PayPoint Plc: Preliminary Results
*PayPoint **P**lc*
*Unaudited **Preliminary Results*
*Year** ended **31** March **202**2*
*Positive year for the PayPoint Group delivering a significantly enhanced platform with strong shareholder returns*
*FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS*
· Net revenue from continuing operations of £115.1 million (2021: £97.1 million from continuing operations) increased by £18.0 million (18.5%), driven by a strong contribution from Handepay/Merchant Rentals and supported by the acquisitions of i-movo and RSM 2000. Revenue from continuing operations increased by £17.4 million (13.6%) to £145.1 million (2021: £127.7 million)
· Profit before tax from continuing operations excluding exceptional items of £45.6 million (2021: £36.5 million) increased by £9.1 million (25.0%)
· Profit before tax of £78.5 million (2021: £28.0 million) increased by £50.5 million reflecting the exceptional profit of £29.9 million from the disposal of Romania business
· Net corporate debt of £43.9 million (2021: £68.2 million) reduced by £24.3 million primarily as a result of the proceeds received on sale of the Romanian business
· Increased final ordinary dividend of 18.0 pence per share declared, an increase of 8.4% compared to the final ordinary dividend declared on 27 May 2021 of 16.6 pence per share. The dividend will be paid in equal instalments of 9.0 pence per share on 25 July 2022 and 30 September 2022
*Year ended 31 March 2022* *FY22* * FY21** Restated*^*1* *Change*
Revenue from continuing operations *£**145.**1**m* £127.7m 13.6%
Net revenue from continuing operations^2 *£**115.**1**m* £97.1m 18.5%
Operating margin before exceptional items^3 from continuing operations *41.**4**%* 39.0% 2.4ppts
Profit before tax from continuing operations excluding exceptional items *£**45.6**m* £36.5m 25.0%
Exceptional items from continuing operations *£**2.9**m* £(16.1)m n/m
Profit before tax from discontinued operation excluding exceptional item *£**0.**1**m* £7.6m n/m
Exceptional profit from discontinued operation *£29.9m* - n/m
Profit before tax *£**78**.**5**m* £28.0m 180.5%
Diluted earnings per share *100.**2p* 32.4p n/m
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations *57.0**p* 23.1p n/m
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations excluding exceptional items *52.8p* 42.9p 23.1%
Ordinary paid dividend per share *33.6p* 31.2p 7.7%
Ordinary reported dividend per share *3**5**.0**p* 32.2p 8.7%
Cash generation^4 from continuing operations excluding exceptional items *£53.9m* £46.9m 14.9%
Net corporate debt *£(43.9)**m* £(68.2)m (35.7)%
Nick Wiles, Chief Executive of PayPoint Plc, said:
“This has been another positive year for the PayPoint Group as we continue to build on transforming the business to deliver a significantly enhanced platform to drive strong shareholder returns. We opened up further growth opportunities across the business and delivered a broader range of innovative services and technology connecting millions of consumers with an expanded base of over 60,000 retailer partners and SME locations across multiple sectors.
“We have registered a strong financial performance for the year against the backdrop of growing macroeconomic uncertainty, disruption in energy markets and an acceleration of cost pressures. In response, we have been relentlessly focused on operational excellence and the rapid delivery of our strategic priorities.
“Our new Counter Cash solution is now live in over 2,624 sites, providing vital access to cash in communities across the UK; the home delivery partnership with Snappy Shopper continues to grow with 269 sites live and positive sales growth; and we’ve continued to improve our engagement with retailers and key trade associations to work in partnership to make the most of our enhanced retailer proposition. Similarly, we have supported our broader SME customer base with the launch of one month contracts in Handepay, Business Finance in partnership with YouLend and new terminal technology, giving flexibility, value and a vital boost as sectors have bounced back over the year.
“We’ve also diversified our digital payments client base further with 11 schemes live in the year, are developing new opportunities in Open Banking and have secured our first major housing client with Optivo, a leading UK housing association, for our complete digital payments solution. Furthermore, we enhanced our e-commerce offering, delivering record volume growth and an expansion of our partnership with Randox, providing vital Covid-19 testing services through our Collect+ network, as well as launching new services for our existing carrier partners, leveraging the investment made in print in-store technology and providing industry leadership for driving further innovation and prominence for the out-of-home delivery market.
“We are confident the steps we have taken during the financial year have enhanced the business and better positioned us to deliver growth. As a result, despite some continued headwinds, we are confident of delivering further progress in the year ahead and meeting expectations as we take advantage of the accelerated growth opportunities across our key markets.”
*DIVISIONAL HIGHLIGHTS*
*Strong** performance across the Group with continued shift away from legacy bill payment **markets*
*Shopping*
Shopping divisional net revenue increased by 46.2% to £58.7 million, driven by the increased net revenue contribution from the Handepay/Merchant Rentals card payments businesses of £16.1 million, the roll out of PayPoint One to additional retailer sites and further enhancements to our retailer proposition, including Counter Cash and Snappy Shopper home delivery.
· Service fee net revenue increased by 13.1% to £16.6 million, with increases in sites from PayPoint One
· Strong card payment volumes continued on the existing book – Handepay business growing to 145.0 million transactions in the year (FY21: 106.4 million), together with the PayPoint card business increasing by 3.5% year on year to 217.8 million transactions, maintaining the strong volumes seen in FY21
· UK retail network increased to 28,254 sites (31 March 2021: 28,067), with 69% in independent retailer partners and 31% in multiple retail groups
*E-commerce*
E-commerce divisional net revenue increased by 36.2% to £4.9 million (FY21: £3.6m) and transactions grew by 25.2% to 33.3 million (FY21: 26.6 million) through our e-commerce technology platform, Collect+. This was driven by our best ever Peak Christmas performance, a strong Q4 with volume up +38.8% year on year powered by a resurgence in the clothing and footwear categories and continued improvements to the consumer in-store experience, particularly through our investment in ‘print in store’ technology.
*Payments & Banking*
Payments & Banking divisional net revenue decreased by 3.6% to £51.5 million, as a result of fewer cash bill payments and top up transactions, and margin erosion from client contract renewals, although this was offset by continued growth in digital transactions.
