Optimal Payments Joins Demandware LINK to Accelerate Commerce Innovation

Integrated Online Payment Solution Offers Demandware Clients Global Payment and Fraud Management Capabilities

LONDON, MONTREAL and NEW YORK (October 2, 2014) -- Optimal Payments Plc (LSE AIM: OPAY), a leading global online payment solutions provider, announces it is now a Demandware LINK Technology partner and has launched its NETBANX® Payment Cartridge. Providing an integrated link between Demandware® Commerce and Optimal Payments’ NETBANX payment gateway, Optimal Payments offers Demandware clients a global payment acceptance and fraud management solution.

Optimal Payments allows retailers to minimize fraud losses while maintaining a positive checkout and brand experience for their customers. Backed by almost two decades of ecommerce payments experience, online businesses have access to international and multi-currency payment processing capabilities, as well as extensive risk management tools and integrated fraud management services.
“As a Demandware LINK Technology Partner, our goal is to provide a payment solution that adds value to retailers using Demandware Commerce. With our pre-built integration, Demandware clients can implement sophisticated global payment capabilities quickly and easily,” said Danny Chazonoff, chief operating officer, Optimal Payments. “Our NETBANX Payment Cartridge can enable Demandware’s clients to maximize profits, minimize losses, build their brands and continue to provide excellent customer service around the world.”

With Optimal Payments’ NETBANX hosted payment solutions, retailers using the Demandware platform can reduce their PCI DSS compliance requirements and safely create customer account profiles that store sensitive cardholder data and payment information using tokenization. Integrated directly to the NETBANX payment gateway, the new cartridge gives merchants access to a wide range of customizable fraud-management tools and access real-time transaction data and reports. Additionally, retailers will be able to customize the look and feel of their payment pages and offer a mobile-optimized shopping experience through a seamless integration using REST-based APIs.


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. 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.

Optimal Payments and Oink Partner to Give Teens and Families a Secure Way to Pay Online

NETBANX ecommerce merchants can now offer Oink as an alternative method of payment

LONDON, MONTREAL and NEW YORK (July 10, 2014) -- Optimal Payments Plc (LSE AIM: OPAY), a leading global online payment solutions provider, and Oink (OTCQB: VPIG), the award-winning payment technology for families and teens, have partnered to offer merchants using the NETBANX® payment gateway an additional payment method for teens and their families to pay and manage their money online, securely and easily.

Oink is the only payment technology that helps kids and teens manage their money online and on mobile devices, under parental guidance and control. It allows ecommerce merchants to reach consumers under 21, in a secure, legal and effective manner while remaining compliant with FTC and COPPA regulations.

“Partnering with Oink and integrating its services into our NETBANX payment gateway is an exciting addition to the diverse set of alternative payment services we offer our clients,” said Danny Chazonoff, chief operating officer, Optimal Payments. “We are pleased to offer merchants across the globe, the ability to safely access new customer channels and increase revenue opportunities within the under 21 market, while also helping Oink to expand its reach internationally.” 

“With over two decades of ecommerce experience, cutting-edge technology, acquirer relationships with Visa and MasterCard in Europe, and global technology partners Optimal Payments is truly a leading online payment solutions provider,” said Dr. Jo Webber, CEO & founder, Oink. “We are excited to be partnering with the online payments expert in order to offer our award-winning payment technology for families and teens to merchants around the world.”

About Virtual Piggy Inc. 
Virtual Piggy is the provider of Oink, the first e-commerce solution that enables kids and teens to manage and spend money within parental controls. It enables parents to teach financial management through the use of a secure family wallet. The technology company delivers online security platforms designed for the Under 21 age group in the global online market, and also enables online businesses the ability to function in a manner consistent with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (“COPPA”) and similar international children’s privacy laws. The company is based in Hermosa Beach, CA and on the Web at: www.virtualpiggy.com. For information about Oink visit www.oink.com.

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. 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).

Optimal Payments becomes official shirt sponsor of Crystal Palace Football Club

LONDON, MONTREAL and NEW YORK (July 7 2014) – Optimal Payments Plc (LSE AIM: OPAY), a leading global online payments provider, announced today that it has become the official sponsor of Crystal Palace Football Club for the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons.

Optimal Payments will use the platform to raise the global awareness of  its award-winning NETELLER service and Net+® Card stored-value offering which will be displayed on the front of the team’s shirts from the start of the 2014/15 English Premier League season. The first game will see Crystal Palace take on Arsenal on the 16^th August at The Emirates Stadium, London.

