he research for our story on payment card trends (see page 06) produced some interesting observations from treasurers at companies with a major internet presence – and few businesses today can expect to survive without a decent online offering. The consensus is that the banks are well behind developments in online card payments and are reluctant to invest in supporting them. As we report on page 13, they have, for example, been slow in recognising the potential of the China UnionPay card and its millions of holders.
Given continuing moribund economic growth rates across Europe and the bleak outlook for sectors such as retail, greater efforts from banks to support a greater variety of online transactions would be welcome. We also offer cash management insights from treasurers at three medium-sized, but fast-growing businesses with a keen eye for acquisitions: Sportingbet, Bodycote and Telecity (pages 12, 14 and 16 respectively).
Just before we went to press, Telecity cemented its commanding position in data centre provision with the £88m purchase of a rival – in cash!
GRAHAM BUCK
Reporter