· Good digital payments growth to 34.2 million transactions (FY21: 27.2 million) and net revenue to £7.8 million (FY21: £6.1 million), with a positive contribution from RSM 2000, the successful launch of the Payment Exception Service for the Department for Work and Pensions, and continued demand for cash out services, which provide vital and immediate access to funds for vulnerable consumers driven by ongoing Government meal voucher schemes and hardship funds
· Cash through to digital transactions decreased by 6.9% with a 5.6% decrease in net revenue, reflecting these schemes delivering lower comparative volumes following the strong performance seen during Covid-19. On a two year comparative basis vs FY20, transaction volumes have increased by 16.3% and net revenue by 18.8%, driven by growth in transactions from our challenger bank and gifting partners
· Cash payments net revenue decreased by 7.7%, primarily due to consumers continuing to make fewer, larger bill payments, margin erosion as client contracts have been renewed, and a continued reduction in consumers and topping up mobile phones in store
*BUSINESS DIVISION NET REVENUE AND MIX*
*Net revenue from continuing operations by business division (£m)* *FY22* *FY21* *FY**20*
Shopping *5**8**.**7* 40.2 35.3
E-commerce *4.9* 3.6 4.1
Payments & Banking *5**1**.**5* 53.3 65.8
PayPoint Group Total *115.**1* 97.1 106.8
*Business division mix* *FY22* *FY21* *FY2***
Shopping *5**1**.****%* 41.4% 33.1%
E-commerce *4.3**%* 3.7% 3.8%
Payments & Banking *4**4**.**7**%* 54.9% 63.1%
*Enquiries*
*PayPoint plc*
Nick Wiles, Chief Executive (Mobile: 07442 968960)
Alan Dale, Finance Director (Mobile: 07778043962) * * * *
*Finsbury*
Rollo Head
James Thompson
(Telephone: 0207 251 3801)
(Email: Paypoint@finsbury.com)
A presentation for analysts is being held at 9.30am today (26 May 2022) via webcast. This announcement, along with details for the webcast, is available on the PayPoint plc website: corporate.paypoint.com
*CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT*
This has been another positive year for the PayPoint Group as the business has built on the transformation and strategic step change delivered last year. Over the last two years, the Group has undergone material change and diversified away from legacy business lines, with growth in digital payments, E-commerce and Shopping off-setting the decline in cash payments. I am delighted with the way the management team led by Nick Wiles and all the employees of the Group have responded to the continuing challenges in our markets, enabling us to report a positive financial performance, opening up further growth opportunities across the business and delivering further progress against our strategic objectives.
*Governance*
I am pleased to report that for the year under review, we have consistently applied the Principles of good governance contained in the 2018 UK Corporate Governance Code. The Board has completed a review of the disclosures and management of climate related risks for the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures. Disclosure is provided in our 2022 Annual Report, along with the further progress made on developing our broader ESG strategy.
*Executive Board *
The Executive Board has also been strengthened in key areas this year to drive growth and accelerate the pace of delivery further. Anna Holness, joined the business as Sales Director in January 2022, after three years as VP, Sales, Merchant International Solutions at Worldpay. In addition, four internal promotions were made to the Executive Board in January 2022 to recognise their critical roles in delivering our growth agenda: Jo Toolan, Head of Client Management; Jay Payne, IT Service and Operations Director; Chris Paul, Head of Corporate Finance; and Steve O’Neill, Corporate Affairs and Marketing Director.
*Board Evaluation*
Following last year’s triennial external evaluation, we have this year conducted an internal evaluation of the Board, its Committees and individual Directors, which confirmed that our Board and Committees continue to operate effectively. More information on the process and results of that evaluation can be found in our Annual Report.
*Ofgem*
On 23 November 2021, Ofgem, the energy regulator, published a ‘Notice of Decision to Accept Binding Commitments’, regarding commitments proposed by PayPoint to Ofgem to address the concerns raised in Ofgem’s Statement of Objections received on 29 September 2020. Ofgem accepted those commitments as a resolution of its concerns. PayPoint has been implementing the commitments in a timetable agreed with Ofgem, including a £12.5m donation to Ofgem’s Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Scheme (currently administered on Ofgem’s behalf by the Energy Saving Trust).
*Annual General Meeting*
The Company’s Annual General Meeting will be held at PayPoint’s registered office on 20 July 2022 where you will have the opportunity to meet the Board and members of the Executive Board. The matters to be approved by shareholders are set out in our Notice of Annual General Meeting which will be mailed to shareholders towards the end of June.
Giles Kerr
Chairman
25 May 2022
*CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REVIEW*
This has been another positive year for the PayPoint Group. We have built on the last two years of transformation, where we have strengthened our capabilities and opened up further growth opportunities, delivering a broader range of innovative services and technology connecting millions of consumers with an expanded universe of over 60,000 retailer partner and SME locations across multiple sectors.
We have delivered a strong financial performance for the year against the backdrop of uncertainty and disruption in our energy and parcels markets and a rebalancing of consumer behaviour as Covid-19 restrictions have eased. Strategically, we have enhanced the Group’s capabilities further by completing the acquisition of RSM 2000 and making a strategic £6.7 million investment in Snappy Group, one of the UK’s leading local home delivery and click and collect operators. RSM 2000 enhances our digital payments capability, enabling reach into new and existing sectors, including charities, housing, not-for-profit organisations, events and SMEs in the UK. Our investment in Snappy Group builds on our previously announced commercial partnership, enabling the Group and its retailer partners to respond to consumer demand for rapid, local home delivery and remain at the forefront of retail and consumer trends. The acquisitions of Handepay/Merchant Rentals and i-movo in the last financial year are now fully integrated and have made important contributions to our performance and growth this year. As previously reported, we disposed of our Romanian business on 8 April 2021 with proceeds of £48 million, and at a £30 million profit.
The volume of new initiatives delivered across the Group has underlined the need for strong execution and leadership to leverage these opportunities, particularly where we are establishing operations for the first time. We have been relentlessly focused on operational excellence and the rapid delivery of our strategic priorities: embedding PayPoint at the heart of SME and convenience retail businesses; becoming the definitive technology-based e-commerce delivery platform for first and last mile customer journeys; sustaining leadership in ‘pay-as-you-go’ and growing digital bill payments; building a delivery focused organisation and culture. Our retailer partner proposition has been enhanced further to help respond to consumer trends and drive revenue opportunities in a challenging cost environment: our new Counter Cash solution is now live in 2,624 sites, providing vital access to cash in communities across the UK; the home delivery partnership with Snappy Shopper continues to grow with 269 sites live and positive sales growth; and we’ve continued to improve our engagement with retailers and key trade associations to work in partnership to make the most of the new opportunities.
We’ve also diversified our digital payments client base further with 18 schemes live in the year, are developing new opportunities in Open Banking and have secured our first major housing client with Optivo, a leading UK housing association, for our complete digital payments solution. This success has been driven by our focused sector approach to building strong client relationships, developing a deep understanding of their challenges and helping to solve problems for them and their customers. We continue to provide vital support to local authorities in disbursing cash to consumers with our Cash Out service and the new Payment Exception Service for the Department for Work and Pensions, which launched successfully and has exceeded our expectations, as consumers migrate away from Post Office Card Accounts. Furthermore, we enhanced our e-commerce offering further with an expansion of our partnership with Randox, providing vital Covid-19 testing services throughout our Collect+ and multiple retailer network, as well as launching new services for our existing carrier partners and providing industry leadership for driving further innovation and prominence for the out of home delivery market.
