Klarna Eyes $14B IPO After Fresh Boost in Valuation
Klarna is gearing up for another try at going public in New York, this time aiming to raise up to $1.27 billion. The plan would give the Swedish fintech a valuation between $12.5 billion and $14 billion.
The timing follows a recent lift in investor confidence. Chrysalis Investments recently raised the value of its stake in Klarna, implying a $14.6 billion valuation. That’s a big rebound from the company’s low of $6.7 billion in 2022, though still far from its $45 billion peak in 2021.
Klarna is best known for its “buy now, pay later” service, but it’s expanding beyond payments. It has launched a debit card in the U.S., plans to roll it out across Europe, and even introduced a mobile service through AT&T’s network. Regulators are also watching closely: the UK granted Klarna a license to hold customer funds, and a U.S. banking license could be next.
The company still has hurdles. It posted a $53 million loss in the second quarter of 2024, more than double last year’s number. But the IPO plan shows Klarna is betting that combining shopping, payments, and banking into one platform is its future—and that investors are ready to back that vision again.
Sources:
A.M.
