Rêv and Searchlight Capital Collaborate to Acquire Netspend Consumer Business from Global Payments for $1B

Rêv Worldwide, Inc., (Rêv), an international fintech company, and Global Payments (NYSE: GPN), a leading worldwide provider of payment technology and software solutions, announced that Rêv, in partnership with funds advised by Searchlight Capital Partners, L.P. (Searchlight), has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Netspend consumer business from Global Payments in an all cash transaction valued at $1 billion. 

The acquisition brings back Netspend's founders, Roy and Bertrand Sosa, who also founded Rêv. The Sosa brothers look to leverage the strategic assets of the two entities to build a global, high growth company that delivers on a mission of financial empowerment and product innovation.

For Searchlight, this transaction represents another exciting partnership with dynamic fintech entrepreneurs while also being able to support growth and innovation for consumer financial services to underserved markets. With this sale, Global Payments delivers on its commitment to divest itself from Netspend's consumer business, allowing the company to focus on its core B2B operations and growth opportunities with Rêv as a partner.

"We've gone full circle, launching programs with partners around the globe in our journey to provide innovative financial services to underserved mass markets. We are very excited by the opportunity to partner with the Netspend consumer team and Searchlight as we deliver new products, expand into new markets and add more value to customers across the world," said Roy Sosa, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Rêv.

Christopher Cruz, Partner, Searchlight, added: "The characteristics of this investment are rare to find. Combining an industry leading operation in Netspend's consumer business with modern platform technology and digitally native solutions from Rêv unlocks great growth potential by meeting the needs of a significant and sizable market. We look forward to partnering with Roy, Bertrand, and the Rêv team as they continue their mission to financially empower underserved consumers through fintech innovation."

The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2023 subject to relevant regulatory approvals, and customary closing conditions.