Status:  Clearance

Acquirer:  Ant Financial (China)

Acquired:  EyeVerify, Inc. (US)

Value:  Approx. US$70 million

Industry:  Software; biometric authentication

On September 13, 2016, Ant Financial Services Group, an online and mobile financial services provider based in China, completed its acquisition of EyeVerify, Inc., a Kansas City based software technology company that develops eye based biometric authentication software for mobile devices.  (See EyeVerify Press Release, Ant Financial Acquires EyeVerify to Boost Trust, Security, and Convenience of Mobile Financial Transaction, Sept. 13, 2016; see also Bloomberg, Alibaba Finance Arm Buys Eye-Scan Startup in First U.S. Foray, Sept. 13, 2016.)  Ant Financial is reportedly controlled by Chinese national Jack Ma, who is also the controlling owner of the Alibaba Group. (See MoneyGram International Press Release, MoneyGram Agrees to Merge with Ant Financial, Jan. 26, 2017; Bloomberg News, Jack Ma’s Ant Financial Buys MoneyGram for $880 Million, Jan. 26, 2017.)  Presently, Ant Financial has a CFIUS Notice pending concerning its proposed acquisition of MoneyGram International. In a securities disclosure, MoneyGram reported that “Ant Financial successfully completed a review by CFIUS last year when it purchased Kansas City-based EyeVerify.” (MoneyGram, Schedule 14A, May 12, 2017, SEC Filing.)