VersaPay
 | |
| Public | |
| Traded as | TSX-V: VPY |
| Industry | Financial Services, Payment Processing, Financial Technology |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
Area served | North America |
Number of employees | >50 (May, 2015) |
| Website | VersaPay Corporation Website |
VersaPay Corporation (TSXV:VPY), commonly known as VersaPay, is a national Canadian payment processing and payment systems company with offices in Toronto, Montreal and New York. The company provides electronic transaction processing services to various sizes of businesses (public, private, and government) in both Canada and the United States of America. VersaPay is currently listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol VPY.[1]
Background
VersaPay is a financial technology company, that together with its partners provides the hardware, technology, infrastructure and support services to enable businesses of all types to accept and process electronic payments.
In addition, the Company’s proprietary accounts receivable cloud automation software (ARC) that facilitates the efficient exchange of documents and payments between suppliers and customers.
In 2009, Canadian Business Magazine named VersaPay Corporation the fastest growing company in Canada. Revenue for VersaPay had grown from $50,000 in 2006 to $5.1 Million in 2008, processing an estimated $230 Million in 2008 from over 2800 clients, as of 2013 - VersaPay processes in excess of $1 Billion annually.[2]
History
VersaPay Corporation was founded in 2006 by Michael Gokturk & Kevin Short. VersaPay began accepting clients in 2007 as it set up the company’s headquarters in Vancouver, BC. VersaPay began to diversify its client-base by introducing a new proprietary payment processing solution for both B2B (business-to-business) and B2C (business-to-consumer) transactions (See below for more information.)[3]
Partnership with Chase Paymentech
In January 2007, VersaPay partnered with the Canadian affiliate of Chase Paymentech, a United States-based payment processing company. This strategic partnership allowed VersaPay to begin processing commonly used electronic payment methods such as Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, JCB, Interac Direct Debit and Interac Online. VersaPay began to use the Chase name when marketing VersaPay to clients in order to increase the assurance and reliability of the VersaPay’s products. After building up enough reputation, VersaPay stopped using the Chase name only one year later.[2]
Acquisition of Positive Inc
In February 2008, VersaPay acquired a 75% interest in Positive Inc., a wireless payment technology provider, to offer this option to their clients. In June 2010, VersaPay agreed to sell its ownership in Positive Inc. back to the company in return for shares in VersaPay.
Initial Public Offering
VersaPay began trading on the TSX Venture Exchange on January 20, 2010. VersaPay shares trade under the symbol “VPY”.
Marketing Partnership with MasterCard International
In November 2012, VersaPay signed a marketing agreement with MasterCard International. This partnership gave merchants using VersaPay's proprietary platform preferential pricing in an effort to help drive new credit card usage in markets traditionally limited by low margin and that were historically cheque-driven.
Referral and Processing Agreement with Toronto Dominion Bank
In May 2013, VersaPay announced a referral and processing agreement with TD Merchant Services, an operating division of TD Bank. This relationship allowed VersaPay to process business-to-business electronic payment methods on VersaPay's cloud based payment processing solution. The solution is to be offered to North American Merchants sourced by TD and VersaPay.
Leadership Change
In May 2010, shortly after the Company's successful IPO on the Toronto Stock Exchange, the founder and CEO Michael Gokturk was abruptly replaced by the Board of Directors. Bill McGill, the Company's CFO at the time, assumed the role of CEO. Michael Gokturk resurfaced in January 2011 to launch his new payments company Payfirma, which was the first in Canada to deploy mobile payments on smartphones. In September 2013, VersaPay announced the departure of Bill McGill as CEO. Craig O'Neill, previously the co-founder and CEO of Xeye (sold to Odyssey Financial Technologies) - was appointed CEO of VersaPay.
Board Change
In August 2014, VersaPay announced Jason Gurandiano was terminated as Chairman and from the board of directors. Art Mesher, previously CEO and Chairman of the board of The Descartes Systems Group was appointed new Chairman of the board of VersaPay.