NETELLER will be the First Premier League sponsor within the online payments space and will provide the brand the right synergy to achieve NETELLER’S marketing and commercial objectives quickly and cost effectively. Specifically,  it will support customer and merchant objectives delivering rapid multi-market brand awareness, big brand credibility and driving sign up and conversion rates in NETELLER’s key growth markets – including Asia; Africa and the Americas. Today, Optimal Payments processes approximately $15 billion USD annually in more than 200 countries and territories with over 100 types of payment and multi-currency options.

Joel Leonoff, President and CEO of Optimal Payments, said: “We are delighted to be the official sponsor of Crystal Palace and recognise similarities between our two organisations in terms of recent great performance and growth ambitions for the future. The Premier League attracts the highest global viewership in international sports, with an estimated global audience of 4.4 billion. This sponsorship signifies an opportunity to support one of the league’s most exciting teams while promoting our innovative payment solutions worldwide.”

Crystal Palace Chairman Steve Parish said: “We are thrilled to have NETELLER on board and really excited at the prospect of working with them on the growth of its online payments business. As soon as we met the team they felt like the right partner for us and it was important for the vision of our Club to work with an exciting, multi-market consumer brand. Both Crystal Palace and Optimal Payments have experienced tremendous growth over the last few years and I feel confident we can help each other to continue that path.”

The deal’s commercial potential is driven by the global passion for the Premier League; including live coverage by 80 international broadcasters televised action across 212 territories worldwide, inspiring billions of pages of editorial and dominating social media debate worldwide on a weekly basis between July and May every year.

Lorenzo Pellegrino, Executive Vice President – NETELLER said “The chance to partner NETELLER with the global reach of the Premier League is massively exciting in its own right, but what’s also important is the ability to work with merchant partners already operating in the Premier League space. This partnership gives NETELLER the platform to promote our services on a whole new level; putting it alongside major global brands like Barclays; Nike; Emirates; Samsung and General Motors.”

The partnership was negotiated by sports marketing agency, SportQuake who will also assist in managing and delivering the global sponsorship campaign. SportQuake are sport marketing experts who specialise in helping consumer brands and rights owners to deliver commercial and cultural value through sport. In 2014 SportQuake has already completed over 100 football partnership deals including major transactions with all 20 EPL clubs.

About Crystal Palace Football Club
Crystal Palace FC will again take their place in the Premier League for the 2014/15 season. The club play at Selhurst Park Stadium and its extremely loyal support are widely renowned for generating the best atmosphere in the Barclays Premier League. Crystal Palace is the only south London-based Premier League club and prides itself on being a true community asset. Having a rich 109-year history, the club regularly finds local youngsters to play in its first team, developing their footballing skills through both its youth academy and one of the finest community schemes in the country. The club’s manager, Tony Pulis, was voted Premier League Manager of the Year by the League Managers Association at the end of the 2013/14 season, while its fans were also voted the best in the country.
The outstanding progress made both on and off the pitch has caught the imagination of both the people who support the club and those involved in the business of football, with the club now benefiting from an army of followers around the world.

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. 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).

Optimal Payments To Acquire California Based Meritus Payment Solutions To Accelerate Expansion In Us Payments Market

Acquisition of leading payment processing company substantially increases scale and drives multi-channel sales growth in rapidly expanding US ecommerce market

LONDON, MONTREAL and NEW YORK (July 1, 2014) -- Optimal Payments Plc (LSE AIM: OPAY, “Optimal Payments” or the “Group”), a leading global online payments and risk management provider, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire all of the partnership interests of California based payment processing entity TK Global Partners LP (“Meritus”) (doing business as ‘Meritus Payment Solutions’) for consideration of $210 million consisting of $150 million in cash and $60 million of Optimal Payments shares (issued in equal tranches over four years commencing on the first anniversary of the closing date), subject to customary closing adjustments (the “Meritus Acquisition”).

