AMSTERDAM - Thursday, July 3rd 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- GlobalCollect, the leading global e-commerce payments service provider, today announced that the company, along with majority shareholder Welsh Carson Anderson & Stowe, has entered exclusive negotiations with Ingenico Group (Euronext: FR0000125346 - ING) regarding the acquisition of GlobalCollect.

“The planned acquisition by Ingenico Group is a perfect fit with GlobalCollect. Combining our global cross-border payment processing with Ingenico Group’s multi-channel services will create great opportunities for our clients, by reducing payment complexity across all channels and providing more payment alternatives to drive new sale opportunities. This is an exciting time to be in the payment industry and an even more exciting opportunity for GlobalCollect to be part of such a world class organization as Ingenico.“, said Thomas P. Staudt, Chief Executive Officer of GlobalCollect.

Sanjay Swani, Chairman of the Supervisory Board and General Partner at Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, commented that “This transaction will provide significant benefits to the employees, customers and shareholders of GlobalCollect and has the full support of our Supervisory Board. We are confident that through this combination, GlobalCollect will benefit from Ingenico Group’s strong support, enhancing its leadership position going forward.

“The acquisition of GlobalCollect would enable us to accelerate the implementation of our strategy across all channels, on a global scale, especially in payment services and mobile payment”, said Philippe Lazare, Chief Executive Officer of Ingenico Group. “This is a great opportunity to maintain our time-to-market advantage to rapidly reinforce Ingenico Group’s position as a global leader in seamless payment. As an example, it would be a real game changer in North America where we would provide payment solutions across all sales channels, beyond smart terminals. All in all, combining Ingenico Group and GlobalCollect would create a player with unrivalled geographical coverage, network of acquirers/banks and payment methods. And this would result in substantial value for our employees, customers and shareholders”.

Final legal documentation would be signed in Q3 2014. The closing is expected to occur by early Q4 2014, subject to approval from the relevant regulatory and antitrust authorities.

Rothschild and Deutsche Bank are acting as financial advisors to GlobalCollect.

About GlobalCollect

GlobalCollect is a leading full-service Payment Service Provider (“PSP”) that allows online merchants to accept a broad range of electronic payment types and currencies from consumers around the world. As a “collecting” PSP, GlobalCollect also handles moving, processing and reconciling funds between consumers and merchants. GlobalCollect leverages a worldwide network spanning over 200 countries and territories, 150 currencies and dozens of distinct international and local payment methods. More information on www.globalcollect.com

About Ingenico Group

Ingenico Group (Euronext: FR0000125346 - ING) is the global leader in seamless payment, providing smart, trusted and secure solutions to empower commerce across all channels, in-store, online and mobile. With the world’s largest payment acceptance network, we deliver secure payment solutions with a local, national and international scope. We are the trusted world-class partner for financial institutions and retailers, from small merchants to several of the world’s best known global brands. Our solutions enable merchants to simplify payment and deliver their brand promise. Learn more at www.ingenico.com twitter.com/Ingenico

About Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe

Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe focuses its investment activity in two target industries, information/business services and healthcare. Since its founding in 1979, the Firm has organized 15 limited partnerships with total capital of $20 billion. The Firm is currently investing an equity fund, Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe XI, L.P.

Contacts

GlobalCollect

For further information, please contact:

John Snoek Global VP Marketing

Mob. +31 6 132 122 46

E-Mail: press@globalcollect.com

Web: www.globalcollect.com

Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/11524/en