SoftBank Subsidiary SB Payment Service to Acquire SP.LINKS, Strengthening Payment Business Layout

Odaily Planet Daily News: SB Payment Service (SBPS), the core payment business subsidiary of Japan's SoftBank Group, has reached an agreement with a fund under Blackstone Group to acquire shares in the parent company of SP.LINKS (formerly Sony Payment Services). Upon completion of the transaction, SP.LINKS will become a subsidiary of SBPS. Both parties stated that they will combine SP.LINKS'accumulated expertise in payment infrastructure and service capabilities with SBPS'strengths in payment services and business foundation to further enhance competitiveness in the payment agency business and respond to market changes brought about by the proliferation of cashless payments, e-commerce development, and digital technologies such as AI.