Paytech solutions provider OKTO has announced the full acquisition of Aplauz CH GmbH, the Swiss subsidiary of Aplauz Financial Services. The strategic acquisition seeks to strengthen OKTO’s presence in the market, enabling the company to expand its customer base and introduce new payment services while maintaining and enhancing the existing infrastructure of Aplauz CH GmbH in the region.
Under OKTO’s ownership, Aplauz CH GmbH will continue to deliver its Aplauz prepaid payment service through online merchants and retail distribution partners, now rebranded as OKTO.VOUCHER. “The transition will be seamless, ensuring uninterrupted service for all partners and consumers,” OKTO announced.
Aligned with its growth strategy, OKTO is also introducing OKTO.CASH to the Swiss market. The product, a fast, direct cash-to-online payment solution, is already live across multiple European markets, including Romania, Greece, Czech Republic, Germany, Cyprus, Italy, and Serbia.
Aplauz CH GmbH, now under OKTO’s leadership, holds the necessary regulatory approvals from the Self-Regulatory Organization (SRO) VQF to offer both OKTO.VOUCHER and OKTO.CASH services in Switzerland, the company noted.
Thanos Mondanos, OKTO’s Head of Business Strategy, commented on the acquisition: “Welcoming Aplauz CH GmbH into the OKTO Group marks a significant step forward in our international growth strategy. This acquisition reinforces our commitment to expanding in high-potential markets like Switzerland, allowing us to deliver a stronger portfolio of payment solutions that meet evolving customer demands.
“We are confident that Aplauz CH GmbH’s established presence, combined with OKTO’s innovative payment technologies, will create substantial value for both users and partners in the region.”
Mathias Wratschko, Senior Distribution Manager at OKTO, added: “This is a pivotal moment for OKTO, our Swiss partners, and users. Through the acquisition of Aplauz CH GmbH, we’re set to elevate both transaction volumes and customer experience in Switzerland.
“By expanding the rebranded OKTO.VOUCHER service and launching OKTO.CASH, we’re enhancing Swiss payment options in a way that promises substantial revenue growth for our partners and increased satisfaction for consumers.”
Goran Abramović, Director of Aplauz Financial Services, stated: “We are thrilled with the successful sale of our Swiss consumer business and have every confidence in OKTO’s capacity to drive further growth in this segment within the Swiss market.
“Aplauz Financial Services remains fully committed to supporting the Swiss market by continuing to provide our cutting-edge voucher issuing technology platform to OKTO and offering ongoing technical support to our valued partners. We look forward to seeing the positive impact OKTO will bring to this evolving market.”
Besides Switzerland, OKTO has been targeting growth in other European markets as of late. The company recently announced a collaboration with online gaming platform provider Microgame in Italy. The collaboration extends OKTO’s open-loop OKTO.WALLET solution to the PVR (Punto Vendita Ricariche) market, offering Microgame’s operator partners “a fully compliant and efficient payment option in line with the latest PVR decree.”
Designed with deep market insights, OKTO notes that it’s OKTO.WALLET “seamlessly meets the needs of players and operators” by offering a secure, convenient, and regulatory-compliant cash-to-digital payment solution. Certified by iTech Labs and Quinel, the wallet is aligned with the standards of Italy’s gaming authority, the Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM).
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/noticias/2024/11/06/84398-okto-expands-footprint-in-the-swiss-market-with-aplauz-ch-gmbh-acquisition
