Buy-now, pay-later lender Klarna raised $1.37 billion in its U.S. initial public offering, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Tuesday, setting the stage for a market debut that could set the trend for high-growth fintech listings.
Reuters
The Sequoia Capital-backed Swedish company and some of its existing investors sold 34.3 million shares at $40 each above the targeted range of $35 to $37.
The IPO values Klarna at $15.11 billion, a significant step down from the more than $45 billion valuation it notched in 2021 after a rapid ascent as a BNPL leader.
Its valuation dropped to $6.7 billion in 2022 amid rising interest rates and inflation.
Klarna is headlining companies ranging from crypto to consumer that are aiming to go public in New York this week, as a rallying stock market and blockbuster debuts ease tariff worries and rekindle investor interest in IPOs.
The company, which has been planning a New York listing for years, paused its efforts in April as sweeping U.S. tariffs on its trading partners resulted in choppy global markets.
Founded in 2005, Klarna was profitable until its U.S. expansion in 2019, just ahead of the online shopping boom sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic.
While its user count and gross merchandise value continue to expand in double digits, profitability remains a challenge.
Losses widened to $52 million in the quarter ended June 30 from $7 million a year ago, while revenue rose to $823 million from $682 million.
“While the market is open again to fintech listings, companies will be judged quickly on their ability to balance growth with profitability in a tougher macro backdrop,” said Rudy Yang, senior analyst at PitchBook.
The company also operates as a digital-first neobank. Peer Chime’s shares popped 59% in its Nasdaq debut in June, although they trade below the issue price, as of last close.
However, analysts said Klarna’s brand power might help secure its footing among fintechs.
“The sector is highly competitive and rapidly evolving, and brand recognition, where Klarna remains strong, is often as critical as (the) business model,” said Kat Liu, vice president at IPO research firm IPOX.
U.S. consumer spending has held up despite sticky inflation, labor market cracks, and slowing income growth.
Alternative payments services such as Klarna, which ease the immediate financial burden by allowing shoppers to split purchases into smaller, interest-free installments over weeks or months, have witnessed stable demand.
For the 12 months ended June 30, Klarna earned 75% of its revenue from transaction and service-based fees – the majority of which came from merchants on its network – the lowest as a share of total revenue for the same period since 2022.
The share of interest income in this period rose to 25%. “Since Klarna’s BNPL model depends on both transaction volume and repayment rates, lower spending reduces merchant fee capture while also raising the risk of credit losses,” Liu said.
Goldman Sachs, J.P.Morgan, and Morgan Stanley are the joint book-running managers. Klarna will start trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “KLAR” on Wednesday.
The demerger of Unilever‘s ice cream division, to be named ‘The Magnum Ice Cream Company,’ which had been delayed in recent months by the US government shutdown, will finally go ahead on Saturday, the British group announced.
Reuters
Unilever said in a statement on Friday that the admission of the new entity’s shares to listing and trading in Amsterdam, London, and New York, as well as the commencement of trading… is expected to take place on Monday, December 8.
The longest federal government shutdown in US history, from October 1 to November 12, fully or partially affected many parts of the federal government, including the securities regulator, after weeks without an agreement between Donald Trump‘s Republicans and the Democratic opposition.
Unilever, which had previously aimed to complete the demerger by mid-November, warned in October that the US securities regulator (SEC) was “not in a position to declare effective” the registration of the new company’s shares. However, the group said it was “determined to implement in 2025” the separation of a division that also includes the Ben & Jerry’s and Cornetto brands, and which will have its primary listing in Amsterdam.
“The registration statement” for the shares in the US “became effective on Thursday, December 4,” Unilever said in its statement. Known for Dove soaps, Axe deodorants and Knorr soups, the group reported a slight decline in third-quarter sales at the end of October, but beat market expectations.
Under pressure from investors, including the activist fund Trian of US billionaire Nelson Peltz, to improve performance, the group last year unveiled a strategic plan to focus on 30 power brands. It then announced the demerger of its ice cream division and, to boost margins, launched a cost-saving plan involving 7,500 job cuts, nearly 6% of the workforce. Unilever’s shares on the London Stock Exchange were steady on Friday shortly after the market opened, at 4,429 pence.
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Burberry has named a new chief operating and supply chain officer as well as a new chief customer officer. They’re both key roles at the recovering luxury giant and both are being promoted from within.
Matteo Calonaci becomes chief operating and supply chain officer, moving from his role as senior vice-president of strategy and transformation at the firm.
In his new role, he’ll be oversee supply chain and planning, strategy and transformation, and data and analytics. He succeeds Klaus Bierbrauer, who’s currently Burberry supply chain and industrial officer. Bierbrauer will be leaving the company following its winter show and a transition period.
Matteo Calonaci – Burberry
Meanwhile, Johnattan Leon steps up as chief customer officer. He’s currently currently Burberry’s senior vice-president of commercial and chief of staff. In his new role he’ll be leading Burberry’s customer, client engagement, customer service and retail excellence teams, while also overseeing its digital, outlet and commercial operations.
Both Calonaci and Leon will join the executive committee, reporting to Company CEO Joshua Schulman.
JohnattanLeon – Burberry
Schulman said of the two execs that the appointments “reflect the exceptional talent and leadership we have at Burberry. Both Matteo and Johnattan have been instrumental in strengthening our focus on executional excellence and elevating our customer experience. Their deep understanding of our business, our people, and our customers gives me full confidence that their leadership will help drive [our strategy] Burberry Forward”.
Traditional and occasion wear designer Puneet Gupta has stepped into the world of fine jewellery with the launch of ‘Deco Luméaura,’ a collection designed to blend heritage and contemporary aesthetics while taking inspiration from the dramatic landscapes of Ladakh.
Hints of Ladakh’s heritage can be seen in this sculptural evening bag – Puneet Gupta
“For me, Deco Luméaura is an exploration of transformation- of material, of story, of self,” said Puneet Gupta in a press release. “True luxury isn’t perfect; it is intentional. Every piece is crafted to be lived with and passed on.”
The jewellery collection features cocktail rings, bangles, chokers, necklaces, and statement evening bags made in recycled brass and finished with 24 carat gold. The stones used have been kept natural to highlight their imperfect and unique forms and each piece in the collection has been hammered, polished, and engraved by hand.
An eclectic mix of jewels from the collection – Puneet Gupta
Designed to function as wearable art pieces, the colourful jewellery echoes the geometry of Art Deco while incorporating distinctly South Asian imagery such as camels, butterflies, and tassels. Gupta divides his time between his stores in Hyderabad and Delhi and aims to bring Indian artistry to a global audience while crafting a dialogue between designer and artisan.