Concord EFS (WKN 877174) in 2003 - 500 Beiträge pro Seite

[Zyklus]

Allen erstmal einen katerfreien und freundlichen guten Morgen und ein erfolgreiches, zufriedenstellendes und vor allem in jeder Beziehung gesundes neues Jahr.

Dann mal auf zum nächsten Concord Einjahresthread. (Auch wenn es in 2002 nicht so ganz funktioniert hat)

Zuerst die Ausgangsdaten:

Schlußkurs 31.12.2002: $ 15,74

ATH: $ 35,06, Mai 2002

Aktienzahl: 508.734.000, davon 404.634.000 oder 78,8 % bei institutionellen Anlegern, 8.867.000 oder 1,72 % bei Owners.

Marktkapitilasierung: $ 8.007.473.160

Gewinn pro Aktie I. - III. Quartal 2002: $ 0,57

erwartetes Ergebnis 2002: $ 0,68

Umsatz erwartet 2002: größer $ 2.000.000.000, Gewinn 2002 erwartet 2002 ca. $ 250.000.000.

Umsatz, Gewinn und Ergebnis/Aktie in den letzten 5 Jahren:
12/97 490.03 59.69 0.14
12/98 666.55 91.06 0.21
12/99 1,060.01 129.24 0.25
12/00 1,407.14 209.93 0.42
12/01 1,707.00 216.41 0.42


KGV: 23,14 in 2002, 18,96 in 2003

Analystenmeinungen: 4 * strong buy, 11 * buy, 11 * hold und 3 * underperfom. (jaja, vorbei die Ziet wo es 17 * strong buy war)

Analysten:
A. G. EDWARDS & SONS, INC.
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC.
BARRINGTON RESEARCH
BEAR, STEARNS & CO.
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
D. A. DAVIDSON & CO.
DEUTSCHE BANK NORTH AMERICA
FIRST ANALYSIS CORP.
FOX-PITT KELTON, INC.
GOLDMAN SACHS & CO.
JEFFERIES & CO.
JMP SECURITIES
LEGG MASON WOOD WALKER, INC.
LEHMAN BROTHERS
MERRILL LYNCH
MIDWEST RESEARCH
MORGAN STANLEY
MORGAN, KEEGAN & COMPANY, INC.
PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES
RBC CAPITAL MARKETS
SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC
SANFORD C. BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
STIFEL NICOLAUS & COMPANY, INC.
SUNTRUST ROBINSON HUMPHREY
THOMAS WEISEL PARTNERS
U.S. BANCORP PIPER JAFFRAY
UBS WARBURG
WACHOVIA SECURITIES
WILLIAM BLAIR & COMPANY, L.L.C.

bisherige Splits:
19.09.94, 3:2
23.05.95, 3:2
19.01.96, 3:2
01.07.96, 3:2
09.06.98, 3:2
23.09.99, 3:2
01.10.01, 2:1

und für alle die es in Farbe sehen wollen, Quelle: http://quotes.nasdaq.com/asp/summaryquote.asp?symbol=CE%60&s…

Lassen wir uns überraschen was 2003 so passiert.

Gruß und einen schönen Tag

Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Heute 4 % plus, ob es an dieser Meldung liegt?

Concord EFS Expands Board of Directors with Two Appointments; New Memphis-Based Directors Will Add Diversity Of Experience

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Jan 2, 2003 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Concord EFS, Inc. (NYSE:CE), a leading electronic commerce provider, announced today the election of Dr. Shirley C. Raines and Arthur N. Seessel III to its Board of Directors. Raines is president of the University of Memphis and Seessel is a management consultant to the supermarket industry. It was also announced that Ronald V. Congemi, Concord SVP and president of Network Services, has resigned from the board. A director since February 2001, Congemi will continue to provide counsel to the board as a Senior Management Advisor to the Board of Directors. Collectively, these changes bring the total number of directors to ten, including seven outside directors.

"We are pleased to enhance Concord`s board with outside directors of such high caliber," said Dan M. Palmer, Concord chairman and chief executive officer. "Dr. Raines brings a long record of innovative leadership in education and a unique viewpoint as president of a major university that`s a multi-million dollar business. Art provides a wealth of business management expertise in a highly successful entrepreneurial enterprise. Their insight and guidance will be invaluable as we carry out our strategic plans to fuel Concord`s continued growth in the Network, Payment, and Risk Management Services business segments. Our goal is for outside directors to provide strong leadership to the board, and we will continue to actively seek qualified outside directors to increase the diversity of experience and expertise on our board."

Raines is the 11th president of The University of Memphis and is the first woman to hold that office. Previously, she was vice chancellor of academic services and dean of the College of Education at the University of Kentucky. Raines is widely regarded as an expert in early childhood and teacher education and has received many honors for her leadership in teacher education. Major themes of her higher education leadership have been interdisciplinary research; improving teaching, retention, and graduation rates; and building partnerships on and off the campus. Raines earned her doctorate in education from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She has served on the faculty or administration of universities in Florida, Virginia, Oklahoma, North Carolina, and Alabama.

Raines commented on her appointment to the board by stating, "Concord has been highly successful in the past 15 years through early entry into emerging products and by focusing on under-penetrated growth markets, and this proven vision was what attracted me to the board. I look forward to helping to guide the company as it continues to build its business in new industry segments like government and risk management services."

Seessel began his consultancy in 1996. Previously, he was president and CEO of Seessel`s Supermarkets, a leading grocery chain in the Southeast and a retail icon in the Memphis area. Seessel entered the family business in 1962 and was named president and CEO of the fast-growing chain in 1978. Under his leadership the Seessel`s chain expanded regionally and applied many innovations, including installation of the first electronic scan system. Seessel holds a B.A. in economics from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. in marketing from Northwestern University. Seessel currently serves on the boards and audit committees of First Trust Bank and Varsity Brands, and is a member of the advisory board for Wunderlich Securities. He is also a founding member and vice chairman of the Memphis/Shelby Crime Commission, a member of the St. Mary`s Episcopal School Advisory Committee, and a member and past chairman of the Memphis Society of Entrepreneurs.

Seessel expressed enthusiasm for his appointment to the Concord board, saying "As a long-time Memphis resident I have followed Concord`s remarkable performance for many years. I`ve been impressed with the company`s innovation, energy, and commitment to building shareholder value. I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to the company`s continued success."

Concord is a leading vertically integrated electronic transaction processor, providing transaction authorization, data capture, settlement and funds transfer services to financial institutions, supermarkets, petroleum retailers, convenience stores, restaurants, and other independent retailers. Concord`s primary activities include Network Services, providing ATM driving, PIN-secured and signature debit card processing, deposit risk management, and STAR(SM) network access to the financial services industry; and Payment Services, providing credit, debit, check authorization, and electronic benefits transfer processing services to selected retail segments. Concord news releases, links to SEC filings, and other information are available at www.concordefs.com.

This release may contain or incorporate by reference forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause our actual performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by those statements. Concord undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events, or changes to future results over time. See the cautionary statements included as Exhibit 99.4 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 13, 2002 for a more detailed discussion of certain of the factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements.

Concord EFS, Inc.
Corporate Communications:
Melinda D. Mercurio, 302/791-8109
[e-mail]

Quelle: http://www.nasdaq.com/asp/quotes_news.asp?selected=CE&symbol…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Wir werden größer?!

Concord EFS Planning to Acquire the Credit Union 24 Network

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Jan 9, 2003 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Concord EFS, Inc. (NYSE:CE), a leading payment processor and operator of the STAR(SM) network, today announced that it has signed a non-binding letter of intent with Credit Union 24, Inc. to acquire the Credit Union 24(R) Network, a member-owned ATM and point-of-sale network based in Tallahassee, Florida. The Credit Union 24(R) Network connects over 400 credit unions via 7,200 ATMs and 7 million cardholders in 35 states. A definitive agreement is currently expected to be reached during the first quarter of 2003, with closing of the transaction subject to final approval by the shareholders of Credit Union 24(R) and other customary conditions.

"The Credit Union 24(R) Network is a strong franchise that has grown by focusing on meeting the unique needs of credit unions," said Edward A. Labry III, Concord president and CEO-elect. "We believe that the combination of Concord`s processing engine and STAR`s national connectivity with the Credit Union 24(R) Network`s strong brand and segment expertise will create a powerful platform for a dedicated credit union network."

"We are confident that Concord will provide the best combination of value, service, and access for Credit Union 24(R) Network participants in a dramatically evolving payments industry," said James H. Park, president and CEO of Credit Union 24, Inc. "Concord serves more credit unions than any other network, including those owned by credit unions, and they`ve demonstrated a strong commitment to the credit union industry. The entire Credit Union 24, Inc. team looks forward to working with Concord to build a network that is designed by and for credit unions."

Concord is a leading vertically integrated electronic transaction processor, providing transaction authorization, data capture, settlement and funds transfer services to financial institutions, supermarkets, petroleum retailers, convenience stores, restaurants, and other independent retailers. Concord`s primary activities include Network Services, providing ATM driving, PIN-secured and signature debit card processing, deposit risk management, and STAR(SM) network access to the financial services industry; and Payment Services, providing credit, debit, check authorization, and electronic benefits transfer processing services to selected retail segments. Concord news releases, links to SEC filings, and other information are available at www.concordefs.com.

This release may contain or incorporate by reference forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause our actual performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by those statements. Concord undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events, or changes to future results over time. See the cautionary statements included as Exhibit 99.4 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 13, 2002 for a more detailed discussion of certain of the factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements.

Concord EFS, Inc., Memphis
Corporate Communications
Melinda D. Mercurio, 302/791-8109
[e-mail]

Quelle: http://www.nasdaq.com/asp/quotes_news.asp?selected=CE&symbol…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Top-Choice?!?!

SURE, TECH STOCKS are cheaper than they have been in years. But many of the firms are still burning cash or limping by on much-reduced profits. If you look closely, though, there are tech niches that have shown surprising resiliency and are poised to take off with even the slightest improvement in the business outlook.

One such niche: companies providing outsourced computer processing. They operate from a fixed-cost base so they don`t have to spend a lot to handle new business. In many cases, their revenue just goes up without any extra effort as the volume of transactions starts to rise.

Concord EFS, our top choice, has the added advantage of specializing in debit and ATM card processing at recession-resistant businesses such as convenience stores and gas stations. Consumer spending has helped keep the company`s transaction volume up, even though September was a weak month. But that`s not what makes the stock attractive right now. In the second quarter, the Memphis firm announced extra costs related to recent acquisitions, causing the stock to fall 24%. "The margin pressure is just temporary," says Stephen McClellan, a Wall Street Journal top-ranked analyst at Merrill Lynch. "This is a great price point to buy the stock." In the meantime, Concord has a terrific balance sheet, with $1.8 billion in cash and no debt.
Third-quarter revenue jumped 30% with a strong October, and net operating cash should top $400 million this year. The company has aggressively sought out the fast-growing PIN debit card processing niche and now owns 58% of that market.

Like Concord, runner-up Affiliated Computer Services is a cash cow, thanks to low operating costs. And its sales rose more than 37% in the quarter ending in September.

Much of the company`s growth comes from its pioneering position in business process outsourcing. UPS, a big client, used to take four days to bill customers for packages it picked up. Affiliated takes all the information from the pickup slip, processes the data overnight and has a bill out the next day. It`s been particularly successful in winning contracts from government agencies with business processing systems for Medicaid claims, parking tickets and New York metro area automated toll collection.

Never miss another great SmartMoney Magazine article — subscribe today!

Quelle: http://biz.yahoo.com/smart/030108/jan03_computerwhertoinvein…

Naja, den Kurs beinflußt es nicht, aktuell: $ 15,89

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Eigentlich das Gleiche, nur umfangreicher:

SmartMoney.com
Where to Invest in 2003
Wednesday January 8, 5:57 pm ET
By Jersey Gilbert




IF YOU`RE STILL READING this magazine after three years of the worst bear market since the Great Depression, then you`ll have to face up to it: You`re one of us.

You`re one of us because you know the long-run odds are in your favor and you will not panic over headlines or hand-wringing pundits. You are cautiously optimistic in good times and bad. Furthermore, you know that if you spend as much time worrying about controlling risks as you spend fantasizing about a big score, there`s only so much the market can do to hurt you.

ADVERTISEMENT


Each year in our January issue, SmartMoney offers up an approach tailored for people like us. It`s a variation on market strategist Elaine Garzarelli`s sector investment method first outlined in February 1993. We tinker with the execution when we revisit it each January, but the basic principles have remained the same. Back in `93 the U.S. was ending the second year of a recovery from the 1990-91 recession. Now we`re starting what appears to be the second year of a recovery from the recession of 2001. That means our Best Investments strategy has been tested over a full business cycle.

And you know what? It works.

Over that period the S&P 500 climbed 108%, or 7.7% annually. Pretty good gains, given the wretched conditions of the past three years. Yet SmartMoney did much better. The theoretical gain from investing equal amounts in each of our top stock picks for 1993 and then rolling the principal and gains over each year into the new suggested top picks is 281%, an annualized growth rate of 14.5% a year.

Of course, in real life most people have to pay taxes on a portfolio that rolls over each year. Assuming capital gains taxes each year of 28% until 1997, when the rate dropped to 20 percent, our top picks would still net 175% (10.8% annualized) after 10 years. The runner-up groups also beat the market, by 4.2% annually.

To find stocks that have better-than-average odds of rising, we look first for good investments in sectors that are undervalued — not so much compared with the market but compared with where the sector has typically traded in the past. Right now, for instance, the median paper company trades at 14 times the past 12 months` earnings, but the sector`s five-year median price/earnings ratio is 32. That shows investors are willing to pay double for these stocks under the right conditions.

The other thing we look for is the undervalued sectors where earnings are expected to grow. That way, two potentially powerful forces combine to raise stock prices: P/Es heading back to higher levels and stronger profits. In the case of paper companies, Wall Street analysts project sector earnings will more than double next year. Even if the P/Es don`t get all the way back to their five-year average this year (they won`t) and analysts` earnings projections prove too exuberant (they usually do), you can still see there`s plenty of room for gains.


We also know from experience that you simply can`t accept Wall Street earnings projections at face value. So we talk to buy- and sell-side analysts, searching for deeper insights into sales and profit trends. We ask about potential catalysts that might trigger higher multiples. Finally, since you probably don`t want to own all the stocks in a promising sector, we focus on just one or two of the leading companies. That way you`ll also cushion your losses if all the pieces fail to come together in the sector. Stocks of leading firms tend to hold up better when unexpected events trash sector fundamentals.

The nice thing about this approach is that you don`t have to correctly forecast the economy or even the market to find success. (Our Best Investments portfolio from 2000 beat the S&P by a wider margin than any other, yet we had no idea it would be the year the bubble burst.) And that`s a big advantage, given the current uncertainties about an Iraq attack and consumer spending. As you can read in "Is the Bear Market Over?" , top Wall Street experts also have serious reservations about debt levels and deflation, which might bedevil the market for years to come. At the same time, even the worst pessimists admit a big rally is possible this year before the double-dip recession they warn us about takes hold.


It`s hard to deny that fundamentals have improved noticeably in the short term. For one thing, the exorbitant valuations that scared so many investors have finally started deflating. Last April, U.S. corporate earnings finally started growing again — albeit slowly — while investor distrust and geopolitical fears kept stock prices going down until October. Gradually, the words "stratospheric" and "P/E ratio" became less commonly linked. In many sectors the effect has been dramatic. We haven`t had this many sectors make our first cut since 1997.

In the following profiles, we picked sectors that depend on several different kinds of spending: consumer, energy, medical, industrial and technology, in case the recovery remains spotty. And as always, we also included some ideas for directing your fixed-income allocations. You can use them to adjust the risk levels of your 2003 investments, depending on your immediate financial needs.

Additional reporting by Richard ten Wolde and Lauren Young

Quelle: http://biz.yahoo.com/smart/030108/jan03stocport_11.html

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Bei den Analysten gab es jetzt eine Änderung, mittlerweile 5* strong buy, 9 * buy, 11 * hold und 3 * underperform. Immerhin einmal strong buy mehr als am Jahresanfang, ist schon lange her das noch mal jemand upgradete.

Quelle: http://www.nasdaq.com/earnings/analyst_summary.asp?selected=…

Die Analysten: (Einer weniger als 01.01.2003)

A. G. EDWARDS & SONS, INC.
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC.
BARRINGTON RESEARCH
BEAR, STEARNS & CO.
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
D. A. DAVIDSON & CO.
DEUTSCHE BANK NORTH AMERICA
FIRST ANALYSIS CORP.
GOLDMAN SACHS & CO.
JEFFERIES & CO.
JMP SECURITIES
LEGG MASON WOOD WALKER, INC.
LEHMAN BROTHERS
MERRILL LYNCH
MIDWEST RESEARCH
MORGAN STANLEY
MORGAN, KEEGAN & COMPANY, INC.
PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES
RBC CAPITAL MARKETS
SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC
SANFORD C. BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
STIFEL NICOLAUS & COMPANY, INC.
SUNTRUST ROBINSON HUMPHREY
THOMAS WEISEL PARTNERS
U.S. BANCORP PIPER JAFFRAY
UBS WARBURG
WACHOVIA SECURITIES
WILLIAM BLAIR & COMPANY, L.L.C.

Damit ist FOX-PITT KELTON, INC, rausgefallen. (Wahrscheinlich nicht schlimm, den Namen hatte ich eh noch nie gehört)

Quelle: http://www.nasdaq.com/earnings/analyst_recommendations.asp?s…

Vielleicht teilen sie ja auch noch mit wer upgradete.

Schönes Wochenende

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Immerhin, seit heute zeigt WO bei der Börsenplatzabfrage auch den richtigen Kurs an, CE an der NYSE und nicht mehr CEFT an der NASDAQ.

Allerdings, laut WO Stand 21.00 Uhr 2.625.000 Stücke bei einem Kurs 16,08 und einem Tagesplus von 0,69 % und bei NASDAQ.COM 1.241.500 Stücke bei einem Kurs von 16,06 und einem Tagesminus von 0,37 % ?!?!?!?!?!

Naja, wird schon irgendwas richtig sein, oder?

Gruß Zyklus

[watto]

scheiß englisch
trotzdem danke zyklus

[Zyklus]

Hallo Watto,

gerne! Auch wenn Du der einzige bist der schon mal hier rein schaut.

Interessierst Du dich eigentlich für diesen Wert oder betreibst seelisch - moralischen Beistand ?

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Hallo Watto,

zur Abwechslung mal kurz knapp schmerzlos deutsch und auch noch aus dem WO-Board:

Update Concord EFS: Buy
Quelle: THOMAS WEISEL PARTNERS
Datum: 15.01.03

Die Analysten von Thomas Weisel Partners bewerten in ihrer Analyse vom 10. Januar die Aktie des Softwareherstellers Concord EFS mit "Buy".

Rating: Buy
Analyst: Thomas Weisel Partners
Besprechungswährung: US-Dollar
Besprechungkurs: 15,89

Quelle: http://www.wallstreet-online.de/si/research2/analyses/detail…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Concord ein Highlight?

Paul Tracy Recommends the Following Stocks: Concord EFS, Fred`s, and Symantec

CHICAGO, Jan 28, 2003 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Investors need to carry a heavy research load these days to make profitable decisions. Luckily, market expert Paul Tracy is here to do much of the heavy lifting. Discover three of this Pro`s stock recommendations and learn what a dividend tax cut can mean for you. Read his takes on CONCORD EFS (NYSE:CE), FRED`S (NASDAQ:FRED) and SYMANTEC (NASDAQ:SYMC). Click here for the full story exclusively on Zacks.com: http://featuredexpert2bw.zacks.com/

Here are the highlights from the Featured Expert column:

CONCORD EFS (NYSE:CE): Shares have stabilized in recent months and Tracy thinks they`ll head higher from here. The firm boasts a quality, stable business model and has established a solid position as one of the nation`s largest electronic payment services providers. And when Tracy looks at its financials (67% earnings growth in the first nine months of 2002) and its forward projections (roughly 25% EPS growth in 2003), he can`t help but still be impressed with Concord`s financial strength amidst difficult market conditions. This stable service provider boasts a long track record of success and pulls in more than 90% of its revenues from recurring annual transactions.

FRED`S (NASDAQ:FRED): Fred`s recently posted a 22% increase in sales for full-year 2002 -- topping the $1 billion mark for the first time -- and further gains are likely in the months and years ahead. The firm`s growth strategy is focused heavily on new store expansion, gains in same-store sales, and improved gross margins. Tracy likes Fred`s small size (market cap of just over $700 million), it`s debt-free balance sheet and its growing store base.

SYMANTEC (NASDAQ:SYMC) is one of the world`s leading suppliers of content and network security software to consumers and large enterprises. In Tracy`s opinion, the Security Software sector is going to be one of the major growth stories over the course of the next decade, and Symantec is going to lead the charge as one of the sector`s top players.

Find out specifics on how you can benefit from the President`s proposed dividend tax cut and get all of Paul Tracy`s stock recommendations, including the StreetAuthority`s Top Ten List, by clicking: http://featuredexpert3bw.zacks.com/

About Zacks Featured Experts

To be a successful investor you need professional advice. Experts who know what they`re talking about and can help you achieve your financial goals in good markets...and especially in bad ones will help you improve your portfolio. That is why Zacks Investment Research has assembled the best investment experts in the business to offer their powerful advisory newsletters to you on all the major investment topics: Stocks, Mutual Funds, Bonds, Options, Futures etc.

Recommendations from Featured Experts Highlighted in FREE Investment Newsletter

The best way to tap into the powerful advice from these experts is through our free weekly e-mail newsletter, "Profit from the Pros". Each week we highlight several Featured Experts in this free e-mail newsletter. Get your free subscription to "Profit from the Pros" at: http://www.freeprofit1bw.zacks.com

About Zacks

Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1981 to compile, analyze, and distribute investment research to both institutional and individual investors. The guiding principle behind our work is the belief that investment experts, such as brokerage analysts and investment newsletter writers, have superior knowledge about how to invest successfully. Our goal is to unlock their profitable insights for our customers. And there is no better way to enjoy this investment success, than with a FREE subscription to "Profit from the Pros" weekly e-mail newsletter. For your free newsletter, visit http://www.freeprofitbw.zacks.com

Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates.

Disclaimer: Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investors should always research companies and securities before making any investments. Nothing herein should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security.

Zacks.com
Terry Batey, 312/630-9880 ext. 307
[e-mail]
www.Zacks.com

http://www.businesswire.com

http://www.nasdaq.com/asp/quotes_news.asp?selected=CE&symbol…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Ob Highlight oder nicht, es gibt wieder Zahlen:

Concord EFS to Announce 4th Quarter 2002 Earnings on February 18

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Jan 27, 2003 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Concord EFS, Inc. (NYSE:CE) today announced it would release fourth quarter and year-end 2002 results prior to the market opening on Tuesday, February 18, 2003. A conference call to discuss the results will be held at 10:00 a.m. CST (11:00 a.m. EST) with Dan M. Palmer, chairman and chief executive officer, Edward A. Labry III, president, and Edward T. Haslam, chief financial officer.

To listen to the conference call, dial 877/261-8990 (United States) or 847/619-6441 (international), and enter identification number 6728655. A replay of the call will be available beginning late afternoon on February 18 through February 25, 2003 by dialing 888/843-8996 (United States) or 630/652-3044 (international), and entering identification number 6728658.

