Transaction · Payments · 2023

Nuvei / Paya 2023

Nuvei acquired Paya for $1.3B on January 9, 2023.

Target
Paya
Acquirer
Nuvei
Deal value
$1.3B
Deal type
Cash
Announced
January 9, 2023
Sub-sector
Payments

Transaction overview

  • Nuvei announced the acquisition of Paya Holdings on January 9, 2023, for approximately $1.3 billion in cash.
  • Nuvei offered $9.75 per share, representing a premium of roughly 27% to Paya's 30-day volume-weighted average price.
  • The transaction closed on February 22, 2023, following shareholder and regulatory approvals.
  • Paya is a US-based integrated payments and commerce solutions provider focused on B2B verticals including healthcare, government, and nonprofits.
  • Paya processed over $40 billion in annual payment volume at the time of the deal.
  • Nuvei is a Montreal-headquartered payment technology company listed on Nasdaq and the Toronto Stock Exchange.
  • The acquisition expanded Nuvei's presence in the US integrated payments market and added ACH and check processing capabilities.

Why it matters

  • The deal gave Nuvei a larger footprint in US B2B payments, where ACH volume has grown faster than card-based transactions.
  • Paya's vertical-software distribution model added an ISV partner channel that Nuvei had not previously operated at scale in the US.

Strategic rationale

Nuvei buys integrated payments specialist focused on B2B and government verticals to expand US market share and ISV partnerships.

Deal terms & multiples

Deal value
$1.3B
Target revenue
$277M
Target EBITDA
Not disclosed
EV / Revenue
4.7x
EV / EBITDA
Not disclosed
Announcement
January 9, 2023
Close date
February 22, 2023
Acquirer
Nuvei (Strategic)
Target HQ
United States
Deal type
Cash
Sub-sector
Payments
Consideration structure
All-cash; $9.75 per share, approximately $1.3 billion total equity value.
Regulatory status
Cleared; transaction closed February 22, 2023 following Paya shareholder vote and customary regulatory approvals.
Acquirer ticker
NASDAQ: NVEI

About Paya

Paya Holdings is an Atlanta-based payments company that processes ACH, check, and card transactions for businesses in healthcare, government, utilities, and nonprofit sectors. The company distributes its services primarily through integrated software vendor partnerships rather than direct sales. Paya went public via a SPAC merger with FinTech Acquisition Corp. III in 2020 and traded on Nasdaq under the ticker PAYA. At the time of the Nuvei deal, Paya processed more than $40 billion in annual payment volume across roughly 100,000 merchant customers.

Founded
2014
HQ
United States
Prior funding
Paya went public via SPAC merger with FinTech Acquisition Corp. III in 2020; prior private equity backing from GTCR.
Key metric
Over $40 billion in annual payment volume processed

About Nuvei NASDAQ: NVEI

Nuvei is a payment technology company headquartered in Montreal, Canada, founded in 2003. The company offers card acquiring, alternative payment methods, and payout capabilities to merchants across North America, Europe, and other markets. Nuvei listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange in 2020 and added a Nasdaq listing in 2021. The company reported total volume of approximately $112 billion for fiscal year 2022 before the Paya acquisition closed.

Founded
2003
Ticker
NASDAQ: NVEI

Advisors on the transaction

Public reporting named the following firms as advisors to the parties in the transaction.

Nuvei
Goldman Sachs (financial), Kirkland & Ellis (legal). Paya: Jefferies (financial), Troutman Pepper (legal).

Frequently asked questions

How much did Nuvei pay for Paya?

Nuvei paid approximately $1.3 billion in cash, or $9.75 per Paya share.

What premium did Nuvei pay over Paya's market price?

The $9.75 per share offer represented roughly a 27% premium to Paya's 30-day volume-weighted average price before announcement.

When did the Nuvei and Paya deal close?

The transaction closed on February 22, 2023, about six weeks after the January 9, 2023 announcement.

What does Paya do?

Paya processes ACH, check, and card payments for businesses in healthcare, government, utilities, and nonprofit sectors, primarily through software partner integrations.

Why did Nuvei acquire Paya?

Nuvei sought to expand its US integrated payments business and add ACH processing scale and an ISV distribution channel it lacked domestically.

Was Paya a public company before the acquisition?

Yes. Paya traded on Nasdaq under the ticker PAYA after going public through a SPAC merger in 2020.

Sources

  • globenewswire.com /news-release/2023/01/09/2584990/0/en/Nuvei-Enters-Definitive-Agreement-to-Acquire-Paya.html