Many of these new services launched in the year have underlined the need to grow further consumer awareness for our expanded propositions, whether leveraging our own channels or partnering with clients and carriers on marketing programmes, such as the promising in-store merchandising on our digital voucher category working with brands like Amazon, Paysafe, Playstation and Love2Shop. Equally, we remain focused on ensuring that we continue to deliver an excellent service for our consumers, reflected in our high customer satisfaction score of 89%^5, and to support them through the current energy crisis and economic challenges. This has been backed up by our extensive efforts to strengthen our retailer partner relationships and drive adoption of these new opportunities to earn, including regular ‘cash and carry’ days, more direct communications and our reinvigorated relationships with the key trade associations, including the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), the Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF) and the National Federation of Retail Newsagents (NFRN). The feedback and support received from these organisations has been critical to our continued commitment to support our retailer partners in delivering vital community services across the UK and responding to changing consumer needs in the UK convenience sector.
Like many businesses, we are navigating more challenges from a cost perspective due to inflation, particularly in our supplier base and the increased salary pressures experienced in recruiting and retaining talent that we referenced at the half year. We are also mindful of the impact of these pressures on the consumers, clients and retailers that we serve and have sought to take action where we can to support them, including our decision to absorb 50% of the annual RPI service fee increase for our retailer partners in April 2022. We are continuing our tight cost management and capital discipline to address these challenges.
The Executive Board has also been strengthened in key areas this year to drive growth and accelerate the pace of delivery further. Anna Holness, joined the business as Sales Director in January 2022, after three years as VP, Sales, Merchant International Solutions at Worldpay. In addition, four internal promotions were made to the Executive Board in January 2022 to recognise their critical roles in delivering our growth agenda: Jo Toolan, Head of Client Management; Jay Payne, IT Service and Operations Director; Chris Paul, Head of Corporate Finance; and Steve O’Neill, Corporate Affairs and Marketing Director.
Our Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy has also developed further in the year, as we consider our social responsibility and impact as a management team and business towards each of these key areas. A core ESG Working Group was formed at the beginning of the financial year to review policies and approaches across the Group, analyse cross-industry best practice, seek feedback from external stakeholders and investors, and recommend workstreams and targets for the business to prioritise. This builds on the work done last year to refresh our purpose, vision and values and now reflects the expanded universe we now inhabit as well as reinforcing the vital role that our services and partners play in communities across the UK.
On 23 November 2021, Ofgem, the energy regulator, published a ‘Notice of Decision to Accept Binding Commitments’, regarding commitments proposed by PayPoint to Ofgem to address the concerns raised in Ofgem’s Statement of Objections received on 29 September 2020. Ofgem accepted those commitments as a resolution of its concerns. PayPoint has been implementing the commitments in a timetable agreed with Ofgem.
*Outlook and dividend*
The transformation of the business is gathering pace, reflecting a rebalancing towards growth opportunities and delivering improving returns to our shareholders. We continue to demonstrate agility and drive to respond quickly to changing consumer demands and new opportunities in our markets. As a result, we remain well-placed to support our partners in response to the wider trends that have accelerated through the pandemic, including the continued shift from cash to digital payments, the growing demand for online shopping fulfilment and the increase in shopping local.
The Board has proposed a final dividend of 18.0p per share, an increase of 8.4%, consistent with our dividend policy of a target cover range of 1.2 to 1.5 times earnings from continuing operations excluding exceptional items, which reflects our long-term confidence in the business, the strength of our underlying cash flow, the mitigation plans in place for inflationary pressures and the enhanced growth prospects from the steps we have taken in the past year.
The Board remains confident in the delivery of further progress in FY23 and meeting expectations.
Nick Wiles
Chief Executive
25 May 2022
*MAR**KET OVERVIEW*
Changing market dynamics are creating significant opportunities for the enlarged PayPoint Group, with the business well placed to take advantage of the continued shift from cash to digital payments, the growing demand for online shopping fulfilment and the increase in shopping local. We equally remain committed to supporting our clients, retailer partners and consumers, helping them solve problems arising from the current macro economic challenges.
Key trends and changes since the end of the FY21 financial year in the UK markets in which PayPoint operates include:
*Macro **economic **factors*
· The Consumer Prices Index (CPI)^6 grew to 7.8% in April 2022, driven by increased transport and energy costs
· The GfK UK Consumer Confidence Index^7 fell to -38 in April 2022 (vs -15 in April 2021), with the cost of living crisis hitting UK consumers and the headline confidence score dropping to a near historic low, not seen since the 2008 financial crash and the first few months of the pandemic in 2020
· UK Retail Sales fell by 1.4% in March 2022, with the proportion of retail sales online falling to 26.0%, continuing a broad downward trend since its peak in February 2021 (37.1%).
· The Lumina CTP Price Index^8, tracking shopper price sensitivity, has grown by 5.4% since last year, indicating consumers have already become more price-led, seeking out budget options and reducing spend
· A recent study from Which?^9 has shown that the rising cost of living could mean more people who do not usually use cash turning to it to manage their finances. A fifth (20%) of non-regular cash users said they would start using cash if the cost of living gets worse, with over a third (34%) of respondents whose annual income was lower than £20,000 finding cash easier to budget with, on its own or alongside other payment methods. Around 15 million regular cash users say it helps them to keep track of their spending, underlining its importance for those on tight budgets
*Convenience retail*
· The UK convenience market grew to £43.2 billion^10 in 2021 as the pandemic-induced boost to market value was retained.
· PayPoint One basket data shows overall convenience store average basket spend in the year has reduced year on year to £8.89 (FY21: £9.86) vs. the highs seen during the Covid-19 affected prior year. However, average basket spend has now grown by 9.6% over the past two years (FY20: £8.11), driven by cost inflation and reinforcing continuing consumer demand to shop local after government restrictions have been lifted^11
· Total UK convenience store numbers remained resilient, with marginal growth of 0.2% to 47,079^12
· The sector continues to see consolidation, most recently with Morrison’s buying the McColl’s Retail Group following their administration in May 2022, maintaining over 1,000 stores across the UK
· Local home delivery and click and collect from convenience stores has grown rapidly over the past year, driven by the pandemic. Currently, circa 5% of total convenience missions are driven through these methods and they attract a younger, more affluent consumer, with basket spend being +128% higher than in-store shoppers^13
*Card payments*
· Growth has again been driven by the shift from cash to card payments accelerated through Covid-19
· Forecast growth in UK debit card market by 2027 to 19.7 billion payments^14
· In the financial year, card payment volumes increased by 3.5% year on year in the PayPoint business, against strong volumes in FY21 due to Covid-19
· Latest UK Finance data^15 shows a 44.1% increase in debit card transactions (January 2022 vs January 2021) with 68.8% of transactions now contactless (vs. 56.9% in January 2021) driven by the increase in the contactless limit to £100 in October 2021
· In the SME markets that our Handepay business serves, businesses employing 0-49 people, account for 99.2% (5.5 million) of the total UK business population, with 75% (4.2 million) having no employees and a further 20% (1.1 million) classed as micro-businesses with 0-9 employees^16. Retail, auto trade and hospitality businesses make up circa 14% of the SME sector^17.
