Meridien Holdings (OTCMKTS:OMRDH), a US holding company which specialises in the global payments, CRM and the banking industry, has announced that it will acquire a 27% stake in London based fintech firm DKK Partners.

The funding will allow DKK, which focuses on emerging markets (EM) and foreign exchange (FX) liquidity, to continue the firm’s global expansion. DKK Partners was founded in 2020 by banking industry veterans Dominic Duru (pictured top right), previously of RBS and Citi, and Khalid Talukder (pictured top left), previously of UBS, Citi and Deutsche Bank.

DKK has seen its flow rise to $1.3 billion in transactions in the last year, with EBITDA reaching $2 million with 150% CAGR in the last year. The firm has also opened dedicated offices across all key markets, including London, Dubai, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon and Senegal.

As part of the deal Meridien Holdings and DKK Partners have forged a strategic alliance to complement its business plans by securing global payment, acquiring, banking and FX liquidity capabilities. The agreement will include DKK gaining shares in Meridien alongside a multimillion-dollar cash injection to enable rapid expansion.

Earlier this year, DKK partnered with the Seed Group, a company of the Private Office of Sheikh Saeed bin Ahmed Al Maktoum, to enable transparent and efficient transactions for global financial institutions. The firm also received initial approval from the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) to offer Virtual Asset Broker Dealer Services (VASP).

The parties said that their strategic objective is to acquire and aggregate financially regulated institutions across multiple geographies creating a seamless transfer of value across the Meridien ecosystem, combining both TradFi and DeFi.

Khalid Talukder, co-founder of DKK Partners said:

“This is a pivotal moment for our business and it’s a real honour to partner with Meridien as we enter our next phase of growth. Both businesses have shared values and a commitment to excellence, and we’re thrilled to be working to build a truly disruptive global brand that will redefine the payments industry.”

Erik Lara Riveros, CEO of Meridien Holdings said:

“DKK has an incredible growth story, a fantastic customer base, and a scalable business model, alongside a strategic partnership with Seed Group, makes them a game changing VASP in the region. The partnership with DKK, in conjunction with our other acquisitions of listed and regulated financial institutions, is perfect for Meridien and its preparation to list on the NYSE, driving the goal of creating a revolutionary business model in the industry of global payments, banking and correspondent services.”

About DKK Partners

Founded in 2020 by Dominic Duru and Khalid Talukder, DKK Partners is an emerging markets (EM) focused FX liquidity provider. The company develops strategies and methodologies that help corporates and institutions more effectively manage currency risk and develop sharp pricing. DKK focuses on three key areas: FX risk management, FX liquidity, and local collections. The company’s DKK Partners FZE subsidiary, based in the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), was recently granted Initial Approval by the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) to offer Virtual Asset Broker Dealer Services.