SUPERB RESULTS

REG - Optimal Payments PLC - Interim Results19 Sep 2012 - 07:01

For best results when printing this announcement, please click on the link below: http://pdf.reuters.com/Regnews/regnews.asp?i=43059c3bf0e37541&u=urn:newsml:reuters.com:20120919:nRSS5828Ma RNS Number : 5828M Optimal Payments PLC 19 September 2012 Optimal Payments Plc Interim Results for the six months ended 30 June 2012 Strong first half growth, on track to exceed full year market expectations Optimal Payments Plc (LSE: OPAY) ("Optimal Payments", the "Group" or the "Company"), a leading online payments provider, today announces its results for the six months ended 30 June 2012. Highlights · EBITDA(1) up 76% to $11.2m (H1 2011: $6.4m). · Revenues up 37% to $78.9m (H1 2011: $57.4m). Fixed costs marginally down following headcount reduction in Q1. · Profit before tax $1.7m (H1 2011: loss of $4.1m). · Strong organic growth from NETBANX Straight Through Processing division ("STP"), up 68% to $61.9m (H1 2011: $36.9m) with continued strength and growth in Asia. · NETELLER Stored Value ("SV") revenues down to $16.2m (2011:$18.0m(2)) principally as a result of the fallout from Black Friday(3) in H1 2011. § Initiatives undertaken in H1 have produced improved results in second half to date. Major investment in NETELLER SV platform now complete and cost base aligned. § US online gaming opportunity taking shape. · Strong demand from existing customers and from new customers won during the first half including Ford Credit, Hockey Canada and Rona. Commercial agreement signed with Lotus F1 Team. · Strong H1 revenue exit run rate positions the Company for further growth in second half and on track to exceed the market consensus full year expectations. Financial summary (unaudited) Six months ended 30 June 2012 2011(5) US$ million US$ million Revenue Straight Through Processing (NETBANX bureau & gateway services) 61.9 36.9 Stored Value (NETELLER eWallet & Net+ cards) 16.2 18.0 Stored Value - discontinued revenues (4) - 2.1 Investment income 0.7 0.4 Total Revenue 78.9 57.4 EBITDA (1) 11.2 6.4 Profit/(loss) before tax 1.7 (4.1) Tax (charge)/recovery (6) (2012 charge relates to 2004/5 period) (2.5) 0.5 Net loss for the period (0.8) (3.6) (1) EBITDA is defined as results of operating activities before depreciation and amortisation and exceptional non-recurring items which are defined as items of income and expense of such size, nature or incidence, that in the view of management their disclosure is relevant to explain the performance of the Group. (2) Excluding discontinued revenues - see note 4. (3) "Black Friday" refers to the regulatory action taken in April 2011 against certain major poker operators which resulted in many players ceasing to play poker worldwide. (4) Discontinued revenues were derived from e-money expiry which is now subject to different rules under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011. (5) 2011 comparables include only 5 months of revenues and costs from the OP Inc business acquired on 1 February 2011. (6) Tax charge in the period relates to expected reassessment of 2004/5 Canadian taxes following a review by the Canadian Revenue Agency which commenced in 2005. The Board has made a full provision for the amount it believes it is likely to be required to pay in respect of withholding taxes and interest. See note 17 in the Financial Statements for more detail. Commenting on today's results announcement, Joel Leonoff, President & CEO, said: The combination of NETELLER and OP Inc. has produced a multi-faceted payment product offering and positioned the emerged business Optimal Payments Plc to benefit from a rapidly evolving online payment market. Our efforts have resulted in a fully integrated and right-sized business with an efficient cost base. Our operationally geared business model, continued focus on product development and R&D, along with our strong presence in the internet payment market have combined to produce significant organic revenue and EBITDA growth. Our H1 results and strong foundation position the Company well for further growth in H2. The online payment industry continues to consolidate and the Group should benefit from the expected significant growth in both the online and mobile commerce markets. We see substantial opportunities to provide innovative solutions to merchants and consumers in both the NETELLER eWallet and NETBANX

A long time waiting for me as we know - just hope some good news in on the way.

Good to see this head North for you 3m.

Thanks dc. Not funny when there is a few thousands of pounds sitting doing nothing as well know.

I know the feeling 3m. Its not your cash till you press sell. You deserve this one.

Oh! dear thought it was too good to be true!!!

Very volatile. Sticking in though.

A buy rating in Shares mag today 3m. Expectations that New Jersey could next month legalise online gambling. A prime candidate for earnings upgrades.

That would be good dc - which share mag do you get if you don't mind me asking?

Sorry for the late reply 3m , better late than never. Two good mags - Investors chronicle - delivered Fri morning and one called shares delivered on Thurs. You can take out a quarterly subscription or yearly, which saves on the weekly price of £4.10
each from a newsagents. The shares mag is linked with money am. You will see shares magazine under the traders room and investors room on the money am header.

Thanks dc. we don't have newspapers delivered around here so I shall have to go to the newsagents. Can't even buy a pint of milk in our village anymore or a postage stamp. We used to have have 4 shops, a post office and a greengrocer now ziltch. However shall investigate further as i said at the newsagents. Have a good weekend.

A bit quicker reply from me this time,lol. We have a post office .Off to get fish and chips, have a good one 3m.

Got a lot of faith in these.

True the SP has been very volatile but just think when the mafia get going and get online stakes in every state.

The potential is massive.

Takes me back to the days when Evil Knievil and I had a daily running battle over sporting bet on t1ps.com. Think that was around 2003. I was long he was short.

Initially he won as Sports Book called in their loans. 3 months later mind I was rolling in dosh and so was he as he had to admit he had to change tracks as the upper house in US couldnt get bill through.

Ultimately in the end did, but it looks like its turned full circle as this time the mafia havent been caught out this time and have huge stakes.

I can remember an awful lot about sportingbet, party gaming, sportech the works - never thought in a million years that Netellar now Opay would have hit rock bottom but it did so cannot wait for the mafia as you call them to move in/or not get caught, or in lay mans terms, they change the sodding gaming legislation in USA. However await patiently as have not really got any option.

Needed a kick up the ass. not a bad day.

Here we go again, every time is gets a contract win it seems to go down. ha! ha! not.

Hang in there 3m.

No choice dc., think I will be hanging by a rope soon - Only joking!!!

Good day here - I hope I have not spoken too soon.

ha ha lovely, just what i needed after a week flat lining Very nice.

Not so lovely today gf - results out tomorrow, I wonder what they will bring??