Optimal Payments Presents 2014 Full Year Results

Monday, 23 March 2015 – Optimal Payments Plc (LSE: OPAY) (the “Group”), a leading global provider of online payments, today announces its results for the year ended 31 December 2014.

Highlights

• Full year performance reflects significant organic and inorganic growth:
• Revenues up 44% to $365.0m (2013: $253.4m).
• EBITDA up 65% to $86.1m (2013: $52.2m).
• Profit after tax increased by 83% to $57.7m (2013: $31.5m).
• Adjusted diluted EPS increased 50% to $0.38 (2013: $0.25); statutory EPS increased 64% to $0.36 (2013: $0.22).
• Revenue and profitability significantly boosted by the World Cup in the first half.
• Successful acquisition of the Meritus and GMA businesses in the US in July 2014, contributing to the growth and diversification of the Group.
• Substantial improvement in NETELLER Stored Value (“SV”) business: revenues up 50% to $89.6m (2013:
• $59.8m) driven by underlying improvements in customer conversion and further development of VIP programs.
• Strong growth from NETBANX Straight Through Processing (“STP”) business: revenues up 42% to $274.7m (2013: $193.0m), incorporating revenue from the acquired US businesses, underlying growth of 19% excluding Meritus and GMA revenues incorporated in the second half of 2014.
• Highly cash generative with Group cash (net of merchant cash) of $106.5m (31 December 2013: $93.8m).
• Free cash of approximately $44.0m (31 December 2013: $38.0m) – after funding $26.6m in part consideration and acquisitions costs for the US businesses.
• Net debt position of $26.3m – bank facility of $150m was secured to fund US acquisitions; remaining shareholder loans cleared in January 2014.
• Significant progress on key strategic initiatives:
• Principal Membership with Visa Europe and MasterCard Europe achieved; this service was launched to merchants in the European Union in Q4 2014 and positions our NETBANX offering to service more of the payment value chain and provide an efficient, cost effective proposition to the market.
• NETELLER and Net+ products launched in the US in March 2014 with good adoption by merchants in the three states which have regulated online gambling.
• Successful partnerships forged in the rapidly developing area of fantasy sports leagues, confident of the prospects for growth in payment processing in this market.
• Launch of a new card issuing services division and the NETELLERGO! offering for ecommerce merchants outside of gaming to contribute to continued growth.
• Integration of the US businesses acquired in July 2014 progressing well.

Dennis Jones appointed as Non-Executive Chairman with Andrew Dark and Ian Jenks appointed as Non-Executive Directors of the Board in July 2014 to strengthen governance. Brian McArthur-Muscroft appointed as CFO, with effect from 1 January 2015, to contribute to the continued growth of the Group.