overgrowth
- 13 May 2005 16:36
Retail Decisions are
market leaders in an industry which continues to grow exponentially. They
produce payment fraud systems solutions for major blue chip clients globally,
though the bulk of the business is currently coming from the major reatilers
both in the UK and US.
They are a Techmark 100 company which means that there will always be
a level of institutional interest in the company. However, on top of this
"forced" interest from the tracker funds there has throughout
2005 been sustained large buying from no other than Goldman Sachs and
Barclays. These institutions together now have an investment of tens of
millions of shares in RTD !
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Shares Magazine had
a cover feature back in early April entitled "ATOMIC! - Small is
about to get VERY, VERY BIG - 7 stocks for the new technology revolution".
It was no surprise to see Retail Decisions as part of the selection.
Here's what Shares
had to say:
"Retail Decisions is a specialist software developer aimed at preventing
credit card fraud. It owns a database of several million dodgy credit
and debit card numbers against which it crosschecks transactions, but
also has developed clever software which can spot strange patterns in
your spending. This system is perfect for stopping phony credit card transactions.
Investors could not ask for a better pure play on rising credit card crime.
Perhaps the company's biggest challenge is scale but chief exec Carl Clump
is attempting to address this with aquisitions, even if opportunities
seem to be few and far between. In the meantime, Retail Decisions remains
concentrated on developing in the card-not-present arena, where it already
has fantastic experience and technology.
The drive to win new customers should also be helped by the fact that
it already serves so many blue-chip customers including Marks & Spencer,
T-Mobile and, most recently, Federated Department Stores, the US owner
of Macy's and Bloomingdales.
Let's not forget, too, the company's highly profitable fuel-card business
in Australia which grew 30% last year, making this year's forecast low
single-digit earnings growth look on the conservative side."
Retail Decisions have
continued throughout 2005 to rake in very healthy profits from the Oz.
fuel card business thanks to the "bonus" of high oil prices
and favourable exchange rates. In addition, the extra revenue streams
from new major US corporate clients will be starting to filter through.
In the US, Retail Decisions appear to be chosen on many occasions over
their main rival Cybersource which indicates just how well this company
is doing.
The demand for card-not-present (i.e. internet/phone shopping) fraud software
is going to continue to grow and grow so RTD presents guaranteed success
in this arena - backed up with the cash cow fuel card business which is
being extended into locations other than Australia and we have a real
gem of a company. Longer term target 1+.
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optomistic
- 02 Dec 2005 14:31
- 476 of 1009
Retail Decisions PLC
02 December 2005
RETAIL DECISIONS PLC (the 'Company')
NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTERESTS IN SHARES
1. Name of listed company
RETAIL DECISIONS PLC
2. Name of shareholder with a major interest
Credit Suisse First Boston (Europe) Limited ('CSFBEL'), a member of the
investment banking business of Credit Suisse.
3. Please state whether notification indicates that it is regarding the holding
of the shareholder named in 2 above; in respect of a non-beneficial interest; or
in the case of an individual holder if it is a holding of that person's spouse
or children under the age of 18
Interest under section 208(5) of the the act by virtue of the right to
redelivery of equivalent securities under stock lending arrangements.
4. Name of the registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, the number of
shares held by each of them
NOT INFORMED
5. Number of shares / amount of stock acquired
NOT INFORMED
6. Percentage of issued class (any treasury shares held by the listed company
should not be taken into account when calculating percentage)
NOT INFORMED
7. Number of shares / amount of stock disposed
N/A
8. Percentage of issued class (any treasury shares held by the listed company
should not be taken into account when calculating percentage)
N/A
9. Class of security
ORDINARY 5P SHARES
10. Date of transaction
NOT INFORMED
11. Date listed company informed
01 DECEMBER 2005
12. Total holding following this notification
2,780,240
13. Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification (any
treasury shares held by the listed company should not be taken into account when
calculating percentage)
3.57%
14. Any additional information
15. Name of contact and telephone number for queries
RICHARD AMOS
(01483) 728700
16. Name and signature of duly authorised officer of the listed company
responsible for making this notification
RICHARD AMOS
FINANCE DIRECTOR
Date of notification
02 december 2005
Fred1new
- 02 Dec 2005 16:02
- 477 of 1009
IF I understand this properly they dumped about 8.5million shares (approx), which could be responsible for some of the funny prices since the placements.
The price is up. Monday will be interesting.
optomistic
- 02 Dec 2005 16:33
- 478 of 1009
Understood it to be that they had increased their holding Fred, must check. Unless someone else has the info to hand?
optomistic
- 02 Dec 2005 16:46
- 479 of 1009
New RNS just declared that they no longer have a notifiable interest.
pachandl
- 02 Dec 2005 19:44
- 480 of 1009
Very strange considering the first rns clearly shows a purchase (buy - not informed; sale - n/a). Oh well, at least a blue end to the week.