*Cash Out*
· Despite the shift from cash usage during Covid-19, PayPoint’s Cash Out service has grown significantly year on year, driven by ongoing Government meal voucher schemes and Covid-19 related hardship funds. In addition, the launch of the Payment Exception Service, run for the Department for Work and Pensions via our i-movo business, has further underlined the continuing importance of delivering cash payments to those without access to a standard bank account and replaces the Post Office Card Account, which is coming to an end
· Latest data from February 2022^18 showed LINK’s ATM transactions were 19% higher year on year (117 million transactions) than February 2021 affected by Covid-19 lockdowns, but 36% down on 2020, which was just before the start of the pandemic. The number of ATMs in the UK reduced by 1.1% year on year to 52,613
· Access to cash remains a key priority in the UK. The Financial Conduct Authority and Payment Systems Regulator are taking a joint approach to maintaining services for the many people who continue to rely on cash as a vital way of making payments. The Access To Cash Action Group, chaired by Natalie Ceeney, has been working on Community Access To Cash pilots, including PayPoint’s Counter Cash service, which launched in November 2021 offering cashback without purchase and balance enquiries over the counter
*Parcels*
· Online retail sales in 2021 were down 5.6% year on year, according to IMRG’s Online Retail Performance Report 2021, vs. 2020 which was positively impacted by Covid-19.^19
· IMRG data shows that click and collect share of the delivery market in Nov 2021 - Jan 2022 dropped year on year to 18% (vs. 20% in the same period last year), but still lower than the high of 35% seen in 2019
· This contrasts with the strong performance seen in the Collect+ network in FY22 as transactions were +25.2% vs. the prior year, outperforming the overall online retail sales market and driven by a resurgence in the clothing and footwear categories, which performed poorly in 2020, and the strength and breadth of carrier relationships and categories handled across the network of over 10,000 locations
· Metapack data^20 shows that 87% of UK consumers have shopped more online during the pandemic, with 71% having returned a product. Delivery preference is key in the e-commerce journey, with 56% considering it the most important factor when shopping online. Home delivery is still the preferred channel for 82% of consumers, with PUDO at 8% and lockers at 2%
· The Out of Home (OOH) market comprises click and collect, returns and send propositions. The click and collect market is 11% of all volumes, c.150 million parcels per year and is expected to double by 2025^21. Returns and send volumes are estimated at c.185 million and c.380 million parcels per year respectively^22
*Bill payments and top-ups*
· The dislocation of the energy market heightened in September 2021, with small operator insolvencies and pressure from rising wholesale prices. A well-established Ofgem process to support and transfer customers to new suppliers was invoked with minimal impact and risk to our business and client base. PayPoint’s focus through the period has been on increased client engagement and leveraging the strength and stability of our network to provide an uninterrupted service to consumers
· The price cap for pre-pay customers increased to £1,309^23 for the six months to March 2022, which was 13% higher than the cap of £1,156 in the six months from April 2021 to September 2021. From 1 April 2022, the price cap increased by a further 54% to £2,017 for the six months to September 2022.
· Non-Big Six energy providers combined market share increased marginally to 29.6%^24 at end of January 2022 (29% as of 31 March 2021)
· The rollout of smart meters has regained pace following the impact of Covid-19 in 2020. 4.5m meters were installed in 2021^25 versus 3.2m in 2020. The deadline for completion of the rollout has now been extended to 30 June 2025
· PayPoint data shows average transaction values for dual fuel had grown to £15.66 in March 2022, from £14.10 in the previous year, affecting frequency of visits and transaction volumes
· The number of Pay As You Go mobile subscribers declined to 21.5 million subscribers^26 in April 2022, from 22.2 million in April 2021
**PROGRESS AGAINST OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES**
*SHOPPING BUSINESS DIVISION – **FY22 net revenue £**58.**7**m (FY21: £**40.2**m)*
*PRIORITY 1: EMBED PAYPOINT GROUP AT THE HEART OF SME AND CONVENIENCE RETAIL BUSINESSES*
We provide digital solutions, technology and payment services for SMEs and retailers to deliver vital community services
*Retail services* - we help our retailer and SME partners keep pace with changing shopper needs, service expectations and demographics. Our retail services platform, PayPoint One, is live in 18,120 stores across the UK and offers everything a modern convenience store needs, including EPoS, parcel services, card and bill payments, home delivery and digital vouchering. This empowers our retailer partners to grow their businesses profitably, achieving higher footfall and increased spend. We also provide access to cash solutions via our network of 3,686 ATMs and our pioneering Counter Cash service, offering cashback without purchase and balance enquiries over the counter, is now live in 2,624 sites.
*Card payments* – we provide card payments services for over 30,000 SMEs and convenience retailers across the hospitality, convenience retail, auto trade, clothing and household goods sectors via our PayPoint, Handepay, Merchant Rentals and RSM 2000 brands
*FY22 Progress*
· Counter Cash live in 2,624 sites, offering vital access to cash over the counter and complementing existing ATM estate
· SME proposition enhanced, including Handepay one-month contract launched successfully to over 2,300 SMEs, Business Finance via YouLend with over £8.5 million lent across PayPoint and Handepay, and new technology developed
· Snappy Shopper live in 269 sites, helping retailer partners offer local home delivery and click and collect
· Strong sales team delivery across PayPoint and Handepay, with over 6,900 installs across both businesses, increased engagement, visits, training and support for retailers and SMEs and uniting under new Sales Director
*FY23 Priorities*
· Bring all new card payments business across PayPoint retail and Handepay under a single acquiring service provider
· Expand Counter Cash service across UK retail network
· Build on our reinvigorated retailer engagement programme to drive further consumer and retailer awareness and adoption of new services
· Grow SME and retailer partner lending proposition, developing new commercial partnerships and building on success of YouLend
· Deliver further enhancements to our retailer proposition, including refreshed third party EPoS strategy
· Deliver broader SME proposition across Handepay customer base via rollout of new Android terminal
*E-COMMERCE BUSINESS DIVISION –* *FY22 net revenue £**4.9**m (FY21: £**3.6**m)*
*PRIORITY 2: BECOME THE DEFINITIVE TECHNOLOGY-BASED E-COMMERCE DELIVERY PLATFORM FOR FIRST AND LAST MILE CUSTOMER JOURNEYS*
We provide a technology-based platform to deliver best-in-class customer journeys for e-commerce brands and their customers over the ‘first and last mile’, leveraging our proprietary software capability and expertise with continuous investment and innovation in the in-store experience.