To access the slide presentation and listen to the call via the Internet, go to Concord`s investor relations homepage at www.cestock.com and click on the link "Webcast" up to 15 minutes in advance of the call. A replay of the Webcast will be available at the same location an hour after the call ends through March 4, 2003.

Concord is a leading vertically integrated electronic transaction processor, providing transaction authorization, data capture, settlement and funds transfer services to financial institutions, supermarkets, petroleum retailers, convenience stores, restaurants, and other independent retailers. Concord news releases, links to SEC filings, and other information are available at www.concordefs.com.

Concord EFS, Inc., Memphis
Melinda D. Mercurio, 302/791-8109
[e-mail]
www.concordefs.com

http://www.nasdaq.com/asp/quotes_news.asp?selected=CE&symbol…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Ach ja, bei den Analysten hat sich auch noch was getan, mittlerweile 5 * strong buy, 9 * buy, 10 * hold (minus eins) und 3 * underperform.

http://www.nasdaq.com/earnings/analyst_summary.asp?selected=…

Die Analysten:

A. G. EDWARDS & SONS, INC.
BARRINGTON RESEARCH
BEAR, STEARNS & CO.
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
D. A. DAVIDSON & CO.
DEUTSCHE BANK NORTH AMERICA
FIRST ANALYSIS CORP.
GOLDMAN SACHS & CO.
JEFFERIES & CO.
JMP SECURITIES
LEGG MASON WOOD WALKER, INC.
LEHMAN BROTHERS
MERRILL LYNCH
MIDWEST RESEARCH
MORGAN STANLEY
MORGAN, KEEGAN & COMPANY, INC.
PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES
RBC CAPITAL MARKETS
SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC
SANFORD C. BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
STIFEL NICOLAUS & COMPANY, INC.
SUNTRUST ROBINSON HUMPHREY
THOMAS WEISEL PARTNERS
U.S. BANCORP PIPER JAFFRAY
UBS WARBURG
WACHOVIA SECURITIES
WILLIAM BLAIR & COMPANY, L.L.C.

Damit hat sich auch BANK OF AMERICA SECURITIS verabschiedet.

Quelle: http://www.nasdaq.com/earnings/analyst_recommendations.asp?s…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Tja Watto, wer sucht wird fündig, nicht viel aber in deutsch:

Update Concord EFS: Buy
15.01.2003 12:00:44
Die Analysten von Thomas Weisel Partners bewerten in ihrer Analyse vom 10. Januar die Aktie des Softwareherstellers Concord EFS mit "Buy".


Quelle: http://www.finanzen.net/analysen/analysen_detail.asp?Analyse…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Neues gibt es eigentlich nicht, aber die Analysten verabschieden sich langsam. Eigentlich seltsam, so schlecht ist der Wert doch eigentlich auch nicht.

Aktuell: 5 * strong buy, 9 * buy, 10 * hold und 2 * underperform (eins weniger)

Quelle: http://www.nasdaq.com/earnings/analyst_summary.asp?selected=…

Die Analysten:

A. G. EDWARDS & SONS, INC.
BARRINGTON RESEARCH
BEAR, STEARNS & CO.
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
D. A. DAVIDSON & CO.
DEUTSCHE BANK NORTH AMERICA
FIRST ANALYSIS CORP.
GOLDMAN SACHS & CO.
JEFFERIES & CO.
JMP SECURITIES
LEGG MASON WOOD WALKER, INC.
MERRILL LYNCH
MIDWEST RESEARCH
MORGAN STANLEY
MORGAN, KEEGAN & COMPANY, INC.
PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES
RBC CAPITAL MARKETS
SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC
SANFORD C. BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
STIFEL NICOLAUS & COMPANY, INC.
SUNTRUST ROBINSON HUMPHREY
THOMAS WEISEL PARTNERS
U.S. BANCORP PIPER JAFFRAY
UBS WARBURG
WACHOVIA SECURITIES
WILLIAM BLAIR & COMPANY, L.L.C.

Quelle: http://www.nasdaq.com/earnings/analyst_recommendations.asp?s…

Damit haben sich die LEHMAN BROTHERS verabschiedet.

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Am 18.02. kommen die Zahlen und vorher tut sich nicht viel, ausser, die Analysten rochieren.

So z.B: CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON

von Outperform zu neutral

Quelle: http://biz.yahoo.com/c/20030211/d.html?ce

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Da gibt es sogar ein wenig Text zu:

Reuters
RESEARCH ALERT-CSFB cuts Concord EFS to "neutral"
Tuesday February 11, 11:59 am ET


NEW YORK, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Credit Suisse First Boston said on Tuesday it was cutting electronic transactions processor Concord EFS Inc. (NYSE:CE - News) to "neutral" from "outperform".
"Although we expect (Concord) to remain a leader in payment processing and do think that LT value exists, we think that the current price may discount an optimistic outlook," the securities firm told clients in a note.

The stock closed at $13.58 on the New York Stock Exchange on Monday.

Quelle:
http://biz.yahoo.com/rc/030211/services_concordefs_research1…

Naja, $ 13,58 war wirklich von vorgestern, aktuell $ 12,98

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Na, dann will ich auch noch mal eine gesamte Liste einfügen:

5 * strong buy, 8 * buy (1 weniger), 12 * hold (2 mehr) und 2 * underperform.

Analysten:

A. G. EDWARDS & SONS, INC.
BARRINGTON RESEARCH
BEAR, STEARNS & CO.
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
D. A. DAVIDSON & CO.
DEUTSCHE BANK NORTH AMERICA
FIRST ANALYSIS CORP.
GOLDMAN SACHS & CO.
J.P. MORGAN (neu)
JEFFERIES & CO.
JMP SECURITIES
LEGG MASON WOOD WALKER, INC.
MERRILL LYNCH
MIDWEST RESEARCH
MORGAN STANLEY
MORGAN, KEEGAN & COMPANY, INC.
PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES
RBC CAPITAL MARKETS
SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC
SANFORD C. BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
STIFEL NICOLAUS & COMPANY, INC.
SUNTRUST ROBINSON HUMPHREY
THOMAS WEISEL PARTNERS
U.S. BANCORP PIPER JAFFRAY
UBS WARBURG
WACHOVIA SECURITIES
WILLIAM BLAIR & COMPANY, L.L.C.

Quelle: http://www.nasdaq.com/earnings/analyst_recommendations.asp?s…

Damit ist JP MORGAN wieder mit dabei.

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Wie im Fußball, wer nicht erfolgreich ist wird ersetzt:

Concord EFS Appoints New Chairman, Co-CEOs; The Company Also Previewed Fourth Quarter Earnings of $0.175 Diluted Earnings Per Share

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Feb 13, 2003 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Concord EFS, Inc. (NYSE:CE), a leading electronic commerce provider, today announced several actions by its Board of Directors to realign its senior management team, and provided a preview of its fourth quarter earnings results scheduled for release on February 18, 2003.

The company announced that diluted earnings per share was $0.175 for the fourth quarter and $0.57 for the full year 2002. Excluding acquisition, restructuring and write-off charges, and litigation settlement charges, diluted earnings per share was $0.68 for the full year 2002. Further details will be provided during a conference call scheduled for February 18 at 11:00 am EST.

In addition, the company announced that its Board of Directors has taken the following actions, which supercede earlier appointments:

-- Richard P. Kiphart (61), a Concord director since 1997, was appointed chairman of the board of Concord. A long-time investor in Concord, Kiphart is head of the Corporate Finance Department of William Blair & Company, L.L.C.; -- Dan M. Palmer (59), Concord chairman and chief executive officer since 1991, will serve as director and co-chief executive officer; -- Bond R. Isaacson (45), executive vice president since joining Concord in 2002, was named director and co-chief executive officer; -- Edward A. Labry III (40), a director since 1993 and Concord president since 1994, will serve as director and president; -- Paul W. Finch Jr. (39), who joined Concord in January 2003, was named senior vice president and president of Risk Management Services. Previously, Finch was executive vice president of systems and operations for eFunds Corporation, where he directed the global delivery of products and services; -- E. Miles Kilburn (40), senior vice president of business strategy and corporate development since 2001, continues in that role.

"These moves strengthen our management team by combining long-standing Concord leaders with new, well-rounded executive talent, which we believe will position us well for the next stage of Concord`s growth," said Palmer. "In particular, these changes play to the unique strengths that each executive brings to Concord."

"Dan`s and Ed`s vision and entrepreneurial spirit plus Bond`s focus and results-oriented management style will provide all of our great employees with the leadership to create profitable payment solutions for our diverse customer base and lasting value for our shareholders," said Kiphart.

Concord EFS, Inc., a leading electronic transaction processor, provides the technology and network systems that make payments and other financial transactions faster, more efficient, and more secure than paper-based alternatives. As a vertically integrated service provider, Concord acquires, routes, authorizes, captures, and settles virtually all types of electronic payment and deposit access transactions for financial institutions and retailers nationwide. Concord`s primary activities include Network Services, which provides automated teller machine (ATM) processing, debit card processing, deposit risk management, and STARsm network access principally for financial institutions; and Payment Services, which provides point of sale processing, settlement, and related services, with specialized systems focusing on supermarkets, major retailers, gas stations, convenience stores, restaurants, and trucking companies. Concord news releases, links to SEC filings, and other information are available at www.concordefs.com.

This release may contain or incorporate by reference forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause our actual performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by those statements. Concord undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events, or changes to future results over time. See the cautionary statements included as Exhibit 99.4 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 13, 2002 for a more detailed discussion of certain of the factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements.

Concord EFS, Inc., Memphis
Melinda D. Mercurio, 302/791-8109
[e-mail]
or
Edward Winnick, 302/791-8484
[e-mail]

http://www.nasdaq.com/asp/quotes_news.asp?selected=CE&symbol…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Ob die neuen Trainer aber besser sind?

Concord EFS Appoints New Chairman, Co-CEOs



MEMPHIS, Tenn. -(Dow Jones)- Concord EFS Inc.(NYSE:CE) (CE) expects to earn 17.5 cents a share for the fourth quarter and 57 cents a share for fiscal 2002 and also announced the realignment of its senior management.

Analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call expect the company to earn 18 cents a share in the fourth quarter and 69 cents a share for 2002.

Concord EFS earned 17 cents a share in last year`s fourth quarter and 59 cents a share, excluding items, in fiscal 2001.

In a press release Thursday, Concord EFS said Richard P. Kiphart will now serve as chairman, replacing Dan M. Palmer, who will now serve as co-chief executive, along with Bond R. Isaacson.

Kiphart, who is head of the corporate finance department at William Blair & Co., has bee a company director since 1997 and was described as a long-time investor in Concord EFS, an electronic-transaction processor.

In addition, the company named Paul W. Finch Jr. senior vice president and president of risk management services. Finch was previously executive vice president of systems and operations for eFunds Corp.(NASDAQ-NMS:EFDS) (EFDS).

New York Stock Exchange-listed shares of Concord EFS closed unchanged at $ 12.85 on Wednesday, slightly above its 52-week low of $12.40, which occurred on Tuesday.

Quelle: http://www.nasdaq.com/asp/quotes_news.asp?selected=CE&symbol…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Goldman Sachs hat auch schon reagiert, von Outperform to In-Line

Quelle: http://www.nasdaq.com/asp/quotes_news.asp?selected=CE&symbol…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Das ganze noch mal, aber etwas umfangreicher:

Reuters
UPDATE - Concord EFS shuffles top management, shares plunge
Thursday February 13, 2:36 pm ET
By Philip Klein


(Recasts, adds byline, changes dateline to NEW YORK, adds analyst comments, details)
NEW YORK, Feb 13 (Reuters) - Concord EFS Inc. (NYSE:CE - News), which processes automated teller transactions, on Thursday shook up its top management, raising fears that the company was losing its battle with Visa U.S.A. over ATM networks.

ADVERTISEMENT


Shares of Concord lost as much as 25 percent of their value, falling to an almost three-year low.

Concord named its leading investor, Richard Kiphart, as chairman of the board. Kiphart is head of the Corporate Finance Department at William Blair & Co.

Dan Palmer, who has been Concord`s chairman and chief executive officer, was named co-chief executive and a director. Bond Isaacson, executive vice president and who previously worked for Visa and Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:BAC - News), was also named co-chief executive and director.

Edward Labry, who had been expected to replace Palmer as CEO in May, will remain as president.

Concord also preannounced that it earned 17.5 cents per share in the fourth quarter, just below the 18 cents per share analysts were expecting, according to research firm Thomson First Call (News - Websites). Concord did not provide any projections for upcoming quarters.

"When you have such a big management shuffle, that always causes concern," said Gary Prestopino, an analyst at Barrington Research Associates. "Analysts and investors were also kept in the dark about what guidance is going to be for 2003."

Prestopino said this could indicate that the company would have to bring down expectations.

Shares of Concord plunged $2.92, or 22.7 percent, to $9.93 in afternoon trade on the New York Stock Exchange (News - Websites), after earlier falling as low as $9.60. Concord was the most active stock and among the biggest losers on the NYSE.

The promotion of banking veteran Isaacson to co-CEO is a silver lining within the announcement, said Tim Willi, an analyst at A.G. Edwards & Sons, who has a "buy" rating on the stock. He said he does not own any shares of Concord and his firm does not have an investment banking relationship with it.

"The elevation of Bond Isaacson to the co-CEO slot may be a way to move (forward) its relationship with banks," Willi said.

Concord`s STAR transaction network competes with Visa`s Interlink, but he said Visa may fear being too aggressive because of the ongoing antitrust suit it is facing.

Visa is being sued by 4 million merchants led by Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE:WMT - News), who allege that Visa and MasterCard exert monopoly power by pushing their more costly payment networks on retailers and crushing rival networks such as Concord`s STAR.

One of the central arguments of Visa`s defense is that alternate networks are still thriving.

New Chairman Kiphart owns 8.4 million shares of Concord, making him the largest individual shareholder, according to Thomson First Call`s ShareWatch, and his firm William Blair & Co. owns an additional 17.7 million shares. Concord had about 528 million shares outstanding as of its most recent quarterly earnings release in October.

The company is scheduled to release its full fourth-quarter results next Tuesday.


Quelle: http://biz.yahoo.com/rf/030213/tech_concordefs_earns_1.html

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Die reinen Fakten:

Handelsvolumen > 43.000.000, damit mehr als Microsoft und fast soviel wie Cisco.

Außerdem noch ein 52-Wochen-Tief, Schlußkurs $ 11,05, Intraday sogar mal weit unter $10,00.

Naja, irgendwann erwichts jeden.

Gruß Zyklus

[watto]

gruß zyklus
moralischer beistand ist gut aber ich glaube den brauch ich langsam selbst

[watto]

ich bin am überlegen, ob ich mir für 9,50 eur noch welche ins
depot lege
ich denk ich werde es machen

[watto]

also noch einen schönen tag

[Zyklus]

Hallo Watto, wofür brauchst Du denn Beistand? Du wolltest dir doch noch welche ins Depot legen und dafür sind doch niedrige Kurse erstmal gut, oder? *g*

Ich weiß nicht, am 18.02. kommen die Zahlen, vielleicht gibts da noch mal ne kleine Überraschung, obwohl, nach den Meldungen......

Naja, die Analysten haben auch mal wieder reagiert, momentan 6 * strong buy (1 mehr aber wen wunderts bei den Kursen), 7 * buy (1 weniger), 12 * hold und 2 * underperform.

Wie immer, die Analysten:

A. G. EDWARDS & SONS, INC.
BARRINGTON RESEARCH
BEAR, STEARNS & CO.
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
D. A. DAVIDSON & CO.
DEUTSCHE BANK NORTH AMERICA
FIRST ANALYSIS CORP.
GOLDMAN SACHS & CO.
J.P. MORGAN
JEFFERIES & CO.
JMP SECURITIES
LEGG MASON WOOD WALKER, INC.
MERRILL LYNCH
MIDWEST RESEARCH
MORGAN STANLEY
MORGAN, KEEGAN & COMPANY, INC.
PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES
RBC CAPITAL MARKETS
SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC
SANFORD C. BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
STIFEL NICOLAUS & COMPANY, INC.
SUNTRUST ROBINSON HUMPHREY
THOMAS WEISEL PARTNERS
U.S. BANCORP PIPER JAFFRAY
UBS WARBURG
WACHOVIA SECURITIES
WILLIAM BLAIR & COMPANY, L.L.C.

Quelle: http://www.nasdaq.com/earnings/analyst_recommendations.asp?s…

Ansonsten ein schönes Wochenende

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Übrigens Watto, für dich noch ein wenig in deutsch:

06.02.2003
Concord EFS Ersteinschätzung
J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.

Rating-Update:

Die Analysten vom Investmenthaus J.P. Morgan Chase & Co stufen die Aktie von Concord EFS (WKN 877174) in einer Ersteinschätzung mit „neutral“ ein.


Quelle: http://www.aktiencheck.de/Analysen/default_an.asp?AnalysenID…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Und noch ein wenig deutsch, wenn auch das gleiche nur 4 Tage später:

Concord EFS: Neutral
10.02.2003 13:30:59
Die Analysten von JP Morgan bewerten in ihrer Analyse vom 6. Februar die Aktie des amerikanischen Softwareunternehmens Concord EFS unverändert mit „Neutral“.
Die Analysten belassen ihr Rating der Aktie bei „Neutral“. Ein ausführlicher Bericht werde in Kürze folgen.



Quelle: http://www.finanzen.net/analysen/analysen_detail.asp?Analyse…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Und noch was, sogar von heute:

Update Concord EFS Inc.: In-Line
14.02.2003 13:03:08
In ihrer Analyse vom Donnerstag, 13. Februar 2003 stufen die Analysten von Goldman Sachs die Aktie des Unternehmens Concord EFS Inc. von "Outperform" auf "In-Line" herab. Ein Kursziel geben die Analysten nicht an.


Quelle: http://www.finanzen.net/analysen/analysen_detail.asp?Analyse…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Das Ergebnis IV/02 und 2002 ist da, naja, Überraschung wars wohl keine:

Concord EFS 4th Quarter EPS 18 Cents



Concord EFS Inc.(NYSE:CE)
- Memphis
4th Quar Dec. 31:
2002 2001
Revenue $605,809,000$472,481,000
Net income 89,082,000 89,760,000
Avg shrs (diluted) 507,936,000 528,676,000
Shr earns
Net income .18 .17

Concord EFS Inc.`s (CE) fourth quarter was in line with Wall Street expectations, based on a Thomson First Call survey of 25 analysts, and slightly ahead of a consensus revenue estimate among 15 analysts of $605 million.

The electronic-commerce provider attributed revenue growth to strong transaction volume for both the quarter and the year. Decreases in consumer spending were offset by continuing increases in the use of credit card-based payments, the company said.

Concord sees 2003 earnings of 75 cents to 79 cents a share, based on expectations of continued low interest-rates, economic uncertainty and growing competition.

Analysts expect the company to earn 82 cents a share in 2003.

Year Dec. 31:
2002 2001
Revenue $2,174,425,000$1,703,387,000
Net income a 300,838,000 b 216,406,000
Avg shrs (diluted) 524,676,000 516,958,000
Shr earns
Net income a .57 b .42

a. Includes charges related to restructuring and a litigation settlement. Excluding the charges, the company reported earnings of $356.7 million, or 68 cents a share.

b. Includes restructuring charges. Excluding the charges, the company reported earnings of $302.8 million, or 59 cents a share.

Thomson First Call analysts expected the company to report year-end earnings of 69 cents a share, on revenue of $2.174 billion.

Concord plans a conference call to discuss year-end earnings at 11 a.m. EST Tuesday.

New York Stock Exchange-listed shares of Concord EFS closed Friday at $11.55, up 56 cents, or 5.1%.

Company Web site: http://www.concordefs.com

-Bill Platt; Dow Jones Newswires; 201-938-5400

Quelle: http://www.nasdaq.com/asp/quotes_news.asp?selected=CE&symbol…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Etwas umfangreicher:

Concord EFS Revenue Up 28%, Diluted EPS Up 37% for 2002; Company also announces revised guidance for 2003

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Feb 18, 2003 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Concord EFS, Inc. (NYSE:CE), a leading electronic commerce provider, today announced solid revenue growth driven by strong transaction volumes for both the fourth quarter and full year 2002. In line with management`s previous projections, revenue for the fourth quarter 2002 was up 28% over fourth quarter 2001 while diluted earnings per share grew 3%. Year over year, revenue was up 28% and diluted earnings per share was up 37%.


Financial
Highlights 4th Quarter Full Year
------------------------- ---------------------------
Quarter Ended Dec. 31, Year Ended Dec. 31,
2002 2001 % 2002 2001 %
--------- -------- ---- ---------- ---------- ---

Revenues
(in thousands) $ 605,809 $472,481 28% $2,174,425 $1,703,387 28%
Net Income
(in thousands) $ 89,082 $ 89,760 (1%) $ 300,838 $ 216,406 39%
Diluted Earnings
Per Share $ 0.18 $ 0.17 3% $ 0.57 $ 0.42 37%


"Our overall transaction growth accelerated in 2002 despite the relatively slow economy, reflecting that decreases in consumer spending were more than offset by continuing increases in the use of card-based payments--especially PIN-secured debit--in place of cash and checks," said Dan M. Palmer, Concord co-chief executive officer. "Revenue growth continued to be solid, spurred by this strong transaction growth, excellent new sales in our Network Services segment, and the addition of new large retailer customers. These large multi-lane retailers added profitable volume but at lower-than-average margins that contributed to margin decline in the fourth quarter and year over year. Importantly, growth in cash flow from operations, excluding the timing of settlement from operations, continued to be excellent, with year-over-year growth of 23% in 2002."

2003 Guidance

The company announced that it currently anticipates that diluted earnings per share will be in the range of $0.75 to $0.79 in 2003, based on current forecasts. Bond R. Isaacson, co-chief executive officer, commented on the revised outlook for 2003. "Our revised forecast is based on an ongoing low interest-rate environment, continued uncertainty about the economy, and our expectations that intensifying competition will increase price compression and raise the cost of renewing customer contracts," he said. "We will continue to focus on the business factors that we can control, such as cross-selling services, improving our cost structure, and streamlining our internal operations to better support current customers and new sales initiatives. Concord has a leading position in high-growth electronic payments, strong fundamentals, and a good track record of improving operating efficiencies, so our management team is currently confident that this new forecast is achievable."

Additional Financial Highlights

For the full year 2002, excluding acquisition, restructuring and write-off charges, and litigation settlement charges, net income and diluted earnings per share were up 18% and 16%, respectively, over 2001.


Pro Forma Excluding Charges and Excluding Charges and
Results Adjustments Adjustments
------------------------- ---------------------------
Quarter Ended Dec. 31, Year Ended Dec. 31,
2002 2001 % 2002 2001 %
---------- --------- ---- ----------- ----------- ---

Revenues
(in thousands) $605,809 $472,481 28% $2,174,425 $1,703,387 28%
Net Income
(in thousands) $ 89,069 $ 89,760 (1%) $ 356,661 $ 302,786 18%
Diluted Earnings
Per Share $ 0.18 $ 0.17 3% $ 0.68 $ 0.59 16%


Selling, general and administrative expenses increased as a percentage of revenue to 5.7% in 2002 from 5.3% in 2001. This increase was primarily attributable to expenses related to the acquisitions of H & F Services, Inc., The Logix Companies LLC, and Core Data Resources, Inc., plus increased advertising and marketing expenses.

