Visa acquires Israeli company BioCatch to combat digital fraud
Visa has officially confirmed an agreement to acquire Israeli technology company BioCatch in an all-cash transaction valued at $2.4 billion. The acquisition is intended to strengthen Visa’s fraud prevention capabilities and expand its tools for combating digital fraud and financial crime. BioCatch specializes in advanced behavioral biometrics and device intelligence to detect suspicious activity and protect financial transactions.
BioCatch currently protects approximately 1.8 billion devices and 760 million users worldwide. The company works with more than 350 banks in 21 countries, including over 100 of the world’s largest financial institutions. Its technology detects account takeover attempts, money mule activity, and fraudulent account openings in real time. Under CEO Gadi Mazor, the company’s valuation has increased by more than $1 billion over the past 15 months.
Investment firm Permira acquired a controlling stake in BioCatch in May 2024 at a valuation of approximately $1.3 billion, reporting a threefold increase in revenue and gross profit during its ownership. The acquisition by Visa is expected to close by the end of the second fiscal quarter of 2027, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. Following the completion of the transaction, BioCatch will continue operating as part of Visa’s Value-Added Services division, while the company’s executive leadership, headed by Gadi Mazor, will remain in place.
