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Feb 19 (Reuters) - Card giant Visa said on Thursday it would buy payment platforms Prisma and Newpay from ‌private-equity firm Advent International, bolstering its presence in Argentina. The ‌deal links Visa's global payments network with a scaled local platform, giving ​the company a stronger footing to bolster digital payments use and modernize infrastructure across Argentina. It will fast-track the adoption of technologies such as tokenization, biometric authentication and intelligent risk tools for ...

Visa strikes deal for Prisma, Newpay to boost Argentina presence | ReutersSkip to main content[Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionalsLearn more aboutRefinitiv]A Visa credit card is seen on top of other cards in this illustration taken February 3, 2026. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration [Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab]- Companies[Visa Inc]FollowFeb 19 (Reuters) - Card giant Visa [(V.N), opens new tab] said on Thursday it would buy payment platforms Prisma and Newpay fro ...

Advent to Sell Prisma and Newpay to VisaFeb 19, 2026 9:13 AM Eastern Standard Time# Advent to Sell Prisma and Newpay to VisaShare---SÃO PAULO & BUENOS AIRES, Argentina--([BUSINESS WIRE])-- Advent International, a leading global private equity investor, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell Prisma and Newpay, subsidiaries of Group Prisma, a leading Argentine payments company, to Visa (NYSE: V).During Advent's ownership, the group underwent a strategic transformation, resulti ...

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Visa (NYSE: V) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Prisma Medios de Pago S.A.U. ("Prisma†) and Newpay S.A.U. ("Newpay†) in Argentina from Advent International. This strategic acquisition underscores Visa's commitment to providing clients with the advanced capabilities and technologies that accelerate the adoption of innovative payment solutions for consumers and businesses across the country. Prisma provides credit. ...

This story was originally published on Payments Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Payments Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Visa plans to purchase Prisma Medios de Pago and Newpay from the private equity firm Advent International in an acquisition agreement that returns the Argentine assets to the card network’s fold. The companies didn’t disclose the financial terms, but said in press releases Thursday that the deal would close by the end of March. Visa, which previously ...

Core Insights - Banqup has partnered with Visa to enhance payment automation and e-invoicing solutions in Europe, driven by upcoming e-invoicing regulations set to take effect by 2028 [2][3] Group 1: Partnership Details - The collaboration aims to integrate Visa's secure payment capabilities into Banqup's invoicing and order-to-cash workflows, facilitating compliance with new regulations while improving cash flow visibility and reducing administrative friction [3] - Banqup will leverage Visa's global network to offer virtual commercial cards, enabling small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to optimize cash flow by extending payment terms while ensuring timely payments to suppliers [7] Group 2: Market Context - The partnership addresses the challenges faced by SMBs, particularly the strain of late payments, which can lead to postponed payroll and delayed vendor payments [7][8] - Many small businesses still rely on legacy payment methods, which slow down settlement processes and reduce visibility into incoming funds, highlighting the need for faster payment solutions [9][10]

Industry Overview - The Financial Transaction Services industry is part of the broader FinTech space, encompassing card and payment processing, ATM services, money remittance, and investment solutions for financial advisors [2] - The industry benefits from ongoing digitization accelerated by the pandemic, facilitating quick and secure monetary transactions across multiple currencies globally [2] Key Growth Drivers - Expanding global trade, rising international travel, and increasing demand for cross-border payments and remittances are key factors driving growth in the industry [5] - Continued e-commerce growth and a resilient labor market are sustaining transaction volumes, although inflation and tariff pressures may strain consumer budgets [1][4] Technology Investments - Companies are significantly increasing technology expenditures to enhance digital infrastructure, including investments in biometric authentication, QR-code payments, and Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) platforms [3] - The rise in digital payments has led to increased exposure to cyber threats, prompting companies to invest heavily in cybersecurity and fraud detection systems [3] Strategic Mergers and Acquisitions - Companies in the sector are engaging in strategic mergers and acquisitions to strengthen digital ecosystems, expand service offerings, and enhance global reach [6][7] - Expectations for interest rate cuts in 2026 may encourage companies to utilize debt financing for M&A activities, allowing them to pursue growth opportunities while preserving cash [7] Consumer Spending Trends - Stable consumer spending supports higher transaction volumes, although persistent inflation may lead to more cautious spending behavior [4] - A resilient labor market with low unemployment and steady wage growth could help sustain consumer purchasing activity in the near term [4] Industry Performance - The Zacks Financial Transaction Services industry has underperformed compared to the Business Services sector and the S&P 500, declining 24.3% over the past year [11] - The industry's current valuation is at a forward 12-month price/earnings ratio of 18.15X, lower than the S&P 500's 22.51X [15] Notable Companies - **Global Payments**: Positioned for growth with strong performances in Merchant and Issuer Solutions, benefiting from increasing transaction volumes [18] - **Visa**: A major player in digital payments, expanding through strategic alliances and acquisitions, with a focus on technology investment [23] - **Mastercard**: Operates a multi-rail infrastructure for seamless payments, with a strong cross-border payments platform [26] - **Fiserv**: Maintains a competitive position in digital payments with a broad portfolio and strategic acquisitions [30] - **Fidelity National**: Achieving solid revenue growth through Banking and Capital Markets Solutions, with a strategic international footprint [34]

But it’s worth noting that the numbers aren’t uniform across the country. VISA looked at national averages, and the threshold to qualify for affluence and net worth varies widely based on regional purchasing power.The report also noted that “persistent labor shortages — driven by retiring baby boomers and slower immigration — have fueled strong income growth.”From 2019 to 2023, the income required to be part of this group rose 24% partly due to “the surge in asset prices” for that period, according to Visa. ...

Core Perspective - The UK is moving towards establishing payment card sovereignty to reduce reliance on US-owned networks like Visa and Mastercard, reflecting a broader trend of payment independence in Europe [3][5][9]. Group 1: Current Landscape - Approximately 95% of UK card transactions are processed through Visa and Mastercard, indicating a high level of centralization and concentration risk in the payment system [3][4][13]. - The UK's National Payments Vision emphasizes the need for infrastructure modernization to enhance resilience and reduce dependency on a few global technology providers [3][4]. Group 2: Domestic Payment Initiatives - UK banks are accelerating plans for a domestic card payments alternative, which has been discussed for years as a government-backed initiative to provide a backup to existing systems [4][12]. - The move towards a dedicated domestic payments rail is significant, as it aims to align incentives, liability frameworks, and technology to build consumer trust and merchant acceptance [17][18]. Group 3: Challenges and Considerations - Open Banking is not yet a complete substitute for card payments, as it lacks the full range of use cases and consumer familiarity associated with traditional cards [14][16]. - Structural challenges exist within the Open Banking sector, including profitability issues and intense competition, which hinder its ability to serve as a core national payments infrastructure [15][16]. Group 4: Strategic Importance - Payments are increasingly recognized as strategic national infrastructure, necessitating coordinated public-private investment and interoperability with European schemes to ensure resilience [12][18]. - The geopolitical landscape has heightened concerns about the UK's exposure to risks associated with reliance on US payment networks, making the development of domestic alternatives more critical [8][9].