Payments provider ACI Worldwide considers sale, shares surge

(Reuters) – ACI Worldwide Inc, a payment technology provider, is currently in discussions with private equity companies to possibly sell the company. Bloomberg News reported this Wednesday, citing people who are familiar with the matter.

ACI was not certain to reach a deal due to the state of leveraged financing markets.

The shares of the Naples-based company rose almost 13% to close at $26.11, their highest point since August 2022. This was a milestone that brought them to a market capitalization near $2.9 billion.

ACI did not respond immediately to a Reuters inquiry for comment.

Starboard Value, which had acquired a stake in the company, also explored the possibility of a sale. Since 2021, when ACI added two independent directors, the investor has been trying to sell its stake.

(Reporting by Anirban Chakroborti in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)