Operating income per transaction, a metric that reflects operating efficiencies gained when transaction and revenue growth exceed the rate of expense growth, was relatively flat in 2002 after four consecutive years of improvements. Noting this, Palmer added, "We believe that we have more work to do to fully realize the synergies from our acquisitions, and managing our operating costs--something we have a track record of doing well--will be a focus in the coming year."

Business Segment Highlights

Network Services. Network Services revenue increased 25% on transaction volume growth of 14% in 2002, plus network price increases effective in January. The transaction growth was largely driven by STAR PIN-debit payment transactions, up 30% in 2002, which now represent 47% of Network Services transactions. Network Services transaction volume was 6.3 billion in 2002.

Two acquisitions in 2002 added new clients and transactions to the Network Services segment: The Logix Companies, LLC in March 2002 and Core Data Resources, Inc. in May 2002. Concord is the largest ATM processor in the U.S., and as a result of these acquisitions it doubled its ATM processing to 95,100 ATMs as of year-end.

The STAR(sm) network, the centerpiece of the Network Services business line, ended the year with 127 million cardholders, 241,000 ATMs and approximately 1,000,000 point of sale locations that display the STAR mark.

Payment Services. Payment Services revenue increased 29% on transaction volume growth of 25% in 2002. This growth was largely driven by acquired PIN-debit payment transactions, up 43% in 2002, which exceeded 1.0 billion annual transactions for the first time. Acquired PIN-debit transactions now represent 24% of Payment Services transactions. Payment Services transaction volume was 4.5 billion in 2002, acquired from 407,000 merchant locations nationwide.

Approximately 1,500 quick service restaurant locations were added during the fourth quarter. Concord added a total of 4,800 quick service restaurant locations in 2002, bringing the total number of quick service restaurant locations to 14,800. During the fourth quarter the company also announced it had been selected by a major quick service restaurant to be its nationally approved provider of credit and debit card processing for approximately 2,000 company-owned restaurants and the preferred provider for its 11,000 franchisees nationwide. "We believe that the quick service restaurant industry, characterized by high-volume, lower-dollar cash transactions, represents the next significant opportunity for electronic payments, especially PIN-debit," said Isaacson. "Historically, the barrier has been transaction speed, but with our new Internet gateway technology we`ve been able to complete card transactions in half the time it takes to handle cash payments."

Corporate Highlights

Stock Buyback. During the fourth quarter of 2002, Concord purchased 22.4 million shares of its stock at an aggregate cost of $325.1 million. For the full year 2002, a total of 26.9 million shares at an aggregate cost of $393.5 million were purchased and retired. Concord`s Board of Directors has authorized the purchase of up to $500.0 million of Concord`s stock. Under the repurchase plan, Concord may buy back shares of its outstanding stock from time to time either on the open market or through privately negotiated transactions.

Stock Exchange Listing. On November 7, 2002, Concord marked an important milestone for the company when it began listing its stock on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "CE." Previously, Concord`s stock was listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange. The move is expected to improve the visibility of Concord`s stock among a wider base of investors, and lessen the stock`s volatility.

Selected Consolidated Financial Data

The following table presents selected consolidated financial data (in thousands, except earnings per share) for the fourth quarter of 2002 and 2001.


Including Charges Excluding Charges
and Adjustments and Adjustments
------------------- -------------------
Quarter Ended: Quarter Ended:
Dec. 31, Dec. 31, Dec. 31, Dec. 31,
2002 2001 2002 2001
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Revenue $605,809 $472,481 $605,809 $472,481

Cost of Operations 448,981 329,514 448,981 329,514

Selling, General and
Administrative
Expenses 35,495 21,655 35,495 21,655

Acquisition, Restructuring and
Write-Off Charges 980 -- -- --

Litigation Settlement
Adjustment (1,000) -- -- --
--------- --------- --------- ---------

Operating Income 121,353 121,312 121,333 121,312

Other Income 1,226 1,123 1,226 1,123

Investment Income 17,664 20,244 17,664 20,244

Interest Expense 2,826 3,184 2,826 3,184

Income Taxes 48,096 49,520 48,089 49,520

Minority Interest in Subsidiary 239 215 239 215
--------- --------- --------- ---------

Net Income $ 89,082 $ 89,760 $ 89,069 $ 89,760
--------- --------- --------- ---------

Basic Earnings Per Share $ 0.18 $ 0.18 $ 0.18 $ 0.18

Diluted Earnings Per Share $ 0.18 $ 0.17 $ 0.18 $ 0.17

Shares Used For:
Basic Earnings Per Share 496,195 505,680 496,195 505,680

Diluted Earnings Per Share 507,936 528,676 507,936 528,676


The following table presents selected consolidated financial data (in thousands, except earnings per share) for the full year 2002 and 2001.


Including Charges and Excluding Charges and
Adjustments Adjustments
----------------------- -----------------------
Year Ended: Year Ended:
Dec. 31, Dec. 31, Dec. 31, Dec. 31,
2002 2001 2002 2001
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Revenue $2,174,425 $1,703,387 $2,174,425 $1,703,387

Cost of Operations 1,574,342 1,203,815 1,574,342 1,203,815

Selling, General and
Administrative
Expenses 123,867 91,105 123,867 91,105

Acquisition,
Restructuring and
Write-Off Charges 77,486 125,362 -- --

Litigation Settlement
Charges 8,761 -- -- --
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------

Operating Income 389,969 283,105 476,216 408,467

Other Income 9,163 4,191 9,163 4,191

Investment Income 77,387 70,668 77,387 70,668

Interest Expense 11,642 13,074 11,642 13,074

Income Taxes 163,129 127,958 193,553 166,940

Minority Interest in
Subsidiary 910 526 910 526
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------

Net Income $ 300,838 $ 216,406 $ 356,661 $ 302,786
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------

Basic Earnings Per
Share $ 0.59 $ 0.44 $ 0.70 $ 0.61

Diluted Earnings Per
Share $ 0.57 $ 0.42 $ 0.68 $ 0.59

Shares Used For:
Basic Earnings Per
Share 507,278 494,747 507,278 494,747

Diluted Earnings Per
Share 524,676 516,958 524,676 516,958


Conference Call Information

A conference call to discuss these results will be held on Tuesday, February 18 at 11:00 a.m. EST with Palmer, Isaacson, president Edward A. Labry III, and chief financial officer Edward T. Haslam. To listen to the conference call, dial 877-261-8990 (United States) or 847-619-6441 (international), and enter identification number 6728655. A replay of the call will be available beginning late afternoon on February 18 through February 25, 2003 by dialing 888-843-8996 (United States) or 630-652-3044 (international), and entering identification number 6728658. To access the slide presentation and listen to the call via the Internet, go to Concord`s investor relations homepage at www.cestock.com and click on the link "Webcast" up to 15 minutes in advance of the call. A replay of the Webcast will be available at the same location an hour after the call ends through March 4, 2003.

Concord EFS, Inc., a leading electronic transaction processor, provides the technology and network systems that make payments and other financial transactions faster, more efficient, and more secure than paper-based alternatives. As a vertically integrated service provider, Concord acquires, routes, authorizes, captures, and settles virtually all types of electronic payment and deposit access transactions for financial institutions and merchants nationwide. Concord`s primary activities include Network Services, which provides automated teller machine (ATM) processing, debit card processing, deposit risk management, and STAR(sm) network access principally for financial institutions; and Payment Services, which provides point of sale processing, settlement, and related services, with specialized systems focusing on supermarkets, major retailers, gas stations, convenience stores, restaurants, and trucking companies. Concord news releases, links to SEC filings, and other information are available at www.concordefs.com.

This release may contain or incorporate by reference forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors, including those set forth in this paragraph. Important factors that could cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by those statements include, but are not limited to: (i) the failure to successfully execute our corporate consolidation plans, (ii) the loss of key personnel or inability to attract additional qualified personnel, (iii) the loss of key customers or renewal of customer contracts on less favorable terms, (iv) increasing competition and its effect on our margins, (v) changes in card association rules and practices, (vi) the inability to remain current with rapid technological change, (vii) risks related to acquisitions, (viii) the imposition of additional state taxes, (ix) continued consolidation in the banking and retail industries, (x) business cycles and the credit risk of our merchant customers, (xi) the outcome of litigation involving VISA and MasterCard, (xii) utility and system interruptions or processing errors, (xiii) susceptibility to fraud at the merchant level, (xiv) changes in card association fees or products, (xv) automated teller machine market saturation or restrictions on surcharging, (xvi) rules and regulations governing financial institutions and other networks and changes in such rules and regulations, (xvii) the timing and extent of changes in interest rates, (xviii) volatility of the price of our common stock, and (xix) litigation risks. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events, or changes to future results over time. See the cautionary statements included as Exhibit 99.4 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 13, 2002 for a more detailed discussion of certain of the factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements.

Concord EFS Inc., Memphis
Melinda D. Mercurio, 302/791-8109
[e-mail]
or
Edward Winnick, 302/791-8484
[e-mail]

Quelle: http://www.nasdaq.com/asp/quotes_news.asp?selected=CE&symbol…

Zugegeben, läßt sich über den Link besser sehen.

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Noch eine kleine Korrektur:

Concord EFS Corrects Sentence Under 2003 Guidance Section; Diluted Earnings Sted Pro Forma Diluted Earnings

Feb 18, 2003 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- In BW2159, (TN-CONCORD-EFS) Concord EFS revenue up 28%, third graph, first line should read xxx currently anticipates that diluted earnings per share will be in the range of $0.75 to $0.79 (sted pro forma diluted earnings).

Concord EFS Inc., Memphis
Melinda D. Mercurio, 302/791-8109
[e-mail]
or
Edward Winnick, 302/791-8484
[e-mail]

Quelle: http://www.nasdaq.com/asp/quotes_news.asp?selected=CE&symbol…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Etwas mehr zur Korrektur:

Reuters
CORRCTED (OFFICIAL)-Concord EFS Q4 EPS up, warns on 2003
Tuesday February 18, 8:35 am ET


In the Memphis, Tenn. story headlined "Concord EFS Q4 EPS up, warns on 2003" please read "expects 2003 earnings per share to be between 75 cents and 79 cents"...instead of..."expects 2003 pro forma earnings per share to be between 75 cents and 79 cents." Company corrects to say earnings forecasts are not pro forma estimates.

A corrected version follows. MEMPHIS, Tenn., Feb 18 (Reuters) - Concord EFS Inc. (NYSE:CE - News), which processes automated teller machine transactions, on Tuesday said its quarterly earnings per share rose slightly, but warned it would miss 2003 earnings estimates on increased competition.

The Memphis, Tennessee-based company said its fourth quarter earnings were $89.1 million, or 18 cents per share, compared with $89.8 million, or 17 cents per share, a year earlier. The company had fewer shares in the most recent quarter.

Last week, the company made several top management changes and its shares plunged on fears that it was losing its battle with Visa U.S.A. over ATM networks.

The company said it now expects 2003 earnings per share to be between 75 cents and 79 cents.


Quelle: http://biz.yahoo.com/rc/030218/financial_concordefs_earns_2.…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Naja:

Concord EFS Talks Down 2003

By TSC Staff
02/18/2003 08:37 AM EST



Concord EFS (CE:NYSE - news - commentary - research - analysis), its shares hammered last week after a management shakeup, said Tuesday its earnings were in line with forecasts but that 2003 was shaping up less well.


The debit-card transaction service provider said it earned $89.1 million in the latest quarter, compared with $89.8 million a year ago. Because of a decrease in its outstanding shares, EPS rose to 18 cents in the latest quarter from 17 cents a year ago. Analysts surveyed by First Call had been forecasting earnings of 18 cents a share.

For 2003, the company predicted it will earn 75 cents to 79 cents a share, excluding items, which compares with the First Call consensus of 82 cents.

"Our revised forecast is based on an ongoing low interest-rate environment, continued uncertainty about the economy, and our expectations that intensifying competition will increase price compression and raise the cost of renewing customer contracts," Concord EFS said in a statement.

Concerns about the company`s ability to compete with the likes of Visa contributed to a selloff that saw Concord`s shares go from a close of $14.34 on Feb. 3 to a close of $11.55 Friday.

Quelle: http://www.thestreet.com/_yahoo/markets/stockwatch/10069249.…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Watto, speziell für dich:

Concord EFS: Gewinn je Aktie steigt im 4Q
Concord EFS (NYSE:CE) gab heute einen leichten Anstieg des Gewinns je Aktie bekannt.

Der Gewinn im 4. Quartal lag bei $89,1 Millionen oder 18 Cent je Aktie, gegenüber einem Gewinn von $89,8 Millionen oder 17 Cent in der selben Periode im Vorjahr.

Analysten hatten mit einem Gewinn von 18 Cent je Aktie gerechnet, so Thomson First Call.

Im Jahr 2003 soll der Gewinn je Aktie zwischen $0,75 und $0,79 ausmachen.

Die Aktien schlossen am Freitag bei $11,55 gehandelt

Diese Nachricht wurde Ihnen von TeleTrader präsentiert.


Quelle: http://www.wallstreet-online.de/si/news/news/stocknews.inc?u…

Gruß Zyklus

[watto]

danke

[Zyklus]

Hey Watto, gerne!

RealCommentary from TheStreet.com
TheStreet Notes: A Daily Briefing of Research and Analyst Actions
Wednesday February 19, 9:23 am ET

By TSC Staff,


CE estimates cut at Warburg
UBS Warburg said it lowered full-year estimates on Concord EFS to $0.77 a share, because of the company`s low order visibility. Buy rating.

CTAS target, estimates reduced at Morgan Stanley
Morgan Stanley now expects Cintas shares to reach $45, given the company`s new lower margin guidance. CTAS now expected to earn $1.47 this year and $1.70 in fiscal 2004. Equal-weight rating.

DELL rated new In-Line at Goldman

Quelle: http://biz.yahoo.com/tsp/030219/10069522_1.html

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Watto, intensiv gesucht und nochmal gefunden:

Concord EFS: Equal Weight
19.02.2003 14:24:30
Die Analysten von SunTrust Robinson Humphrey bewerten die Aktie von Concord EFS in ihrer Studie vom 18. Februar mit „Equal Weight“.
Das Unternehmen habe seine Gewinne veröffentlicht, doch die Zahlen seien nicht überraschend ausgefallen, da schon in der vergangenen Woche eine Vorveröffentlichung stattgefunden habe. In 2003 rechnen die Analysten mit einem Gewinn von 0,85 Dollar je Aktie, doch hier halten sie auch eine Korrektur nach unten für möglich.



Quelle: http://www.finanzen.net/analysen/analysen_detail.asp?Analyse…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Concord EFS Executive to Present at Goldman Sachs Conference

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Feb 19, 2003 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Concord EFS, Inc. (NYSE:CE), a leading electronic commerce provider, is scheduled to present at the Goldman Sachs Technology Investment Symposium on February 24 - 27, 2003 in La Quinta, CA. Bond R. Isaacson, Co-Chief Executive Officer, will join executives of many leading public and private companies making presentations at this conference. Mr. Isaacson will deliver a presentation providing an overview of Concord on Wednesday, February 26, 2003 at 9:30 a.m. Pacific Time / 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time. A live Webcast of Concord`s presentation will be available at Concord`s website, www.cestock.com, and a Webcast replay of the presentation will be available for 14 days following the event, usually beginning within 24 hours of the presentation.

Concord EFS, Inc., a leading electronic transaction processor, provides the technology and network systems that make payments and other financial transactions faster, more efficient, and more secure than paper-based alternatives. As a vertically integrated service provider, Concord acquires, routes, authorizes, captures, and settles virtually all types of electronic payment and deposit access transactions for financial institutions and merchants nationwide. Concord`s primary activities include Network Services, which provides automated teller machine (ATM) processing, debit card processing, deposit risk management, and STAR(SM) network access principally for financial institutions; and Payment Services, which provides point of sale processing, settlement, and related services, with specialized systems focusing on supermarkets, major retailers, gas stations, convenience stores, restaurants, and trucking companies. Concord news releases, links to SEC filings, and other information are available at www.concordefs.com.

This presentation may contain or incorporate by reference forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause our actual performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by those statements. Concord undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events, or changes to future results over time. See the cautionary statements included as Exhibit 99.4 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 13, 2002 for a more detailed discussion of certain of the factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements.

Concord EFS Inc., Memphis
Melinda D. Mercurio, 302/791-8109
[e-mail]

Quelle: http://www.nasdaq.com/asp/quotes_news.asp?selected=CE&symbol…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Die Analysten haben noch mal kräftig gewirbelt, aktuelle:

4 * strong buy (zwei weniger), 5 * buy (zwei weniger), 16 * hold (vier mehr) und 2 * underperform (keiner weniger aber die welche bisher Recht haben)

Die Analysten:

A. G. EDWARDS & SONS, INC.
BARRINGTON RESEARCH
BEAR, STEARNS & CO.
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
D. A. DAVIDSON & CO.
DEUTSCHE BANK NORTH AMERICA
FIRST ANALYSIS CORP.
GOLDMAN SACHS & CO.
J.P. MORGAN
JEFFERIES & CO.
JMP SECURITIES
LEGG MASON WOOD WALKER, INC.
MERRILL LYNCH
MIDWEST RESEARCH
MORGAN STANLEY
MORGAN, KEEGAN & COMPANY, INC.
PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES
RBC CAPITAL MARKETS
SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC
SANFORD C. BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
STIFEL NICOLAUS & COMPANY, INC.
SUNTRUST ROBINSON HUMPHREY
THOMAS WEISEL PARTNERS
U.S. BANCORP PIPER JAFFRAY
UBS WARBURG
WACHOVIA SECURITIES
WILLIAM BLAIR & COMPANY, L.L.C.

Quelle: http://www.nasdaq.com/earnings/analyst_recommendations.asp?s…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Hallo Watto, ich hoffe Du hast keine mehr, aktuell $8,60, macht 20 % Tagesverlust.

Concord EFS Shares Fall as Report Cites Sale Speculation

Dow Jones Newswires

NEW YORK -- Shares of Concord EFS Inc.`s (CE) slipped Monday amid speculation that the automated teller machine network operator may be for sale.

Bloomberg LP, citing "people familiar with the situation," reported that Concord hired Goldman Sachs Group Inc.(NYSE:GS) (GS) to find a buyer. A Concord spokeswoman declined to comment, citing company policy. Goldman also declined to comment.

Some of the names that have been bandied about as potential suitors include First Data Corp.(NYSE:FDC) (FDC), Total System Services Inc.(NYSE:TSS) (TSS), Visa International, Electronic Data Systems Corp.(NYSE:EDS) (EDS) and Fiserv Inc.(NASDAQ-NMS:FISV) (FISV).

There has also been speculation that Concord`s Star Systems Inc. ATM network was having trouble re-signing contracts with its big banking clients given competition with others, like Visa International.

"One of the issues plaguing the stock has been about the Star network contracts that are coming due in 2004," said analyst John Kraft of D.A. Davidson & Co. "I don`t see [re-signing the contracts with banks] getting any easier with them being for sale."

"It`s a third of Concord`s revenues and their more promising, high-growth segment," said Mr. Kraft.

Mr. Kraft doesn`t own Concord shares and his firm hasn`t had a recent investment banking relationship with the Memphis-based company.

"There are a number of companies that would love to have the Star network," said analyst Jeffrey Baker of U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray. Mr. Baker doesn`t own Concord shares; he said his firm could be seeking a relationship with Concord.

Last month the company shook up its senior management ranks and also announced that earnings for 2003 would likely range from 75 cents to 79 cents a share, given the continuation of low interest rates, economic uncertainty and growing competition. At the time, analysts had expected Concord to post a proft of 82 cents a share for the year.

Concord shares were down $1.47, or 14%, to $8.88 in late-morning trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

-- This article was compiled from reports by Tara Siegel Bernard and Paul Welitzkin of Dow Jones Newswires.


Dow Jones Newswires
03-10-031202ET

Quelle: http://www.nasdaq.com/asp/quotes_news.asp?selected=CE&symbol…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

8:13AM Concord EFS may lose 2-3 contracts - CSFB (CE) 10.35: CSFB says that checks suggest that CE`s STAR network may already be close to losing 2-3 large member banks accounting for about 10-12% of STAR`s network volume and $0.06-$0.07 in 2005 EPS; firm does not believe that negotiations have been finalized and notes that these contracts still run through Dec 2004; believes that Visa`s Interlink network is the most likely to emerge as the ultimate winner, although FDC is a potential competitor.

Quelle: http://finance.yahoo.com/mp#ce

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Dow Jones Business News
Concord EFS Shares Fall as Report Cites Sale Speculation
Monday March 10, 12:02 pm ET


NEW YORK -- Shares of Concord EFS Inc.`s slipped Monday amid speculation that the automated teller machine network operator may be for sale.
Bloomberg LP, citing "people familiar with the situation," reported that Concord hired Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE:GS - News) to find a buyer. A Concord spokeswoman declined to comment, citing company policy. Goldman also declined to comment.

ADVERTISEMENT


Some of the names that have been bandied about as potential suitors include First Data Corp. (NYSE:FDC - News) , Total System Services Inc. (NYSE:TSS - News) , Visa International, Electronic Data Systems Corp. (NYSE:EDS - News) and Fiserv Inc. (NasdaqNM:FISV - News) .

There has also been speculation that Concord`s Star Systems Inc. ATM network was having trouble re-signing contracts with its big banking clients given competition with others, like Visa International.

"One of the issues plaguing the stock has been about the Star network contracts that are coming due in 2004," said analyst John Kraft of D.A. Davidson & Co. "I don`t see [re-signing the contracts with banks] getting any easier with them being for sale."

"It`s a third of Concord`s revenues and their more promising, high-growth segment," said Mr. Kraft.

Mr. Kraft doesn`t own Concord shares and his firm hasn`t had a recent investment banking relationship with the Memphis-based company.

"There are a number of companies that would love to have the Star network," said analyst Jeffrey Baker of U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray. Mr. Baker doesn`t own Concord shares; he said his firm could be seeking a relationship with Concord.

Last month the company shook up its senior management ranks and also announced that earnings for 2003 would likely range from 75 cents to 79 cents a share, given the continuation of low interest rates, economic uncertainty and growing competition. At the time, analysts had expected Concord to post a proft of 82 cents a share for the year.

Concord shares were down $1.47, or 14%, to $8.88 in late-morning trading on the New York Stock Exchange (News - Websites).

-- This article was compiled from reports by Tara Siegel Bernard and Paul Welitzkin of Dow Jones Newswires.


Quelle: http://biz.yahoo.com/djus/030310/1202000870_1.html

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Dow Jones Business News
NYSE Asks Concord EFS To Explain Market Activity
Monday March 10, 12:33 pm ET


NEW YORK -(Dow Jones)- Concord EFS Inc. (NYSE:CE - News) , citing a policy not to discuss unusual market activity or rumors, declined to comment on its stock price, which fell to a 52-week low on the New York Stock Exchange (News - Websites) Monday.
ADVERTISEMENT


In a press release Monday, the NYSE said it requested the electronic payment services company issue a public statement to explain why its stock has fallen.

