Last checked at 21 Sep 2011 07:00
For immediate release 21 September 2011
VIPERA PLC
("VIPERA" or "THE COMPANY")
Board Changes
Vipera, the specialist provider of mobile financial services, today announces the following Board changes.
Luciano Martucci has joined the Board as Non-Executive Chairman. With a career at IBM spanning since 1970, culminating in his appointment of Country General Manager and Chairman of IBM Italia Luciano has extensive knowledge and experience of the TMT and Financial Services sectors. Additionally as a leading businessman he has been a Counsellor at Assolombarda for Research and Innovation, which is a part of Confindustria (Italian Entrepreneurial Association), a member of the Board of Directors of the American Chamber of Commerce in Italy and of the Counsel for Relations between Italy and the USA. He is currently member of the Executive Committee of Milan Trade Fair Foundation, Chairman of The Innovation Group and a Senior Advisor to Advent International, the global private equity firm.
The Board has also appointed Petter Neby as a Non-Executive Director. Petter is Chairman of Neby & Jahrmann Srl, a cornerstone investor in Vipera and has worked closely with the Company since its inception, providing valuable strategic support and guidance. As a technology entrepreneur Petter has considerable experience in developing a number of European consumer facing technology businesses.
Non-Executive Chairman John Defterios has resigned from the Board due to a full time commitment and relocation to Abu Dhabi. Vipera is highly appreciative of the support that John has given during a period of important transition and development for the Company and wishes him well in the future.
Non-Executive Director John Shaw has also stepped down from the Board. John was formerly Chairman of Ricmore Capital, which undertook the reverse takeover of Vipera in August 2010 and long standing shareholders of Ricmore particularly will remember and recognise with thanks the contribution which he made during the period leading to the sale of the former Energy Assets subsidiary.
Commenting on the changes Marco Casartelli, Chief Executive of Vipera said;
"We thank John Defterios for his considerable support over an important period of development and growth in our technology and markets. We wish him well in the future. Additionally we thank John Shaw for his important contribution in ensuring the success of the reverse takeover and Vipera's admission to the AIM market.
We are delighted that Luciano and Petter have decided to join Vipera. Luciano's wealth of international technology and business experience gained through a very successful career will be of great use to Vipera and its Board. Petter has provided critical support and guidance to Vipera since inception and with the business at such an exciting stage of development we are delighted that he will be joining the Board."
New Chairman Luciano Martucci commented;
"I am very happy to join Vipera, it is an exciting opportunity. The Company's proven and leading technology has been clearly endorsed through the strong momentum it has gained with major institutions in fast-growing economies of the world. Combined with a dynamic management team and a global marketplace that has woken up to the reality of mobilisation of financial services and transactions, the Company has an exciting future. I look forward to bringing my skills and experience to bear in its continued development".
The directorships/ partnerships held by Mr Luciano Martucci, aged 65, in the previous five years are:
Current
| Past |
The Innovation Group S.r.l. | IBM Italia S.p.A. |
The Innovation Knowledge Foundation | |
Fondazione Ente Autonomo Fiera Internazionale di Milan | . |
Mr Martucci is currently interested in 200,000 warrants exercisable at the price of 10p each and he is also interested in 600,000 options exercisable at a price of 24p per ordinary share in the Company.
The directorships/ partnerships held by Mr Petter Neby, 40, in the previous five years are:
Current
| Past |
Global Product Chanel (G.P.C.) Italia S.r.l. | Neby Simonyi AS |
Global Product Chanel (G.P.C.) AS | Yggdrasil Hold AS |
Webmobili S.r.l. | Nordic Beverage Company AB |
Terza Design AG | Neby Hifi Concept AS |
Vestacasa S.r.l. | Vipera Gmbh |
Neby & Jahrmann S.r.l. | Diventa AS |
Mr Neby, through Neby & Jahrmann S.r.l., of which he is controlling shareholder, is beneficially interested in 29,757,432 ordinary shares in the Company, representing 22.89% of the Company's issued share capital. He also holds 319,543 warrants exercisable at the price of 3p each.
There is no further information to be disclosed under Schedule Two (g) (i)-(viii) of the AIM Rules for Companies.
-Ends-
Vipera PLC | |
Marco Casartelli | Tel: +39 02 7214 2424 |
Roger Mitchell | Tel: +39 02 7214 2424 |
Martin Perrin | Tel: +44 (0) 7785 505 337 |
Beaumont Cornish Limited (Nomad) | Tel: +44 (0) 20 7628 3396 |
Roland Cornish | |
Felicity Geidt | |
Daniel Stewart & Company plc (Broker) | |
Colin Rowbury | Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7776 6550 |
| |
Media Enquiries | |
Hudson Sandler Charlie Jack / George Parker |
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7796 4133 |
Notes to Editors
Vipera is an international mobile commerce provider with a focus on the Middle Eastern market, where it has established itself as the preferred partner of national banks and global technology businesses.
Vipera provides software and services to banks and financial institutions to enable mobile access to personal financial services. Additionally Vipera's software enables Government and corporate entities to allow their services and consumer transactions to take place on mobile platforms.
Vipera is ideally placed to leverage its significant success to date and seize further share of this market, buoyed by the growth of smart phones, forecast by 2013 to grow to 977 million users and in revenue from $71bn to $862 billion.
Vipera's headquarters are in Milan and it listed on the London Stock Exchange (AIM: VIP.L). For further information, please visit www.vipera.com