Fintech PR
R.J. O’Brien Agrees to Acquisition by StoneX Group
Combination Strengthens Firms’ Position as a Leading Futures Brokerage and Clearing Firm
CHICAGO and NEW YORK, April 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — R.J. O’Brien & Associates (RJO), the oldest futures brokerage and clearing firm in the United States, announced today that its parent company has reached a definitive agreement with StoneX Group Inc. (NASDAQ: SNEX), to merge all of RJO’s global businesses into StoneX, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Upon the closing of the transaction, anticipated in the third quarter of this year, the combined firm will become a leading futures commission merchant (FCM) in the U.S., enhancing its role in the global financial market structure.
StoneX is a Fortune 100 company with operations in six continents and a market capitalization of over $3.5 billion. Privately held R.J. O’Brien has offices and affiliates in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
Sean O’Connor, Executive Vice-Chairman of StoneX, said: “This is a transformational transaction for StoneX, establishing us as a leading global derivatives clearing firm and reinforcing our position as an integral part of the global market structure across asset classes. Combining R.J. O’Brien’s extensive client network and proven clearing capabilities with StoneX’s deep liquidity, innovative OTC hedging solutions and leading risk management infrastructure, we are well-positioned to continue to deliver exceptional services, broader market access and industry-leading solutions to our combined client base. We are very pleased that Gerry Corcoran, who has been the CEO and driving force behind RJO, will continue on with StoneX in a senior leadership role.”
RJO Chairman and CEO Gerry Corcoran said: “We’re extraordinarily excited about this partnership between two great companies that each bring over a century of history in the futures industry and complementary capabilities, products, services and cultures. We both prioritize a profound commitment to our clients and a focus on prudent risk management. RJO’s clients will continue to enjoy the same enduring relationships with the brokers they know so well and the high level of service they know they can expect from us. In addition to all the products we offer today, our clients and brokers will have a plethora of new products and services across asset classes available at their fingertips, bringing meaningful new trading and hedging opportunities. At the same time, our organization will benefit from new efficiencies, premier technologies and greater growth potential.”
Speaking on behalf of the O’Brien family, the majority shareholders in RJO, Board member Bob O’Brien, Jr. said: “This transaction is the right step to take for all of our stakeholders to ensure we carry on the values that have made the firm successful while putting us in the strongest position to compete and meet the challenges of the evolving financial landscape. StoneX was founded just 10 years after my grandfather, John V. McCarthy, started our firm in 1914. Like RJO, it was one of the earliest clearing members of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. So many of our family members have been privileged to lead the company and provide guidance and counsel. We feel so close to our clients, brokers and employees; they’re extended family to us. This merger is the natural next step in the history of the company, and the O’Brien family is enthusiastic about playing a new role as major shareholders in another great company that will build on that legacy.”
RJO Board member John O’Brien, Jr. said: “My father, John O’Brien, Sr. – and his father before him, Robert J. O’Brien, Sr. – led the firm to new heights. My dad worked harder than anyone I have ever met, and his focus on integrity and profound impact on the business were matched only by how much he loved to talk about and spend time with RJO’s clients, brokers and amazing employees. He would be the number one advocate for this transaction because it makes so much sense for all of our stakeholders – from employees and brokers to clients and shareholders. My father always said, ‘If you’re not growing, you’re dying.’ Gerry has done an incredible job leading the company and driving growth for over two decades while remaining true to our family’s principles. He found just the right home for us with StoneX. Both RJO and StoneX have remained leaders in the industry, evolving with the times and expanding to ensure clients were best served. Moving forward together is the best way to stay a leader in this space and operate at an even higher level.”
Broadhaven Capital Partners is serving as exclusive financial advisor to RJO, and Mayer Brown LLP is serving as its legal advisor.
The StoneX announcement about the transaction can be found at https://ir.stonex.com/press-releases. StoneX will host a conference call to discuss the transaction today at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time. A live web cast of the conference call as well as additional information to review during the call will be made available in PDF form on-line on the StoneX corporate web site at https://register.vevent.com/register/BIe20141cf7fd043c89fde461964a3582e approximately ten minutes prior to the start time. Participants may preregister for the conference call here.
About R.J. O’Brien
Founded in 1914, R.J. O’Brien & Associates is the oldest independent futures brokerage and clearing firm in the United States, serving more than 75,000 institutional, commercial and individual clients globally, in addition to a network of approximately 300 introducing brokers (IBs). RJO services the industry’s most expansive global network of IBs, a vast array of middle market firms and many of the world’s largest financial, industrial and agricultural institutions. The firm offers state-of-the-art electronic trading and 24-hour trade execution on every major futures exchange worldwide. RJO received the FOW International Award for Non-Bank FCM of the Year for five consecutive years, and the firm and its UK affiliate have earned eight honors from the HFM Global publications (now With Intelligence) in recent years.
About StoneX Group Inc.
StoneX Group Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates a global financial services network that connects companies, organizations, traders and investors to the global market ecosystem through a unique blend of digital platforms, end-to-end clearing and execution services, high touch service and deep expertise. The Company strives to be the one trusted partner to its clients, providing its network, product and services to allow them to pursue trading opportunities, manage their market risks, make investments and improve their business performance. A Fortune 100 company headquartered in New York City and listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (NASDAQ:SNEX), StoneX Group Inc. and its more than 4,400 employees serve more than 54,000 commercial, institutional, and payments clients, and more than 400,000 retail accounts, from more than 70 offices spread across six continents. Further information on the Company is available at www.stonex.com.
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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/rj-obrien-agrees-to-acquisition-by-stonex-group-302427547.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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