REG- Record profits delivered and reorganisation to deliver next stage of growth
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PayPoint Plc
Results for the year ended 31 March 2026
Record profits delivered and reorganisation to deliver next stage of growth
GROUP FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
* Underlying profit before tax of £69.0 million (FY25: £68.0 million)
increased by £1.0 million (1.5%)
* Underlying EBITDA of £92.0 million (FY25: £90.0 million) increased by
£2.0 million (2.2%)
* Net corporate debt of £132.5 million increased by £35.1 million as
expected from opening position of £97.4 million, reflecting strategic
investments and ongoing share buyback programme
* Final dividend of 20.0 pence per share, an increase of 2.0% vs the prior
year of 19.6 pence per share
Year ended 31 March 2026 FY26 FY25 Change
Revenue (1) £337.0m £310.7m 8.5%
Net revenue (2) £190.8m £187.7m 1.7%
Underlying EBITDA (2) £92.0m £90.0m 2.2%
Underlying profit before tax (3) £69.0m £68.0m 1.5%
Adjusting items (4) £(13.5)m £(41.7)m (67.6)%
Profit before tax £55.5m £26.3m 111.0%
Diluted underlying earnings per share (5) 73.6p 69.1p 6.5%
Diluted earnings per share 58.4p 26.3p 122.1%
Net corporate debt (6) £(132.5)m £(97.4)m 36.0%
Nick Wiles, Chief Executive of PayPoint Plc, said:
“We are reporting a year of record profits and enhanced shareholder returns
delivered against the background of a generally weak economy, low consumer
confidence and some specific business headwinds faced through the course of
the year. These results have been achieved through a combination of a
resilient performance from the underlying business and encouraging new
business growth in a number of key areas. These include Open Banking and
digital payments, FMCG, business lending, key wins in the housing association
sector, and strong progress in the delivery of our three growth projects: the
launch of PayPoint BankLocal, our strategic partnership with Royal Mail and
the acceleration of our Love2shop partnership with InComm Payments.
The business has continued to operate with strong operational, cost and
capital allocation discipline, resulting in robust control of costs throughout
the business and a total return of over £90 million to shareholders from a
combination of share buybacks, ordinary and special dividends.
As announced on 30 March 2026, the Board is now taking the actions necessary
to establish a strengthened foundation for our next stage of growth through
simplifying the business into four business units: Network Services, Digital
Payments and Open Banking, Love2shop and Merchant Services. The internal
organisational steps to enable these changes are already well underway,
driving greater performance ownership, a better harnessing of the Group’s
collective capabilities, strengthened execution and the unlocking of cost
savings to support reallocation of investment into key growth areas. Together,
these actions will enable a more accountable operating culture with a greater
focus on maximising the growth opportunities in the business.
The evolution to this reorganised business structure is reflected in how we
are reporting the performance of the Group, showing both the historical and
reorganised results. The reorganisation will result in a number of these
businesses operating in a fundamentally different way. First, Network Services
will move to a unified operating model organised across four regions, enabling
better support to our UK wide network of over 30,000 convenience stores, and
underpinning a ‘growing retailer value’ strategy from better supporting
the delivery and adoption of our key products and services into the network
and a fundamental reset of our engagement and relationship with our retailer
partners. Second, in bringing together our digital payments, Open Banking and
real-time credit bureau capabilities under a single management and operating
structure, we will bring the necessary focus to accelerate new business
growth, maximise the value of this unique technology platform and support
closer integration across the Group. Third, in Love2shop, our focus remains on
upgrading and enhancing our technology platform and product capabilities,
broadening our distribution channels and maximising the lifetime value of
billings in each channel. Fourth, the reset of our strategy in Merchant
Services reflects the need to adapt and respond to the changes in a highly
competitive card processing market, with a focus on net revenue, improved
profitability and a merchant estate managed for value rather than a focus on
estate growth. We will also refocus our future sales resource at growing in
the mid-market segment where we believe our product and broader range of
payment capabilities better positions the business for longer term profitable
growth. Net revenue will be the key performance measure for the business and
will drive our reward and remuneration programmes for our refocused sales
teams. These changes will complement the growth opportunities in both Merchant
Rentals and our Business Finance activities.
We believe the actions we are taking position the business to deliver a net
revenue target growth rate of 5-8% per annum and provide the foundation for
continued strong returns for shareholders through a combination of growing
earnings, strong cash generation, dividends and share buybacks.
Our priorities in the first quarter have been to: implement the announced
organisational changes; ensure minimal disruption to the trading momentum in
the business; and establish a strong foundation to trading early in the year.
Early indications are that we have had a positive start to the year with
resilient underlying trading and some encouraging new business wins. In terms
of profit balance for the current year, we expect a greater weighting towards
the second half, reflecting both an accelerating contribution from new
business and the positive impact of several of our seasonal businesses.
Overall, the Board remains confident in delivering further progress, exceeding
the underlying profits achieved in FY26 and achieving results in line with
market expectations.”
DIVISIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
HISTORICAL ORGANISATION
Shopping divisional net revenue increased by 1.7% to £66.3 million (FY25:
£65.2 million)
* Service fee net revenue increased by 8.7% to £23.7 million, driven by a
slight increase in the number of revenue-generating PayPoint One/Mini sites to
20,295 (31 March 2025: 20,275 sites) and the annual RPI service fee increase
* Card payment net revenue decreased by 2.5% overall to £31.6 million, with a
good performance in terminal rentals and business lending offset by a
reduction in acquiring revenue
* Positive performance for Business Finance via YouLend, with over £33
million of funding provided to businesses, up 39% year on year
* Significant enhancements to merchant proposition over the year, including
launch of improved eCommerce proposition, delivery of real-time data insights
and tap to pay within the merchant app, and a refresh of our merchant rewards
programme
* Strong progress in Merchant Rentals, with a number of additional
partnerships including FreedomPay launched in December 2025, with early
positive results delivering an additional 1,000 live terminals
* Card processed value decreased by 6.2% overall to £6.4 billion (FY25: £6.9
billion), with the Handepay EVO estate -4.6% and the PayPoint Lloyds Cardnet
estate -9.6% versus the prior year
* 40 brand campaigns delivered in the year for major consumer brands via
PayPoint Engage, with over 1.1 million vouchers issued and over £80k paid out
to retailers through our Retailer Rewards programme
* ATMs – net revenue decreased by 2.6% to £7.6 million (FY25: £7.8
million). Visa, Mastercard and International Card acceptance has now been
enabled for rollout in FY27
* UK retail network increased to 30,872 sites (31 March 2025: 30,712), with
70.0% in independent retailer partners and 30.0% in multiple retail groups
E-commerce divisional net revenue decreased by 4.9% to £15.6 million (FY25:
£16.4 million)
* Collect+ parcel transactions grew by 1.5% to 135.4 million (FY25: 133.4
million), with continued strong momentum from Royal Mail balanced by the
impact of the InPost/Yodel commercial reset early in the year
* Consolidation of Collect+ network at 14,076 sites (31 March 2025: 14,213)
with a focus on service compliance and consumer satisfaction
* Royal Mail strategic partnership – 8,500 sites now live with Royal Mail
services and the Royal Mail Shop brand, including 3,000 live with over the
counter services enabling consumers to buy postage in store as well as
collect, send and return parcels. Plans underway to pilot Royal Mail
self-serve kiosks in selected locations in H1 FY27
* Amazon – expansion of store network underway from 7,000 to 9,000 locations
to enable increased volumes and consumer OOH demand
* InPost/Yodel – new 3-year commercial agreement signed in H1 FY26, with
c.4,000 sites live for PUDO services with the rebranded InPost service
* Continued engagement with both our wider carrier partner portfolio and a
number of additional new partner opportunities, focusing on volume growth and
driving further consumer adoption of Out of Home
Payments & Banking divisional net revenue increased by 1.8% to £55.4 million
(FY25: £54.4 million)
* Total digital net revenue, which includes MultiPay and Open Banking,
increased by 25.8% to £19.5 million (FY25: £15.5 million)
* Continued growth through our MultiPay platform, with underlying net revenue
increasing by 17.9% to £7.9 million (FY25: £6.7 million)
* Positive year for new business wins in Housing with strong market position
now established in the sector serving over 500,000 homes and 1 million
tenants. New contract wins with Peabody and Flagship Housing and Open Banking
services now live with Thirteen Group, RHP, Gloucester City Homes and Orwell
Housing
* Growth in Open Banking activities with net revenue within the PayPoint
business growing to £1.3 million (FY25: £0.8 million), including wins
secured with the Department for Work and Pensions, AccessPay, Gousto and the
Insolvency Service for Confirmation of Payee and Coventry City Council for
OpenPay
* The obconnect business delivered an improved performance in H2 FY26 vs. the
first half of the year, contributing £4.4 million net revenue for the
year(3). The Group has also completed the buyout of the obconnect founders,
with the business becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of PayPoint
* New partnership announced with Raidiam and the Retail Energy Code Company
(RECCo) to provide a consent framework for the UK energy industry to securely
share smart meter data controlled by the consent of end-customers. In
addition, as a founding member of the UK Payments Initiative, PayPoint is also
closely involved in the rollout of account‑to‑account (A2A) payments in
the UK, including exploring how these services can be made available
in‑store to support inclusive access for all customers
* Cash payments net revenue decreased by 10.3% to £28.8 million (FY25: £32.1
million) in line with expectations
* Cash through to digital net revenue increased by 4.4% to £7.1 million
(FY25: £6.8 million), with continued strong growth in neobank deposits with
over £720 million of consumer deposits processed in the period through our
extensive network
* PayPoint BankLocal service launched in August 2025 for Lloyds Banking Group
customers, enabling consumer cash deposits via app across our extensive
network of 30,000 locations. In the year, over £47 million in cash deposits
was processed across the network, with the weekly cash deposit run rate
growing to c.£3 million by the end of FY26. Deposits via card launched for
Lloyds in September 2025 across 3,000 sites, and Nationwide now live from
April 2026 for the same service. Plans are underway to enable more High St
banks for the service over the course of the next 6 months, with an expansion
of card deposit sites to 10,000 locations planned during FY27 and an SME
deposit solution also in development for launch in FY28.
Love2shop divisional net revenue increased by 3.5% to £53.5 million (FY25:
£51.7 million)
* Strong performance in Love2shop, with net revenue increased by 3.5% to
£53.5 million (FY25: £51.7 million) and billings increased by 5.0% to
£385.8 million (FY25: £367.5 million)
* As highlighted in H1 FY26, the strong performance in the second half of the
year has reflected the anticipated benefit of the timing of revenue
recognition. This is expected to normalise in FY27 with a more balanced
contribution between the two halves.
* Positive Love2shop Business performance, with billings increased by 4.9% at
£182.0 million (FY25: £173.5 million), driven by strong growth and retention
in our established clients
* In-store – continued strong performance in expansion of physical gift card
distribution channels, with growth in billings to £13.5 million (FY25: £3.8
million). Partnership with Incomm Payments continuing to deliver strong growth
with expanded distribution and product innovation. New Love2shop gift cards
are also now being rolled out to further PayPoint retailer network locations,
leveraging the strength of the Love2shop brand and reinforcing our expanded
multichannel strategy for Love2shop gift card sales across digital and
physical channels. Love2shop physical gift cards are now sold in over 8,000
locations and a first to market was delivered in the year with the launch of a
digital Mastercard in-store. Plans are already underway to increase our High
St footprint and support in-year and seasonal promotions.
* Prepayment – Park Christmas Savings delivered a solid performance for the
2025 season with billings at £164.4 million (FY25: £163.0 million). Good
progress delivered in year on enhancing our offer, including multiple
campaigns and actions to strengthen our Agent proposition, the launch of Agent
Perks and a new Agent App with over 17,000 downloads, improved average order
value for returning direct savers, and a more premium fulfilment experience
and packaging for customers receiving orders. Platform now established to
support expansion into new savings occasions, with new Love2save proposition
launching in H1 FY27.
* E-commerce – migration completed to new e-commerce platform, phasing out
highstreetvouchers.com and harmonising Love2shop brand leading to the benefits
of a single brand domain, increased brand presence and greater consumer
awareness in both B2B and B2C channels
* In gift card platforms, we have signed a new agreement with Vanquis to
provide an eGift card mall which can be exclusively accessed through their new
app supporting their customer loyalty strategy
* New redemption partners onboarded in the year, including Moonpig, Body Shop
and Moss
NEW ORGANISATION
As announced on 30 March 2026, the Board has taken the decision to establish a
strengthened foundation to our next stage of growth through simplifying the
business into four business units: Network Services, Digital Payments and Open
Banking, Love2shop and Merchant Services.
This reorganisation will establish four business units of scale, with clearly
defined operating structures, a greater focus on growth opportunities with a
more accountable operating culture. This will enable a more focused portfolio
of businesses and lead to a better harnessing of the Group’s collective
capabilities, strengthen execution and go-to-market strategy with better
defined areas of co-operation, cost savings, synergy and opportunity between
business units to drive growth. Consistent with this reorganisation is a
fundamental review of the Group cost base which will lead to an unlocking of
cost savings and enable reallocation of investment with a renewed focus on
driving enhanced shareholder returns.
The preliminary results for FY26 are also presented in the table below in the
new organisation, with further details on each business unit, growth
opportunities and key priorities for FY27 outlined in the Chief Executive’s
Review.
Net revenue (£m) FY26 FY25 Change
Network Services 92.4 94.3 -2.0%
Digital Payments & Open Banking 13.3 9.3 +43.3%
Love2shop 53.5 51.7 +3.5%
Merchant Services 31.6 32.4 -2.5%
PayPoint Group Total 190.8 187.7 +1.7%
Business unit mix FY26 FY25 FY24
Network Services 48% 50% 50%
Digital Payments & Open Banking 7% 5% 4%
Love2shop 28% 28% 28%
Merchant Services 17% 17% 18%
CAPITAL ALLOCATION POLICY
The Board believes the current capital allocation and dividend policies remain
appropriate and key elements to the value proposition for shareholders,
underpinned by the continued strong underlying cash flows. In FY26, through a
combination of share buybacks, ordinary and special dividends, the Group has
returned more than £90 million in value to shareholders in the year.
As of 31 March 2026, the share buyback/ share consolidation has reduced shares
in issue by 16.2% (from 72.7m shares in March 2024 to 60.8m). A continuation
of the £30m share buyback over FY27 and FY28 means the business remains on
track to deliver a further 10m reduction in shares, representing an overall
reduction of shares in issue of c.30% since the commencement of the buyback
programme.
The reduction in issued shares to March 2026 has already reduced the cash
dividend servicing costs by c.£4.7m per annum. With a further 10m reduction
of shares over FY27-FY28, the annualised cost of servicing dividends is
projected to reduce by c.£9m. Over the period from July 2024 to March 2028,
we project the cumulative dividend cash saving from the share buyback/
consolidation to be c.£17m in aggregate.
The ongoing share buyback programme is materially cash flow enhancing(4) and a
strong driver of EPS growth. The Group’s cash generation remains strong and
is a key enabler to enhancing shareholder returns.
CAPITAL MARKETS DAY
As previously announced, the Group will be holding a Capital Markets Day later
in the year during Q4 2026 to provide an update on strategy, the business
reorganisation, a simplified investment case, the synergy between our
businesses and how we deliver our services and capabilities to our clients and
through our leading network.
Enquiries
PayPoint FGS Global
Nick Wiles, Chief Executive (Mobile: 07442 968960) Rollo Head
Rob Harding, Chief Financial Officer (Mobile: 07525 707970) James Thompson (Tel: 0207 251 3801)
A presentation for analysts is being held at 9.30am today (11 June 2026) via
webcast. This announcement, along with details for the webcast, is available
on the PayPoint Plc website: paypointbusiness.com/corporate
CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REVIEW
GROUP UPDATE
Record profits delivered and strong progress on delivery of key growth
projects
We are reporting a year of record profits and shareholder returns delivered
against the background of a generally weak economy, low consumer confidence
and some specific business headwinds faced through the course of the year.
These results have been achieved through a combination of a resilient
performance from the underlying business, encouraging new business growth in a
number of key areas, including Open Banking and digital payments, FMCG,
business lending, key wins in the housing association sector, and strong
progress in the delivery of our three growth projects: the launch of PayPoint
BankLocal, our strategic partnership with Royal Mail and the acceleration of
our Love2shop partnership with InComm Payments.
The business has continued to operate with strong operational, cost control
and capital allocation discipline, resulting in robust control of costs
throughout the business and a total return of over £90 million to
shareholders from a combination of share buybacks, ordinary and special
dividends.
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STRONG PROGRESS OF KEY GROWTH PROJECTS
Over the year, the Group has delivered the successful launch of multiple
projects that enhance our consumer proposition in several areas of our
business, establish important partnerships and strengthen the long-term
prospects of the business. Each of these projects has required detailed
planning and collaboration with our partners and a business wide effort to
deliver.
1. Launch of PayPoint BankLocal with the Lloyds Banking Group
On 26 August 2025, we launched our BankLocal service enabling consumer cash
deposits via app for customers of Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland across
our extensive network of over 30,000 locations. This successful launch was
supported by a business-wide effort to prepare and train our retailer partners
to deliver this vital new service, with over 240,000 direct communications
delivered, over 4,000 store visits completed and a Trustpilot score of 4.9/5
achieved from retailer feedback. The service has been adopted rapidly by
customers, with over £47 million of deposits processed since launch, with the
weekly cash deposit run rate growing to c.£3 million by the end of FY26.
Further proactive consumer marketing activity is now underway by our partner
banks to drive greater awareness of the service.
