Our International Coverage
Across the globe, electronic payments are showing extraordinary growth driven in large part by the modernization of financial infrastructures, new lending opportunities, and improvements in risk management capabilities. At the same time, the continued trend towards greater regulatory intervention (e.g., SEPA, Base II, interchange pressures) are having a dramatic impact on investment and profitability levels throughout the industry. However, the global payments landscape reveals marked difference between countries. Important differences are visible in the stage of market development, accessibility of credit, operating infrastructure, payment preferences, cardholder behavior, and industry economics, along with other important factors that create both challenges and opportunities for payments companies.
Since our inception, First Annapolis has been helping international clients succeed in a dynamic, highly competitive global payments market. When working with clients in different geographic regions, First Annapolis recognizes that what works in one market may not necessarily be appropriate for another. Accordingly, our advisory approach blends industry expertise, international experience and local market considerations to deliver solutions that are relevant within each client’s market and competitive context.
First Annapolis provides a full range of management consulting and mergers & acquisitions advisory services to its international clients. We have provided consultancy and financial advisory support to credit card issuers, acquirers, payment networks, retailers and other payment providers in a range of markets across North America, Europe, Central & South America and Asia.
In Europe
With the competitive landscape rapidly changing, the European market is today one of our most active. First Annapolis provides a full suite of services in Europe including management consulting and M&A advisory services. In particular, First Annapolis has a breadth of experience advising merchant acquirers, credit and commercial card issuers, retailers, and networks and processors on subjects highly relevant to today’s market such as:
- Formation of acquiring joint ventures and partnerships
- Co-branded credit card programs
- Outsourcing and processor selection
- Cross-border expansion
- Commercial card marketing
- Debit network strategy
In Latin America
Electronic payments in Latin America are showing extraordinary growth driven in large part by the modernization of financial infrastructures, the expansion of credit to less affluent segments of the population, and improvements in risk management capabilities. At the same time, greater regulatory intervention (e.g., interchange) and the increased presence of new entrants in the industry are having a dramatic impact on investment and profitability.
First Annapolis has provided consultancy and financial advisory support to credit card issuers, acquirers, card associations, retailers, processors and other payment providers in a range of markets across Latin America, including Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Dominican Republic, among others. Our consulting teams balance industry expertise and international experience with local market considerations to deliver solutions that are relevant within each client’s market and competitive context.
In Canada
The Canadian payments market has undergone as much change recently as that of any developed economy in the world, and First Annapolis remains committed to supporting financial institutions, networks, processors, retailers and other stakeholders as they navigate an altered competitive terrain within Canada. With over fifteen years of experience assisting Canadian clients in our core practice areas , First Annapolis can offer advice unrivaled in its balance between local market knowledge and relevant insights from the U.S. and other comparable payment environments.