Killorglin, October 22, 2013. FEXCO, the global financial services group, today announces that it has completed the acquisition and subsequent funding of mobile payments and loyalty start-up, FLASHiZ, in partnership with BNP Paribas Personal Finance. The Luxembourg based FLASHiZ, founded in 2011, specialises in the delivery of mobile payment solutions using both QR codes and NFC to enable consumers to pay in shops, online, make peer-to-peer transfers and pay paper invoices.
The FLASHiZ platform greatly simplifies merchant integration and opens up a new mobile payment method for consumers. Merchants can use the platform to link a variety of payment methods with loyalty and couponing functionality in a way that forges deeper relationships with their own customers. Deployed at more than 500 outlets, the company has built up a steady pipeline of new deployments in key European markets.
FEXCO’s extensive portfolio of businesses includes Currency Exchange, International Payments, Dynamic Currency Conversion and Managed Business Services. Existing FEXCO services are currently deployed through a global network of acquiring banks to more than 70,000 niche merchant locations.
“We’re extremely happy to welcome FLASHiZ as an integral part of the FEXCO Group” says Gavin O’Neill, Group Managing Director of FEXCO. “We strongly believe in the potential of the company and its global technological and strategic lead position. Together with our key strategic partners, we’re confident that we’ll be able to position FLASHiZ as a worldwide market leader in the area of mobile payment solutions.”
FEXCO is joined in the acquisition by BNP Paribas Personal Finance which has taken a strategic minority shareholding in FLASHiZ. The new shareholders will continue to finance FLASHiZ’s global expansion and feature additions to its omni-channel product set. BNP Paribas Personal Finance is a 100% subsidiary of the BNP Paribas Group and the leader in France and in Europe for personal loans. BNP Paribas Personal Finance will play a decisive role in the future distribution strategy of FLASHiZ.
“BNP Paribas Personal Finance has supported the development of major retailers since 1953, working with them to innovate new payment methods as well as in-store and online credit. This engagement with FLASHiZ shows our desire to accelerate the development of technological solutions in the service of our partners' growth" says Thierry Laborde, CEO of BNP Paribas Personal Finance.
“We’re very proud to become part of the FEXCO Group” says Alexandre Rochegude, co-founder and CEO of FLASHiZ, “FEXCO brings not only high-end technology knowhow and a unique track record in managed service delivery, but also a global network of partners that will allow us to speed-up both our European and international development.”
About FLASHiZ
Incorporated in 2011, FLASHiZ is a universal payment solution meeting all payment needs in shops, on the Internet, between end consumers (transfer of cash) as well as payment of paper invoices. FLASHiZ can also be integrated into mobile commerce solutions. FLASHiZ holds an EU-wide e-money licence and is regulated in Luxembourg by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF).
In 2013, FLASHiZ launched a full digital loyalty solution offering merchants an automated redemption program to customers who pay with a smartphone. FLASHiZ has also been chosen by NGOs such as the Red Cross or Doctors Without Borders to raise funds in their latest campaigns.
PwC’s Accelerator, an innovative programme at PwC Luxembourg that assists fast growing European companies in their quest to become global, was the advisor to FLASHiZ throughout the merger and funding process.
About FEXCO
FEXCO is Ireland‘s most successful privately owned financial services company processing in excess of $10bn annually across a network of 150,000 points of sale, deployed and serviced in support of 35 acquiring banks in 26 countries.
Established in Ireland in 1981, FEXCO is today, a respected global organisation, employing 1,800 people in Ireland, UK, USA, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Australia. The acquisition of FLASHiZ brings the number of countries where FEXCO has operations to 13.
Over its thirty year history FEXCO, has been a true pioneer and innovator in the areas of Global Payments, Foreign Exchange, Transaction Processing and Managed Business Solutions and Outsourcing. Through its commitment to innovation, project delivery and customer service, the company has built an enduring, international network of partners and customers through which it delivers its broad range of products and services.
About BNP Paribas Personal Finance
BNP Paribas Personal Finance is the leader in France and in Europe for personal loans via its activities in consumer credit and mortgage lending. A 100% subsidiary of the BNP Paribas Group, BNP Paribas Personal Finance has more than 16,000 employees and operates in over 20 countries. Under brands including Cetelem, Findomestic, and AlphaCredit, the company offers a full range of personal credit products at points of sale and car dealerships and directly to consumers through its customer relations centres and Internet. BNP Paribas Personal Finance has added an insurance and savings offer for its clients in France, Italy, Germany and Bulgaria.
BNP Paribas Personal Finance has developed an active partnership strategy with retailers, web merchants and financial institutions (banks and insurance companies), based on its experience with marketing credit offers and integrated services tailored to partners’ business and commercial objectives. It is also a leading player in the field of responsible lending and financial education.
Press Contact:
FEXCO
Nuala Buttner
Q4 PR for FEXCO
+ 353 85 174 4275
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FLASHiZ
Caroline Deleuze
+ 33 6 42 99 01 38
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BNP Paribas Personal Finance
Mathilde Donovan
+ 33 1 46 39 15 88
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