SIA signs financing contract to acquire First Data business in a number of countries in Europe, including Romania

SIA, a European hi-tech firm leader in the payment services and infrastructures sector, has today signed a financing contract to support the acquisition of First Data’s business in a number of countries in Central and Southeastern Europe.

„UniCredit, one of the main reference banks and sponsor of SIA Group, acted as Sole Underwriter, guaranteeing the total underwriting of the amount, Global Coordinator, Initial Bookrunner, Initial Mandated Lead Arranger and Facility Agent.”, according to the press release.

In addition, UniCredit managed, as Active Bookrunner, the entire process of syndication, which led to significant participation by the following major banks as Mandated Lead Arranger and Bookrunner: Banca IMI, Banco BPM, BNP Paribas, Monte dei Paschi di Siena, and UBI Banca.

In May, SIA announced that have signed an agreement to acquire First Data’s card processing businesses in parts of Central and Southeastern Europe for €375 million.

This acquisition by SIA provides card processing, card production, call center and back-office services, including 13.3 million payment cards, 1.4 billion transactions, in addition to the management of POS terminals and ATMs. These businesses are primarily located in 7 countries: Greece, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Serbia and Slovakia.

Nicola Cordone, Deputy Ceo, Senior Vice President Global Business Solutions on the agreement between SIA Group and First Data: “An acquisition crucial for our leadership in European payments”.

„In Central and Southeastern Europe we will become the foremost technology provider in a market that in the coming three-year period will see a rise in payment transactions of over 11% per annum, nearly double the growth of Europe at 6%.”

„With this acquisition, SIA’s revenues, on a 2017 pro-forma basis, will increase by around 18% with a significant surge in income from outside Italy, which will rise from 20% to 33% of the total. Our major business activities will also see an acceleration with a growth of 23% in payment transactions, 18% in cards managed, 107% in POS terminals and 56% in ATMs.”