Richard Law, CEO of GBGroup, discusses acquisition of CDMS Limited - Global Banking & Finance Review
Richard Law, CEO of GBGroup, shares insights on the £6M acquisition of CDMS Limited (Transactis), enhancing identity intelligence solutions in the finance sector.
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GBGROUP ACQUIRES CDMS LIMITED, (TRANSACTIS), FOR £6M

Published by Gbaf News

Posted on November 6, 2014

3 min read

· Last updated: December 7, 2018

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GBGroup Acquires Transactis for £6 Million

GBGroup plc, the specialist in identity intelligence solutions, has acquired the entire issued share capital of CDMS Limited, (trading as Transactis), a provider of data management services, from the Shop Direct Group for £6m. The combination of Transactis’ advanced anti-fraud services, marketing solutions and transactional data with GBG’s existing services and expertise will enable businesses to understand their customers identity in real-time with far greater accuracy.

Leveraging Unique Data Assets for Improvement

Transactis’ unique data assets, derived from understanding the shopping habits of over 40m UK citizens, will also help GBG in strengthening processes that ensure genuine customers receive better service. It will help retailers, for instance, to understand purchaser profiles to customise and tailor the best possible service.

The data and services provided through the acquisition will help GBGroup’s clients, including Thomas Cook, FitnessFirst and Ikano in the UK, in the race to recognise and understand customers better – even when interacting across multiple channels.

Richard Law, CEO of GBGroup

Richard Law, CEO of GBGroup

Tackling Identity Fraud and Online Threats

Recognising who to deal with – and who to avoid – is also a vital component of driving out identity related frauds.  The UK saw a rise of over 60% in online fraud last year and, in the area of employee fraud, 63% of all the confirmed fraud recorded by CIFAS in the first half of 2014 was related to job applications where serious fraudulent declarations about employment history, qualifications or criminal records have been made. GBG is committed to providing its clients with the robust intelligence they need to make decisions aimed at protecting businesses and their customers.

Expanding Customer Base Across Sectors

Transactis provides GBGroup with a strong customer base across both public and private sectors, particularly within the retail sector. GBG will continue to partner with Shop Direct Group to develop its identity intelligence solutions to improve the online shopping experience and enhance its fraud screening capabilities

Key Benefits of the Transactis Acquisition

In summary the acquisition of Transactis will:

  • Offer GBG clients even stronger marketing and data-related services, connecting with customers in real-time accurately and with relevance.
  • Enable GBG to help businesses combat the threat of identity fraud in the cyber age by strengthening its Identity Verification and Anti-Fraud solutions with Transactics’ unique data sources
  • Extend the GBG customer base with new customers such as Nationwide Building Society, Betfair, MBNA and HMRC

Richard Law, CEO at GBGroup, commented:

“The addition of the core capabilities of Transactis means our clients will receive best in class solutions that help them understand the identity of UK citizens and respond to their needs much more effectively. Transactis will also give us a massive lift in the battle against data driven crime and the misuse of identity information. The acquisition will arm GBG with enhanced skills and technology that will help businesses understand who they are dealing with – across multiple channels and in real time.

A spokesman for Shop Direct Group said

“GBGroup offers an excellent opportunity for the continued development of Transactis staff and customers. It is extremely well positioned to build upon Transactis’ existing reputation for industry leading insight and marketing services and we feel that, together, Transactis and GBG will continue to be a real force in the identity intelligence market.”

Key Takeaways

  • GBGroup acquired CDMS Limited (Transactis) for up to £6 million, combining cash and shares including deferred consideration.
  • Transactis’s data on over 40 million UK consumers enhances GBGroup’s real‑time identity intelligence and anti‑fraud capabilities.
  • The deal expands GBGroup’s client base—welcoming Nationwide Building Society, Betfair, MBNA, HMRC—and strengthens service for existing clients like Thomas Cook.
  • Funding comprised £4.5 million cash, £0.5 million in shares, and up to £1 million deferred shares contingent on performance for 12 months.
  • Completion occurred 3 November 2014, following agreement in October 2014; the acquisition immediately integrated Transactis into GBGroup operations.

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What did GBGroup acquire and for how much?
GBGroup acquired CDMS Limited, trading as Transactis, from Shop Direct Group for up to £6 million in cash and shares with deferred consideration.
What strategic benefits does Transactis bring to GBGroup?
Transactis contributes advanced anti‑fraud services, marketing solutions and transactional data on over 40 million UK consumers, enhancing GBGroup’s real‑time identity intelligence.
How was the acquisition funded?
Funding comprised £4.5 million cash, £0.5 million in GBGroup shares at completion, and up to £1 million in deferred shares contingent on performance within 12 months.
When was the acquisition completed?
The acquisition agreement was in mid‑October 2014, and GBGroup completed the acquisition on 3 November 2014.
Which new clients did GBGroup gain through this acquisition?
GBGroup extended its client base to include Nationwide Building Society, Betfair, MBNA and HMRC, while also enhancing services for existing clients like Thomas Cook and FitnessFirst.

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