*E-commerce* - we deliver all of this in over 10,000 locations through our Collect+ brand, helping consumers pick up and drop off online shopping or send parcels across the UK. We work with a comprehensive range of partners, including Amazon, eBay, Yodel, Fedex, DPD, DHL, Hubbox, Parcels2Go and Randox. Our proprietary Out of Home (OOH) software solutions are built inhouse, with a singular focus on the delivery of great consumer experiences and confidence in the crucial first and last mile of parcel journeys. These solutions are easily deployable in thousands of diverse locations across multiple sectors through the PayPoint Group. Our unique blend of in-depth parcel operations experience, consumer interaction and agile IT development capability has been built over years of delivering best-in-class customer experiences.
*FY22 Progress*
· Parcel transaction growth of +25.2% year on year vs FY21, driven by best ever Peak Christmas performance, strong Q4 with transactions +38.8% year on year driven by a resurgence in the clothing and footwear categories and continued improvements to the consumer in-store experience, particularly through our investment in ‘print in store’ technology
· New partnership launched with Randox, enabling consumers to order tests online for click-and-collect at over 2,000 Collect+ sites
· Expanding services to existing clients with DHL In Store returns and Amazon returns, enabled by further Zebra label printer rollout
· First multi-carrier innovation, trends and future opportunities workshop held in January 2022 to review best practice and performance from the successful peak 2021 period and agree initiatives to drive further excellence
*FY23 Priorities*
· Deliver Universal Returns proposition for carrier partners to all Collect+ locations
· Expand successful ‘in-flight divert’ service to more carriers, where parcels are automatically diverted to the nearest pick up point after initial unsuccessful delivery attempt at home
· Explore additional opportunities to expand carrier proposition, including trial of parcel lockers
· Continue to drive leadership for in-store technology and consumer experience within the sector, supporting carrier partners with data, insights and opportunities to expand their customer offering
*PAYMENTS & BANKING BUSINESS DIVISION – FY22 net revenue £**5**1**.**5**m (FY21: £**53.3**m)*
*PRIORITY 3: SUSTAIN LEADERSHIP IN ‘PAY-AS-YOU-GO’ AND GROW DIGITAL BILL PAYMENTS*
We deliver a channel agnostic payment platform that gives clients and consumers choice
*Digital *- we have continued our diversification to digital payments, helping organisations seamlessly and effectively serve their customers. Our market-leading omnichannel solution – MultiPay – is an integrated solution offering a full suite of digital payments. It enables transactions online and through smartphone apps and text messages, as well as event payments, over the counter, over the phone and via interactive voice response (IVR) systems. It also supports a full range of Direct Debit options, including scheduling collections, as well as new product developments such as Open Banking, PayByLink, recurring payments and Event Streamer. MultiPay customers benefit from real-time visibility of all payments received, through one easy-to-use portal that is fully PCI compliant, and allows visibility of all payment channels - including cash. The platform is used by a growing number of organisations across the UK, including many housing associations, local government authorities and utility providers. Our Cash Out service also enables the rapid dispersal of funds through secure digital channels and is actively used by local authorities and charities to distribute emergency funds. In August 2021, we launched the new Payment Exception Service via i-movo for the Department of Work and Pensions, digitising benefit payments and replacing the Post Office Card Account which is closing.
*Cash through to digital* – we enable consumers to access digital brands and services through a comprehensive portfolio of gifting, e-banking and gaming partners, including Amazon, Xbox, PlayStation, Paysafe, Monzo and the Appreciate Group. Consumers simply pay for a ‘pin on receipt’ code in cash in any of our 28,254 retail locations and then can use that value online with the digital brand or service chosen. For our challenger bank partners, consumers can deposit cash into their accounts across our extensive retail network.
*Cash* - we provide vital access to cash payment services across the UK by helping millions of people every week control their household finances, make essential payments and access in-store services. Our UK retail network of more than 28,000 stores is bigger than all banks, supermarkets and Post Offices together, putting us at the heart of communities nationwide
*FY22 Progress*
· Continued diversification from cash to digital with 28 new client services now live, 19 coming from non-energy sectors and 18 taking digital payments solutions, supported by development of additional capabilities, including Open Banking and new Direct Debit platform
· New Payment Exception Service launched via i-movo for DWP, contributing £1.6m of net revenue
· First major digital contract now live with Optivo, one of the UK’s largest housing associations
· Acquisition of RSM 2000 completed on 12 April 2021 – positive contribution of £1.1m net revenue with charity and housing sector action plan underway to expand digital payments services to new and existing clients
*FY23 Priorities*
· Create payment channel agnostic platform, including Open Banking, Direct Debit, card processing and real-time cash, creating a strong set of capabilities for each target vertical, particularly housing and charities
· Continue to invest in new verticals and deliver new business wins, particularly within the housing, newspaper, charity and not-for-profit sectors
· Reinforce PayPoint’s position as the leader for ‘cash out’ services for local authorities and housing associations, supporting them in digitally disbursing vital funds to customers in cash
· Grow cash through to digital category further, partnering with major brands to drive greater consumer awareness
*PRIORITY 4: BUILDING A DELIVERY FOCUSED ORGANISATION AND CULTURE*
*PAYPOINT GROUP*
Underpinning the PayPoint Group’s future success is the continued development and investment in our people, systems and organisation. We aim to create a dynamic place to work for our people, enabling us to deliver for our customers by collaborating and being good colleagues to each other, creating a positive and inclusive environment where everyone can learn, grow and shine.
*FY22 Progress*
· Anna Holness joined the Executive Board as Sales Director in January 2022, leading the retail and card services sales teams across PayPoint and Handepay
· Four internal promotions made to the Executive Board in January 2022, recognising their critical roles in delivering our growth agenda: Jo Toolan, Head of Client Management; Jay Payne, IT Service and Operations Director; Chris Paul, Head of Corporate Finance; and Steve O’Neill, Corporate Affairs and Marketing Director
· Integration work now complete for acquisitions of Handepay/Merchant Rentals, RSM 2000 and i-movo
· Further development of our ESG approach, with core ESG Working Group formed to analyse cross-industry best practice, seek feedback from external stakeholders and investors, and recommend workstreams and targets for the business to prioritise
*FY23 Priorities*
· Deliver further growth opportunities and synergies from our acquisitions over the past two years
· Embed our ESG approach across the business to deliver responsible and sustainable value for shareholders
· Expand our ‘Welcoming Everyone’ programme to build on our commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion and support our vision to create a dynamic place to work
· Invest to build further resilience into our service delivery, including improving quality and speed of agile delivery, reviewing ‘heritage’ systems and settlement infrastructure and enhancing customer support and collaboration
*KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS*
PayPoint Group has identified the following KPIs to measure progress of business performance:
*KPI* *Description, purpose and reference* *2021/22* *2020/21*^*27* *2019/2***^*1*^*28*
*Overall performance*
Net revenue from continuing operations
(£ million)
(UK) Revenue from continuing operations less commissions paid to retailers and the cost of top-ups and SIM cards where PayPoint is principal. This reflects the benefit attributable to PayPoint’s performance eliminating pass-through costs and is an important measure of the overall success of our strategy.
