New Zealand Company Buys World’s Largest Read/Write Loyalty Card Firm
$NZ14.4 million acquisition makes Visible Results the world’s largest provider of read/write loyalty card programs
Auckland offices will earn $US30 million per annum for services into the US
Auckland – February 7: An Auckland company has become the world’s largest provider of read/write loyalty card programs
after its purchase this week of the US operation that owned the technology.
Visible Results Limited, a subsidiary of the Atlantis Group, today announced a cash agreement to purchase GraphiCard
Systems International (GSI) for $NZ14.4 million.
As a result of the deal, the New Zealand offices of Visible Results will provide specialist services to the United
States worth $US30 million in the first year alone.
The acquisition lifts the percentage of Visible Results’ revenue that comes from offshore markets to 80% and gives it
access to the all important United States market.
GSI holds the international patent for the GraphiCard™, a leading edge loyalty card technology that allows retailers to
communicate directly with their customers at point of sale. Thermal technology updates information displayed on the card
each time it is used.
The card enables personalised communication with the customer and ensures information is timely and relevant.
GraphiCard™ provides instant information from loyalty points balances to offers targeted at specific users.
Visible Results managing director Michael Whittaker comments: “This acquisition not only gives us international patents
to the technology, but secures the distributorships in North and South America, in addition to those we already hold
across the Asia Pacific region.”
Access to the United States market is key to Visible Results’ strategy and the company is already developing strong
relationships with several large American retailers.
“The GSI acquisition is typical for the new breed of emerging New Zealand companies,” Mr Whittaker said.
“Atlantis and Visible Results have reach across global markets, but continue to operate from New Zealand. This gives us
a considerably lower cost base and allows the people we employ to work at the leading edge of world-class technology
development without having to leave the country.”
Visible Results will inherit 14 GSI staff at its headquarters in Kansas. In keeping with its policy of using its New
Zealand base for all development, programming and technical support, the company is seeking to employ up to 15 technical
staff immediately. Interested technical and other development staff can seek information via opportunities@tag.co.nz.
Visible Results specialises in the establishment, implementation and operational management of retail loyalty
programmes.
Mobil Oil Limited in New Zealand currently deploys the technology through the “Mobil MAX” programme. Visible Results’
proprietary software is used in conjunction with the GraphiCard™ to power the programme. Visible Results uses the
GraphiCard™ technology for clients in Australia, Singapore and Japan.
Editors’ Note:
About Visible Results
Established in New Zealand in 1997, Visible Results launched with its first client 2 years ago. Today, the company has
subsidiaries in Singapore, Australia, and Japan. Visible Results has quickly become one of Asia Pacific’s leading
customer relationship companies serving an ever growing client base across convenience, fast food, fuels and the general
retail industry.
Visible Results’ multimillion dollar investment into a future proof “customer relationship management” platform enables
retailers the opportunity to access advanced transaction processing, customer analysis and e-commerce related facilities
that have previously only been available as a result of expensive custom designed business solutions.
The future of Visible Results lies not only in its ongoing commitment to investment in technology, and adoption of sound
best practice principles, but most importantly in the consistent delivery of accountable and successful programmes to
clients.