Shares of Concord EFS fell to a 52-week low of $8.29 earlier over speculation that the company may be for sale. Dow Jones Newswires reported there`s also been speculation that Concord`s Star Systems Inc. network has been having trouble re- signing contracts with its big banking clients given competition with others, like Visa International.

Shares of Concord traded recently at $8.39, down $1.96, or 18.8%, on composite volume of 16.7 million shares. Average daily volume is 3.8 million shares.

-Stephen Lee; Dow Jones Newswires; 201-938-5400


Quelle: http://biz.yahoo.com/djus/030310/1233000885_1.html

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Concord EFS shares slip after sale talk
By Greg Morcroft, CBS.MarketWatch.com
Last Update: 12:42 PM ET March 10, 2003







NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- Shares of Concord EFS fell more than 19 percent on Monday, after a report said the electronic transaction-processing company is looking to sell itself for up to $6 billion.





Free! Sign up here to receive our Internet Daily e-Newsletter!




INFORMATION FOR CE:
Create an alert for CE

Add CE to my portfolio

More cool charts on CE

Discuss CE
NEWS FOR CE
Concord EFS shares tumble amid talk it`s up for sale
Updates, advisories and surprises
Before the Bell: Wal-Mart, Multex, Microsoft
More news for CE

Quote & News Charts Financials Analysts Options SEC Filings




TRACK THESE TOPICS
My Portfolio Alerts
Company: First Data Corporation Add
Create
Company: Automatic Data Processing, Inc. Add
Create
Company: Electronic Data Systems Corporation Add
Create
Company: Total System Services, Inc. Add
Create

Get Breaking News sent directly to your inbox




Create A Portfolio | Create An Alert





The report, carried by the Bloomberg news service, said the firm has hired Goldman Sachs to find a buyer.

The report said potential buyers include rivals like First Data Corp (FDC: news, chart, profile), Automatic Data Processing (ADP: news, chart, profile), Electronic Data Services (EDS: news, chart, profile), Total System Services (TSS: news, chart, profile) and Visa International.

Visa denied it has any interest in buying the company (CE: news, chart, profile), while the others were not immediately available for comment. Among other things, Concord EFS provides processing services for automated teller machines.

The report speculated the company`s move to sell itself may have some investors spooked about its ability to renew some key contracts.

"We wouldn`t be surprised if the story was true," Deutsche Bank analysts said in a Monday research report.

"We allow that a potential sale could be in the best interest of shareholders of a company whose stock has tumbled nearly 70 percent in the last year. But we have yet to hear the company`s response, and we feel that it is too soon to speculate further," the report concluded.

Last month, Concord EFS said it earned $89.1 million, or 18 cents per share, in the fourth quarter of 2002, compared to $89.8 million, or 17 cents, in the year-ago period. Revenue reached $2.18 billion from $1.7 billion.

The Memphis-based company matched the forecast of 18 cents per share in a survey of analysts by Thomson First Call. There were some 4 percent fewer shares outstanding in the latest quarter.



But, citing price pressure and the sputtering economy, Concord EFS warned that its earnings for 2003 would likely total 75 cents to 79 cents per share, less than the 82 cents expected by Wall Street.

Concord EFS saw its shares trade recently at $8.350, down $2.

Greg Morcroft is New York news editor of CBS.MarketWatch.com.

Quelle: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/yhoo/story.asp?source=blq/yh…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Reuters
Concord Falls on Contract Renewal Fears
Monday March 10, 12:55 pm ET


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of Concord EFS Inc. (NYSE:CE - News) fell more than 19 percent on Monday as investors worried that the processor of ATM transactions is having difficulty renewing several key customer agreements for its Star electronic funds network.
ADVERTISEMENT


The sell-off, which brought the stock price to a three-year low, was partly due to a Bloomberg News story on Monday that said the Memphis, Tennessee, company had put itself up for sale for more than $6 billion, analysts said.

Analysts said the story, which quoted people familiar with the situation, heightened ongoing fears that the company`s effort to renew contracts with several large customers for its Star debit card program.

"If it is for sale, and I`ve not heard any confirmation that it is, it would leave me to believe they are having a hard time re-signing those Star contracts," said D.A. Davidson analyst John Kraft. "That has really concerned investors the last few quarters and led their stock lower."

Midwest Research analyst Kartik Mehta said as many eight large Star network contracts are due to expire at the end of the year.

A Concord spokeswoman declined to comment on the story.

Star is the No. 1 U.S. electronic payments network in terms of transaction volume and has access to more than 224,000 ATMs around the country.

Concord bought the network in 2000 for $850 million in stock, gaining control of nearly half of all the debit transactions conducted in the United States.

But while the company has managed to maintain double-digit volume growth, processing more than 5.5 billion transactions a year, the sector has become extremely competitive as Visa International, First Data Corp. (NYSE:FDC - News) and others have stepped up efforts to lure Star clients.

As a result, Concord will pay certain banks to keep the Star logo on their debit cards under long-term contracts. The company last month lowered its expected 2003 earnings forecast in part because of the increased cost of renewing customer contracts.

Investors were also spooked in February, when the company passed over Edward Labry, the heir apparent to Chief Executive Dan Palmer, and named Bond Isaacson co-CEO.

The Bloomberg story said Concord hired Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE:GS - News) to advise on a possible sale. Goldman Sachs declined to comment.

In afternoon New York Stock Exchange (News - Websites) trade, Concord shares were down $2 at $8.35, their lowest level since March 2000. So far this year, the stock has fallen about 47 percent.


Quelle: http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/030310/financial_concord_1.html

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Schaeffer`s Market Observation Features CE

CINCINNATI, Mar 11, 2003 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Today`s Market Observation features Concord EFS (NYSE: CE). Schaeffer`s Market Observations are market-based reports that provide insight and analysis from a unique and unbiased perspective. Market Observations are published on www.SchaeffersResearch.com - the home of Bernie Schaeffer and Schaeffer`s Investment Research. To receive a free email notification each time a new commentary is written about one of the featured stocks or any of your favorite stocks, click on the following link: http://www.schaeffersresearch.com/addinfo .

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020725/SCHAEFFERLOGO )

Concord Calls Cause Concern

Earlier today, Tom Reynolds mentioned the unusual option activity report that we use in our daily market preparation. As the name implies, this screen allows us to immediately pull up unusual call and put volume based on the previous day`s close. By utilizing this filter in our daily trading process, we can quickly get a sense of where options players were focused on both the call and put side of the market. Pasted below is part of today`s high call volume report. The relative level of call activity is expressed in the daily volume ratio, which represents the previous day`s call volume divided by the average daily call volume for the past month.

Click on the following link to see the Unusual Call Volume List for Monday: http://www.schaeffersresearch.com/wire?ID=7262 .

After a quick look at this list, Concord EFS (NYSE: CE) caught my eye. Yesterday, the stock fell 17.68 percent to a new 52-week low on speculation that the company may be up for sale. Despite the dramatic decline, CE`s daily call volume ratio registered 8.6. Looking at today`s open interest adjustments, it appears that most of yesterday`s call activity translated into new positions at the March 10 and April 7.50 strikes. Specifically, the March 10 call jumped from 1,109 to 4,193 contracts and the April 7.50 call ramped from zero to 1,660 contracts. These heavy call additions, coupled with the stock`s technical deterioration, are a definite cause for concern from our contrarian point of view.

Click on the following link to see the Daily Chart of CE since November 2002: http://www.schaeffersresearch.com/wire?ID=7262 .

About Schaeffer`s Investment Research ( www.SchaeffersResearch.com )

Schaeffer`s Investment Research, founded by Bernie Schaeffer in 1981, is a diversified financial information and trading resources company with subscribers in over 110 countries. It publishes Bernie Schaeffer`s Option Advisor, the nation`s leading subscription newsletter devoted to options, as well as many other educational, bulletin and alert services. The firm`s website, www.SchaeffersResearch.com , is recognized as one of the leading information sources for stock and options traders and was cited as the top options website by both Forbes and Barron`s.

Contact: Tom Godich of Schaeffer`s, [phone], [e-mail] .

SOURCE Schaeffer`s Investment Research

Quelle: http://www.nasdaq.com/asp/quotes_news.asp?selected=CE&symbol…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Reuters
RESEARCH ALERT-UBS Warburg cuts Concord rating
Tuesday March 11, 11:59 am ET


NEW YORK, March 11 (Reuters) - UBS Warburg (News - Websites) said on Tuesday it had cut the rating on Concord EFS Inc. (NYSE:CE - News), a processor of ATM transactions, to "neutral" from "buy."
No other details were immediately available.

The stock closed at $8.52 on the New York Stock Exchange (News - Websites) on Monday.


Quelle: http://biz.yahoo.com/rc/030311/services_concord_research1_1.…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Hallo Watto, speziell noch mal für dich:

Update Concord EFS Inc.: Neutral
11.03.2003 16:06:48
In ihrer Analyse vom Dienstag, 11. März 2003 stufen die Analysten von UBS Warburg die Aktie des Unternehmens Concord EFS Inc. von "Buy" auf "Neutral" zurück. Das Kursziel für die Aktie liegt momentan bei 9 $.


Quelle: http://www.finanzen.net/analysen/analysen_detail.asp?Analyse…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Concord EFS Appoints New Outside Director

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Mar 18, 2003 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Concord EFS, Inc. (NYSE:CE), a leading electronic commerce provider, today announced the election of George F. Raymond (65) to its Board of Directors. Raymond is president of Buckland Corporation, a consulting company to the information technology industry based in Moorestown, N.J. Raymond`s addition to the board brings the total number of directors to twelve, including eight outside directors.

"We are delighted to further enhance Concord`s board with such an experienced outside director," said Richard P. Kiphart, chairman of Concord`s board. "George brings the perspective of a long career as a highly successful entrepreneur, plus a wealth of knowledge about the information technology industry. His accounting background combined with his extensive experience on the boards of other public companies will also be assets to Concord."

Raymond began his consultancy in 1989. Previously he was chief executive officer of Automatic Business Centers, Inc., a payroll processing company he founded in 1972 and sold to Automatic Data Processing Corporation in 1989. Raymond co-founded Computer Services Inc., a data processing company subsequently sold to Management Data Corp., and was a management consultant at Touche Ross & Co. He holds a bachelor`s degree in accounting from the University of Massachusetts and is a Certified Public Accountant. Raymond currently serves on the boards of Atlantic Data Services, Inc., DocuCorp International, Inc., and Analytical Graphics, Inc.

"Concord has strong fundamentals and a great business model, and I look forward to helping to guide the company as it builds its network, payment, and risk management businesses," said Raymond.

Concord EFS, Inc., a leading electronic transaction processor, provides the technology and network systems that make payments and other financial transactions faster, more efficient, and more secure than paper-based alternatives. As a vertically integrated service provider, Concord acquires, routes, authorizes, captures, and settles virtually all types of electronic payment and deposit access transactions for financial institutions and merchants nationwide. Concord`s primary activities include Network Services, which provides automated teller machine (ATM) processing, debit card processing, deposit risk management, and STAR(SM) network access principally for financial institutions; and Payment Services, which provides point of sale processing, settlement, and related services, with specialized systems focusing on supermarkets, major retailers, gas stations, convenience stores, restaurants, and trucking companies. Concord news releases, links to SEC filings, and other information are available at www.concordefs.com.

This release may contain or incorporate by reference forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause our actual performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by those statements. Concord undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events, or changes to future results over time. See the cautionary statements included as Exhibit 99.4 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 13, 2002 for a more detailed discussion of certain of the factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements.

Concord EFS Inc., Memphis
Melinda D. Mercurio, 302/791-8109
[e-mail]
or
Edward Winnick, 302/791-8484
[e-mail]

http://www.nasdaq.com/asp/quotes_news.asp?selected=CE&symbol…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

und wieder rotierende Analysten, aktuell 3 * strong buy, 4 * buy, 18 * hold und 2 * underperform.

Die zuständigen Analysten:

A. G. EDWARDS & SONS, INC.
BARRINGTON RESEARCH
BEAR, STEARNS & CO.
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
D. A. DAVIDSON & CO.
DEUTSCHE BANK NORTH AMERICA
DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES
FIRST ANALYSIS CORP.
GOLDMAN SACHS & CO.
J.P. MORGAN
JEFFERIES & CO.
JMP SECURITIES
LEGG MASON WOOD WALKER, INC.
MERRILL LYNCH
MIDWEST RESEARCH
MORGAN STANLEY
MORGAN, KEEGAN & COMPANY, INC.
PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES
RBC CAPITAL MARKETS
SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC
SANFORD C. BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
STIFEL NICOLAUS & COMPANY, INC.
SUNTRUST ROBINSON HUMPHREY
U.S. BANCORP PIPER JAFFRAY
UBS WARBURG
WACHOVIA SECURITIES
WILLIAM BLAIR & COMPANY, L.L.C.

Quelle: http://www.nasdaq.com/earnings/analyst_recommendations.asp?s…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Man hat noch was gebastelt:

Concord EFS Early Adopts EITF 02-16 for Signature Debit Interchange Accounting

Change in accounting presentation had no effect on operating income, net income or cash flows

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Mar 27, 2003 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Concord EFS, Inc. (NYSE: CE), a leading electronic commerce provider, today announced the early adoption of Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Issue No. 02-16, Accounting by a Customer (Including a Reseller) for Certain Consideration Received from a Vendor , for the purpose of presenting interchange fees relating to signature debit card transactions processed by its Network Services segment. The adoption of EITF 02-16 resulted in a reduction in revenue offset by a dollar-for-dollar reduction in cost of operations, and therefore had no effect on reported operating income, net income, or cash flows for any annual or quarterly period. Overall margins are positively affected by this change.

EITF 02-16, which reflects the Task Force consensus reached on January 23, 2003, requires certain amounts received from vendors to be accounted for as a reduction of the cost of products or services purchased. The result of applying EITF 02-16 to signature debit interchange fees, which are card association reimbursements to Concord for similar amounts paid to signature debit card issuing financial institutions, is that these amounts are now presented as a reduction of segment cost of operations, which offsets the amounts paid. Prior to the adoption of EITF 02-16, interchange received on signature debit card transactions was included in Network Services segment revenue.

The company noted that although the transition provisions of EITF 02-16 apply prospectively to arrangements entered into or modified subsequent to December 31, 2002, Concord management elected to proactively adopt the provisions of EITF 02-16 in the fourth quarter of 2002. The effective date would otherwise have been January 1, 2003. Prior annual and interim periods presented have been reclassified to conform to this change. The change in presentation is reflected in Concord`s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, which was filed today with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The following table presents selected consolidated financial data (in thousands, except earnings per share data) that reflect the reclassification for the fourth quarter 2002 and 2001. Reclassified items are noted with an (a). Results are presented inclusive and exclusive of acquisition, restructuring and write-off charges, and litigation settlement charges for both periods.

Including Charges Excluding Charges
and Adjustments and Adjustments
------------------ ------------------
Quarter Ended: Quarter Ended:
Dec. 31, Dec. 31, Dec. 31, Dec. 31,
2002 2001 2002 2001
-------- -------- -------- --------
Revenue(a) $542,377 $431,778 $542,377 $431,778
Cost of Operations(a) 385,549 288,811 385,549 288,811
Selling, General and
Administrative
Expenses 35,495 21,655 35,495 21,655
Acquisition, Restructuring and
Write-Off Charges 980 -- -- --
Litigation Settlement
Adjustment (1,000) -- -- --
------------------- -------------------
Operating Income 121,353 121,312 121,333 121,312
Other Income 1,226 1,123 1,226 1,123
Investment Income 17,664 20,244 17,664 20,244
Interest Expense 2,826 3,184 2,826 3,184
Income Taxes 48,096 49,520 48,089 49,520
Minority Interest in Subsidiary 239 215 239 215
------------------- -------------------
Net Income $89,082 $89,760 $89,069 $89,760
------------------- -------------------
Basic Earnings Per Share $0.18 $0.18 $0.18 $0.18
Diluted Earnings Per Share $0.18 $0.17 $0.18 $0.17
Shares Used For:
Basic Earnings Per Share 496,195 505,680 496,195 505,680
Diluted Earnings Per Share 507,936 528,676 507,936 528,676

The following table presents selected consolidated financial data (in thousands, except earnings per share data) that reflect the reclassification for the full year 2002 and 2001. Reclassified items are noted with an (a). Results are presented inclusive and exclusive of acquisition, restructuring and write-off charges, and litigation settlement charges for both periods.

Including Charges Excluding Charges
and Adjustments and Adjustments
----------------------- -----------------------
Year Ended: Year Ended:
Dec. 31, Dec. 31, Dec. 31, Dec. 31,
2002 2001 2002 2001
----------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Revenue(a) $1,966,628 $1,579,944 $1,966,628 $1,579,944
Cost of Operations(a) 1,366,545 1,080,372 1,366,545 1,080,372
Selling, General and
Administrative
Expenses 123,867 91,105 123,867 91,105
Acquisition,
Restructuring and
Write-Off Charges 77,486 125,362 -- --
Litigation Settlement
Charges 8,761 -- -- --
----------------------- -----------------------
Operating Income 389,969 283,105 476,216 408,467
Other Income 9,163 4,191 9,163 4,191
Investment Income 77,387 70,668 77,387 70,668
Interest Expense 11,642 13,074 11,642 13,074
Income Taxes 163,129 127,958 193,553 166,940
Minority Interest in
Subsidiary 910 526 910 526
----------------------- -----------------------
Net Income $300,838 $216,406 $356,661 $302,786
----------------------- -----------------------
Basic Earnings Per
Share $0.59 $0.44 $0.70 $0.61
Diluted Earnings Per
Share $0.57 $0.42 $0.68 $0.59
Shares Used For:
Basic Earnings
Per Share 507,278 494,747 507,278 494,747
Diluted Earnings
Per Share 524,676 516,958 524,676 516,958

Concord EFS, Inc., a leading electronic transaction processor, provides the technology and network systems that make payments and other financial transactions faster, more efficient, and more secure than paper-based alternatives. As a vertically integrated service provider, Concord acquires, routes, authorizes, captures, and settles virtually all types of electronic payment and deposit access transactions for financial institutions and merchants nationwide. Concord`s primary activities include Network Services, which provides automated teller machine (ATM) processing, debit card processing, deposit risk management, and STAR(SM) network access principally for financial institutions; and Payment Services, which provides point of sale processing, settlement, and related services, with specialized systems focusing on supermarkets, major retailers, gas stations, convenience stores, restaurants, and trucking companies. Concord news releases, links to SEC filings, and other information are available at www.concordefs.com.

This release may contain or incorporate by reference forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause our actual performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by those statements. Concord undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events, or changes to future results over time. See the cautionary statements included as Exhibit 99.5 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 27, 2003 for a more detailed discussion of certain of the factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements.

Concord EFS Inc., Memphis
Melinda D. Mercurio, 302/791-8109
[e-mail]
or
Edward Winnick, 302/791-8484
[e-mail]

Quelle: http://www.nasdaq.com/asp/quotes_news.asp?selected=CE&symbol…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Übernahmegerüchte lassen Concord-Aktie steigen
Wie das Wall Street Journal heute berichtet, befindet sich First Data in fortgeschrittenen Gesprächen über die Übernahme des Konkurrenten Concord. Die beiden Unternehmen vertreiben Technologie, die beim Bezahlen per Kreditkarte zum Einsatz kommt.

Den Angaben des WSJ zufolge bietet First Data einen Preis von bis zu 7 Mrd. Dollar in Aktien. Dies wäre eine deutliche Prämie gegenüber dem gestrigen Schlusskurs von Concord bei 9,40 Dollar. Dieser entspricht nämlich nur einer Marktkapitalisierung von 4,8 Mrd. Dollar.

Eine Entscheidung könnte bereits in den kommenden Tagen oder Wochen fallen, hieß es.

Die Concord Aktie reagierte auf den Bericht des WSJ mit einem Anstieg von knapp 30 Prozent auf 12,04 Dollar.



Quelle: http://www.wallstreet-online.de/ws/news/news/main.php?uid=19…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Etwas ausführlicher:

First Data Poised to Buy ATM Competitor Concord EFS



NEW YORK -- First Data Corp. (FDC), the financial-transaction-processing company that owns money-transfer business Western Union, is in advanced discussions to buy rival Concord EFS Inc. (CE) for more than $7 billion in stock, according to people familiar with the matter, The Wall Street Journal has learned.

Boards of both companies are expected to meet today to consider a transaction, although it isn`t clear that they will vote on a deal. Indeed, the two companies have been in on-again, off-again talks for some time, and a deal could still fall apart or be delayed, these people said. Discussions lost steam several weeks ago, but have intensified in recent days, they said.

A representative for First Data, Denver, said that as a policy, the company doesn`t "speculate on market rumors." A Concord representative declined to comment.

Both First Data and Concord, Memphis, Tenn., have had recent setbacks. Last month, First Data lost longtime big customer Bank One Corp. (ONE), which said it would use Total System Services Inc. (TSS) for its credit-card processing beginning at the end of 2004. First Data is the majority owner of the NYCE network of automated teller machines.

At the same time, Western Union is losing market share, prompting investors and Wall Street analysts to worry about First Data`s growth prospects.

Concord, meanwhile, has seen its stock fall sharply this year amid concerns about its ability to renew bank contracts in its core ATM business. The Concord network is the nation`s largest, and includes STAR, MAC and Cash Station machines.

While exact terms haven`t been reached, current discussions call for First Data to pay about $15 a share for Concord. Because it would be a stock deal, however, the price would fluctuate in line with movements in the buyer`s stock price. A $15 price tag would represent nearly a 60% premium to Concord`s current stock price, but would still be a discount to the $16-level where it was trading in January.

In 4 p.m. New York Stock Exchange composite trading, Concord`s share price was at $9.40, down 28 cents. First Data shares were up 29 cents at $37.01, also on the Big Board.

- Wall Street Journal Staff Reporters Robin Sidel and Jathon Sapsford contributed to this report

Quelle: http://www.nasdaq.com/asp/quotes_news.asp?selected=CE&symbol…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

NEW YORK -- First Data Corp. , the financial-transaction-processing company that owns money-transfer business Western Union, is in advanced discussions to buy rival Concord EFS Inc. for more than $7 billion in stock, according to people familiar with the matter, The Wall Street Journal has learned.

Boards of both companies are expected to meet today to consider a transaction, although it isn`t clear that they will vote on a deal. Indeed, the two companies have been in on-again, off-again talks for some time, and a deal could still fall apart or be delayed, these people said. Discussions lost steam several weeks ago, but have intensified in recent days, they said.

A representative for First Data, Denver, said that as a policy, the company doesn`t "speculate on market rumors." A Concord representative declined to comment.

Both First Data and Concord, Memphis, Tenn., have had recent setbacks. Last month, First Data lost longtime big customer Bank One Corp. (ONE), which said it would use Total System Services Inc. (TSS) for its credit-card processing beginning at the end of 2004. First Data is the majority owner of the NYCE network of automated teller machines.

At the same time, Western Union is losing market share, prompting investors and Wall Street analysts to worry about First Data`s growth prospects.

