A recent American Banker article suggests that by going private (selling itself to KKR for $29 Billion, $34 a share) First Data will be able to make long over due investments in consolidating its processing systems without raising the ire of shareholders. The company expects to spend $100 million over 2.5 years to consolidate 13 processing systems to four and merge 12 data centers to 3. With that complex a transformation in process, you'd want to minimize the risk of shareholder impatience, too.
Will Buyout Recharge First Data's Strategy?
American Banker
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
By David Breitkopf
During her time at Glenbrook, Erin focused on client engagements in business payments, cross-border transactions, bill payment, and the intersection of corporate finance, banking, and ERP/accounting. She has nearly twenty years of experience leading increasingly complex payment initiatives for corporate clients and advising financial institutions and payment technologists on the development of their payment capabilities.
Erin is also the founder of Forte Financial, a consulting firm focused on corporate finance efficiency, technology, and process improvement. She is a past president of the Financial Women’s Association of San Francisco and also a two-term past president of the San Francisco Treasury Management Association. Erin is no longer with Glenbrook, but contributed greatly during her time at the firm.