Fred1new
- 03 Dec 2005 00:05
- 481 of 1009
From Sharescope director's holdings it appears that Credit Suisse First Boston (Europe) Limited held at one time approx 11.2mil shares. (This no. has not been updated yet.) Deducting the 2,780,240 said present holding from that gives approx above. Also noted that Gartmoor had bought about 8.5million on 8-9th/11/2005. and also some smaller buys buy a few senior directors. Looking at the trading volumes one can't tell but I guess they have been already distributed into the market.
55011
- 03 Dec 2005 13:24
- 482 of 1009
Old army motto, I understand, "follow the last instruction".
Look at the dates at the bottom of the RNS. The later one (1.12.05) shows the positive holding. Maybe they are just moving funds within their organisation.
There may also be other adjustments due to the offer but I would have expected them to have been disclosed by now.
Fundamentalist
- 05 Dec 2005 08:29
- 483 of 1009
An interesting acquisition
Retail Decisions plc
Acquisition of E Com Industries Pty Ltd
Australia's Largest Stored Value (Pre-Paid) Gift Card Operator
Retail Decisions ('ReD'), the fuel card operator and a world leader in card
fraud prevention and payment processing, is pleased to announce that earlier
today it agreed to acquire, with immediate effect, the entire share capital of E
Com Industries Pty Ltd ('E Com'), Australia's largest stored value (pre-paid)
gift card operator.
ReD is paying Aus$30m (c.12.9m) for the business (net of expenses) and is
funding the acquisition through a mixture of existing cash resources and new
debt facilities. The acquisition is expected to be earnings enhancing in 2006
and extends ReD's exposure to a new, exciting and high growth market.
Stored value cards are payment cards where the consumer can spend a
pre-determined amount that has previously been loaded onto the card ('
pre-paid'). Stored value cards can be 'single use' or 're-loadable' and be
designed for use at the outlets of single or multiple retailers.
The directors believe that the E Com acquisition represents an important
extension to ReD's existing card issuing business and provides a number of
commercial and operational synergies. These synergies include migrating E Com's
stored value gift card offering across other ReD regions, particularly the UK
and the US, and also cross selling opportunities in Australia.
Over the last three years E Com has been highly successful in the pre-paid gift
card market in Australia and has launched more than 30 gift card schemes for
blue chip retailers such as Coles Myer and Woolworths, Australia's two largest
retailers, Dymocks, a leading Australian book-store, Harvey World Travel and
Crabtree & Evelyn. E Com also operates its own multi-retailer electronic gift
voucher programme aimed at both consumers and the corporate incentive market
which it sells through a proprietary website
www.giftvouchers.com
.
E Com will be integrated immediately into ReD's successful Australian Fuel Card
business. The combined operation will be managed by Rob Hillan, who has been
the MD of ReD's Australian operation since its acquisition in 2000. E Com is
based in Sydney, employs 19 staff and has been acquired from a number of private
investors comprising mainly third party business angels, the main shareholders
being, Fun Enterprises Pty Limited, General Play Pty Limited and Security Mail
Pty Ltd. It was founded in 1998 by its existing Chief Technology Officer (CTO),
Michelle Deaker, who will be joining ReD as Product Development Director of
ReD's combined Australian business.
E Com has grown rapidly since inception, with compound annual revenue growth of
93% over its last three financial years. In its last full financial year to 30
June 2005 E Com's revenue grew by 160% to Aus$5.9m (c.2.5m), achieving a gross
profit of Aus$3.1m (c.1.3m), representing a gross margin of 53% and delivering
a small maiden pre-exceptional operating profit of Aus$97,000 (c.40,000). E
Com had gross assets at 30 June 2005 of Aus$1.8m (c.0.8m) and net liabilities
of Aus$0.3m (c.0.1m).
Trading in the first four months of E Com's current financial year has been
strong with revenue up by over 90% compared to the same period last year and the
profitability of the business is benefiting accordingly from high levels of
operational gearing.
The market for stored value cards is growing rapidly. Industry research shows
that in the US, an estimated US$63 billion was spent on buying stored value
cards in 2004, which is expected to grow to US$257 billion by 2009. It is also
anticipated that around 10% of US gift sales in the 2005 Holiday Season will be
on buying gift cards (source: Giftex). The UK and European market is estimated
to be around five years behind that of the US but is expected to grow by around
30-35% annually over the next five years.
Half of the consideration will be funded from existing cash resources within ReD
Australia with the balance sourced from previously unutilised elements of the
18m facilities that were negotiated and announced at the time of the Group's
recent Fuelserv acquisition. To ensure the Group has sufficient working capital
in Australia going forward, the existing revolving credit facility with National
Australia Bank has been extended from Aus$17m to Aus$27m. The consideration of
Aus$30m is subject to adjustment based on the net asset position at completion,
but this is not anticipated to be material.
Carl Clump, CEO, Retail Decisions commented:
'We are delighted to be acquiring E Com. This is a very important acquisition
for ReD, which we believe will deliver significant shareholder value. In line
with our clearly stated strategy this extends our card issuing capability into a
new segment with excellent growth potential. In particular we are looking at
opportunities to combine E Com with both our Australian Fuel Card Operation and
our recent acquisition of Fuelserv in the UK. In addition we are already
working on launching E Com's services for our existing retail customer base in
the UK and subsequently the US.'
pachandl
- 05 Dec 2005 09:11
- 484 of 1009
Strange that they buy this business outright having already had a rights issue to buy the Euro fuledcard business - I know the latter was more costly but I hope that there is no further share issue "on the side" to fund this acquisition.