Concord, meanwhile, has seen its stock fall sharply this year amid concerns about its ability to renew bank contracts in its core ATM business. The Concord network is the nation`s largest, and includes STAR, MAC and Cash Station machines.

While exact terms haven`t been reached, current discussions call for First Data to pay about $15 a share for Concord. Because it would be a stock deal, however, the price would fluctuate in line with movements in the buyer`s stock price. A $15 price tag would represent nearly a 60% premium to Concord`s current stock price, but would still be a discount to the $16-level where it was trading in January.

In 4 p.m. New York Stock Exchange (News - Websites) composite trading, Concord`s share price was at $9.40, down 28 cents. First Data shares were up 29 cents at $37.01, also on the Big Board.

- Wall Street Journal Staff Reporters Robin Sidel and Jathon Sapsford contributed to this report



Quelle: http://biz.yahoo.com/djus/030401/0326000565_2.html

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Concord EFS Soaring on Buyout Talk

By TSC Staff
04/01/2003 08:44 AM EST


Shareholders of Concord EFS (CE:NYSE - news - commentary - research - analysis) hope to find value in an acquisition that they`ve long argued should be theirs in the stock market.

Published reports Tuesday said the company is in advanced discussions to be acquired by First Data (FDC:NYSE - news - commentary - research - analysis) for stock worth about $15 a share -- a 60% premium over shares that have been beaten down for the last year.


The two sides have reportedly discussed a transaction for five years. Concord EFS primarily provides bank-card payment technology, while First Data owns Western Union and provides numerous back-office financial services. According to reports, they were near a deal several weeks ago, backed away, then resumed negotiations in recent days.

Concord`s shares are up about 24% to $11.65 in the Instinet premarket. They traded in the mid-30s this time last year but has steadily eroded as firestorms of debate blew up about the stability of its contracts with various big banks.

Quelle: http://www.thestreet.com/_yahoo/markets/stockwatch/10077567.…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Reuters
Concord Up on Reports of First Data Deal
Tuesday April 1, 10:16 am ET


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of Concord EFS Inc. (NYSE:CE - News), which processes automated teller transactions, jumped nearly 26 percent on Tuesday after reports that it is in late-stage talks to be bought by rival First Data Corp. (NYSE:FDC - News) for more than $7 billion in stock.
ADVERTISEMENT


First Data, which owns the Western Union money-transfer company, is nearing a deal to buy Concord for about $15 per share, The Wall Street Journal and New York Times reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

Shares of Memphis, Tennessee-based Concord were up $2.40 at $11.80 in morning New York Stock Exchange (News - Websites) trade.

A deal would unite Denver-based First Data`s majority interest in the NYCE automated teller machine network with Concord`s rival STAR, MAC and Cash Station networks.

As of Monday, Concord shares were down 40 percent so far this year on concerns about competition from rival Visa International and fears that STAR was in danger of losing critical bank contracts that are up for renewal next year.

First Data is also the largest processor of credit-card transactions in the United States. Its shares were off $1.89, or 5.1 percent, at $35.12.


Quelle: http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/030401/financial_concord_stocks_1.ht…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Concord Weighs First Data Deal; Concord Shares Soar 26%



Concord EFS Inc.`s (CE) board met to discuss a potential acquisition by First Data Corp.(NYSE:FDC) (FDC), and Concord`s shares soared 26%, Wednesday`s Wall Street Journal reported.

The two rivals in financial-transaction processing, which have held periodic discussions previously, are now in advanced talks. First Data is expected to pay more than $7 billion in stock for Concord, although the value is likely to fluctuate along with movements in First Data`s stock price, say people familiar with the situation.

Shares of Concord, based in Memphis, Tenn., were up $2.47 to $11.87 in 4 p.m. New York Stock Exchange composite trading Tuesday. Terms of the deal under discussion value Concord at about $15 a share. Shares of First Data fell $2.33, or 6.3%, to $34.68, on the Big Board.

Both boards met Tuesday to discuss the potential transaction, and details were still being worked out last night. A First Data representative said the company doesn`t "speculate on market rumors." A Concord representative declined to comment.

On Wall Street, analysts responded positively to the prospect of a First Data- Concord combination, saying that First Data would probably wring extensive cost savings out of a deal.

"The combined entity would likely benefit from greater scale and thus pricing power, as well as First Data`s relationship with its network of bank alliances," wrote Daniel Perlin, analyst at Legg Mason Wood Walker Inc., in a report issued Tuesday.

Concord processes financial transactions for credit cards, debit cards and automatic teller machines through a vast network that includes STAR, MAC and Cash Station machines.

First Data, based in Denver, is the majority owner of the NYCE ATM network and also owns money-transfer business Western Union.

Wall Street Journal Staff Reporters Robin Sidel and Jathon Sapsford contributed to this report.

Quelle: http://www.nasdaq.com/asp/quotes_news.asp?selected=CE&symbol…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Übersichtlicher wenn man den Link nimmt:

First Data and Concord to Merge; Combination Will Offer Choice, Voice and Innovation in Electronic Transactions to Banks, Merchants and Consumers

$10 Billion in Combined Revenues Companies to Discuss Transaction in 11 a.m. EST Conference Call Today

NEW YORK, Apr 02, 2003 (Canada NewsWire via COMTEX) -- First Data Corp. (NYSE: FDC), a global leader in electronic commerce and payment services, and Concord EFS, Inc., (NYSE: CE), a leading electronic transaction processor, today announced a definitive agreement to merge in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $7 billion. Upon completion of the transaction, the combined company will provide banks, merchants and their customers with more options to conveniently and securely conduct a full range of electronic payment transactions. The combined company will have approximately $10 billion in annual revenues with more than 31,000 employees worldwide.

"This is a significant step in developing an open and flexible electronic payments system that will foster competition to the benefit of consumers, merchants and banks," said First Data Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Charlie Fote. "Our transaction with Concord and its STAR(SM) network will enable First Data to provide its customers with more choices in products and services. Access to our combined depth and scale will give banks and merchants an unprecedented voice in the introduction of innovative payment offerings to consumers."

"Today`s announcement will combine the proven strengths of two great organizations. Concord brings to the combined company scale and processing expertise in strategic growth markets such as supermarket and petroleum, along with the national debit presence of the STAR(SM) Network," said Dick Kiphart, Chairman of Concord. "Combining First Data`s merchant point-of-sale presence and global processing capability, Concord`s real-time payments expertise and capabilities, and the STAR(SM) network, will provide customers with the most innovative and cost effective solutions for all of their electronic payment needs."

First Data will exchange 0.40 First Data common shares for every Concord common share. At yesterday`s closing price of First Data stock, the transaction was valued at $13.87 for each common share of Concord. To complete the transaction, First Data will issue approximately 200 million common shares to Concord shareholders. Upon completion of the transaction based on the current shares outstanding, Concord shareholders will own approximately 21% of the outstanding shares of First Data. The exchange of shares in the merger is expected to qualify as a tax-free reorganization, allowing Concord shareholders to defer any gain on their shares for U.S. income tax purposes.

The transaction is expected to be neutral to First Data`s earnings per share in 2004, prior to restructuring and integration charges, and accretive thereafter. The combined company expects to generate cost savings of approximately $230 million on an annualized basis by 2005.

The transaction is subject to approval by shareholders of each company, regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions.

Merrill Lynch and JPMorgan acted as financial advisors to First Data, and Sidley Austin Brown & Wood acted as legal advisor. Goldman, Sachs & Co. and William Blair & Co. acted as financial advisors to Concord, and Kirkland & Ellis acted as legal advisor.

(Editors Note: see the following fact sheets for additional details concerning First Data and Concord).

CONFERENCE CALL:

First Data and Concord will host a conference call to discuss the transaction today, April 2, at 11 a.m. EST.

To listen to the broadcast, please log on to http://www.firstdata.com and click on the link under the "Invest" section at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call. To participate in the call, dial 888-831-9087 (U.S. only) or 712-271-0110 (international) ten minutes prior to the start of the call and enter passcode FDC.

A replay of the webcast will be available on the site beginning April 3 continuing through 5 p.m. April 9 or call 800-945-7977 (U.S.) or 402-220-3589 (international). No passcode is required.

First Data Corp. (NYSE: FDC), with global headquarters in Denver, helps power the global economy. As a leader in electronic commerce and payment services, First Data serves approximately 3 million merchant locations, 1,400 card issuers and millions of consumers, making it easy, fast and secure for people and businesses to buy goods and services using virtually any form of payment. With 29,000 employees worldwide, the company provides credit, debit, smart card and stored-value card issuing and merchant transaction processing services; Internet commerce solutions; money transfer services; money orders; and check processing and verification services throughout the United States. First Data also offers a variety of payment services in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Spain, the Netherlands, the Middle East and Germany. Its Western Union and Orlandi Valuta money transfer networks include a total of approximately 151,00 agent locations in more than 195 countries and territories.

Concord, a leading electronic transaction processor, provides the technology and network systems that make payments and other financial transactions faster, more efficient and more secure than paper-based alternatives. Primary activities include Network Services, providing ATM driving, gateway services, and debit card processing to the financial services industry, plus coast-to-coast network access under the STAR(SM) brand; Payment Services, providing credit, debit, check authorization, and EBT processing services to supermarkets, gas stations, restaurants and other selected retail segments; and Risk Management Services, providing software, information, and analysis to financial institutions, retailers, government service providers, and other businesses to assist in fraud prevention and reduction.

This communication is not a solicitation of a proxy from any security holder of First Data Corporation or Concord EFS, Inc., and First Data Corporation and Concord EFS, Inc. will be filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission a joint proxy statement/prospectus to be mailed to security holders and other relevant documents concerning the planned merger of Concord EFS, Inc. with a subsidiary of First Data Corporation. WE URGE INVESTORS TO READ THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors will be able to obtain the documents free of charge at the SEC`s website, www.sec.gov . In addition, documents filed with the SEC by First Data Corporation will be available free of charge from First Data Investor Relations, 6200 S. Quebec St., Suite 340, Greenwood Village, CO, 80111. Documents filed with the SEC by Concord EFS, Inc. will be available free of charge from Concord Investor Relations, 2525 Horizon Lake Drive, Suite 120, Memphis, TN, 38133.

First Data Corporation and Concord EFS, Inc., and their respective directors and executive officers and other members of their management and employees, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of First Data Corporation and Concord EFS, Inc. in connection with the merger. Information about the directors and executive officers of First Data Corporation and their ownership of First Data Corporation stock is set forth in the proxy statement for First Data Corporation`s 2002 annual meeting of stockholders. Information about the directors and executive officers of Concord EFS, Inc. and their ownership of Concord EFS, Inc. stock is set forth in the proxy statement for Concord EFS, Inc.`s 2002 annual meeting of stockholders. Bond Isaacson, who became Co-CEO of Concord in 2002, holds approximately 400,000 Concord stock options. Employment and compensation agreements of certain potential participants, including change of control arrangements, are filed as exhibits to the Concord Form 10-K filed March 27, 2003. Executive officers of Concord may participate in a return bonus program that would pay bonuses in connection with the merger. Investors may obtain additional information regarding the interests of such participants by reading the joint proxy statement/prospectus when its becomes available.

Notice to Investors, Prospective Investors and the Investment Community

Cautionary Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release regarding the proposed merger of First Data Corporation and Concord EFS, Inc. which are not historical facts, including expectations of financial results for the combined companies (e.g., projections regarding revenue, earnings, cash flow and cost savings), are "forward-looking statements." All forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain as they are based on various expectations and assumptions concerning future events and they are subject to numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and any such forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the following cautionary statements.

Important factors upon which the forward-looking statements presented in this release are premised include: (a) receipt of regulatory and shareholder approvals without unexpected delays or conditions; (b) timely implementation and execution of merger integration plans; (c) the ability to implement comprehensive plans for asset rationalization; (d) the successful integration of the IT systems and elimination of duplicative overhead and IT costs without unexpected costs or delays; (e) retention of customers and critical employees; (f) successfully leveraging First Data/Concord`s comprehensive product offering to the combined customer base; (g) continued growth at rates approximating recent levels for card-based payment transactions and other product markets; (h) no unanticipated changes in laws, regulations, credit card association rules or other industry standards affecting First Data/Concord`s businesses which require significant product redevelopment efforts, reduce the market for or value of its products or render products obsolete; (i) no unanticipated developments relating to previously disclosed lawsuits or similar matters; (j) successful management of any impact from slowing economic conditions or consumer spending; (k) no catastrophic events that could impact First Data/Concord`s or its major customer`s operating facilities, communication systems and technology or that has a material negative impact on current economic conditions or levels of consumer spending; (l) no material breach of security of any First Data/Concord`s systems; and (m) successfully managing the potential both for patent protection and patent liability in the context of rapidly developing legal framework for expansive software patent protection. In addition, the ability of First Data/Concord to achieve the expected revenues, accretion and synergy savings also will be affected by the effects of competition (in particular the response to the proposed transaction in the marketplace), the effects of general economic and other factors beyond the control of First Data/Concord, and other risks and uncertainties described from time to time in First Data/Concord`s public filings with United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

FIRST DATA-CONCORD MERGER: DEAL FACT SHEET

Parties First Data Corporation Concord EFS, Inc.

Exchange:
Symbol NYSE: FDC NYSE: CE

Company
Description First Data is the largest Concord is a vertically
global payments company in integrated electronic
the world and helps power transaction processor.
the global economy. As a Primary activities
leader in electronic include Network Services,
commerce and payment providing ATM driving,
services, First Data gateway services, and
serves approximately debit card processing;
3 million merchant coast-to-coast network
locations, 1,400 card access under the STAR
issuers and millions of brand; Payment Services,
consumers, making it easy, providing credit, debit,
fast and secure for check authorization; EBT
people and businesses to processing services to
buy goods and services supermarkets, gas
using virtually any form stations, restaurants;
of payment. Risk Management
Services, providing
software, information, and
analysis to assist in
fraud avoidance and
reduction.

Headquarters 6200 South Quebec Street 2525 Horizon Lake Drive
Greenwood Village, CO 80111 Memphis, TN 38133
Tel: [phone] Tel: [phone]

CEO Charlie Fote Dan M. Palmer (co-CEO)
Bond R. Isaacson (co-CEO)

CFO Kim Patmore Edward T. Haslam

President
and COO Scott Betts, President, Edward A. Labry III,
Merchant Services; President
Christina Gold, President,
Western Union Financial
Services; Pam Patsley,
President, First Data
International

Fiscal
year
ends 12/03 12/03

Total
Shares
Outstanding
(4/1) 752.8 million 486.5 million

Employees 29,000 2,640

Annual
Revenue
(2002) $7.6 billion $2.0 billion

EPS (2002) $1.62 $0.57

Market Cap
As of 4/1/03 $26.1 billion $5.8 billion

Website www.firstdata.com www.concordefs.com

Advisors: Merrill Lynch and Goldman, Sachs & Co.
JPMorgan acted as financial and William Blair & Co.
advisors to First Data, acted as financial
and Sidley Austin advisors to Concord and
Brown & Wood acted as Kirkland & Ellis acted
legal advisor. as legal advisor.

Transaction
summary Fixed exchange ratio: 0.40 First Data shares for each
Concord share Value as of 4/1/03: $13.87 per Concord share
or approximately $7 billion
Structure: Tax free merger
Caps and Collars: None
Approvals: Subject to shareholder and regulatory approval
Expected close: 3Q 2003
Board: 1 Concord Director to join First Data Board

Deal
Rationale Strategically Compelling
-- Strengthens position as leading payments provider
-- Enhanced competitive position in electronic payments
industry
-- Adds strong presence in high-growth payment segments
-- Transform online debit capabilities
Industry Benefits
-- Greater payment choices for consumers, merchants and
banks (via expansion of PIN-debit)
-- Greater voice for banks and merchants in payment
industry
-- Size and scale enables industry innovation
Low Risk
-- Proven merger integration skills
-- Largely transaction-based (recurring) revenue
-- Complementary clients, products, processes and
technology

Strategic
Rationale Complementary Business Fit
-- Creates a more integrated provider of payment
processing services
-- Attractive Business Mix
-- Continues to build high growth business model
Financially Attractive
-- Accretive to GAAP earnings in 2005
Cross Sell Opportunities
-- STAR Network, merchant and issuer processing,
TeleCheck, TASQ equipment management

VIEW ADDITIONAL COMPANY-SPECIFIC INFORMATION: http://www.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/inquiry.cgi?OKEY=34867

For further information: investors, David Banks, [phone], or
media, Greg Rossiter, [phone], both of First Data Corp.; or
investors, Ed Winnick, [phone], or media, Melinda Mercurio,
[phone], both of Concord

Web site: http://www.concordefs.com

News release via Canada NewsWire, Toronto 416-863-9350


Quelle: http://www.nasdaq.com/asp/quotes_news.asp?selected=CE&symbol…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

First Data And Concord To Merge



NEW YORK -(Dow Jones)- First Data Corp.(NYSE:FDC) (FDC) signed a definitive agreement to acquire fellow financial-transaction services provider Concord EFS Inc.(NYSE:CE) (CE) in an all-stock transaction valued at about $7 billion.

In a press release Wednesday, the companies said First Data agreed to exchange 0.40 common shares for each Concord common share held.

Based on Tuesday`s closing price of First Data`s New York Stock Exchange- listed shares of $34.68, its offer values Concord at $13.87 a share, representing a premium of about 17% from Concord`s closing price Tuesday of $ 11.87.

NYSE-listed shares of Concord closed Tuesday up $2.47, or 26.3%, at $11.87 after a story in The Wall Street Journal Tuesday reported the companies were in talks. Concord shares hit a 52-week low of $7.80 on March 11, and traded at a 52-week high of $35.06 May 15, 2002.

First Data plans to issue about 200 million common shares, and Concord shareholders will own about 21% of the combined company upon close of the deal.

The companies expect the combined company to have annual revenue of about $10 billion and more than 31,000 employees.

First Data, Denver, said the deal will provide banks, merchants and their customers with more options to conduct electronic-payment transactions.

The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this week that the two companies have held periodic merger talks for about five years.

First Data, which owns money-transfer business Western Union, expects the acquisition to be neutral to earnings in 2004, prior to restructuring and integration charges, then add to earnings after that.

The combined company expects cost-savings of about $230 million annually by 2005.

The transaction awaits shareholder and regulatory approvals, and is expected to close in the third quarter.

Merrill Lynch and JPMorgan provided financial advice to First Data, and Sidley Austin Brown & Wood acted as legal advisor.

Goldman, Sachs & Co. and William Blair & Co. acted as financial advisors to Memphis-based Concord, and Kirkland & Ellis served as legal advisor.

First Data and Concord plan to hold a conference call Wednesday at 11 a.m. EST.

Company Web sites: http://www.firstdata.com and http://www.concordefs.com

-Jason Philyaw; Dow Jones Newswires; 201-938-5400


Dow Jones Newswires
04-02-030814ET
Quelle: http://www.nasdaq.com/asp/quotes_news.asp?selected=CE&symbol…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

First Data to Buy Concord For About $7 Billion in Stock



NEW YORK -- First Data Corp.(NYSE:FDC) (FDC) announced Wednesday that it agreed to acquire rival financial-transaction services provider Concord EFS Inc.(NYSE:CE) (CE) in a stock transaction valued at about $7 billion.

Concord, based in Memphis, Tenn., processes financial transactions for credit cards, debit cards and automatic teller machines through a network that includes STAR, MAC and Cash Station machines. First Data, Denver, is majority owner of the NYCE ATM network and also owns money-transfer business Western Union.

First Data will to pay 0.40 of its shares for each Concord share. Based on First Data`s Tuesday closing price of $34.68, the offer values Concord at $13.87 a share, representing a premium of about 17% over Concord`s Tuesday closing price of $11.87. Both issues trade on the New York Stock Exchange.

Concord shares jumped 26% Tuesday after a report in the The Wall Street Journal said the companies were in talks.

First Data expects the transaction to be neutral to First Data`s earnings per share in 2004, before restructuring and integration charges, and sees the deal adding to earnings after that. The combined company expects to generate cost savings of approximately $230 million on an annual basis by 2005.

The two companies said the combined entity will have annual revenue of about $ 10 billion and more than 31,000 employees.

First Data plans to issue about 200 million shares. Concord shareholders will own about 21% of the combined company when the transaction is completed.

Both First Data and Concord have experienced recent setbacks. Last month, First Data lost longtime customer Bank One Corp.(NYSE:ONE) (ONE), which said it would use Total System Services Inc. for its credit-card processing beginning at the end of 2004. At the same time, Western Union is losing market share, prompting investors and Wall Street analysts to worry about First Data`s growth prospects.

For its part, Concord has seen its stock fall sharply this year amid concerns about its ability to renew bank contracts in its core ATM business.

- Paul Welitzkin; Dow Jones Newswires; 609-520-7260

- Robin Sidel of The Wall Street Journal contributed to this report


Dow Jones Newswires
04-02-030917ET

Quelle: http://www.nasdaq.com/asp/quotes_news.asp?selected=CE&symbol…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Reuters
S&P says First Data Corp`s ratings, outlook unchanged
Wednesday April 2, 9:24 am ET


(The following statement was released by the ratings agency).
LONDON, April 2 - First Data Corp (NYSE:FDC - News; A+/Stable/A-1) today announced that it has agreed to merge with Concord EFS Inc (NYSE:CE - News). for approximately $7 billion in an all-stock transaction.

Standard & Poor`s Ratings Services does not expect the acquisition to have an impact on First Data`s ratings or outlook. The merger is consistent with First Data`s strategy of expanding its product and client base and leverage its existing processing capabilities. Current ratings continue to reflect Standard & Poor`s expectation that First Data will maintain a strong financial profile and ample financial flexibility.



Quelle: http://biz.yahoo.com/rf/030402/s_pbulletin_1.html

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

New York (vwd) - Der Finanzdienstleister First Data Corp, Hackensack, befindet sich nach einem Pressebericht in fortgeschrittenen Verhandlungen zur Übernahme seines Wettbewerbers Concord EFS Inc, Memphis. Im Gespräch seien mehr als sieben Mrd USD, die in Aktien gezahlt werden sollen, berichtet das "Wall Street Journal" (WSJ) auf seiner Website unter Berufung auf Unternehmenskreise. Die Boards der Unternehmen würden sich in Kürze treffen, um eine Entscheidung zu treffen. Allerdings sei eine Transaktion noch nicht sicher, da die Gespräche mit wechselnder Intensität schon seit fünf Jahren geführt würden und in den jüngsten Wochen wieder verstärkt worden seien.

