DECA Investments, a Luxembourgian Development Fund, acquires a minority stake in the Greek fintech Viva Wallet worth over 15 million EUR, Greek media reported.
The funding, as announced by the Fund, will be used to strengthen Viva’s position in the fast-growing and emerging Fintech sector on the European market.
“Viva is a company we have been watching with great interest for years”, says the Investment Manager of DECA Investments, John Kalantzis. “We are impressed with its dynamism, innovative business moves, attention to detail and the ability to distinguish opportunities created by developments in technology and the European regulatory framework. Viva’s next goal will be to claim an essential position in the rapidly evolving European market. We believe that as investors we will help strengthen its position in the fast-growing and emerging Fintech sector.”
Founded in 2010 in Greece, Viva Wallet is the 1st mobile wallet introduced in Greece. The platform offers innovative payments services to individuals, businesses and professionals bringing maximum security with flexibility and support to its clients.
Viva Wallet is a service developed by Viva Payment Services SA, a licensed e-money institution for operation in the European region by the bank of Greece. Moreover, Viva Payments is the only Electronic Money Institution in Greece which is a Principal Member of organizations Mastercard and Visa for clearing services (acquiring) and card issuing (issuing) and is the only financial institution throughout Europe based entirely on cloud infrastructure ( Microsoft Azure ).
According to Viva’s CEO, Haris Karonis, this funding is part of the 5 years development plan that the company is developing in the European Economic Area.
“This investment of Diorama and international institutional investors such as the European Investment Fund (EIF), the European Reconstruction and Development Bank (EBRD) and European Investment Bank (EIB)”, says Karonis, “is a mid-term financing of the company’s 5-year development plan in the European Economic Area. This plan started with our strategic partnership with Marianna I. Latsi and Paris Kassidokosta-Latsi’s investment interests in November 2014. The next round of funding is managed by JEFFERIES GROUP LLC. ”
DECA Investments AIFM (“DECA”) is an Alternative Investments Fund Manager (“AIFM”) regulated by the Hellenic Capital Markets Committee. DECA manages DIORAMA Investments Sicar S.A. (“Diorama”). Diorama is a generalist growth capital private equity fund, regulated by Luxembourg’s Capital Markets Commission (CSSF). The Fund has a 10-year term and an investment period of 3-5 years.
DIORAMA’s primarily invests in eligible Greek SMEs, which satisfy strict investment criteria: attractive sector dynamics, management quality and integrity and growth potential. Fund investors are distinguished Greek businessmen as well as Greek and international institutional investors such as the European Investment Fund (EIF), the EBRD and the European Investment Bank (EIB).
Prior to this investment in Viva Wallet, they’ve invested in five other Greek companies: Axel Accessories, Tapes SA, Damavand, InternetQ and Adam Pack.
