TIO Networks + Softgate
TIO Networks has inked an arm’s length agreement acquire NJ-based Softgate Systems, a provider of consumer retail bill payment solutions. The acquisition is expected to close later this year.
UEPS + T24
Net 1 UEPS Technologies has acquired a 43.88% interest in Transact24 Limited , a specialist Hong Kong-based payment services company.
Skype Credit
Microsoft-owned Skype users will now have to option to top up their accounts at more than 50,000 Western Union Agent U.S. locations. Western Union’s new Skype Credit is aiming for the banked, under-banked or un-banked.
MasterCard Announces Latest Branded eID card
MasterCard launched the eID pilot program. In the pilot phase, the Nigerian Identity Management Commission (NIMC) will issue MasterCard-branded identity cards with electronic payments functionality to 13 million Nigerians. This initiative is the largest rollout of a biometric-based verification card with an electronic payment solution in the country and the broadest financial inclusion program in Africa. The eID card forms a key component of the Nigerian Identity Management System, deployed by NIMC as part of its mandate to create, maintain and operate the country’s first central National Identity Database and provide proof of identity to Nigerians 16 years and older. The eID card will provide millions of Nigerians with the security, convenience and reliability of electronic payments. NIMC is working with several government agencies to integrate and harmonize all identity databases including the Driver’s License, Voter Registration, Health Insurance, Tax, SIM and the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) into a single, shared services platform.
DFC Global Stockholders Approve Lone Star Takeover
DFC Global Corp international diversified financial services company serving primarily unbanked and under-banked consumers announced at the Company’s special meeting of stockholders a majority of the outstanding shares of DFC Global common stock voted to approve the acquisition of DFC Global by an affiliate of Lone Star Funds (“Lone Star”). Houlihan Lokey Capital, Inc. is acting as financial advisor to DFC Global in connection with the transaction. Pepper Hamilton LLP is acting as DFC Global’s legal advisor. Jefferies LLC is acting as lead financial advisor to Lone Star Funds and Credit Suisse Securities (USA), LLC is acting as financial advisor. Jefferies Finance LLC and Credit Suisse AG are providing debt financing commitments for the acquisition.
CashStar CRO to Speak at Card Not Present Expo
CashStar announced that it will join leading specialty retailer Aéropostale to help Card Not Present (CNP) Expo attendees learn about, and successfully navigate, the fastest growing trend in prepaid: the shift to digital and mobile. The CNP Expo provides a meeting place for merchants, banks, processors, anti-fraud software providers, legal experts, alternative payment providers, card networks, and others to learn how to leverage CNP payments in an increasingly multi-channel retail sales environment. CashStar Chief Risk Officer Pete Kledaras will be joined by David Libenson, vice president of financial operations at Aéropostale, and Jim Shanahan, CEO of Prepaidian. The fastest growing trend in prepaid cards is their transition from physical cards to digital and mobile currencies and marketing them for omni-channel use. Industry data shows the under-banked, teens and, increasingly, affluent consumers who don’t want the security risks associated with using a credit card, began using both open- and closed-loop prepaid cards online and on-the-go via smartphones in a big way this past holiday season.
BorrowersFirst P2P Lending Secures New Funding
BorrowersFirst has secured equity and debt funding from SF Capital Group. BorrowersFirst solutions include Connected Credit for fast, friendly, transparent, responsive service, Custom credit scoring and an advanced lending platform can easily integrate into partner or corporate sites. This makes it easier for consumers to “connect to credit” at home, at work, and even through their jobs, as BorrowersFirst customizes employee lending initiatives with large employers.
DFC Global Announces Preliminary Fiscal 3Q/14 Results
DFC Global services to the unbanked and under-banked consumers announced preliminary 3Q/14 total consolidated revenue expected in the range of $248.0 to $252.0 million. DFC reduced its guidance for fiscal year 2014 to adjusted EBITDA between $151.0 and $156.0 million, as compared to its previous range of between $170.0 million and $200.0 million. The Company…
DFC Global Inks Definitive Acquisition Agreements
DFC Global serving primarily unbanked and under-banked consumers has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by an affiliate of Lone Star Funds (“Lone Star”) in a transaction, including the assumption of net debt, valued at approximately $1.3 billion. Upon completion of the transaction, DFC Global will become a privately held company. Under the terms of the agreement, DFC Global stockholders will receive $9.50 in cash for each share of DFC Global’s common stock they own. This represents a premium of approximately 5.8% to DFC Global’s closing stock price on April 1, 2014, and a premium of 12.3% to DFC Global’s 30-day volume weighted average stock price for the period ended April 1, 2014. The agreement was unanimously approved by DFC Global’s Board of Directors. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of stockholder approval and certain approvals from both U.S. and foreign regulators. Competition-related approval requirements are expected to be limited in number. The acquisition requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Company’s stock, which will be sought at a special meeting of stockholders. The transaction is expected to close in the third calendar quarter of 2014.
City of Atlanta Grants Acculynk Special Procurement Designation for Patented Payment Solution
Acculynk payment processor announced the City of Atlanta, Department of Watershed Management’s award of a Special Procurement Designation to Acculynk. Following the Special Procurement Designation, Acculynk will offer Department of Watershed Management customers its unique PIN debit solution for processing secure online debit payments. The Company expects to deliver its proprietary solution to customers within the next few weeks. The offering is expected to open up a new payment channel to Department of Watershed Management customers, especially for those customers who utilize debit cards as a primary means for transacting. Acculynk’s PaySecure® patented online PIN pad solution permits PIN enabled debit card users to enter their PIN for e- and m-commerce, ensuring a second layer of authentication and a more secure transaction.
CARD FEE INCOME AS A % OF TOTAL INCOME REMAINS FLAT
In their series of weekly year-end card industry trend reports R.K. Hammer now discusses how fee income continues to perform in terms of top line revenue contribution. For decades, interest income on prime/super prime cards had always contributed the largest portion of the card industry’s revenue streams; just the exact opposite for subprime cards, though, where fees have always been the higher piece of total income. As reported earlier, the line between interest income and fee income for prime/super prime accounts has been narrowing substantially in recent years; with lower revenue in many cases coming from interest and an increasingly higher portion derived from fees. That trend continued again in 2013.
Omanye Money Now In Nigeria and Ghana
Omanye Money whose services are largely targeted at the unbanked and under-banked world-wide, has announced the introduction of international mobile money transfer to bank accounts in Nigeria and Ghana. Their customers can now send money from the Omanye mobile site and website wherever they are in the world and users of the eTranzact Mobile Money mobile service (pocketmoni) in Nigeria now have the option of receiving international transfers from Omanye Money customers all over the world.