Die genauen Konditionen seien noch nicht beschlossen worden. Im Gespräch sei ein Aktientausch, der die Concord-Titel mit 15 USD bewerte. Dies sei auf den aktuellen Aktienkurs ein Aufschlag von fast 60 Prozent, der Preis liege jedoch unter dem 16-USD-Kursniveau im Januar. Der Kurs von Concord sei in den jüngsten Wochen gefallen, da Zweifel an der Fähigkeit des Unternehmens bestanden hätten, wichtige Verträge mit Banken zu verlängern. First Data und Concord bieten Finanzdienstleistungen, wie die Abwicklung von Kreditkarten-Transaktionen an.
vwd/DJ/11/2.4.2003/jhe/ip

02.04.2003, 08:55

Quelle: http://www.vwd.de/vwd/news.htm?id=20469737&navi=home&sektion…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

New York (vwd) - Der Finanzdienstleister First Data Corp, Hackensack, übernimmt den Wettbewerber Concord EFS Inc, Memphis, für rund sieben Mrd USD in Form von Aktien. Nach dem Zusammenschluss werde das Unternehmen Einnahmen von jährlich etwa zehn Mrd USD haben und mehr als 31.000 Mitarbeiter beschäftigen, teilte First Data am Mittwoch mit. First Data werde für je 0,40 First-Data-Aktie eine Concord-Stammaktie zuteilen. Gemessen am Schlusskurs der First-Data-Aktie vom Dienstag werde jeder Concord-Anteilsschein damit mit 13,87 USD bewertet.
vwd/12/2.4.2003/mi/bb

02.04.2003, 15:20

Quelle: http://www.vwd.de/vwd/news.htm?id=20470309&navi=home&sektion…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

First Data kauft Concord für 7 Mrd. Dollar
02.04.2003 15:51:00



Der Finanzdienstleister First Data Corp. meldete am Mittwoch, dass er die Concord EFS Inc., einen Abwickler elektronischer Transaktionen, für rund 7 Mrd. Dollar in Aktien übernehmen wird.
Im Rahmen der Übernahme erhalten Concord-Aktionäre für jede ihrer Aktien 0,40 First Data-Aktien, was basierend auf den gestrigen Schlusskursen 13,87 Dollar pro Aktie entspricht.

Mit der Transaktion werden somit der mehrheitliche Anteil von First Data an dem Bankautomaten-Netzwerk NYCE und die Konkurrenz-Netze STAR, MAC und Cash Station von Concord zusammengeführt.

Die Aktie von First Data notiert an der NYSE vorbörslich bei 34,45 Dollar (-0,66 Prozent), die von Concord EFS bei 12,41 Dollar (+4,55 Prozent).

Quelle: http://www.finanzen.net/news/news_detail.asp?NewsNr=107554&R…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

02.04.2003 - 15:24 Uhr
First Data kauft Concord EFS für rund sieben Mrd USD (zwei)
Zum Abschluss der Transaktion werde First Data etwa 200 Mio Stammaktien an die Concord-Aktionäre ausgeben. Diese würden dann rund 21 Prozent der ausstehenden First-Data-Anteilsscheine besitzen. Die Transaktion werde sich neutral auf das Ergebnis je Aktie vor Restrukturierungs- und Integrationsbelastungen von First Data im Jahr 2004 auswirken. Sie muss noch von den Aktionären sowie den zuständigen Behörden genehmigt werden. First Data und Concord bieten Finanzdienstleistungen wie die Abwicklung von Kreditkarten-Transaktionen an.
vwd/12/2.4.2003/mi/bb

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Concord EFS Certifies Diebold`s Agilis 91x(TM) Software

Diebold`s New Opteva(TM) Family of ATMs Expected To Be Certified by End of April

NORTH CANTON, Ohio, Apr 3, 2003 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Diebold, Incorporated (NYSE: DBD) and Concord EFS, Incorporated today announced that Diebold`s newest software, Agilis 91x(TM), has been certified to work with Concord`s EFT networks on Diebold`s ix Series(R) of automated teller machines (ATMs). Concord owns and operates the nation`s largest ATM network and is the nation`s largest ATM processor.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000608/DIEBLOGO )

Concord is also in the process of certifying Opteva(TM), Diebold`s newest family of advanced-function ATMs and cash dispensers, which the company unveiled March 11. The Opteva certification process is scheduled to be complete by the end of April.

Certification of hardware and software ensures that when financial institutions connect their ATMs to Concord`s network they will receive the highest level of service available. ATM networks generally require new hardware and software to be certified and the earlier the certification occurs, the faster the ATM deployers can make the new products available to consumers.

Concord is on the forefront of Windows-based ATM technology. "We are dedicated to providing the latest ATM functionality for our clients," said Jennifer Mariner, vice president of Systems Quality Management at Concord. "We want to be the first network to certify Diebold`s newest products."

Agilis 91x is one of the applications in Diebold`s new Agilis family of Microsoft(R) Windows(R)-based ATM software. Agilis 91x is a prepackaged application for use in ATMs that need to communicate to networks using the Diebold 911/912 message protocol. Agilis software is the result of the knowledge gained by Diebold from over a decade of development work in open systems. The high degree of openness allows for the use of standard, widely available tools for day-to-day operations and maintenance. It also allows Agilis to be integrated into enterprise software distribution and network management systems that customers may already own and want to leverage further.

"The level of openness and the use of off-the-shelf tools make Agilis software easy to install and maintain," said John Tyler, vice president of Software and Services for Diebold. "As new functionality presents itself in the future, financial institutions will be able to implement it more quickly and easily than ever before. The modular nature of Agilis software makes it easy for us to provide new functionality for our customers."

Concord EFS is a leading vertically integrated electronic transaction processor, providing transaction authorization, data capture, settlement and funds transfer services to financial institutions, supermarkets, petroleum retailers, convenience stores, restaurants, and other independent retailers. Concord is headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., and is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol `CE`.

Diebold, Incorporated is a global leader in providing integrated self- service delivery systems and services. Diebold employs more than 13,000 associates with representation in more than 88 countries worldwide and headquarters in North Canton, Ohio, USA. Diebold reported revenue of $1.9 billion in 2002 and is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol `DBD.` For more information, visit the company`s Web site at www.diebold.com or www.dieboldopteva.com .

SOURCE Diebold, Incorporated

Media, Tiffini Bloniarz, [phone], or
[e-mail], or Investors, Michelle Griggy, [phone], or
[e-mail], both of Diebold, Incorporated
/Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000608/DIEBLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, 888-776-6555 or 212-782-2840

http://www.diebold.com

Quelle: [http://www.nasdaq.com/asp/quotes_news.asp?selected=CE&symbol…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Reuters
First Data CEO gets $36.7 million from options
Monday April 7, 2:58 pm ET


NEW YORK, April 7 (Reuters) - Charles Fote, chief executive of First Data Corp. (NYSE:FDC - News), one of the largest U.S. credit card processors, last year collected $36.7 million by exercising stock options, a securities filing shows.

Fote, 54, who has been CEO of First Data since Jan. 2002 and chairman since Jan. 2003, exercised 1.08 million options worth $36,727,209, according to First Data`s proxy statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (News - Websites).

The options were granted under a 1992 long-term incentive plan, the filing shows. As of Dec. 31, Fote still had about 2.1 million exercisable options worth $25.7 and 1.3 million unexercisable options worth $7.2 million, it shows.

Fote was Greenwood Village, Colorado-based First Data`s chief operating officer from Sept. 1998 to Jan. 2002, and executive vice president from its April 1992 initial public offering to Sept. 1998.

Fote also received about $2.5 million of other compensation last year, compared with $2.7 million in 2001, the filing shows.

In 2002, First Data paid him a $1 million salary and an $832,000 bonus. He also received $467,989 of long-term incentive payouts and $195,842 of other compensation, the filing shows.

Fote was not granted any options in 2002, but his annual option grant for that year was made in Dec. 2001 upon his election as CEO, First Data said.

Last week, First Data said it will buy Concord EFS (NYSE:CE - News) for nearly $7 billion. The combined company would control more than two-thirds of the market for processing ATM transactions for retailers.

First Data shares traded Monday afternoon on the New York Stock Exchange (News - Websites) at $34.79, up 61 cents. The shares closed one year ago at $43.83 after accounting for a 2-for-1 stock split.


http://biz.yahoo.com/rc/030407/financial_firstdata_ceo_1.htm…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Concord EFS Inc.: Buy
04.04.2003 15:24:57

Die Analysten von Stifel Nicolaus & Co. stufen die Aktie der US-amerikanischen Concord EFS Inc. in ihrem Report „Investment Insight“ vom 26. März unverändert mit „Buy“ ein.
Der Anbieter von Zahlungssystemen habe auf einer Konferenz, durch den Co-CEO Isaacson, gute Nachrichten für die Verträge innerhalb des Star Networks mitgeteilt. Einer der wichtigsten Punkte sei, dass 10 der größten Bankverträge Ende 2004 auslaufen würden. Die Analysten gehen davon aus, dass die diskutierte Struktur sich zu einer langfristigen Win-win Situation für Concord und die beteiligten Banken auswirken werde.

Der Gewinn je Aktie werde für 2003 bei 0,75 Dollar und für 2004 bei 0,86 Dollar gesehen. Auf dem aktuellen Kursniveau von 11,13 Dollar werde der Titel mit einem 2004er KGV von 12,9 bewertet. Die Analysten sehen das Kursziel für die nächsten 12 bis 18 Monate bei 14 Dollar.


Quelle:http://www.finanzen.net/analysen/analysen_detail.asp?Analyse…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Kurz, knapp und schmerzlos:

07.04.2003
Concord EFS Downgrade
AG Edwards

Rating-Update:

Die Analysten vom Investmenthaus AG Edwards stufen die Aktie von Concord EFS (ISIN US2061971055/ WKN 877174) von „buy“ auf „hold“ zurück.


Quelle:http://www.aktiencheck.de/Analysen/default_an.asp?AnalysenID…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Am 29.04.03 kommen die ersten Zahlen für 2003

Concord EFS to Announce 1st Quarter 2003 Earnings on April 29

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Apr 9, 2003 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Concord EFS, Inc. (NYSE: CE) today announced it will release first quarter 2003 earnings prior to the market opening on Tuesday, April 29, 2003. A conference call to discuss the results will be held at 10:00 a.m. CST (11:00 a.m. EST) with Dan M. Palmer, co-chief executive officer, Bond R. Isaacson, co-chief executive officer, Edward A. Labry III, president, and Edward T. Haslam, chief financial officer.

To listen to the conference call, dial 877-261-8990 (United States) or 847-619-6441 (international), and enter identification number 7055685. A replay of the call will be available beginning late afternoon on April 29 through May 6, 2003 by dialing 888-843-8996 (United States) or 630-652-3044 (international), and entering identification number 7055686.

To access the slide presentation and listen to the call via the Internet, go to Concord`s investor relations homepage at www.cestock.com and click on the link "Webcast" up to 15 minutes in advance of the call. A replay of the Webcast will be available at the same location an hour after the call ends through May 13, 2003.

Concord EFS, Inc., a leading electronic transaction processor, provides the technology and network systems that make payments and other financial transactions faster, more efficient, and more secure than paper-based alternatives. As a vertically integrated service provider, Concord acquires, routes, authorizes, captures, and settles virtually all types of electronic payment and deposit access transactions for financial institutions and merchants nationwide. Concord`s primary activities include Network Services, which provides automated teller machine (ATM) processing, debit card processing, deposit risk management, and STAR(sm) network access principally for financial institutions; and Payment Services, which provides point of sale processing, settlement, and related services, with specialized systems focusing on supermarkets, major retailers, gas stations, convenience stores, restaurants, and trucking companies. Concord news releases, links to SEC filings, and other information are available at www.concordefs.com.

Concord EFS, Inc., Memphis
Melinda D. Mercurio, 302/791-8109
[e-mail]

Quelle:http://www.nasdaq.com/asp/quotes_news.asp?selected=CE&symbol…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Naja, bei den Analysten hat sich auch mal wieder was bewegt, aktuell 4 x strong buy, 1 x buy, 18 x hold und 2 x underperform.

Wie immer, die zuständigen Analysten:

A. G. EDWARDS & SONS, INC.
BARRINGTON RESEARCH
BEAR, STEARNS & CO.
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
D. A. DAVIDSON & CO.
DEUTSCHE BANK NORTH AMERICA
DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES
FIRST ANALYSIS CORP.
J.P. MORGAN
JEFFERIES & CO.
JMP SECURITIES
LEGG MASON WOOD WALKER, INC.
MIDWEST RESEARCH
MORGAN STANLEY
MORGAN, KEEGAN & COMPANY, INC.
PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES
RBC CAPITAL MARKETS
SANFORD C. BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
SMITH BARNEY CITIGROUP
STIFEL NICOLAUS & COMPANY, INC.
SUNTRUST ROBINSON HUMPHREY
U.S. BANCORP PIPER JAFFRAY
UBS WARBURG
WACHOVIA SECURITIES
WILLIAM BLAIR & COMPANY, L.L.C.

Quelle:http://www.nasdaq.com/earnings/analyst_recommendations.asp?s…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Mittlerweile sind die Aussagen von First Data ja auch interessant, besonders im Zusammenhang mit Concord:

Reuters
First Data CEO comfortable with 2003 outlook
Thursday April 10, 8:41 am ET


NEW YORK, April 10 (Reuters) - First Data Corp. (NYSE:FDC - News) Chief Executive Charlie Fote on Thursday said he was comfortable with the company`s earnings guidance range for 2003, after the company, owner of money transfer company Western Union, reported higher quarterly profits.
ADVERTISEMENT


"I am very, very comfortable with our guidance for the year," Fote said in a conference call with analysts.

Denver-based First Data in January projected earnings per share of $1.87 to $1.93 for 2003 on 14 percent to 17 percent revenue growth.

Earlier on Thursday, First Data said earnings jumped nearly 20 percent on growth in its Western Union business.

First Data last week said it would acquire automated teller machine network owner Concord EFS Inc. (NYSE:CE - News) for nearly $7 billion, giving the combined company more than two-thirds of the market for for processing ATM transactions in retail purchases.


Quelle:http://biz.yahoo.com/rc/030410/financial_firstdata_outlook_1…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Morgen kommen die Zahlen, bin mal gespannt ob die noch Auswirkungen haben.

Dafür haben heute noch mal die Analysten ihre Einschätzung geändert, von Hold auf Strong buy, aktuell: 5 * strong buy (1 mehr), 1 * buy, 17 * hold (1 weniger) und 2 * underperform.

Die Zuständigen:

A. G. EDWARDS & SONS, INC.
BARRINGTON RESEARCH
BEAR, STEARNS & CO.
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
D. A. DAVIDSON & CO.
DEUTSCHE BANK NORTH AMERICA
DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES
FIRST ANALYSIS CORP.
J.P. MORGAN
JEFFERIES & CO.
JMP SECURITIES
LEGG MASON WOOD WALKER, INC.
MIDWEST RESEARCH
MORGAN STANLEY
MORGAN, KEEGAN & COMPANY, INC.
PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES
RBC CAPITAL MARKETS
SANFORD C. BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
SMITH BARNEY CITIGROUP
STIFEL NICOLAUS & COMPANY, INC.
SUNTRUST ROBINSON HUMPHREY
U.S. BANCORP PIPER JAFFRAY
UBS WARBURG
WACHOVIA SECURITIES
WILLIAM BLAIR & COMPANY, L.L.C.

Quelle: http://www.nasdaq.com/earnings/analyst_recommendations.asp?s…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Die Zahlen sind da:

Concord EFS First Quarter Diluted EPS $0.16, Revenue Up 23%

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Apr 29, 2003 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Concord EFS, Inc. (NYSE: CE), a leading electronic commerce provider, today announced first quarter 2003 revenue was up 23% on transaction growth of 22%, with growth in net income and diluted earnings per share of 43% and 54%, respectively.

Financial Highlights Quarter Ended March 31,
2003 2002 % Change
--------- --------- ---------

Revenues (in thousands) $519,859 $421,681 23%
Net Income (in thousands) $77,717 $54,209 43%
Diluted Earnings Per Share $0.16 $0.10 54%

First quarter net income and earnings per share include merger and acquisition expense of $2.4 million in 2003, and acquisition, restructuring and write-off charges of $47.5 million in 2002.

Concord co-chief executive officer Bond R. Isaacson, noting the recently announced merger agreement with First Data Corporation, said, "We`re very excited about our agreement with First Data, and look forward to combining our distinct services and expertise into an innovative and cost effective portfolio of solutions for financial institutions, retailers, and consumers."

Commenting on first quarter earnings, Isaacson noted that transaction growth continued to be strong in the first quarter despite seasonal downshifts in spending, which in turn drove solid revenue growth. "Concord also continues to be a great cash flow story, with cash flow from operations up significantly in the first quarter," he said. "Looking ahead, based on current forecasts, we currently expect that 2003 diluted earnings per share will be in the low end of our $0.75 to $0.79 guidance range, due in part to the fact that our merger discussions made it impossible to buy back Concord`s stock as aggressively as we had planned in the first quarter."

Business Segment Highlights

Network Services. Network Services revenue increased 7% over the same period last year, to $155.0 million. Transactions grew 16% in the first quarter, including a 22% increase in STAR(sm) PIN-debit transactions for the quarter. The STAR network currently has approximately 127.4 million cards issued by 6,220 financial institutions and approximately 1,244,000 ATM and point of sale locations that display the STAR mark. The company also added net 1,431 ATMs to its ATM processing business during the first quarter, bringing total ATMs processed to just over 96,500.

Payment Services. Payment Services revenue increased 32% to $364.8 million on transaction volume growth of 31% in the first quarter, reflecting strong growth across payment types with acquired credit and signature debit, PIN-debit, and electronic benefits transfer transactions up 29%, 30% and 28%, respectively. Payment Services revenue includes interchange fees of $231.3 million and $159.9 million for first quarter 2003 and 2002, respectively. Payment Services currently provides payment processing services for approximately 417,000 merchant locations, including just over 16,000 quick service restaurant locations.

Conference Call Information

A conference call to discuss these results will be held on Tuesday, April 29, at 11:00 a.m. EDT with Dan M. Palmer, co-chief executive officer, Bond R. Isaacson, co-chief executive officer, Edward A. Labry III, president, and Edward T. Haslam, chief financial officer. To listen to the conference call, dial 877-261-8990 (United States) or 847-619-6441 (international), and enter identification number 7055685. A replay of the call will be available beginning April 30 through May 6, 2003 by dialing 888-843-8996 (United States) or 630-652-3044 (international), and entering identification number 7055686. To access the slide presentation and listen to the call via the Internet, go to Concord`s investor relations homepage at www.cestock.com and click on the link "Webcast" up to 15 minutes in advance of the call. A replay of the Webcast will be available at the same location beginning April 30 through May 13, 2003.

Selected Consolidated Financial Data

The following table presents selected consolidated financial data (in thousands, except earnings per share) for the first quarter of 2003 and 2002.

Quarter Ended:
March 31, 2003 March 31, 2002
-------------- --------------
Revenue $519,859 $421,681

Cost of Operations 377,461 281,919

Selling, General and Administrative
Expenses 31,826 24,782

Merger, Acquisition, Restructuring and
Write-Off Charges 2,387 47,500

------------------------------

Operating Income 108,185 67,480

Investment Income 14,710 19,572

Interest Expense 2,369 3,106

Other Income (Expense) (541) 526
Income Taxes 41,995 29,988

Minority Interest in Subsidiary 273 275
------------------------------

Net Income $77,717 $54,209
------------------------------

Basic Earnings Per Share $0.16 $0.11

Diluted Earnings Per Share $0.16 $0.10

Shares Used For:
Basic Earnings Per Share 486,466 508,699

Diluted Earnings Per Share 495,158 530,272

Concord EFS, Inc., a leading electronic transaction processor, provides the technology and network systems that make payments and other financial transactions faster, more efficient, and more secure than paper-based alternatives. As a vertically integrated service provider, Concord acquires, routes, authorizes, captures, and settles virtually all types of electronic payment and deposit access transactions for financial institutions and merchants nationwide. Concord`s primary activities include Network Services, which provides automated teller machine (ATM) processing, debit card processing, deposit risk management, and STAR(sm) network access principally for financial institutions; and Payment Services, which provides point of sale processing, settlement, and related services, with specialized systems focusing on supermarkets, major retailers, gas stations, convenience stores, restaurants, and trucking companies.

This communication is not a solicitation of a proxy from any security holder of Concord EFS, Inc. or First Data Corporation. Concord and First Data will be filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a joint proxy statement/prospectus to be mailed to security holders and other relevant documents concerning the planned merger of Concord with a subsidiary of First Data. WE URGE INVESTORS TO READ THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/ PROSPECTUS AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors will be able to obtain the documents free of charge at the SEC`s website, www.sec.gov. In addition, documents filed with the SEC by Concord will be available free of charge from Concord Investor Relations, 2525 Horizon Lake Drive, Suite 120, Memphis, TN 38133. Documents filed with the SEC by First Data will be available free of charge from First Data Investor Relations, 6200 S. Quebec St., Suite 340, Greenwood Village, CO 80111.

Concord and its directors and executive officers and other members of its management and employees, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of Concord in connection with the planned merger. Information about the directors and executive officers of Concord and their ownership of Concord stock is set forth in the proxy statement for Concord`s 2003 annual meeting of stockholders. Executive officers of Concord may participate in a retention bonus program that would pay bonuses in connection with the merger. Investors may obtain additional information regarding the interests of the participants by reading the joint proxy statement/prospectus when it becomes available.

This release may contain or incorporate by reference forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements reflect management`s expectations, estimates, and assumptions, based on information available at the time of the statement or, with respect to any document incorporated by reference, available at the time that such document was prepared. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding future events, plans, goals, objectives, and expectations. The words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "plan," "intend," "likely," "will," "should," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors, including those set forth below, which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by those statements.

Important factors that could cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by those statements include, but are not limited to: (i) the failure to successfully execute our corporate consolidation plans, (ii) the loss of key personnel or inability to attract additional qualified personnel, (iii) the loss of key customers or renewal of customer contracts on less favorable terms, (iv) increasing competition and its effect on our margins, (v) changes in card association rules and practices, (vi) the inability to remain current with rapid technological change, (vii) risks related to acquisitions, (viii) the imposition of additional state taxes, (ix) continued consolidation in the banking and retail industries, (x) business cycles and the credit risk of our merchant customers, (xi) the outcome of litigation involving VISA and MasterCard, (xii) utility and system interruptions or processing errors, (xiii) susceptibility to fraud at the merchant level, (xiv) changes in card association fees or products, (xv) automated teller machine market saturation or restrictions on surcharging, (xvi) rules and regulations governing financial institutions and other networks and changes in such rules and regulations, (xvii) the timing and extent of changes in interest rates, (xviii) volatility of the price of our common stock, and (xix) litigation risks.

Important factors upon which the forward-looking statements presented in this release are premised with respect the planned merger with First Data include, but are not limited to: (a) receipt of regulatory and shareholder approvals without unexpected delays or conditions, (b) timely implementation and execution of merger integration plans; (c) the ability to implement comprehensive plans for asset rationalization; (d) the successful integration of the IT systems and elimination of duplicative overhead and IT costs without unexpected costs or delays; (e) retention of customers and critical employees; (f) successfully leveraging First Data/Concord`s comprehensive product offering to the combined customer base; (g) continued growth at rates approximating recent levels for card-based payment transactions and other product markets; (h) no unanticipated changes in laws, regulations, credit card association rules or other industry standards affecting First Data/Concord`s businesses which require significant product redevelopment efforts, reduce the market for or value of its products or render products obsolete; (i) no unanticipated developments relating to previously disclosed lawsuits or similar matters; (j) successful management of any impact from slowing economic conditions or consumer spending; (k) no catastrophic events that could impact First Data/Concord`s or its major customer`s operating facilities, communication systems and technology or that has a material negative impact on current economic conditions or levels of consumer spending; (l) no material breach of security of any First Data/Concord`s systems; and (m) successfully managing the potential both for patent protection and patent liability in the context of rapidly developing legal framework for expansive software patent protection. In addition, the ability of First Data/Concord to achieve expected revenues, accretion and synergy savings also will be affected by the effects of competition (in particular the response to the proposed transaction in the marketplace), the effects of general economic and other factors beyond the control of First Data/Concord, and other risks and uncertainties described from time to time in First Data/Concord`s public filings with United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Concord undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events, or changes to future results over time. See the cautionary statements included as Exhibit 99.5 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 27, 2003 for a more detailed discussion of certain of the factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements.