On 30 September 2025, we enhanced this service further with over 3,000 sites
launched for consumer cash deposits via card, particularly targeted at
customers who are not digitally enabled. With over 40% of transactions taking
place before 9am and after 5pm, and c.25% of transactions happening at
weekends, this service has reinforced the vital role that our leading retail
network plays in providing a vast range of essential services at the heart of
communities across the UK, for everything from banking, utility, parcel, cash
and government services.
In April 2026, Nationwide went live for the BankLocal service, enabling cash
deposits via card at over 3,000 sites. Plans are underway to enable more High
St banks for the service over the course of the next 6 months, with an
expansion of card deposit sites to 10,000 locations planned during FY27 and an
SME deposit solution also in development for launch in FY28.
2. Launch of Royal Mail Shop and strategic investment in
Collect+ by Royal Mail
As announced on 30 September 2025, International Distribution Services (IDS),
owner of Royal Mail, completed a strategic investment in Collect+ to take a
49% ownership share, with an investment of £43.9 million, valuing the
Collect+ business at £90 million.
The Collect+ business has seen strong growth over the past 5 years as we have
established it as the leading open Out of Home (OOH) store network in the UK.
Currently, Collect+ has a network of over 14,000 OOH locations in the UK, of
which c. 8,500 offer Royal Mail collect, send and return parcel services
today. As part of this partnership, these sites have now been upgraded with
Royal Mail Shop branding and over 3,000 have the ability to deliver Royal Mail
over the counter services, enabling customers to buy postage in store. Over
the next 12 months the intention is to expand the rollout of Royal Mail over
the counter services through the network, including the pilot of self-service
kiosks.
Establishing this partnership is important to the next stage of growth for
Collect+ and its positioning as the leading OOH store network in the UK. As an
open network, Collect+ will continue to work closely with the carrier partners
with whom it has well-established relationships to support the increasing
consumer adoption of OOH services across the UK and to invest in the
technology and training required to deliver an outstanding consumer
experience.
3. Love2shop partnership with InComm Payments
A key focus for Love2shop has been the expansion of in-store distribution of
Love2shop physical gift cards across the UK, through the PayPoint network and
our partnership with InComm Payments establishing a strong new sales channel
into major grocers and High St brands. The partnership has delivered a strong
year on year performance, with sales of Love2shop physical gift card billings
growing by 313%. We have also delivered further progress developing our
retailer channels for Love2shop gift cards, an expansion to The Range ahead of
the key peak trading period. New Love2shop gift cards are also now being
rolled out to further PayPoint retailer network locations, leveraging the
strength of the Love2shop brand and reinforcing our expanded multichannel
strategy for Love2shop gift card sales across digital and physical channels
This channel was further enhanced in early 2026 with the launch of the
Love2shop digital Mastercard, a market first enabling spend in store via
digital wallet and online.
REVIEW BY DIVISION
SHOPPING DIVISION
In Retail Services, it has been an intensive period where we have focused our
efforts on supporting our retailer partners to deliver more revenue from
PayPoint services and a business-wide effort to deliver the major launches of
PayPoint BankLocal and Royal Mail Shops in the first half. Our new Store
Growth Specialist team, launched at the beginning of the financial year, had a
positive impact with retailers, driven by targeted data and support. The
learnings from the success of this team have been directly factored into our
‘growing retailer value’ strategy focused on increasing revenue per store,
improving compliance, widening product penetration and strengthening retailer
capability, supported by increasingly sophisticated data analytics.
Key focus areas in the year have been merchandising new Love2shop physical
gift card units in over 2,000 sites ahead of the key peak trading period and
completing an extensive training and merchandising programme for our BankLocal
and Royal Mail Shop rollouts. Over 4,000 site visits were completed in total,
with positive retailer partner feedback and successful launches delivered for
both services. In our FMCG consumer engagement proposition, PayPoint Engage,
40 campaigns have been delivered for major consumer brands, leveraging our
PayPoint One platform, advertising screens and vouchering capability, with
over 1.1 million vouchers issued and over £80k paid to retailers out through
our Retailer Rewards programme. In ATMs, against the background of continued
declining market volumes, we are making progress in optimising the performance
of the ATM estate through better operational management and a greater focus on
fewer, higher quality sites, with support from our NoteMachine partnership. In
addition, we have now enabled Visa, Mastercard and International Card
acceptance for rollout in FY27 as an important addition to our ATM
capabilities.
In Cards, there was an increasing recognition through the year of the need to
refocus strategy and resources, and to move the business away from the
onboarding of low value merchants to a focus on revenue rather than absolute
merchant estate growth. This will deliver a better performance from the
retention of the existing merchant estate, growing higher value merchants, and
developing a strong mid-market proposition with a dedicated team and
leveraging our USP of broader payment capabilities. Throughout the year, we
have made significant enhancements to our merchant proposition, including an
updated terminal application enabling split bill and digital receipt
functionality and real-time transaction data and Tap to Pay now live in our
merchant mobile app. In October 2025, we launched our
new e-commerce capabilities, in partnership with Global Payments, including
Pay By Link functionality in the merchant app and providing end-to-end
payment e-commerce capability for our merchants. In Merchant Rentals, the
leading provider of flexible financing and rental options for payment
terminals, we are targeting further growth driven by major partnerships with
FreedomPay and Lloyds Bank. In particular, the new agreement with FreedomPay,
signed in December 2025, underscores Merchant Rentals’ commitment to
supporting introducers and their clients with innovative financing solutions.
The partnership is already yielding early positive results, delivering an
additional 1,000 live terminals. This relationship represents significant
growth for Merchant Rentals and reinforces its position as a trusted provider
of flexible payment technology solutions. In Business Finance, delivered in
partnership with YouLend, we continue to deliver strong results with over £33
million in funding provided to businesses over the past year and strong growth
demonstrated across the PayPoint and Handepay estates. Plans are well underway
to continue this momentum and grow further in FY27.
E-COMMERCE DIVISION
In E-commerce, Collect+ parcel transactions grew by 1.5% to 135.4 million
(FY25: 133.4 million), with continued strong momentum from Royal Mail balanced
by the impact of the InPost/Yodel commercial reset early in the year. Overall,
the second half of the year has proved to be a consolidation period for the
business, following the commercial reset of our relationship with InPost/Yodel
and the ramp up of volumes with Royal Mail. Collect+ today is well-established
as the leading Out of Home (OOH) store network in the UK and, as an open
network, we will continue to work closely with our carrier partners to support
the increasing consumer adoption of OOH services across the UK and identify
new opportunities for growth in the business.
As announced on 30 September 2025, Royal Mail has taken a strategic investment
in Collect+. Over 8,500 sites offer Royal Mail collect, send and return parcel
services today. As part of this partnership, these sites have now been
upgraded with Royal Mail Shop branding and over 3,000 have the ability to
deliver Royal Mail over the counter services, enabling customers to buy
postage in store. Plans are underway to pilot Royal Mail self-serve kiosks in
selected locations in H1. This partnership is important to the next stage of
growth for Collect+ and its positioning as the leading OOH store network in
the UK, again enhancing our retailer and consumer propositions delivering
vital services at the heart of communities across the UK.
In H1 FY26, we also signed a new 3-year agreement with InPost/Yodel, resetting
our commercial relationship with c. 4,000 sites live for Pick Up Drop Off
(PUDO) services. With Amazon, an expansion of the store network is underway,
growing from 7,000 to 9,000 locations to enable increased volumes and consumer
OOH demand. We also continue to engage with our wider carrier partner
portfolio, focusing on volume growth and driving further consumer adoption of
OOH.
PAYMENTS & BANKING DIVISION
In Payments & Banking, our integrated digital payments platform, MultiPay,
continues to establish itself as a comprehensive payment solution for clients
across card processing, Open Banking, direct debit and cash, with net revenue
growth of 17.9% year on year. We have now established a strong market position
in the Housing sector, securing further wins in the year with Peabody and
Flagship Housing and Open Banking services now live with Thirteen Group, RHP,
Gloucester City Homes and Orwell Housing. There has been a strong focus in the
year on increasing opportunities to cross-sell payments services within our
existing client base, leveraging our wider multichannel payments platform and
Open Banking capabilities. Our Open Banking solutions are unlocking further
pipeline opportunities, supporting major clients with cheque replacement
solutions via our PayPoint OpenPay service.
In Open Banking, we have made further progress in executing our strategy and
leveraging our extensive capabilities. In PayPoint, we are focused on winning
business with both new and existing clients delivering Open Banking services
and payments channels, all enabled by obconnect and Aperidata, with 26 new
client services live in the year, including the Department for Work and
Pensions, AccessPay, Gousto and the Insolvency Service for Confirmation of
Payee. A recently announced partnership with Raidiam and the Retail Energy
Code Company (RECCo) will see the business providing a consent framework for
the UK energy industry to securely share smart meter data controlled by the
consent of end-customers. In addition, as a founding member of the UK Payments
Initiative, PayPoint is closely involved in the rollout of
account‑to‑account (A2A) payments in the UK, including exploring how these
services can be made available in‑store to support inclusive access for all
customers.
The obconnect business delivered an improved performance in H2 FY26 vs. the
first half of the year, contributing £4.4 million net revenue for the year.
The business successfully launched Verification of Payee (VoP) in France,
Germany, Belgium, Spain, and Ireland with international bank SMBC and global
payments companies PaySafe and PagoNXT – part of Groupo Santander and
delivered new wins to provide ASPSP services for both the UK and EU (Berlin
Group) for SMBC. We have also developed a new Corporate API proposition based
on our experience of operating trust frameworks. This service is expected to
be useful to any organisation needing to manage secure connectivity to a large
number of 3rd parties and is currently being implemented for SMBC. In
addition, the business won an Open Banking payments contract with TSB to
enable customers to pay off credit card balances, and in New Zealand, we have
supported Get Verified with the launch of a portal and API to allow fintechs
to perform Confirmation of Payee requests, as well as continuing to onboard
new banks as participants to the New Zealand scheme. The Group has also
completed the buyout of the obconnect founders, with the business becoming a
wholly owned subsidiary of PayPoint.
In our cash through to digital category, we rolled out new display units to a
further 2,000 sites ahead of the key peak trading period, combining our
leading portfolio of consumer brands, including Amazon, Netflix, Deliveroo and
Uber, with physical Love2shop gift cards in store. We intend to expand further
the number of stores offering Love2shop physical gift cards and our digital
Pin on Receipt brands over the course of FY27, as well as working with our
partners to drive further consumer awareness of our digital voucher range
across the network. Plans are underway in the current year to further increase
retailer adoption and consumer awareness of these services to capture the
significant opportunity in this area. In addition, our existing neobank cash
deposit service processed over £720 million of deposits in the year,
complementing our new PayPoint BankLocal service for High St banks.
In Cash, legacy energy bill payments net revenue decreased by 12.0% for the
year consistent with our expectations. Over the year, the energy price cap,
updated by Ofgem on a quarterly basis, was set for pre-pay customers at
£1,803 for April to June 2025, £1,672 for July to September 2025, £1,707
for October to December 2025, and £1,711 for January to March 2026.
LOVE2SHOP DIVISION
Love2shop has delivered a positive performance in FY26, with a strong focus on
growing billings, expanding distribution channels and optimising profitability
with a focus on high-margin Love2shop proprietary products. As highlighted in
H1 FY26, the strong performance in the second half of the year has reflected
the anticipated benefit of the timing of revenue recognition. This is expected
to normalise in FY27 with a more balanced contribution between the two halves.
We have delivered a continued strong performance in the expansion of our
physical gift card distribution channels, with growth in billings to £13.5
million (FY25: £3.8 million). Our partnership with Incomm Payments continues
to deliver strong growth with expanded distribution and product innovation.
New Love2shop gift cards are also now being rolled out to further PayPoint
retailer network locations, leveraging the strength of the Love2shop brand and
reinforcing our expanded multichannel strategy for Love2shop gift card sales
across digital and physical channels. Love2shop physical gift cards are now
sold in over 8,000 locations and a first to market was delivered in the year
with the launch of a digital Mastercard in-store. Plans are already underway
to increase our High St footprint, to support in-year and seasonal promotions,
along with further rollout of Love2shop gift cards to PayPoint retailer
network locations. In Love2shop Business, we delivered a positive performance
with billings increased by 4.9% at £182.0 million (FY25: £173.5 million),
driven by strong growth and retention in core client accounts and a focus on
high-margin Love2shop proprietary products, We are also leveraging AI across
the business to better drive and target marketing engagement and new
campaigns, with positive early results contributing to new business pipelines.
In Prepayments, Park Christmas Savings delivered a solid performance for the
2025 season with billings at £164.4 million (FY25: £163.0 million). Good
progress was delivered in year on enhancing our offer, including multiple
campaigns and actions to strengthen our Agent proposition, the launch of Agent
Perks and a new Agent App with over 17,000 downloads, improved average order
value for returning direct savers, and a more premium fulfilment experience
and packaging for customers receiving orders. The platform has now been
established to support proposition expansion into new savings occasions,
launching in H1 FY27.
In our E-commerce business, the migration was completed to a new e-commerce
platform, phasing out highstreetvouchers.com and harmonising the Love2shop
brand leading to the benefits of a single brand domain, increased brand
presence and greater consumer awareness in both B2B and B2C channels.
In gift card platforms, we have signed a new agreement with Vanquis Bank to
provide an eGift card mall which can be exclusively accessed through their new
app supporting their customer loyalty and acquisition strategy.
BUSINESS REORGANISATION
As announced on 30 March 2026, the Board has taken the decision to establish a
strengthened foundation to our next stage of growth through simplifying the
business into four business units: Network Services, Digital Payments and Open
Banking, Love2shop and Merchant Services. The internal organisational steps to
enable these changes are already well underway and will result in a number of
these businesses operating in a fundamentally different way, enabling greater
performance ownership, a better harnessing of the Group’s collective
capabilities, strengthened execution and the unlocking of cost savings to
support reallocation of investment into key growth areas. Together, these
actions will enable a more accountable operating culture with a greater focus
on maximising the growth opportunities in the business.
The reorganisation establishes the platform to deliver 5-8% net revenue growth
per annum and the foundation for continued strong shareholder returns:
1. Network Services
Delivering a comprehensive community services proposition through a fully
integrated retailer network
Network Services will move to a unified operating model organised across four
regions, enabling better support to our UK wide network of over 30,000
convenience stores, and underpinning a ‘growing retailer value’ strategy
focused on increasing revenue per store, improving compliance, widening
product penetration and strengthening retailer capability, supported by
increasingly sophisticated data analytics.
Having established the highest quality and most comprehensive network in the
UK, our future strategy will be to drive network performance through better
store compliance and service delivery, driving higher consumer footfall and
adoption of the full range of PayPoint services across our retailer estate.
This will reduce the emphasis on estate growth and place a greater focus on
network performance and services adoption. The key services for this business
unit are banking services (consumer and SME), parcels, government services and
bill payments, and our digital & engagement platform (FMCG and digital
vouchers).
The business will be organised into Field Services and a Retail Service Hub,
operating in a truly integrated structure across four geographical regions.
This will deliver clearer ownership, improved coordination between field and
hub, and a more efficient operating model.
The key priorities for FY27 are:
* Launch new ‘growing retailer value’ strategy and operating model
Deliver successful launch of unified operating model organised across four
regions, enabling better support to our UK wide network of over 30,000
convenience stores. Focus on increasing revenue per store, improving
compliance, widening product penetration and strengthening retailer
capability, supported by increasingly sophisticated data analytics.
* Drive growth and expansion of PayPoint BankLocal and Parcels
Build on growth delivered in FY26 for PayPoint BankLocal, with over £47
million of deposits processed since launch, enabling more High St banks for
the service over the course of the next 6 months, with an expansion of card
deposit sites to 10,000 locations planned during FY27 and an SME deposit
solution also in development for launch in FY28. In Parcels, continue to build
on strong momentum established with Royal Mail, maximise our opportunities
with each of our carrier partners, and develop new relationships with a focus
on volume growth and driving further consumer adoption of OOH.
* Grow digital and engagement category
Drive adoption and grow net revenue in digital vouchers, leveraging our
leading portfolio of consumer brands, including Amazon, Netflix, Deliveroo and
Uber, combined with physical Love2shop gift cards in store. Deliver new
business wins and expansion of our FMCG brand campaign solutions, leveraging
our in-store technology platform, advertising screens and vouchering
capability.
2. Digital Payments and Open Banking
A technology platform combining digital payments, Open Banking and real-time
credit scoring delivering high rates of revenue growth
In bringing together our digital payments, Open Banking and real-time credit
bureau capabilities under a single management and operating structure, we will
bring the necessary focus to accelerate new business growth, maximise the
value of this unique technology platform and support closer integration across
the Group.
The Digital Payments and Open Banking business is a technology-led suite of
complementary services consisting of:
* Digital payments platform – enabling secure payment and funds disbursement
journeys for major organisations across housing, government, utilities and
financial services with multiple payment methods (Open Banking, cards, direct
debit and cash) and with multiple channels (web, app, voice, messaging and
embedded/API)
* SaaS data-sharing platform – providing a secure and resilient network for
national operators, regulated firms and corporates for Open Banking,
Confirmation of Payee and other open data sharing initiatives. This technology
powers GetVerified’s CoP ecosystem in New Zealand and has enabled over 50
organisations to participate in Open Banking, CoP and VoP in the UK, Europe
and New Zealand.
* Real-time credit reference and transaction analytics – powered by Open
Banking and AI, to deliver instant high-quality credit, lending and
vulnerability assessments for regulated firms.
