Threadneedle Investments Fund Manager for the UK Small and Mid Cap Portfolio’s Matthew Evans looks back on some of his stocks from 2015, talks about the prospects for 2016 and picks several stocks that Matthew thinks will do well in 2016.
Paysafe Group PLC (LON:PAYS), formerly Optimal Payments Plc, is a United Kingdom-based holding company. The Company and its subsidiaries are principally engaged in the provision of payment solutions. The Company provides services to businesses and individuals to allow the processing of direct debit, electronic check and credit card payments, principally for Internet merchants. The Company has two operating segments: NETELLER and NETBANX. The Company’s NETELLER segment fees are generated on transactions between members and merchants using the NETELLER service and Net plus prepaid cards. The Company’s NETBANX segment fees are generated through the NETBANX and NETBANX Asia straight-through processing platforms where customers send money directly to merchants. The Company’s subsidiaries include Optimal Payments Limited, NetBanx Limited, Optimal Payments Services Limited, Netinvest Limited, Netpro Limited, Optimal Payments (UK) Limited and Optimal Payments (Bulgaria) EOOD, among others.
Fevertree Drinks plc (LON:FEVR) is a United Kingdom-based developer and supplier of premium mixer drinks. The Company’s premium mixers consist of a range of all natural carbonated mixers, including Tonics, Ginger Ale, Ginger Beer, Bitter Lemon and Lemonades. The Company sells a range of products under the Fever-Tree brand, which include Indian Tonic Water, Naturally Light Tonic Water, Elderflower Tonic Water, Mediterranean Tonic Water, Ginger Ale, Ginger Beer, Naturally Light Ginger Beer, Bitter Lemon, Sicilian Lemonade, Lemonade, Spring Soda Water and Premium Cola. The Company principally focuses on the selection of ingredients, the development of new flavors and the branding and marketing of its products, with other aspects of its operations, including manufacturing and fulfilment, being outsourced.
Xchanging plc (LON:XCH) is a United Kingdom-based provider of technology-enabled business processing, technology and procurement services internationally to customers across various industry sectors. The Company’s Business processing services has two distinct components: Insurance Services and Financial Services. Insurance Services provides technology infrastructure and managed services, such as processing policies and premiums as well as handling claims, to the insurance market. It includes the workers’ compensation claims processing services business in Australia. Financial Services provides securities processing, investment account administration and fund administration in Germany, Italy and India for financial institutions. The Company’s technology services provide insurance software, technology infrastructure management services and application management services to a range of customers. The Company’s procurement services provide procurement services to a range of customers.
GB Group plc (LON:GBG) is a United Kingdom-based company engaged in the provision of identity data intelligence services. The Company operates through two segments: Identity Proofing (IDP) and Identity Solutions (IDS). Identity Proofing division provides electronic identity (ID) verification services for combating ID fraud, money laundering and under-age gambling, as well as ID Employ and Comply services for employee authentication and screening, and ID Fraud and Risk Management services. Identity Solutions division provides ID Registration, ID Engagement, and ID Trace and Investigate software and services that provide customer information. The Company’s brands include Matchcode, ID3global, Connexus, Datacare, double check, Advanced Check, TMGCRB, KnowYourPeople, SCV and IQ.
Marshalls plc (LON:MSLH) is a United Kingdom-based supplier of hard landscaping products to both the domestic and public sector, and commercial end markets. The Company operates its own quarries and manufacturing sites throughout the United Kingdom, including a national network of manufacturing and distribution sites, and has operations in Belgium and sales representation in other international markets. The Company’s subsidiaries include Marshalls Group Limited, which is an intermediate holding company; Marshalls Mono Limited, a landscape products manufacturer and supplier and quarry owner supplying a variety of paving street furniture and natural stone products; Marshalls NV, landscape products manufacturer and supplier; Xiamen Marshalls Import Export Company Limited, which is engaged in sourcing and distribution of natural stone products, and Marshalls Landscape Products (North America) Inc., landscape products supplier.
