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First Data Corp. has signed a deal to buy an ATM-outsourcing company in South Africa, Estevao Tokata, director for the United States-based processor's sales organization in Africa, tells CardLine Global. The company, CashAxcess, which has operated since 2005, deploys some 200 ATMs. The company also provides such services as cash management, ATM monitoring, equipment insurance and marketing to financial institutions that include ABSA Group Ltd. and Capitec Bank Holdings Ltd., both based in South Africa. First Data signed the acquisition agreement with Mvelaphanda Group Ltd. and VenFin Beperk, based in South Africa. Terms were not disclosed. First Data had not owned any other ATM-deployment operation in South Africa before the CashAxcess purchase, Tokata says. "We have seen an increasing number of ATM opportunities in South Africa recently, and the CashAxcess agreement gives us considerable ATM expertise and knowledge of the local business environment," Tokata says. CashAxcess deploys ATMs across the country. First Data has operated in South Africa since 1993.
