Fireone a "mini NLR" floated today on AIM looks interesting with plenty of growth possibility..



Embargoed until 0800 2 June 2005

FireOne Group plc
('FireOne' or the 'Company')

First day of dealings on the AIM Market

FireOne, the provider of payment processing services for the online gaming
industry, announces that its entire issued ordinary share capital has today been
admitted to trading on the AIM market of London Stock Exchange plc
('Admission'), under the ticker symbol 'FPA'.

As part of the flotation, Numis Securities Limited placed 10,000,000 ordinary
shares at 241 pence per share (the 'Placing'), raising 24.1 million (before
expenses) in cash for Optimal Group Inc., the parent company, as a selling
shareholder. As at Admission, there are a total of 50,000,000 ordinary shares in
issue with a market capitalisation (at the 241 pence per ordinary share placing
price) of 120.5 million.

Mitch Garber, Executive Chairman of FireOne commented:
'We are very positive about the continued opportunities available to FireOne
within the growing online gaming industry and our admission to AIM, amongst
other respected leisure and gaming companies, is the next logical step in
FireOne's development.'

- Ends -

Enquiries:

FireOne +44 (0) 78 7023 4746
Ben Dalfen, Chief Operating Officer
David Schwartz, Chief Financial Officer

Numis Securities Ltd +44 (0) 20 7776 1500
Jag Mundi / Amer Khan / Andrew Burnett

Weber Shandwick Square Mile +44 (0) 20 7067 0700
Kirsty Raper / Nick Oborne / Susanne Walker

Notes to editors:

FireOne is a provider of payment processing services for the online
gaming industry, providing the operators of online casinos, poker rooms and
sports books (including Sportingbet/Paradise Poker, Casino on Net (
www.888.com
)
and PartyPoker.com) and their customers with a secure, convenient and
cost-effective system to collect, deposit and withdraw funds.

As at 31 March 2005, the business was providing its services to over 300
online gaming operators, representing approximately 1,500 websites.

For the 12 months ended 31 December 2004, the business delivered profit
before tax of US$14.8 million on turnover of US$43.0 million. Unaudited results
for the three months ended 31 March 2005, show profit before tax of US$6.0
million and turnover of US$14.9 million.

Since the mid-1990s, revenues in the online gaming industry have grown
at approximately 35 per cent. per year to exceed US $7 billion in 2004. This
figure represents only 3 per cent. of the total worldwide land-based and
internet gaming market and these revenues are expected to show significant
growth in the next few years.

The Placing shares represent 20 per cent. of the issued share capital of
the Company, with the balance being retained by Optimal Group Inc. ('OGI') and
one of its subsidiaries. OGI is a leading payments and services company, based
in Montreal, Canada; its shares are quoted on NASDAQ (OPMR:NAS). Prior to the
Placing, FireOne was a wholly owned subsidiary of OGI. The Company has not
raised any new funds as the Directors believe that the FireOne is able to
finance its operations from its existing cashflow.

The Directors believe that the Placing and Admission will give FireOne
focus and increased autonomy from OGI; greater profile and status; and greater
prominence in Europe for future growth.

Wonderful results from FPA this morning to follow up the equally good results from NETeller yesterday.
NETeller is getting rave reviews in the newspapers today.
A very good chance that FPA will have one or two similar reviews tomorrow.

K******

Just had time to have a read of the FireOne announcement from yesterday. The very interesting thing is that they are anticipating distributing a dividend in 2006 as they will have plenty of 'free' cash that is not required as working capital. From what I can gather this is ahead of schedule.

Quite possibly the clincher if anyone is trying to decide between FPA and NLR.



Dividend Policy Update

As indicated in the AIM admission document, the Company initially stated that it
intended to retain future earnings to finance continued development of the
business and that the declaration and payment of any dividends would depend on
the Company's operations, its financial position, cash requirements prospects,
profits available for distribution and other factors deemed relevant at the
time.

The Company now intends to commence paying dividends, beginning in 2006. The
first dividend declaration will be made in the first half of 2006 only after
the filing of the Company's first set of audited financial statements, in
accordance with applicable Irish company law.

Since its inception as an independent operating company in May 2005, the Company
has generated significant free cash flow from operations, which is well in
excess of its ordinary working capital needs. The Company presently anticipates
continuing to generate significant free cash flow and, accordingly, intends,
subject to the requirements of Irish law, to distribute as dividends the amount
of all earnings that are in excess of amounts required to fund normal working
capital or other strategic objectives.


Mono

I agree this is good news and I feel this share is overlooked at the moment.

Huge drop today to 337p...why is that?

Now 320 where we were last july...........any comment?????

