Strategic Review/IMS

Photo-Me International PLC 19 September 2007 Wednesday 19 September 2007 PHOTO-ME INTERNATIONAL PLC Strategic Review/Interim Management Statement PMI (PHTM.L), the digital imaging company, announces that it is to retain its Vending Division. PMI also reports its first Interim Management Statement, which covers the period from 1 May to 19 September 2007, as required by the UK Listing Authority's Disclosure and Transparency Rules. Update on Strategic Review Since November 2006, the Board and its advisers have been examining options for PMI's three principal businesses - vending, minilab manufacturing and wholesale lab manufacturing - and ways of restructuring the Group so as to permit a significant return of capital to shareholders. As part of this process, the Board has been seeking to dispose of the Vending Division. Last month, following receipt of indicative offers, the Board concluded that there was a sufficient level of interest for the Vending Division disposal process to move to its next phase. As these indicative offers have not translated into firm offers at an acceptable level, in part reflecting turbulence in the debt markets, the Board has now decided to terminate the Vending Division disposal process. The PMI Board continues to believe that the Vending Division possesses considerable fundamental strengths, in particular leading positions in key territories, technical expertise, an attractive market, and a cash generative financial profile. The Vending Division has a track record of delivering a substantial annual EBITDA. The Board, under its new leadership, continues to examine other elements of the Strategic Review process and a further update to the market will be given in due course. In the period, a further £3.8m of shares were purchased by the Company to add to the £1.1m in the period from 30 March to 30 April 2007. Update on Commercial Performance The first quarter of the year, covering the period from 1 May to 31 July, is historically one of the two quietest quarters, contributing insubstantially to annual profit. The most important months tend to be September/October (for vending) and March/April (for minilab manufacturing). In the quarter, vending revenue was marginally down in local currency terms in all three principal territories: the UK & Ireland, France and Japan; in Sterling terms, the Japanese decrease was more substantial. Minilab manufacturing revenue decreased, whilst wholesale lab manufacturing revenue was down as a result of a depressed market and the introduction of a rival technology into the market. Overall, on a like-for-like basis (disregarding the Deith Group, whose disposal was completed in April 2007), revenue was 7% below the previous year actual. Whilst vending in the UK & Ireland has to contend with the triple challenges of a weak retail market place, high site owner commissions and the unsettling effect on both the business and staff of recent actual and scheduled Board resignations, with the related publicity, the outlook for the Group remains substantially as set out in PMI's Preliminary Announcement of 2 July 2007. The prospects for PMI's minilab manufacturing business will benefit from the recently announced contract with the largest retail pharmacy in the USA, for the exclusive supply of minilabs for the third successive year. During the period, there was no material change to the Group's financial position. As usual, the Board proposes to provide an update on trading and outlook at the Company's AGM, which this year will be held on 17 October 2007. Update on Corporate Governance It was a period of further progress, with considerable change to the Board. Amongst the executive Directors, Riccardo Costi and Francois Giuntini left the Board (but not the Group) in July, whilst on 3 September it was announced that Serge Crasnianski would step down as Chief Executive Officer and as a Director by 30 November 2007, following a smooth transition to his successor. Amongst the non-executive Directors, Roger Partington and David Young were appointed in May. In July, Francis Wahl resigned and Dan David announced his resignation with effect from the earlier of the conclusion of the Strategic Review or 31 December 2007. On 3 September, Vernon Sankey resigned as Chairman and a Director, with David Young being elected by the Board to be its Chairman in the interim. If the Chairman is excluded, one-half of the Directors - Roger Partington, Martin Reavley and Hugo Swire - are Independent Directors. The recruitment of a successor Chief Executive Officer, involving a recruitment company and overseen by a Committee of the Board chaired by Roger Partington, is well underway. Defining the future strategy for the Vending Division will be a key priority for the new Chief Executive Officer. Legal Disclaimer: This announcement contains statements that are or may be forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, operations and businesses of PMI. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this announcement may be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual performance or achievements of PMI, or industry results, to be materially different from any performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding the present and future business strategies of PMI and the environment in which it will operate in the future which are not necessarily indicative of future outcomes or the financial performance of PMI and should not be considered in isolation. Enquiries: Photo-Me International plc 01372-455 591 David Young (Chairman) Serge Crasnianski (CEO) Jean-Luc Peurois (Finance Director) Bankside Consultants Charles Ponsonby 020-7367 8851 Tulchan Communications David Allchurch 07771-937 173 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
UK 100

Latest directors dealings