Key facts
- Blackstone is exploring an exit from its Japanese payments provider SP.LINKS.
- SoftBank Group and a private equity consortium are in the second round of bidding.
- The potential sale could value SP.LINKS at approximately $626 million.
- Blackstone acquired its 80% stake in SP.LINKS in January 2024 for roughly $250 million.
- SP.LINKS processes about 3 million transactions daily for approximately 30,000 merchants.
Blackstone Inc. is reportedly exploring options for a full or partial exit from its Japanese payments provider, SP.LINKS, as the company attracts significant interest from potential buyers. SoftBank Group's telecom division and a separate private equity consortium have advanced to the second round of bidding for the Tokyo-based payment processor. The potential transaction could value SP.LINKS at approximately $626 million, potentially doubling Blackstone's investment made just over a year ago when it acquired an 80% stake from Sony Group for about $250 million. SP.LINKS handles millions of daily transactions across Japan's rapidly digitizing payments ecosystem, supporting various payment methods for around 30,000 merchants. SoftBank's potential acquisition is notable as it already owns a competitor, SB Payment Service, and could lead to consolidation in the Japanese fintech market.