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

Back to recent highs by 5th May once this one sorts itself out? Then the mid-cap trackers will have to start buying - if they are not already.

I'm actually very tempted to buy some more at this price. A number of indicators turning up, a few gaps on the chart to close and volume looking good. The only thing we really need to know at the moment is how many RI shares were not taken up. A large overhang could knock the sp in the short term.

Harrycat, been considering the same. The only reason I haven't is that with the rights issue this is now already my biggest holding across my portfolios. Although sometimes it pays off and if we see a quick 20% or so rise, it forces you to take some money off the table...

Results of Rights Issue
Optimal Payments plc is pleased to announce that its 5 for 3 Rights Issue, announced on 23 March 2015, closed for acceptances at 11.00 a.m. on 1 May 2015. The Company received valid acceptances in respect of 263,685,643 New Ordinary Shares, representing approximately 96.77 per cent. of the total number of New Ordinary Shares offered to Qualifying Shareholders pursuant to the Rights Issue.

It is expected that the New Ordinary Shares in uncertificated form will be credited to CREST accounts as soon as practicable after 8.00 a.m. today, 5 May 2015 and that definitive share certificates will be despatched to the relevant Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholders by no later than 12 May 2015.

Results of Rump Placing
5 May 2015

Following the announcement on 5 May 2015 regarding valid acceptances under the fully underwritten Rights Issue announced by Optimal Payments plc on 23 March 2015, the Company confirms that Canaccord Genuity Limited, Deutsche Bank and BMO Capital Markets, have procured subscribers for the 8,809,589 New Ordinary Shares not validly taken up in the Rights Issue, representing 3.23 per cent. of the New Ordinary Shares, at a price of 290 pence per New Ordinary Share.

The net proceeds from the placing of such New Ordinary Shares (after the deduction of the Offer Price of 166 pence per New Ordinary Share and the expenses of procuring subscribers, including any applicable brokerage and commissions and amounts in respect of VAT), if any, will be paid (without interest) to those persons whose rights have lapsed in accordance with the terms of the Rights Issue, pro rata to their lapsed provisional allotments, save that individual amounts of less than £5 will not be paid to such persons but will be paid to the Company.

All new shares now trading under the OPAY ticker, so lets hope for some rapid upward movement over the next few weeks. 400p would be nice to start with!!!

Would be very nice harrycat!!

Does anyone have any views on this stock and what direction it's taking ?

Does anyone have any views on this stock and what direction it's taking ?

North imo. Funds and trackers will start buying in, if not already started. Full list coming.

Canaccord target price 337p, reiterated today.

short tracker site 6 of them are shorting, instrument unkown, I remember monitise
on Bloomberg tip said buy fell from that point that was also shorted on this site

Looking at the chart on short tracker black bird it shows a decline ,however it also
shows short positions opened recently ...

Fund manager % short Date changed/created
Magnetar Financial (UK) LLP 0.00% 2015-05-06
Susquehanna International Holdings LLC 0.00% 2015-05-05
Magnetar Financial (UK) LLP 2.25% 2015-05-05
Ennismore Fund Management Limited 0.38% 2015-05-05
Magnetar Financial (UK) LLP 2.48% 2015-05-01
Susquehanna International Holdings LLC 0.95% 2015-04-29
Susquehanna International Holdings LLC 0.75% 2015-04-28
Magnetar Financial (UK) LLP 2.52% 2015-04-28
Jane Street Group, LLC 0.67% 2015-04-28
Susquehanna International Holdings LLC 0.61% 2015-04-27

Nevertheless, the total declared short positions at the moment is zero (0%).

I wonder what the sp will be by the end of the month, getting slowly nibbled at on a daily basis.

Yes, I wonder if £3 is the high for the moment. Still, the RI we bought at £1.66 are still in the money. Perhaps selling a few at £3 might be sensible next time it gets there?

If is a very big word, at the moment I think we might be in for a wait.

Trading Statement

RNS
RNS Number : 8533N
Optimal Payments PLC
21 May 2015

For immediate release

OPTIMAL PAYMENTS PLC

Trading in line with expectations
Strong performance in first four months of 2015LONDON, MONTREAL and NEW YORK (21 May, 2015) - Optimal Payments Plc (LSE AIM: OPAY, "Optimal Payments" or the "Group") announces a trading update for the year to date ahead of the Annual General Meeting taking place later today.

Revenue and EBITDA in US Dollars (the Group's reporting currency) for the year to date for Optimal Payments' existing operations are in line with expectations notwithstanding the recent weakness of the Euro. The consolidation of Meritus and GMA in the US, acquired in July 2014, has progressed well and these businesses are being managed as one integrated business unit together with the NETBANX Straight Through Processingbusiness. The strong trading we experienced in 2014 has continued in 2015 with both the NETELLER Stored Value and NETBANX businesses performing very well.