This unified business structure will better enable the future development of
these products and an acceleration of new business growth, through
cross-selling into the existing PayPoint client base, leveraging frameworks
such as the Crown Commercial Service and both scaling and integrating
obconnect into the PayPoint business, while retaining and deepening
relationships with our extensive payment services client portfolio.
The key priorities for FY27 are:
* Deliver further product innovation and new business wins in obconnect
Focus on growing our ASPSP business, targeting organisations who have not
joined, but would now benefit, such as building societies, as well as existing
ASPSPs who are experiencing challenges with existing solutions. Develop A2A
payments offering and expanding jurisdictions wishing to replicate success in
New Zealand with Get Verified. Continue to win CoP and VoP business as these
markets mature and participants look to the market for more cost-effective and
reliable software.
* Accelerate new business growth and upsell opportunities to existing clients
in PayPoint
Build on positive momentum in Housing and Open Banking, packaging
obconnect’s services with other relevant PayPoint payment capabilities to
create richer solutions for key markets. Leverage our wider digital payments
and Open Banking capabilities to drive further sales growth within
PayPoint’s extensive existing client base, building on wins delivered over
the past 12 months.
* Develop key technology partnerships and collaborations
Focus on developing key technology partnerships and collaborations to
selectively distribute our payments, Open Banking and transaction analytics
capabilities through partners in new market sectors. This includes our recent
partnership with Raidiam and the Retail Energy Code Company (RECCo) to provide
a consent framework for the UK energy industry to securely share smart meter
data controlled by the consent of end-customers. In addition, as a founding
member of the UK Payments Initiative, PayPoint is closely involved in the
rollout of account‑to‑account (A2A) payments in the UK, including
exploring how these services can be made available in‑store to support
inclusive access for all customers.
3. Love2shop
Growing both new and repeat business and improving customer retention across
core business and consumer customers
In Love2shop, our focus remains on upgrading and enhancing our technology
platform and product capabilities, broadening our distribution channels and
maximising the lifetime value of billings in each channel. In growing the
topline billings across each distribution channel, the focus is increasingly
on the necessary commercial and financial disciplines to ensure the product
mix as a whole is proactively managed to maximise billings, revenue and
margin. Applying these disciplines is essential to delivering sustained growth
in product lifetime value and quality of earnings. There will be a continued
focus on new business growth and leveraging AI to improve marketing insight,
strengthening our go-to-market strategy in Love2shop Business, along with the
expansion of our prepaid savings proposition. There also remain significant
opportunities to integrate Love2shop more efficiently across the wider
PayPoint Group and client base.
Love2shop is now the UK-leading rewards, engagement and prepaid savings
platform, serving corporates, public sector organisations and consumers with
the widest range of multi-retailer gift cards and vouchers in both digital and
physical formats. Its services support employee reward and recognition,
customer acquisition and government support programs, as well as
direct-to-consumer gifting and savings solutions. Love2shop offers consumers
and corporates the widest choice of both digital and physical gift card
products and the largest range of redemption partners.
The key priorities for FY27 are:
* Grow new and repeat business
Focus on increasing new, repeat, and sustainable business by improving
customer retention across core business and consumer customers. Prioritise
quality of revenue over volume growth, and maximise the capability of a
developing and enhanced digital marketing ecosystem.
* Maximise the new Love2shop digital platform
Build on a single Love2shop brand and website to improve customer experience
and journeys, while delivering improved marketing and conversion metrics. The
launch of our new digital unified front-end in April 2026, alongside our
earlier release of an Apple/Google wallet-enabled digital gift card, has
materially elevated the digital footprint of the business, delivering the
benefits of a single brand domain, increased brand presence and greater
consumer awareness in both B2B and B2C channels.
* Grow physical distribution on the high street
Make it easier for customers to buy across both digital and in‑store
channels. Love2shop is now available in over 8,000 stores across major retail
brands and the PayPoint network, significantly increasing Love2shop’s
physical reach. Together with our digital platform enhancement, this
demonstrates how Love2shop has successfully evolved into a more integrated,
multi-channel gift card business.
4. Merchant Services
Managing for value in SMB and refocus on mid-market growth in the card
acquiring business, combined with partnership growth strategy in Merchant
Rentals and Business Finance
The reset of our strategy in Merchant Services reflects the need to adapt and
respond to the changes in a highly competitive card processing market, with a
focus on net revenue, improved profitability and a merchant estate managed for
value rather than a focus on estate growth. We will also refocus our future
sales resource at growing in the mid-market segment where we believe our
product and broader range of payment capabilities better positions the
business for longer term profitable growth. Net revenue will be the key
performance measure for the business and will drive our reward and
remuneration programmes for our refocused sales teams. These changes will
complement the growth opportunities in both Merchant Rentals and our Business
Finance activities.
In the merchant card acquiring business, we have a strong merchant network,
supporting around 10,000 retailers within the PayPoint network and a further
20,000 through Handepay. A fundamental action in the business reset will be to
make the investment required to deliver better merchant support and
significantly improve merchant retention. Plans are already underway to bring
retention and estate management activities for the entire estate into a single
management structure. This will enable further leverage and utilisation of our
data analytics capability to better anticipate merchant behaviours and support
retention conversations.
In addition, we are planning a significant shift in our merchant acquiring new
business go-to-market strategy. In the PayPoint estate, we will continue to
target growth, with greater emphasis on supporting the onboarding and in life
management of the network, to ensure new PayPoint merchants become high
transacting and profitable additions to the estate. In Handepay, we will
create a smaller, focused SMB sales team, a new mid-market team focusing on
higher value segments, and new products, partnerships and channels addressing
market needs and bringing together Group capabilities (A2A payments, Direct
Debit, Love2shop). All of this combined better positions the business for
longer term profitable growth.
In Merchant Rentals, we are targeting further growth driven by major
partnerships with FreedomPay and Lloyds Bank. In particular, the new agreement
with FreedomPay, signed in December 2025, is already yielding early positive
results delivering an additional 1,000 live terminals. This relationship
represents significant growth for Merchant Rentals and reinforces its position
as a trusted provider of flexible payment technology solutions. In Business
Finance, delivered in partnership with YouLend, we continue to deliver strong
results with over £33 million in funding provided to businesses over the past
year and strong growth demonstrated across the PayPoint and Handepay estates.
Plans are well underway to continue this momentum and grow further in FY27.
The key priorities for FY27 are:
* Launch new go-to-market strategy
Reset of strategy to focus on growing in the mid-market segment, delivering
improved net revenue and profitability with a merchant estate managed for
value rather than a focus on estate growth. Net revenue will be the key
performance measure for the business and will drive our reward and
remuneration programmes for our refocused sales teams. Deliver better merchant
support and merchant retention, leveraging enhanced data analytics
capabilities.
* Build on positive momentum in Merchant Rentals
Deliver growth through major partnerships with FreedomPay and Lloyds Bank,
growing number of live terminals and reinforcing position as leading provider
of flexible financing and rental options for payment terminals.
* Grow Business Finance revenue
Drive continued momentum in Business Finance, delivered in partnership with
YouLend, growing funding value to merchants and net revenue.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UPDATE ON CLAIMS AGAINST PAYPOINT
On 7 May 2026, the Competition Appeal Tribunal (‘CAT’) handed down its
judgment concerning the claim brought by Global-365 plc and Global Prepaid
Solutions Limited (‘G365’) against PayPoint Plc and a number of its
subsidiary companies, PayPoint Collections Limited, PayPoint Network Limited
and PayPoint Retail Solutions Limited (“PayPoint”).
The CAT found PayPoint liable for an historical infringement of competition
law, which ceased in 2018, concerning certain contracts under which it
provided energy OTC prepayment services and awarded damages of £169,334 plus
interest to G365 in respect of its “loss of a chance” to win contracts
with a limited number of small energy suppliers.
Importantly, the CAT’s findings confirm that PayPoint’s past contracts
with energy suppliers were not a significant factor in G365’s lack of
success.
PayPoint remains committed to ensuring its commercial practices meet all
regulatory requirements.
OUTLOOK AND DIVIDEND
FY27 is a year of evolution for the business with the reorganisation now
underway driving significant change throughout the Group and strengthening the
platform required to deliver a net revenue target growth rate of 5-8% per
annum.
Our priorities in the first quarter have been to: implement the announced
organisational changes; ensure minimal disruption to the trading momentum in
the business; and establish a strong foundation to trading early in the year.
Early indications are that we have had a positive start to the year with
resilient underlying trading and some encouraging new business wins.
In terms of profit balance for the current year, we expect a greater weighting
towards the second half, reflecting both an accelerating contribution from new
business and the positive impact of several of our seasonal businesses.
Overall, the Board remains confident in delivering further progress, exceeding
the underlying profits achieved in FY26 and achieving results in line with
market expectations.
Nick Wiles
Chief Executive
10 June 2026
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
PayPoint Group has identified the following KPIs to measure progress of
business performance:
KPI Description, purpose and reference FY26 FY25 FY24
Overall performance Net revenue (£ million) Revenue from continuing operations less commissions paid to retailers and Park 190.8 187.7 181.0
Christmas Savings agents and costs where the Group is principal for SIM cards and
single retailer vouchers. This reflects the benefit attributable to the Group’s
performance eliminating pass-through costs and is an important measure of the overall
success of our strategy. (See Finance review – ‘Overview’ on page 14)
Underlying EBITDA (£ million) This measures our earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation, net 92.0 90.0 81.3
movements in investments and exceptional items. Underlying EBITDA is an important
measure as it is widely used by investors, analysts and other interested parties to
evaluate profitability of companies. (See Finance review – ‘Overview’ on page 15)
Underlying profit before tax (profit before tax excluding adjusting items) (£ million) Underlying profit before tax (profit before tax excluding adjusting items), provides 69.0 68.0 61.7
a measure of the operational performance of the Group. 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 Finance review – ‘Overview’ on page 14)
Net corporate debt (£ million) Net corporate debt represents cash and cash equivalents excluding cash recognised as 132.5 97.4 67.5
clients’ funds, retailer partners’ deposits, and card and voucher deposits, less
amounts borrowed under financing facilities (excluding IFRS 16 liabilities). This
shows how the Group is utilising its finance facilities to invest in growth and is an
important measure of how the Group intends to maintain a target leverage ratio of
around 1.2 to 1.5 times net debt/EBITDA. (See Finance review – ‘Group statement of
financial position’ on page 19)
Shareholder returns Diluted underlying earnings per share (Pence) Diluted underlying earnings per share (profit after tax excluding adjusting items) 73.6 69.1 62.6
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 7 to the financial statements)
Non-financial GHG emissions per employee (Tonnes CO2e) Measures the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission for scope 1, 2 and 3 per employee. This is 7.5 10.1 9.4
recorded in accordance with the Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report and Directors
Report Regulations 2013)
FINANCE REVIEW
OVERVIEW
£m Year ended 31 March 2026 Year ended 31 March 2025 Change %
PayPoint segment 178.8 163.6 9.3%
Love2shop segment 158.2 147.1 7.5%
Total revenue 337.0 310.7 8.5%
PayPoint segment 137.3 136.0 1.0%
Love2shop segment 53.5 51.7 3.5%
Total net revenue (1)(5) 190.8 187.7 1.7%
PayPoint segment (86.2) (82.6) 4.4%
Love2shop segment (35.6) (37.1) (4.0)%
Total costs (excluding adjusting items) (121.8) (119.7) 1.8%
PayPoint segment 51.1 53.4 (4.3)%
Love2shop segment 17.9 14.6 22.6%
Underlying profit before tax (2)(6) 69.0 68.0 1.5%
Adjusting items:
Amortisation of intangible assets arising on acquisition (5.2) (8.7) (40.2)%
Net movement in investments (1.2) (9.6) (87.5)%
Exceptional items (7.1) (23.4) (69.7)%
Profit before tax 55.5 26.3 111.0%
Underlying EBITDA (3)(7) 92.0 90.0 2.2%
Net corporate debt (4)(8) (132.5) (97.4) 36.0%
Total revenue increased by £26.3 million (8.5%) to £337.0 million (2025:
£310.7 million). The prior year statutory revenue included an exceptional
deduction of £14.2 million related to a claim settlement. Underlying revenue
excluding this deduction increased by £12.1 million (3.7%). Net revenue
increased by £3.1 million (1.7%) to £190.8 million (2025: £187.7 million,
which excludes the £14.2 million claim settlement). obconnect contributed a
full year’s revenue in the current year, compared with only five months’
in the prior year. Love2shop’s net revenue increased by £1.8 million,
driven by non-redemption income and single-retailer redemption products. These
impacts were partially offset by the cash payments decline in Payments &
Banking.
Total costs increased by £2.1 million to £121.8 million (2025: £119.7
million). The increase includes £2.1 million additional costs from a full
year’s obconnect trading. Increased cost of sales reflects the increase in
revenue, and the increase in finance costs is due to the Group’s increased
borrowing. These increases were offset by cost efficiencies.
Exceptional items were £7.1 million. These represent one-off, non-recurring
costs, which do not reflect current operational performance. They comprise
legal fees incurred by the Group in its defence of claims served against it,
reorganisation provisions, costs associated with developing the organisational
framework to deliver greater automation and agility and the impairment of a
non-trading receivable balance. The prior year exceptional costs comprised
settlement and legal fees in defence of the same claims, costs associated with
the early exit of a properly lease in Love2shop and accelerated amortisation
on certain modules of L2s ERP systems.
The underlying profit before tax for the Group increased by £1.0 million
(1.5%) to £69.0 million (2025: £68.0 million).
Profit before tax of £55.5 million (2025: £26.3 million) increased by £29.2
million (111.0%). The increase is mainly due to the prior year exceptional
items referred to above and the prior year movement in investment valuations.
EBITDA / Underlying EBITDA (£m) Year ended 31 March 2026 Year ended 31 March 2025 Change %
Profit before tax 55.5 26.3 111.0%
Add back:
Net interest expense 7.9 7.1 11.3%
Depreciation and Amortisation including amortisation of intangible assets arising on acquisition 20.3 23.6 (14.0)%
EBITDA (£m) 83.7 57.0 46.8%
Exceptional items and net movement in investments 8.3 33.0 (74.8)%
Underlying EBITDA (£m) 92.0 90.0 2.2%
Underlying EBITDA increased by £2.0 million to £92.0 million (2025: £90.0
million). It comprises £23.4 million (2025: £21.0 million) for the L2s
segment and £68.6 million (2025: £69.0 million) for the PayPoint segment.
Cash generation increased by £1.4 million to £70.4 million (2025: £69.0
million), delivered from profit before tax of £55.5 million (2025: £26.3
million). There was a net working capital outflow of £8.4 million (2025:
£10.3 million) driven by the timing of supplier payments around the end of
the period.
Net corporate debt increased by £35.1 million to £132.5 million (2025:
£97.4 million). Cash generation of £70.4 million was offset by tax, dividend
payments, share buy-backs and capital expenditure. At 31 March 2026, loans and
borrowings were £130.8 million (2025: £102.3 million), excluding a £7.9
million overdraft balance.
PAYPOINT SEGMENT
£m Year ended 31 March 2026 Year ended 31 March 2025 Change %
Revenue 178.8 163.6 9.3%
Shopping 66.3 65.2 1.7%
E-commerce 15.6 16.4 (4.9)%
Payments & Banking 55.4 54.4 1.8%
Net revenue 137.3 136.0 1.0%
Total costs (86.2) (82.6) 4.4%
Underlying profit before tax (excluding adjusting items) 51.1 53.4 (4.3)%
Shopping net revenue increased by £1.1 million (1.7%) to £66.3 million
(2025: £65.2 million). Service fees net revenue increased by £1.9 million
(8.7%), driven by the annual RPI increase and additional PayPoint sites. Cards
net revenue decreased by £0.8 million (2.5%), with a reduction in acquiring
sites and subdued consumer confidence impacting the total value processed
through the network, which is down 6.2%. ATM and Counter Cash net revenue
decreased by £0.2 million (2.6%), reflecting a reduction in transactions
resulting from the continuing trend of reduced demand for cash across the
economy.
E-commerce net revenue decreased by £0.8 million (4.9%) to £15.6 million
(2025: £16.4 million). The continued increase in total parcels transactions,
by 1.5% to 135.4 million, was offset by the impact of the terms of the new
commercial deal with Yodel/InPost. Parcel sites decreased by 1.0% to 14,076
sites.
Payments & Banking net revenue increased by £1.0 million (1.8%) to £55.4
million (2025: £54.4 million) including £4.1 million net revenue from
obconnect, acquired by the Group in October 2024. Excluding the impact of
obconnect, net revenue decreased by £1.3 million compared with the prior
period. Cash bill payments and top ups revenue decreased by £2.6 million
(10.0%) to £23.3 million (2025: £25.9 million) driven by a 15.0% decrease in
transactions arising from reduced usage of cash and the continued switch to
digital payments. Digital net revenue, excluding obconnect, increased by £1.7
million (12.4%) to £15.4 million (2025: £13.7 million).
The cost of commission to PayPoint retailers decreased by £0.4 million (1.0%)
to £41.3 million (2025: £41.7 million).
Total costs (excluding adjusting items) increased by £3.6 million (4.4%) to
£86.2 million (2025: £82.6 million) including a £1.2 million increase in
finance costs due principally to the share buy-back programme, £2.1 million
additional obconnect costs following acquisition in October 2024 and £0.3
million additional depreciation on cards devices. Total costs were impacted by
inflationary cost pressures and higher cost of revenue, offset by cost
efficiencies.
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, terminal leasing, ATMs, Counter Cash and FMCG vouchering.
