Mobile banking technology company Monitise plc made two big announcements today.

Monitise announced that Visa Europe is investing £24.7 million ($39.6 million) to acquire 70.5 million new shares of the company, an 8.8 percent stake. Along with the investment, Visa Europe President and Chief Executive Peter Ayliffe will join the board of directors of Monitise, the company said.

“Visa Europe’s investment in Monitise, coupled with a deepening relationship eight months after our two companies first entered into a partnership, establishes our role as the platform of choice for mobile money services in Europe," said Monitise Group Chief Executive Alastair Lukies in the announcement.

"We are excited by the opportunities ahead for Monitise and the global mobile money industry as mobiles increasingly become the accepted new way to bank, pay and shop," Lukies said.

Monitise said proceeds from the investment will go toward opportunities in India, Asia Pacific, emerging markets and in mobile commerce.

Additionally, Monitise said it will acquire the 51 percent share of its U.S. joint venture, Monitise Americas, owned by Metavante Corporation. Metavante, a subsidiary of Fidelity National Information Services Inc. (FIS), will be issued a 3.3 percent stake in Monitise plc. The company said the agreement is worth $15 million.

"Our evolved relationship with FIS ensures that Monitise is ideally placed to play a leadership role in the North American mobile money market, which is following similar trends of growth to those we have experienced in the UK over the past 12 months," Lukies said.

Lukies added, "It has always been our strategy to partner with the world’s leading companies in a way that ensures optimal value for our shareholders."