Worldline announces the closing of the acquisition of GoPay, strengthening its online payments capabilities in Eastern Europe

Worldline [Euronext: WLN], the European leader in payment and transaction services, announces today the completion of the acquisition of a 53% majority stake in GoPay, the leading online collecting payment services provider for small and medium sized businesses (SMB) in the Czech Republic.

Paris La Défense — 04 / 09 / 2020

Paris la defense

Bezons, September 4, 2020 – Worldline [Euronext: WLN], the European leader in payment and transaction services, announces today the completion of the acquisition of a 53% majority stake in GoPay, the leading online collecting payment services provider for small and medium sized businesses (SMB) in the Czech Republic.

Having generated c. €7 million revenue in 2019 and OMDA of c. € 2 million, GoPay currently employs 45 employees and manages online payments for c. 10,000 e-shops in the Czech Republic, with presence in Slovakia, Poland and Hungary.

GoPay’s value proposition is based on a high quality payment collecting engine, fit for the needs of small businesses and offering an extensive range of local payment means.

With this acquisition, Worldline:
·         Seizes a rare opportunity to develop its online collecting activity in the fast-growing Eastern Europe market;
·         Enhances its local expertise in digital go-to-market; and
·         Strengthens its market position in the Czech Republic and its partnership with Komercni Banka.

With its double-digit revenue growth track record and solid profitability, GoPay is expected to contribute to reinforce the financial profile of Worldline’s Merchant Services division.

The founder and current manager of GoPay, Pavel Schwarz, will continue to be fully involved in the daily operations of the company and will be instrumental in both product development and in achieving the ambitious business plan and synergies going forward.

Gilles Grapinet, Chairman and CEO of Worldline said:

“I am very happy to welcome GoPay in the Worldline Group, which will significantly expand our online payment capabilities in the fast growing Eastern European markets and strengthen our existing relationship with Komercni Banca.”

Pavel Schwarz, founder and CEO of GoPay said:

“Together with the GoPay team, we are proud to be part of the Worldline family. This will enable us to enlarge our footprint in the region even faster and further develop our products and services. I strongly believe our customers will benefit from this new partnership.”

In 2022, Worldline has a right to acquire the remaining 47% of GoPay share capital.

Contacts

Investors Relations
David Pierre-Kahn
+33 6 28 51 45 96
david.pierre-kahn@worldline.com

Communication
Susanne Stöger
+43 1 71701 6524
susanne.stoeger@worldline.com

 

About Worldline

Worldline [Euronext: WLN] is the European leader in the payment and transactional services industry. With innovation at the core of its DNA, Worldline’s core offerings include pan-European and domestic Commercial Acquiring for physical or online businesses, secured payment transaction processing for banks and financial institutions, as well as transactional services in e-Ticketing and for local and central public agencies. Thanks to a presence in 30+ countries, Worldline is the payment partner of choice for merchants, banks, public transport operators, government agencies and industrial companies, delivering cutting-edge digital services. Worldline’s activities are organized around three axes: Merchant Services, Financial Services including equensWorldline and Mobility & e-Transactional Services. Worldline employs circa 12,000 people worldwide, with 2019 revenue of 2.4 billion euros. worldline.com.

Worldline’s corporate purpose (“raison d’être”) is to design and operate leading digital payment and transactional solutions that enable sustainable economic growth and reinforce trust and security in our societies. Worldline makes them environmentally friendly, widely accessible and support social transformation.

 

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