Country for PR: United States
Contributor: PR Newswire New York
Wednesday, November 13 2019 - 14:34
AsiaNet
Afterpay Touch Group Limited is pleased to announce a business update for the period ended 31 October 2019
MELBOURNE, Australia, Nov. 13, 2019 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --

Afterpay Touch Group Limited (ASX: APT) ("Afterpay" or the "Group") is pleased 
to announce a business update for the period ended 31 October 2019.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/965151/Afterpay_Logo.jpg 

Highlights and Group Performance

GROUP             4 month period         Compared to:         Compared to
(Unaudited)            ended               4 month              4 month
                  31 October 2019        period ended         period ended
                                          31 October          30 June 2019
                                             2018                          

Underlying             $2.7                  110%                   23%
Sales                  billion

Active                
Customers[1]           6.1                   137%                   32%
(as at 31 October      million
2019)
                                                                               
Active
Merchants[1]           39,450                96%                    22%
(as at 31 October
2019)

    - Growth and performance continue across all geographies and channels 
      with global underlying sales of $2.7 billion in the 4-months to 31 
      October 2019, a 110% increase compared to the previous corresponding 
      period (pcp). Current annualised underlying sales is in excess of 
      $8.5b.[2] 
    - There were 6.1 million active customers globally at the end of October,
      a 137% increase on pcp
         - On average, Afterpay onboarded over 15,000 new customers per day 
           in October, representing its largest customer acquisition month on 
           record and accelerating from approximately 12,500 customers per 
           day in July.
    - Purchasing frequency, loss rates and customer lifetime value are 
      improving the longer that customers are on our platform: 
        - In Australia and New Zealand, customers who joined Afterpay during 
          FY15-17 are now purchasing, on average, approximately 22x per year. 
          Newer cohorts are following a similar upward trend, with the FY18 
          and FY19 cohorts purchasing, on average, 14x and 7x per year 
          respectively.
    - Nearly 40,000 merchants are active on the Afterpay platform, almost 
      double the pcp, reflecting the onboarding of both higher margin SMB 
      merchants and key new enterprise merchants.
    - A number of major brands have either recently integrated or are in the 
      process of onboarding including eBay (AU), Ulta (US), Finish Line (US), 
      Marks & Spencer (UK), David Jones (in-store AU), and Myer (in-store 
      AU). Collectively, it is estimated that these merchants represent 
      addressable underlying sales well in excess of $10 billion[3]. 
    - Year to date, Group merchant revenue margin (unaudited) is in line with 
      FY19 levels, supported by improving revenue margins in the US and UK. 
    - Year to date, Group Gross Loss, Net Transaction Loss (NTL) and Net 
      Transaction Margin (NTM) (all unaudited) remain in line with FY19 
      levels, notwithstanding higher underlying sales contribution from the 
      newer, higher early stage loss markets of the US and UK. 
    - The Afterpay platform continues to add value to our merchants with 
      Afterpay's shop directory contributing over 10 million lead referrals 
      globally in October alone, representing the highest month of referrals 
      ever. 
    - Strategic agreement with Mastercard in Australia and New Zealand will 
      support our mid-term growth. 
    - A $200 million private placement and proposed strategic partnership 
      with leading US based technology investor, Coatue Management. Proceeds 
      will be raised at $28.50, representing a 2.4% discount to the last 
      closing share price and a 3.8% premium to the 5 day VWAP, and be 
      targeted to global platform expansion opportunities beyond mid-term 
      plan deliverables. 
    - Progress made in further strengthening a majority independent board 
      with the appointment of a new US based director, Mr Gary Briggs, from 
      1 January 2020.

