The Tyro float: what you need to know

Tyro CEO Robbie Cooke. Photo: supplied

On the same day Prospa shares were hammered by the market for undershooting its prospectus forecasts, fintech rival Tyro revealed plans for an ASX float it hopes will value the company at more than AU$1 billion.

The SME payments and loans provider, chaired by David Thodey, and around since 2003, is looking to raise between $241.1 million and $252.7 million, offering shares in the $2.50-2.75 range, according to IPO documents lodged with the ASX on Monday.

That would give the company a total enterprise value of $1.08 billion to $1.20bn with an indicative market capitalisation of $1.25 billion – $1.36bn.

$125 million will come from new shares, the balance in a secondary offer to its 450 existing shareholders, which include Atlassian’s Mike Cannon-Brookes the company’s largest single shareholder with a 13.69% stake.

$140 million of the raise is being offered to institutional investors. Around 50% of the capital goes into voluntary escrow until the FY20 preliminary results are lodged.

Tyro’s existing shareholders are expected to control around 80% of total shares on issue following the float.

The retail offer opens on November 26, closing on December 2, followed by a book build, Dec 3-4 before the final share price is announced on Dec 5, with a listing date of December 6.

Tyro has around 29,000 business customers, 450 staff and is Australia’s fifth largest merchant acquiring bank by terminal count.

But the business is not yet in the black, making a pro forma EBITDA loss of $6.1 million in FY19 (FY18 loss: $7.4m). Last financial year’s net loss was $18.6 million, a slight reduction on the previous year’s $18.8 million.

Tyro says it will not be profitable in the Prospectus forecast period.

Chair David Thodey says the ongoing losses reflect “our continuing investment in attracting more merchants to our ecosystem, the investment in our team and our commitment to develop our payments and business banking products”.

He puts the company highlights in FY19 as:

31% increase in transaction value processed to $17.5 billion (FY18: $13.4 billion);
28% increase in revenue and income to $189.8 million (FY18: $148.2 million); and
25% increase in number of merchants to exceed 29,000 (FY18: 23,245 merchants).

The additional funds are for:

expanding Tryo’s payments and banking offerings;
increasing its merchant base in existing core verticals;
entering two new industry verticals – accommodation and services;
driving its eCommerce offering;
product innovation; and
potential M&A and strategic partnerships.

“In addition, the offer will provide our existing shareholders with access to greater liquidity and secure other benefits that may follow from a listing,” Thodey said.

Tyro CEO and Managing Director Robbie Cooke said the company’s focus was challenging the status quo for merchants.

“Central to our mission is supporting small to medium business in Australia with better solutions for their payment and banking needs. As a tech-driven enterprise we are well placed to understand and assist in reducing the friction they often experience in their payments and banking activities,” he said.

“I am particularly excited that Tyro merchants have the ability to invest in our future success by participating in our merchant offer.”

Here are Tyro’s financial and forecasts as per the Prospectus: