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NewsBriefs

Editor's Note: Following are excerpts from news stories recently posted under Breaking Industry TSYS finds AI, mobile-powered
News on our home page. For links to these and other full news stories, please visit www.green- payments gaining ground
sheet.com/breakingnews.php?flag=previous_breaking_news.
According to a survey of U.S. card-
IT firms consolidate amid escalating cyberattacks holders conducted by Total System
Services Inc., consumer interest in
Mergers and acquisitions in the IT community reached an all-time high of cutting-edge payment methods is on
$30.8 billion in the second half of 2017, according to a new report by Hampleton the rise. For the first time in the sur-
Partners, published March 26, 2018. The London-based research firm found vey's seven-year history, TSYS asked
heavy consolidation with high multiples for 30 consecutive months in the consumers whether they would use
enterprise software market. Researchers cited Vantiv's $10.4 billion acquisition an artificial intelligence (AI)-pow-
of Worldpay as a recent example. Organizations are combining assets and ered device to make a purchase or
capabilities to compete globally and protect against cyberattacks. payment. Of the 26 percent who own
such devices, 60 percent affirmed
they would if such an option were
available.
Cannabis merchants seek regula-
tory clarity, banking solutions
While medical and recreational
forms of marijuana are legal in 30
states and the District of Columbia,
cannabis merchants face continuing
regulatory uncertainties and blatant
hostilities from the U.S. Department
of Justice. Recent remarks by U.S. At-
torney General Jeff Sessions linked
cannabis sales with criminal gangs,
violence and a national drug crisis,
despite growing public support and
reported socio-economic benefits of
cannabis usage. A study published
March 12, 2018, by Colorado State
University-Pueblo's Institute of Can-
nabis Research found the Pueblo
area netted $35 million in cannabis
revenue in 2016.
Better detection, oversight
advised in wake of HBC breach

Hudson's Bay Co. is the latest high-
profile retailer to report a data se-
curity breach. The Toronto-based
company issued a statement April
1, 2018, confirming its Saks Fifth
Avenue, Saks Off 5th and Lord &
Taylor brands are being investigated
for unusual payment card activity.
The company's ecommerce and digi-
tal platforms do not appear to have
been affected. Impacted individuals
will be offered free identity protec-
tion, credit and web monitoring ser-
vices and dedicated call center assis-
tance, company representatives stat-
ed. Security analysts believe hackers
slipped in undetected via HBC's POS
systems.

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