Clouds over MyATM
ATM operator MyATM is expected to update the ASX on its financial position by tomorrow, after requesting a trading halt in its shares on Friday, pending an announcement "concerning the ongoing operations of the company."On Friday, staff held a meeting with an unidentified external adviser. It is not clear whether this is a prelude to the recapitalisation of the firm or to the appointment of an administrator - which is the speculation among this newsletter's sources and on share market website Hot Copper.The Adelaide Advertiser newspaper reported on Saturday that the company's chair, Kym Weir, conceded at the annual meeting last Monday that the firm was not trading within terms with its suppliers. Weir said, however, that it aimed to do so early in 2012.The firm has been forced to remove scores of ATMs from shopping centres over recent months - many of them independently owned by private investors - because of low transaction numbers and a failure to pay its bills on time.Some of these ATMs are the subject of a guaranteed return to the investors, though the firm may be late with these payments as well.One contributor to the Hot Copper website, claiming to be an investor in several ATMs, said bills had not been paid for two months.At its annual meeting, the firm outlined plans for further acquisitions. MyATM was an under-bidder for the Australian ATM operations of iCash Payments, which will instead be sold to EzeATM.MyATM listed on the ASX in March. Shares sold in the initial public offering at 20 cents last traded at 3.5 cents.