ALLIANCE NEWS – July 7 - Cupid will test this revenue model when it launches Uniform Dating in the US this summer, and will roll the model into other markets if it proves successful.
Category: Cupid plc (formerly Easydate)
Cupid Posts Loss, Exec Pay Plummets
HERALD SCOTLAND – May 23 – Cupid posted a pre-tax loss of £8M for 2013 after a profit of £9.2m in 2012. Former CEO Bill Dobbie took home £199K for his 11 months CEO tenure in 2013, compared to £596K in 2012. His replacement, Phil Gripton received a salary of £18,750, benefits of £1,300 and a £50,000 bonus, totaling just over £70,000 in compensation for December 2013.
Investor Kestrel Bought More Shares In Cupid
THE SCOTSMAN – May 3 – Kestrel Opportunities fund bought 1.4M shares to increase its stake to ~14.5%. The increase in Kestrel’s stake comes after Toscafund recently sold its entire 16% holding in Cupid.
by Perry Gourley
See full article at The Scotsman
This post also appears on InternetDatingInvestments.
Interview With Phil Gripton, CEO Of Cupid
THE SCOTSMAN – Apr 20 – Phil Gripton was promoted in December to replace founder Bill Dobbie as Cupid's new CEO. Phil was forced to move quickly to recover ground lost when the company was accused of using fake profiles. Investors were becoming twitchy. From flotation on the Alternative Investment Market in June 2010, shares soared from 60p to 250p by Sep '11. But they have since plunged below 50p and last week traded at 43p. Phil wants the company to focus on a dating market that embraces social events such as wine tasting and cookery sessions.
Cupid Feeling Unloved After Toscafund Sells Stake
THE SCOTSMAN – Apr 15 – Toscafund has sold its entire 16% holding (11.2M shares, worth £5.1m) in Cupid. Cupid CEO Phil Gripton said he was not aware of the reason for the share sale. Cupid floated in June 2010, and fell to a £2.8M loss last year.
by Gareth Mackie and Terry Murden
See full article at The Scotsman
This post also appears on InternetDatingInvestments.
Cupid Plc’s 2013 Annual Results
OPW – Apr 2 – 2013 has been a challenging year for Cupid plc with negative press on both Cupid and the online dating industry. In July Cupid completed the disposal of the casual assets removing ~70% of their revenue. Revenues including discontinued operations fell 31% to £56.1M (FY 2012: £80.9M) and adjusted EBITDA fell to £0.5M. Stripping out the discontinued operations, revenue for the continuing business was flat at £26.6M (FY 2012: £26.7M).
Sprylogics Partners With Cupid
PRESS RELEASE – Feb 24 – Sprylogics, a technology provider of local mobile search and messaging solutions for consumers and businesses, has signed an agreement with Cupid. Cupid will integrate Sprylogics' Poynt-Enabled SDK to allow mobile users to find, discuss and book local activities, like movies, events and restaurants, without leaving the app.
The full article was originally published at WSJ, but is no longer available.
Which Dating Sites Got The Best And Worst PR In 2013?
OPW – Jan 3 – Here are the Courtland Brooks rankings of the top 10 and the worst 4 performing idating sites for PR in 2013. We used Meltwater News and our qualitative analysis.
Best
- Match
- eHarmony
- Tinder
- OkCupid
- AshleyMadison
- Grindr
- Down (BangWithFriends)
- HowAboutWe
- Spark Networks brands
- Zoosk
Worst
- TRUE
- FriendFinder
- Cupid
- White Label Dating
Cupid Plc: New CEO, New Era
HERALD SCOTLAND – Dec 13 – Phil Gripton, CEO Cupid, has brought in a slew of senior staffers and is refocusing the company on its core markets and on improving customer service. He is also putting the finishing touches to a relaunch of its flagship Cupid brand. He added: "The process is about simplifying the things that we do and focusing on key markets." This will see the company's efforts concentrated on UK, US, France and Germany. Other regions, such as the Nordics, will get less attention.
Cupid Named New CEO
TELEGRAPH.CO.UK – Nov 25 – Bill Dobbie, Cupid's CEO, is stepping down after a difficult year that has seen the share price collapse following an investigation into its practices. He will be replaced by Phil Gripton. Mr Dobbie, who retains a 21% stake in the company, will remain on the board as a non-executive director. Phil Gripton was previously the managing director of dating services. The company’s shares traded as highly as 200p at the start of this year; they have since fallen to 57.1p.
by John Ficenec
See full article at Telegraph.co.uk