Changes in banks’ regulatory capital requirements for businesses are leading banks to exit or downsize lines of business and increase the focus on other lines of business. Payments is an area where banks and non-banks are significantly increasing their commitments. Over the next five years the payments industry will change its entire shape, structure, and offerings. In the past, the complexi[...]

Alliance Data is to acquire Conversant for $23bn to expand its digital marketing services capabilities. The acquisition will be paid for half in stock and half in cash (at tendering shareholders' discretion). Post closing, Conversant will operate as a part of Epsilon, a digital marketing services division of Alliance Data. The transaction is expected to close in Q4 201[...]

2013 was a very strong year for financial services BPO providers, especially transaction processors. However, not all vendors have fared well. Let's compare two card processing vendors headquartered in the U.S.: First Data and Alliance Data. First Data:  First Data announced Q4 2013 revenues were up 1% y/y to $2.8bn. Q4 2013 revenues (and y/y revenue gr[...]