Fintech PR
PRA Group Announces Leadership Succession Plan

Martin Sjolund appointed President and Chief Executive Officer, effective June 17, 2025
Vikram Atal to serve as senior advisor through December 31, 2025
NORFOLK, Va., April 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — PRA Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: PRAA), a global leader in acquiring and collecting nonperforming loans, today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed President of PRA Group Europe Martin Sjolund to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective June 17, 2025. Sjolund succeeds current President and CEO Vikram Atal, who announced that he will retire and serve as a senior advisor through December 31, 2025. Sjolund will be appointed to the Board upon assuming the role of President and CEO, and Atal will retire from the Board at that time.
“On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Vik for his leadership of PRA Group during a pivotal time,” said Executive Chair of the Board Steve Fredrickson. “Today’s announcement is the culmination of the Board’s ongoing succession planning process and commitment to enabling long-term, profitable growth.”
“It has been a privilege to lead PRA Group through this transformative time in the company’s history,” said Atal. “Since March 2023, I have worked closely with Martin, and I am highly confident in his ability to further strengthen our global leadership position. His strong track record in our European business, extensive industry knowledge, thoughtful leadership and commitment to our culture and customers will build on our strengths and create meaningful value for our shareholders in the years to come.”
“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead PRA Group as we enter our next phase of growth,” said Sjolund. “As a team, we have already achieved record global portfolio purchases and double-digit cash growth, expanded our leadership team, improved operational processes and strengthened our capital structure. These actions have positioned us to continue driving the company forward while delivering value to our shareholders.”
About Martin Sjolund
Sjolund has served as President of PRA Group Europe since 2018, providing leadership across 15 markets in Europe, Canada and Australia. During his tenure, Sjolund oversaw nearly $3 billion of successful portfolio investments across Europe, all while significantly improving the profitability of the European business. He led our expansion into two new markets, modernized the IT infrastructure and contact platforms, enhanced the data and analytics function and ultimately created one of Europe’s most cost-efficient debt buying platforms.
Before being promoted to his current role, Sjolund served as Chief Operating Officer of Europe from 2015 until 2018. He was previously Director of Group Strategy and Corporate Development (Europe), a position he also held at Aktiv Kapital from 2011 until PRA Group acquired Aktiv Kapital in 2014.
Prior to joining Aktiv Kapital, Sjolund held leadership positions in global technology companies and was a management consultant with McKinsey & Company in Singapore and London. Sjolund holds an MBA from the University of Chicago and is a graduate of Georgetown University.
About PRA Group
As a global leader in acquiring and collecting nonperforming loans, PRA Group, Inc. returns capital to banks and other creditors to help expand financial services for consumers in the Americas, Europe and Australia. With thousands of employees worldwide, PRA Group companies collaborate with customers to help them resolve their debt. For more information, please visit www.pragroup.com.
News Media Contact:
Elizabeth Kersey
Senior Vice President, Communications and Public Policy
(757) 641-0558
Elizabeth.Kersey@PRAGroup.com
Investor Contact:
Najim Mostamand, CFA
Vice President, Investor Relations
(757) 431-7913
IR@PRAGroup.com

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/pra-group-announces-leadership-succession-plan-302422409.html
Fintech PR
Hokodo secures €10M equity raise led by Korelya Capital and Opera Tech Ventures for digital trade credit product innovation

- European digital trade credit solution provider Hokodo announces a €10 million equity raise
- The cash injection will be used for product innovation and to increase operational capacity in the run up to Series C
- Long-time partner and investor BNP Paribas co-leads the round alongside French VC Korelya Capital
LONDON, April 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Pan-European digital trade credit provider Hokodo has today announced a new €10 million equity fundraising round co-led by Korelya Capital and Opera Tech Ventures (the corporate venture fund of global bank BNP Paribas). Two of Hokodo’s Series B investors – Mundi Ventures and Notion Capital – also participated in the round.