(See Financial review – ‘Overview’ on page 12) *115.**1* *97.1* *106.8*
Profit before tax from continuing operations excluding exceptional items
(£ million)
(UK) Profit before tax from continuing operations excluding exceptional items, provides a measure of the performance of the Group over the past few years. This reflects the rebalancing of the business towards growth opportunities, the shift away from our legacy cash payments business and is an important measure of the overall success of our strategy.
(See Financial review – ‘Overview’ on page 12) *45.6* *36.5* *47**.**8*
Operating margin from continuing operations before exceptional items
(%)
(UK) Operating profit before exceptional items from continuing operations as a percentage of net revenue from continuing operations. Operating margin provides a broad overview of the efficient and effective management of the cost base enabling shareholder returns and investment in the business.
(See Financial review – ‘Operating margin’ on page 17) *41.**4* *3**9**.*** *4**5**.2*
Cash generation from continuing operations excluding exceptional items
(£ million)
(UK) Earnings from continuing operations before exceptional items, tax, depreciation and amortisation adjusted for corporate working capital movements (excludes movement in clients’ funds and retailers’ deposits). This represents the cash generated by operations which is available for investments, capex, taxation and dividend payments.
(See Financial review – ‘Group Cash flow and liquidity’ on page 18) *53.9* *46.9* *5**5**.**4*
*Shareholder returns*
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations
excluding exceptional items
(Pence)
(UK) Diluted earnings from continuing operations divided by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the year (including potentially dilutive ordinary shares). Earnings per share is a measure of the profit attributable to each share.
(See note 8 to the financial information on page 41) *52.8* *4**2**.**9* *5**5**.***
Dividends paid per share
(Pence)
(Group) Dividends (ordinary and additional) paid during the financial year divided by number of ordinary shares in issue at reporting date. Dividends paid per share provides a measure of the return to shareholders.
(See Financial review – ‘Dividends’ on page 19) *33.**6* *31.2* *84.0*
*Non-financial* Network stability
one-mile urban population cover
(%) Total urban population covered within a one-mile radius of a PayPoint site. This is monitored to ensure PayPoint are above our minimum SLA of 95%.
*99.2* *99.4* *99.5*
Network stability
five-mile rural population cover
(%)
(UK) Total rural population covered within a five-mile radius of a PayPoint site. This is monitored to ensure PayPoint are above our minimum SLA of 95%. *98.2* *98.3* *98.3*
Retailer partner site churn
(%)
(UK) The percentage of the retailer partner network, that on an annual basis, exits PayPoint. This is calculated by taking the number of retailers who exited PayPoint in the period (excluding suspended sites), divided by the average number of total UK retailer partner sites for the period. This tracks the movement in total UK retailer partner sites.
*5.3* *3.6* *8.4*
Employee engagement
(%)
(UK) Measures the overall employee engagement of our UK population, calculated by our survey provider. The survey provides insight into the health of our organisation, enabling the identification of what is important to our people so that appropriate action can be taken. *72.0* *77.0*
*68.0*
*FINANCIAL REVIEW *
*OVERVIEW OF CONTINUING OPERATIONS*
Last year we saw the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic affect a number of our business lines and sectors which drove significant variances. In the current year a number of variances are driven by the impact of our acquisitions as well as a number of those business lines and sectors that have partially recovered. Given the disposal of the Romanian business on 8 April 2021 the focus of this review is primarily on the continuing operations of the Group, the results of Romania have been classified as a discontinued operation and are provided below.
Restated
*£m* Year ended
31 March
2022 Year ended
31 March
2021 Change
%
*Revenue*
Revenue from continuing operations
*Net revenue*^*29* *145.**1* 127.7 13.6%
*Continuing operations *
Shopping * 5**8**.**7* 40.2 46.2%
E-commerce *4.9* 3.6 36.2%
Payments & Banking * 5**1**.**5* 53.3 (3.6%)
*Total net revenue* * 11**5**.**1* 97.1 18.5%
Total costs from continuing operations (excluding exceptional items)^30 * (**69**.**5**)* (60.6) 14.7%
*Proft before tax **from continuing operations (**excluding exceptional items**)* *45.6* 36.5 25.0%
Exceptional items *2.9* (16.1) n/m
*Profit before tax** from continuing operations* *48.5* 20.4 137.3%
Profit before tax from discontinued operations *30.0* 7.6 n/m
*Profit before tax* *7**8.5* 28.0 180.5%
Cash generation from continuing operations excluding exceptional items *53.9* 46.9 14.9%
Net corporate debt^31 *(43.9)* (68.2) (35.7%)
The above results for continuing operations reflect a number of corporate changes within the Group and the impact of exceptional items. The results of last year’s acquisitions, i-movo in December 2020 and Handepay/Merchant Rentals in February 2021, are included for the full year as is the acquisition of RSM 2000 which completed in April 2021.
Profit before tax from continuing operations of £48.5 million (2021: £20.4 million) increased by £28.1 million (137.3%). The current year reflects exceptional income of £2.9 million whilst the prior year reflects exceptional costs of £16.1 million which includes the £12.5 million provision made in relation to the Ofgem Statement of Objections. The profit before tax from continuing operations excluding exceptional items, the underlying profit, increased by £9.1 million (25.0%) to £45.6 million (2021: £36.5 million).
Revenue from continuing operations increased by £17.4 million (13.6%) to £145.1 million (2021: £127.7 million). Net revenue from continuing operations increased by £18.0 million (18.5%) to £115.1 million (2021: £97.1 million). Handepay and Merchant Rentals contributed additional £16.1 million net revenue from a full year compared to two months in 2021. Growth in service fees from additional sites and growth in e-commerce as it recovers from Covid-19 have been partially offset by the headwinds of structural changes and margin pressure on UK bill payments and a continued decline in cash use on UK bill payments, top ups and ATMs.
Shopping net revenue increased by £18.5 million (46.2%) to £58.7 million (2021: £40.2 million). Service fees net revenue increased by £1.9 million (13.1%) driven by additional PayPoint One sites and implementing the annual RPI increase. ATM net revenue decreased by 0.1% due to a reduction in transactions driven by the continuing trend of reduced demand for cash across the economy. Handepay/Merchant Rentals net revenue increased by £16.1 million (658.4%) as both entities were owned for a full financial year compared to the previous year where they were owned for two months. PayPoint card payments net revenue decreased by £1.1 million (9.4%), maintaining strong transaction volumes seen in prior year but at a lower average transaction value.
E-commerce net revenue increased by £1.3 million (36.2%) to £4.9 million (2021: £3.6 million), driven by strong growth in total transactions which increased by 25.3% with the easing of Covid-19 restrictions in the current year. This facilitated increased Pick Up/Drop Off activity combined with growth in volumes following our investment in thermal instore Zebra printers. During the year a new partnership was launched with Randox providing their Covid-19 testing service in our parcel network, this contributed £0.5 million of revenue (2021: £nil).
