What's going on?

The ink�s not even dry on Nexi�s recent $5.4 billion acquisition, but the payments firm is already chasing another deal this week � this time with Danish firm Nets.

What does this mean?

Italy�s Nexi hit the stock market last year and its share price has doubled since. That might�ve given it the chutzpah to go out and start hoovering up its rivals: the payments tech firm confirmed it�d be buying fellow Italian SIA on Sunday, only to make its interest in Nets � which is currently owned by private equity investors and valued at $10 billion � known the very next day.


Consolidation among payments firms has been in vogue lately: the US alone has seen PayPal buy iZettle, Fiserv buy First Data, and FIS buy Worldpay. Europe�s been at it as well, with French firms Worldline and Ingenico agreeing to team up. Nexi might�ve been swallowed up by a giant too, but it can rest easier now: Sunday�s deal has made it one of Europe�s biggest payment firms, and it�s not stopping there…

Why should I care?

The bigger picture: It�s not about the Benjamins.

The payments processing market is exploding as people spend less cash, and it�s expected to be worth $2.4 trillion by 2027. And investors know which way the wind is blowing: payments firm Square�s stock has soared 350% since March, PayPal�s shares are up 130%, and Ant Financial�s upcoming initial public offering might be the biggest ever.

Zooming out: Waste not, want not.

Another long-awaited deal � between French utilities firms Veolia and Suez � finally started taking shape this week. Veolia’s bought an almost 30% stake in Suez and is expected to use it as a launchpad to buy the entire thing � even though Suez would rather stay independent. It might be alone there: even the French government likes the sound of being home to a global giant in waste treatment and environmental services. Who wouldn�t?