NETELLER RESURGENT
17 August 2007
e-Wallet expanding eastward with Aussie deal
With its US market exit and the hassles with the
American legal authorities now almost behind it, the
Isle of Man e-wallet Neteller has gone up a gear in its
international expansion strategy with the announcement
this week of a new Asia-Pacific involvement.
Describing itself as an independent global online
payments business, the AIM-listed company disclosed this
week that it has recently completed the acquisition of a
strategic stake in Centricom Pty Limited. The key points
of the investment are:
* Centricom operates the POLi payment platform in
Australia and New Zealand.
* Neteller will pay a total of AUD$ 5 million
(approximately US$ 4 million) for a significant equity
position in Centricom.
* The deal extends Neteller's expertise as a payments
hub for its merchants initially in the Asia Pacific
region.
* Centricom Pty Limited is an Australian company based
in Melbourne that provides a range of web-based
transaction services, including online payments,
straight-through processing, reconciliation and advanced
transaction integration solutions.
Under the terms of the agreement, Neteller has agreed to
invest a sum of AUD$ 5 million in consideration of a
minority stake holding in Centricom, on a fully diluted
basis. As part of the investment, Neteller will appoint
one director to the Centricom board.
Through an existing partnership, Neteller has already
introduced the POLi service to its Australian customers
back in January 2007 as a safe and convenient method of
payment direct from their bank accounts. The POLi system
allows customers to make payments online, from their
existing internet banking service, without disclosing
their bank or credit card details to the merchant.
Centricom is backed by a strong financial partner in the
Melbourne-based Jagen Group. Jagen is an international
investment group with interests across a broad range of
industries in the United States, Europe and the Asia
Pacific region, and it will continue to own the majority
shareholding in Centricom following the Neteller
investment, along with Centricom's directors and
employees.
This investment furthers the Neteller Group's presence
in the important and expanding Asia Pacific online
payment market, says President and CEO Ron Martin.
“We are pleased to cement our existing relationship with
Centricom through this investment," Martin commented.
"We look forward to working with Centricom to drive the
business through its next phase of growth.
"Neteller will continue to seek out strategic
relationships with companies such as Centricom who offer
compelling products and services that enhance our
innovative online payment solutions to our global
customers and merchants.”
Simon Warner, Managing Director of Centricom, said “We
welcome the investment from NETELLER as a milestone in
our development which will enable us to roll out the
POLi service to more merchants and build further
consumer brand awareness. This partnership is further
evidence that Centricom is serious about being the major
provider of online payments in Australia, New Zealand
and beyond.”
Since its launch in October 2004, Centricom has been
steadily building and refining its online payments
business. The POLi service now operates in three
countries; Australia, New Zealand and, with its partner
ATM Solutions, South Africa.
Online Casino News courtesy of
InfoPowa
More news here.
Top of page |
Home |
News |
Forum |
Webcast |
Vortran |
Accredited Casinos |
Evil Ones |
Pitch a Bitch |
Online Gambling Resources |
Poker
|