Optimal Payments has also entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the trade and assets of Global Merchant Advisors, Inc. (“GMA”), a US based online payments company, for up to $15 million in cash, $10 million of which is payable on closing and the balance based on future performance of the business (the “GMA Acquisition”). Completion of the Meritus Acquisition and the GMA Acquisition (together, the “Acquisitions”) are conditional on one another and subject to customary closing conditions. Closing of the Acquisitions is expected to occur early in the third quarter of 2014. A further announcement will be made in due course to advise on completion.
Strategic highlights of the Acquisitions

• Acquisition of fast growing companies in key US market 
  • US merchant portfolio: adds over 8,000 US high growth small and medium businesses (“SMB”) in a broad range of vertical markets. 
  • US sales force: provides a successful, established and multi-channel US sales force.
  • US acquiring bank relationships: provides additional established US acquiring bank relationships with leading bank partners. 
  • Adds scale to NETBANX®: diversifies and broadens Optimal Payments’ NETBANX payment gateway and acquiring services business.
• Strong financial rationale
  • Acquisition of these profitable, fast growing and cash generative businesses is expected to enhance earnings.
  • Meritus financials (audited)
    • 2013: revenues $74.4 million, profit before tax $1.1 million, Net assets at 31 December 2013 $1.7 million, normalised EBITDA $13.0 million⁽¹⁾
    • 2012: revenues $38.3 million, profit before tax $0.7 million, normalised EBITDA $6.0 million
  • GMA financials (unaudited)
    • 2013: revenues $8.3 million, profit before tax $0.1 million, Net assets at 31 December 2013 $0.3 million, normalised EBITDA $4.6 million⁽¹⁾
• Major merchant concentration: expected to materially reduce concentration as a consequence of the Acquisitions. 
• Strategic fit: delivers synergistic corporate culture, values and entrepreneurial spirit.
• Brands: Optimal Payments will continue to operate the Meritus brand which has a strong presence and value in the key US market. 
• Financing: Bank of Montreal has committed to provide financing for the Acquisitions via multi-currency credit facilities of $150 million.

^{(1) Normalised EBITDA is after adjustments to remove management drawings and other costs that will not recur following the acquisition}

Joel Leonoff, President and Chief Executive Officer, Optimal Payments, commented:
“The US market represents the single greatest expansion opportunity for Optimal Payments. After careful evaluation of a number of potential candidates, Meritus stood out as the perfect choice on all fronts.  The company’s strong stakeholder relationships, multi-channel sales force, established presence with small and medium businesses in the US and entrepreneurial spirit makes them an ideal acquisition for us. I am very excited about the combination of our businesses which immediately accelerates the Group’s growth opportunities and accomplishes a stated key strategic goal for us in 2014.”
Alan Kleinman, Principal and Co-founder, Meritus Payment Solutions, added:
“Combining forces with Optimal Payments marks a significant step in realising our strategic goals. Optimal Payments offers our employees, merchants and business partners the experience, global infrastructure and product offering to achieve the scale required in today’s payments market. Our two organisations share the same enthusiasm and philosophy for future growth as we prepare to combine operations and leverage each other’s strengths.”

Optimal Payments Recognized For Net+ Prepaid MasterCard at Prepaid365 Awards

LONDON, MONTREAL and NEW YORK (JUNE 2, 2014) -- Optimal Payments (LSE AIM: OPAY), a leading global online payment solutions provider, announces that its Net+ Prepaid MasterCard^® has won awards in three categories at the Prepaid365 Awards, the UK’s definitive consumer prepaid card awards, on May 30, 2014.

“We are honoured to be recognized at this year’s Prepaid365 Awards,” said Danny Chazonoff, chief operating officer, Optimal Payments. “Our commitment to innovative product development is unrivalled in the industry and the recognition of our Net+ Prepaid MasterCard is a testament to the strength of our product offering.”

“The Net+ prepaid team has dominated consumer minds and hearts and hence, the Prepaid365 Awards over the last few years and 2014 is no different, with Net+ recognized by consumers in five categories with three award wins in the Gaming, Privacy and General Spend categories,” said Amit Sharma, CEO and senior prepaid consultant at Prepaid365. “With no monthly, annual or dormancy fees, free POS transactions, a choice of eight currencies, a free virtual card and the NETELLER^® reward points programme to boot, it is no wonder that the Net+ prepaid card continues to be at the forefront for consumers.”

The annual Prepaid365 awards, launched in 2009, recognise best in class-prepaid propositions and prepaid card providers voted for by consumers and Prepaid365’s subject matter experts.
The Net+ Prepaid MasterCard was chosen as the top card in three major categories: Best General Spend Prepaid Card, Best Gaming Prepaid Card and Best Privacy Prepaid Card.
 The Net+ Prepaid MasterCard was also named runner-up in two additional categories: Best Free Prepaid Card and Best Prepaid Card Overall.

