GTCR Announces Sale of Worldpay to Global Payments for $24.25 Billion in Conjunction with Transformative Three-Way Transaction
MWN-AI** Summary
GTCR has announced the definitive agreement to sell Worldpay, a leading global payments processing company, to Global Payments for $24.25 billion. This transaction is part of a transformative three-way deal that includes FIS retaining a minority stake in Worldpay. GTCR, which acquired a 55% majority stake in Worldpay from FIS in July 2023, will receive 59% of the sale in cash and 41% in stock, with GTCR expected to hold approximately 15% of Global Payments' shares post-transaction.
The partnership with Charles Drucker, CEO of Worldpay, has been pivotal in executing a strategic vision that emphasizes technology investments, operational enhancements, and targeted acquisitions. Under Drucker's leadership, Worldpay has expanded its processing capabilities, developed innovative payment solutions, and improved fraud prevention, resulting in accelerated growth and enhancing its competitive edge in the global payments market.
The deal reflects GTCR's Leaders Strategy™, which focuses on collaborating with management leaders to identify and build market-leading companies. The integration of Worldpay with Global Payments is anticipated to deliver innovative payment solutions to its customers, driving value for all stakeholders involved.
GTCR's managing director, Aaron Cohen, emphasized the successful collaboration among all parties involved, which enabled the smooth navigation of the complexities related to the three-way transaction. The sale is expected to close in the first half of 2026, still pending regulatory approvals. This acquisition underscores GTCR’s ongoing commitment to investing in the fast-growing payments sector, having previously built a strong track record in the domain.
MWN-AI** Analysis
The recent announcement regarding GTCR's sale of Worldpay to Global Payments for $24.25 billion presents a significant event within the payments landscape and may have implications for market investors. The deal, which forms part of a transformative three-way transaction involving FIS, signifies a strategic consolidation in the highly competitive financial technology sector.
Investors should pay close attention to Global Payments (NYSE: GPN) as it integrates Worldpay's expansive merchant acquiring and payments processing capabilities. This acquisition is likely to enhance Global Payments' already robust product suite, particularly in omni-commerce solutions. For investors holding shares in Global Payments, the long-term growth potential appears to be promising, as the merger could drive cost synergies and broaden market reach.
From a valuation perspective, the deal values Worldpay at a compelling multiple given its strong position in the payments processing sector, which continues to benefit from accelerating digital transaction trends. The combined entity will emerge as one of the market leaders, boasting a significant competitive advantage from integrated technology and expanded geographic reach.
Additionally, GTCR's ability to successfully transition Worldpay into a growth-focused entity should not go unnoticed. Under Charles Drucker’s leadership, the company has exhibited a strong commitment towards innovation, which has further solidified its standing in the market. This operational expertise may influence investor sentiment positively.
Targeting sectors poised for growth, such as financial technology, remains crucial. The upcoming closing of the transaction in 2026, contingent on regulatory approvals, offers an entry point for discerning investors looking to capitalize on this transformative shift. In essence, maintaining a watchful eye on Global Payments and GTCR’s strategic maneuvers will be crucial for navigating potential investment pathways in the payments ecosystem.
**MWN-AI Summary and Analysis is based on asking OpenAI to summarize and analyze this news release.
PR Newswire
Sale of Industry-Leading Payments Technology and Solutions Company Marks an Important Milestone in GTCR's Strategic Transformation in Partnership with Leaders Strategy™ CEO Charles Drucker
CHICAGO , April 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- GTCR, a leading private equity firm, announced today the signing of a definitive agreement to sell Worldpay (the "Company"), a global leader in merchant acquiring and payments processing, to Global Payments (NYSE: GPN) for $24.25 billion as part of a transformative three-way transaction.
In July 2023 , GTCR signed a definitive agreement to acquire a 55% majority stake in Worldpay from FIS ® (NYSE: FIS), a global leader in financial services technology. FIS retained the remaining 45% as part of the transaction. Under the terms of the sale agreement, Global Payments will acquire Worldpay from GTCR and FIS for $24.25 billion of cash and stock, while FIS will acquire Global Payments' Issuer Solutions business, at an enterprise value of $13.5 billion . As part of the Worldpay transaction, GTCR will receive 59% cash and 41% stock consideration and will continue to support the combined business through a successful integration and future growth. Upon closing, GTCR will own shares representing 15% of Global Payments' outstanding shares.