Net revenue (£m) Year ended 31 March 2026 Year ended 31 March 2025 Change %
Service fees 23.7 21.8 8.7%
Card payments 31.6 32.4 (2.5)%
ATMs and Counter Cash 7.6 7.8 (2.6)%
Other shopping 3.4 3.2 6.2%
Total net revenue (£m) 66.3 65.2 1.7%
Net revenue increased by £1.1 million (1.7%) to £66.3 million (2025: £65.2
million) primarily due to the growth in service fees. The net revenue of each
of our key products is addressed separately below.
Service fees from terminals Year ended 31 March 2026 Year ended 31 March 2025 Change %
Net Revenue (£m) 23.7 21.8 8.7%
PayPoint terminal sites (No.)
PayPoint One Terminals 15,416 17,397 (11.4)%
PayPoint Mini 4,879 2,878 69.5%
Total PayPoint One / Mini 20,295 20,275 0.1%
PPoS 9,807 9,763 0.5%
PayPoint One – non-revenue generating 711 674 5.5%
Total terminal sites in PayPoint network 30,813 30,712 0.3%
PayPoint One average weekly service fee per site (£) 21.6 19.9 8.5%
As at 31 March 2026, PayPoint had a live terminal in 30,813 UK sites, an
increase of 0.3% primarily as a result of new PayPoint Mini sales.
Service fees: This is a core growth area and consists of service fees from
PayPoint One and PayPoint Mini. Service fee net revenue increased by £1.9
million (8.7%) to £23.7 million, driven by an increase in RPI.
Card Services Year ended 31 March 2026 Year ended 31 March 2025 Change %
Net Revenue (£m)
Acquiring 19.7 21.0 (6.2)%
Rentals 10.6 10.6 -
Business finance and other 1.3 0.8 62.5%
Total net revenue 31.6 32.4 (2.5)%
Services in Live sites (No.)
Acquiring – Handepay SME partners 18,847 21,435 (12.1)%
Acquiring – PayPoint retailer partners 10,193 10,552 (3.4)%
Rentals – Handepay SME terminals 50,427 50,012 0.8%
Transaction value (£m)
Handepay SME partners 4,360 4,569 (4.6)%
PayPoint retailer partners 2,079 2,299 (9.6)%
Transaction value total 6,439 6,868 (6.2)%
Card Services: Card payments acquiring services generated £19.7 million net
revenue in the year, a reduction of £1.3 million from prior year (2025:
£21.0 million), reflecting the decrease in the number of SME and retailer
partners, partially offset by the average value processed per merchant. Card
payments lending and other net revenue increased by £0.5 million to £1.3
million. Transaction values overall decreased by 6.2% to £6,439 million
(2025: £6,868 million).
Card payment terminal rentals remained at £10.6 million, with a slight
increase in the number of terminals.
ATMs and Counter Cash Year ended 31 March 2026 Year ended 31 March 2025 Change %
Net Revenue (£m) 7.6 7.8 (2.6)%
Services in Live sites (No.) 6,706 6,365 5.4%
Transactions (Millions) 22.1 24.5 (9.8)%
Net revenue reduced by £0.2 million (2.6%) to £7.6 million (2025: £7.8
million) as transactions reduced by 9.8% to 22.1 million. This reflects a
continuation of the reduced demand for cash across the economy, although net
revenue from Counter Cash was flat. ATM and Counter Cash live sites increased
5.4% to 6,706.
Other: Other shopping services, which includes FMCG campaigns, increased by
£0.2 million (6.2%) to £3.4 million (2025: £3.2 million)
E-COMMERCE
Parcels Year ended 31 March 2026 Year ended 31 March 2025 Change %
Net Revenue (£m) 15.6 16.4 (4.9)%
Services in Live sites (No.) 14,076 14,213 (1.0)%
Transactions (Millions) 135.4 133.4 1.5%
E-commerce net revenue decreased by £0.8 million (4.9%) to £15.6 million
(2025: £16.4 million).The continued increase in total parcels transactions,
by 1.5% to 135.4 million was offset by the impact of the terms of the new
commercial deal with Yodel/InPost. Parcel sites decreased by 1.0% to 14,076.
PAYMENTS & BANKING
Year ended 31 March 2026 Year ended 31 March 2025 Change %
Net revenue (£m)
Cash – bill payments & top ups 23.3 25.9 (10.0)%
Digital – MultiPay and direct debits 15.4 13.7 12.4%
Digital – obconnect 4.1 1.8 127.8%
Cash through to digital 7.1 6.8 4.4%
Other payments and banking 5.5 6.2 (11.3)%
Total net revenue (£m) 55.4 54.4 1.8%
Payments & Banking divisional net revenue increased by 1.8% to £55.4 million
(2025: £54.4 million), benefitting from an additional £2.3 million
contribution from obconnect and £1.7 million from MultiPay and direct debits,
partially offset by the impact of fewer cash bill payments and top up
transactions.
Cash – bill payments and top-ups Year ended 31 March 2026 Year ended 31 March 2025 Change %
Net revenue (£m) 23.3 25.9 (10.0)%
Transactions (millions) 100.1 117.8 (15.0)%
Transaction value (£m) 3,097.4 3,448.3 (10.2)%
Average transaction value (£) 30.9 29.3 5.5%
Net revenue per transaction (pence) 23.3 22.0 5.9%
Cash - bill payments and top-ups net revenue decreased by £2.6 million
(10.0%) to £23.3 million (2025: £25.9 million).
Digital – MultiPay and direct debits Year ended 31 March 2026 Year ended 31 March 2025 Change %
Net revenue (£m) 15.4 13.7 12.4%
Transactions (millions) 49.3 45.0 9.6%
Transaction value (£m) 1,143.7 999.0 14.5%
Average transaction value (£) 23.2 22.2 4.5%
Net revenue per transaction (pence) 31.3 34.5 (9.3)%
Digital (MultiPay, Direct Debits Cash Out and PayPoint Open Banking) net
revenue increased by £1.7 million (12.4%) to £15.4 million (2025: £13.7
million) and transactions increased by 4.3 million (9.6%) to 49.3 million
(2025: 45.0 million). MultiPay net revenue increased by £1.2 million (17.9%)
to £7.9 million (2025: £6.7 million). Cashout net revenue remained in line
with the previous year at £6.2 million. Open Banking net revenue, excluding
obconnect, increased by £0.5 million (62.5%) to £1.3 million (2025: £0.8
million).
Cash through to digital Year ended 31 March 2026 Year ended 31 March 2025 Change %
Net revenue (£m) 7.1 6.8 4.4%
Transactions (millions) 9.1 7.9 15.2%
Transaction value (£m) 807.9 568.0 42.2%
Average transaction value (£) 88.6 72.3 22.5%
Net revenue per transaction (pence) 78.3 86.6 (9.6)%
Cash through to digital (eMoney) net revenue increased by £0.3 million (4.4%)
to £7.1 million (2025: £6.8 million) and transactions increased by 1.2
million (15.2%) to 9.1 million (2025: 7.9 million). eMoney transactions derive
a substantially higher fee per transaction than traditional top-up
transactions as they are more complex to process.
Other payments & banking net revenue includes SIM sales, interest generated by
investing cash received on client funds and other ad-hoc items which
contributed £5.5 million (2025: £6.2 million) net revenue.
LOVE2SHOP SEGMENT
£m Year ended 31 March 2026 Year ended 31 March 2025 Change %
Love2shop billings 221.4 204.5 8.3%
Prepaid Christmas Savings billings 164.4 163.0 0.9%
Total billings 385.8 367.5 5.0%
Revenue 158.2 147.1 7.5%
Net revenue 53.5 51.7 3.5%
Total costs (35.6) (37.1) (4.0)%
Underlying profit before tax (excluding adjusting items) 17.9 14.6 22.6%
Love2shop (‘L2s’) generated £385.8 million total billings in the period,
an increase of 5.0% on prior year. Billings represent the total value of gift
cards sold across all formats, including physical cards, digital eCodes and
paper vouchers.
The £11.1 million (7.5%) increase in revenue is largely attributable to
single-retailer cards and vouchers.
Net revenue for the year was £53.5 million, an increase of £1.8 million
(3.5%) on prior year this reflects the first full year of revenue from gift
cards sold in-store and improved lifecycle management of gift cards, including
non-redemption income
PROFIT BEFORE TAX AND TAXATION
The income tax charge of £14.3 million (2025: £7.0 million) on profit before
tax of £55.5 million (2025: £26.3 million) represents an effective tax rate
of 25.8% (2025: 26.6%). This is higher than the UK statutory rate of 25% due
to the impact of adjustments in respect of disallowable expenses, share-based
payments and prior period adjustments.
GROUP STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
Net assets of £75.8 million (2025: £97.3 million) decreased by £21.5
million, reflecting the continuation of the share buy-back programme and
dividends, partially offset by profit for the period and a gain on the
part-disposal of Collect+. Current assets decreased by £7.5 million to
£263.1 million (2025: £270.6 million), mainly due to a decrease in trade
receivables and the corporation tax asset. Non-current assets of £240.7
million (2025: £237.8 million) increased by £2.9 million due to the
continued investment in software intangible assets and a one-off contribution
of £1.5 million to the defined benefit pension scheme.
Current liabilities decreased by £10.4 million to £274.2 million (2025:
£284.6 million), including an £8.3 million decrease in provisions,
principally due to settlement of the Utilita claim in the year. Phase two of
the share buy-back programme commenced in July 2025 and was for £30 million
of committed share purchases, compared with £20 million for phase one.
Non-current liabilities of £153.7 million (2025: £126.4 million) increased
by £27.3 million, mainly due to a £28.5 million increase in loans and
borrowings.
At 31 March 2026, net corporate debt was £132.5 million, an increase of
£35.1 million from the prior year amount of £97.4 million. This reflects
funding requirements for the continuation of the share buy-back programme, the
exceptional Utilita settlement, tax, capex and dividend requirements,
partially offset by positive cash generation. The net proceeds from the
part-disposal of Collect+ were distributed as a special dividend. Total loans
and borrowings of £130.8 million (2025: £102.3 million), increased by £28.5
million from 31 March 2025. They comprise a £75.0 million non-amortising term
loan, £56.5 million drawdown of the £90.0 million revolving credit facility,
£0.3 million accrued interest less £1.0 million arrangement fees (2025:
£45.0 million non-amortising term loan, £58.0 million drawdown from the
revolving credit facility, £0.3 million accrued interest less £1.0 million
arrangement fees).
GROUP CASH FLOW AND LIQUIDITY
The following table summarises the cash flow and net debt movements during the
year.
£m Year ended 31 March 2026 Year ended 31 March 2025 Change %
Profit before tax 55.5 26.3 111.0%
Non-cash other exceptional items 1.7 25.0 (93.2)%
Depreciation and amortisation 20.3 25.3 (19.8)%
Share-based payments and other items 1.3 2.7 (55.6)%
Working capital changes (corporate) (8.4) (10.3) (19.4)%
Cash generation 70.4 69.0 2.0%
Taxation payments (17.1) (11.4) 50.0%
Capital expenditure (21.6) (18.8) 14.9%
Exceptional settlement payment (10.4) - -
Pension contribution (1.5) - -
Part-disposal of subsidiary, net of costs 43.4 - -
Acquisition of subsidiary, net of cash acquired - (8.9) -
Purchase of convertible loan notes - (16.2) -
Acquisition of non-controlling interest (6.4) - -
Payment of leases (1.0) (0.9) 11.1%
Share buy-back (30.1) (14.9) 102.0%
Dividends paid (60.8) (27.8) 118.7%
Increase in net debt (35.1) (29.9)
Net corporate debt at the beginning of the year (97.4) (67.5)
Net corporate debt at the end of year (132.5) (97.4)
Comprising:
Corporate cash 6.2 4.9
Overdraft (7.9) -
Loans and borrowings (130.8) (102.3)
Cash generation increased £1.4 million to £70.4 million (2025: £69.0
million) delivered from profit before tax of £55.5 million (2025: £26.3
million). There was a net working capital outflow of £8.4 million (2025:
£10.3 million).
The £10.4 million exceptional settlement payment relates to Utilita, as
disclosed in the March 2025 financial statements. The £1.5 million pension
contribution was to the defined benefit scheme. The £43.4 million inflow from
the part-disposal of subsidiary relates to the investment by IDS in the
Group’s parcel division and is net of disposal costs.
The £30.1 million share buy-back outflow in the period exceeds the £14.9
million in the prior period, which included only nine months’ share
purchases of a £20 million annual committed amount. The current year outflow
represents 12 months’ purchases, of which three months were at the £20
million annual commitment and nine months were at £30 million p.a.
Capital expenditure of £21.6 million (2025: £18.8 million) was £2.8 million
higher than the prior year, primarily the result of software development
investment to modernise heritage systems and Love2shop’s e-commerce project.
DIVIDENDS
We have declared a final dividend of 20.0 pence per share, an increase of 2%
on the 2025 final dividend of 19.6 pence per share. The final dividend is
payable in equal instalments of 10.0 pence per share (2025: 9.8 pence per
share) on 3 August 2026 and 25 September 2026 to shareholders on the register
on 3 July 2026 and 28 August 2026 respectively. The final dividend is subject
to the approval of shareholders at the Annual General Meeting on 29 July 2026.
On 17 October 2025, the Group approved a special dividend of 50.0 pence per
share, paid on 31 October 2025 to shareholders on the register on 17 October
2025, representing c.69 million eligible shares. Alongside this, the 12 for 13
share consolidation on 17 October 2025 reduced the number of shares in issue
by c.5.3 million shares.
In aggregate, dividends of £60.8 million (2025: £27.8 million) have been
paid to shareholders in the year. As at 31 March 2026, the Company had
approximately £59.3 million (2025: £67.2 million) of distributable reserves.
CAPITAL ALLOCATION
The Board’s immediate priority is to continue to preserve PayPoint’s
balance sheet strength. The Group maintains a capital structure appropriate
for current and prospective trading over the medium term that allows a healthy
mix of returns to shareholders and cash for investments. The Group’s capital
allocation priorities are as follows:
* Investment in the business through capital expenditure and innovation to
drive future revenue streams and improve the resilience and efficiency of our
operations;
* Progressive ordinary dividends, targeting a dividend cover of over 2.0
times by FY28;
* Continuation of the share buy-back programme, which returned £20 million
over the initial 12 months to 30 June 2025 and will return a further £30
million in each of years 2,3 and 4, depending on business performance, market
conditions, cash generation and the overall capital needs of the business;
* Targeting an appropriate leverage ratio of 1.2x to 1.5x net debt/EBITDA.
GOING CONCERN
The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis having
regard to the identified principal risks and uncertainties and the viability
statement on page 22. Our cash and borrowing capacity provides sufficient
funds to meet the foreseeable needs of the Group including dividends.
Rob Harding
Chief Financial Officer
10 June 2026
PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES
Our risk management process continues to allow the Group to operate within an
appropriate risk framework that supports business operations, strategic
objectives, and the identification of new opportunities, while providing the
Board with effective oversight. During the year, to address the requirements
of Provision 29 of the UK Corporate Governance Code 2024 (“the Code”),
further enhancements have been made to our risk management framework to ensure
the Group is fully prepared to meet the requirements of the Code for the
coming financial year.
Risk Appetite
PayPoint’s risk appetite is determined by the Board and aligns the level of
risk considered acceptable in achieving our strategic objectives, increasing
financial returns and adhering to statutory requirements. Our risk appetite
remains the same as last year.
It is defined as:
Risk appetite Impact on profit before tax
Low Under £2 million
Medium Under £5 million
High Over £5 million
Changes to principal risks
Changing risks
The risk profile of the Group has remained similar to last year, although the
risk descriptions have been updated to reflect current developments. Trends,
as previously reported in our annual accounts for FY25, such as changes in
consumer behaviours coupled with economic pressures on both consumers and
businesses, remain while technological developments continue at a pace.
Emerging Risks
Developing and evolving risks remains an area of ongoing focus for the
Group’s Board and management. The Group continues to monitor the markets in
which it operates, developments in technology and evolving business and
consumer requirements.
ESG and Climate Risk remains an emerging risk. Whilst we acknowledge the
impact climate change is having globally, we continue to be a low-carbon
producing company and, as such, these risks do not pose an immediate risk to
our operations. We have embedded a strategy of reducing our carbon emissions,
with a goal of becoming fully net-zero by 2040 (2030 for our own operations).
Details of how we plan to achieve this are set out in our annual report.
Our principal risks and uncertainties have been assessed in accordance with
the requirements of our risk framework and are listed in the below table. This
table provides details of the potential impact; mitigation strategies; status
of each risk; risk appetite; and exposure trend. They do not comprise all
risks faced by the Group and are not set out in order of priority.
Risk Trend & Appetite Potential Impact Mitigation Strategies Status
Principal Risks
1 Competition and markets Trend = Increasing Appetite = High Market conditions remain challenging for the Group and our competitors alike as cost management becomes an increasing challenge while the anticipated decline in our legacy business continued. In response, the business has continued with its programme of business diversification, with the development of new and innovative services. The current economic conditions of lower consumer spending and overall slow market growth, have also continued from the previous fiscal year. The Executive Board closely monitors the markets in which we operate, competitor activity as well as consumer spending behaviour, regularly re-assessing our existing and potential future markets. Such assessments also include identification of opportunities to further de-risk the legacy business through development of our service offerings and strategic acquisitions or investments, where appropriate. The business will remain agile by looking to adapt to changes in consumer needs and behaviours. Risk is increasing as cost-of living pressures have continued to affect consumer activities,
particularly in spending behaviours. Economic pressures due to heightened geopolitical tensions,
weaker outlook for growth in the UK and increased uncertainties over inflation and interest rates
continue to impact costs faced by our consumers, as well as by the business and our competitors alike.
