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

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Statement re Director’s Dealings and Share Price Movement







Optimal Payments PLC (LSE AIM: OPAY) (“Optimal Payments” or the “Company”), a leading online payments provider, notes the recent speculation and weakness in its share price, and wishes to provide the following statement.

Director’s Dealings

In relation to the Director’s Dealings announcement on 1st April 2014 concerning Joel Leonoff, the Company’s CEO, the announcement made at that time was correct. However given the current speculation the Company is providing more information around the arrangement. The Company can confirm that Mr Leonoff entered into a master loan and pledge agreement with Equity First Holdings, LLC (“EFH”) on 31 March 2014.

As announced on 1 April 2014, Mr Leonoff pledged 1,500,000 shares (the “Pledged Shares”) as collateral for a loan of approximately £4 million (together the “Loan”). Mr Leonoff pays interest of 3% on a quarterly basis to EFH on the Loan, together with a financing arrangement fee of 1.5% and is obligated to repay the Loan three years from the closing date of the agreement. Mr Leonoff will receive from EFH a credit of all dividends paid on the Pledged Shares during the term of the Loan once the Loan is repaid. For the purposes of securing the Loan, during the period of the Loan Mr Leonoff has transferred title and voting rights in the Pledged Shares. In the event of a default by Mr Leonoff EFH would be entitled to set off Pledged Shares to the value of outstanding monies owed.

EFH will not exercise any voting rights attached to the Pledged Shares. For the period of the Loan EFH has committed not to engage in any short selling in, or lending of, the Company’s shares.

Mr Leonoff has a material interest in the equity of the Company. Mr Leonoff’s interests in the equity of the Company are stated below:

Director
Number of Ordinary Shares

% of issued share capital

Total Number of Awards remaining under the LTIP


Joel Leonoff

4,133,843*

2.5%

2,566,007


* Includes the 1,500,000 shares pledged to EFH as collateral on the Loan

The total number of shares in issue and voting rights in the Company is 162,629, 664.

For further information contact:

Optimal Payments Plc
Jessica Stalley, Head of Investor Relations
Tel: +44 (0) 207 182 1707

Canaccord Genuity Limited
(Nominated Adviser & Broker)
Simon Bridges / Cameron Duncan
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7523 8000



Statement re Director’s Dealings and Share Price Movement

The very first time after all these years I have copied and pasted - wow never too old to learn, just hope opay does as well.

well done. :-))

Exactly the same as in post 631!!!!! ;o)

StockMarketWire.com
Optimal Payments said the strong trading reported in H1 has continued into H2 across all markets.

The Company's NETELLER and NETBANX businesses have both delivered good revenue growth and profitability in the year to date.

As a result of the trading in the year to date, and in advance of the traditionally strong, seasonal trading in December, the Company currently expects its financial results for 2014 to be at least in line with market expectations.

The Company has achieved a number of significant milestones in 2014: the launch of its new NETELLER and NET+ offerings in the US, positioning the Company well for the re-opening US gaming market; the attainment of Principal Membership status with Visa and MasterCard in Europe strengthening its NETBANX offering; and the successful completion in July of the Meritus and GMA acquisitions to expand its US presence.

Following the acquisitions of Meritus and GMA, the Company's largest merchant now represents approximately 25% of the Company's monthly revenues and this percentage is expected to continue to reduce. These achievements have all been important strategic goals as we continue to deliver on our stated objectives.

Bought in this morning .

Good for you jimmy b - I am sure you will do okay.

as long as you remember to BANK profit too

Don't worry about me and banking a profit ,iv'e been selling nearly every trade far too early .

You are correct cynic - I should have done when they got to £5 - did not but fortunately still in profit. (The only one that is which I hold). Good luck to all that buy in now, as I think this must be my 9th year.

Your doing well for such a young man 3 monkies

Ha! HA! jimmy b I am a geriatric woman - loopy to the hilt. GL

Took profits here (probably too soon again) but should they drop i shall buy back in , only holding a couple of fairly large trades now , DOW has to wobble soon doesn't it ?

LONDON (November 19, 2014) Optimal Payments (LSE AIM: OPAY), a leading global online payments services provider has launched its Acquiring Service. The Acquiring Service went live ahead of schedule in September 2014, following the announcement in January 2014 that Optimal Payments had obtained principal membership status for merchant acquiring from MasterCard Europe and Visa Europe.

The service supports Optimal Payments' strategy to strengthen further its position in the market. Optimal Payments will directly acquire merchant accounts and process Visa and MasterCard payment transactions in the UK and the European Union, servicing more of the payment value chain and allowing Optimal Payments to provide an efficient, cost effective proposition to the market.

