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Klarna announces $650M funding round to further accelerate global growth

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Klarna, the leading global payments and shopping service, is pleased to announce it has raised $650 million in an equity funding round, at a post money valuation of $10.65 billion, which ranks Klarna as the highest-valued private fintech in Europe and now the 4th highest worldwide.

The funding round is led by Silver Lake, the global leader in technology investing, with more than $60 billion in combined assets under management, alongside GIC – Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund – as well as funds and accounts managed by BlackRock and HMI Capital. Concurrently, Merian Chrysalis, TCV, Northzone and Bonnier have acquired shares from existing shareholders. They will join current investors such as Sequoia Capital, Dragoneer, Permira, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Bestseller Group and Ant Group in supporting Klarna’s future growth. The funding will help Klarna further invest in its unique shopping offering, continue to grow its global presence, and accelerate its strong momentum across all markets, especially in the US where the company is growing particularly rapidly and now has more than 9 million consumers.

The uniqueness of Klarna’s offer – providing a healthier, simpler and smarter alternative to credit cards and a broad range of services to enable a superior shopping journey – continues to drive rapid consumer adoption and loyalty with more than 90 million consumers worldwide. This is at a time when consumers are actively turning away from revolving credit lines and inferior retail experiences towards services that better meet their needs.

Klarna’s direct to consumer app, which enables users to shop at any store or brand online with installment payment options, is strongly resonating as consumers have become more focused on convenience, value and control. The app has more than 12 million monthly active users worldwide, with 55,000 daily downloads, significantly outpacing its nearest competitor with almost 3x as many downloads over the last year. In the app, consumers can also now wishlist their favourite items, access unique discounts, set up price-drop notifications and track spending and deliveries intelligently. The app also features the world’s first buy now, pay later shopper loyalty program, Vibe, which rewards consumers who pay on time, to encourage responsible spending. Vibe is currently available to consumers in the US and will soon be launched in additional markets.

In the context of the current accelerated switch to online retail and evolving consumer preferences, Klarna has seen a surge in demand, adding more than 35,000 new retailers during the first half of 2020 to its network of more than 200,000 retail partners including Sephora, Groupon, SHEIN, Charlotte Tilbury, Vans, The North Face, Ted Baker, Timberland and Ralph Lauren. Klarna is the pay later partner of choice for the top 100 highest grossing merchants in the US and will soon go live with more ahead of the busiest shopping season. A recent McKinsey & Company consumer survey found that more than 75% of consumers have tried new brands, places to shop or methods of shopping during COVID-19 and that 82% of those who have tried a new digital shopping method intend to continue using it even after the crisis ends. This is reflected in strong business results for Klarna: volume and revenue for the first half of 2020 grew 44% and 36% year-on-year to more than $22 billion and $466 million respectively.

Sebastian Siemiatkowski, co-founder and CEO of Klarna: “We are at a true inflection point in both retail and finance. The shift to online retail is now truly supercharged and there is a very tangible change in the behaviour of consumers who are now actively seeking services which offer convenience, flexibility and control in how they pay and an overall superior shopping experience. Klarna’s unique proposition, consumer preference and global retailer network will prove an excellent platform for further growth. The Klarna team is honoured to welcome such world class investors to support our mission to become the world’s favourite way to shop.” 

Egon Durban, Co-CEO and Managing Partner, and Jonathan Durham, Managing Director, of Silver Lake: “Klarna is one of the most disruptive and promising fintech companies in the world, redefining the ecommerce experience for millions of consumers and global retailers, just as ecommerce growth is accelerating worldwide and rapidly shifting to mobile. Klarna’s retail partners benefit from incremental traffic and dramatically improved customer conversion. Consumers love Klarna for its differentiated app-based shopping experience and for their flexible and transparent payment options. We are excited to invest in the company and partner with Sebastian and his talented team at this dynamic time to help accelerate Klarna’s remarkable growth and success worldwide.”

