GLOBAL PAYMENTS Business Summary

Global Payments Inc. (NYSE: GPN) is a leading fintech powerhouse that generates revenue primarily through transaction-based processing fees and subscription-based software services. As of February 2026, the company has completed a transformative strategic pivot into a "pure-play" merchant solutions provider following the January 9, 2026, dual-execution of a $24.25 billion acquisition of Worldpay and the $13.5 billion divestiture of its Issuer Solutions business to FIS. The company now operates through three primary market channels—Enterprise, SMB, and Integrated & Platforms—processing approximately $3.7 trillion in annual volume across 6 million merchant locations in over 175 countries. Positioned as a top-three global merchant acquirer with an estimated 8.5% market share, Global Payments competes directly with legacy incumbents like Fiserv and FIS, as well as cloud-native disruptors such as Adyen and Stripe, distinguishing itself through its "Genius" unified commerce platform and deep vertical software integration. Leadership is currently spearheaded by CEO Cameron Bready, a veteran executive and former CFO/COO who succeeded Jeffrey Sloan in 2023 and is the primary architect of the company's recent portfolio simplification. The executive team includes CFO Josh Whipple, President and COO Bob Cortopassi, and Senior EVP and CIO Guido Sacchi, who oversees the firm’s global technological infrastructure. Following a constructive agreement with activist investor Elliott Investment Management, the board was recently bolstered by the appointments of Patricia Watson, Archana Deskus, and Vivek Sankaran (former CEO of Albertsons), effective February 19, 2026. Notable institutional backing includes the Vanguard Group and State Street, alongside private equity firm GTCR, which holds a significant 15.45% stake resulting from the Worldpay transaction. The company traces its lineage to National Data Corporation (founded in 1967 by George W. Thorpe) and was formally established as an independent entity via a 2001 spin-off led by founding CEO Paul R. Garcia.