Payments & Banking net revenue decreased by £1.8 million (3.6%) to £51.5 million (2021: £53.3 million). Cash bill payments net revenue decreased by £2.3 million (8.1%) to £26.7 million, as a result of a decrease in bill payment transactions from the continued switch to digital payment methods along with the continuing impacts of Covid-19 where consumers are making larger payments, less frequently. Cash top-ups net revenue decreased by £0.5 million (6.2%) to £7.8 million with volumes down 12.6% driven by the continuing structural declines in the prepaid mobile sector. Digital net revenue increased by £1.6 million (27.1%) to £7.7 million driven by the £1.1 million net revenue contribution from RSM 2000 in the year. MultiPay net revenue decreased by £0.9 million to £3.3 million (2021: £4.2 million) and transactions increased 6.7% as a result of more clients taking the digital services and contribution from the new functionalities of Direct Debit and PayByLink although at a lower net revenue per transaction. This has been partially offset by Cash Out net revenue which increased by 75.6%, driven by the new DWP Payment Exception Service launched by the i-movo acquisition. Existing Cashout vouchers decreased by £0.1 million (4.7%) to £1.6 million (2021: £1.7 million) as the demand from local authorities to disperse Covid-19 support schemes has reduced. eMoney net revenue decreased by £0.5 million (5.6%) to £8.2 million (2021: £8.7 million), as a result of a 6.9% decrease in transactions reflecting these schemes delivering lower volumes following the strong performance seen during Covid-19 period.
Total costs from continuing operations excluding exceptional costs increased by £8.9 million to £69.5 million (2021: £60.6 million). The increase in costs was driven by the £12.2m additional cost base in relation to the newly acquired businesses partially offset by £3.3m reduction in operational costs. Prior year costs have been restated and reduced by £1.0 million by the retrospective application of the change in accounting policy on intangible assets following the April 2021 IFRIC agenda decision on costs incurred in implementing cloud computing SaaS arrangements.
*Reconciliation from profit before tax* *from continuing operations** to underlying profit before tax* *from continuing operations**£m* blackt
Year ended
31 March
2022 restated
Year ended
31 March
2021
*P**rofit before tax **from continuing operations* *£**48**.**5**m* £20.4m
Adjusted for:
Current year exceptional costs – administrative expenses *(£2.9m)* -
Prior year exceptional costs – administrative expenses *-* £3.1m
Prior year exceptional costs – finance costs *-* £0.5m
Prior year provision in relation to the Ofgem Statement of Objections *-* £12.5m
*Underlying profit before tax from continuing operations* *£**45**.**6**m* £36.5m
Current year exceptional item is a £2.9 million revaluation gain of the i-movo deferred, contingent consideration liability. Prior year exceptional costs of £16.1 million were one-off acquisition and refinancing expenses and a £12.5 million provision in relation to Ofgem’s Statement of Objections.
Cash generation from continuing operations excluding exceptional items remained strong with £53.9 million (2021: £46.9 million), delivered from profit before tax excluding exceptional items of £45.6 million (2021: £36.5 million). There was a net working capital outflow of £3.2 million, primarily the VAT deferral offered by HMRC being repaid in the period.
Net corporate debt decreased by £24.3 million to £43.9 million (2021: £68.2 million) due to the benefit from the disposal of the Romanian business partially offset by current year investments in Snappy Shopper and RSM 2000. At 31 March 2022 loans and borrowings were £51.5 million (2021: £86.6 million) which included £2.9 million of asset financing in the Merchant Rentals acquisition.
*SECTOR ANALYSIS*
*SHOPPING*
Shopping consists of services PayPoint provides to retailer partners, which form part of PayPoint’s network, and SME partners. Services include providing the PayPoint One platform (which has a basic till application), EPoS, card payments, ATMs, Counter Cash and terminal leasing.
*Net revenue (£m)* *Year ended *
*31 March 2022* *Year ended *
*31 March 2021* Change %
Service fees *16.6* 14.6 13.1%
Card payments – PayPoint *1**1**.*** 12.1 (9.4%)
Card payments – Handepay (two months in 20/21) *12.**8* 1.5 n/m
Card payments – RSM 2000 *0.9* - n/m
Card terminal leases – Merchant Rentals (two months in 20/21) *5**.**7* 1.0 n/m
ATMs *9.**7* 9.7 -
Other shopping *2.0* 1.3 56.4% *Total net revenue (£m)* *58**.**7* 40.2 46.2%
Net revenue increased by £18.5 million (46.2%) to £58.7 million (2021: £40.2 million) primarily due to the inclusion of Handepay and Merchant Rentals revenues for the full year. The net revenue of each of our key products is separately addressed below.
*Service fees from terminals* *Year ended *
*31 March 2022* *Year ended *
*31 March 2021* Change %
*Net Revenue (£m)* *16.6* *14.6* 13.1%
*PayPoint terminal sites (No.)* PayPoint One Base *7,**392* 7,915 (6.6%) PayPoint One EPoS Core *9,**639* 8,307 16.0% PayPoint One EPoS Pro *1,**089* 1,240 (12.2%)
*Total PayPoint One – revenue generating* *1**8,120* 17,462 3.8%
PayPoint One Base non-revenue generating *671* 343 95.6%
*Total PayPoint One*
Legacy (T2)
PPoS *18,7**91*
*214*
*9,249* 17,805
1,441
8,821 5.5%
(85.1%)
4.9%
*Total terminal sites in PayPoint network* *28,254* 28,067 0.7%
*PayPoint One average weekly service fee per site (£)* *1**7.0* 16.3 4.3%
As at 31 March 2022, PayPoint had a live terminal in 28,254 UK sites, an increase of 0.7% primarily as a result of new sales. PayPoint One sites increased by 5.5% to 18,791 sites due to new sales and the continued migration from the legacy T2 terminal.
*Service fees:* This is a core growth area and consists of service fees from PayPoint One and our legacy terminals. Service fee net revenue increased by £2.0 million (13.1%) to £16.6 million driven by the additional 658 PayPoint One revenue generating sites compared to 2021. The higher price point EPoS Core sites increased by 1,332 due to new sales and upselling whilst EPOS Pro sites decreased by 151 compared to 2021, which had benefited from our three month try before you buy EPoS Pro offering.
The PayPoint One average weekly service fee per site increased by 4.3% to £17.0, benefiting from the increase in EPoS Core sites which are charged at a higher rate and the annual RPI increase. Retailers taking the Core version of the product represent 51.3% (2021: 46.7%) of all PayPoint One sites and the Pro version represent 5.8% (2021: 7.0%). Legacy terminals now just remain in a few of our multiple retailer partners but are being replaced.
