d_ricardo Whilst I'm very cagey about ICP, I am negative re CUS...

d_ricardo Whilst I'm very cagey about ICP, I am negative re CUS with one exception and that is with regard to any possible new affiliations, amalgamations etc etc. Without any of the foregoing and left on their own to improve/enhance/clean-up their existing network would only see CUS lose transaction volume. So what do they do?

First: They need to rid themselves of their low volume sites because low vol sites are mainly low volume for one of two reasons ie no traffic or merchants not replenishing cash.This will rid them of a few transactions but would also, more importantly, help to reduce overheads.

Second: have more people doing re-signs. (My info tells me they are significantly understaffed in this area GRG's prospectus even goes so far as to mention CUS [and ICP] as a target for churning.) At the same time, CUST is aggressively targeting new business from and at all levels. There is the old adage "Retaining the business you already have is cheaper than obtaining new business."

Third: With regard to their top-end sites, every body and his dog will be vying for them. These are the current big money-earners for CUS. I find it very hard to believe, at the expiry of current agreements, CUS will be able to retain them.(Memory tells me ANZ are paying Crown Casino $1.98/ Transaction @ $2.00 fee.

Fourth: When the "greens-on-the-outside" ban ATMs from gambling establishments in TAS? VIC? and/or SA?, CUS will find itself crippled because gambling establishments, at this time, would represent CUS biggest single source of revenue.

Fifth: Sorry, but I'm going to tread on a couple of corns here. Tim Wildash is an aggressive enterprise builder. He goes out for new business, new acquisitions, etc. Always has done and he's Bl**dy good at it. CUS now needs a CEO who can consolidate what is already there and turn it into a solid, bright future for the co. A good CEO for the new CUS would also have more people out there resigning their viable sites whilst at the same time having well controlled reps aggressively canvassing new business.

Since I am such a slow typist, I will leave readers to fill the gaps.
BTW I am not a holder or buyer of CUS nor do I intent to be but, having spent so much time in the industry at the worrying level, I feel I have the liberty to express my sentiments herein \

Sincerely wish for the sake of you all that I'm wrong.

Db