behind the scenes

When Customers first announced the stake in Fintronics in November last year, they said Fintronics owned 300 ATMs and had relationships with over 20 banks with contracts to instal up to 6000 more. Last week when announcing the takover of Fintronics they said Fintronics owned 400 ATMs and had relationships with over 20 banks and a growing number of contracts to instal thousands more. I find it hard to believe that they have only installed 100 ATMs in seven months, or 1 1/2 per day in a huge economy that's going gangbusters.

No. There's more going on here than meets the eye. The appreciation in Fintronics share price would seem to indicate that management, for their own reasons, are being somewhat economical with the truth about the real state of play on the ground in China. Given that FCP think nothing of paying a 20+% premium to the market to excercise their options as well as take up their shares in Customers, and given that the Top 20 is starting to look like a who's who, the signs are all there that these boys are getting themselves set for a big pay day. Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Seneca.