# Videlli

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{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox company
|name             = Videlli Limited
|logo             = Videlli Limited Logo.gif
|caption           = 
|type             = [Private](/source/Private_company)
|genre            =
|fate             = Delisted
|predecessor      = ERG Group
|successor        =
|foundation       = 1984
|founder          =
|defunct          = 2009
|location_city    = [Melbourne](/source/Melbourne)
|location_country = 
|location         =
|locations        =
|area_served      =
|key_people       = 
|industry         =
|products         = 
|services         =
|revenue          =
|operating_income =
|net_income       =
|aum              =
|assets           =
|equity           =
|num_employees    =
|divisions        =
|subsid           =
|homepage         = http://www.videlli.com www.videlli.com{{dead link|date=May 2020}}}}

[[File:Turnstile and smart card reader in Moscow bus.JPG|thumb|ERG smart card reader on a [Moscow](/source/Moscow) bus]]
'''Videlli Limited''' (formerly '''Energy Research Group''' or '''ERG Ltd''') was an Australian company that developed [automated fare collection](/source/automated_fare_collection) systems for transit systems. Founded in 1984 as ERG, it was listed on the [Australian Securities Exchange](/source/Australian_Securities_Exchange) in 1985. Due to the large level of losses run up, ERG sold all the operating assets to [Vix Technology](/source/Vix_Technology) in 2008, before ERG changed its name to Videlli and was delisted. Its head office was in [Melbourne](/source/Melbourne), Victoria.

==History==
In 1978, Associated Electronic Services Ltd (AES), a [Perth](/source/Perth)-based engineering company, began developing an automated fare collection (AFC) system. In 1984 AES won a contract for an AFC system in [Toronto](/source/Toronto), Canada. That same year Energy Research Group (ERG) was listed on the stock exchange. ERG was a venture capital-backed company, researching various technologies including an electronic sign board and a manufacturing process for surfboards.

In 1987, ERG acquired a controlling interest in AES. The first project the new ERG won was in [Darwin](/source/Darwin%2C_Northern_Territory), resulting in the world's first use of smart cards for passengers by a public transit organisation.{{Citation needed|date=November 2011}} In 1988 ERG acquired the balance of AES.

In 1989, ERG acquired Radiolab, which specialised in pagers and base stations, to become ERG's telecommunications and manufacturing division. ERG also acquired a 70% interest in Prodata Electronics, Belgium.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alacrastore.com/storecontent/Thomson_M&A/ERG_Australia_Ltd_acquires_Prodata_Electronics_from_Electrorail_SA-250527040|title=ERG Australia Ltd acquires Prodata Electronics from Electrorail SA|publisher=Thomson Financial Mergers & Acquisitions|access-date=2008-09-16}}</ref>

On 31 August 1992 the ERG Datafare 2000/Prodata based [magnetic-stripe](/source/Magnetic_stripe_card) systems fitted to all buses operated by the [State Transit Authority](/source/State_Transit_Authority) in [Sydney](/source/Sydney) were switched on. This covered a fleet of around 1,600 buses and comprised the second stage of converting all of Sydney's government-run public transport services to electronic ticketing. Different suppliers were used for each mode of transport, with [Thorn EMI](/source/Thorn_EMI)/Abberfield installing ferry wharf equipment and [Cubic Transportation Systems](/source/Cubic_Transportation_Systems) installing railway station equipment. The ticket data format was standardised to be common across all modes.

In 1997 ERG formed an alliance with [Motorola](/source/Motorola),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;1947652246|title=ERG buys Motorola's share of joint venture|publisher=IDG Communications|access-date=2008-09-16}}</ref> primarily for their [smart card](/source/smart_card) technology, and won substantial contracts in [Berlin](/source/Berlin), [Hong Kong](/source/Hong_Kong), [Rome](/source/Rome), [San Francisco](/source/San_Francisco) and [Singapore](/source/Singapore).<ref>[https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/bay-area-signs-smart-card-deal/29522.article Bay Area signs smart card deal] [Railway Gazette International](/source/Railway_Gazette_International) 1 July 1999</ref><ref>ERG Wins Big Ticket Contracts ''[Transit Australia](/source/Transit_Australia)'' July 1999 page 166</ref><ref>ERG Group wins major overseas contracts ''[Railway Digest](/source/Railway_Digest)'' August 1999 page 12</ref><ref>Australians win Hong Kong work ''Transit Australia'' February 2000 page 45</ref> An alliance with [American Express](/source/American_Express) was formed. Ecard was established.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telecompaper.com/news/erg-launches-ecard-smart-card--145150|title=ERG LAUNCHES ECARD SMART CARD|website=www.telecompaper.com}}</ref>