GTCR partnered with industry-veteran CEO Charles Drucker to acquire a majority stake in Worldpay from FIS in July 2023 behind a thesis of re-accelerating growth, affecting a seamless transition from FIS, and investing in innovative product and modern technology. Mr. Drucker assembled a world-class management team and executed a strategic vision centered on technology investments, operational improvements, and targeted acquisitions. Under Mr. Drucker's leadership, Worldpay expanded its global processing capabilities, launched innovative payment solutions, and enhanced its fraud prevention offerings. These initiatives supported new client wins, accelerated organic growth, and strengthened Worldpay's position as a leader in the global payments ecosystem.
"Our collaboration with Charles and the team at Worldpay highlights the essence of a Leaders Strategy™ partnership—combining visionary leadership with a transformational value creation plan while managing the complexities of a corporate carve-out," said Collin Roche , GTCR Co-CEO and Managing Director. "We are proud of the transformation that we accomplished with Charles and team, reestablishing Worldpay as an innovative, customer-centric, growth-focused independent company, and look forward to staying closely involved as long-term strategic partners to the Worldpay and Global Payments combined business."
"This milestone marks a tremendous collective effort from the entire Worldpay team, and we are enthusiastic about the future with Global Payments," said Charles Drucker , CEO of Worldpay. "The progress over the past two years was made possible thanks to the invaluable partnership with GTCR. Their deep domain expertise in payments, experience in executing carveouts, and unwavering support of management growth initiatives is world-class, and I look forward to a continued partnership as we work towards a successful integration. Through this next phase of growth, we will continue to invest in our product and technology and further strengthen our e-commerce offering. On behalf of my leadership team, I want to extend our sincere thanks to GTCR for their dedication and support, FIS for their partnership and our Worldpay colleagues across the globe who have driven our transformation this past year."
"We want to thank Charles and the leadership team at Worldpay, as well as our partners at FIS for the collective efforts which led to this successful transaction," added Aaron Cohen , Managing Director and Head of Financial Services & Technology at GTCR. "Our partnership with Cameron , Stephanie, and their respective teams has been instrumental in navigating the complex considerations in this three-way deal. We are confident that the combination of Global Payments and Worldpay will be well-positioned to deliver innovative solutions to its customers and drive value for all stakeholders. We are committed to the long term success of the combined business."
"Worldpay is the latest in a long history of successful payments investments for GTCR," commented KJ McConnell, Managing Director at GTCR. "Our Leaders Strategy approach works well in this dynamic, fast-growing, global industry because deep expertise and exceptional leadership are critical differentiators – Worldpay is a perfect example. We are excited to continue investing in the space and building upon our experience and executive relationships."
Wells Fargo acted as financial advisor to Worldpay. Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC acted as financial advisor to GTCR. Kirkland & Ellis LLP provided legal counsel, and Paul Hastings LLP provided regulatory legal counsel.
The sale of Worldpay is expected to close in the first half of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. The sale of Worldpay and the sale of Global Payments' Issuer Solutions business are cross-conditioned upon one another and will close at the same time.
About GTCR
Founded in 1980, GTCR is a leading private equity firm that pioneered The Leaders Strategy™ – finding and partnering with management leaders in core domains to identify, acquire and build market-leading companies through organic growth and strategic acquisitions. GTCR is focused on investing in transformative growth in companies in the Business & Consumer Services, Financial Services & Technology, Healthcare and Technology, Media & Telecommunications sectors. Since its inception, GTCR has invested more than $30 billion in over 280 companies, and the firm currently manages more than $45 billion in equity capital. GTCR is based in Chicago with offices in New York and West Palm Beach. For more information, please visit www.gtcr.com . Follow us on LinkedIn .
About Worldpay
Worldpay is a leading payments technology and solutions company with unique capabilities to power omni-commerce across the globe. Worldpay's processing solutions allow businesses of all sizes to take, make and manage payments in-person and online from anywhere in the world. Annually, Worldpay processes over 55 billion transactions across 174 countries and 138 currencies. For more information, please visit worldpay.com , LinkedIn , X , and/or Facebook .
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FAQ**
How will the acquisition of Worldpay by Global Payments Inc. GPN impact the competitive landscape in the payments processing industry, considering the scale of this $24.25 billion transaction?
What are the potential synergies expected from the combination of Global Payments Inc. GPN and Worldpay, particularly in terms of product offerings and market reach?
How does GTCR plan to utilize its ownership stake in Global Payments Inc. GPN following the sale of Worldpay, and what future growth strategies are being considered?
What role will regulatory approvals play in the completion of this three-way transaction involving Worldpay, Global Payments Inc. GPN, and FIS, and what challenges do you foresee?
**MWN-AI FAQ is based on asking OpenAI questions about Fidelity National Information Services Inc. (NYSE: FIS).
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