NTT Docomo has acquired Fine Trade, an Austria-based firm that offers a payments platform to merchants.

This is an expansion of Docomo’s existing m-commerce and e-commerce activities in Europe which has been focused on digital content. It will now add the selling of consumer goods.

The Austrian firm sits between retailers and consumers, offering a variety of payment options. It also manages credit risk on behalf of retailers by analysing shopping data and directing consumers to the most appropriate payment method. It can be accessed via mobile phone or PC.

The price for Fine Trade was not disclosed although Docomo told Techcrunch it was “several tens of millions of Euros”.

The shares will be purchased from two firms called Three Little Birds and Schneider Holding, which hold 75 per cent and 25 per cent of Fine Trade, respectively. The purchase will be made through Docomo Deutschland (DDL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Docomo.

The aim is to complete the transaction by late October.