Baycorp competitor 'no threat'

By Nick Stride

Friday 9th August 2002

The launch of D&B Australasia's consumer credit bureau will build the market rather than eat into Baycorp Advantage's business, according to sharebroker UBS Warburg.

The broker also debunked D&B's claim to have "the first ever internet-based bureau in Australia and New Zealand," pointing out Baycorp had offered a full suite of bureau products online since 1998 in New Zealand and 2001 in Australia.

D&B said it was working with "specific existing customers" to integrate their systems with its own and expected a full market launch within four weeks.

Chief executive Christine Christian said the bureau had been "enthusiastically welcomed" by major credit providers, businesses, and consumer groups.

UBS Warburg noted no consumer credit providers had been identified as participants.

The announcement did not make it clear whether the proposed information providers would be reciprocal users of the data or whether data provision would be offered on an arms-length basis.

It said the risk to Baycorp of market share loss appeared low.

In New Zealand information management investor Atlantis group announced it had bought "a substantial interest" in Baycorp competitor Credit Data.

It said it would use the stake to consolidate information from independent debt recovery agents. This would allow Credit Data to provide a complete credit reporting service.

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