(Reuters) - French digital payments company Worldline reported on Wednesday that third-quarter revenue was broadly in line with analyst expectations, as a resilient performance in its merchant services business offset the termination of some contracts.
Revenue in the third quarter of the year fell 1.1% organically year-on-year to 1.16 billion euros ($1.3 billion), in line with analysts' average estimate of 1.17 billion euros in a company-provided consensus.
The merchant services business - which contributes around 75% of the group's adjusted core profit and provides services in payment terminals and e-commerce - saw 0.2% growth in revenue in the quarter, helped by steady growth in Central Europe and increased market share in southern Europe.
Facing slower consumer spending in Europe and a slump in its market valuation that led to its exclusion from France's blue-chip CAC 40 index last year, Worldline's attempts to boost its share price have been hampered by repeated cuts to its financial targets.
European digital payments companies have more than halved their market value in the last four years as investors have grown cautious about the sector.
The Paris-based company, which processes digital transactions for clients ranging from merchants to government agencies, issued profit warnings in August and September, the most recent of which was announced with the exit of long-time CEO Gilles Grapinet.
The group confirmed its 2024 forecasts for adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) of around 1.1 billion euros and organic growth of about 1%.
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"We aim to return progressively to mid-single-digit revenue growth in 2025," CEO Marc-Henri Desportes said in a statement.
Desportes was appointed for an interim period as Worldline management is still looking for Grapinet's successor.
"The board directors will name a new CEO, I'm committed to action today," he said on a conference call with journalists.
Investment bank Intermonte analysts have said tie-ups are back on the table in the payments industry, pointing to Mario Draghi's report on European Union competitiveness which could pave the way for a merger between Worldline and its Italian rival Nexi.
"We have built a great success story in Italy, it's normal for this to generate rumors... but what matters now is the margin of our business, that's our priority," Desportes said when asked about further M&A activity in Italy.