Empresas y finanzas
The Western Union Company Completes Acquisition of Servicio Electronico De Pago S.A. (SEPSA)
The Western Union Company (NYSE:WU), a global leader in money
transfer services, today announced that it has completed the
acquisition of Servicio Electronico De Pago S.A. (SEPSA). Under the
brand name Pago Facil, SEPSA is the largest collector and processor of
public services cash payments in Argentina.
Through a network of more than 3,300 payment locations, Pago Facil
(SEPSA) allows consumers to make cash payments for public services and
taxes as well as pre-payment for services such as Internet access and
mobile phone top-up. Western Union purchased Pago Facil (SEPSA) from
its parent company, Sideco Americana, which in turn was founded by
Groupo Macri. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
"Western Union has long provided consumers with convenience,
speed, choice and value for their money transfer and bill payment
needs," said Christina Gold, President and Chief Executive Officer,
The Western Union Company. "The addition of Pago Facil extends Western
Union's bill payment capabilities throughout Argentina, adding a
well-recognized brand name that stands for trust and value. Western
Union is proud to welcome Pago Facil (SEPSA) and its employees to the
Western Union family."
The acquisition of Pago Facil (SEPSA) by Western Union represents
the culmination of a strong and lengthy relationship between the two
companies. Since Pago Facil's founding in 1993, Western Union has been
a shareholder, holding a 25 percent interest in the company. Although
Pago Facil now becomes a wholly owned division of Western Union, the
company will continue to operate under the Pago Facil name and under
the leadership of its existing management team.
"Today marks an important step in the future of Pago Facil
(SEPSA)," said Franco Macri, President, SOCMA Group. "Western Union's
global presence and experience in both the bill payment and money
transfer markets will allow Pago Facil (SEPSA) to continue to expand
its horizons. I know that Western Union is committed to building on
the existing experience and success of Pago Facil and to expanding its
presence within Argentina."
Violy & Company, served as the strategic and financial advisor to
Western Union for the transaction.
About Western Union
The Western Union Company (NYSE:WU) is a leader in global money
transfer services. Together with its affiliates, Orlandi Valuta and
Vigo, Western Union provides consumers with fast, reliable and
convenient ways to send and receive money around the world, as well as
send payments and purchase money orders. It operates through a network
of approximately 285,000 Agent locations in over 200 countries and
territories. Famous for its pioneering telegraph services, the
original Western Union dates back to 1851. For more information, visit
www.westernunion.com.
About Sideco Americana
Sideco is a diversified holding, mainly composed by local capital
and with regional and international projection, which contributed to
the development of Argentina and Latin American countries in general.
Sideco was founded and established in 1951.
As part of its exemplary track record, the Group has developed
initiatives related to industrial engineering, civil infrastructure,
mining exploration, real estate development, energy freight and
generation, industrial trash processing and environmental care,
concession of routes and highways, the automobile industry and
services in general, in various countries of South America, Europe,
U.S. and most recently China.
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which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from
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impact of our spin-off from First Data Corporation; changes in
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the integration of significant businesses and technologies we acquire
and realization of anticipated synergies from these acquisitions;
technological changes, particularly with respect to e-commerce; our
ability to attract and retain qualified key employees; changes in
laws, regulations or industry standards affecting our businesses;
changes in foreign exchange spreads on money transfer transactions;
changes in the political or economic climate in countries in which we
operate; continued growth in the consumer money transfer market and
other markets in which we operate at rates approximating recent
levels; our ability to compete effectively in the money transfer
industry with respect to global and niche or corridor money transfer
providers, United States and international banks, card associations,
card-based payments providers and a number of other types of
competitive service providers; our ability to maintain our agent
network; implementation of Western Union agent agreements with
governmental entities according to schedule and no interruption of
relations with countries in which Western Union has or is implementing
material agent agreements; successfully managing the potential both
for patent protection and patent liability in the context of rapidly
developing legal framework for expansive software patent protection;
successfully managing credit and fraud risks from our agents and from
consumers; unanticipated developments relating to lawsuits,
investigations or similar matters; catastrophic events; and any
material breach of security of any of our systems. For more
information on important factors upon which these forward-looking
statements are premised, please refer to the information statement
contained in The Western Union Company Form 10, declared effective by
the Securities and Exchange Commission, and any other filings made by
Western Union from time to time with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.