2 Emerging Technology Trend = Stable Appetite = Medium Failure to keep up with new and emerging technologies and services remains a risk to the Group whilst some emerging technologies also present an opportunity for potential service advancement through such developments. Pressures on suitable resources to deliver technological solutions to support new and emerging services remains. We continually review technological developments, including the evolution of AI, to understand how new technologies can be used to support our service offerings and to keep our products relevant and up to date with technological advances. We also develop and implement our own innovative technology, where appropriate. The Executive Board closely monitors the markets in which we operate enabling early identification of potential acquisition targets. Risk is stable as Group acquisitions, investments and partnerships have helped to mitigate risks
associated with emerging technologies. The continuing programme of re-platforming our digital
proposition will facilitate the further expansion of our presence in digital payment markets.
3 IT Transformation Trend = Stable Appetite = Medium The Group continues with the delivery of IT transformation projects as specified in our road map with delivery of these projects recognised as key to delivering our business strategy, enhancing platform resilience as well as supporting key growth in our business as identified in the 3-year plan. Such projects also serve to satisfy increased regulatory requirements in this area. Delivery plans are in place with appropriate governance structure identified. The Executive Board is accountable for the management and delivery of these projects, with oversight provided by the Group Board to ensure the effective delivery of innovative, robust, and efficient project management of these major programmes. Risk is stable due to delivery of significant projects within the road map such as the e-commerce
platform in Love2Shop. We have a number of significant projects which are currently in the process of
being delivered by the Group and significant progress has been delivered over the last year.
4 Client Services Trend = Stable Appetite = Medium Clients’ service expectations are high, as they continue to expect services to provide complex solutions in support of their specific requirements. Clients requirements are increasingly more sophisticated in terms of compliance needs. Client retention and the exposure to clients developing in house solutions as an alternative to our services remains an ongoing risk. The Group builds and carefully manages strategic relationships with key clients, retailers, redemption partners and suppliers. We continually seek to improve and diversify services through new initiatives, products and technology and our involvement in new and technology driven markets. Risk is stable. On 30 March 2026, the Group Announced a business reorganisation into four business
units, which will enable strong performance ownership, a better harnessing of the Group’s collective
capabilities, strengthened execution and a more accountable operating culture. We continue to renew
contracts and onboard new retailers, clients, merchants, and redemption partners in line with
expectations. Collaborating with our clients to continue to understand their requirements and how
best we can meet our clients’ needs remains a priority and we continue to identify opportunities for
our clients to diversify and use more than one of our service provisions.
5 Legal and Regulatory Trend = Stable Appetite = Low Increased levels of legal and regulatory requirements coupled with significant changes to current legal and regulatory frameworks as well as the continued addition of new service offerings all mean that the legal and regulatory environment in which we operate has become increasingly more complex. Should a number of significant changes be required to the current regulatory framework, this could impact our current cost and operational model. Our Legal and Compliance teams work closely with the business on all legal and regulatory matters and enable the business to adopt strategies to ensure PayPoint is appropriately protected and complies with all legal and applicable regulatory requirements. Emerging regulations are incorporated into strategic and operational planning, and we engage with regulators to ensure our frameworks are appropriate to support new products and initiatives. Risk is stable due to the Group’s demonstrated ability to adapt quickly to regulatory changes, with
the controls and policies put in place to manage such change. We continue to manage legal and
regulatory exposures through our risk management framework which includes key components such as
assurance and monitoring reviews, mandatory training programmes and customer engagement. As noted in
the annual accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025, a number of companies in the PayPoint Group,
including PayPoint Plc, received a claim from Global-365 plc and Global Prepaid Solutions Limited
(‘G365’) on 18 July 2023 concerning PayPoint’s prepayment energy business. The Competition Appeal
Tribunal handed down its judgment on this claim on 7 May 2026: * It found PayPoint liable for an
historical infringement of competition law, which ceased in 2018, concerning certain contracts under
which it provided energy OTC prepayment services;
* It awarded damages of £169,334 plus interest to G365 in respect of its “loss of a chance” to win
contracts with a limited number of small energy suppliers.
The CAT’s findings confirm that PayPoint’s past contracts with energy suppliers were not a significant
factor in G365’s lack of success. PayPoint remains committed to ensuring its commercial practices
meet all regulatory requirements.
6 People Trend = Stable Appetite = Low People remain a key component in ensuring we continue to deliver our key strategies over the coming years. Our ability to attract, retain and develop those individuals who are instrumental in driving top line growth, along with individuals who will support the operational transformation of our business is essential to our continued success. Key person dependencies, at both Executive and senior management levels, have been noted as an important component of this risk. The Executive Board continues to monitor this risk, with oversight from the Remuneration and Nomination Committees. Culture is a critical element in ensuring we have the right people in our employ and PayPoint’s purpose, vision, and values, are defined and embedded within the business, our expected behaviours and our review and monitoring processes. An employee forum comprising employees from across the business engages directly with the Executive Board on employee matters. Risk is stable. Employee engagement surveys remain positive and key actions around cost-of-living
support, better employee interaction and flexible working remain at the heart of our people management
policies. The business has continued with its policy of investing in key employees and ensuring that
recognition of high-level performance is at the heart of our people management strategy.
7 Cyber Security Trend = Increasing Appetite = Low Cyber security risk continues to grow due to the growing volume and ever-increasing sophistication of the nature of these attacks and our expanding digital footprint. The emergence of AI-enabled tools has also lowered the barrier to entry for threat actors, making certain attack techniques more accessible, scalable and convincing. A successful cyber incident could result in operational disruption, loss or compromise of sensitive data, regulatory exposure, financial loss and reputational damage. Maintaining a strong control environment and workforce vigilance therefore remains critical. The Executive Board regularly reviews the Group’s cyber security and data protection framework, with detailed oversight provided by the Cyber Security and IT Sub-Committee of the Audit Committee. The Group maintains a layered security control environment, including continuous monitoring, threat detection, incident response processes and regular control review. During the year, the Group continued to invest in cyber security capabilities across people, processes and technology, strengthening its control environment and resilience. Colleagues receive regular cyber security awareness training, supported by phishing simulations and ongoing awareness activity. The Group also engages third-party specialists to assess defences, support assurance activity and strengthen resilience across its own estate and key suppliers. The Group continues to evaluate emerging technologies, including AI-enabled capabilities, where appropriate to Risk is increasing as the cyber threat landscape continued to evolve during the year. This has been
support threat detection, analysis and response. further influenced by the increasing use of AI-enabled tools by adversaries, which is contributing to
the pace and complexity of cyber threats. In response, the Group has continued to enhance its
architecture, systems, processes and monitoring capabilities. While these actions strengthen
resilience, cyber risk remains elevated given the pace of threat evolution and the Group’s expanding
digital footprint.
8 Business Interruption Trend = Stable Appetite = Low Failure to provide a stable infrastructure environment or to promptly recover failed services following an incident can lead to loss of service provision, and financial, regulatory, and reputational loss. Interruptions may be caused by system failures, cyber-attack, failure by a third party or failure of an internal process. Recovery of the service can be hampered by lack of appropriate resilience levels. Our comprehensive and robust business continuity framework is reviewed on a regular basis by the Executive Board, and the Cyber Security and IT sub-Committee of the Audit Committee maintains oversight of the framework and its implementation. Business continuity, disaster recovery and major incident response plans are maintained and tested with failover capabilities across third party data centres and the cloud. Risk from supplier failure is managed through contractual arrangements, alternative supplier arrangements and business continuity plans. Risk is stable. System disruption is an inherent business risk however we recognise that recent
acquisitions, our IT transformation projects and our expansion into different products contribute to
increasing complexity of our operations. Better staff training and retention has enhanced our ability
to detect and recover from service issues.
9 Credit and Liquidity/ Treasury Management Incorporating Counterparty Risk Management Trend = Increasing Appetite = Medium The Group has significant exposures to large clients/retailers, redemption partners and other counterparties. Credit control remains a priority for the Group with risks to payment of retailer debt increasing over the last year as the Group has continued its expansion into certain markets as well as prevailing economic pressures. Counterparty management remains a risk to the Group although the level of such risk has decreased over the last year. The Group also operates a number of debt/banking covenants which must be carefully managed. Like most organisations, cash flow management is a key process in the Group’s operations. The Group has effective credit and operational processes and controls. Ongoing credit reviews, and effective debt management processes are implemented across the Group. A number of mitigating controls are in place to effectively manage counter party risk including increased engagement and active monitoring of our significant counter parties. We have effective governance to manage cash flows through our treasury oversight committee and have implemented detailed and effective cash management control processes to support our operations. Risk is increasing due to a number of more recent factors. Cost of living pressures may impact our
client and retail estate. However, we have robust monitoring in place to reduce default rates and
impacts. We have enhanced and increased our risk controls to ensure effective counterparty risk
management. And these remain under constant review The Group has robust financing arrangements in
place, and our cash generation remains strong as do our cash management processes.
10 Operational Delivery Trend = Stable Appetite = Low Planning, forecasting and successful execution of all business functions is key to ensuring operational delivery for the Group. Delivery of key initiatives and strategic objectives, including sales and service delivery growth, remains key to achieving the desired success levels anticipated for the Group. Supply chain management is also a key factor in delivering our operational targets. Failure to manage this risk would hamper our business performance, impact our stakeholders, and may lead to regulatory or legal sanctions. The Executive Board has implemented a robust and effective reporting suite to ensure management of BAU is supported by timely and accurate business reporting and performance analysis. We continue to develop our Business Intelligence and Management information reporting capabilities to enhance, support and develop our BAU management functions. Our existing processes are continuously reviewed to make sure they are efficient and well controlled and our supply chain is monitored and assessed to ensure continuity of service is maintained. Risk is stable. We continue to focus on effective integration of recent acquisitions into our business
and to develop new services and enhance existing capabilities.
Emerging Risk
1 ESG and Climate Trend = Stable Appetite = Medium We continue to be a low-carbon producing company and as such, climate remains as an emerging risk to the group as the risk does not pose any immediate threat. We continue to monitor and assess potential risks to our operations, including our retail network from potential impacts of climate change such as flooding. As a Group, we recognise the importance of ESG matters and acknowledge that our business needs to be environmentally and socially responsible to create shared value for all stakeholders. The CEO and the Executive Board have overall accountability for PayPoint’s climate and social responsibility agendas, and they recommend strategy to the Board. We have embedded a strategy of reducing our carbon emissions, with a goal of becoming fully net-zero by 2040 (2030 for our own operations). We have multiple policies and processes governing our social responsibility strategy and continually assess and evolve our strategy and working practices to ensure the best outcomes for stakeholders and the environment. Our ESG working group has implemented various measures as we continue to embed low carbon strategies
into our working practices and business strategy. The continued roll out of the PayPoint Mini,
supports reduction of our carbon footprint through production of lower emissions. We run an employee
forum to encourage open communication channels with our employees and continue to engage with our
employees on socially responsible initiatives, such as volunteering, work in the community and school
mentoring programmes.
VIABILITY STATEMENT
In accordance with the 2024 UK Corporate Governance Code, The Directors have
assessed the viability of the Group over a three-year period, taking account
of the Group’s current financial and trading position, the principal risks
and uncertainties (as set out on pages 22 to 26) and the strategic plans that
are reviewed at least annually by the Board.
Assessment period
The Directors have determined that the Group’s strategic planning period of
three years remains an appropriate timeframe over which to assess viability.
This broadly aligns to average client renewal terms, new client prospecting
and onboarding cycles and the development-through-to-maturity evolution of new
products and service lines. The current financing facilities are in place
until 2029 broadly in line with this period.
Assessment of prospects
The Directors assess the Group’s prospects through the annual strategy day
in September 2025 and review of the Group’s three-year Plan in March and
June 2026. The planning process forecasts the Group’s financial performance
that include cash flows which allow the Directors to assess both the Group’s
liquidity and adequacy of funding. In its assessment of the Group’s
prospects, the Directors have considered the following: —
The Group’s strategy and how it addresses changing economic environments in
context of our clients, parcel partnerships, merchants and retailer
requirements.
Following the business reorganisation announced in March 2026, the Group has
simplified into four business units to create clearer accountability, stronger
execution, better use of shared capabilities and a more efficient operating
model. This restructure supports the Group’s response to a changing economic
environment by sharpening focus on higher-value, more resilient revenue
streams and aligning propositions more closely to the evolving needs of
clients, partners, merchants and retailers. Specific initiatives include the
rollout of the ‘growing retailer value’ strategy, the expansion of
PayPoint BankLocal, including the partnership with Nationwide, the rollout of
Royal Mail services across the network, growth in Open Banking and digital
payments capabilities, including account-to-account and data-sharing
solutions, the continued expansion of Love2shop’s digital and physical
distribution, and the repositioning of Merchant Services towards higher-value
merchants, improved retention and partnership-led growth. Together, these
actions enhance the relevance of the Group’s services, support customer and
partner requirements, and strengthen resilience, cash generation and
longer-term growth prospects.
The Group’s inherent resilience to risk.
The Group’s resilience is supported by its diversified portfolio of
essential services across multiple sectors and customer groups. This
diversification, together with strong cash generation, supports continued
investment in key growth areas, enables the Group to remain relevant to
retailers, merchants, clients and partners, and strengthens its ability to
absorb downside risk over the assessment period.
Expectations of the future economic environment.
The economic environment is expected to remain uncertain, with inflationary
pressures, the cost of borrowing and changing consumer behaviour continuing to
influence demand across the Group’s markets. The Directors believe the Group
is well positioned to respond through its diversified portfolio of essential
services, strong retailer and client relationships, strategic partnerships and
increased focus on higher-value, more resilient revenue streams. This supports
the Group’s ability to adapt to changing customer and partner requirements
while maintaining resilience and cash generation over the assessment period.
The Group’s financial position.
At the end of May 2026, the Group had £129.9 million of net debt, split £1.7
million cash and overdrafts and £131.6 million utilised facilities. Compared
to the total committed facilities of £165 million, this means the Group has
substantial headroom of £33.4 million. This level of liquidity is sufficient
for all viability scenarios. Furthermore, the Group has proven, robust
performance and cash generation in previous economic downturns.
Assessment of viability
To assess our viability, we modelled different scenarios identified by
considering the potential impact of the principal risks (as shown in the table
on pages 22 to 26). Our development of scenarios included reviewing the risks
of PayPoint Group, and where appropriate we have made adjustments. Risks are
broadly unchanged, the additional investments required to realise our
integration and Plan targets are included in the Plan financial projections.
All ten principal risks were used in our modelling. They were chosen because
they combine to represent plausible scenarios covering a range of different
operational and financial impacts on the business.
In total, three severe but plausible individual scenarios have been modelled,
with a fourth reverse stress test scenario. These scenarios and the
assumptions within are detailed in the table below. Theoretically all these
scenarios, with differing causes could occur together, with varying levels of
impact, in such a scenario the Group remains viable and within covenants.
None of the separate scenarios modelled was found to impact the long-term
viability of the Group over the assessment period. In assessing each of the
scenarios, we have taken account of the mitigating actions available to us,
including, but not limited to reducing discretionary operating spend, reducing
non-committed capital expenditure. repricing our products and services,
freezing recruitment, reducing variable incentives and temporary suspension of
dividend payments.
Conclusion
Having assessed the Group’s current position, potential impacts of principal
risks, managing adverse conditions in the past, potential mitigating actions
and prospects of the Group, the Directors confirm they have a reasonable
expectation that the Group will be able to continue in operation, remain
solvent and meet its liabilities as they fall due over the three-year
assessment period.
Scenario modelled Linked to principal risks Assumptions
Scenario A A sharp economic decline in the economy and our markets causes material divergence on planned product growth rates or accelerated declines. Risk (1) Competition and markets, Risk (2) Emerging technology, Risk (4) Operating model Risk (10) Operational delivery Transactions/merchants/estate Areas of growth have been reduced or held flat and in areas of decline have been assumed to continue or accelerate those declines.
Margins, revenue rates per transaction/merchants or estate Margins and rates have been held in line with planned levels. Costs No cost savings assumed however bonus
would not be paid until FY29. All the above are assumed to impact for FY27 with a slow recovery in FY28 back to planned levels in FY29. Dividends and Share Buy-Back
Dividends are assumed to be paused from FY27 interims through to FY28 final, resuming in FY29 back in line with the dividend policy. Share buy-back is maintained.
Scenario B Our transformation and integration projects do not deliver the planned growth Risk (3) Transformation Risk (6) People Risk (10) Operational delivery Revenue Growth Planned transformational revenue growth rates are assumed to halve over the life of the plan. Costs Costs linked to transformational revenue growth are
assumed to increase by 2% p.a. above planned levels to achieve transformational execution and cover retention issues or unforeseen skills gaps. Dividends and Share Buy
-Back Dividends are assumed to be paused from FY27 interims through to FY28 final, resuming in FY29 back in line with the dividend policy. Share buy-back is maintained
Scenario C A one-off event, such as a legal, regulatory, cyber security or a significant credit loss event Risk (5) Regulatory and legal (grouping all the one-off hits together) Risk (7) Cyber security, Risk (8) Business interruption Risk (9) Credit and liquidity/Treasury Management Revenue No impact is assumed as PayPoint would adjust to change or correct any breach so that level of business could continue. Costs It is assumed that an average of
all possible fines, £27.3m, is incurred but no other associated costs together with a credit risk of £3m (equivalent to our largest debtor) totalling £30.8m. Given the
potential scale of impact and lead time of this impact appropriate cost savings would be identified. For cash flow purposes, however, the model assumes a final cash
impact of 50% of this amount in FY29, reflecting the likelihood that any fines would be subject to negotiation and/or partial suspension before settlement. Dividends
and Share Buy-Back Dividends are assumed to be paused from FY27 interims through to FY28 final, resuming in FY29 back in line with the dividend policy. Share buy-back is
maintained
Scenario D Reverse stress test of a one-off impact to breach covenants or exceed funding availability. N/A Test D1: Adopting the principles of Scenarios A and B a continuously monthly impact has been modelled to understand when our funding limits would be breached. Test D2:
Similarly to Scenario C (a one-off loss event) – assessing the size of this to breach covenant/ funding limits. For test D1, no dividends are proposed across the 3
years, other than the final dividend in respect of FY26. However, the share-buyback is assumed to continue. For test D2, in this reverse stress test, it is assumed no
dividends are paid following the final FY26 dividend until FY29 and therefore from a cash perspective, we save c£33.9m in FY28. For both tests, the share buyback is
assumed and therefore remains a management ‘lever’.
