Global Payments to Acquire Worldpay in $24.25 Billion Deal

CHICAGO, April 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Global Payments (NYSE: GPN) has announced its agreement to acquire Worldpay for $24.25 billion in a transformative three-way transaction that is expected to reshape the landscape of payment processing. This deal, which includes cash and stock components, marks a pivotal shift for both companies in a competitive marketplace.

As part of the agreement, Global Payments will obtain Worldpay from the private equity firm GTCR, which recently acquired a 55% stake from Fidelity National Information Services (NYSE: FIS). In return, FIS will gain Global Payments’ Issuer Solutions business for $13.5 billion, highlighting a strategic realignment in the rapidly evolving payments industry.

GTCR will receive compensation consisting of 59% cash and 41% stock, resulting in a 15% ownership stake in Global Payments post-transaction. The expected close date for the deal is set for the first half of 2026, pending regulatory approvals.

This acquisition follows GTCR’s previous efforts to revitalize Worldpay, underlining the leadership of CEO Charles Drucker, who has prioritized enhancing global processing capabilities and innovating payment solutions. “The transformation we undertook with GTCR has positioned Worldpay as a leader in the global payments ecosystem,” said Drucker.

Upon closing, the newly formed entity will serve over six million customers, processing approximately 94 billion transactions annually, across more than 175 countries and generating a staggering $3.7 trillion in payment volume. This deal allows Global Payments to solidify its place in the merchant services sector, while providing FIS an opportunity to transition into a standalone banking services company.

The deal’s structure implies a growth-focused strategy for both firms. Analysts note the complexity of this transition, particularly as both transactions are interdependent and will concluding concurrently. “After years of stagnant organic growth, this acquisition is a bold step for Global Payments. It’s long overdue,” remarked Andrew Jeffrey, an analyst at William Blair.

Investors reacted to the announcement, with Global Payments shares seeing a decline of over 17%, while FIS shares increased nearly 7%. This reflects broader market sentiments and the intricate nature of this deal as both firms navigate their futures amid evolving financial technology landscapes.

“This transaction provides us with one of the world’s most feature-rich platforms to support e-commerce and enterprise customers,” stated Global Payments CEO Cameron Bready. The firm intends to finance the acquisition through proceeds from the Issuer Solutions sale, cash reserves, and new debt instruments.

Goldman Sachs advised FIS, while Wells Fargo served as the advisor to Worldpay, and Morgan Stanley acted on behalf of GTCR. The complexity and scale of this deal underscore the pivotal changes within the payments sector as companies increasingly seek specialization.

The announcement signifies significant shifts in business strategies among leading players in the fintech industry, with the potential for profound impacts on customers, shareholders, and the competitive landscape moving forward.