SOURCE: Concord EFS, Inc.

Concord EFS, Inc.
Corporate Communications:
Melinda D. Mercurio, 302/791-8109
[e-mail]
or
Investor Relations:
Edward Winnick, 302/791-8484
[e-mail]

Quelle: http://www.nasdaq.com/asp/quotes_news.asp?selected=CE&symbol…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Oder was kürzer:

Concord EFS Earnings -2: Merger Talks Delayed Shr Buyback



MEMPHIS, Tenn (Dow Jones)--Concord EFS Inc. (CE) reported improved first quarter earnings due to revenue driven by strong transaction growth despite seasonal downshifts in spending.

In a press release Tuesday, the company said it expects 2003 diluted earnings per share to be at the low end of guidance of 75 cents to 79 cents, compared to a Thomson First Call estimate of 76 cents.

The company said it results for the year were affected by merger talks, which made it impossible to buy back stock as aggressively as planned in the first quarter.

Earlier in the month, First Data Corp.(NYSE:FDC) (FDC) signed a definitive agreement to acquire fellow financial-transaction services provider Concord EFS in an all- stock transaction valued at about $7 billion.

In the first quarter, earnings rose to $77.7 million, or 16 cents a share, from $54.2 million, or 10 cents a share, a year ago. The company had revenue in the quarter of $519.9 million, up from $421.7 million last year.

The first quarter results include merger and acquisition expenses of $2.4 million in 2003, and acquisition, restructuring and write-off charges of $47.5 million in 2002.

In 2002, Concord EFS earned $300.8 million, or 57 cents a diluted share, on revenue of $2.17 billion. Excluding items, the company earned $356.7 million, or 68 cents a share.

Concord EFS Inc.(NYSE:CE)
- Memphis, Tenn.
1st Quar March 31:
2003 2002
Revenue $519,859,000$421,681,000
Net income a 77,717,000 b 54,209,000
Avg shrs (diluted) 495,158,000 530,272,000
Shr earns
Net income a .16 b .10

Figures in parentheses are losses.

a. Includes merger and acquisition expenses of $2.4 million.

b. Includes acquisition, restructuring and write-off charges of $47.5 million.

-Thomas Gryta; Dow Jones Newswires; 201-938-5400


Dow Jones Newswires
04-29-031253ET
Quelle:http://www.nasdaq.com/asp/quotes_news.asp?selected=CE&symbol…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

War dann wohl alles in allem nicht so berauschend:

Reuters
Concord EFS Sees Profit Surge
Tuesday April 29, 11:00 am ET
By Jonathan Stempel


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Concord EFS Inc. (NYSE:CE - News), the automated teller machine transaction processor, on Tuesday said first-quarter profit rose 43 percent from a year earlier, as it added ATMs and saw transactions rise 22 percent.
ADVERTISEMENT


The Memphis, Tennessee-based company, which is being bought by First Data Corp. (NYSE:FDC - News), posted earnings of $77.7 million, or 16 cents per share, compared with $54.2 million, or 10 cents per share, a year earlier. Revenue rose 23 percent to $519.9 million, it said.

Concord also said it expects full-year per share earnings at the low end of its expected range of 75 cents to 79 cents, in part because merger talks made it "impossible" for Concord to buy back as much stock as it planned in the quarter.

Analysts polled by Thomson First Call (News - Websites) on average expected per share earnings of 17 cents for the first quarter and 76 cents for the full year.

"The numbers show that there is very strong competition in the industry, First Data being a major factor, and that Concord has strong revenue and transaction growth rates, which First Data wants," said Abhishek Gami, an equity analyst who follows Concord for Principal Global Investors of Des Moines, Iowa, which invests more than $90 billion.

Denver-based First Data, which owns money transfer company Western Union, on April 2 said it will acquire Concord for stock, giving the combined company more than two-thirds of the market for processing ATM transactions for retailers.

The merger would unite First Data`s majority interest in the NYCE automated teller machine network with Concord`s STAR, MAC and Cash Station networks. First Data is also the largest U.S. processor of credit card transactions. The new company would have annual revenue of $10 billion and 31,000 employees.

Concord shares fell Tuesday morning by 27 cents, or 2 percent, to $13.22 on the New York Stock Exchange (News - Websites). The shares have fallen by more than half in the last year but risen from $9.40 since the merger was announced.

MANAGEMENT SHUFFLE

Concord shares had tumbled on fears the company might lose critical bank contracts to use its STAR ATM network. Several major contracts expire at the end of 2004.

The company shuffled top management in February on fears it was losing its battle for market share with Visa U.S.A. over ATM networks.

"New management is an improvement, and management should be significantly enhanced after the merger," said Gami.

Concord said first-quarter network services revenue rose 7 percent from a year earlier, to $155 million, as transactions grew 16 percent. Payment services revenue rose 32 percent, to $364.8 million as transactions grew 31 percent, it said.

It said the STAR network has about 127.4 million cards issued by 6,220 financial institutions, and about 1.24 million ATMs and other locations displaying the STAR mark. The company said it added 1,431 ATMs to its processing business in the quarter, for a total of just above 96,500.

Under the merger, First Data is to exchange 0.4 First Data common shares for each Concord common share. The transaction was valued on Monday at $7.5 billion, based on the 486.5 million Concord shares outstanding as of April 1.


Quelle: http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/030429/financial_concord_earns_5.htm…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Nun für alle die es lieber deutsch mögen:

Concord EFS steigert Gewinn
29.04.2003 14:12:00



Concord EFS Inc., ein Hersteller von Zahlungssystemen, meldete am heutigen Tag seine Zahlen für das erste Quartal. Demnach verbesserte sich der Gewinn von 54,2 Mio. Dollar oder 10 Cents je Aktie auf 77,7 Mio. Dollar oder 16 Cents je Aktie.
Analysten hatten für den Berichtszeitraum einen EPS von 17 Cents erwartet.

Der Umsatz des Unternehmens verbesserte sich um 23 Prozent von 421,7 auf 519,9 Mio. Dollar.

Wall-Street-Experten hatten im Schnitt mit einem Umsatz von 553 Mio. Dollar gerechnet.

Der Konzern aus Memphis, der vor kurzem von der First Data Corp. gekauft wurde, sieht den EPS für das Gesamtjahr bei 76 Cents, was am unteren Ende der Schätzungen ist, die aktuell bei 75 bis 79 Cents liegen.

Concord-Aktien kletterten gestern an der NYSE um 5,14 Prozent auf 13,49 Dollar.

Die Aktien von First Data verbesserten sich gestern im Handelsverlauf um 3,00 Prozent auf 38,74 Dollar.

Quelle: http://www.finanzen.net/news/news_detail.asp?NewsNr=112445&R…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Dow Jones Business News
Concord EFS Earnings: Merger Talks Delayed Shr Buyback
Tuesday April 29, 12:53 pm ET


MEMPHIS, Tenn (Dow Jones)--Concord EFS Inc. reported improved first quarter earnings due to revenue driven by strong transaction growth despite seasonal downshifts in spending.
In a press release Tuesday, the company said it expects 2003 diluted earnings per share to be at the low end of guidance of 75 cents to 79 cents, compared to a Thomson First Call (News - Websites) estimate of 76 cents.

The company said it results for the year were affected by merger talks, which made it impossible to buy back stock as aggressively as planned in the first quarter.

Earlier in the month, First Data Corp. (NYSE:FDC - News) signed a definitive agreement to acquire fellow financial-transaction services provider Concord EFS in an all- stock transaction valued at about $7 billion.

In the first quarter, earnings rose to $77.7 million, or 16 cents a share, from $54.2 million, or 10 cents a share, a year ago. The company had revenue in the quarter of $519.9 million, up from $421.7 million last year.

The first quarter results include merger and acquisition expenses of $2.4 million in 2003, and acquisition, restructuring and write-off charges of $47.5 million in 2002.

In 2002, Concord EFS earned $300.8 million, or 57 cents a diluted share, on revenue of $2.17 billion. Excluding items, the company earned $356.7 million, or 68 cents a share.


Concord EFS Inc. (NYSE:CE - News) - Memphis, Tenn.
1st Quar March 31:
2003 2002
Revenue $519,859,000 $421,681,000
Net income a 77,717,000 b 54,209,000
Avg shrs (diluted) 495,158,000 530,272,000
Shr earns
Net income a .16 b .10

Figures in parentheses are losses.

a. Includes merger and acquisition expenses of $2.4 million.

b. Includes acquisition, restructuring and write-off charges of $47.5 million.

-Thomas Gryta; Dow Jones Newswires; 201-938-5400


Quelle: http://biz.yahoo.com/djus/030429/1253001277_1.html

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Die Analysten habe reagiert, zum ersten mal ein Sell!!!!!, aktuell: 5 * strong buy, 1 * buy, 16 * hold (1 weniger), 2 * underperform und 1 * sell (1 mehr)

zuständige Analysten:

A. G. EDWARDS & SONS, INC.
BARRINGTON RESEARCH
BEAR, STEARNS & CO.
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
D. A. DAVIDSON & CO.
DEUTSCHE BANK NORTH AMERICA
DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES
FIRST ANALYSIS CORP.
J.P. MORGAN
JEFFERIES & CO.
JMP SECURITIES
LEGG MASON WOOD WALKER, INC.
MIDWEST RESEARCH
MORGAN STANLEY
MORGAN, KEEGAN & COMPANY, INC.
PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES
RBC CAPITAL MARKETS
SANFORD C. BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
SMITH BARNEY CITIGROUP
STIFEL NICOLAUS & COMPANY, INC.
SUNTRUST ROBINSON HUMPHREY
U.S. BANCORP PIPER JAFFRAY
UBS WARBURG
WACHOVIA SECURITIES
WILLIAM BLAIR & COMPANY, L.L.C.

Quelle: http://www.nasdaq.com/earnings/analyst_recommendations.asp?s…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

First Data Plans to Voluntarily Re-submit Antitrust Filing; Resubmission Begins New 30-Day Waiting Period

DENVER, May 9, 2003 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- First Data Corp. (NYSE: FDC) today said it intends to re-file its pre-merger notification and report form regarding its pending merger under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act. The decision will allow staff at the U.S. Department of Justice`s antitrust division more time to review the proposed transaction.

The initial Hart-Scott-Rodino submission was completed on April 10, 2003. Based on First Data`s discussions with the Department of Justice, First Data will withdraw the original filing and re-file the documents with the DOJ and the Federal Trade Commission.

The re-filing will start a new thirty-day regulatory review period that would have otherwise expired on May 12, 2003. First Data`s approach to this regulatory approval is the same as it has been in the past, which is to engage directly with the regulators to address their questions. First Data and Concord EFS (NYSE: CE), believe that the approval process will be equally effective with this transaction.

The re-filing is a procedural step to allow informal discussions to continue for an additional 30 days without requiring the Justice Department to issue a formal statutory request for additional information.

First Data and Concord continue to believe the transaction will close in the second half of 2003 and remain committed to working cooperatively with the Department of Justice`s antitrust division as it conducts its review.

About First Data

First Data Corp. (NYSE: FDC), with global headquarters in Denver, helps power the global economy. As a leader in electronic commerce and payment services, First Data serves approximately 3 million merchant locations, 1,400 card issuers and millions of consumers, making it easy, fast and secure for people and businesses to buy goods and services using virtually any form of payment. With 29,000 employees worldwide, the company provides credit, debit, smart card and stored-value card issuing and merchant transaction processing services; Internet commerce solutions; money transfer services; money orders; and check processing and verification services throughout the United States. First Data also offers a variety of payment services in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Spain, the Netherlands, the Middle East and Germany. Its Western Union and Orlandi Valuta money transfer networks include a total of approximately 159,000 agent locations in more than 195 countries and territories.

Not a Proxy Solicitation

This communication is not a solicitation of a proxy from any security holder of First Data Corporation or Concord EFS, Inc., and First Data Corporation and Concord EFS, Inc. will be filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission a joint proxy statement/prospectus to be mailed to security holders and other relevant documents concerning the planned merger of Concord EFS, Inc. with a subsidiary of First Data Corporation. WE URGE INVESTORS TO READ THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors will be able to obtain the documents free of charge at the SEC`s website, www.sec.gov. In addition, documents filed with the SEC by First Data Corporation will be available free of charge from First Data Investor Relations, 6200 S. Quebec St., Suite 340, Greenwood Village, CO, 80111. Documents filed with the SEC by Concord EFS, Inc. will be available free of charge from Concord Investor Relations, 2525 Horizon Lake Drive, Suite 120, Memphis, TN, 38133.

First Data Corporation and its directors and executive officers and other members of its management and employees, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of First Data Corporation in connection with the merger. Information about the directors and executive officers of First Data Corporation and their ownership of First Data Corporation stock is set forth in the proxy statement for First Data Corporation`s 2003 annual meeting of stockholders.

Notice to Investors, Prospective Investors and the Investment Community
Cautionary Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release regarding the proposed merger of First Data Corporation and Concord EFS, Inc. which are not historical facts, including expectations of when the transaction may close, are "forward-looking statements." All forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain as they are based on various expectations and assumptions concerning future events and they are subject to numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and any such forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the following cautionary statements.

Important factors upon which the forward-looking statements presented in this release are premised include: (a) receipt of regulatory and shareholder approvals without unexpected delays or conditions; (b) timely implementation and execution of merger integration plans; (c) no unanticipated changes in laws, regulations, credit card association rules or other industry standards affecting First Data/Concord`s businesses which require significant product redevelopment efforts, reduce the market for or value of its products or render products obsolete; (d) no unanticipated developments relating to previously disclosed lawsuits or similar matters; (e) no catastrophic events that could impact First Data/Concord`s or its major customer`s operating facilities, communication systems and technology or that has a material negative impact on current economic conditions or levels of consumer spending; (f) no material breach of security of any First Data/Concord`s systems; (g) successfully managing the potential both for patent protection and patent liability in the context of rapidly developing legal framework for expansive software patent protection.; and (h) other risks and uncertainties described from time to time in First Data/Concord`s public filings with United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE First Data Corp.

investors, David Banks, [phone], or media, Greg
Rossiter, [phone], both of First Data

http://www.firstdata.com

Quelle: http://www.nasdaq.com/asp/quotes_news.asp?selected=CE&symbol…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Hoppala, es gibt noch mal was neues:

First Data Files Its Registration Statement for the Proposed Concord Merger

- Company Provides Regulatory Update -

DENVER, May 21, 2003 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- First Data Corp. (NYSE: FDC) announced that it filed its Registration Statement today with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) relating to the proposed merger with Concord EFS, Inc. (NYSE: CE). The filing seeks to register the First Data shares issuable in the proposed merger that was announced on April 2, 2003.

Following completion of the SEC`s review of the Registration Statement, each company intends to schedule shareholder meetings to vote on the proposed combination. The companies anticipate this vote could occur during the second half of 2003, depending on the timing of the SEC review process and the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.

First Data also disclosed today that it has re-filed its pre-merger notification and report form under the HSR regarding the Concord transaction. That re-filing took place on May 13, 2003 with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The re-filing was made based on First Data`s discussions with the DOJ, the regulatory body reviewing the merger. It provides for an additional thirty-day review period for the staff of the DOJ.

This approach is consistent with First Data`s approach in the past, which is to engage directly with the regulators to address their questions. First Data believes that the approval process will be equally effective with this transaction.

Additionally, First Data has been notified by the Payment System Working Group, a sub-group of the National Association of Attorneys General, that it plans to request a copy of the information that First Data has thus far supplied to the DOJ. The company intends to cooperate with the Payment System Working Group request.

First Data continues to believe the transaction will close in the second half of 2003 and remains committed to working cooperatively with the DOJ`s antitrust division and state regulators as necessary as they conduct their reviews.

About First Data

First Data Corp. (NYSE: FDC), with global headquarters in Denver, helps power the global economy. As a leader in electronic commerce and payment services, First Data serves approximately 3 million merchant locations, 1,400 card issuers and millions of consumers, making it easy, fast and secure for people and businesses to buy goods and services using virtually any form of payment. With 29,000 employees worldwide, the company provides credit, debit, smart card and stored-value card issuing and merchant transaction processing services; Internet commerce solutions; money transfer services; money orders; and check processing and verification services throughout the United States. First Data also offers a variety of payment services in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Spain, the Netherlands, the Middle East and Germany. Its Western Union and Orlandi Valuta money transfer networks include a total of approximately 159,000 agent locations in more than 195 countries and territories.

Not a Proxy Solicitation

This communication is not a solicitation of a proxy from any security holder of First Data Corporation or Concord EFS, Inc. First Data Corporation and Concord EFS, Inc. will be filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission a definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus to be mailed to security holders and other relevant documents concerning the planned merger of Concord EFS, Inc. with a subsidiary of First Data Corporation. WE URGE INVESTORS TO READ THE DEFINITIVE VERSION OF THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors will be able to obtain the documents free of charge at the SEC`s website, www.sec.gov . In addition, documents filed with the SEC by First Data Corporation will be available free of charge from First Data Investor Relations, 6200 S. Quebec St., Suite 340, Greenwood Village, CO, 80111. Documents filed with the SEC by Concord EFS, Inc. will be available free of charge from Concord Investor Relations, 2525 Horizon Lake Drive, Suite 120, Memphis, TN, 38133.

First Data Corporation and its directors and executive officers and other members of its management and employees, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of First Data Corporation in connection with the merger. Information about the directors and executive officers of First Data Corporation and their ownership of First Data Corporation stock is set forth in the proxy statement for First Data Corporation`s 2003 annual meeting of stockholders.

A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state. When available, copies of the joint proxy statement/prospectus may be obtained from First Data Investors Relations at the address set forth above.

Notice to Investors, Prospective Investors and the Investment Community
Cautionary Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release regarding the proposed merger of First Data Corporation and Concord EFS, Inc., which are not historical facts, including expectations of when the transaction may close, are "forward-looking statements." All forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain as they are based on various expectations and assumptions concerning future events and they are subject to numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and any such forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the following cautionary statements.

Important factors upon which the forward-looking statements presented in this release are premised include: (a) receipt of regulatory and shareholder approvals without unexpected delays or conditions; (b) timely implementation and execution of merger integration plans; (c) no unanticipated changes in laws, regulations, credit card association rules or other industry standards affecting First Data/Concord`s businesses which require significant product redevelopment efforts, reduce the market for or value of its products or render products obsolete; (d) no unanticipated developments relating to previously disclosed lawsuits or similar matters; (e) no catastrophic events that could impact First Data/Concord`s or its major customer`s operating facilities, communication systems and technology or that has a material negative impact on current economic conditions or levels of consumer spending; (f) no material breach of security of any First Data/Concord`s systems; (g) successfully managing the potential both for patent protection and patent liability in the context of rapidly developing legal framework for expansive software patent protection.; and (h) other risks and uncertainties described from time to time in First Data/Concord`s public filings with United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

FDC-1

SOURCE First Data Corporation

investors, David Banks, [phone], or media, Greg
Rossiter, [phone], both of First Data Corporation

http://www.firstdata.com

Quelle: http://www.nasdaq.com/asp/quotes_news.asp?selected=CE&symbol…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Reuters
First Data board authorizes $1.5 bln buyback plan
Wednesday May 21, 12:45 pm ET


NEW YORK, May 21 (Reuters) - First Data Corp. (NYSE:FDC - News), which processes credit and debit transactions and owns Western Union, on Wednesday said its board of directors increased its total stock buyback authorization by $1.15 billion to $1.5 billion.
The Denver, Colorado-based company earlier on Wednesday said it had refiled its agreement to acquire rival Concord EFS Inc. (NYSE:CE - News) for $7.6 billion with U.S. antitrust authorities, restarting the 30-day clock to receive regulatory clearance for the deal.


Quelle: http://biz.yahoo.com/rc/030521/financial_firstdata_1.html

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Reuters
First Data Refiles Papers on Concord Deal
Wednesday May 21, 5:50 pm ET


NEW YORK (Reuters) - First Data Corp. (NYSE:FDC - News), the largest U.S. credit card processor, on Wednesday said it has refiled its agreement to acquire rival Concord EFS Inc. (NYSE:CE - News) for $7.6 billion with U.S. antitrust authorities, restarting the 30-day clock to receive regulatory clearance for the deal.
ADVERTISEMENT


Denver-based First Data said it refiled its pre-merger notification and report form with the U.S. Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission on May 13.

First Data withdrew its initial pre-merger filing on May 9, saying it wanted more time to get antitrust approval after holding talks with the Justice Department.

The all-stock deal would unite First Data`s majority interest in the NYCE ATM network with Concord`s rival STAR, MAC and Cash Station networks.

Some analysts worried initially the transaction could face stiff regulatory scrutiny because the two companies control about 70 percent of U.S. transactions that involve customers using a debit card and punching in a personal identification number.

But sources close to the companies said the refiling was done simply to expedite the approval process, as opposed to waiting for a second request for information from the Justice Department. The refiling does not necessarily preclude a second request.

"This approach is consistent with First Data`s approach in the past, which is to engage directly with the regulators to address their questions," First Data said in a statement. "First Data believes that the approval process will be equally effective with this transaction."

First Data said the Payment System Working Group, a sub-group of the National Association of Attorneys General, has requested a copy of the merger information filed with the Justice Department.

Individual states do not have to sign off on the merger, but could file suit to try and block the deal if they have serious concerns. A spokeswoman for the Payment System Working Group did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

First Data said it intends to cooperate with the association.

First Data also said on Wednesday it has filed its registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (News - Websites) to register the shares that will be issued in the proposed merger.

First Data said it still expects the deal to close during the second half of this year.

Separately, First Data said on Wednesday its board of directors had increased the company`s total stock buyback authorization to $1.5 billion, up from $355 million previously. The company had suspended its repurchase program after it opened negotiations with Concord in mid-February.

First Data shares fell 45 cents, or 1.1 percent, to close at $39.22 on the New York Stock Exchange (News - Websites) while Concord lost 20 cents, or 1.4 percent, to $14.47.

The transaction currently values Concord at $15.69 per share, an 8.4 percent premium to its current stock price.


Quelle: http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/030521/financial_concord_2.html

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Uups, nach vielen Tagen Tagen gibt es noch mal Meldungen:

First Data and Concord EFS Receive DOJ Request for Additional Information Regarding Pending Acquisition

DENVER and MEMPHIS, Tenn., Jun 13, 2003 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- First Data Corp. (NYSE: FDC), and Concord EFS, Inc. (NYSE: CE), today announced that they have received a request for additional information from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) pertaining to First Data`s pending merger with Concord EFS.

The companies intend to work with the DOJ and respond promptly to the request for additional information. The formal request for additional, specific information supplements information already provided in the original Hart-Scott-Rodino filing and in subsequent discussions with the DOJ during the past two months.

