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IndustryUpdate

are financially healthy, and 51 percent carry revolv- PXP Financial, Zebra Technologies team up
ing debt, with interest rates rising to 15.6 percent. This
shift to cashback and lower-fee cards reflects declining PXP Financial joined the Zebra PartnerConnect program
financial health, with 54 percent now classified as finan- as an independent software vendor, focusing on pro-
cially unhealthy, researchers noted, adding that satis- viding SoftPOS payment capabilities for Zebra mobile
faction among cardholders with debt is notably lower. devices. This partnership grants PXP access to Zebra's
Also, American Express ranks highest in satisfaction innovative portfolio, comprehensive training and exten-
among issuers surveyed, while Capital One and Bank sive marketing, sales and technical benefits, the partners
of America cards lead specific categories. Automated stated. By collaborating with Zebra, they added, PXP
customer service scored poorly compared to personal aims to enhance customer payment experiences by
interactions. integrating its payment solutions with Zebra’s industry-
leading products. Scott Lane, chief commercial officer at
SMBs embrace digital tools, AI for efficiency PXP Financial, highlighted that PartnerConnect will help
PXP differentiate itself and better serve customers in the
According to the U.S. Bank 2024 Small Business Perspective, global market.
73 percent of American small business owners experi-
enced growth in the past year, with higher rates among Secura/Isaac Group, Consilient
Black (84 percent) and Hispanic (80 percent) owners. form strategic alliance
Despite growth, many face challenges like labor short-
ages and inflation. To attract and retain employees, 83 Secura/Isaac Group and Consilient partnered to enhance
percent plan to offer flexible hours. Additionally, 75 per- financial crime detection using AI and Federated
cent of owners will focus on digital tools, with 68 percent Learning technology. This collaboration was established
recognizing the benefits of AI and automation, though to empower financial institutions, regulators and pay-
nearly half are concerned about automation replacing ment platforms to identify suspicious activities while
their business. ensuring data privacy. Secura/Isaac Group, led by for-
mer FDIC Chairman William Isaac, provides regulatory
SMBs overconfident in cash flow control guidance and industry expertise. Consilient's Federated
Learning platform trains AI models locally, aggregating
A survey of small business owners by Relay and RKI insights without sharing data. This privacy-protected
revealed that small participants in the study were approach, the partners noted, allows institutions to man-
42 percent overconfident in their cash flow manage- age financial crime risks more effectively. The partner-
ment. Despite 91 percent of respondents facing cash ship aims to transform anti-money laundering efforts
flow issues, only 62 percent admitted these problems and improve financial crime detection efficiency and
negatively impact their business, causing missed growth collaboration.
opportunities and delayed projects. Relay’s Cash Flow
Compass report highlights a gap between perception and
reality, with most relying solely on bank balances for ACQUISITIONS
decisions. Researchers stressed the need for better cash
flow organization. Roper Technologies to acquire Transact Campus

PARTNERSHIPS Roper Technologies agreed to acquire Transact Campus
Inc. for $1.5 billion, including a $100 million tax benefit.
Transact, known for its campus technology and payment
Peanuds, Weavr emphasize scalability solutions, will merge with Roper's CBORD business. The
combined entity intends to leverage both brands and be
Peanuds, a financial app for startups, freelancers and led by Transact CEO Nancy Langer. Neil Hunn, Roper's
SMBs, partnered with embedded finance provider CEO, highlighted Transact's strong customer retention
Weavr. This partnership equips Peanuds with financial and cash conversion. The deal is financed through cash
infrastructure like virtual IBANs, multi-currency sup- and credit. Transact is expected to generate $325 million
port and payment cards, the partners stated, adding in revenue and $105 million EBITDA in 2025, driving
that Peanuds targets digital businesses in hubs, offering high single-digit organic growth, Roper stated.
quick setup of user profiles, spend management and
analytics. Designed as a modular platform for diverse Shift4 to acquire Givex in all-cash transaction
financial needs, Peanuds said it aims to become a finan-
cial super-app. The collaboration with Weavr, Peanuds Givex Corp. entered into a definitive agreement with
added, allows it to scale efficiently while focusing on Shift4 Payments under which Shift4 will acquire all
user experience, while leveraging Weavr's technology outstanding Givex shares for C$1.50 per share, valuing
and competitive pricing. Givex at approximately C$200 million. The offer repre-
sents a 64 percent premium to Givex's 20-day volume-
weighted average price on the TSX. The transaction,

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