Consolidated statement of profit or loss
Year ended 31 March 2026 Year ended 31 March 2025
Note Underlying £’000 Adjusting items £’000 Total £’000 Underlying £’000 Adjusting items £’000 Total £’000
Revenue 2,3 305,624 - 305,624 294,919 (14,205) 280,714
Other revenue 2,3 31,384 - 31,384 30,000 - 30,000
Total revenue 337,008 - 337,008 324,919 (14,205) 310,714
Cost of revenue (187,936) - (187,936) (174,283) - (174,283)
Gross profit 149,072 - 149,072 150,636 (14,205) 136,431
Administrative expenses - excluding adjusting items (72,141) - (72,141) (75,522) - (75,522)
Operating profit before adjusting items 76,931 - 76,931 75,114 (14,205) 60,909
Adjusting items:
Exceptional items - administrative expenses 5 - (7,138) (7,138) - (9,229) (9,229)
Amortisation of acquired intangible assets - (5,223) (5,223) - (8,716) (8,716)
Movement on convertible loan notes 8 - (1,000) (1,000) - (10,413) (10,413)
Movement on other investments 8 - (200) (200) - 805 805
Operating profit 76,931 (13,561) 63,370 75,114 (41,758) 33,356
Finance income 1,232 - 1,232 1,383 - 1,383
Finance costs (9,126) - (9,126) (8,448) - (8,448)
Profit before tax 69,037 (13,561) 55,476 68,049 (41,758) 26,291
Tax 6 (17,647) 3,340 (14,307) (17,431) 10,440 (6,991)
Profit after tax 51,390 (10,221) 41,169 50,618 (31,318) 19,300
Attributable to:
Owners of the parent 49,554 (10,221) 39,333 50,509 (31,318) 19,191
Non-controlling interests 1,836 - 1,836 109 - 109
51,390 (10,221) 41,169 50,618 (31,318) 19,300
Earnings per share (pence) Year ended 31 March 2026 Year ended 31 March 2025
Basic 59.1 26.6
Diluted 58.4 26.3
Underlying earnings per share – before adjusting items (pence) Year ended 31 March 2026 Year ended 31 March 2025
Basic 74.4 70.1
Diluted 73.6 69.1
Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
Year ended 31 March 2026 £’000 Year ended 31 March 2025 £’000
Items that will not be reclassified to the consolidated statement of profit or loss:
Remeasurement of defined benefit pension scheme asset 168 (230)
Deferred tax on remeasurement of defined benefit pension scheme asset (42) 58
Items that may subsequently be reclassified to the consolidated statement of profit or loss:
Movement on cash flow hedge reserve 210 (266)
Other comprehensive income / (expense) for the year 336 (438)
Profit for the year 41,169 19,300
Total comprehensive income for the year 41,505 18,862
Attributable to:
Owners of the parent 39,669 18,753
Non-controlling interests 1,836 109
41,505 18,862
Consolidated statement of financial position
Note 31 March 2026 £’000 31 March 2025 £’000
Non-current assets
Goodwill 129,633 129,633
Other intangible assets 74,507 71,901
Convertible loan notes 8 - 3,159
Other investment 8 2,699 740
Property, plant and equipment 31,289 31,933
Net investment in finance lease receivables 464 189
Retirement benefit asset 2,102 224
Total non-current assets 240,694 237,779
Current assets
Inventories 6,119 6,162
Trade and other receivables 102,567 110,010
Current tax asset 4,260 9,734
Cash and cash equivalents – corporate 6,176 4,927
Cash and cash equivalents – non-corporate 108,996 28,262
Restricted funds held on deposit (non-corporate) 35,000 111,475
Total current assets 263,118 270,570
Total assets 503,812 508,349
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables 262,385 272,369
Lease liabilities 881 768
Provisions 10 2,861 11,198
Bank overdraft 7,859 -
Loans and borrowings 260 265
Total current liabilities 274,426 284,600
Non-current liabilities
Lease liabilities 2,684 2,410
Loans and borrowings 130,526 102,043
Derivative liability 55 264
Deferred tax liability 17,098 17,559
Provisions 10 3,370 4,152
Total non-current liabilities 153,733 126,428
Total liabilities 427,979 411,028
Net assets 75,833 97,321
Equity
Share capital 11 219 236
Share premium 11 1,000 1,000
Merger reserve 11 18,243 18,243
Share-based payment reserve 3,550 3,471
Capital redemption reserve 11 24 7
Retained earnings 51,059 70,255
Total equity attributable to equity holders of the parent 74,095 93,212
Non-controlling interests 1,738 4,109
Total equity 75,833 97,321
These financial statements on pages 30 to 50 were approved by the Board of
Directors and authorised for issue on xx June 2026 and were signed on behalf
of the Board of Directors.
Nick Wiles
Chief Executive
10 June 2026
Consolidated statement of changes in equity
Note Share capital £’000 Share premium £’000 Merger reserve £’000 Share-based payment reserve £’000 Capital Redemption reserve £’000 Retained earnings £’000 Total £’000 Non- Controlling Interests £’000 Total equity £’000
At 1 April 2024 242 1,000 18,243 2,992 - 98,683 121,160 - 121,160
Non-controlling interest arising on acquisition - - - - - - - 4,000 4,000
Profit for the year - - - - - 19,191 19,191 109 19,300
Total other comprehensive expense - - - - - (438) (438) - (438)
Total comprehensive income for the year - - - - - 18,753 18,753 109 18,862
Issue of shares 11 1 - - - - - 1 - 1
Purchase of own shares 11 (7) - - - 7 (20,129) (20,129) - (20,129)
Equity-settled share-based payment expense - - - 2,018 - (814) 1,204 - 1,204
Vesting of share scheme - - - (1,539) - 1,539 - - -
Dividends - - - - - (27,777) (27,777) - (27,777)
At 31 March 2025 236 1,000 18,243 3,471 7 70,255 93,212 4,109 97,321
Acquisition of non-controlling interest - - - - - (2,400) (2,400) (3,956) (6,356)
Profit for the year - - - - - 39,333 39,333 1,836 41,169
Total other comprehensive income - - - - - 336 336 - 336
Total comprehensive income for the year - - - - - 39,669 39,669 1,836 41,505
Post-tax gain on part-disposal of subsidiary 9 - - - - - 34,000 34,000 - 34,000
Purchase of own shares 11 (17) - - - 17 (30,279) (30,279) - (30,279)
Equity-settled share-based payment expense - - - 1,621 - (1,222) 399 - 399
Vesting of share scheme - - - (1,542) - 1,542 - - -
Dividends - - - - - (60,506) (60,506) (251) (60,757)
At 31 March 2026 219 1,000 18,243 3,550 24 51,059 74,095 1,738 75,833
Consolidated statement of cash flows
Note Year ended 31 March 2026 £’000 Year ended 31 March 2025 £’000
Cash flows from operating activities
Cash generated from operations 12 66,205 74,701
Corporation tax paid (17,094) (11,383)
Interest received 351 502
Interest paid (8,312) (7,848)
Movement in restricted funds held on deposit - non-corporate 76,475 (33,277)
Movement in payables – non-corporate 4,376 1,699
Net cash generated from operating activities 122,001 24,394
Investing activities
Purchases of property, plant and equipment (8,075) (9,248)
Purchases of intangible assets (13,488) (9,529)
Acquisitions of subsidiaries net of cash and cash equivalents acquired - (8,919)
Purchase of convertible loan notes 8 - (16,000)
Purchase of other investment 8 - (200)
Net cash used in investing activities (21,563) (43,896)
Financing activities
Dividends paid to owners of parent (60,506) (27,777)
Dividends paid to non-controlling interest 9 (251) -
Proceeds from part-disposal of subsidiary 9 43,384 -
Acquisition of non-controlling interest (6,356) -
Proceeds from issue of share capital - 1
Payment of lease liabilities (996) (889)
Repayments of loans and borrowings (30,500) (88,000)
Proceeds from loans and borrowings 59,000 97,500
Purchase of own shares 11 (30,089) (14,914)
Net cash used in financing activities (26,314) (34,079)
Net increase / (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 74,124 (53,581)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year 33,189 86,770
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year 107,313 33,189
Note to the consolidated statement of cash flows - reconciliation of cash and
cash equivalents
31 March 2026 £’000 31 March 2025 £’000
Corporate cash 6,176 4,927
Bank overdraft (7,859) -
Non-corporate cash 108,996 28,262
Cash and cash equivalents 107,313 33,189
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
1. Significant Accounting policies
Basis of preparation
PayPoint Plc (‘PayPoint’ or the ‘Company’) is a public limited company
limited by shares and is incorporated, domiciled and registered in England in
the UK under the Companies Act 2006. The Company’s ordinary shares are
traded on the London Stock Exchange. The Group and Company financial
statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention in
accordance with UK-adopted International Accounting Standards (“UK-adopted
IFRS”) and with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 as applicable to
companies reporting under those standards.
The financial information for the year ended 31 March 2026 set out in this
document does not constitute the Group’s financial statements for that
financial year but is derived from those financial statements. Those financial
statements have been reported on by the Group’s auditor,
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, and will be delivered to the Registrar of
Companies in due course. The report of the auditor (i) was unqualified, (ii)
did not include a reference to any matters to which the auditor drew attention
by way of emphasis without qualifying their report and (iii) did not contain a
statement under section 498 (2) or (3) of the Companies Act 2006.
These financial statements are presented in Pounds Sterling rounded to
thousands (£’000). The Pound Sterling is the currency of the primary
economic environment in which the Group operates.
Adoption of standards and policies
New and amended standards adopted by the Group
The Group has adopted the following amendments to standards for the first time
in the year ended 31 March 2026:
* Amendments to IAS21 The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates
(effective date 1 January 2025)
The amendment to IAS21 did not have a material impact on the Group’s
financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2026.
The accounting policies adopted by the Group in the financial statements for
the year ended 31 March 2026 are otherwise consistent with those applied to
all other years set out in these group financial statements.
New and revised IFRS in issue but not yet effective
No new standards or interpretations have been adopted in the Group’s
accounting policies in the year ended 31 March 2026.
At the date of authorisation of these financial statements, the new and
revised standards issued but not yet effective are set out below.
* Amendment to IFRS7 Financial instruments: Disclosures and IFRS9 Financial
instruments – classification and measurement of financial instruments
(effective date 1 January 2026)
* IFRS18 Presentation and disclosure in financial statements (effective date 1
January 2027)
* IFRS19 Subsidiaries without public accountability: Disclosures (effective
date 1 January 2027)
It is anticipated that the adoption of these standards and interpretations in
future years will have no material impact on the financial statements of the
Group, with the exception of IFRS18. IFRS18 will replace IAS1 Presentation of
financial statements and will have an impact on the presentation of the
Group’s Consolidated statement of profit or loss, with new statutory profit
or loss sub-totals and income and expenditure classified into Operating,
Investing and Financing categories. IFRS18 will also require disclosure of
Management-defined Performance measures (‘MPMs’), the impact of which is
being assessed.
Going concern
The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. The
Group manages its capital to ensure that entities in the Group will be able to
continue as a going concern, while maximising the return to shareholders
through the optimisation of the debt-to-equity balance. The capital structure
of the Group consists of debt, cash and cash equivalents, restricted funds
held on deposit and equity attributable to equity holders of the parent
company comprising capital, reserves and retained earnings.
The Group’s policy is to borrow centrally to meet anticipated funding
requirements. Our cash and borrowing capacity provides sufficient funds to
meet the foreseeable needs of the Group. At 31 March 2026, the Group had
corporate cash of £6.2 million and bank overdrafts of £7.9 million.
On 11 June 2025, the Group completed an amendment to its borrowing facilities,
to manage its working capital requirements and capital allocation. Its
borrowing facilities now consist of:
* a £75.0 million non-amortising term loan expiring in June 2029; and
* a £90.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility expiring in June 2029.
At 31 March 2026, £56.5 million (2025: £58.0 million) was drawn down from
the £90.0 million revolving credit facility and the outstanding balance of
the non-amortising term loan was £75.0 million.
The Group’s statement of financial position shows net assets of £75.8
million as at 31 March 2026 (£97.3 million as at 31 March 2025), having made
a profit after tax for the year of £41.2 million (2025: £19.3 million) and
generated cash from operations of £66.2 million for the year then ended
(2025: £74.7 million), offset by the return of capital to shareholders in the
year of £90.6 million (2025: £42.7 million). The Group has net current
liabilities of £11.1 million as at 31 March 2026 (2025: £14.0 million).
The Directors consider the going concern period as 12 months from the date of
signing of these financial statements and have reviewed detailed monthly cash
flow forecasts for the Group over this period. In this ‘base case’
scenario, the cash flow forecasts show considerable liquidity headroom and
debt covenants will be met throughout the period. In addition, the Directors
have considered and confirm there are no significant or material events that
have been identified beyond the going concern period that may cast significant
doubt upon the continuing use of the going concern basis.
Additionally, the Directors have carried out an assessment of the principal
risks and uncertainties and applied severe but plausible scenarios, together
with a reverse stress test, to test further the Group’s going concern
assumption. These scenarios included a reduction in the volume of transactions
caused by a severe economic downturn, transformation and growth plans not
delivering intended benefits and material one-off impacts of regulatory, IT or
credit loss events. As mitigating actions, we have assumed achievable
reductions in expenditure and a reduction in the level of future dividends
following the payment of the final dividend of 20.0 pence per share declared
in respect of the financial year ended 31 March 2026. The cash flow forecasts
included an analysis and stress test for the above scenarios to ensure working
capital movements within a reporting period do not trigger a covenant breach.
Based on this assessment, the Directors confirm that they have a reasonable
expectation that the Group will be able to continue in operation and meet its
liabilities as they fall due over the period of not less than 12 months from
the date of approval of these financial statements and therefore have prepared
the financial statements on a going concern basis.
Use of judgements and estimates
In the application of the Group’s accounting policies, the Directors are
required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying
amounts of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other
sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical
experience and other factors that are considered relevant. Actual results may
differ from these estimates.
Estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis.
Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the year in which the
estimate is revised if the revision affects only that year, or in the year of
the revision and future years if the revision affects both current and future
years.
Critical judgement: reassessment of Open Banking cash generating unit
(“CGU”)
During the year, management assessed that its Open Banking CGU comprised two
components for the purpose of goodwill impairment testing. One component is
obconnect Limited, which the Group acquired in October 2024. Goodwill of
£12.2 million arose on that acquisition. The other component existed within
the Group prior to the acquisition, using obconnect Limited’s software
platform to generate its revenue.
This judgement reflects the fact that both components generate cash inflows
using the same technology platform. The two components together represent the
lowest level at which an identifiable group of assets generates cash flows
that are largely independent of those of other groups of assets. In accordance
with IAS36 Impairment of assets, they are therefore treated as a single CGU.
This judgement is critical to the outcome of the goodwill impairment test. The
Open Banking CGU, comprising the two components referred to above, gives
significant headroom. No reasonably possible changes in any of the discounted
cash flow assumptions cause the open banking CGU’s carrying value to exceed
its recoverable amount. Had obconnect Limited alone been treated as a CGU, the
goodwill arising on its acquisition would have been impaired in the current
year.
Critical judgement: recognition of cash and cash equivalents and restricted
funds held on deposit
The nature of payments and banking services means that PayPoint collects and
holds funds on behalf of clients as those funds pass through the settlement
process and retains retailer partners’ deposits as security for those
collections. Following the Love2shop acquisition, it also holds, in trust,
gift card voucher deposits on behalf of agents, cardholders and redeemers and
prepay savers’ cash on behalf of savers.
A critical judgement in this area is whether each of the above categories of
funds, and restricted funds held on deposit, are recognised on the
consolidated statement of financial position, and whether they are included in
cash and cash equivalents for the purpose of the Consolidated statement of
consolidated cash flows. This includes evaluating:
(a) the existence of a binding agreement, such as a legal
trust, clearly identifying the beneficiary of the funds;
(b) the identification of funds, ability to allocate and
separability of funds;
(c) the identification of the holder of those funds at any
point in time, and;
(d) whether the Group bears the credit risk.
Where there is a binding agreement specifying that PayPoint holds funds on
behalf of the client (i.e. acting in the capacity of a trustee) and those
funds have been separately identified as belonging to that beneficiary, the
cash (referred to as ‘Clients’ own funds’) and the related liability are
not included on the Consolidated statement of financial position.
In all other cases, the Group has access to the interest on such monies and
can, having met certain conditions, withdraw the funds. The cash and
corresponding liability are therefore recognised on the Consolidated statement
of financial position. Corporate cash and cash equivalents consists of cash
freely available to the Group for use in its daily operations and is presented
as a separate line item on the Consolidated statement of financial position
from non-corporate cash and cash equivalents, which is not freely available to
the Group, either because of self-regulation and segregation or due to
contractual or regulatory requirements. Non-corporate cash and cash
equivalents comprises:
* Clients’ cash – cash collected on behalf of clients from retailer
partners but not yet transferred to clients. Clients’ cash is held in
PayPoint’s bank accounts.
