Financial and payment system developer BUFFORT Inc. acquired and joins GMO-PG consolidated companies 金融・決済領域のシステム開発会社ビュフォートをグループ化
～システム開発力の一層強化で、継続成長のための更なる事業拡大を目指す～

GMO Payment Gateway, Inc. (GMO-PG) of the GMO Internet Group, which develops comprehensive payment-related services and financial services, has acquired all the outstanding shares of BUFFORT Inc. (Buffort) on April 1, 2021.
GMO-PG aims to resolve social issues and create value for customers as well as continue its "Operating Profit growth of over 25% every year" by expanding the payment services through further enhancement of system development capability together with Buffort.

The need to secure IT talent is growing in importance in Japan in order to bring out further advancement and diversity through IT deployment as well as contribute to productivity improvements through innovative efficiencies and value creation.^（*）
GMO-PG is also focused on recruitment and talent development of engineers and to strengthen its technology and development capability, which is a key part of enhancing system development human talent in the areas of DX, FinTech and Cashless. This is critical for GMO-PG to achieve the target of "Operating Profit growth of over 25% every year" and to support the customer's growth through payment and financial services.
Buffort's expertise is system development in financial and payment areas, with a track record of developing network architecture and systems for credit card companies affiliated to retail companies, core payment systems for credit cards, renewals of website for card-members and various other projects in these areas. GMO-PG has been working collaboratively with Buffort in developing new services for few years and has high acclaim of Buffort's system development capability.
Given this background, GMO-PG has acquired and incorporated Buffort into the Group, to further enhance the system development capability in order to realize sustainable growth by leveraging Buffrort's vast track record and expertise in system development in financial and payment areas.

• * Mizuho Research and Technologies, Ltd. (formerly Mizuho Information and Research Institute), "Study of Recent Trends and Future Estimates Concerning IT Human Resources" (March 2019)
  https://www.meti.go.jp/policy/it_policy/jinzai/houkokusyo.pdf (Japanese Only)

Buffort develops payment systems by leveraging its know-how and cutting-edge technology in financial and payment areas. The track record in developing and renewing enterprise systems includes network systems for credit card companies, core payment systems and various systems developments for both credit card and non-credit card transactions.

■BUFFORT Inc.