In February 2003 ERG's subsidiary Integrated Transit Solutions won the tender to design, build and operate the Sydney integrated ticketing project,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/news/media/20-02-03-min-ticketing.html |title="Media Release – Single Ticket System For Sydney" |access-date=2003-12-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031218123346/http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/news/media/20-02-03-min-ticketing.html |archive-date=2003-12-18 |url-status=live }}</ref> or [Tcard](/source/Tcard) as it became known. In 2008 the [Government of New South Wales](/source/Government_of_New_South_Wales) cancelled the Tcard project, with lawsuits in both directions.<ref>[http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it-old/nsw-ends-erg-tcard-contract/story-e6frganf-1111114841467 "NSW ends TRG Tcard contract"] ''[The Australian](/source/The_Australian)'' 9 November 2007</ref> The government sued ERG for $77 million; ERG counter-sued for $215 million.<ref>[https://www.smh.com.au/business/court-orders-government-to-hand-over-tcard-documents-20100608-xtmg.html "Court orders government to hand over Tcard documents"] ''[Sydney Morning Herald](/source/Sydney_Morning_Herald)'' 9 June 2010</ref> The claim was settled in February 2012.<ref>[https://www.smh.com.au/it-pro/government-it/nsw-taxpayers-spared-200m-loss-as-tcard-trial-aborted-20120217-1tdfd.html "NSW taxpayers 'spared $200m loss' as Tcard trial aborted"] ''Sydney Morning Herald'' 17 February 2012</ref>

== Tcard lawsuits ==
ERG had a contract with the New South Wales Public Transport Ticketing Corporation (PTTC) to develop the [Tcard](/source/Tcard) system. The contract was terminated by the New South Wales government on 23 January 2008, and the government announced their intention to recover the project costs of $90 million from ERG.<ref name=sole-asset>{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/news/national/dumped-tcard-firm-fires-back/2008/01/24/1201025082684.html|title=Dumped Tcard firm fires back|work=Sydney Morning Herald | date=24 January 2008}}</ref>

ERG claimed that the PTTC "had itself materially contributed to the delays associated with the project and ... failed to act reasonably and in good faith", and lodged a [countersuit](/source/countersuit) in May 2008 to recover over $215 million in costs.<ref>{{cite web | title=ERG Lodges Tcard $200m Defence and Counterclaim | url=https://videlli.com/news/details.asp?newsid=45 | publisher=Videlli Ltd. | access-date = 30 November 2011}}</ref>

The NSW government was allowed to withhold some evidence in the case.<ref>{{cite news| title=Smartcard court case could catch cabinet|url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/smartcard-court-case-could-catch-cabinet-20101207-18ofc.html | work=Sydney Morning Herald | date=8 December 2010 | access-date=30 November 2011}}</ref>

The case was settled in February 2012, with the government keeping the $27 million security deposit and Videlli paying a further $5 million in settlement.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.videlli.com/include/displayFile.asp?nid=128&fid=97|format=PDF|title=Settlement of T-Card Litigation|date = 21 February 2012|access-date=7 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Berejiklian|first1=Gladys|title=Press release: CLEANING UP LABOR'S MESS: LONG-RUNNING TCARD LEGAL DISPUTE SETTLED|url=http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/b2b/releases/20120217-card-case-settled.pdf|website=Transport for NSW|publisher=NSW Government|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170626054606/http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/b2b/releases/20120217-card-case-settled.pdf|archive-date=26 June 2017|date=17 February 2012}}</ref> Both sides bore their own legal expenses.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/it-pro/government-it/tcard-battle-settled-out-of-court-20120217-1tegm.html|title=Tcard battle settled out of court|publisher=Fairfax | date=2012-02-18}}</ref>