* Gift card voucher cash – cash collected on the issue of gift card vouchers
which have not yet expired or been redeemed.
* Prepay savers’ cash - cash received from customers under a prepayment
scheme accumulating towards their selected savings target. It is converted to
gift card vouchers once the target is reached.
* Retailer partners’ deposits – cash received from retailers held as
security against their default.
Both corporate cash and non-corporate cash are included within cash and cash
equivalents on the Consolidated statement of cash flows.
Restricted funds held on deposit (non-corporate), comprises gift card voucher
cash and prepay savers’ cash. However, unlike the gift card voucher cash and
prepay savers’ cash included in non-corporate cash and cash equivalents,
restricted funds held on deposit (non-corporate) may only be accessed after a
minimum of three months. Consequently, they are excluded from cash and cash
equivalents on the Consolidated statement of financial position and the
Consolidated statement of cash flows.
The amounts recognised on the Consolidated statement of financial position as
at 31 March 2026 are as follows:
31 March 2026 £’000 31 March 2025 £’000
Corporate cash 6,176 4,927
Bank overdraft (7,859) -
Clients’ cash 19,895 15,165
Gift card voucher cash 36,366 3,030
Prepay savers’ cash 47,149 4,266
Retailer partners’ deposits 5,586 5,801
Sub-total: non-corporate cash 108,996 28,262
Total cash and cash equivalents 107,313 33,189
Restricted funds held on deposit (non-corporate) 35,000 111,475
Clients’ own funds
Clients’ cash held in trust off the Consolidated statement of financial
position as at 31 March 2026 is £54.6 million (2025: £54.2 million).
Alternative performance measures
Non-IFRS measures or alternative performance measures are used by the
Directors and management for performance analysis, planning, reporting and
incentive-setting purposes. They have remained consistent with the prior year.
These measures are included in these financial statements to provide
additional useful information on performance and trends to shareholders.
These measures are not defined terms under IFRS and therefore they may not be
comparable with similarly titled measures reported by other companies. They
are not intended to be a substitute for IFRS measures.
Underlying performance measures (non-IFRS measures)
Underlying performance measures allow shareholders to understand the
operational performance in the year, to facilitate comparison with prior years
and to assess trends in financial performance. They usually exclude the impact
of one-off, non-recurring and exceptional items and the amortisation of
intangible assets arising on acquisition, such as brands and customer
relationships.
The adjusting items between the Group’s statutory and underlying performance
measures are as follows:
Year ended 31 March 2026 £’000 Year ended 31 March 2025 £’000
Exceptional item - revenue - 14,205
Exceptional items – legal fees 3,411 6,357
Exceptional item – organisational framework costs 978 -
Exceptional items – restructuring costs 2,247 -
Exceptional items – impairment of receivable 502 -
Exceptional item – accelerated amortisation costs - 868
Exceptional item – impairment of right-of-use asset related to Chapel St. lease - 373
Exceptional item – impairment of other Chapel St. assets - 486
Exceptional item – onerous provision for unavoidable Chapel St. costs - 1,145
Sub-total: items related to Chapel St. lease - 2,004
Sub-total: exceptional items – administrative expenses 7,138 9,229
Amortisation of intangible assets arising on acquisition 5,223 8,716
Movement on convertible loan note fair value 1,000 10,413
Movement on other investment fair value 200 (805)
Total adjusting items 13,561 41,758
Love2shop billings (non-IFRS measure relating solely to the Love2shop segment)
Billings represents the value of goods and services shipped and invoiced to
customers during the year and is recorded net of VAT, rebates and discounts.
Billings is an alternative performance measure, which the directors believe
provides an additional measure of the level of activity other than total
revenue. This is due to revenue from multi-retailer redemption products being
reported on a ‘net’ basis, whilst revenue from single-retailer redemption
products and other goods are reported on a ‘gross’ basis.
Net revenue (non-IFRS measure)
Net revenue is total underlying revenue less commissions paid (to retailer
partners and Park Christmas agents) and the cost of revenue for items where
the Group acts in the capacity as principal (including single-retailer
vouchers and SIM cards). This reflects the benefit attributable to the
Group’s performance, eliminating pass-through costs to create comparability
of performance under both the agent and principal revenue models. It is a key
consistent measure of the overall success of the Group’s strategy. A
reconciliation from total underlying revenue to net revenue is included in
note 4.
Total costs (non-IFRS measure)
Total costs comprise other costs of revenue, administrative expenses, finance
income and finance costs. Total costs exclude adjusting items, being
exceptional costs, amortisation of intangible assets arising on acquisition
and movements on investment fair values.
Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA)
(non-IFRS measure)
The Group presents EBITDA as it is widely used by investors, analysts and
other interested parties to evaluate profitability of companies. This measures
earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation. See page 15 of
the Financial review for a reconciliation from profit before tax to EBITDA.
Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation
(Underlying EBITDA) (non-IFRS measure)
The Group also presents adjusted EBITDA, which comprises EBITDA, as defined
above, excluding exceptional items and net movements on convertible loan notes
and other investments. See page 15 of the Financial review for a
reconciliation from profit before tax to adjusted EBITDA.
Underlying earnings per share (non-IFRS measure)
Underlying earnings per share is calculated by dividing the profit after tax
before adjusting items attributable to equity holders of the parent by the
basic or diluted weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue.
Underlying profit before tax (non-IFRS measure)
Underlying profit before tax represents statutory profit before tax excluding
total adjusting items.
Net corporate debt (non-IFRS measure)
Net corporate debt represents corporate cash and cash equivalents less bank
overdraft and amounts borrowed under financing facilities (excluding IFRS 16
liabilities). The reconciliation of corporate cash and cash equivalents to net
corporate debt is as follows:
31 March 2026 £’000 31 March 2025 £’000
Cash and cash equivalents – corporate 6,156 4,927
Bank overdraft (7,859) -
Less:
Loans and borrowings (note 25) (130,786) (102,308)
Net corporate debt (132,469) (97,381)
2. Segmental reporting
Segmental information
The Group considers its Love2shop business to be a separate segment from its
legacy PayPoint business, since discrete financial information is prepared for
Love2shop and PayPoint and they offer different products and services.
Furthermore, the chief operating decision maker (‘CODM’), being the Chief
Executive supported by the Executive Committee, reviews separate monthly
internal management reports (including financial information) for Love2shop
and PayPoint to allocate resources and assess performance.
The material products and services offered by each segment are as follows:
PayPoint
* Card payment services to retailers, including leased payment devices.
* ATM cash machines.
* Bill payment services and cash top-ups to individual consumers, through a
network of retailers.
* Parcel delivery and collection.
* Retailer service fees.
* Digital payments.
* Open banking services
Love2shop
* Shopping vouchers, cards and e-codes, which customers may redeem with
participating retailers. These are either ‘single-retailer’ or
‘multi-retailer’. The former may only be used at the specified retailer,
whilst the latter may be redeemed at one or more of over 200 retailers.
* Christmas savings club, to which customers make regular payments throughout
the year to help spread the cost of Christmas, before converting to a voucher.
Information related to each reportable segment is set out below. Segment
profit / (loss) before tax and adjusting items is used to measure performance
because management believes that this information is the most relevant in
evaluating the results of the respective segments relative to other entities
that operate in the same industries.
31 March 2026 PayPoint £’000 Love2shop £’000 Total £’000
Revenue 176,761 128,863 305,624
Other revenue 2,021 29,363 31,384
Segment revenue 178,782 158,226 337,008
Segment profit before tax and adjusting items 51,087 17,950 69,037
Exceptional items (6,890) (248) (7,138)
Amortisation of intangible assets arising on acquisition (3,111) (2,112) (5,223)
Net movement in convertible loan notes (1,000) - (1,000)
Net movement in other investments (200) - (200)
Segment profit before tax 39,886 15,590 55,476
Interest income 780 452 1,232
Interest expense 5,606 3,520 9,126
Depreciation and amortisation 15,797 4,497 20,294
Capital expenditure 16,686 4,877 21,563
Segment assets 317,626 186,186 503,812
Segment liabilities 247,126 180,853 427,979
Segment equity 70,500 5,333 75,833
31 March 2025 PayPoint £’000 Love2shop £’000 Total £’000
Underlying revenue 176,181 118,738 294,919
Exceptional item – revenue (14,205) - (14,205)
Total revenue 161,976 118,738 280,714
Other revenue 1,601 28,399 30,000
Segment revenue 163,577 147,137 310,714
Segment profit before tax and adjusting items 53,381 14,668 68,049
Exceptional items (20,562) (2,872) (23,434)
Amortisation of intangible assets arising on acquisition (2,919) (5,797) (8,716)
Net movement in convertible loan notes (10,413) - (10,413)
Net movement in other investments 805 - 805
Segment profit before tax 20,292 5,999 26,291
Interest income 342 1,041 1,383
Interest expense 7,466 982 8,448
Depreciation and amortisation 14,952 10,340 25,292
Capital expenditure 14,659 4,118 18,777
Segment assets 333,569 174,780 508,349
Segment liabilities 234,901 176,127 411,028
Segment equity 98,668 (1,347) 97,321
A business division analysis of revenue has been provided in note 3.
The £337.0 million total revenue is geographically located in the UK (£334.9
million) and New Zealand (£2.1 million) (2025: £310.7 million in the UK
only). The £240.7 million (2025: £237.8 million) non-current assets at 31
March 2026 are geographically located within the UK.
3. Revenue
Disaggregation of revenue
Revenue
Year ended 31 March 2025
Year ended 31 March 2026 £’000 Underlying £’000 Adjusting item £’000 Total £’000
Shopping
Service fees 23,705 21,754 - 21,754
Cards - acquiring 19,694 21,019 - 21,019
Cards - rentals 10,558 10,590 - 10,590
Cards – lending / other 1,341 812 - 812
ATMs 9,916 10,395 - 10,395
Other shopping 4,106 3,995 - 3,995
Shopping total 69,320 68,565 - 68,565
e-commerce total 40,724 40,409 - 40,409
Payments and banking
Cash – bill payments 23,275 26,291 (14,205) 12,086
Cash – top-ups 9,295 10,228 - 10,228
Digital (including obconnect) 21,426 17,757 - 17,757
Cash through to digital 8,103 7,593 - 7,593
Other payments and banking 4,618 5,338 - 5,338
Payments and banking total 66,717 67,207 (14,205) 53,002
Love2shop total – voucher and card service fee 128,863 118,738 - 118,738
Revenue 305,624 294,919 (14,205) 280,714
Service fee revenue of £23.7 million (2025: £21.8 million) and management
fees, set-up fees and upfront lump sum payments of £1.5 million (2025: £1.1
million) are recognised on a straight-line basis over the period of the
contract. Card terminal leasing revenue of £10.6 million (2025: £10.6
million) is recognised over the expected lease term using the sum of digits
method for finance leases and on a straight-line basis for operating leases.
Multi-retailer voucher, card and e-code service fee revenue is recognised on
redemption by the customer. The remainder of revenue is recognised at the
point in time when each transaction is processed. The usual timing of payment
by PayPoint customers is on 14-day terms. The usual timing of Love2shop’s
corporate customers is 15-day terms; its consumer customers pay on ordering.
Revenue subject to variable consideration of £12.9 million (2025: £14.1
million) exists where the consideration to which the Group is entitled varies
according to transaction volumes processed and rate per transaction.
Management estimates the total transaction price using the expected value
method at contract inception, which is reassessed at the end of each reporting
period, by applying a blended rate per transaction to estimated transaction
volumes. Any required adjustment is made against the transaction price in the
period to which it relates. The revenue is recognised at the constrained
amount to the extent that it is highly probable that the inclusion will not
result in a significant revenue reversal in the future, with the estimates
based on projected transaction volumes and historical experience. The
potential range in outcomes for revenue subject to variable consideration
resulting from changes in these estimates is not material.
Love2shop revenue is recorded net of corporate discounts.
Other Revenue Year ended 31 March 2026 £’000 Year ended 31 March 2025 £’000
Payments and banking
Interest revenue 2,021 1,601
Love2shop
Interest revenue 6,243 7,246
Non-redemption revenue 23,120 21,153
Love2shop total 29,363 28,399
Total other revenue 31,384 30,000
Other revenue comprises:
* Multi-retailer voucher and card non-redemption revenue recognised on expiry
(where the customer has no right of refund) or on expiry and lapse of the
refund period (where the customer has a right of refund).
* Interest revenue generated by investing clients’ funds, retailer
partners’ deposits, gift card cash, prepay savers’ cash and restricted
funds held on deposit.
4. Alternative performance measures
Net revenue
The reconciliation between total underlying revenue and net revenue is as
follows:
Year ended 31 March 2026 £’000 Year ended 31 March 2025 £’000
Service revenue - Shopping 69,320 68,565
Service revenue – e-commerce 40,724 40,409
Service revenue – Payments and banking 65,836 66,224
Service revenue – multi-retailer redemption products 17,777 17,747
Service revenue - other 3,084 3,074
Sale of goods – single-retailer redemption products 107,849 97,759
Sale of goods - other 1,034 1,141
Other revenue – multi-retailer non-redemption income 23,120 21,153
Other revenue – interest on clients’ funds, retailer partners’ deposits, gift card cash, prepay savers’ cash and restricted funds held on deposit 8,264 8,847
Total underlying revenue 337,008 324,919
less:
Retailer partners’ commissions (43,208) (43,671)
Cost of single-retailer cards and vouchers (102,842) (93,476)
Cost of SIM card and e-money sales as principal (111) (51)
Total net revenue 190,847 187,721
Total costs excluding adjusting items
Total costs, excluding adjusting items, comprises:
Year ended 31 March 2026 £’000 Year ended 31 March 2025 £’000
Other costs of revenue 41,775 37,085
Administrative expenses – excluding adjusting items 72,141 75,522
Finance income (1,232) (1,383)
Finance costs 9,126 8,448
Total costs excluding adjusting items 121,810 119,672
5. Exceptional items
Year ended 31 March 2026 £’000 Year ended 31 March 2025 £’000
Legal fees 3,411 6,357
Organisational framework costs 978 -
Restructuring costs 2,247 -
Impairment of receivable 502 -
Chapel St. lease costs - 2,004
Accelerated amortisation - 868
Total exceptional items included in administrative expenses 7,138 9,229
Claim settlement - revenue - 14,205
Total exceptional items included in profit or loss 7,138 23,434
The tax impact of the exceptional items is £1,785,000 (2025: £5,859,000).
Exceptional items are those which are considered significant by virtue of
their nature, size or incidence. These items are presented as exceptional
within their relevant income statement categories to assist in the
understanding of the performance and financial results of the Group, as they
do not form part of the underlying business.
Legal fees
The current and prior period charges relates to the Group’s defence of two
claims served on a number of its companies in connection with the issue
disclosed in note 13.
Organisational framework costs
The current period organisational framework costs are fees to a third party
engaged to support the Group deliver greater automation and agility.
Restructuring costs
The current period costs relate to the reorganisation of the Group’s
business units, which it announced in March 2026. The reorganisation will
result in a better integrated and more transparent business and is accompanied
by a review of the Group’s cost base to improve operational efficiency.
Impairment of receivable
The current period cost relates to a balance due to PayPoint Plc from
Aperidata Limited, which the Company does not expect to recover. The Company
also holds investments in Aperidata, which it has written down to £nil at 31
March 2026.
Claim settlement
The prior period deduction against revenue relates to the Group’s settlement
of a claim brought against it by Utilita, as disclosed in note 13.
Chapel St.
The prior period costs arose from the Group’s decision to vacate part of its
leased Chapel Street, Liverpool premises in February 2025.
ERP system amortisation
The prior period accelerated amortisation costs relate to L2s’s ERP system.
As part of an e-commerce project initiated in the prior period, certain
modules of that system were replaced by 31 March 2025.
6. Tax
Year ended 31 March 2026 £’000 Year ended 31 March 2025 £’000
Current tax
Charge for current year 14,534 6,406
Adjustment in respect of prior years 276 904
Current tax charge 14,810 7,310
Deferred tax
Charge for current year (458) 190
Adjustment in respect of prior years (45) (509)
Deferred tax credit (503) (319)
Total income tax charge 14,307 6,991
Year ended 31 March 2026 £’000 Year ended 31 March 2025 £’000
Tax charged / (credited) directly to other comprehensive income
Deferred tax on movement on defined benefit pension scheme asset 42 (58)
Tax charged directly to equity
Corporation tax on gain on part-disposal of subsidiary 9,383 -
The income tax charge is based on the UK statutory rate of corporation tax for
the year of 25% (2025: 25%). Deferred tax has been calculated using the
enacted tax rates that are expected to apply when the liability is settled, or
the asset realised. Deferred tax has been calculated based on the rate
applicable at the date timing differences are expected to reverse.
The income tax charge of £14.3 million (2025: £7.0 million) on profit before
tax of £55.5 million (2025: £26.3 million) represents an effective tax rate1
of 25.8% (2025: 26.6%). This is higher than the UK statutory rate of 25% due
to adjustments in respect of disallowable expenses, share-based payments and
prior-year adjustments.