Mick Hellman, Managing Partner, and Sean Barrett, Partner, of HMI Capital: Klarna’s industry-leading global payments platform has revolutionized ecommerce, providing its more than 90 million delighted consumers with unprecedented ease and flexibility, and its more than 200,000 retail partners with increased revenue. Klarna’s rapid growth at scale is evidence of how effectively its disruptive offering is meeting evolving consumer needs during these uncertain times.  We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Sebastian and his team and look forward to supporting Klarna in the years ahead.”

John Doran, General Partner, TCV: “After emerging as the clear category leader in Europe, Klarna is now seeing incredible momentum in the US market with more than 9 million consumers in the US alone and having signed a large number of blue-chip retailers to its platform. Klarna’s payments solutions offer a very compelling value proposition to both merchants and consumers as shown by its remarkable customer stickiness and impressive growth. We have been tracking Klarna’s continued execution for some time and are delighted to be able to partner with Sebastian and the entire Klarna team to help support their journey as they continue to serve a very large and rapidly growing global ecommerce market.”

Richard Watts, co-manager, Merian Chrysalis Investment Company: “Klarna has been a driving force in revolutionizing the online shopping and payments market. The company has seen a significant increase in usage during the coronavirus pandemic and the US in particular has seen a step change as consumer numbers have grown more than six-fold year on year. Klarna’s expansion continues to gain pace and we’re delighted to have the opportunity to increase our stake in the business, providing further support as it enters the next stage of growth.”

Hans Otterling, Partner, Northzone: “With more than 200,000 retail partners and millions of monthly active users globally, Klarna leadership has proven that they are absolutely world-class in developing a global payment platform that reshaped the future of e-commerce and shopping. Their “buy now, pay later” offering resonates with current customer needs and provides the best offering in a shopping experience. We’re excited to continue to be a part of Klarna’s development into a global payment market leader across the globe. Sebastian and his team have a deep understanding of the market, and we are impressed by their clarity of vision and speed of execution since we’ve invested in 2015.”

Erik Haegerstrand, CEO of Bonnier Group: “We have followed Klarna closely over several years as a satisfied customer in successful partnerships, during which we have gained a thorough understanding of the true potential of Klarna’s unique customer offering. We are very enthusiastic over the opportunity to invest in Klarna and to support Sebastian and his team to grow the business further.”

Numis acted as exclusive financial advisor and placement agent to Klarna.

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World 50 Group Announces Winners for the 2024 I&D Impact Awards, Recognizing Workplace Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

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ATLANTA, March 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — World 50 Group, the global community of business leaders from the most respected and influential companies, is delighted to announce the winners of the 2024 Inclusion & Diversity (I&D) Impact Awards. Now in its second year, the I&D Impact Awards spotlight the remarkable strides organizations have taken to create more equitable workplaces and communities around the world.

The winners were unveiled last night at the I&D Impact Awards ceremony in Miami, where hundreds of global executives from leading organizations gathered to celebrate outstanding achievements, advancements, and progress in DEI. Partners of the I&D Impact Awards, including Amazon, Best Buy, Cognizant, Joshin, RHR International, and SLB—all esteemed World 50 member companies and DEI champions—joined in the festivities.

“The 2024 I&D Impact Awards once again underscore the steadfast commitment of today’s leading companies to building a brighter future for us all,” said Jennifer Bird Newton, World 50’s chief impact officer. “We are in a pivotal moment for DEI. The significance of coming together to acknowledge our achievements—without resting on our laurels—cannot be overstated. Last night’s festivities served as a powerful reminder of the impact of collective action, and we extend heartfelt congratulations to this year’s winners.”