This new cash injection will allow Hokodo to continue developing innovative digital trade credit solutions, onboard new merchants and leverage AI to further digitise the credit management value chain.
Bringing digital trade credit to the masses
Tapping into the growing buyer demand for omnichannel experiences in B2B, recent months have seen Hokodo develop a suite of new products and features tailored to sales channels beyond e-commerce.
“Despite a significant shift to e-commerce in B2B, the reality is that many industries are still driven by personal relationships and traditional sales processes. But transactions that take place offline can benefit from digital trade credit just as much as those on e-commerce sites and online platforms,” explains Richard Thornton, Co-founder and President of Hokodo.
The new funding will support Hokodo as it rolls out a new in-store solution to offline and omnichannel merchants across Europe, starting with French professional supplies merchant RÉTIF and with more customer announcements scheduled for the coming weeks.
Onboarding B2B merchants at scale
The equity raise will also be used to increase the team’s operational capacity, ensuring fast and efficient integrations for the growing number of new clients that Hokodo onboards each month.
“As we onboard an ever-growing list of larger and larger B2B merchants and marketplaces from all over Europe, we are really happy to have the support of partners and investors that have a full understanding of the problem Hokodo solves and conviction in the fact that we are the right people to solve it,” explains Thornton. “Our ultimate goal is to provide all B2B businesses with a way to pay that is safer, simpler and better supported. This equity raise takes us one step closer to making that a reality.”
Since 2018, Hokodo has established itself as a leading player in the digital trade credit or so called ‘B2B BNPL’ space, and was the first business of its kind to become regulated as an EMI.
“Since Hokodo’s Series B fundraise, they have expanded rapidly across Europe, fulfilling their ambition to become the first truly pan-European digital trade credit provider,” says Franco Danesi, Partner at Korelya Capital. “We’re thrilled to see Hokodo go from strength to strength, despite difficult market conditions.”
“By co-leading this round we are showing just how much we believe in Hokodo’s potential to revolutionise the B2B payments space with digital trade credit,” adds Vincent Baillin, Co-Head at Opera Tech Ventures, part of BNP Paribas. “We are really excited about the opportunity to deepen the partnership between our two businesses with this strategic investment.”
For more information
Visit: hokodo.co
About Hokodo
Hokodo is Europe’s leading digital trade credit platform, empowering B2B merchants and marketplaces to offer instant, flexible trade accounts and payment terms. Bringing together payments, collections, credit scoring, risk protection, fraud management and financing, Hokodo enables growth by facilitating real-time trade credit for every sales channel.
Hokodo’s solutions are underwritten by American International Group UK Limited (AIG). Hokodo Services Limited is a firm authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under registration number 969484.
Hokodo Services Limited
9 Appold Street
London
EC2A 2AP
About Opera Tech Ventures
Launched in 2018, Opera Tech Ventures is the venture capital arm of BNP Paribas Group, dedicated to supporting the global transformation of the financial industry. The fund provides financial resources, domain expertise, industry connections and influence to foster the emergence of future category leaders.
About Korelya Capital
Korelya Capital is an investment platform dedicated to supporting European tech companies with global ambition. Founded in 2016 by former French Minister Fleur Pellerin, Korelya leverages deep industry expertise and a strong network of strategic partners in Europe and Asia to help visionary founders expand internationally. With a focus on growth capital, Korelya backs category leaders in sectors such as artificial intelligence, fintech, digital health, and consumer platforms.
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/hokodo-secures-10m-equity-raise-led-by-korelya-capital-and-opera-tech-ventures-for-digital-trade-credit-product-innovation-302434768.html
Fintech PR
Pan-European PE Firm GTO Partners Acquires Majority Stake in Danish IT Company Complea A/S

Pan-European private equity firm GTO Partners has acquired a majority stake in Danish IT company Complea A/S to support its continued growth and market expansion.
