History

Veda Advantage has been a leading provider of business information for many decades. Issues such as privacy, data security, marketing services and business intelligence have been part of our commercial landscape since the inception of both our company and our industry. We are proud to have been involved in the Australian credit landscape longer than any other business, creating innovative, world class services and solutions to help both business and consumers.

The vast majority of applications for credit in Australia are checked against the files held by Veda Advantage – protecting business from financial risk and ensuring consumers are only offered products that fit their risk profile.

Some of our historical highlights include:


2007 In January, the Board of Directors announced to the Australian Stock Exchanges they had received an indicative proposal from a private equity consortium comprising Pacific Equity Partners and Merrill Lynch Private Equity Partners (the Consortium) regarding a potential privatisation of the company.

Veda Advantage was officially launched on Feb 26.

Following the launch, Veda Board of Directors and the Consortium to the ASX and NZX announced a special purpose company established by the Consortium called VA Australia Finance Pty Limited (VA Finance).

Veda Advantage became fully privatised on July 9 At the Extraordinary General meeting in June, shareholders voted by an overwhelming majority (99.11% in favour, 0.89% against) – to accept the VA Finance Consortium’s offer on all Veda Advantage shares.

Veda Advantage acquired Atlantis Group’s marketing division in July as part of Veda Advantage’s strategy to expand and diversify its range of marketing services to all New Zealand businesses.

In September, Veda Advantage acquired Australian Business Research (ABR) and National Tenancy Database (NTD) from Collection House Limited (CLH).
2006 Shareholders vote for a new company name in November.
Baycorp Advantage becomes Veda Advantage.
Baycorp Collection Services sold in May for A$97 Million
2005 Baycorp Advantage announces a profit of $34.8 million - shareholders decision to exit the collections business
Announced the "Baycoprp Advantage Business Change Blueprint" program B³. This program is expected to produce net benefits of approximately $12 million per annum from 2008.
2001 Data Advantage and Baycorp Holdings merge to form Baycorp Advantage with dual listings on the Australian stock exchange and the New Zealand stock exchange.
2000  In November 2000, Data Advantage established another joint venture business with Trans Union, International, Inc. Called TransUnion Advantage, this business exclusively serves the Asian Pacific market in providing the software and decision support services to enable emerging economies to establish world-class credit-granting infrastructures.
1999 The establishment of the 50% joint venture business, Alliance Group Holdings, a company that offers a complete range of receivables management solutions.
The Commonwealth Bank of Australia is a one-third shareholder in Alliance, based at Parramatta, joining original shareholders Data Advantage and Baycorp Holdings.
1998  Credit Reference demutualised and became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Data Advantage Group (Credit Advantage)
1967  Credit Reference Association (CRA) began as a mutual organisation