IMImobile PLC Acquisition and Trading Update (1830V)

TIDMIMO

RNS Number : 1830V

IMImobile PLC

01 November 2017

IMImobile PLC

("IMImobile" or the "Company" or the "Group")

Acquisition of the trade and assets of Sumotext Corporation and Trading Update

IMImobile, a cloud communications software and solutions provider, is pleased to announce that it has agreed to acquire the trade and assets of the Sumotext Corporation ("Sumotext"), an established US based communications platform provider ("the Acquisition"). The consideration, will be between $4.5 million and $6 million, depending on EBITDA performance of the acquired business during the first 12 months following the Acquisition.

Sumotext helps brands, agencies and non-profit organisations communicate and complete commercial transactions with mobile audiences via SMS and MMS. The Acquisition is therefore complementary to both IMImobile's product set and customer base.

Management believes that this strategic acquisition provides a platform to launch IMImobile's product offering to the enterprise market in the US. As a result of the Acquisition the Company expects to make significant investment in sales and marketing expenses for the US market during the current year and that the Acquisition will be earnings enhancing in the year ending 31 March 2019.

Highlights:

Acquisition

-- Sumotext is an experienced business in the US communications platform market and has various clients made up of a government agency, travel companies, retailers, healthcare companies and other brands, agencies and non-profit organisations.

-- Sumotext's customer and product portfolio is complementary to existing IMImobile products and solutions, providing significant cross-sell and up-sell opportunities.

-- This Acquisition is aligned with pursuing IMImobile's broader strategic plan to enhance its position in the US market.

   --     The Acquisition is expected to enhance Group earnings during the year ending 31 March 2019. 

Trading update

   --     Trading for the six months ended 30 September 2017 in line with directors' expectations. 

-- Significant investment of approximately GBP0.5m in sales and marketing activities in the second half of the current financial year to take advantage of market opportunities for cloud messaging product portfolio

   --     Current year revenue and gross profit expected to be above market expectations. 

Commenting on the Acquisition Jay Patel, Chief Executive Officer of IMImobile said:

"The acquisition of Sumotext strengthens our position in the US communications software market. The Sumotext team is experienced in selling and delivering business critical communication solutions to a number of leading US brands. This acquisition provides a strong platform for growth into the enterprise market in North America."

Background to and reasons for the Acquisition

Sumotext is an established and leading provider of messaging solutions in the US, based in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Acquisition enhances IMImobile's position in the US market and consolidates its footprint within the region. The US market is competitive, and the experienced team at Sumotext will provide valuable expertise as well as an established customer base made up of a government agency, travel companies, retailers, healthcare companies and other leading brands, agencies and non-profit organisations.

A key attraction of the Acquisition for IMImobile was the experience and skills of the founder of Sumotext, Tim Miller, who has agreed to join the Group as a member of the senior management team, and will maintain leadership of the Sumotext business.

The Acquisition is complementary to IMImobile's product set, providing mobile solutions that enable businesses to manage digital interactions with their customers. As a result of the Acquisition we see many opportunities for growth in the US region and we will work to use the Sumotext business to penetrate the enterprise market, and expect it to be earnings enhancing during the year to 31 March 2019.

Trading update

The Board is pleased to provide the following trading update ahead of the Company's interim results announcement on 21 November 2017.

The first half of the year has seen trading in line with management expectations, with good overall organic gross profit growth. The Board remains confident about the Group's prospects for the remainder of the year and expect underlying revenue and gross profit to be ahead of expectations.

We see many opportunities for further growth, particularly in the enterprise market in the US and UK. Following the Acquisition, in order to capitalise on product leadership and market opportunities, IMImobile intends to increase sales and marketing expenses in the second half of the current financial year by approximately GBP0.5m, the benefits of which we expect to be realised in the financial year ending 31 March 2019. Prior to this planned investment underlying EBITDA for the full year was expected to be in line with expectations.

This announcement contains inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) no. 596/2014 ("MAR")

For further information please contact:

 
IMImobile PLC                                       c/o Redleaf Communications 
 Jay Patel, Chief Executive Officer                  Tel: [phone] 
 Mike Jefferies, Chief Financial Officer             4769 
Redleaf Communications - PR adviser                 Tel: [phone] 
 Charlie Geller                                      4769 
 Alina Haritonova                                    [e-mail] 
Investec Bank - Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker  Tel: [phone] 
 Henry Reast                                         5970 
 Robert Baker 
Whitman Howard - Joint Broker                       Tel: +44 (0) 207 
 Ranald McGregor-Smith                               659 1234 
 Francis North 
 

About IMImobile PLC

IMImobile is a cloud communications software and solutions provider that enables companies to use mobile and digital technologies to communicate and engage with their customers.

Organisations that trust us to deliver smarter digital customer engagement solutions include Vodafone, Telefonica, Aircel, Capita, BT, BSNL, Ooredoo, MTN, France Telecom, Centrica, Pizza Hut, Tata, the AA, the BBC, EE, Multichoice, Betfair and several major financial institutions.

IMImobile is headquartered in London with offices in Hyderabad, Atlanta, Dubai and Johannesburg and has over 950 employees worldwide. IMImobile PLC is quoted on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market with the TIDM code IMO.

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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November 01, 2017 03:00 ET (07:00 GMT)