LONDON, April 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Pan-European technology-focused private equity firm GTO Partners (“GTO”) has acquired a majority stake in the leading Danish IT company Complea A/S (“Complea”), which provides IT and digitalisation services to private and public enterprises, to support its strong growth and strategic expansion.
“Complea has built a highly successful business rooted in strong values, technical excellence, and a deep commitment to its customers,” said Federico Canciani, Managing Partner at GTO. “We are proud to contribute to this next phase in the company’s journey. Our shared ambition is to drive growth through both targeted acquisitions and continued organic development. While preserving the company’s distinctive culture and customer-first approach, we will also be investing in talent acquisition by expanding the team. We see substantial opportunity in the Danish IT sector and look forward to supporting Complea’s expansion in both existing and new markets.”
GTO is a pan-European private equity firm with global expertise and vision, focused on mid-market investments in the B2B technology sector. Built on the principle that methodical focus at every stage of the investment lifecycle drives success, GTO brings deep expertise and a hands-on approach to value creation. The firm’s capability to deliver best-in-class results – through strong in-house capabilities, global perspective, and collaborative partnership with portfolio company management teams – enable it to support businesses through their next phase of growth and transformation.
Since its founding by Morten Hovaldt in 2010, Complea has consistently demonstrated strong financial performance driven by subscription-managed services and attracted considerable interest from investors over the past year. Under Hovaldt’s leadership, the North Jutland company has grown from a small operation in Hjallerup into a major national player with consistently strong financial results. Recent years have seen significant organic growth complemented by strategic acquisitions, demonstrated by its consistent +25% year-on-year organic revenue increase, while non-core business units have been divested to sharpen the company’s focus.
Most recently, Complea has invested heavily in advanced hosting infrastructure, including the addition of a second fully owned and operated data center that offers customers a secure, high-performance alternative to global hyperscalers This reflects the company’s broader commitment to delivering end-to-end IT services that simplify complexity and create real value, and provides a critical advantage in the Danish market that ensures data sovereignty and trust. With a strong, partnership-oriented approach and close customer relationships, Complea is able to respond quickly to client needs—an agility that continues to set it apart in a competitive market.
“This investment marks a very important milestone for Complea,” said Morten Hovaldt, CEO and founder of Complea. “It was vital for us to identify an investor who not only brings financial strength, but also aligns with our values, customer-centric approach, and long-term vision for industry consolidation. While this is a partial sale of the business I founded, the decision has been made with full conviction, and I look forward to continuing to lead Complea. With GTO’s support, we are well-positioned to scale, grow our team, and deliver even greater value to our clients.”
For further information, please contact:
Media enquiries: Tashi Lassalle & Ksenia Galouchko, Greenbrook, gtopartners@greenbrookadvisory.com / +44 207 952 2000
About Complea A/S
Complea was founded in 2010 by current CEO and co-owner Morten Hovaldt. The company offers a wide range of services, including private cloud solutions, IT security, operational technology (OT), Wi-Fi, infrastructure, consultancy, and Microsoft 365. Complea is ISAE 3402-certified and serves both private and public sector clients. Learn more at www.complea.dk.
About GTO Partners
GTO Partners is a pan-European sector specialist mid-market private equity firm focused on buyouts in the B2B software and services sectors. With GTO Partners’ operator-led value creation approach, the firm seeks to partner with management teams to provide support and resources to unlock the next phase of growth. For more information visit: https://www.gtopartners.com/
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/pan-european-pe-firm-gto-partners-acquires-majority-stake-in-danish-it-company-complea-as-302434772.html
Fintech PR
Thunes Reveals its 2025 Mobile Wallet Report, Transaction Value Soars to $17 Trillion by 2029

A Striking 73% Growth Rate Surges Beyond 2023 Projections, Underscoring Accelerated Adoption and a Broadening Economic Impact
SINGAPORE, April 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Thunes, the Smart Superhighway to move money around the world, today unveiled its comprehensive Complete Guide to Mobile Wallets 2025, the second edition of an extensive study that dives into the acceleration of mobile wallet adoption and the evolution of digital payments. The report provides critical insights into market growth, consumer behaviour, technological challenges, and the path towards a future of borderless payments.
