Photo-Me profit warning

Photobooths maker and operator Photo-Me has wasted little time in running back into trouble, as shown in a brief and bloody profit warning.

Morningstar.co.uk Editors 29 November, 2007 | 10:43AM
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Photo-Me now believes that the results for the current year will fall substantially short of market expectations. That is in sharp contrast to an anodyne AGM statement last month when the company appeared to be on track to meet hopes that had, admittedly, been reduced after earlier profit warnings.

Today’s statement follows an assessment of management accounts of the principal businesses for the half year to 31 October.

The shortfall is mainly in the area of manufacturing. Both the KIS minilab business and the Imaging Solutions wholesale lab business have been affected by difficult market conditions.

First half figures will be released in mid-December 2007.

Photo-Me shareholders should be used to nasty shocks by now – which is why we have cautioned investors in the past. The company has been torn apart by an unsuccessful attempt to sell the vending division, with major shareholders ousting the existing board after a long war of attrition.

The shares slumped 14.75p to 35.25p this morning, a drop of 30%.

Charles Peacock at Seymour Pierce had thought the share worth buying after the AGM statement but he is reconsidering his stance. We confidently expect a less positive recommendation soon.

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