Network International

Corporate brand

Network International is a United Arab Emirates-based payment services provider serving merchants, financial institutions and consumers across the Middle East and Africa.

Last updated August 31, 2026

AI crawler reads

No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.

Overview

Network International is a payment services company headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, with a business focused primarily on the Middle East and Africa. Its activities include payment processing, merchant acquiring, card issuing support, digital payments and related technology services for banks, retailers, governments and other organizations. The company operates mainly as infrastructure behind electronic payments rather than as a consumer-facing card brand. The business began in 1994 as a payments subsidiary of Emirates Bank. Over time it developed into an independent regional payments processor and became one of the most significant providers in markets where electronic payments, card acceptance and online commerce were expanding. Network International was reported to be the first independent vendor in the Middle East to receive certification from both Mastercard and Visa for payment services. It also became a member of the JCB and UnionPay card schemes, allowing its infrastructure to support a broader range of international card networks. Ownership and scale changed substantially during the 2010s. The Abraaj Group acquired a 49 percent stake in 2011, and later sold that interest to an investment partnership involving Warburg Pincus and General Atlantic in 2015. In March 2016, Network International acquired Emerging Markets Payments from Actis for approximately $340 million. The transaction expanded the company’s reach across emerging markets and strengthened its position as a major payment processor in the Middle East and North Africa. In 2019, Network International floated on the premium segment of the London Stock Exchange’s Official List. The initial public offering valued the company at approximately £2.2 billion, with 40 percent of the shares sold. Mastercard also made a cornerstone investment of $300 million, subject to a 9.99 percent ownership limit, and described the investment as supporting joint opportunities in the Middle East and North Africa. Network International subsequently became part of the FTSE 250 index. The company continued its African expansion through the acquisition of DPO Group, an online payments platform operating across Africa. The transaction was completed in September 2021 for approximately $291.3 million. In June 2023, Brookfield Asset Management made an offer to acquire Network International for approximately £2.2 billion. The transaction received approval from the High Court of England and Wales in September 2024 and was completed after the company had been a London-listed business. In 2025, Network International combined its operations with Magnati, another payment services provider, creating Network International LLC. The resulting entity is controlled by a consortium led by Brookfield. The merger brought together two payment businesses with strong positions in the Middle East and Africa. Network International’s present identity is therefore associated with regional payment infrastructure, merchant acquiring, issuer processing and digital-commerce enablement rather than with a standalone publicly traded company.

History

Network International was established in the United Arab Emirates in 1994 as the payments subsidiary of Emirates Bank. Its original role was to provide electronic-payment infrastructure and processing services connected with the growth of card payments in the region. The company later developed into an independent payment-services vendor serving banks, merchants and other institutions across the Middle East and Africa. A significant part of Network International’s development was its connection to international payment schemes. The company became the first independent vendor in the Middle East to be certified by both Mastercard and Visa for payment services, and it also joined the JCB and UnionPay networks. These relationships helped it process a wider range of card transactions and supported its expansion beyond the United Arab Emirates. The company’s ownership changed during the 2010s. The Abraaj Group acquired a 49 percent interest in 2011. In 2015, Abraaj sold its stake to a joint venture formed by Warburg Pincus and General Atlantic. Network International then pursued an expansion strategy based on acquisitions. In March 2016, it acquired Emerging Markets Payments from Actis for approximately $340 million. The acquisition substantially increased the company’s regional scale and reinforced its position among payment processors serving the Middle East and North Africa. Management also changed during this period. Simon Haslam, previously associated with US payments processor Elavon, became chief executive in January 2017, replacing Bhairav Trivedi. Haslam retired in 2021 and was succeeded by Nandan Mer, who had held a strategy role at Mastercard. In March 2019, Network International announced plans for a London listing and appointed Ron Kalifa, the former chief executive of Worldpay, as chairman. The initial public offering took place in April 2019. Network International entered the premium segment of the London Stock Exchange’s Official List with an indicated valuation of approximately £2.2 billion. It sold 40 percent of its shares and became a constituent of the FTSE 250 index. Mastercard invested $300 million as a cornerstone investor, subject to a 9.99 percent ownership limit. The investment was presented as a way to support payment-related cooperation in the Middle East and North Africa. Although Brexit created uncertainty for some London-listed companies, Network International’s leadership argued that its operating model was not dependent on the United Kingdom’s relationship with the European Union. Expansion into Africa continued with the acquisition of DPO Group, an online-payments company operating across African markets. Network International completed the $291.3 million acquisition in September 2021. DPO added online merchant services and strengthened the group’s ability to serve e-commerce businesses and cross-border commerce in Africa. Brookfield Asset Management announced an offer to acquire Network International in June 2023 for approximately £2.2 billion. The High Court approved the transaction on 13 September 2024, after which the company ceased to operate as a publicly listed independent business. In 2025, the company combined its operations with Magnati, another payment-services provider. The merger produced Network International LLC, controlled by a consortium led by Brookfield, and marked a further consolidation of payment infrastructure in the region. The company’s historical trajectory therefore runs from a bank-owned UAE payments subsidiary to an independent regional processor, a London-listed public company and, ultimately, a privately controlled platform combining Network International and Magnati operations.

