FIS and Global Payments Reshape Payment Industry with Strategic Asset Swap and Acquisition
Landmark deal expected to transform issuer processing and merchant solutions
As announced April 17, 2025, financial technology giant FIS is set to acquire Global Payments' Issuer Solutions business for $13.5 billion while selling its Worldpay stake to Global Payments for $6.6 billion. The acquisition of Issuer Solutions is expected to enhance FIS' payment product suite and its relationships with financial institutions, with anticipated revenue synergies exceeding $125 million annually.
The sale of Worldpay aims to monetize FIS' stake at an attractive valuation and replace it with recurring, high-margin revenues. For Global Payments, a payments technology firm, the acquisition of Worldpay cements the firm’s standing as a leading merchant solution provider for e-commerce companies.
FIS Benefits
Strategic Expansion: Acquires Global Payments' Issuer Solutions to strengthen its credit processing capabilities, complementing existing debit processing and banking services, and tapping into a $28 billion global issuer market opportunity
Portfolio Optimization: Replaces non-cash-generating Worldpay stake with high-margin recurring revenues, improving EBITDA and cash flow
Market Positioning: Enhances relationships with financial institutions through a best-in-class end-to-end payment suite
Global Payments Benefits
Merchant Focus: Exits issuer processing to become a pure-play merchant solutions provider, combining Worldpay’s eCommerce strengths with its SMB-focused offerings
Scale: Gains 6 million customers, processes 94 billion transactions annually, and enables $3.7 trillion in payment volume across 175+ countries
Ecosystem Diversification: Integrates Worldpay’s Payrix solution to enhance embedded payment capabilities and expand into high-growth verticals
Both firms also benefit from this evolving strategic partnership. It is expected that FIS and Global Payments will continue to collaborate to offer combined solutions (core banking, risk management, merchant services) globally.