55011
- 05 Dec 2005 10:05
- 485 of 1009
Being funded by debt. Already arranged.
The new SETS/MM system is now in force on this and some other similarly sized stocks. Hasn't done the dealing sizes any good, and until a few minutes ago the spread was pretty lousy. Come back the dear old MMs?
pachandl
- 05 Dec 2005 11:11
- 486 of 1009
Thanks 55011
55011
- 05 Dec 2005 11:45
- 487 of 1009
Looking better now. The analysts phone in has got things going in the right direction. Spread and sizes much better.
Fred1new
- 05 Dec 2005 12:27
- 488 of 1009
55011, I am beginning to think you hold this share.
Douggie
- 05 Dec 2005 14:50
- 489 of 1009
Hi Fred good news today ????? ;o\
Fred1new
- 05 Dec 2005 17:26
- 490 of 1009
I think it seems a sensible and hopefully a profitable deal.
55011
- 05 Dec 2005 18:22
- 491 of 1009
...and so say all of us!
55011
- 05 Dec 2005 18:24
- 492 of 1009
Director/PDMR Shareholding
RNS Number:1695V
Retail Decisions PLC
05 December 2005
Retail Decisions plc (the "Company")
Director Shareholding
The Company has today been informed that Jane Tozer, a non Executive Director of
the Company has today purchased 8,000 Ordinary 5p shares in the Company
("Shares") at a price of #1.25 per Share.
*These shares have been purchased in the name of Pershing Securities Ltd.
Following this purchase, Jane Tozer has an interest in 17,425 Shares, which
represents 0.02% of the Company's issued share capital.
Fred1new
- 05 Dec 2005 20:28
- 493 of 1009
If I had her name I might consider changing it. She holds less shares in RTD than I do. How much pay do non-execs get?
Fundamentalist
- 05 Dec 2005 21:37
- 494 of 1009
Buy Note From Daniel Stewart Dated 5/12/05 - Price Target 1.80:
Retail Decisions (ReD), a leading provider of services to the payments industry, has announced the acquisition of E Com Industries, Australias largest supplier of electronic stored value cards, for 12.9m. The acquisition is complementary to ReDs recent acquisition of Fuelserv (see note 14th November 2005), as ReD looks to expand the breadth and depth of its card-issuing and processing offering.
E Com, founded in 1998 by the current CTO and based in Sydney, hasaround 50% of the Australian gift voucher market. Revenues in the year to 30th June 2005 were 2.5m, up 160% on the same period last year and the company has achieved 93% compound growth over the past three years. The company also reported a small maiden operating profit. The transaction will be funded through an 11m increase in debt and 1.5m from existing cash resources.
Although the consideration looks full in terms of historic performance we expect E Com to contribute 6.1m of additional revenues and 1.5m of EBITDA in FY06, increasing to 8.8m of revenues and 2.8m of EBITDA. This suggests a forward transaction multiple of 8.6x. The increased level of debt will increase net interest payable by 0.9m but interest cover will be a healthy 19.7x.
E Com is the only independent provider of stored value solutions with access to the entire bank-acquiring network in Australia. The company boasts a blue chip client base of retailers (Woolworths, Coles Myer, Dymocks, Harvey World Travel and RM Williams). It has also expanded into New Zealand and had planned a launch in the UK.
E Com derives its revenues from electronic gift card programme management (62%), voucher sales (24%) and the balance from the pass-through of operational costs of managing gift card programmes. This represents a mix of set-up and transaction fees as well as the value of vouchers sold.
A stored value (pre-paid) card enables a user to spend a pre-determined balance that has been previously loaded onto the card. The cards can be single use or reloadable and can be limited to one ormultiple merchants. Card types include gift, incentive, insurance claim, benefits, loyalty and pre-paid fuel cards.
The European pre-paid market was estimated to be worth 20-25bn in 2003 and is forecast 30-35% CAGR over the five years to 2008 (Source: Mastercard). An increasing percentage of UK retailers are now offering gift cards.
As noted in our note of the 14th, Fuelserv has historically turned down a number of potential customers because of credit control issues. Through this acquisition, ReD will be able to address this market with a pre-paid card. There is also scope to cross-sell E Coms offering into ReDs existing Australian fuel cards business as well as launching gift cards in the UK, US and Europe.
Revised forecasts reflect the impact of the acquisition as well as the share consolidation (effective November 28th). The impact of the acquisition is to increase FY06 earnings by 5.2%. The enlarged group is trading on a FY06 PER of 14.0x. We believe that ReDs high revenue visibility and cash generation makes this rating undemanding. We maintain our BUY recommendation and set a revised price target of 180p, equivalent to 19.1x FY06 earnings.
Douggie
- 06 Dec 2005 13:54
- 495 of 1009
But ........ we aint goin anywhere fast are we !!
having said that blue at 0.5p every day we'll get there ;o\