Visa announced a definitive agreement to acquire Prisma Medios de Pago S.A.U. and Newpay S.A.U. from private‑equity firm Advent International. The transaction value has not been disclosed, but the deal is expected to close in Visa’s fiscal second quarter of 2026, after meeting customary closing conditions.
Prisma is a leading issuer‑processing platform that handles more than six billion card transactions each year for a broad base of banks in Argentina. Newpay operates real‑time payments services, the Banelco ATM network, and the PagoMisCuentas bill‑payment platform, serving millions of consumers across the country.
The acquisition is part of Visa’s strategy to deepen its footprint in high‑growth emerging markets and to integrate advanced payment technologies such as tokenization, biometric authentication, and real‑time settlement into its global network. Visa previously held a stake in Prisma, and the purchase brings the platform fully under its control, while Advent retains ownership of Payway, the merchant‑acquisition arm of the Prisma group.
By combining Prisma’s and Newpay’s local infrastructure with Visa’s global connectivity, the company aims to accelerate digital‑payment adoption in Argentina, capture additional revenue from value‑added services, and strengthen its platform‑as‑a‑service model in a rapidly fragmenting payments landscape. The deal also positions Visa to better compete with regional payment providers.
Shares of Visa were trading lower on the day of the announcement, reflecting a mix of valuation concerns and broader industry headwinds that tempered investor enthusiasm for the expansion news.
"This acquisition is an important step for Visa in Argentina, strengthening our client partnerships and advancing innovation across the payments ecosystem," said Ryan McInerney, Visa’s CEO. "By bringing together Prisma’s and Newpay’s deep local expertise with Visa’s global solutions and technology, we will empower our clients to make payments simpler, faster, and more secure for consumers and businesses." Gabriela Renaudo, Group Country Manager for Visa Argentina and Southern Cone, added, "We see significant opportunities to expand digital payments adoption and modernize financial services, capabilities and infrastructure across the country."
The transaction is expected to accelerate the deployment of tokenization and biometric authentication in Argentina, enhance real‑time settlement capabilities, and provide Visa with a stronger platform to serve issuers, acquirers, and merchants in the region. The acquisition also signals Visa’s continued focus on building a global payments ecosystem that can adapt to local market dynamics while delivering advanced technology to consumers and businesses alike.
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