Pushpay raises $25 million in bookbuild, plans US listing to support growth

Chris Heaslip, chief executive of Pushpay. The company is planning to list in the US. Photo / Dean Purcell

Pushpay, the mobile payments app developer, is in a trading halt ahead of a $25 million bookbuild, which it says will accelerate its growth, and has raised its annualised committed monthly revenue (ACMR) target to US$100m.

The company, which is dual-listed on the ASX, also plans to list in the US within the next 36 months, it said today in its first quarter update. It gave guidance of US$70m in revenue for the 2018 financial year, more than double 2017's US$34m.

Pushpay also increased its ACMR target, which was for US$72m by the end of calendar 2017, to US$100m by March 31, 2018, though this will use a new average revenue per customer (ARPC) measure which removes the former correction for seasonal effects. The company said the old definition "represented an overly conservative historical view of our volume fee growth" and the new definition will allow it to better recognise the impact of larger customers. ACMR for the year to June 2017 was US$57.9m under the old ARPC definition, but would have been US$62.6m using the new measure.

The company's app has gained traction in the US faith sector, where its services are used by 2 per cent of the estimated 314,000 churches. Over the past year, the company has lifted its customer numbers and is getting more revenue from each customer. It had 7,128 customers as of June 30, up 59 per cent from a year earlier, with ARPC up to US$732 per month from US$511 per month in 2016.

"We believe a US listing will expand Pushpay's shareholder base, increase liquidity and enable the company to allow better access to capital, thereby increasing funding alternatives to support the company's growth strategy," Chris Heaslip, Pushpay's chief executive and co-founder said.

"The new funding round announced today will enable Pushpay to invest more aggressively in its targeted account based and field sales strategy over the next 18 months, and the company now expects to reach breakeven on a monthly cash flow basis by the end of calendar year 2018. The board believes that pursuing accelerated growth in the US is the best means of increasing shareholder value."

Deutsche Craigs and Ord Minnett have been engaged as joint lead managers for the placement, which will take place today, with shares expected to resume trading tomorrow. The shares closed yesterday at $1.65 and have gained 18 per cent this year.

No details were provided on the number of shares being sold or at what price.