CVC Capital Partners weighs €9 billion bid to privatise Italian payments group Nexi (NEXI)
CVC Capital Partners is considering a €9 billion offer to privatise Italian payments group Nexi, a move that would delist the company from Borsa Italiana. Nexi shares responded, trading up 6.5% at €4.11 today, 29 April 2026.
The proposed transaction, which includes debt, would see the private equity fund acquire control of the digital payments specialist. CVC's interest reflects a desire to consolidate its presence in the financial services sector, taking Nexi private. The stock's current price compares with yesterday's close of €3.86.
The deal faces notable obstacles. CDP, Nexi's second-largest shareholder, has stated its unwillingness to sell its stake or support a delisting operation.
Why a potential privatisation bid is stirring Nexi's shares
Nexi operates at the heart of Italy's digital economy, processing electronic payments for millions of transactions daily. Its core business involves providing services and infrastructure for digital payments, from point-of-sale (POS) terminals in physical shops to e-commerce platforms, as well as issuing and managing credit and debit cards. Its clients include banks, merchants, and consumers, with revenues primarily derived from fees applied to each processed transaction. This model positions Nexi as a fundamental player in the ongoing shift towards a cashless society.
Today's share movement is directly linked to news of a potential privatisation offer from CVC Capital Partners, which is reportedly considering a €9 billion deal, including debt, to acquire control of Nexi and delist it from the Italian Stock Exchange. Such news, signalling a potential delisting, tends to generate significant market interest because a take-private offer usually includes a premium over the current market price, making shares more attractive to investors speculating on this potential uplift. However, this operation faces firm opposition from CDP, Nexi's second-largest shareholder, which has stated it does not intend to sell its stake or support a delisting.
This prospect has driven Nexi's shares up by exactly 6.5%, with the company currently trading at €4.11, compared to yesterday's closing price of €3.86.
Consider a small, specialised tech firm that's publicly traded but whose stock price doesn't quite capture its full potential, perhaps due to short-term market pressures. If a large, private investment fund were to approach with a generous offer to buy out all shareholders and take the company private, the perceived value of your shares would immediately increase, even if the deal isn't yet final. This mirrors the situation when a private equity firm targets a company for privatisation, typically offering a higher price to gain full control.
Nexi
Nexi S.p.A. (NEXI) is an Italian technology company specialising in electronic money and payment services. It serves a diverse clientele including banks, financial and insurance institutions, merchants, businesses, and public administration. Nexi's offerings encompass acquiring services such as POS terminal configuration, activation, and maintenance, alongside fraud prevention and dispute management. The company also provides a comprehensive suite of issuing services, including the issuance and management of payment cards, ATM installation, clearing services, and digital banking solutions for account and payment management. Additionally, Nexi develops software applications for invoice management, prepaid card reloads, and bill payments. The company has a strategic agreement with Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A. to acquire PBZ Card's merchant business in Croatia. Founded in 1939, Nexi S.p.A. is headquartered in Milan, Italy.