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(Reuters) - First Data, a credit-card and payment processor, said it had agreed to a buyout bid by private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. Its stock was the top percentage gainer, up 20.6 percent, on the New York Stock Exchange.

The Institute for Supply Management said factory activity grew in March, but less than forecast. The data also showed rising price pressures that could help dissuade the Federal Reserve from cutting interest rates soon even as growth slows.


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KKR to offer $34 per share cash for First Data-source

(Reuters) - KKR declined to comment. First Data could not be reached for comment.




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UPDATE 2-First Data to buy Polcard processor for $325 mln

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, March 30 - First Data Corp. , one of the world's largest payment processors, on Friday said it agreed to buy Polcard SA, an independent merchant acquirer and card issuer processor in Poland, for $325 million in cash to expand in central and eastern Europe.

Founded in 1990, Polcard operates the largest network of electronic card acceptance services in Poland, including more than 58,000 terminals and 1,700 automated teller machines.


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