From: ZSUN-Corporate
ZiaSun Acquires Premier Online Investment Training Co.
SAN DIEGO, CA - April 8, 1999. ZiaSun Technologies Inc (OTC BB: ZSUN, ziasun.com) announced today that it has acquired Online Investors Advantage Inc (http://www.i-advantage.com), a US-based company specializing in online stock trading education and training. ZiaSun acquired the new subsidiary in exchange for an undisclosed amount of cash, restricted stock, and stock options.
Online Investors Advantage (OIA) is the largest company in its specific industry, and is the market leader in educating the US public regarding the benefits, dangers, and required skills for effectively trading stocks on the internet. Online teaches investors who wish to trade securities by computer, how to access and use the tools available on the Internet for optimum investing results.
OIA is growing at an exponential rate, and is projecting 1999 revenues of $15,000,000 with $2,500,000 in earnings. Total revenue for the company's first year of operation in 1998 was $3,394,503 with a profit of $153,070. First quarter results for 1999 produced revenues of $4,440,451, with earnings of $878,805.
The first quarter earnings alone account for nearly 500% increase over the entire 1998 figures. These results are for US operations only, and do not take into account the international potential - where ZiaSun has its core operations.
Expansion plans include a drive into overseas markets in Europe and Asia, where on-line trading is just starting to take off. ZiaSun believes that the market outside of the US, as well as in the US, is in dire need of educational services which train the public on the optimum use of Internet investment and financial management services.
Mr Anthony L Tobin, President and CEO of ZiaSun said, "This fits so well with our other products and services, especially our online stock trading system, Swiftrade (http://www.swiftrade.com), which will soon be adding international markets like London and Hong Kong. The synergy created by this acquisition is extraordinary, particularly for Swiftrade and not to mention the earnings Online Investors Advantage will generate on its own."
"Online Investors Advantage has established critical mass offering seminars in cities across North America. Major markets overseas - where other ZiaSun wholly-owned subsidiaries are already well-established - are the next logical step for OIA, said Mr Tobin.
OIA President, Mr D Scott Elder, said, "We are excited to become part of a serious Internet player like ZiaSun, and plan to become an important factor in the company's future growth. Now, we can take advantage of ZiaSun's established presence overseas to move rapidly into new markets that demand our services. This gives us potential for higher margins, and greater long term growth rates than we would achieve by concentrating only on the US."
Online Investors Advantage Inc., was founded by Mr Elder and Mr. Ross W. Jardine. Mr Elder is a Trend Marketing Consultant whose expertise is in recognizing trends in the marketplace and developing joint-venture projects, products, and programs with other businesses to capitalize on these trends. Mr Elder has performed trend marketing joint-venture projects with several Fortune 500 companies.
Mr Jardine is the co-founder and creator of iMall (NASDAQ: IMAL), one of the first and largest malls on the Internet. Mr Jardine has consulted with and provided Internet commerce training to business owners throughout the world. He gained extensive experience in the Internet world, having served as Vice President of Marketing for Verio Web Hosting Inc, one of the fastest growing and most profitable divisions of Verio Inc (NASDAQ: VRIO)
The first Online Investors Advantage two-day workshop was held in March 1998. During that year, OIA had a total of 50 workshops that were attended by more than 1,100 students. In the three months of 1999, OIA has already held 45 workshops, teaching more than 1,700 students. "People are drowning in stock trading information available on the Internet, yet are starving for knowledge in how to effectively select and apply this information to their personal benefit" said Mr Elder.
Mr Elder stated that "The demand for this service has been overwhelming and has led us to develop a video-based self-directed learning program called the 'Personal Workshop' for those too busy to attend our two day workshop. OIA determined that it could sell its home study program for almost as much as the live workshop, so we started selling the home study programs in February of this year through our web site."
OIA has entered into a strategic alliance with Telescan, Inc (NASDAQ: TSCN) and is currently in negotiations with two major financial portals who wish to license their program.
"Online Investors Advantage fits the ZiaSun strategy of added-value through service - and this will be an invaluable service to investors wishing to maximize their online trading experience. As far as we are aware, no other online trading business offers such an extensive training and education program. OIA is the market pioneer and leader in this field and the service they will provide will be a major asset to ZiaSun and its subsidiaries," said Mr Tobin.
Mr Tobin added that the selection of OIA as the latest acquisition was part of ZiaSun's corporate strategy of adding businesses that could cooperate with other subsidiaries for the greater good of the group, but can also stand alone as viable businesses. ZiaSun is now projecting $5 million in net profit for 1999, including its newest subsidiary. This equates to $0.33 to $0.35 per fully diluted share, a substantial increase over 1998 figures.
Note: Any statements released by ZiaSun Technologies Inc that are forward-looking are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Editors and investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements invoke risk and uncertainties that may affect the company's business prospects and performance. These include economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors discussed in the statements.
Anthony L Tobin, President & CEO
ZiaSun Technologies Inc
12707 High Bluff Drive, Second Floor
San Diego, CA 92130, USA
12A First Pacific Bank Center
56 Gloucester Road, Wanchai
Hong Kong
Website Address: ziasun.com
D. Scott Elder, President
Online Investors Advantage Inc
852 North 1430 West
Orem, Utah 84097
Phone: (801) 229-2794
Email: dscote@i-advantage.com
Website address: i-advantage.com
Investor Relations
Phone: (800) 773-7317
Email: knowledge@vericom.ca |
