Digital Payment Solutions Provider Network International has reported a strong Start to 2022 with Q1 Revenue Up 33 per cent Year on Year from its operations in across Africa and the Middle East.
The firm has reported strong underlying growth in payment transactions which has supported Issuer Solutions’ growth alongside new customer signings.Network International’s offering includes acquiring and processing services, and an ever-evolving range of value-added services. In 2021, Network International acquired DPO Group, a leading African digital payments company, in a landmark deal for the African payments landscape.
The total value of domestic payments processed in Q1 2022 increased by 22% year on year as consumer spending remained buoyant. Robust tourism and business travel supported by events such as Expo 2020 Dubai led to a sharp rise in international TPV, which grew 120% year on year. Domestic and international TPV is now 20% and 9% respectively, ahead of their pre-pandemic levels in Q1 2019.
“We have started the year strongly with 33% y/y Q1 revenue growth. Key markets are seeing a continued improvement in consumer spending and increasing numbers of international visitors, driving accelerated growth in both domestic and international TPV. This has been supported by customer wins and capability launches.
DPO Group has also seen good volume growth of 33% year on year, as well as the benefit of another cross-selling arrangement with an existing Network customer – RCS Group. Overall, the growth in the period is evidence of successful delivery on our strategic objectives and a solid foundation for the year ahead.” Said Nandan Mer, Chief Executive Officer, Networks International.
The company saw an excellent start to the year, which reflects the benefits of customers signed in the prior year, cross-selling to existing customers and strong underlying digital transaction growth. Performance was broadly based across both the Middle East and Africa, with the number of transactions increasing strongly in the quarter. The number of credentials hosted also remains in positive growth territory, with Northern Africa and Jordan particularly supportive through the period.
Network secured three new financial institution customers; and renewed two existing contracts, including the renewal of our processing agreement with Commercial Bank of Dubai. In new business wins, the company has signed a five-year agreement with Taj Bank in Nigeria for virtual and physical cards, the first Islamic bank to be onboarded onto Network’s Nigerian platform. Network is now live and providing processing services to Blink Neo Bank in Jordan, the region’s first licensed digital-only bank, a win which is evidence of Network’s enriched digital banking experience, delivering card issuing, hosting and personalization services. Other new clients included Albaraka Bank, the company’s second financial institution win in Sudan.
Network is also in the process of onboarding its new processing customer in Saudi Arabia and has a healthy new business pipeline in the country. The company expects The Kingdom to become a key market, as the adoption of digital payments continues to accelerate in line with Vision 2030.
In Egypt, Network is currently in the process of applying for a payment service provider license with its technology stack already in the deployment phase. The company expects the revenue opportunity to build from 2023 onwards.
The company has also launched ‘fintech in a box’, where it is now able to issue, host and process credentials for fintech in southern Africa and has partnered with Access Bank. This allows Network to significantly scale its partnerships with fintech and provide them with services across the entire payments value chain, a model which will be shared across the broader group and regions.
