Mail on Sunday Just read the item and Paul Scott's response. I believe renewals do allow a non-photobooth picture.I wouldn't be too quick to dismiss, even tho the UK is 25% of turnover and the company has broadened into washing machine vending.The shares have always seemed a little cheap to me and maybe this is why?J
Doggedly persevering
23 Jan 2017
Re: Mail on Sunday They should be renamed to Alternative Facts on Sunday!
Ramptastic
23 Jan 2017
Re: Mail on Sunday I'd guess the issue with a mobile photo (I see there are apps that will do this) is printing the picture - which may not be necessary - and authentication.The passport office needs to be sure that the photo is genuine and this is done by having the photo actually signed on the reverse.This concept is being rolled out by PhotoMe, but in the case of a mobile picture authentication must be a difficult issue to address. It might be solvable though...In the meantime I would guess competition from mobile photos must be some whay off, although today is a wake up call about the issue.Jim
Scooby Doo It
23 Jan 2017
Re: Mail on Sunday Well it took out my stops but went straight back in.25% revenues from UK and ROI.System validated in France and Japan, very good relationship with HMRC in discussion with UK and ROI for same technology.
Tax Inspector
23 Jan 2017
Mail on Sunday Some ridiculous story that photobooths will be a thing of the past due to gov't legislation allowing passport photo submission via mobiles. This legislation has been around for 2 years but panic has set in amongst the very fickle PI community. CEO wouldn't have bought £7.6m worth of shares had there been was a massive threat to revenue. Massive buying opportunity and I've just topped up twice.DYOR but in my opinion don't follow the herd.
gofal
21 Dec 2016
Re: DIRECTOR Photo Me is not an AIM listed company it is on the Foot Se small company listing. This I believe is a great company with huge potential. Gofal