A "second request" extends the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (HSR) during which the DOJ is permitted to review a proposed transaction. Subject to completion of the HSR clearance process, and satisfaction of other closing conditions contained in the merger agreement, the companies anticipate that the acquisition will close in the second half of 2003, as announced previously.

About First Data

First Data Corp. (NYSE: FDC), with global headquarters in Denver, helps power the global economy. As a leader in electronic commerce and payment services, First Data serves approximately 3 million merchant locations, 1,400 card issuers and millions of consumers, making it easy, fast and secure for people and businesses to buy goods and services using virtually any form of payment. With 29,000 employees worldwide, the company provides credit, debit, smart card and stored-value card issuing and merchant transaction processing services; Internet commerce solutions; money transfer services; money orders; and check processing and verification services throughout the United States. First Data also offers a variety of payment services in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Spain, the Netherlands, the Middle East and Germany. Its Western Union and Orlandi Valuta money transfer networks include a total of approximately 159,000 Agent locations in more than 195 countries and territories.

About Concord

Concord EFS, Inc., a leading electronic transaction processor, provides the technology and network systems that make payments and other financial transactions faster, more efficient, and more secure than paper-based alternatives. As a vertically integrated service provider, Concord acquires, routes, authorizes, captures, and settles virtually all types of electronic payment and deposit access transactions for financial institutions and merchants nationwide. Concord`s primary activities include Network Services, which provides automated teller machine (ATM) processing, debit card processing, deposit risk management, and STARsm network access principally for financial institutions; and Payment Services, which provides point of sale processing, settlement, and related services, with specialized systems focusing on supermarkets, major retailers, gas stations, convenience stores, restaurants, and trucking companies.

This communication is not a solicitation of a proxy from any security holder of First Data Corporation or Concord EFS, Inc. First Data has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) a preliminary joint proxy statement/prospectus concerning the planned merger of Concord with a subsidiary of First Data. This document is not yet final and will be amended. WE URGE INVESTORS TO READ THE DEFINITIVE VERSION OF THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors will be able to obtain the documents free of charge at the SEC`s website, www.sec.gov. In addition, documents filed with the SEC by First Data will be available free of charge from First Data Investor Relations, 6200 S. Quebec St., Suite 340, Greenwood Village, CO 80111. Documents filed with the SEC by Concord will be available free of charge from Concord Investor Relations, 2525 Horizon Lake Drive, Suite 120, Memphis, TN 38133.

First Data and Concord, and their respective directors and executive officers and other members of their management and employees, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of First Data and Concord, respectively, in connection with the planned merger. Information about the directors and executive officers of First Data and their ownership of First Data stock is set forth in the proxy statement for First Data`s 2003 annual meeting of stockholders. Information about the directors and executive officers of Concord and their ownership of Concord stock is set forth in the proxy statement for Concord`s 2003 annual meeting of stockholders. Investors may obtain additional information regarding the interests of the participants by reading the preliminary joint proxy statement/prospectus and by reading the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus when it becomes available.

Notice to Investors, Prospective Investors and the Investment Community
Cautionary Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this communication regarding the proposed merger of First Data Corporation and Concord EFS, Inc., which are not historical facts, including expectations of when the transaction may close, are "forward-looking statements." All forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain as they are based on various expectations and assumptions concerning future events and they are subject to numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and any such forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the following cautionary statements.

Important factors upon which the forward-looking statements presented in this communication are premised include: (a) receipt of regulatory and shareholder approvals without unexpected delays or conditions; (b) timely implementation and execution of merger integration plans; (c) no unanticipated changes in laws, regulations, credit card association rules or other industry standards affecting First Data`s or Concord`s businesses which require significant product redevelopment efforts, reduce the market for or value of its products or render products obsolete; (d) no unanticipated developments relating to previously disclosed lawsuits or similar matters; (e) no catastrophic events that could impact First Data`s or Concord`s or their respective major customer`s operating facilities, communication systems and technology or that has a material negative impact on current economic conditions or levels of consumer spending; (f) no material breach of security of any of First Data`s or Concord`s systems; (g) successfully managing the potential both for patent protection and patent liability in the context of rapidly developing legal framework for expansive software patent protection; and (h) other risks and uncertainties described from time to time in First Data`s and Concord`s public filings with United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Neither First Data nor Concord undertakes any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events, or changes to future results over time.

SOURCE First Data Corp.; Concord EFS, Inc.

investors, David Banks of First Data, [phone]; or
Ed Winnick of Concord, [phone]; or media, Greg Rossiter of First Data,
[phone]; or Melinda Mercurio of Concord, [phone]

http://www.firstdata.com

Quelle: http://www.nasdaq.com/asp/quotes_news.asp?selected=CE&symbol…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

DOJ Seeks More Information on First Data-Concord EFS Deal



Antitrust regulators reviewing First Data Corp.`s (FDC) proposed $7 billion acquisition of Concord EFS Inc.(NYSE:CE) (CE) have requested more information about their merger plans.

In a brief statement Friday, the companies said they plan to respond promptly to the Justice Department request, which triggers a longer waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino antitrust law. Denver-based First Data and Concord EFS, Memphis, Tenn., said they still expect the deal to close in the second half of the year.

First Data announced in April that it had agreed to acquire rival financial- transaction services provider Concord EFS. The proposed stock deal would put First Data in a position to run about 70% of all debit-card transactions that require a personal identification number, or PIN, once Concord`s STAR and First Data`s NYSE, are merged.

On May 13, First Data voluntarily refiled antitrust documents relating to the pending acquisition with the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission after discussions with the Justice Department. That move ushered in an additional 30-day waiting period for regulatory review just as an earlier review period was set to expire.

-Yolanda E. McBride, Dow Jones Newswires; 609-520-7861; and Tim Paradis, Dow Jones Newswires; 201-938-5400


Dow Jones Newswires
06-13-030846ET
Copyright (C) 2003 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Quelle: http://www.nasdaq.com/asp/quotes_news.asp?selected=CE&symbol…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

und auch noch von Reuters.......

Reuters
UPDATE - First Data says DOJ seeks more data on Concord deal
Friday June 13, 7:50 am ET


(Adds background)
NEW YORK, June 13 (Reuters) - First Data Corp. (NYSE:FDC - News) and Concord EFS Inc. (NYSE:CE - News) on Friday said they received requests from the U.S. Justice Department seeking more information about their proposed merger.

ADVERTISEMENT


But the companies say they still see the merger closing in the second half of 2003. The deal was valued at nearly $7 billion when it was first announced in April.

Denver-based First Data, the largest U.S. processor of credit card transactions and money-transfers, says the formal request follows discussions with Justice over the past two months. Concord, based in Memphis, is among the biggest processor of debit cards verified by a personal identification number and bank automated teller machine transactions.

The news was largely expected by anti-trust experts, because if First Data`s majority interest in the NYCE ATM network were combined with Concord`s rival STAR, MAC and Cash Station networks it would give the new company control of about 70 percent of PIN-verified debit card market.

First Data and Concord are expected to argue that Visa U.S.A. and MasterCard International have an advantage because they are owned by large banks who can choose Visa and MasterCard as their debit network.

Visa and MasterCard dominate the signature-verified debit market. When the debit market is viewed as a whole, the market share of First Data and Concord would be closer to 25 percent.

First Data also owns money transfer company Western Union.


Quelle: http://biz.yahoo.com/rc/030613/financial_concordefs_firstdat…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Die neuen Zahlen sind da:

Concord EFS Reports $0.17 Diluted Earnings Per Share for Second Quarter; Company Also Announces Board Approval of $200 Million Increase in Stock Repurchase Plan

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Jul 29, 2003 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Concord EFS, Inc. (NYSE: CE), a national electronic commerce provider, today announced second quarter revenue growth of 17% with net income and diluted earnings per share up 36% and 46%, respectively. Revenue for the first half of 2003 was up 20% over the first half of 2002, while net income and diluted earnings per share were up 40% and 49%, respectively. Transaction volume grew 19% in the first half of 2003.

Financial Highlights 2nd Quarter Year to Date
----------------------- -------------------------
Quarter Ended Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
2003 2002 % 2003 2002 %
----------------------- -------------------------

Revenues (in
thousands) $570,046 $488,181 17% $1,089,905 $909,862 20%
Net Income (in
thousands) $86,116 $63,218 36% $163,833 $117,427 40%
Diluted Earnings Per
Share $0.17 $0.12 46% $0.33 $0.22 49%

Second quarter results include merger and acquisition expense of $6.1 million in 2003 in connection with the proposed merger with First Data Corporation, and acquisition, restructuring and write-off charges and litigation settlement charges of $49.8 million in 2002. First half results include merger and acquisition expense of $8.9 million in 2003, and acquisition, restructuring and write-off charges and litigation settlement charges totaling $97.3 million in 2002. The company currently expects merger-related expenses for the full year 2003 to be between $15 million and $18 million, exclusive of investment banking fees payable upon completion of the deal, which is an impact of approximately $0.02 per share. These expenses were not anticipated at the time of, and were not included in, the 2003 earnings guidance range initially provided by the company before the announcement of the merger earlier this year.

"Processing sales were strong in the second quarter and there was good growth in key metrics such as acquired transactions, merchant and quick service restaurant locations, and STAR(SM) network locations," said Bond R. Isaacson, Concord co-chief executive officer. "Operating and net income margins continue to be solid, although price compression across both segments continues to apply downward pressure on growth trends. In our continuing efforts to improve our overall cost structure, we completed several data center infrastructure projects this quarter, including consolidation of the Core Data and Logix data centers, and we will be intensifying our cost control efforts in the coming months."

Stock Repurchase

The company also announced that its Board of Directors has approved the repurchase of an additional $200 million of Concord`s common stock beyond the $500 million approved in 2002. Under the repurchase plan, Concord may buy back shares of its outstanding stock from time to time either on the open market or through privately negotiated transactions. As of June 30, 2003, a total of 26.9 million shares at an aggregate cost of $393.5 million had been purchased and retired pursuant to the repurchase plan since the plan was initiated in the third quarter of 2002.

"In light of the proposed merger, we suspended our repurchase of stock in the first half of the year, but we`re looking forward to the opportunity to be back in the market in the third quarter," said Dan M. Palmer, Concord co-chief executive officer. "We believe that the current low interest rate environment, general market conditions, and our stock`s present market valuation make our stock an attractive investment for Concord." Market conditions and anticipation of stock repurchase activity prompted the company to liquidate certain third-party securities held for investment in the second quarter, which resulted in a gain on securities of $14.0 million. The securities gain is included in other income.

The timing of any purchases and the number of shares to be purchased will depend on a number of factors, including management`s assessment of market conditions. The stock repurchase program does not include a specific timetable and may be suspended or terminated at any time.

Business Segment Highlights

Network Services. Network Services revenue increased 6% to $164.1 million on transaction volume growth of 7% in the second quarter 2003. Network Services revenue for the first half of 2003 was $319.2 million, up 6%. Transaction volume increased 11% for the first half of 2003, including 19% growth in STAR(SM)PIN-secured debit transactions. There are approximately 125.7 million debit cards that display the STAR brand and that may be used at approximately 1,251,100 ATM and point of sale locations for financial transactions and purchases coast-to-coast. Concord currently provides processing for 19.7 million debit cards and approximately 95,600 ATMs.

Payment Services. Payment Services revenue was $405.9 million in the second quarter 2003, up 22% on transaction volume growth of 29%. Revenue for the first half was $770.7 million, up 27%. Payment Services transactions for the first half of 2003 were up 30%, with continued strong growth across all payment types: acquired credit and signature debit, up 27%; acquired PIN-debit, up 31%; and electronic benefits transfer transactions, up 31%. Payment Services revenue includes interchange fees of $266.4 million in second quarter 2003 as compared to $200.5 million in second quarter 2002, and $497.8 million for the first half of 2003 as compared to $360.4 million in the first half of 2002. Payment Services currently provides payment processing services for approximately 433,000 merchant locations, including 17,600 quick service restaurant locations.

Conference Call Information

A conference call to discuss these results will be held today at 10:00 a.m. CDT (11:00 a.m. EDT) with Dan M. Palmer, co-chief executive officer, Bond R. Isaacson, co-chief executive officer, Edward A. Labry III, president, and Edward T. Haslam, chief financial officer. To listen to the conference call, dial 877-363-0524 (United States) or 630-691-2775 (international), and enter identification number 7423806. A replay of the call will be available beginning July 30 and running through August 6, 2003 by dialing 888-843-8996 (United States) or 630-652-3044 (international), and entering identification number 7423810. To access the slide presentation and listen to the call via the Internet, go to Concord`s investor relations homepage at www.cestock.com and click on the link "Webcast" up to 15 minutes in advance of the call. A replay of the Webcast will be available at the same location from July 30 to August 13, 2003.

Selected Consolidated Financial Data

The following table presents selected consolidated financial data (in thousands, except earnings per share) for the second quarter 2003 and 2002.

Quarter Ended:
-------------------
June 30, June 30,
2003 2002
--------- ---------
Revenue $570,046 $488,181

Cost of Operations 421,385 331,898

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses 34,428 32,357

Merger, Acquisition, Restructuring and
Write-Off Charges 5,562 29,006

Litigation Settlement Charges -- 20,761

-------------------

Operating Income 108,671 74,159

Investment Income 14,553 19,498

Interest Expense 2,000 2,656

Other Income, net 11,689 6,388

Income Taxes 46,519 34,086

Minority Interest in Subsidiary 278 85
------------------

Net Income $86,116 $63,218
------------------

Basic Earnings Per Share $0.18 $0.12

Diluted Earnings Per Share $0.17 $0.12

Shares Used For:

Basic Earnings Per Share 486,642 511,673

Diluted Earnings Per Share 498,162 532,638

The following table presents selected consolidated financial data (in thousands, except earnings per share) for the six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2002.

Six Months Ended:
---------------------
June 30, June 30,
2003 2002
----------- ---------
Revenue $1,089,905 $909,862

Cost of Operations 798,846 613,817

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses 66,254 57,139

Merger, Acquisition, Restructuring and
Write-Off Charges 7,949 76,506

Litigation Settlement Charges -- 20,761

---------------------

Operating Income 216,856 141,639

Investment Income 29,263 39,070

Interest Expense 4,369 5,762

Other Income, net 11,148 6,914

Income Taxes 88,514 64,074

Minority Interest in Subsidiary 551 360
---------------------

Net Income $163,833 $117,427
---------------------

Basic Earnings Per Share $0.34 $0.23

Diluted Earnings Per Share $0.33 $0.22

Shares Used For:
Basic Earnings Per Share 486,554 510,186

Diluted Earnings Per Share 496,660 531,455


About Concord EFS, Inc.:

Concord EFS, Inc., a vertically integrated electronic transaction processor, provides the technology and network systems that make payments and other financial transactions faster, more efficient, and more secure than paper-based alternatives. Concord acquires, routes, authorizes, captures, and settles virtually all types of electronic payment and deposit access transactions for financial institutions and merchants nationwide. Concord`s primary activities include Network Services, which provides automated teller machine (ATM) processing, debit card processing, deposit risk management, and STAR(SM) network access principally for financial institutions; and Payment Services, which provides point of sale processing, settlement, and related services, with specialized systems focusing on supermarkets, major retailers, gas stations, convenience stores, restaurants, and trucking companies.

Information Regarding Proposed Merger With First Data

This communication is not a solicitation of a proxy from any security holder of First Data Corporation or Concord EFS, Inc. First Data has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) an amended preliminary joint proxy statement/prospectus concerning the planned merger of Concord with a subsidiary of First Data. This document is not yet final and will be further amended. WE URGE INVESTORS TO READ THE DEFINITIVE VERSION OF THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors will be able to obtain the documents free of charge at the SEC`s website, www.sec.gov. In addition, documents filed with the SEC by First Data will be available free of charge from First Data Investor Relations, 6200 S. Quebec St., Suite 340, Greenwood Village, CO 80111. Documents filed with the SEC by Concord will be available free of charge from Concord Investor Relations, 2525 Horizon Lake Drive, Suite 120, Memphis, TN 38133.

First Data and Concord, and their respective directors and executive officers and other members of their management and employees, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of First Data and Concord, respectively, in connection with the planned merger. Information about the directors and executive officers of First Data and their ownership of First Data stock is set forth in the proxy statement for First Data`s 2003 annual meeting of stockholders. Information about the directors and executive officers of Concord and their ownership of Concord stock is set forth in the proxy statement for Concord`s 2003 annual meeting of stockholders. Investors may obtain additional information regarding the interests of the participants by reading the amended preliminary joint proxy statement/prospectus and by reading the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus when it becomes available.

Notice to Investors, Prospective Investors and the Investment Community:

Cautionary Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain or incorporate by reference forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements reflect management`s expectations, estimates, and assumptions, based on information available at the time of the statement or, with respect to any document incorporated by reference, available at the time that such document was prepared. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding future events, plans, goals, objectives, and expectations. The words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "plan," "intend," "likely," "will," "should," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors, including those set forth below, which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by those statements.

Important factors that could cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by those statements include, but are not limited to: (i) the failure to successfully execute our corporate consolidation plans, (ii) the loss of key personnel or inability to attract additional qualified personnel, (iii) the loss of key customers or renewal of customer contracts on less favorable terms, (iv) increasing competition and its effect on our margins, (v) changes in card association rules and practices, (vi) the inability to remain current with rapid technological change, (vii) risks related to acquisitions, (viii) the imposition of additional state taxes, (ix) continued consolidation in the banking and retail industries, (x) business cycles and the credit risk of our merchant customers, (xi) the outcome of litigation involving VISA and MasterCard, (xii) utility and system interruptions or processing errors, (xiii) information theft, (xiv) susceptibility to merchant fraud and credit and fraud risk of entities we sponsor into networks, (xv) changes in card association fees or products, (xvi) automated teller machine market saturation or restrictions on surcharging, (xvii) rules and regulations governing financial institutions and other networks and changes in such rules and regulations, (xviii) the timing and extent of changes in interest rates, (xix) volatility of the price of our common stock, (xx) litigation risks, and (xxi) the receipt of regulatory and shareholder approvals required for the planned merger with First Data Corporation, as well as the timing of the anticipated completion and possible conditions of the planned merger and their consequences.

Concord undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events, or changes to future results over time. See the cautionary statements included as Exhibit 99.4 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2003 as filed on May 9, 2003 for a more detailed discussion of certain of the factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements.

SOURCE: Concord EFS, Inc.

Concord EFS Inc., Memphis
Corporate Communications:
Melinda D. Mercurio, 302-791-8109
[e-mail]
or
Investor Relations:
Edward Winnick, 302-791-8484
[e-mail]

http://www.businesswire.com

Quelle: http://www.nasdaq.com/asp/quotes_news.asp?selected=CE&symbol…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Die etwas kürzere Form:

Concord EFS 2nd-Quarter Net Rose 36%



MEMPHIS (Dow Jones)--Concord EFS Inc.`s (CE) second-quarter net income rose 36%, helped by large charges in the year-ago period.

In a press release Tuesday, the financial transaction processor reported second-quarter net income rose to $86.1 million, or 17 cents a share, from $63.2 million, or 12 cents a share, a year ago. The latest quarter included merger, acquisition, restructuring and write-off charges of $5.6 million, compared with $29 million in the year-ago period. The second quarter of 2002 also included a litigation settlement charge of $20.8 million.

The charges in the latest second quarter include merger and acquisition expense connected to the proposed $7 billion merger with rival First Data Corp.(NYSE:FDC) (FDC).

Second-quarter revenue jumped 17% to $570 million from $488.2 million last year. Revenue from payment services operations contributed $405.9 million to the latest second quarter, up 22% on transaction volume growth of 29%. Network services revenue increased 6% to $164.1 million on transaction volume growth of 7%.

Concord EFS Inc.(NYSE:CE)
- Memphis
2nd Quar June 30:
2003 2002
Revenue $570,046,000$488,181,000
Net income a 86,116,000 b 63,218,000
Avg shrs (diluted) 498,162,000 532,638,000
Shr earns
Net income a .17 b .12

Figures in parentheses are losses.

a. Includes merger and acquisition expenses of $5.6 million.

b. Includes merger, acquisition, restructuring and write-off charges of $29 million and litigation settlement charges of $20.8 million.

Wall Street had been expecting net income of 18 cents a share on revenue of $ 577.6 million, according to Thomson First Call.

Concord EFS`s board approved the repurchase of an additional $200 million common shares beyond the $500 million approved in 2002. About 26.9 million shares at a cost of $393.5 million were repurchased under the earlier plan, which was suspended in the first half of 2003 due to the proposed First Data merger. Concord EFS said it liquidated certain investment securities in the second quarter, producing a gain of $14 million, in anticipation of the repurchase activity. The company had about $861.1 million in cash and equivalents and 486.6 million shares outstanding as of March 31.

Shortly after the opening bell Tuesday, the company`s New York Stock Exchange- listed stock traded at $13.96, down 10 cents, or 0.7%.

Concord EFS is set to Webcast a conference call at 11 a.m. EDT Tuesday.

Company Web site: http://www.concordefs.com

- Nora Devine; Dow Jones Newswires; 201-938-5400


Dow Jones Newswires
07-29-030955ET

Quelle: http://www.nasdaq.com/asp/quotes_news.asp?selected=CE&symbol…

Gruß Zyklus

[Zyklus]

Nach den Fusionsabsichten zwischen Concord und First Data und der Feststellung das es sich bei diesem Thread eigentlich nur um einen Solothread handelt, war die Motivation hier zu schreiben eigentlich nicht mehr groß, aber, diese frische Meldung sollte nun doch noch Erwähnung finden:

24.10.2003 - 07:52 Uhr
Justizministerium klagt gegen Fusion von First Data und Concord
Washington (vwd) - Das US-Justizministerium hat Klage gegen die geplante Fusion der First Data Corp, Hackensack, mit der Concord EFS Inc, Memphis, eingereicht. Der Zusammenschluss im Volumen von sieben Mrd USD würde den Wettbewerb verzerren, hieß es in der Klagebegründung vom Donnerstag. Der größte und der drittgrößte Anbieter von PIN-basierten Kartenzahlsystemen würden nach einer Fusion zwei Drittel des Marktes beherrschen. Das Ministerium bezifferte den Marktanteil von Concord auf 56, jenen von First Data auf zehn Prozent. Beide Unternehmen betreiben Netze für die Bezahlung per Kredit- oder Bankkarte mittels PIN-Eingabe.

Der Zusammenschluss würde den Angaben des Justizministeriums zufolge wegen des dann eingeschränkten Wettbewerbs zu höheren Preisen und vermindertem Service führen. Beide Unternehmen wiesen dies vehement zurück und kündigten an, alle rechtliche Mittel auszuschöpfen, um die Fusion wie geplant durchzuführen. Man werde das Gericht bitten, schnell zu verhandeln, damit der avisierte Termin für den Merger zum 31. Januar 2004 gehalten werden könne. Am 28. Oktober halten die Unternehmen Hauptversammlungen ab, auf denen über die Fusion abgestimmt werden soll.
vwd/DJ/12/24.10.2003/tw/mi

Quelle: Finanztreff

Gruß Zyklus

[Takt]

!

Dieser Beitrag wurde vom System automatisch gesperrt. Bei Fragen wenden Sie sich bitte an [e-mail]