Chosen from a competitive pool of more than 140 entries from 74 unique organizations, the 2024 I&D Impact Awards winners represent leaders from diverse industries, spanning nine categories:

  • I&D Ally Award: Ferrero
  • Transparency Award, in partnership with Best Buy: Rio Tinto
  • Innovation Award, in partnership with Amazon: Victoria’s Secret & Co.
  • Gender Equality Award: Kimberly-Clark
  • I&D Team of the Year, in partnership with Cognizant: Inizio Evoke
    • Highly commended: Humana
  • I&D Leader of the Year, in partnership with RHR International: Lydia Smith, Chief Diversity Officer, Victoria’s Secret & Co.
    • Highly commended: Sherri Neal, Chief Diversity Officer, HCA Healthcare
  • Community Impact Award: Amazon
  • Inclusion Award, in partnership with Joshin: EY
    • Highly commended: Union Pacific
  • I&D Impact Award, in partnership with SLB: Cummins
    • Highly commended: Cargill

The winners were meticulously chosen by a panel of esteemed, independent judges comprising 24 top DEI executives from leading organizations, including AstraZeneca, Discover, Cognizant, Hilton, Lenovo, Mars, MetLife, and Warner Bros. Discovery, among others.

“Witnessing the passion, creativity, and impact of these winning initiatives reignites my belief in the power of inclusion to reshape our future,” said Crystal Andrew Banks, global head of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging at The Kraft Heinz Company. “Bravo to all companies that submitted a nomination, and let’s keep pushing boundaries together.”

Earl Newsome, chief information officer at Cummins, added: “Each submission showcased the beauty of creating diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplaces. Every entrant should take pride in the impact they are making.”

The I&D Impact Awards serve as a cornerstone of the World 50 I&D Impact Community, one of the largest groups of global DEI leaders in the world. Members convene regularly to exchange best practices and amplify what works when advancing DEI initiatives across the organization. Participation is complimentary for heads of DEI at World 50 member companies.

Learn more about the World 50 I&D Impact Awards—and how to get involved in 2025—here.

About World 50 Group
Leaders of the world’s most respected companies join World 50 to learn from one another. More than 4,800 global CEOs, board directors, and senior executives across every function—from 40 countries across six continents—trust the World 50 community for insights that deliver impact at scale.

World 50 is the safe space to exchange ideas, navigate complex challenges, and evolve as a leader. Members are at the forefront of transformation, leading organizations with a total market cap exceeding $34 trillion and more than 37 million employees worldwide.

To learn more about membership and request an invitation, visit world50.com.

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ICIS and Base Oil News Announce Partnership to Enhance Market Insights

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LONDON, March 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — ICIS, a global source of commodity intelligence, is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with Base Oil News, a premier news outlet founded by industry expert Iain Pocock that provides in-depth coverage of the base oils and lubricants market. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in the dissemination and exchange of critical market data and insights.

With more than two decades of journalism experience at Bloomberg, Reuters, and Argus Media, Iain Pocock brings unparalleled expertise to this partnership. His deep understanding of illiquid energy markets makes him a credible and influential figure in the industry. Since November 2023, Iain has been working closely with ICIS to share and exchange valuable data and insights, enhancing the services both platforms offer to the base oils and lubricants market.

Through the collaboration, Iain integrates ICIS’ extensive content and data resources in Base Oil News market coverage. In return, he contributes market insights to ICIS News, including expert and exclusive analysis of supply and demand dynamics, price margins, and other critical market drivers. This exchange ensures that subscribers of both ICIS and Base Oil News have access to the most comprehensive, timely, and accurate market information, empowering them to make informed decisions.

“It’s a very exciting partnership – where we leverage each other’s strengths and provide actionable insights to our customers,” said Iain Pocock, Founder of Base Oil News. “The market is the winner.”

“As ICIS is already the world’s most trusted pricing benchmark for base oils, this collaboration with Iain Pocock and Base Oil News provides an even stronger and deeper service to our customers,” said Stephen Burns, Editorial Director at ICIS. “Iain’s expertise and extensive industry connections are invaluable, and we have established a fruitful partnership that benefits the market at large.”

For the latest insights from Iain Pocock on ICIS News, visit ICIS News.  

About ICIS

ICIS – Independent Commodity Intelligence Services – helps businesses through seamlessly delivering data and analytics, across the chemical, fertilizer and energy markets. A trusted source and benchmark for price information and insight across key commodities markets worldwide. Our independent, transparent market intelligence informs thousands of quality decisions every day, taking the pressure out of negotiations and giving customers space for more innovative thinking, through published datasets including price assessments, price forecasts, supply and demand fundamentals and more.

