Ant Financial Invests in Klarna; Fiserv Acquires MerchantPro Express: News Roundup
PaymentFacilitator’s News Roundup is a curated mix of the past week’s news and articles from around the web, including company announcements, global payments news, and other coverage and analysis of topics relevant to payment facilitators.
PF Quarterly Earnings
RealPage reports revenue increase for fourth quarter. Real estate software provider and payment facilitator RealPage reported a 12% year-over-year increase in GAAP total revenue to $254.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2019. For the full year, the company’s GAAP total revenue increased 14% to $988.1 million.
“We have released one of the largest waves of innovation in the company’s history and we must build on that momentum. Whether in our traditional multifamily market or our SMB category recently augmented with the acquisition of Buildium, our platform is thinly penetrated into an enormous market opportunity,” said Steve Winn, chairman and CEO. From RealPage.
Fintech Partnerships
Flutterwave and Google partner to train small businesses. Payments provider and PF Flutterwave is working with Google Nigeria on a series of business clinics geared to helping merchants with the skills and knowledge they need to grow online. The companies are hoping to reach 5,000 merchants in Nigeria with the clinics, which kicked off this week. From Pulse.ng.
Recent partnerships to fuel Grab’s push into fintech. Grab’s recent infusion of cash from Japanese investors – and the resulting strategic partnerships – are expected to help the ride-hailing app realize its ambitions of becoming a major financial player in Southeast Asia. Offering financial services, including payments, is a fundamental part of the company’s strategy to both grow and increase profits. From Nikkei Asian Review.
Driving Digital Payments Growth
Mastercard CEO offers perspective on digital payments space. On the heels of Mastercard’s leadership change announcement, its CEO Ajay Banga has been making the media rounds. In this interview, he shares his thoughts on how the card network is positioned as he transitions to executive chairman of the board next year. He also talks about the potential for continued digital payments growth in India, and whether India’s Zero MDR policy can help spur growth. From Economic Times.
Electronic payments taking off in Indonesia. Nonbank players are helping Indonesian consumers to shift away from cash, as electronic transactions there shot up 173% year over year in January. Bank Indonesia data placed the value of digital payments at US$1.1 billion that month, nearly three times the value of transactions in January 2019. From The Jakarta Post.
Industry News
Klarna: Ant Financial Services Group & Klarna Announce Investment to Fuel Global Cooperation
Fiserv: Fiserv to Deepen and Expand Merchant Services Business with Acquisition of MerchantPro Express
Toast: Introducing Toast Hardware: The Future of Point of Sale is Beautifully Designed, Simple to Install, and Easy to Use
Paytm: We’ve Got Brokerage Licence to Offer Insurance Products
Mastercard: Mastercard Helping Accelerate Financial Inclusion in Indonesia with Investment in Fintech Company Digiasia
ControlScan: Report: ISOs, Acquirers Finding Innovative Ways to Address Merchant PCI Compliance
Podium: Podium Expands Interaction Management Platform to Now Include Payments
Paysafe: Paysafe Partners with Celero Commerce in US Market
PayPal: PayPal Updates First Quarter 2020 Revenue Outlook Based on Coronavirus Impact
Innoviti: Innoviti Unveils its New ‘Exclusive’ Range of Android POS Terminals Equipped with its New “Unbutton” User Interface
RealPage: RealPage Announces AI Revenue Management
J.D. Power: Big Banks Edge Out Payment Specialists in Competitive Battle for Merchant Services Satisfaction, J.D. Power Finds
Square: Square, Inc. Announces $1.0 Billion Convertible Notes Offering
Square: Square, Inc. Announces Pricing of $1.0 Billion Convertible Notes Offering
PPRO: PPRO Announces Partnership with UnionPay, Gives EU Merchants Access to Millions of Chinese Shoppers
Sphere: Sphere Teams Up with VisitPay to Launch Text to Pay Solution for Healthcare