2025
Operations combined with Magnati
[1]Network Internationalen.wikipedia.org
Network International combined its operations with Magnati to form Network International LLC.
2024
Brookfield acquisition approved
[1]Network Internationalen.wikipedia.org
The High Court approved Brookfield’s acquisition of Network International, facilitating the company’s move away from public listing.
2021
DPO Group acquisition completed
[1]Network Internationalen.wikipedia.org
The company completed the acquisition of African online-payments provider DPO Group for approximately $291.3 million.
2019
London Stock Exchange initial public offering
[1]Network Internationalen.wikipedia.org
Network International completed a London IPO at an approximate valuation of £2.2 billion and joined the FTSE 250.
2017
Simon Haslam becomes chief executive
[1]Network Internationalen.wikipedia.org
Simon Haslam replaced Bhairav Trivedi as chief executive.
2016
Acquisition of Emerging Markets Payments
[1]Network Internationalen.wikipedia.org
Network International acquired Emerging Markets Payments from Actis for approximately $340 million.
2015
Ownership stake sold to Warburg Pincus and General Atlantic
[1]Network Internationalen.wikipedia.org
Abraaj sold its interest to a joint venture involving Warburg Pincus and General Atlantic.
2011
Abraaj acquires a minority stake
[1]Network Internationalen.wikipedia.org
The Abraaj Group acquired a 49 percent stake in Network International.
1994
Established as an Emirates Bank payments subsidiary
[1]Network Internationalen.wikipedia.org
Network International was founded in the United Arab Emirates as a payments subsidiary of Emirates Bank.

Products and positioning

A regional payment infrastructure and services provider focused on enabling card, digital and online commerce across the Middle East and Africa.

Payment services
Merchant acquiring
Network International provides merchant-acquiring infrastructure that enables retailers and other businesses to accept card and electronic payments. Its services sit between merchants, acquiring banks, card schemes and payment networks, supporting authorization, transaction routing, settlement and related operational functions across Middle Eastern and African markets.
Digital commerce
Online payment processing
The company supports online and digital commerce through payment-processing services for internet merchants and other businesses. The acquisition of DPO Group expanded this capability in Africa, adding an established online-payments platform and broader access to e-commerce merchants.
Card and banking infrastructure
Issuer processing
Network International provides processing and technology services used by financial institutions for card programs and electronic payments. These capabilities can support transaction processing and related card-program operations without the company itself being the consumer card issuer.
Payments technology
Digital payment infrastructure
The broader offering consists of payment technology and network connectivity for banks, merchants, governments and other organizations. It is designed to support card-scheme connectivity, digital acceptance and the transition from cash-based transactions to electronic commerce in the company’s target markets.

Brand decisions

2025
Combine operations with MagnatiM&A
Background
The consolidation brought together two payment-services operations serving the Middle East and Africa.
Action taken
Network International merged its operations with Magnati to create Network International LLC, controlled by a consortium led by Brookfield.
Aftermath
The combination created a larger privately controlled regional payments entity.
Source
2023
Accept Brookfield acquisition offerM&A
Background
Brookfield proposed taking Network International private after the company had operated as a London-listed payment-services provider.
Action taken
Brookfield Asset Management made an offer to acquire the company for approximately £2.2 billion.
Aftermath
The transaction received High Court approval in September 2024 and ended Network International’s status as an independent listed company.
Offer value. £2.2 billion (June 2023 offer; court approval September 2024)
Source
2021
Acquire DPO GroupM&A
Background
Network International aimed to deepen its presence in African digital commerce and online payments.
Action taken
It completed the acquisition of DPO Group, an online-payments platform operating across Africa.
Aftermath
The transaction expanded Network International’s online-payment capabilities and African merchant coverage.
Acquisition value. $291.3 million (September 2021)
Source
2019
Pursue a London public listingStrategy
Background
After a period of regional expansion and private-equity ownership, Network International sought access to public capital and a broader investor base.
Action taken
The company listed on the premium segment of the London Stock Exchange’s Official List and sold 40 percent of its shares.
Aftermath
The IPO valued the company at approximately £2.2 billion, brought Mastercard in as a cornerstone investor and led to FTSE 250 membership.
IPO valuation. £2.2 billion (April 2019)
Source
2016
Acquire Emerging Markets PaymentsM&A
Background
Network International sought to expand its scale and geographic reach across emerging-market payment businesses.
Action taken
It acquired Emerging Markets Payments from Actis in a transaction valued at approximately $340 million.
Aftermath
The acquisition enlarged Network International’s regional footprint and strengthened its position as a major processor in the Middle East and North Africa.
Acquisition value. $340 million (March 2016)
Source

Recent events

2022-02-03
LuLu International Exchange, Network International and Visa collaborate on digital remittances[2]LuLu International Exchange、Network International 与 Visa 合作推出数字汇款服务gulfnews.com
Reported: 2022-02-03
LuLu International Exchange entered a strategic collaboration with Network International and Visa to enable users to fund digital remittances in the LuLu Money app using Visa debit cards. The service was limited to cards issued by select UAE banks, with wider coverage expected in the first half of the year.
2022-01-26
Network International launches Tap on Phone in MENA[3]Network International在中东和北非推出Tap on Phonecrowdfundinsider.com
Reported: 2022-01-26
Network International launched Tap on Phone technology in the MENA region, enabling smartphones to act as payment terminals. The service is powered by Mastercard Payment Gateway Services, and the article says around 500,000 new merchants across the region will soon be able to use it.
2021-01-18
NBS Bank launches e-commerce platform with Network International[4]NBS Bank与Network International推出电子商务平台appablog.wordpress.com
Reported: 2021-01-18
NBS Bank launched an e-commerce platform powered by Network International's N-Genius Online payment gateway for customers in Malawi.
2020-07-29
Network International to acquire DPO Group[5]Network International拟收购DPO Groupit-online.co.za
Reported: 2020-07-29
Network International announced an agreement to acquire 100% of DPO Group. The deal was expected to close by the end of 2020, subject to customary conditions, including regulatory and antitrust conditions.

Sources9 sources

Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/network-international · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled