FIS has announced a significant reshaping of its business with two strategic moves: the sale of its remaining 45% stake in Worldpay and the acquisition of Global Payments’ Issuer Solutions business.

The divestiture of Worldpay to Global Payments will bring in $6.6 billion, which FIS plans to use to reduce debt and support share repurchases. This transaction marks the final step in FIS’ exit from its Worldpay venture, following the spin-off of a majority stake in 2023, according to FIS’s April 17 release.

In a simultaneous move, FIS will acquire Global Payments’ Issuer Solutions business for $13.5 billion, in a deal that includes $11.5 billion in cash and $2 billion in FIS stock, the release stated.

This acquisition is poised to enhance FIS’ scale and capabilities in credit and debit card processing, fraud management, and customer loyalty solutions. The business serves over 800 financial institutions across more than 75 countries, and the deal is expected to close in the first half of 2026, pending regulatory approvals.

FIS projects the acquisition will drive $125 million in annual revenue synergies and $150 million in EBITDA synergies by the third year. These moves reflect FIS’ strategy to focus on core banking and payments technologies, while strengthening its global reach and product offerings, according to the release.

FIS said the divestiture and acquisition together enhance its strategic flexibility and capital position, while deepening its footprint in global payments infrastructure. The company aims to simplify its structure and prioritize areas with higher growth potential, particularly in real-time payments, issuer processing, and banking-as-a-service offerings, the release stated.

With these moves, FIS positions itself to deliver more focused innovation and better returns to shareholders, while maintaining a strong capital foundation and returning up to $3 billion to investors in 2025, according to the release.