Swedish fintech unicorn Klarna has raised USD 1B for international expansion and product development. Following the deal, investors have valued the company at USD 31B, which returns to it the title of Europe’s most valuable fintech startup, Bloomchain.ru reports.

Klarna has not disclosed the sponsors’ names, but the company’s press statement notes that the new round of financing featured both new and existing investors. Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski has told Bloomberg that the company planned to raise USD 500M initially, but increased demand on the part of investors enabled Klarna to raise twice as much. He has stressed that the investment might reach the mark of USD 3B.



“Perhaps, the investors’ interest toward Klarna has to do with the rumors of upcoming placement of the company’s shares on a stock exchange. Back in 2019, Siemiatkowski stated that the startup was ready for entry into a public market. Last week he told Reuters that Klarna is considering direct listing, but the final decision will be made in March, after Niclas Neglen is appointed the Chief Financial Officer. Siemiatkowski says if Klarna decides to become a public company, it is most likely to happen in 2022,” the article says.

According to Sebastian Siemiatkowski, the new investment will help Klarna compete with the credit card industry. The startup will spend part of the money on purchase of technological companies. Siemiatkowski has noted he “is not interested much” in M&A deals, because new services would be difficult to integrate. Klarna will also donate USD 10M to organizations that help combat climate change.

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