*Card Payments and leases* *Year ended *
*31 March 2022* *Year ended *
*31 March 2021* Change %
*Net Revenue (£m)*
Card payments – Handepay (two months in 20/21) *12.8* 1.5 n/m
Card terminal lessees – Merchant Rentals (two months in 20/21) *5.7* 1.0 n/m
Card payments - PayPoint *11.0* 12.1 (9.4%)
Card payments – RSM 2000 *0.9* - n/m
*Services in Live sites (No.)*
Card payments – Handepay *22,796* 18,805 21.2%
Card terminal lessees – Merchant Rentals *35,403 * 26,017 36.1%
Card payments - PayPoint *9,**666* 9,930 (2.7%)
Card payments – RSM 2000 *147* - n/m
*Transactions (Millions) *
Card payments – Handepay (two months in 20/21) *145.0* 14.6 n/m
Card payments – PayPoint *21**7**.8* 210.4 3.5%
Card payments – RSM 2000 *6.5* - n/m
*Card payments: *Handepay and Merchant Rentals generated £18.5 million net revenue in the year. Handepay contributed £12.8 million card payments net revenue and 145.0 million transactions, benefiting from the reopening of SMEs across key sectors with the easing of government restrictions. Handepay card payment services were live in 22,796 sites at 31 March 2022, an increase of 3,991 sites (21.2%) since 31 March 2021. Merchant Rentals contributed £5.7 million terminal leasing net revenue.
PayPoint card payments transactions increased by 3.5% to 217.8 million and net revenue decreased by 9.4% to £11.0 million maintaining strong transaction volumes seen in FY21 but at a lower average transaction value £11.27 (FY21: £12.40). Across our network there were 9,666 PayPoint card payments sites, a decrease of 264 sites (2.7%) since 31 March 2021.
RSM 2000 card payments reflects a full year’s transactions from the new acquisition.
*ATMs* *Year ended *
*31 March 2022* *Year ended *
*31 March 2021* Change %
*Net Revenue (£m)* *9.7* 9.7 -
*Services in Live sites (No.)* *3,686* 3,626 1.7%
*Transactions (Millions) * *30.4* 30.6 (0.8%)
*ATMs: *Net revenue remained flat at £9.7 million although transactions reduced by 0.8% to 30.4 million. This is attributable to the continued reduced demand for cash across the economy, accentuated by the Covid-19 preference for card use. Sites increased 1.7% to 3,686 and PayPoint continued to optimise its ATM network by relocating existing machines to better performing locations.
*Other:* Other shopping services increased by £0.7 million (56.4%) to £2.0 million (2021: £1.3 million) this includes the launch of the partnership with Snappy Shopper and the new PayPoint Counter Cash service which was live in 2,624 sites.
*E-COMMERCE*
*Parcels* *Year ended *
*31 March 2022* *Year ended *
*31 March 2021* Change %
*Net Revenue (£m)* *4.9* 3.6 36.2%
*Services in Live sites (No.)* *10,049* 10,509 (4.4%)
*Transactions (Millions) * *33.3* 26.6 25.2%
E-commerce net revenue increased by £1.3 million (36.2%) to £4.9 million due to the increase in total parcels transactions by 25.2% to 33.3 million with the easing of Covid-19 restrictions in the current period facilitating increased Out of Home activity. The prior period transactions were impacted by Covid-19 restrictions with consumers staying at home. Parcel sites decreased by 4.4% to 10,049 sites due to stores being removed from our network.
*PAYMENTS & BANKING*
*Year ended *
*31 March 2022* *Year ended *
*31 March 2021* Change %
*Net revenue (£m)*
Cash – bill payments *26.7* 29.0 (8.1%)
Cash – top-ups *7.8* 8.3 (6.2%)
Digital *7**.**8* 6.1 27.1%
Cash through to digital *8.2* 8.7 (5.6%)
Other payments and banking *1.0* 1.2 (16.4%) *Total net revenue (£m)* *5**1**.**5* 53.3 (3.6%)
Payments & Banking divisional net revenue decreased by 3.6% to £51.5 million, as a result of fewer cash bill payments and top up transactions, and margin erosion from client contract renewals but partly offset by continued growth in digital transactions
*Cash – bill payments* *Year ended *
*31 March 2022* Year ended
31 March
2021 Change
%
Net revenue (£m) 26.7 29.0 (8.1%)
Transactions (millions) 157.2 168.3 (6.6%)
Transaction value (£m) 3,932.3 4,210.1 (6.6%)
Average transaction value (£) 25.0 25.0 -
Net revenue per transaction (pence) 17.0 17.2 (1.4%)
*Cash **- **bill payments* net revenue decreased by £2.3 million (8.1%) to £26.7 million primarily as a result of the continued switch to digital payment methods and consumers are continuing to make larger payments, less frequently. Cash bill payments transactions decreased by 11.1 million (6.6%) to 157.2 million. Cash bill payments net revenue per transaction decreased by 0.2 pence (1.4%) due to margin erosion from client contract renewals.
*Cash – top-ups* *Year ended *
*31 March 2022* Year ended
31 March
2021 Change
%
Net revenue (£m) 7.8 8.3 (6.2%)
Transactions (millions) 21.2 24.3 (12.6%)
Transaction value (£m) 257.6 289.1 (10.9%)
Average transaction value (£) 12.1 11.9 1.9%
Net revenue per transaction (pence) 36.8 34.2 7.7%
*Cash **- **top-ups* net revenue decreased by £0.5 million (6.2%) to £7.8 million. Cash top-ups transactions decreased by 3.1 million (12.6%) to 21.2 million due to further market declines in the prepaid mobile sector whereby UK direct debit pay monthly options displace UK prepay mobile and Covid-19 impacts where consumers are making larger payments and less frequently.
*Digital* *Year ended *
*31 March 2022* Year ended
31 March
2021 Change
%
Net revenue (£m) 7.8 6.1 27.1%
Transactions (millions) 34.2 27.2 25.6%
Transaction value (£m) 756.6 545.7 38.6%
Average transaction value (£) 22.2 20.1 10.3%
Net revenue per transaction (pence) 22.5 22.4 0.4%
*Digital* (MultiPay, Cash Out and RSM 2000) net revenue increased by £1.7 million (27.1%) to £7.8 million and digital transactions increased by 7.0 million (25.6%) to 34.2 million driven by the £1.1 million contribution of RSM 2000 to this sector. MultiPay net revenue decreased by £0.9 million to £3.3 million (2021: £4.2 million), this was due to the expected volume reduction from Utilita moving customers to their in-house solutions. This was partially offset by the new DWP Payment Exception Service which contributed £1.6 million net revenue in the period partially offset by Cash Out net revenue which decreased by £0.1 million (4.7%), driven by reduced demand from local authorities seeking to digitise their payments offering and despite Covid-19 meal voucher schemes winding down.
*Cash through to digital* *Year ended *
*31 March