== Myki project dispute ==
[Kamco](/source/Kamco) won the contract for the development of the [myki](/source/myki) ticketing system in Victoria in 2005 and sub-contracted the installation and repair of myki equipment to ERG, in an A$106 million contract. However, ERG refused to release myki equipment to Kamco claiming "unpaid bills worth $1.8 million". Kamco repudiated the contract in June 2009, arguing a change in ERG's company structure broke their agreement. ERG sued Kamco in the [Victorian Supreme Court](/source/Supreme_Court_of_Victoria) for a $30 million loss it claimed from the repudiation,<ref>{{cite news |url =https://www.zdnet.com/article/erg-sues-myki-vendor-for-30m/ |author = Ben Grubb | publisher = ZDNet.com.au | date = 22 February 2010 |title=ERG sues myki vendor for $30m |access-date=10 July 2014}}</ref> and Kamco launched a counter-claim.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[The Age](/source/The_Age) |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/company-behind-myki-sued-for-30m-20100221-oo1u.html |title=Company behind myki sued for $30m |author=Clay Lucas |date=22 February 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/erg-sues-myki-vendor-for-30m/|title=ERG sues myki vendor for $30m|first=Ben|last=Grubb|website=ZDNet}}</ref>

==Liquidation==
After the NSW government terminated the [Tcard](/source/Tcard) project, ERG was left with large accumulated costs arising from the project. On 31 December 2008, ERG sold its operating assets to [Vix Technology](/source/Vix_Technology),<ref>{{cite web | title=Restructure Update | url=https://videlli.com/news/details.asp?newsid=89 | access-date = 30 November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/new-owner-cashes-in-on-ergs-potential-20091101-hrlj.html|title=New owner cashes in on ERG's potential|first=Colin|last=Kruger|date=November 1, 2009|website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref> and paid out its debts. The sale left ERG with its claim against the NSW Government arising from the Tcard contract as its sole asset.<ref name=sole-asset />

ERG changed its name to Videlli with effect on 11 March 2009 as part of its restructure.<ref name=delisted.com/> Videlli was delisted from the [Australian Securities Exchange](/source/Australian_Securities_Exchange) on 30 June 2009.<ref>{{cite web | title=Videlli Limited - Company Profile and Status | url=https://www.delisted.com.au/Company/12063/VIDELLI%20LIMITED | publisher=deListed | access-date = 1 December 2011}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190915015137/http://www.videlli.com/index.asp Important Company Information] Videlli</ref>

Videlli retained a minor shareholding in Vix Technology, finally sold to Vix Holdings Ltd for $5 million in 2013. The one ordinary share had previously been reported in financial statements as having no value.<ref>{{cite web|title=Financial Report For the Year Ended 30 June 2013|url=http://www.videlli.com/include/displayFile.asp?nid=136&fid=105|website=Videlli.com|publisher=Videlli Limited|access-date=5 July 2017|date=26 September 2013}}</ref>

As at 30 June 2014, Videlli had no assets and had a debt of $21 million to Vix Treasury. The company was inactive, but chose not to [liquidate](/source/liquidate) because of the cost of liquidation. The debt arose from borrowing to finance the litigation with the NSW government, referred to below, and its settlement.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.videlli.com/news/files/VidelliChairmansAddressAGM2014.pdf|title=Annual General Meeting, Chairman's Address}}</ref> Administrators were appointed on 29 December 2017,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://insolvencynotices.asic.gov.au/browsesearch-notices/notice-details/Videlli-Limited-009112725/0a8210b2-7ad4-49bd-8009-fbb0b4d81fbb |title=Videlli Limited 009 112 725 &#124; Voluntary Administration &#124; Meeting &#124; WA &#124; Published : 08/02/2018 &#124; ASIC Notice Details |publisher=Insolvencynotices.asic.gov.au |access-date=2019-10-04}}</ref> and the company was declared liquidated on 22 February 2018.<ref name=delisted.com>{{cite web|url=https://www.delisted.com.au/company/videlli-limited|title=Videlli Limited (VID)|publisher=Investogain|access-date=6 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.investogain.com.au/LiqDecl/Videlli.pdf|title=Videlli Limited (In Liquidation) - Declaration by Liquidators|date=22 February 2018|access-date=6 May 2020}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

Category:Companies formerly listed on the Australian Securities Exchange
Category:Defunct technology companies of Australia
Category:2018 disestablishments in Australia
Category:Australian companies established in 1984
Category:Technology companies established in 1984
Category:Technology companies disestablished in 2018

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Videlli](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Videlli) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Videlli?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.
