Meridien Holdings, a US-based holding company
specializing in the payment, CRM, and banking industry, has acquired a 27%
stake in London-based fintech firm DKK Partners. This partnership is part of
Meridien's plans to list on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
DKK Partners, founded in 2020 by banking industry
veterans Dominic Duru and Khalid Talukder, specializes in emerging markets (EM)
and foreign exchange (FX) liquidity. With offices in several key African
countries, including Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Senegal, as well as in
London and Dubai, DKK has seen significant growth, with transactions reaching
$1.3 billion in the last year and EBITDA reaching $2 million with a 150% CAGR.
As part of the deal, Meridien Holdings and DKK
Partners have forged a strategic alliance to complement their business plans by
securing global payment, acquiring, banking, and FX liquidity capabilities. The
agreement includes DKK gaining shares in Meridien alongside a
multimillion-dollar cash injection to enable rapid expansion.
This partnership is a significant milestone for both
companies, enabling them to leverage each other's strengths and expertise to
drive growth and innovation in the payments industry. Meridien's acquisition of
a 27% stake in DKK Partners demonstrates its commitment to expanding its
capabilities and reach, while DKK's partnership with Meridien will enable it to
tap into new markets and customers.
The strategic objective of this partnership is to
acquire and aggregate financially regulated institutions across multiple
geographies, creating a seamless transfer of value across the Meridien
ecosystem, combining both traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized
finance (DeFi).
Khalid Talukder, co-founder of DKK Partners, expressed
his excitement about the partnership, stating that it marks a pivotal moment
for their business and that they are thrilled to be working with Meridien to
build a truly disruptive global brand.
Erik Lara Riveros, CEO of Meridien Holdings, praised
DKK Partners' growth story, customer base, and scalable business model,
highlighting that the partnership is perfect for Meridien's preparation to list
on the NYSE and drive the goal of creating a revolutionary business model in
the industry of global payments, banking, and correspondent services.
By:
Nana Appiah Acquaye
