Paris, 19 January 2021 –
Eurazeo, through Eurazeo Growth, announces a €55 million investment in PPRO, the most trusted infrastructure provider in the cross-border alternative payments space. Eurazeo Growth is co-leading this round of €153 million, alongside Sprints Capital and Wellington Management among other investors.

After Younited Credit, Wefox, Thought Machine and Tink, PPRO is Eurazeo Growth’s fifth investment in the Fintech sector and a testament to Europe’s innovation engine for financial services.
Headquartered in London, PPRO employs over 300 employees spread across 9 offices globally. The Company offers a payments infrastructure platform and value-added services that allow its customers and their underlying merchants to access over 150 alternative payment methods through one single API, while offloading the intricate complexities and massive costs of providing choice of payment method to local consumers.

Today, the Company counts 130 customers, fuelling cross-border e-Commerce growth for some of the world’s leading payment service providers such as Alipay, Mollie, PayPal, WorldPay, Citibank and Mastercard Payment Gateway Services. In addition, it serves 30 select enterprise customers with proprietary payment platforms including Adobe and Microsoft.
Capitalising on its market leading position, the Company doubled its year-on-year transaction volume in the fourth quarter of 2020, expanded its global team by 60% in the last twelve months, and developed new strategic partnerships with local payment methods in high-growth markets like Indonesia and Singapore. The funding will fuel PPRO’s continued global expansion and support the development of its innovative border-free payment technology and services.

Yann du Rusquec, Partner at Eurazeo Growth, states:
«We have been impressed by the level of maturity and ambitiousness of the organisation, Simon and his team have demonstrated throughout our interactions. Their local payment expertise is second to none, as recognised by some of the most influential players within payments. We are experiencing first hands the opportunities and challenges the ongoing innovation in payments provide to our marketplace and e-Commerce businesses across our portfolio. Sitting at the intersection of e-Commerce, cross-border trade and the growing adoption of alternative payment methods, PPRO is poised to continue its fast growth and build out its leadership position. Sharing PPRO’s partnership mindset, we are thrilled to be joining their journey alongside existing and new investors Citi Ventures, HPE, PayPal, Sprints and Wellington.»

Simon Black, CEO of PPRO, comments:
«I am so proud of what the PPRO team has accomplished. Beyond securing the support of prestigious investors like Eurazeo, Sprints, and Wellington and achieving a milestone valuation, we’ve enabled our customers to grow at record numbers during what has been a tough time for many. By giving businesses the ability to offer payment choice, we’ve helped give people around the world better access to goods and services that improve their lives. This investment will help us deliver the highest performance possible for companies leading the global payments industry.

About Eurazeo
• Eurazeo is a leading global investment company, with a diversified portfolio of €18.8 billion in assets under management, including €13.3 billion from third parties, invested in over 430 companies. With its considerable private equity, real estate and private debt expertise, Eurazeo accompanies companies of all sizes, supporting their development through the commitment of its nearly 300 professionals and by offering in-depth sector expertise, a gateway to global markets, and a responsible and stable foothold for transformational growth. Its solid institutional and family shareholder base, robust financial structure free of structural debt, and flexible investment horizon enable Eurazeo to support its companies over the long term.
• Eurazeo has offices in Paris, New York, Sao Paulo, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, London, Luxembourg, Frankfurt, Berlin and Madrid.
• Eurazeo is listed on Euronext Paris.
• ISIN : FR0000121121 – Bloomberg : RF FP – Reuters : EURA.PA
EURAZEO EURAZEO

PIERRE BERNARDIN
HEAD OF INVESTOR RELATIONS
mail : pbernardin@eurazeo.com
Tel : +33 (0)1 44 15 16 76

VIRGINIE CHRISTNACHT
HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS
mail: vchristnacht@eurazeo.com
Tel: +33( 1 44 15 76 44

MAITLAND/amo
DAVID STURKEN
mail: dsturken@maitland .co .uk
Tel: +44 ( 7990 595 913

Nordnet, a leading Nordic digital bank for investments and savings, and its owners, the Öhman Group and Nordic Capital (“the Owners”), have decided to review strategic options, including a potential listing of, Nordnet AB (publ). The objective is to provide Nordnet the best possible setting to take it to the next level of development. No decision has been taken and the market will be informed if, and when any such decision is taken.

Nordnet was listed on the Stockholm stock exchange in 1999. In 2016, the Owners made a joint recommended public cash offer for Nordnet, with a subsequent delisting. Under the private ownership, significant investments have been made in the business with the ambition to create the best-in-class platform for savings and investments, focused on market leading user-friendliness, availability, pricing, and product offering. On 24 July 2020, Nordnet announced its results for the first half of 2020 achieving record financial performance, including annual growth in customers and savings capital of 25% and 20%, respectively. At the end of the second quarter 2020, Nordnet had 1,070,000 customers across the Nordic region, with 425 BSEK in savings capital.

Lars-Åke Norling, CEO of Nordnet comments: “Our goal is to build the best platform for savings and investments. That ambition applies to both how our digital store is structured, as well as what is on the shelves. I am delighted to see that what we have achieved so far in terms of developing new digital interfaces and broadening our offering of savings products have resulted in a record-high number of private savers choosing Nordnet as their financial partner”.