Acquisition of Skrill
The principal focus of corporate activity in this financial year has been on the acquisition of Skrill for a total consideration of €1.1 billion and its associated funding.

In the period since the announcement of the transaction, the equity element of this funding has been accomplished through a fully underwritten rights issue of five new ordinary shares at 166p for every three shares held to raise a total of £451 million. Acceptances were received from qualifying shareholders for almost 97 per cent. of the total new ordinary shares being offered with the balance being placed with institutional investors at 290p. In addition, a funding term loan of €500 million, also fully underwritten by BMO, Barclays and Deutsche Bank, has been successfully raised together with the arrangement of a €78 million revolving credit facility.

Completion of the acquisition is now subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, which primarily comprises regulatory approval by the UK's FCA, which is expected to be received in Q3. On completion, the vendors of Skrill will receive the agreed cash consideration of €720 million and approximately 37.5 million new ordinary shares in Optimal Payments, representing 7.9 per cent. of the enlarged issued share capital of the Group. These shares are subject to lock-in arrangements for a period of 180 days from the date of issue.

Management has continued to plan the integration of Skrill into the Group with a dedicated internal team addressing all aspects of combining the two groups and focusing in particular on the combination of Skrill's Stored Value businesses with NETELLER. As originally announced, the Group expects to generate some $40 million of synergy benefits by the end of the first full year of ownership to 31 December 2016. These benefits are in addition to the customer and geographic diversification and the increased scale and market presence of the enlarged Group.

At the time of the announcement of the transaction, it was stated that Skrill was due to complete a small acquisition of its own - Ukash, a pre-paid e-money payment provider. This acquisition completed on 31 March 2015 and will be merged into Skrill's paysafecard business.

Main market listing
As a consequence of the substantially increased size of the enlarged Group, it was announced that Optimal Payments would seek admission to listing of its ordinary shares on the premium segment of the Official List of the UK Listing Authority and admission to trading on the London Stock Exchange's main market for listed securities. The process to move from AIM to the main market is underway and, following such a move, it is expected that the Company's ordinary shares would be eligible for inclusion in the FTSE 250 Index of the London Stock Exchange.

Half Year results and Capital Markets Day
Half Year results for the existing Optimal Payments businesses to 30 June 2015 are expected to be announced on 26 August 2015.

The Group intends to host a Capital Markets Day during Q4 for investors, analysts and lenders. At the event, management will set out its strategy for the combined businesses of Optimal Payments and Skrill and report on integration progress. It is expected that this event will take place in November 2015 and will be accompanied by a trading update.

Commenting on today's trading update, Joel Leonoff, President & CEO, said:
"We were delighted with the response from all of our shareholders to the acquisition of Skrill which is a real game changer for us. The enlarged Optimal Payments, on completion, will become a leading player in the markets we serve and create additional opportunities for further profitable growth. It will also deliver benefits to our shareholders in the shape of accretive earnings from next year, enhanced liquidity from the intended move to the main market and, in due course, inclusion in the FTSE 250."

Dennis Jones, Chairman of Optimal Payments, said:
"On behalf of the Board, I'd like to thank our shareholders for their support and our management team and staff for their hard work in turning the acquisition of Skrill from an aspiration into a reality."

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 addition, Optimal Payments Card Services, another division of Optimal Payments, provides innovative prepaid products and services to merchants. Optimal Payments Plc is quoted on the London Stock Exchange's AIM, with a ticker symbol of OPAY. Subsidiary company Optimal Payments Ltd is authorized 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.
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For further information contact:

Optimal Payments Plc
Jessica Stalley, Head of Investor Relations
+ 44 207 182 1707
investorrelations@optimalpayments.com

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

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

Media Contacts - Canada:
Zenergy Communications
Linda Farha/Beverly Brooks
+1 416-591-5461
opay@zenergycom.com

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

-ends-


This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END

I like the following comment.

Commenting on today's trading update, Joel Leonoff, President & CEO, said:
"We were delighted with the response from all of our shareholders to the acquisition of Skrill which is a real game changer for us. The enlarged Optimal Payments, on completion, will become a leading player in the markets we serve and create additional opportunities for further profitable growth. It will also deliver benefits to our shareholders in the shape of accretive earnings from next year, enhanced liquidity from the intended move to the main market and, in due course, inclusion in the FTSE 250."

The inclusion in the FTSE 250 should be a major boost as the institutions will hopefully take a position.

Does anyone else on this board share my view?

Lets hope you are right. I am reasonably confident, though OPAY has had a few problems along the way.