Optimal Payments has a strong record of delivering innovative technology solutions to its merchants, in both online payment processing and risk and fraud management. The Net+ Prepaid MasterCard provides NETELLER^® service members with a cost effective, secure and flexible personal and private card to use at almost 35 million online, cash and point-of-sale locations worldwide wherever MasterCard^® is accepted. With no annual or monthly fees, it is among the most competitive prepaid cards on the market.

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 revenue and capture new customers.  Consumers use the multilingual and multicurrency NETELLER and Net+^® Card stored-value offering to make secure and convenient payments. 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).

Optimal Payments: STRONG PERFORMANCE IN FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF 2014

LONDON, MONTREAL and NEW YORK (May 21, 2014) -- At the Annual General Meeting of Optimal Payments Plc ("Optimal Payments" or the "Group", LSE: OPAY) being held later today in the Isle of Man, Interim Chairman Jonathan Comerford will make the following statement:

"I am pleased to report that 2013 was a year of many achievements for Optimal Payments with excellent revenue growth from both our NETELLER and NETBANX businesses and a significant increase in profitability. Group revenues grew 41% to $253.4 million, EBITDA rose 89% to $52.2 million and Net Profit increased to $35.1 million from $1.2 million in 2012. The regulatory environment continued to evolve in 2013 and although this did not materially impact our revenues in 2013, some corresponding uncertainty about the regulatory landscape persists.

At the time of the Group's 2013 full year results in March we announced an excellent start to 2014 including the launch of our new NETELLER offering for the U.S. market and achievement of Principal Membership for our NETBANX product that allows us to offer acquiring services to merchants in the European Union from the second half of 2014. We expect the investment we have made in both 2013 and 2014 to produce returns in 2015.

The strong trading in 2013 has continued in the year to date with both businesses performing very well, with revenues ahead of the same period last year and ahead of Q4 2013, and we look forward to a further boost from the World Cup in June and July. As a result, both revenues and EBITDA for the full year to 31 December 2014 are now forecast to be materially ahead of market expectations.

I would like to thank the management team and employees for their outstanding contribution, without which the Group's success could not have been achieved.

We look forward to updating shareholders on the Group's progress at the time of our half year results in September”.

Groupe Dynamite selects Optimal Payments to provide services for its Dynamite and Garage websites

Custom online payment and fraud-management solution allows leading fashion retailer to capitalize on online shopping movement as part of ongoing global expansion.
LONDON, MONTREAL and NEW YORK (May 7, 2014) -- Optimal Payments (LSE AIM: OPAY), a leading global online payment solutions provider, has been selected by leading Canadian fashion retailer Groupe Dynamite Inc. to provide a broad array of online payment and fraud prevention services for its Dynamite® and Garage® websites in Canada and the U.S.

 

Utilizing its NETBANX® payment platform and services, Optimal Payments developed a single-source custom solution allowing Groupe Dynamite Inc. to deliver its customers a consistent brand experience across its many markets. The platform protects the well-known and respected fashion retailer and its clients from fraud and potential security breaches.

 

“We are pleased to have been selected by Groupe Dynamite Inc. to support its international ecommerce expansion,” said Danny Chazonoff, chief operating officer, Optimal Payments. “Our custom solution offers Groupe Dynamite Inc. the global online payment functionality and fraud management tools for expanding their online presence and reaching new markets.”

 

Optimal Payments enjoys a strong reputation for providing end-to-end solutions with robust fraud management capabilities for major retailers across the globe. It developed a customized risk and fraud management solution for both the Dynamite and Garage websites. This includes its proprietary Risk Rules Engine (RRE) with custom fraud-monitoring rules and parameters; the ability to hold payments for review; and tokenization to which securely stores cardholder data for customers making repeat purchases. All of these risk-management tools ensure Groupe Dynamite Inc. maintains its PCI DSS compliance while minimizing losses from fraud and chargebacks.

 

Optimal Payments’ payment processing capabilities coupled with its established relationships with global acquiring banks make the company poised to support all retailers seeking to expand their ecommerce offering internationally, efficiently and securely.

 

About Groupe Dynamite Inc.

 

Groupe Dynamite Inc. is a Montreal-based company with two brands at the heart of its success, Garage and Dynamite. They operate more than 300 stores in Canada and worldwide and employ close to 5,000 people. They have their roots planted firmly in the terrain of fashion’s retail landscape. Acting as a Canadian leader among the international brand landscape, both Garage & Dynamite continue to thrive in an ever-crowded marketplace. Their passionate team continues to lead expansion of the business in new markets, including e-commerce while always leveraging our shared values.

 

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. 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).