Could Bitcoin replace Credit Cards?
Growing competition in the retail sector – and the possibility that the digital currency could help merchants lower transaction fees that cut into profit margins — could induce them to replace credit cards with Bitcoin. “From a merchant perspective, Bitcoin has the advantage of not having large fees from credit card companies that cut into profits,” writes Ian DeMartino, in The Bitcoin Guidebook: How To Obtain, Invest, And Spend The World’s First Decentralized Cryptocurrency. “Credit card companies typically charge between three to four percent for each transaction, a fee the merchants normally take on themselves. For merchants with small profit margins, that fee could be up half or more of […]
Afterpay to raise equity for UK acquisition
Payments company Afterpay will launch a $110 million equity raising. It is understood the company has hired brokers Citi, Bell Potter and Wilsons to manage the offer. The deal is expected to be underwritten by Citi at a floor price of $15.75 a share, with the deal to be done via a placement. Funds raised would be used to buy a UK payments company ClearPay’s customers and footprint, which would launch Afterpay into the UK. It is understood Highbury Partnership advised Afterpay on the acquisition. To read more, please click on the link below… Source: Afterpay to raise equity for UK acquisition | afr.com
Record payday for EML teases bigger year ahead
EML Payments (ASX: EML) had a big year in FY18 and the company has no plans to slow it down anytime soon. The payments solution provider posted a record year of earnings in FY18, up 43 per cent to $20.8 million. Revenue also increased to $71 million, up 23 per cent, and the company recorded a net profit of $4.83 million, up by a staggering 200 per cent on FY17. While these results speak to the company’s achievements in FY18, EML Payments’ recent acquisitions and new international partnerships could suggest an even more impressive financial year is on the horizon. The company recently acquired 100 per cent of Presend, a […]
UK fintech ‘unicorn’ Ebury heads to Australia
British fintech firm Ebury has set up shop in Sydney, having identified the Australian market as a good foothold for southern hemisphere expansion.
Cointree and Gobbill partner to let Aussies pay their bills with cryptocurrency
Major telcos, utility providers and insurers may not have jumped on the cryptocurrency bandwagon, but thanks to two local fintech startups that no longer matters, with cryptocurrency owners now able to pay any bill in crypto. Cryptocurrency exchange Cointree and automated billing platform Gobbill will let Australians pay bills with cryptocurrency, regardless of whether the business itself accepts the digital currency. Gobbill acts as a go-between, taking the funds from its users and paying the bills on their behalf. Gobbill co-founder Shendon Ewans admits that he was late to the cryptocurrency party, only beginning to dabble in it early last year, but said that’s what made a partnership with Cointree […]
Woolworths Rewards available through Google Pay
Shoppers at Woolworths can now earn reward points by using Google Pay. The retail giant’s launch of Google Pay marks the first of the Australian supermarkets to implement the mobile payment service in-store while providing its 11 million Rewards members with a more convenient way to earn and redeem loyalty points. In justifying Woolworths’ decision to offer Google Pay in-store, Ingrid Maes, the Director of Woolworths Loyalty program posts, “We’re seeing digital wallets grow in popularity because they offer quick, seamless and hassle-free payments for customers”. RFi Group data reinforces Maes’ assertion finding, 39% of consumers who are aware of mobile payment services have used a mobile payment service to […]
Bendigo Adelaide launches “all-in-app” digital bank
Bendigo and Adelaide Bank has become the latest institution to launch a new pure play digital bank. Dubbed ‘Up’, the separately branded neo play will come in the form of a dedicated and separately branded app, as Bendigo attempts to snatch younger customers disillusioned with the offerings of the Big Four. Australia’s fifth largest retail institution claims the the new mobile-centric service, now in beta, will be Australia’s first fully licenced “all-in-app” mobile banking platform. It will come with native phone payment and mobile wallet functionality in what is essentially a plastic-free play. Global payments scheme mastercard has come along for the ride and gets to bolt its mobile debit […]
Can Afterpay’s magic run continue?
As Elon Musk and Tesla have shown us, when dizzy valuations and high short interest collide, the results can be spectacular. If the Australian stock market has a battleground stock to rival Tesla it is the buy now, pay later juggernaut Afterpay, which has doubled to a market capitalisation of over $3 billion in just six weeks. In that time, the shorts have been decimated as Afterpay successfully kicked off its US adventure. As it stands, Afterpay which closed on Friday at $14.57 is now valued at 100 times forward earnings and at 50 times based on fiscal 2020 earnings forecasts. So is the run done? Not even close, if […]
