- Global Payments sells Issuer Solutions to FIS for $13.5 billion and acquires Worldpay for $22.7 billion, strengthening global merchant solutions.
- Combined entity to serve over 6 million customers, processing 94 billion transactions annually across 175 countries.
- Expected annual synergies include $600 million in cost savings and $200 million in revenue gains within three years.
Global Payments Inc. has announced two major transactions aimed at reshaping its business, selling its Issuer Solutions division to FIS for $13.5 billion while acquiring Worldpay from FIS and GTCR for a net price of $22.7 billion. Including anticipated tax assets, Worldpay’s total valuation reaches approximately $24.25 billion. The deals position Global Payments as a leading merchant solutions provider globally, significantly expanding its capabilities and reach.
The strategic move merges complementary strengths of Global Payments and Worldpay, forming a combined entity serving over six million customers across 175 countries. Together, they will handle approximately 94 billion transactions annually, equating to $3.7 trillion in payment volume. The merger particularly enhances Global Payments’ offerings in ecommerce, integrated and embedded payments, benefiting merchants from small businesses to large enterprises.
The combined company is projected to generate substantial financial benefits, with expected annual adjusted revenues around $12.5 billion and adjusted EBITDA approximately $6.5 billion by 2025. Additionally, Global Payments anticipates achieving around $600 million in annual cost savings within three years and at least $200 million in revenue synergies over the same period, primarily by consolidating operations and enhancing technological capabilities.
As part of the agreement, Global Payments and FIS will also form a strategic partnership, collaborating to deliver comprehensive solutions including core banking, treasury management, and merchant processing globally. The acquisition of Worldpay will be financed through proceeds from the Issuer Solutions sale, existing cash, and approximately $7.7 billion of new debt financing.
Subject to regulatory approvals, both transactions are expected to close within the first half of 2026. Global Payments plans to maintain its investment-grade credit rating and reduce its adjusted net leverage to approximately 3.0x within two years post-closure. These transformative transactions aim to enhance Global Payments’ market position, innovation potential, and overall financial performance.
