Worldline completes the acquisition of Handelsbanken’s card-acquiring activities in the Nordics

Worldline completes the acquisition of Handelsbanken’s card-acquiring activities
in the Nordics

Bezons, 18 October 2021 – Worldline [Euronext: WLN], leader in the payments industry, today announces the completion of its acquisition of Handelsbanken’s card acquiring activities in the Nordic region, as part of its wider European consolidation strategy.

The acquisition of Handelsbanken’s card-acquiring activities and the set-up of a joint long-term commercial alliance for merchant services are part of Worldline’s strategy to expand its presence across Europe through partnerships with leading local financial institutions. It follows the acquisition of Cardlink in Greece and the execution of a strategic partnership with BNL in merchant acquiring in Italy¹ earlier this year.

The Nordic region represents a highly attractive market driven by digital and eCommerce payments expansion and backed by a robust macroeconomic environment as well as strong long-term growth potential. Handelsbanken is a meaningful card acquirer in the Nordic region with above 550 million transactions acquired per year representing a payment volume of c. € 20 billion. The company also serves over 20,000 merchants.

With a pan-Nordic addressable market presence, a high-quality diversified merchant portfolio and a long-term merchant relationship with Handelsbanken – a leading bank in the region – Worldline will have the opportunity to leverage the existing offering and accelerate its growth profile in the region.

Forthcoming events

• October 26, 2021, Q3 2021 revenue
• October 27, 2021, Investor Day

Contacts

Investor Relations

Laurent Marie
+33 7 84 50 18 90
laurent.marie@worldline.com   

Benoit d’Amécourt
+33 6 75 51 41 47
benoit.damecourt@worldline.com

Communication

Sandrine van der Ghinst
+32 499 585 380
sandrine.vanderghinst@worldline.com

Hélène Carlander
+33 7 72 25 96 04
helene.carlander@worldline.com

ABOUT WORLDLINE

Worldline [Euronext: WLN] is the European leader in the payments and transactional services industry and #4 player worldwide. With its global reach and its commitment to innovation, Worldline is the technology partner of choice for merchants, banks and third-party acquirers as well as public transport operators, government agencies and industrial companies in all sectors. Powered by over 20,000 employees in more than 50 countries, Worldline provides its clients with sustainable, trusted and secure solutions across the payment value chain, fostering their business growth wherever they are. Services offered by Worldline in the areas of Merchant Services; Terminals, Solutions & Services; Financial Services and Mobility & e-Transactional Services include domestic and cross-border commercial acquiring, both in-store and online, highly secure payment transaction processing, a broad portfolio of payment terminals as well as e-ticketing and digital services in the industrial environment. In 2020 Worldline generated a proforma revenue of 4.8 billion euros. worldline.com

Worldline’s corporate sense of 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. We make them environmentally friendly, widely accessible and support social transformation.

Disclaimer

This document contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including references, concerning the Group's expected growth and profitability in the future which may significantly impact the expected performance indicated in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are linked to factors out of the control of the Company and not precisely estimated, such as market conditions or competitors’ behaviors. Any forward-looking statements made in this document are statements about Worldline’s beliefs and expectations and should be evaluated as such. Forward-looking statements include statements that may relate to Worldline’s plans, objectives, strategies, goals, future events, future revenues or synergies, or performance, and other information that is not historical information. Actual events or results may differ from those described in this document due to a number of risks and uncertainties that are described within the 2020 Universal Registration Document filed with the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) on April 13, 2021 under the filling number: D.21-0303.

Worldline does not undertake, and specifically disclaims, any obligation or responsibility to update or amend any of the information above except as otherwise required by law.

This document is disseminated for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to purchase, or a solicitation of an offer to sell, any securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States unless they have been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”) or the securities laws of any U.S. state, or are exempt from registration. The securities that may be offered in any transaction have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act or the securities laws of any U.S. state and Worldline does not intend to make a public offering of any such securities in the United States.

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1 Worldline completed Cardlink SA acquisition on September 30, 2021 – read the press release / Worldline signed a strategic partnership with BNL in merchant acquiring in Italy on July 1^st, 2021 – read the press release

Attachment

• Worldline completes the acquisition of Handelsbanken’s card-acquiring activities