ANZ Market Update

    - Growth continues in ANZ with underlying sales of $1.9bn in the 4-months
      to 31 October 2019. 
    - In-store continues to be the key growth driver, representing 23% of
      total underlying sales in FY20 year to date, up from 18% in FY19.
      Afterpay in-store is now available at almost 29,000 shopfronts, up from 
      23,600 at the end of June 2019. 
    - Over 3 million active customers in ANZ and over 33,000 merchants as at 
      31 October 2019. 
    - Merchants that have recently gone live or signed with Afterpay include:

Dymocks (in-store)       TerryWhite Chemmart (in-store)   Agoda (online)

Swarovski (online)       Shein (online)                   Myer (in-store)
 
Marks & Spencer (online) My Deal (online)                 David Jones (in-store)

Appliances Online		


    - In a little over 12 months since launching health services, Afterpay is 
      now being offered in over 2,500 practices in the dental and optical 
      space nationally. 
    - Afterpay has recently entered into a partnership with Bupa Dental, 
      Australia's largest corporate dental group, which will see Afterpay 
      made available to the more than 500,000 patients they treat each year 
      across more than 200 dental practices around Australia. 
    - Loss performance has continued to trend positively on a year to date 
      basis relative to FY19 levels. 
    - Over 95% of GMV in ANZ is generated from returning customers. 
    - Afterpay estimates that it is one of the largest lead referrers in ANZ, 
      with well over 4 million referrals provided to merchants in the month 
      of October. 
    - Entered into a strategic partnership with Mastercard in the Australian 
      market to help scale Afterpay's business and deliver services to 
      merchants with greater efficiency and flexibility. In addition, 
      Afterpay will utilise Mastercard data and services and technology 
      capabilities. Further information on this collaboration will be 
      provided as products and services are introduced to the Australian market.

Partnership with eBay Australia

    - Afterpay is pleased to announce it has reached an agreement for our 
      service to be offered on eBay Australia's marketplace; expected to go 
      live in the 2020 calendar year. 
    - eBay Australia is the largest shopping site in the country with 11-
      million unique monthly visitors. 
    - eBay Australia will be giving its 40,000 Australian SMBs the ability to 
      access the Afterpay service for their eBay customers. 
    - The partnership represents Afterpay Australia's largest online 
      arrangement to date which allows both companies to align on a mutual 
      approach of adding value to merchants by helping them access new and 
      repeat customers.

US Market Update

    - Strong growth continued in the US with underlying merchant sales 
      reaching $0.7bn in the first 4-months to 31 October 2019. Current 
      annualised underlying sales is in excess of $2.5 billion based on the 
      month of October. 
    - Customer uptake is increasing at a faster rate, with 2.6 million active 
      customers at 31 October 2019, up 51% since 30 June 2019. 
    - Recorded highest monthly customer acquisition in the US in October, 
      with over 9,000 new customers acquired per day on average. 
    - Year to date, Gross Loss experience has improved in the US relative to 
      FY19 levels as our returning customer base increased. Merchant revenue 
      margins are also ahead of FY19 levels on a year to date basis. 
    - More than 9,000 active or currently integrating merchants as at 31
      October 2019, including recently onboarded brands such as:

Ulta             Ruggable        FragranceNet.com          Madewell 

Finish Line      Bombas          HAUS LABORATORIES          Outdoor Voices 

PacSun           Shiseido Brands 

    - The Afterpay platform continues to add value to US merchants with the 
      Company's shop directory generating over 5 million retailer referrals 
      in the month of October.

UK Market Update

    - Over $100m of underlying sales in the 4-months to 31 October 2019. 
      Current annualised underlying sales is in excess of $0.4 billion based 
      on October. 
    - Over 400,000 active customers since launch in May 2019. 
    - UK customer numbers remain higher than the US at the equivalent stage 
      of lifecycle despite being a smaller market. 
    - While still in its infancy, merchant revenue margins and loss 
      performance has trended positively on a year to date basis. 
    - Successful launch of the Clearpay app in October supporting meaningful 
      lead generation with over 0.5 million referrals across the Clearpay 
      website and app in October. 
    - Partnership with UK-based multinational retailer Mark & Spencer (M&S) 
      recently commenced. It is one of Afterpay's largest merchant 
      partnerships to date and is expected to contribute significantly to our  
      UK performance over time. 
    - Approximately 330 active or currently integrating merchants as at 31 
      October 2019 including recently onboarded brands such as:

Marks & Spencer       The Hut            Footlocker             Pro Bike Kit

Look Fantastic        MyProtein          Zavvi                  IWOOT

Investment and proposed strategic partnership with Coatue Management ("Coatue") 
to support continued international expansion

