Online payment service Moneybookers, based in Europe, said 2007 has been its most successful year since the company's founding in 2001, with record growth driven primarily by new ecommerce merchant integrations. The number of active merchants more than doubled in 2007 to over 7,000, fueled by new strategic partnerships with leading online shopping enablers including ePages, SmartStore, DataLink/Holbi, and Afterbuy. The online payment service said almost 4 million customers now have an online account at Moneybookers.

Moneybookers Chairman of the Board Dr. Thomas Middelhoff said revenues and profits will more than double this year. "The transaction volume processed by Moneybookers reached EUR1.5 billion this year and is rapidly growing every single month." Targets for 2008 are again ambitious, he said. "We will surprise the markets with innovative new payment solutions, and provide online buyers with an easier and more secure shopping experience than ever before."

In March 2007, Moneybookers launched a brand-new website globally. In the same month, Investcorp Technology Partners undertook a successful buyout of Moneybookers for EUR105 million. In May, Middelhoff was appointed as Chairman of the Board, and the company moved to larger headquarters at the end of the year to accommodate its rapid growth.

According to the company, new local payment methods were continuously added this year, bringing the total number of available payment options worldwide to more than 50 in over 35 countries in 12 languages. Likewise, innovative new features like "Split Gateway" (individual payment options as a one-stop solution) or "Fast Registration" (lightning-fast registration for all payment options directly at merchant's checkout) contributed to its growth. Moneybookers is regulated by the Financial Services Authority of the United Kingdom (FSA).

http://www.moneybookers.com