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Home / Sector Expertise / Digital Banking & Payments

Icon for Digital Banking & Payments Digital Banking & Payments

Digitization of payments and the requirement for a seamless, omni-channel experience is transforming the payments industry. The ability for merchants to accept all payments means that fraud detection and reduction, and the provision of instant credit for consumers are increasingly important features to differentiate against high levels of competition for payment and FX services. Scale and global presence are also critical to success in the industry and have been principal drivers of the recent wave of M&A in the sector. The payments market is extremely active with ongoing consolidation led by private-equity-backed players and leading strategic players. Arma has been extremely active in the payment spaces, with the sale of Payzone to AIB/First Data, the sale of CreditCall to NMI, the sale of Skrill to Optimal, the sale of The Logic Group to Barclaycard and the recap of Trustly by Bridgepoint as examples.

Consumers demand best-in-class user experience and are increasingly attracted to new challenger banks, in particular in relation to obtaining better FX rates, P2P real-time transfers, better loans and high convenience with a mobile-native experience. Regulators support the additional competition and emergence of leading FinTech companies while customers are starting to flock to those new players. The market continues to witness a high level of activity on the fundraising side while large software vendors continue to invest in and consolidate vendors. Arma has a very strong track record, having sold businesses to IBM and Temenos, and advised on a number of growth equity transactions.

  • 75% cross-border deals
  • 75% deals involve a
    strategic buyer
  • 20x EBITDA multiple on average

Sub-segment coverage and team

  • Payment Networks
  • Payments Processors/Merchant Acquirers
  • Cross-border payments/international money transfer
  • Fraud Prevention/Transaction Security
  • Online/Mobile payments
  • Loyalty
  • Challenger Banks
  • Lending platforms/marketplaces
  • Robo-advisory
  • B2C financial platforms
Meet the team
  • Paul-Noël Guély

    Managing Partner, London

  • John Meehan

    Partner, London

  • Bruno Nehmé

    Partner, London

  • Fabian Zimmer

    Managing Director, London/Munich

HOLD AND DRAG TO NAVIGATE through THE DEALS

  • Jun 2022
    acquired
    Read more
  • Dec 2021
    (a portfolio company of Blackfin Capital)
    acquired by
    Read more
  • Jul 2021
    (a portfolio company of Alstin, HTGF, Macquarie, Rocketship and Shortcut)
    acquired by
    Read more
  • Sep 2020
    joint venture with
    Read more
  • Jan 2020
    growth investment by
    $45 million
    Read more
  • Apr 2019
    acquired by
    $112 million
    Read more
  • Feb 2018
    (a portfolio company of FPE Capital and Bestport Ventures)
    acquired by
    (a portfolio company of Fransisco Partners and Great Hill Partners)
    Read more
  • Feb 2017
    acquired
    Read more
  • Nov 2016
    acquired by
    $120 million
    Read more
  • Apr 2015
    sold to
    $1,200 million
    Read more
  • Sep 2014
    acquired by
    Read more
  • Oct 2013
    acquired by
    Read more
  • Aug 2012
    acquired by
    $115 million
    Read more
  • Nov 2004
    acquired by
    Read more
  • Oct 2004
    acquired by
    $112 million
    Read more
Back to Sectors
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