Photo-Me International

Photo Me International
Public limited company
Traded as LSE: PHTM
Industry Vending
Founded 1960s
Headquarters Bookham, Surrey, England
Area served
 World wide
Key people
 Serge Crasnianski, (CEO)
Website www.photo-me.com

Photo-Me International plc (LSE: PHTM) based in Bookham, Surrey operates photobooths. It became a plc in 1963 and has built operations in several countries including Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, Germany and France in addition to the UK. Although most well known for its photobooths, Photo-Me operates, sells and services a range of instant service equipment.

The Company's shares have been listed on the London Stock Exchange since 1962. In 2007 a shareholder revolt over plans to sell off the vending division forced Vernon Sankey and Serge Crasnianski to resign.[1]

In February 2009 there was a profit warning [2] and in March 2009 chief executive Thierry Barel resigned.[3]

Serge Crasnianski was reappointed to the Board as a Non-Executive Director in May 2009 . He was subsequently appointed Deputy Chairman and Joint Chief Executive and in May 2010 assumed the role of Chief Executive.

Following his reappointment, a major restructuring was carried out at KIS and the Group after losses of £6.3 million in 2008 and recorded a pre-tax profit of £1.6 million in the year ending April 30, 2009. In the year to April 30, 2010, the Group’s loss-making wholesale photo-processing labs business was sold and pre-tax profits were reported at £14.0 million. Of note was the £31.6 million improvement in the overall cash position such that the net cash on the Balance Sheet was £8.1 million compared to net debt of £23.5 million the previous year.[4]

Photo-Me equipment in Castle Court, N Ireland.
Fotofix electronic booth in Germany.

Canary Wharf in London has installed the company's photo booths but in this case they are ones designed in conjunction with Philippe Stark. [5]

The company has diversified into the laundry business, with a division called 'Revolution'. Revolution is a 24/7 outdoor self-service launderette. This division is trading beyond expectations with 2000 units planned for the end of 2015.[6][7]

In November 2016 it was announced that the company had bought the photo division of Asda stores. Photo-Me will take over the supermarket's 191 photo centres and 172 self-service kiosks. [8]

On 18 January 2017 it was announced in the United Kingdom House of Lords, that the government is seeking to allow the public to submit selfies direct to the passport office for approval. (BBC iplayer - Wednesday in Parliament - 18 Jan 2017)

References

  1. ↑ Photo-Me shares fall after profit warning - Business News, Business - The Independent Archived March 18, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ↑ http://sellyourphotograph.com/how-to-make-money-with-photography
  3. ↑ http://www.h-l.co.uk/shares/security_news/articles/2653207?rq=article&sedol=0848125%5B%5D
  4. ↑ Photo-Me International PLC, UK - Financial Reports
  5. ↑ "Photo-Me Booth". Canary Wharf.
  6. ↑ News Team. "Serge Crasnianski, the chief executive of Photo-Me (LON:PHTM)". DirectorsTalk.
  7. ↑ "Say hello to the 24-hour OUTDOOR washing machine". Mail Online. 12 May 2014.
  8. ↑ "Investors Chronicle - News & Tips: Keywords Studios, Photo-Me, HSBC & more".
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