The data presented in the Draft Annual Report 2013 highlights the positive results achieved by TAS following a major reorganization. In 2014 will further enhance its presence on the international stage growing and expanding globally and launching new innovative solutions to meet the requirements of a new generation of digital payments.

Rome, 18 March 2014

TAS Group, a company listed in the Italian Stock Exchange (ISIN 121670) since 2000, yesterday presented its Draft Consolidated Financial Statements at 31 December 2013.

The results showed a significant increase in revenue and margin growth.

Total revenue grew to 43.567 million Euro, an increase of 2 million Euro (+4.8%) compared to the previous year.

EBITDA was positive, amounting to 3.254 million Euro, compared to a loss of 322 thousand Euro in 2012. This corresponds to a 7.5% increase in total revenue (9.5% excluding non-recurring costs, amounting to 878 thousand Euro).

Liquidity improved as well, amounting to 4.247 million Euro, compared to 3.992 million Euro at 31 December 2012.

These achievements are the result of the corporate restructuring process first initiated in 2009, and reinforced by newer and more recent development strategies at domestic and international levels.  This led to an extremely positive performance for TAS shares in the last six months (over 22.6%).

In 2014 TAS Group aims to consolidate this positive trend, increasing its global presence in Europe, USA and Latin America, while strengthening its leadership in the domestic Italian market.

In terms of value proposition, in 2014, TAS Group plans market penetration of its new modular platforms based on advanced technological architectures that enable the rapid, secure and efficient management of all payment instruments’ Issuing, Acquiring and Fraud Management. New solutions will integrate innovative payment channels and tools for next-generation digital payments in both the Banking and Government business sectors.

For accessing payment networks and clearing and settlement systems – a traditional core competence of TAS – 2014 will mark a decisive step forward for the TAS Network Gateway solution, which has been completely renovated and upgraded to fully operate with Open standards, providing connectivity to the multiplicity of regulators and protocols in the Post-SEPA End Date era.

Valentino Bravi, CEO of TAS Group, commented on the presentation of the Draft Annual Report: “The positive results established in 2013 rewarded the hard work that our entire team has accomplished, helping to overcome the challenges of the adverse global economic situation over the last three years.

2014 will represent another milestone for our Group’s track record in the Payments Market through the launch of our new Cashless 3.0, platform, and in the Finance Market through the creation of our access platform for Target 2 Securities, on which TAS has been working for more than one year, supporting the main Eurosystem institutions. The huge investments put in place in recent years, to strengthen our core competence in the institutional arena, and to transform our product portfolio, targeting new European and Global Payment Service Providers, have been recognized by the market.  This enables TAS to compete and attract professional excellence and create strategic alliances on an international level”.

Renzo Vanetti, Chairman of TAS, also stresses how “Passion and motivation of human resources, in addition to growth of expertise essential for the recovery of our business, are the ingredients that have enabled TAS to undertake this promising trend. The 2013 results, with significant positive growth in both revenue and EBITDA, are indicators that encourage us on the path we have taken. Thanks to the new products and services available from 2014 and to our continuing international expansion, TAS is definitely back to being a major player in the world of services to banks, businesses and government.”

About TAS Group

TAS Group is the Italian leader in the provision of specialized services and solutions for the management of payment systems, e-money and financial markets. Listed on the MTA since 2000, it serves the major commercial and central banks and some of the main global broker dealer of the Global Fortune 500.

TAS Group has a direct presence in Europe, North and Latin America, where it operates through its subsidiaries: TAS France SAS, APIA SA, TAS Iberia SLU and Tasamericas Ltda.
Thanks to the offering diversification undertaken in recent years, the TAS solutions are now adopted also by the Central and Local Government and non-banking companies operating in many different sectors.