Live group Pty Limited is a merchant services provider, accredited by Mastercard.[1] Originally established by Macquarie Bank in 2006 as Live Payments, the company was privatised in 2008 and restructured as Live group.

Live group Pty Ltd
Company typePrivate company
Live group
IndustryMerchant services
Financial services
Founded2006
HeadquartersSydney, Australia
Area served
Australia
Key people
Reuven Barukh (CEO), Ewaz Barukh deceased (Chairman)
ProductsPayment service provider, Merchant services, EFTPOS, Cash advance, Direct debit, Vehicle for hire
Websitewww.livegroup.com.au

History

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Live group was originally established as Live payments by Macquarie Bank in 2006. The company offered a unique corporate taxi payments solution and online reconciliation portal that assists corporate users in tracking their taxi expenditure. Former Cabcharge Australia Ltd executive Ewaz Barukh was appointed managing director in early 2007.[2][3][4][5]

In March 2008 Live Payments was privatised and in November of that year acquired Live TaxiEpay.[6] Live TaxiEpay, is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Live group specifically involved in supplying EFTPOS terminals, payment devices and additional value-added services to the Australian taxi industry. Since then, company sites have been opened in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, with dealers and distributors located around the country. In 2016 Live TaxiEpay rebranded as Live taxi.[citation needed]

In 2010 Live TaxiEpay partnered with Motorpass to establish a corporate taxi payments solution.[7]

In 2014, Live TaxiEpay considered legal action against New South Wales and Victoria for what it claimed was anti-competitive legislation after New South Wales passed laws on halving service fees on non-cash taxi payments. [8][9][10] The company along with competitors GM Cabs and Ingogo argued that the service fee caps were reducing competition rather than increasing it.[11]

In 2012, Live group launched Live eftpos, offering payment services catered to small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) in Australia. In 2017, Live group announced a partnership with Qantas Business Rewards.[12][13][14]

Between 2015 and 2016, Live group launched three additional brands into the Australian market; Live capital,[15] Live insure and Glide taxi.

In April 2019, Live group announced a partnership with Zip Co Limited[16][17] and in June 2019, launched Live sms, an SMS communication platform designed to help small business.[18]

In April 2020, Live group launched Live local, a digital voucher platform specifically to help Australian SMEs through COVID-19.[19][20]

References

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  1. ^ MasterCard Payment Facilitators
  2. ^ "Mac Bank gets new head of taxi business". The Sydney Morning Herald. 14 March 2007.
  3. ^ Lime poaches Cabcharge executive
  4. ^ Metcash winner from Bi-Lo bungle
  5. ^ Mac Bank gets new head of taxi business
  6. ^ Taxi driver turned entrepreneur launches 'iTunes for transport'
  7. ^ Meter running on taxi fare monopoly
  8. ^ Cabcharge rival Live TaxiEpay may sue NSW and Victoria over new taxi payment laws [1]
  9. ^ Another taxi rent-seeker enters the fold
  10. ^ Taxi drivers out of pocket as Eftpos rivals excluded
  11. ^ Fee cap serves only Cabcharge, says Ingogo founder
  12. ^ EFTPOS Solutions Qantas Business Rewards
  13. ^ Live eftpos black: Rewards and mobile payment service
  14. ^ Earn up to 1 million bonus Qantas Points with Live eftpos black
  15. ^ Live capital Australian FinTech Member
  16. ^ Sell more by offering Zip to your customers
  17. ^ How small businesses can earn bonus rewards points every time customers spend
  18. ^ Live sms Qantas Business Rewards
  19. ^ Live Group Launches ‘Live Local’ To Create Digital Vouchers For SMEs
  20. ^ Digital vouchers used to help small businesses
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