The Emerging Markets Payments Group was established to deliver world-class electronic payments services to banks, retailers, governments and consumer finance institutions across the Middle East and Africa.
EMP’s Vision to be the leading provider of trusted and affordable world-class payment services inAfrica and the Middle East and in doing so have a profound effect on the lives of people in the region and on their economies.
EMP’s Mission to become the leading provider of trusted and affordable world-class payment services to Africa and the Middle East by addressing all geographies; all payment schemes; all product categories; all channels; all client types; and delivering, and being seen to deliver, real value to all EMP stakeholders including governments, communities, employees and shareholders through strong leadership, professional management, innovation and a commitment to the highest levels of data security.
Globally, a significant shift is taking place as societies move away from cash-based economies to greater use of electronic payments, a trend that is emphasized in the emerging markets of Africa and the Middle East. This trend offers significant opportunities for all stakeholders, from banks, retailers and card associations through to the end consumer.
The EMP Group is committed to remaining at the forefront of this revolution by creating a payments platform that drives card penetration and other payment types in these emerging markets.
The Group is majority owned by leading emerging markets private equity house, Actis and is spearheaded by Paul Edwards, the Executive Chairman. Paul has had over 20 years’ experience building successful businesses in Africa and Asia, and played a key role in establishing MTN as Africa’s leading cellular telecommunications company. It is widely believed that the payments industry in Africa and the Middle East will follow the same dramatic growth path as the cellular telecommunications industry did throughout the 2000s.
The EMP Group concluded its first acquisition (MSCC, based in Egypt) in July 2010 and its second acquisition (Visa Jordan Card Services, based in Jordan) in August 2011. Its third acquisition (ACET Processing, based in South Africa) was concluded in February 2012.
EMP Group now serves more than 130 banks and 30,000 retailers and other merchants across 45 countries in Africa and the Middle East and offers the full range of card schemes, including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club and China UnionPay, and can address all payments channels, including card, mobile and internet.
The EMP Group is a trusted partner that operates to the highest standards of integrity and corporate conduct. All investment decisions and operating activities are underpinned by clear and explicit principles. The leadership team has established a strong culture of ethical business practice and the Group commits itself to the highest standards of compliance, governance, transparency and accountability.
EMP insists on the highest standards of personal and corporate conduct from all its employees and across all its businesses. Its Code of Ethics reflects the Group’s values and ethos, which demand integrity and fair dealing at all times in the conduct of the business. The EMP leadership has established a strong culture of ethical business practice and holds the Group to the highest standards of compliance, transparency, accountability and governance.
EMP is 100% owned by Actis and management. Actis is a leading private equity investor in emerging markets, with over 60 years experience. Actis has USD 5bn under management and over 100 investment professionals in 10 offices covering the Middle East and Africa, India, China and Latin America.
