LTVCo Acquires Kipp to Expand Merchant Payment Options
Merchants using the platform can now leverage expanded networks to approve card transactions that trigger decline errors.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in People
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LTVCo has acquired Kipp, a technology firm that helps merchants approve card transactions that would otherwise be declined due to insufficient funds. Kipp will operate as an independent company under the LTVCo umbrella while seeking to expand its network across the United States.
Why it matters
The acquisition provides the capital and resources necessary for Kipp to scale its platform, which allows merchants to bypass traditional transaction declines by paying a premium to issuers. For merchants, this shift may improve conversion rates on high-risk or marginal card payments.
The firm added 3 industry experts to its leadership and advisory teams following the acquisition by LTVCo. It remains unclear how many merchants currently participate in the issuer-determined risk premium program.
The players
LTVCo
A holding company that owns brands including BeenVerified, Bumper, and Ownerly.
Kipp
A technology company that facilitates the approval of card transactions that would otherwise trigger non-sufficient fund declines.
Chanan Lavi
The chief executive officer of Kipp.
Jeff Stiefler
The executive chairman of Kipp.
The details
Kipp functions as a middleware provider between merchants and card issuers. Merchants pay a fee for the system to evaluate transactions and cover the risk for previously declined payments, essentially offloading the non-sufficient fund decision from the issuer to the merchant's risk appetite. By joining LTVCo, Kipp gains a stable parent company to support its growth efforts within the U.S. financial ecosystem.
Timeline
October 29, 2026: The acquisition was finalized and publicly announced.
Market Landscape
The deal signals a consolidation phase for the merchant-funded card transaction approval model. This move mirrors broader trends where holding companies acquire niche fintech tools to expand their service offerings to existing merchant customer bases.
Merchants should monitor whether Kipp's expansion leads to new integration opportunities for handling declined transactions. Businesses should evaluate if their current payment processors support similar risk-premium models for high-value client transactions.
The takeaway
Merchants can now look for greater accessibility to risk-premium payment tools as Kipp scales its operations. Operators should track their transaction decline rates to determine if third-party approval platforms could improve revenue retention at the point of sale.
Further reading
For more on evolving leadership teams and organizational shifts, visit the People section.
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