“Driven by the mission to democratize savings, Nordnet has a tradition of challenging old structures through innovation and providing private savers with the same tools and information as professionals. Together we have completed many of the ambitions we set out to achieve in 2016, and the time is now right to review different strategic options for Nordnet going forward, including a potential listing. As a founder and long-term owner, we look forward to continuing to take an active part in Nordnet’s exciting journey into the future”, says Tom Dinkelspiel, Chairman of the Board of Nordnet, representing the Öhman Group, Nordnet’s main owner.

Christian Frick, Partner at Nordic Capital Advisors comments: “Over the past four years, the Owners have made significant investments in Nordnet, in order to build a pan-Nordic digital platform with a world class customer experience. We are now able to see the result of this transformation, where Nordnet has reached a new level of growth in customers and savings capital and has consolidated its position as the leading digital bank in the Nordics for savings and investments”.

Further information please contact:

Johan Tidestad, Chief Communications Officer, Nordnet
+46 708 875 775
johan.tidestad@nordnet.se

This information is information that Nordnet AB (publ) is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at 08.00 CET on 1 September 2020.

About Nordnet

Nordnet is a digital bank for savings and investments and we operate in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland. With user-friendliness, availability, a broad offering and low prices, we give our customers the opportunity to achieve their savings ambitions. Visit us at www.nordnetab.com, www.nordnet.se, www.nordnet.no, www.nordnet.dk or www.nordnet.fi.

The team at Clyde Blowers Capital has been playing a prominent role in helping to launch Alba Bank, which will be a challenger bank focused on lending to SMEs across the UK regions. The bank will provide loans to SMEs in the UK through a modern digital platform and placing an emphasis on the core skills of relationship banking.

On reading the announcement in January 2017 of the decision to wind Airdrie Savings Bank (ASB) down, CBC’s Chairman and CEO, Jim McColl OBE, first met with Rod Ashley, ASB’s former CEO, to explore the possibility of retaining their banking licence but changing the strategy to focus on the UK SME banking market. Although an Act of Parliament prevented ASB to transfer their current banking license, the Prudential Regulatory Authority (PRA) were encouraging of a new business proposal and bank application from the team.

Emboldened by the PRA’s initial feedback, CBC successfully led the seed funding to establish Alba in April 2018, while the other members of the founding team worked on a business plan to create a purpose-built SME-focused bank, to be Headquartered in Scotland and serving the UK regions.

CBC has continued to support the aspiring bank through its application process and has been hugely impressed by the progress made to date. In December 2019, Alba announced they had formally submitted their application for a banking license to the Regulator, representing an important milestone in the journey of becoming a fully licensed bank.

Jim McColl, CEO of CBC, commented:

“We believe there is a strong demand for a new purpose-built lender to SMEs in the UK, incorporating the latest technology available in the market and an emphasis on the core banking skills of the relationship manager. The bank will be focused on lending to SMEs in Scotland and the Northern Regions of the UK.

As the UK SME market continues to be affected by the current COVID-19 pandemic, we firmly believe Alba will play a crucial role in supporting the SME community and the wider economic recovery throughout the regions of the UK.”

Rod Ashley, CEO of Alba, added:

“The guidance and support of Jim McColl and his CBC team have been key elements in our drive to be in the strong position we find ourselves in today. We are on track to launch as a fully operational bank in 2021 and remain confident of receiving our authorisation with restrictions this Autumn. The achievement of that milestone will enable us to be known by our official name, Alba Bank.

The backing from Jim and his team will be a critical part of our work as we develop our business to be able to provide the necessary funding and support to UK-based SMEs as they strive to recover from today’s challenging climate and continue to be the backbone of the British economy.”

Nordic Capital Fund IX (“Nordic Capital”) has, through its wholly owned subsidiary Cidron Xingu Limited, last night acquired 7,598,162 shares in Norwegian Finans Holding ASA (“Bank Norwegian”) from a group of sellers including Green 91 AS, a company owned by Lars Ola Kjos, at a price of NOK 35 per share. The acquisition was made to strengthen Nordic Capital’s position as the largest shareholder and following the transaction, the holding will amount to 30,646,498 shares, corresponding to 16.4% of the total shares outstanding. In total, Nordic Capital and Sampo collectively own 42,472,603 shares, corresponding to 22.7% of Bank Norwegian following the transaction.

In August 2019, Nordic Capital together with Sampo signed an agreement to become the largest shareholders in Bank Norwegian. The acquisition was completed in October 2019.

Nordic Capital has extensive experience and a strong track record in the financial services sector in the Nordic region and continues to see Bank Norwegian as an interesting company with strong growth potential.

Press contact
Katarina Janerud, Communications Manager
Nordic Capital Advisors
Tel: +46 8 440 50 50
e-mail: katarina.janerud@nordiccapital.com

About Nordic Capital
Nordic Capital is a leading private equity investor with a resolute commitment to creating stronger, sustainable businesses through operational improvement and transformative growth. Nordic Capital focuses on selected regions and sectors where it has deep experience and a long history. Core sectors are Healthcare, Technology & Payments, Financial Services and Industrials & Business Services. Key regions are Northern Europe and globally for Healthcare. Since inception in 1989, Nordic Capital has invested more than EUR 14.5 billion in over 110 investments. The Nordic Capital vehicles are based in Jersey. They are advised by several non-discretionary sub-advisory entities based in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Germany, the UK and the US, any or all of which are referred to as Nordic Capital Advisors. For further information about Nordic Capital, please visit www.nordiccapital.com