July 29, 2009 – No smoke without a fire… Despite media reports, China UnionPay (CUP) has denied holding any talks over a stake sale and also left some ambiguity over the timing of an IPO. CUP’s announcement came after reports that CUP had agreed to sell a combined 10% stake in the company to three private equity firms in preparation for next year’s planned IPO. According to the report the three potential buyers were named as CITIC Private Equity, CITIC Securities Co. Ltd., and V-Stone Investments Ltd.
CUP is the only national payment card organization in China and is projected to become a global force once the Chinese payment card market takes off. Stay tuned to get in early when CUP does go public.
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March 9, 2009 – Investcorp, the Bahrain based investment bank has put online payments company Moneybookers up for sale. Moneybookers is a UK based company that facilitates global e-commerce payments and money transfers – the company has 7 million account holders, 35,000 merchants and offers over 60 payment options in 200 countries. Investcorp Technology Partners, the bank’s technology private equity arm, bought Moneybookers for 105 million euros in March 2007; it is now aiming to raise about 400 million euros. A fairly lavish return indeed underscoring the attraction of payments companies, particularly those that have a broad geographic reach and can support multiple payment forms.
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July 11, 2008 – GE Money announced that it has reached agreement with Shinsei Bank for the sale of its Japanese consumer finance business, including credit cards, mortgages and the personal loan business ‘Lake’ for US$5.4 billion—the sale is expected to close in the third quarter. This divestiture is part of GE’s exit from the consumer finance business particularly in challenging markets; U.S. consumer finance is looking for a strategic partner, the Indian business has been for sale for sometime although no takers. There is also talk of exits in the UK as well as parts of South America. Globally, GE’s strategy seems to have shifted from consumer finance to commercial finance with an overall corporate focus on fast growing emerging markets. In Japan, GE will continue to operate GE Nissen Credit Co. Ltd., the credit card JV with Nissen, a shopping catalogue as well as the commercial finance business which reportedly is strong in Japan and consists of leasing, fleet services, healthcare finance and commercial real estate.
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July 12, 2008 – As part of its worldwide business trimming Citibank sold its German banking operation to Credit Mutuel of France for US$7.7 billion. Citibank Deutschland, a profitable retail and lending enterprise with an expansive distribution of 340 branches and 3.3 million customers enjoyed relatively strong market share and its sale came as a surprise in some quarters. However, given Citibank’s focus on fast growing emerging markets the Bank decided to exit the German retail business – watch for more divestitures especially in small markets where Citi has a small presence. As it has in many countries where it has exited the retail business Citibank is maintaining its corporate and investment banking activities. The deal provides Credit Mutuel a solid foothold in Europe’s largest banking market while providing Citibank with much needed cash. According to analysts the sale is worth about US$4 billion in after-tax gains to Citibank.
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February 07, 2008 – Discover Financial Services has agreed to sell its Goldfish credit card business in the UK to Barclays for US$70 million cutting loose a business it bought two years ago for US$1.7 billion. Barclays will acquire 1.7 million Goldfish and affinity card accounts with about US$4 billion of receivables, and take on Goldfish’s brand, staff and facilities. The card business includes MasterCard and Visa. Discover will take a first-quarter charge of US$190 million to US$210 million and said the sale should improve earnings for the rest of the year. The sale underscores the difficulties of managing an international credit card business and continued credit challenges in the UK consumer sector.
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