Thunes’ 2025 Mobile Wallet report highlights one of the most dramatic shifts in the payments market: mobile wallets are quickly establishing themselves as the new standard. In Southeast Asia and Africa, the rapid adoption of mobile payments is enabling these regions to leapfrog traditional payment methods, moving directly from cash reliance to a fully digital ecosystem. Even in markets historically dominated by card transactions, mobile wallet adoption is rising sharply, signaling a global trend towards more agile, digital-first payment solutions.
The key findings of the report revolve around 5 key pillars:
- Explosive Growth: Mobile wallet users are projected to rise from 4.3 billion in 2024 to 5.8 billion by 2029, while digital transaction values are expected to jump from $10 trillion to $17 trillion, a 73% increase, according to Global Data.
- Digital-First Consumer Behaviour: Mobile wallets have evolved from basic contactless payments during COVID-19 into integral, multifunctional tools. They now support everything from everyday bill payments to the gig economy, meeting the seamless demands of digitally native generations.
- Interoperability Imperative: The current mobile wallet landscape is fragmented, operating in silos that hinder integration with legacy banking systems and card networks. Bridging these gaps is essential to unlocking global market potential and ensuring smooth cross-border transactions.
- Strengthening Regional Markets: The refined regional analysis presented in the report highlights dynamic market developments across Africa, Asia Pacific, Latin America, North America, and Europe. The report details how strategic global players connect banks, fintechs, and mobile wallet providers, driving a trend toward market consolidation, making digital payments more reliable and expansive. This renewed focus is critical in addressing regulatory differences and diverse local payment cultures.
- A Catalyst for Economic Transformation: Facilitating seamless cross-border transactions with the inclusion of mobile wallets payment systems enhances consumer trust and propels economic growth in emerging markets and beyond.
Mathieu Limousi, Chief Marketing Officer at Thunes said: “The findings in Thunes’ 2025 Mobile Wallet report reflect a profound transformation in the global payments landscape. With mobile wallet users expected to reach 5.8 billion by 2029 and digital wallet transaction values projected to grow 73% in just five years, the shift to digital payments is accelerating and becoming the new global standard. Yet, the lack of interoperability remains the biggest barrier to truly inclusive and efficient cross-border commerce. These insights will be invaluable to the Members of Thunes’ Direct Global Network, and to the entire cross-border payments ecosystem as we work to build a more connected and accessible financial future.”
Download the 2025 Complete Guide to Mobile Wallet report on the Thunes website: https://www.thunes.com/the-complete-guide-to-mobile-wallets-2025/
About Thunes:
Thunes is the Smart Superhighway to move money around the world. Thunes’ proprietary Direct Global Network allows Members to make payments in real-time in over 130 countries and more than 80 currencies. Thunes’ Network connects directly to over 7 billion mobile wallets and bank accounts worldwide, as well as 15 billion cards via more than 320 different payment methods, such as GCash, M-Pesa, Airtel, MTN, Orange, JazzCash, Easypaisa, AliPay, WeChat Pay and many more. Thunes’ Direct Global Network differentiates itself through its worldwide reach, in-house SmartX Treasury System and Fortress Compliance Platform, ensuring Members of the Network receive unrivaled speed, control, visibility, protection, and cost efficiencies when making real-time payments, globally. Members of Thunes’ Direct Global Network include gig economy giants like Uber and Deliveroo, super-apps like Grab and WeChat, MTOs, fintechs, PSPs and banks. Headquartered in Singapore, Thunes has offices in 13 locations, including Barcelona, Beijing, Dubai, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, London, Manila, Nairobi, Paris, Riyadh, San Francisco and Shanghai. For more information, visit: https://www.thunes.com/
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/thunes-reveals-its-2025-mobile-wallet-report-transaction-value-soars-to-17-trillion-by-2029-302431947.html
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