Interswitch Limited, a leading technology-driven company focused on the digitisation of payments, has become one of the most valuable African fintech businesses with a valuation of US$1 billion after Visa Inc., the global credit card company; acquired a significant minority equity stake.
According to a statement by Interswitch, Visa will join globally renowned investors, Helios Investment Partners, TA Associates and IFC, as shareholders in Interswitch, alongside Company management.
The partnership, according to the statement “Will create an instant acceptance network across Africa to benefit consumers and merchants and facilitate greater connectivity for communities.
“Both parties will also retain their respective independent solutions, and Interswitch will retain its scheme neutral strategy.”
Although the statement did not reveal the significant minority stake Visa purchased, a Techawk report revealed that the credit card company parted with $200 million in return for 20%.
Mitchell Elegbe, Founder and Chief Executive of Interswitch, said; “Sub-Saharan Africa is the fastest-growing payments market in the world, with growth driven by a young and dynamic population, rapidly evolving consumer behaviour, and an increasing desire for payment solutions that can be accepted across the continent and abroad.
“I am delighted that Interswitch has formed a partnership with Visa, with whom we plan to drive the next phase of transformation in the African payments landscape.”
Andrew Torre, Regional President CEMEA, Visa, said; “Africa is a priority region for us, and we continually seek strategic partnerships with local players to further strengthen our leadership position and enhance the payments ecosystem across the continent.
“This partnership aligns with our global strategy to work with and invest in innovative partners, and we look forward to working with Interswitch to provide new consumer and merchant experiences and support the rapid growth of digital commerce across Africa.”
Babatunde Soyoye, Helios’s co-founder and Managing Partner, added, “A strategic investment by Visa, the world’s leader in digital payments, into Interswitch is a substantial endorsement of the Company’s expertise in African payments.
“As an active investor in leading African payments businesses, we see tremendous opportunities to digitise payments across the continent and have worked closely with Interswitch’s management team to build a high quality and scalable platform geared to address some of these opportunities. We look forward to further collaboration with the Company alongside Visa.”
The transaction is subject to the relevant regulatory approvals and is expected to close by Q1 2020 and FT Partners acted as exclusive strategic and financial advisor to Interswitch on this transaction.
Founded in 2002, Interswitch disrupted the traditional cash-based payments value chain in Nigeria by introducing electronic payments processing and switching services.
Today, Interswitch is a leading player in Nigeria’s developing financial ecosystem with omni-channel capabilities across the payments value chain, processing over 500 million transactions per month in May 2019.