    - Afterpay today has entered into a subscription agreement for a A $200 
      million private placement with leading US based technology investor, 
      Coatue. 
    - Coatue will acquire new Afterpay shares at $28.50, representing a 2.4% 
      discount to the last closing share price on Tuesday, 12 November of 
      $29.19 per share, and representing a 3.8% premium to the 5 day VWAP[4] 
      up to and including Tuesday, 12 November. Completion of the placement 
      is planned for later this month. 
    - The shares issued to Coatue will be subject to a 12 month escrow 
      arrangement reflecting the strategic nature of the investment. 
    - Investment proceeds will be targeted to global platform expansion 
      opportunities beyond mid- term plan deliverables. 
    - In connection with the investment, a non-binding term sheet has been 
      agreed for a strategic partnership where Coatue will leverage its data 
      science expertise to support Afterpay in its development of retail data 
      analytics and future data driven products. Subject to formal agreement, 
      Coatue and Afterpay will collaborate on tools and capabilities, 
      empowering Afterpay to pursue its goal of being the world's most loved 
      way to pay. 
    - Coatue, founded by Philippe Laffont and Thomas Laffont in 1999, is one 
      of the largest dedicated technology funds in the world, having invested 
      in a number of global technology platforms. Coatue currently manages 
      approximately US$17 billion in assets on behalf of individuals, 
      endowments, foundations, and other institutional investors.

Governance

    - We have made progress in our commitment to enhance the Company's Board 
      with the appointment of a new independent Director. 
    - Mr Gary Briggs will be joining the Company as a Non-Executive Director 
      from 1 January 2020. 
        - Mr Briggs is one of the most experienced marketing leaders in the
          digital sector having worked in a number of senior executive 
          positions including, most recently, Chief Marketing Officer at 
          Facebook from 2013-2018. Prior to Facebook, Mr. Briggs led 
          marketing at industry leading technology companies including 
          Motorola Mobility, Google, eBay and PayPal. He is also currently a 
          board member of Etsy and Petco.
    - Our global board search for additional Directors remains ongoing, and 
      we look forward to providing further updates at the relevant time.

Regulatory Update (Australia)

    - We welcome the opportunity to engage with the RBA in relation to 
      surcharging, as part of its broad based, periodic review of the 
      payments industry next year. It is important to note that Afterpay 
      provides a far more comprehensive service to retailers than simply 
      being a payment system. 
    - We welcome comments from the Government that they are supportive of new 
      technologies bringing competition to the marketplace and the 
      establishment of a Senate Select Committee charged with better 
      understanding the tech sector and how it can be better supported by 
      regulators and policy makers. 
    - Afterpay continues its support for a Code of Practice for the 'buy now, 
      pay later' industry. 
    - External auditor Mr Neil Jeans of Initialism is due to deliver a final 
      independent audit report later this month. The Company remains 
      committed to ensuring its AML/CTF compliance is robust.

Awards

    - Afterpay was honoured to be included in the global 2019 Fintech 100, 
      recently compiled by KPMG and H2 Ventures.

About Afterpay Touch Group
Afterpay Touch Group (ATG) is a global technology-driven payments company with 
a mission to be 'the world's most loved way to pay'. ATG comprises the Afterpay 
and Pay Now (Touch) services and businesses. Afterpay is driving retail 
innovation by allowing leading retailers to offer a 'buy now, receive now, pay 
later' service that does not require customers to enter into a traditional loan 
or pay any upfront fees or interest to Afterpay. As at 31 October 2019, 
Afterpay has over 6.1 million active customers and nearly 40,000 active 
merchants on-boarded. Pay Now comprises innovative digital payment businesses 
servicing major consumer-facing organisations in the telecommunications, health 
and convenience retail sectors in Australia.

[1] An active customer or merchant is defined as a customer or merchant that 
has purchased through Afterpay within the last 12 months.
[2] Based on month of October 2019.
[3] Does not include in-store or the eBay partnership
[4] Source: S&P Capital IQ, 13 November 2019 

SOURCE: Afterpay 

CONTACT: Investors: Luke Bortoli, Chief Financial Officer, 
luke.bortoli@afterpaytouch.com OR Company: Christopher Stevens, General Counsel 
& Company Secretary, christopher.stevens@afterpay.com.au OR Media: Chloe 
Rees-Cato & Clegg, m) +61 0417 665 416, chloe@catoandclegg.com