Optimal Payments’ Acquiring Service offers a fully integrated, Account Updater service, giving ecommerce merchants an automated and secure option to verify payment for recurring billing and subscription accounts. This is in addition to the existing features of consolidated reporting, automated fraud suite with a dedicated team and online chargeback management.

“The launch of our Acquiring Service demonstrates our commitment, following our announcement in January, to bring the most comprehensive payment processing solutions to our merchants and customers,” said Danny Chazonoff, chief operating officer, Optimal Payments. “The new Optimal Payments Acquiring Service gives merchants the flexibility to offer their customers a diverse set of payment and billing options to fit their needs without requiring a separate acquiring partner.”

About Optimal Payments Plc

Optimal Payments is a global provider of online payment solutions, trusted by businesses and consumers in over 200 countries and territories to move and manage billions of dollars each year. Merchants use the NETBANX® platform and services to simplify how they accept credit and debit card, direct-from-bank, and alternative and local payments; and the NETELLER® service to increase revenues and capture new customers. Consumers use the multilingual and multicurrency NETELLER and Net+® Card stored-value offering to make secure and convenient payments. In July 2014, Optimal Payments acquired Meritus Payment Solutions and GMA as part of the company’s commitment to strengthen its presence in the US market. Optimal Payments Plc is quoted on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM, with a ticker symbol of OPAY. Subsidiary company Optimal Payments Ltd is authorised and regulated as an e-money issuer by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 900015).

For more information on Optimal Payments visit www.optimalpayments.com or subscribe at http://www.optimalpayments.com/media/email-alerts.

Notes to media:

Press releases announcing the Merchant Acquiring agreement available here: http://www.optimalpayments.com/news/press-releases/optimal-payments-announces-merchant-acquiring-agreements-mastercard-europe-and



For further information contact:

Investor Relations Contact:
Jessica Stalley
Optimal Payments Plc
investorrelations@optimalpayments.com



Media Contacts – Canada:
Erin Cudmore
Zenergy Communications
+1 416-591-5461
opay@zenergycom.com



Media Contacts - United States:
Richard Anderson/Emily Simmons
Feintuch Communications
+1 718-986-1596/ +1 212-808-4904
optimal@feintuchpr.com



Media Contacts – United Kingdom:
Andrew Dunn/Simon Fluendy
Tavistock Communications
+44 20 7920 3150
optimal@tavistock.co.uk



Optimal Payments’ Acquiring Service launches ahead of schedule in UK and Europe









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A rather large drop today!!!! Loads buying but still it sank.

Not looking good again today so far.

Looks worth going long here again .

No reason for the recent drop 3 monkies ?

Be careful Jimmy and 3m.

Its winny(Tom Winnifrith) who as pointed the finger at this stock.

Same company who is behind Quindel scandal as borrowed stock? off them.

One of the board.

Illl try and find it for you.

What's his beef with this one GF ?

Here Jimmy, sorry for the bad news I suppose others are talking the stock up but on balance having known TOM for 30 years plus I trust him although he is now a controversial character.....

Optimal Payments FD Quits: Does the CEO need to watch his back now?
By Nigel Somerville, The Deputy Sheriff of AIM | Saturday 13 December 2014


Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from ShareProphets). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

On Friday AIM Cesspit listed Optimal Payments (OPAY) announced the departure of its Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and director, Mr Keith Butcher – one of just two executive directors on the board. As discussed HERE he had been selling down his holding at above the current share price earlier in the year. The news saw the shares fall an impressive 12.9%.

In the light of the questions we have been posing here on Shareprophets, I wonder why Mr Butcher has gone. Is it because he had become uncomfortable with something about the CEO, Mr Leonoff and his dealings with Equities First Holdings LLC? Or was he perhaps a bit cheesed off that his portion of the trough offered relatively measly pickings when compared to the up to £10m Mr Leonoff trousered last year?

But in an interesting twist, Optimal has appointed a new CFO in the form of Mr Brian McArthur-Muscroft, who joins the board from Telecity (TCY). Now Telecity has had its own questions posed HERE by Ben Turney, regarding loans secured against pledged shares in a series of transactions between its former CEO, Mr Michael Tobin and UBS AG. The last of those was announced by RNS on 8 Aug 2014, but just two and a half weeks later Mr Tobin’s resignation was announced by RNS.

Optimal still has a number of matters which need further clarification regarding Mr Leonoff’s dealings with EFH, such as when he actually handed his 1.5m shares over to EFH.

But I wonder if Mr Leonoff might now want to watch his back…