Over 150 years of shaping the world by connecting markets to optimise the world’s valuable resources. With a global team of more than 600 experts, ICIS has employees based in London, New York, Houston, Karlsruhe, Milan, Mumbai, Singapore, Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai, Dubai, Sao Paulo, Seoul, Tokyo and Perth.

ICIS is part of RELX, a FTSE15 company with a market cap of £64bn and an employee base of over 30,000 experts across 40 countries.

About RELX

RELX is a global provider of information and analytics for professional and business customers across industries. The Group serves customers in more than 180 countries and has offices in about 40 countries. It employs approximately 30,000 people of whom almost half are in North America. RELX PLC is a London listed holding company which owns 52.9% of RELX Group. RELX NV is an Amsterdam listed holding company which owns 47.1% of RELX Group. The shares are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York Stock Exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX and RENX. Total market capitalisation is approximately £64bn | €75bn | $81bn.

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Bybit Web3 Announces “Mantle Sharding With Ethena” Campaign

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DUBAI, UAE, March 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Bybit, one of the world’s top three crypto exchanges by volume, is thrilled to announce a campaign in collaboration with Mantle Network: Mantle Sharding With Ethena. This exciting event offers $MNT holders the opportunity to earn a share of a massive 2.5 billion Ethena Shards.

Lock In $MNT and Earn mShards

The official lock-in period for the Mantle Sharding With Ethena campaign runs from March 27, 2024, 10:00 AM UTC to April 26, 2024, 10:00 AM UTC. During this time, Bybit Web3 users can lock in their $MNT tokens to earn coveted mShards. These mShards, fully backed by the Mantle Treasury, can be later redeemed for Ethena’s native token, $ENA.

Maximize Your Rewards and Trade mShards Across DeFi dApps

For maximum reward potential, users are encouraged to keep their $MNT locked throughout the entire campaign period. Rewards are dynamically calculated and updated in real-time based on the total amount of $MNT locked per second by all participants.

Bybit Web3 is proud to be the first ecosystem to enable the trading of Ethena Shards in the form of mShards across various DeFi dApps. This integration marks a significant milestone for Mantle Ecosystem, paving the way for further exciting developments.

Don’t miss this opportunity to earn substantial rewards and contribute to the growth of the Mantle and Ethena ecosystems. For full details and participation instructions, please visit:

https://announcements.bybit.com/en/article/limited-time-offer-lock-in-mnt-and-grab-your-share-of-2-500-000-000-ethena-shards–blt66c8da8bd86d0910/

#Bybit / #TheCryptoArk / #BybitWeb3

About Bybit Web3

Bybit Web3 is redefining openness in the decentralized world, creating a simpler, open, and equal ecosystem for everyone. We are committed to welcoming builders, creators, and partners in the blockchain space, extending an invitation to both crypto enthusiasts and the curious, with a community of over 1 million wallet users, over 10 major ecosystem partners, and counting. 

Bybit Web3 provides a comprehensive suite of Web3 products designed to make accessing, swapping, collecting and growing Web3 assets as open and simple as possible. Our wallets, marketplaces and platforms are all backed by the security and expertise that define Bybit as a top 3 global crypto exchange, trusted by 25 million users globally.

Join the revolution now and open the door to your Web3 future with Bybit.

For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Web3.

About Bybit

Bybit is one of the world’s top three crypto exchanges by trading volume with 25 million users. Established in 2018, it offers a professional platform where crypto investors and traders can find an ultra-fast matching engine, 24/7 customer service, and multilingual community support. Bybit is a proud partner of Formula One’s reigning Constructors’ and Drivers’ champions: the Oracle Red Bull Racing team.

For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press.

For media inquiries, please contact: [email protected]

For more information, please visit: https://www.bybit.com

For updates, please follow: Bybit’s Communities and Social Media

Discord | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Reddit | Telegram | TikTok | X | Youtube

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