The tax charge for the year is reconciled to profit before tax, as set out in
the Consolidated statement of profit or loss, as follows:
Year ended 31 March 2026 £’000 Year ended 31 March 2025 £’000
Profit before tax 55,476 26,291
Tax at the UK corporation tax rate of 25% (2025: 25%) 13,869 6,573
Tax effects of:
Disallowable expense 176 186
Adjustments in respect of prior years 231 395
Tax impact of share-based payments 31 (163)
Actual amount of tax charge 14,307 6,991
Given the Group’s effective tax rate, its annual revenue and that it has no
overseas operations, the Group assesses that the Organisation for Economic
Co-operation and Development’s Pillar Two tax regime will have no impact on
it.
(1)Effective tax rate is the tax cost as a percentage of profit before tax.
7. Earnings per share
Basic and diluted earnings per share are calculated on the following profit
and number of shares.
Year ended 31 March 2026 £’000 Year ended 31 March 2025 £’000
Basic
Total profit for basic and diluted earnings per share is the net profit attributable to equity holders of the parent 39,333 19,191
Adjusting items (note 1) 13,561 41,758
Tax on adjusting items at 24.6% (2025: 25%) (3,340) (10,440)
Underlying
Underlying profit for basic and diluted earnings per share is the net profit before adjusting items attributable to equity holders of the parent 49,554 50,509
31 March 2026 Number of shares Thousands 31 March 2025 Number of shares Thousands
Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue (for basic earnings per share) 66,579 72,053
Potential dilutive ordinary shares:
Restricted share awards 500 743
Deferred annual bonus scheme 127 188
SIP and other 100 100
Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue (for diluted earnings per share) 67,306 73,084
The SIP and other dilutive shares only have a passage of time restriction on
them, hence are included above but not in the total number of outstanding
share awards at the end of the year.
8. Investments
A. Investments in subsidiaries
Movement in investments in subsidiaries
Company 31 March 2026 £’000 31 March 2025 £’000
Balance at the beginning of the year 239,121 221,837
Acquisition of subsidiary 6,358 17,284
Part-disposal of subsidiary (5,852) -
Impairment in the year (4,123) -
Balance at the end of the year 235,504 239,121
In the prior year, PayPoint Plc acquired 55.3% of the share capital of
obconnect Limited for total consideration of £17.3 million. In the current
period, PayPoint Plc acquired the remaining 44.7% of the share capital of
obconnect Limited in two separate transactions, for aggregate additional
consideration of £6.4 million.
In the current year, PayPoint Plc disposed of 49% of its investment in
Collect+ Brand Limited. Refer to note 9 for details.
An impairment test was performed on the Company’s investments in
subsidiaries, which indicated that an impairment of £4.1 million was required
against its investment in obconnect Limited. The impairment is sensitive to
changes in the revenue growth rate assumption. A decrease of five percentage
points in the revenue growth rate assumption would have a c. £5.1 million
impact on the impairment. Recoverable amounts for the Company’s investments
are measured at their value-in-use by discounting the future expected cash
flows, derived from the most recent financial budgets approved by the Board
which are extended to perpetuity. The estimates of future cash flows are based
on past experience, adjusted for management’s expectations of future
performance.
B. Convertible loan notes
The movements in the fair values of the convertible loan note investments in
the prior and current years are as follows:
Group and Company Judge Logistics Ltd £’000 Aperidata Ltd £’000 obconnect Ltd £’000 Total £’000
At 31 March 2024 - - 3,689 3,689
Addition in the year 15,000 1,000 - 16,000
Fair value (loss) / gain through profit or loss account (12,841) - 2,428 (10,413)
Conversion into equity - - (6,117) (6,117)
At 31 March 2025 2,159 1,000 - 3,159
Addition in the year - - - -
Fair value loss through profit or loss account - (1,000) - (1,000)
Conversion into equity (2,159) - - (2,159)
At 31 March 2026 - - - -
Judge Logistics Limited
The Group’s £15 million investment in Judge Logistics Limited was purchased
in three stages in the prior year. Judge Logistics Limited is the parent
company of Yodel Ltd, a customer in the Group’s e-commerce parcel business.
On 17 April 2025, the Company’s loan note converted into equity, following
the acquisition of Judge Logistics Limited by InPost sp z.o.o.
Aperidata Limited
The Company purchased a convertible loan note from Aperidata Limited in May
2024 for consideration of £1.0 million. The loan converts into a 42.0% equity
stake in Aperidata Limited’s ordinary shares on 23 May 2027, such that the
Company’s aggregate equity stake in Aperidata Limited following conversion
will be 42.97%, including its diluted equity investment referred to in section
C.
The Company has assessed the fair value of the investment as £nil at 31 March
2026, reflecting the trading performance of Aperidata Limited. Accordingly, it
has recognised a loss of £1.0 million in the statement of profit or loss,
reported within adjusting items.
obconnect Limited
The Company purchased a convertible loan note of nominal amount £3.0 million
on 7 July 2022 from obconnect Limited, which provides open banking services to
banks and other financial institutions. The Company’s loan note converted
into an equity stake in obconnect Limited’s ordinary shares on the
Company’s acquisition of a majority shareholding in obconnect Limited on 30
October 2024.
C. Other investments
The movements in the fair values of the Company’s equity investments in the
prior and current years are as follows:
Group and Company Judge Logistics Ltd £’000 Aperidata Ltd £’000 obconnect Ltd £’000 Total £’000
At 31 March 2024 - - 251 251
Addition in the year - 200 - 200
Fair value gain through profit or loss account 540 - 265 805
Subsidiary undertaking - - (516) (516)
At 31 March 2025 540 200 - 740
Fair value loss through profit or loss account - (200) - (200)
Conversion of loan notes 2,159 - - 2,159
At 31 March 2026 2,699 - - 2,699
Judge Logistics Limited
In the prior year, the Company acquired 17.3% of the ordinary share capital of
Judge Logistics Limited for consideration of £100, in addition to the
convertible loan note in Judge Logistics Limited referred to above. At 31
March 2025, the Company revalued its investment to a fair value of £0.5
million in accordance with IAS32 Financial Instruments.
On 17 April 2025, the Company’s loan note, valued at £2.2 million,
converted into equity, following the acquisition of Judge Logistics Limited by
InPost sp z.o.o. The Company’s equity investment in Judge thereby increased
to £2.7 million. Management remeasured its investment at 31 March 2026, with
the fair value unchanged at £2.7 million.
Aperidata Limited
During the prior year, the Company acquired 19.9% of the ordinary share
capital of Aperidata Limited for consideration of £0.2 million, in addition
to the convertible loan note in Aperidata Limited referred to in B.
The Company has assessed the fair value of the investment as £nil at 31 March
2026. Accordingly, it has recognised a loss of £0.2 million in the Statement
of profit or loss, reported within adjusting items.
9. Part-disposal of subsidiary
On 18 July 2025, the Company disposed of 20% of its investment in a wholly
owned subsidiary, Collect+ Brand Limited, to International Distribution
Services plc (“IDS”), a third-party partner in the Group’s e-commerce
division. The consideration, net of transaction costs, was £11.9 million.
On 30 September 2025, the Company disposed of a further 29% of its investment
in Collect+ Brand Limited to IDS for consideration of £31.5 million, net of
transaction costs. Total net consideration received was therefore £43.4
million.
The combined transaction gave rise to a pre-tax gain on disposal of £37.5
million in the Statement of profit or loss of PayPoint Plc, the parent company
of Collect+ Brand Limited, represented by the £43.4 million net consideration
less £5.9 million cost of investment disposed of. After tax, the gain on
disposal in PayPoint Plc was £28.1 million. At a consolidated level, there is
no impact on the Consolidated statement of profit or loss. In accordance with
IFRS10 Consolidated financial statements, a £34.0 million gain is reported in
the Consolidated statement of changes in equity. The £34.0 million represents
£43.4 million net consideration less £9.4 million tax.
The Group retains control of Collect+ Brand Limited following the above
transactions, due to the rights associated with the Group’s remaining 51%
ownership. Consequently, the Group continues to account for Collect+ Brand
Limited as a subsidiary. It now also recognises a non-controlling interest, to
which 49% of Collect+ Brand Limited’s post-tax result is attributed in the
Consolidated statement of profit or loss. The current year movement in the
non-controlling interest is as follows:
Year ended 31 March 2026 £’000
Balance at the beginning of the year -
Arising on part-disposal of subsidiary (49% share of net assets of £1) -
Share of post-tax profit of subsidiary 1,989
Dividend paid to non-controlling interest (251)
Balance at the end of the year 1,738
Management assesses that the part-disposal of Collect+ Brand Limited has not
given rise to any significant restrictions on the Group’s ability to access
or use the subsidiary’s assets.
The Group profit after tax attributable to non-controlling interest of £1.8
million comprises £2.0 million in respect of Collect+ Brand Limited less
£0.2 million loss after tax in respect of obconnect Limited (including
post-tax amortisation of intangible assets arising on acquisition).
10. Provisions
Group 31 March 2026 £’000 31 March 2025 £’000
Balance at the beginning of the year 15,350 1,850
Recognised in relation to restructuring (note 6) 1,932 -
Utilised in relation to restructuring - (1,850)
Recognised in relation to Chapel St. lease costs - 1,145
Utilised in relation to Chapel St. lease costs (note 6) (247) -
Recognised in relation to claim settlement - 14,205
Utilised in relation to claim settlement (note 6) (10,875) -
Discount unwind in relation to claim settlement (note 6) 71 -
Balance at the end of the year 6,231 15,350
31 March 2026 £’000 31 March 2025 £’000
Disclosed as:
Current 2,861 11,198
Non-current 3,370 4,152
Total 6,231 15,350
In March 2026, the Group announced a restructuring of its business units –
refer to note 5. Consequently, in accordance with IAS37 Provisions, contingent
liabilities and contingent assets, it recognised a provision of £1.9 million
for the cost of the restructuring.
The remaining provision balance at 31 March 2026 for the Chapel St. lease was
£0.9 million.
The £10.9 million utilisation in relation to the claim settlement comprises a
£10.4 million payment in April 2025 and further utilisation of £0.5 million,
leaving a remaining provision at 31 March 2026 for the claim settlement of
£3.4 million.
11. Share capital, share premium and merger reserve
31 March 2026 £’000 31 March 2025 £’000
Called up, allotted and fully paid share capital
60,781,502 ordinary shares of 0.3611p each (2025: 70,834,160 ordinary shares of 1/3p each) 219 236
On 12 June 2025, the Group announced that the share buy-back programme, which
it began on 1 July 2024 for an initial 12-month period, would be extended
until the end of March 2028. The Group plans to purchase at least £30 million
of shares per annum in an extension to the programme, which began on 1 July
2024. In accordance with IFRS9, the Group therefore recognised an initial
liability for the full amount of £30.2 million (including stamp duty and
associated costs) in the current period, with a corresponding reduction in
retained earnings. A total of 4,891,666 shares were purchased in the period
(1,962,216 with a nominal value of 1/3 pence per share and 2,929,450 with a
nominal value of 0.3611 pence per share), with a nominal value of £17,000,
for total consideration of £30.1 million. This resulted in a reduction in
share capital of £17,000 and a corresponding increase in the capital
redemption reserve balance from £7,000 to £24,000.
On 17 October 2025, the Group carried out a share consolidation of 12 new
ordinary shares for 13 existing ordinary shares, applicable to shareholders on
the register on that date, following which the new ordinary shares have a
nominal value of 0.3611 pence per share.
Partly offsetting the impact of the share buy-back programme,140,828 shares of
1/3 pence each were issued in the current year for share awards which vested
in the year and 7,432 matching shares of 1/3 pence each were issued under the
Employee Share Incentive Plan.
The share premium of £1.0 million (2025: £1.0 million) represents the
payment of deferred, contingent share consideration in excess of the nominal
value of shares issued in relation to the i-movo acquisition.
The merger reserve of £18.2 million (2025: £18.2 million) comprises £1.0
million initial share consideration in excess of the nominal value of shares
issued on the initial acquisition of i-movo and £17.2 million share
consideration in excess of the nominal value of shares issued in relation to
the Love2shop acquisition.
12. Notes to the statements of cash flow
Group Note Year ended 31 March 2026 £’000 Year ended 31 March 2025 £’000
Profit before tax 55,476 26,291
Adjustments for:
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 9,412 9,655
Amortisation of intangible assets 10,882 15,637
Cash settlement of provision (10,400) -
Exceptional item – non-cash impairment of receivable 5 502 -
Exceptional item – non-cash provision - 15,350
Adjusting item – non-cash movement on convertible loan note 5 1,000 10,413
Adjusting item – non-cash movement on other investments 5 200 (805)
Loss on disposal of fixed assets 690 187
Finance income (1,232) (1,383)
Finance costs 9,126 8,448
Contribution to defined benefit pension scheme (1,500) -
Share-based payment charge 1,621 2,018
Share-based payment tax settlements (1,222) (814)
Operating cash flows before movements in working capital 74,555 84,997
Movement in inventories 43 (2,902)
Movement in trade and other receivables 4,700 (8,536)
Movement in finance lease receivables 273 803
Movement in contract assets (431) (743)
Movement in contract liabilities (9) (258)
Movement in provisions 1,281 (1,850)
Movement in trade and other payables - corporate (14,207) 3,190
Movement in working capital - corporate (8,350) (10,296)
Cash generated from operations 66,205 74,701
On 11 February 2026, PayPoint Plc purchased a further 21.4% of the share
capital of obconnect Limited for consideration of £3.0 million and on 17
March 2026 the remaining 23.3% for consideration of £3.3 million (i.e. £6.4
million n aggregate). These transactions reduced NCI by £1.9 million and
£2.1 million respectively (i.e. £4.0 million in aggregate), with the NCI
balance at 31 March 2026 £nil. The £2.4 million difference between the
aggregate consideration and NCI reduction is reported directly through equity.
13. Contingent liability update
Ofgem’s Statement of Objections
In FY24, a number of companies in the PayPoint Group, including PayPoint Plc,
received two claims relating to issues addressed by commitments accepted by
Ofgem in November 2021 as a resolution of Ofgem’s concerns raised in its
Statement of Objections received by the PayPoint Group in September 2020. The
Ofgem resolution did not include any infringement findings.
The first claim was served by Utilita Energy Limited and Utilita Services
Limited (subsequently renamed Luxion Sales Limited) (“Utilita”) on 16 June
2023. The second claim was served by Global-365 plc and Global Prepaid
Solution Limited (“Global 365”) on 18 July 2023.
On 14 May 2025, PayPoint and Utilita came to a settlement such that Utilita
has withdrawn its claim against PayPoint. As part of this settlement, the two
parties have agreed to a new five-year contract for over-the-counter
prepayment services and have built a more collaborative and mutually
supportive relationship.
Global 365’s claim was heard at a trial at the Competition Appeal Tribunal
between 10 June and 11 July 2025 and judgment was handed down on 7 May 2026
– refer to note 14.
HMRC assessment
In February 2024, HMRC raised an assessment on the Group’s tax position for
the accounting period ended 31 March 2021. The Group has appealed the
assessment on the grounds that it is not valid from a tax technical and
administrative perspective and no provision has therefore been recognised.
14. Events after the reporting date
Resolution of claim by Global 365 Limited
On 7 May 2026 the Competition Appeal Tribunal (’CAT’) handed down its
judgment concerning the claim brought by Global-365. The CAT found PayPoint
liable for an historical infringement of competition law, which ceased in
2018, concerning certain contracts under which it provided energy prepayment
services.
Whilst the CAT awarded damages of £169,334 plus interest to G365 in respect
of its “loss of a chance” to win contracts with a limited number of small
energy suppliers, its findings confirmed that PayPoint’s past contracts with
energy suppliers were not a significant factor in G365’s lack of success.
PayPoint remains committed to ensuring its commercial practices meet all
regulatory requirements.
(1) Prior year statutory revenue is reported net of a £14.2 million
exceptional deduction related to a claim settlement.
(2) Net revenue is an alternative performance measure. Refer to note 4 to the
financial statements for a reconciliation to revenue.
(2) Underlying EBITDA (EBITDA excluding adjusting items) is an alternative
performance measure. Refer to note 1 to the financial statements for the
definition and the Finance Review for a reconciliation to profit before tax.
(3) Underlying profit before tax (profit before tax excluding adjusting items)
is an alternative performance measure. Refer to note 1 to the financial
statements for the definition.
(4) Adjusting items comprises £3.4 million for legal costs related to claims
against PayPoint, £2.2 million for restructuring costs, £1.7 million for
adjustments in relation to our investment in Aperidata Limited, £1.0 million
for organisational framework costs, and amortisation of intangible assets
arising on acquisition (£2.1 million for Love2shop and £3.1 million for
PayPoint’s previous acquisitions). Refer to note 1 to the financial
statements for more detail.
(5) Diluted underlying earnings per share is an alternative performance
measure. Refer to notes 1 and 7 to the financial statements.
(6) Net corporate debt (excluding IFRS 16 liabilities) is an alternative
performance measure. Refer to note 1 to the financial statements for a
reconciliation to cash and cash equivalents.
(3) £0.3 million of obconnect's total revenue was to other PayPoint entities
(4) Buyback programme is cash flow enhancing given the dividend saving from
less shares in issue outweighs the higher interest cost associated with the
buyback programme
(1) Net revenue is an alternative performance measure. Refer to note 4 to the
financial statements for a reconciliation to revenue.
(2) Underlying profit before tax is an alternative performance measure. Refer
to note 1 to the financial statements for an explanation.
(3) Underlying EBITDA is an alternative performance measure. Refer to note 1
to the financial statements for an explanation.
(4) Net corporate debt (excluding IFRS 16 liabilities) is an alternative
performance measure. Refer to note 1 to the financial statements for a
reconciliation to cash and cash equivalents.
Attachment
* FY26 RNS - Final
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