All mine are now red--this one is just following the trend unfortunately. At least I feel this one is trading well and the bounce back will eventually come. fingers crossed!

FireOne firing again.

A bargain at these levels and, hopefully, a steady rise from now on rather than sector hype or otherwise.

Mono

These have finally woken up today !!!!
The recovery in the Neteller price over the last week has finally rubbed off on FireOne.
Results on the 7th March.
Expect it to be well north of 400p by then.

;o)

These got sucked down from the January high of 450p on the back of Neteller crashing (which was due to shorting spree by Simon caukwell - Evil Knievel).
Whilst Neteller has since recovered to a large extent I feel that FireOne still has a fair way to go.
With the results, due next week, which will be very good, plus a very positive outlook, there should be a very good case for 450p short term and 500p+ in the not too distant future.
There are rumours that parent company Optimal (80% shareholder) may release more shares to help liquidity.
If that is the case then FireOne will be firing on all cylinders.

Mono

http://www.nasdaq.com/aspxcontent/NewsStory.aspx?cpath=20060306\ACQBIZ200603061601BIZWIRE_USPR_____BW6105.htm&symbol=OPMR&selected=OPMR&selecteddisplaysymbol=OPMR&coname=Optimal%20Group,%20Inc.&logopath=&market=NASDAQ-NM&pageName=Company%20News&kind=&formtype=&mkttype=&pathname=&page=news

The results from Optimal Group (FireOne's parent company) were excellent and included a paragraph raising guidance for earnings in the first quarter of 2006.

It should be a very good day for FPA tomorrow.

;o)

Had a few bob in these today Jimmy, good look to everyone.

cheers GF.

The results are excellent (as expected)

http://moneyam.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200603070701133927Z.html

but the maiden dividend was a lovely and unexpected surprise.

;o)

I'm not in these anymore GF , have got them on my watchlist though .

Results are due on Tuesday.
The shares have been clobbered due to the internet gaming bills in the American senate.
The whole sector seems to be having a very good day today.
Neteller having an especially good day.
Common sense suggests that FireOne must have a lot of catching up to do.

Ian

Anyone who has confidence that the internet gaming sector will hold off the zealots in the senate should look at FireOne as potentially the biggest current bargain.
Here are the broker forecasts for this year and next:

http://fool.digitallook.com/?action=forecasts&ticker=fpa

huge growth and one of the biggest dividends on the stock market.

The consensus forecasts look extraordinary.
eps of 38.11p this year rising to 42.94p next year.
dividend of 27.85p this year rising to 31.06p next year.

If the figures are anywhere near these then the shares look like a giveaway.

The results from Optimal (the parent company of FireOne) are out:

http://www.nasdaq.com/aspxcontent/NewsStory.aspx?cpath=20060807\ACQBIZ200608071602BIZWIRE_USPR_____BW5835.htm&symbol=opmr&symbol=&symbol=&symbol=&symbol=&symbol=&symbol=&symbol=&symbol=&symbol=&selected=opmr&selecteddisplaysymbol=OPMR&coname=Optimal%20Group,%20Inc.&logopath=&market=NASDAQ-GM&pageName=Company%20News&kind=&mode=frameset&formtype=&mkttype=&pathname=&page=news

Excellent figures and prospects (with the necessary caveats regarding possible US legislative problems !!!!).

Things looking promising for FPA tomorrow.

Ian

On the contrary....expecting the price to test 1.60 again in the next few weeks.

The interims are out:

http://moneyam.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200608080700393698H.html

FireOne Announces 98% Increase in First Half Net Profit and Maiden Interim
Dividend of $0.232

The interim dividend of $0.232 translates to around 12.5 pence sterling !!!

Ian

LONDON (AFX) - FireOne Group plc, which provides payment processing services for the online gaming industry, declared a maiden interim dividend of 23.2 cents per share as it reported a rise in pretax profit to 19.6 mln usd from a pro forma figure of 12.6 mln.

Revenue increased by 54 pct over the first half of 2005 to 50.0 mln usd in the first half of 2006.

Chief executive officer Ben Dalfen said the board is very pleased with the continued improvement of operating margin, which demonstrates the group's ability to implement strategic initiatives focused on profitability such as managing the risk associated with the FirePay guarantee offering, migrating various processing accounts from Optimal Payments and optimising fee structure.

Dalfen said that for the remainder of the financial year, the group intends to continue to execute its strategy of expanding FirePay into new geographies, supporting the merchant base with the innovative features they require and strengthening the FirePay customer service offering in all areas.

'We are pleased with our results for the first half of the year and look forward to the remainder of 2006 with confidence,' Dalfen said.