Worldline completes divestments, revenues beat expectations
The logo of Worldline is seen during the Viva Technology conference dedicated to innovation and startups at Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris, France, June 12, 2025. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo
April 28 : European digital payment service group Worldline on Tuesday reported quarterly revenues which slightly beat market expectations and said it had completed its divestment scheme with the sale of a 51 per cent stake in its Australian payment business.
The divestment programme was aimed at slimming down Worldline's cumbersome portfolio of businesses and helping it return to growth. Worldline is now worth only a fraction of the market value it had at its pandemic peak.
Since then the group has been hit by multiple profit warnings, governance shake-ups and media reports accusing it of concealing client fraud. It was also investigated by Belgian prosecutors over potential money laundering.
• Paris-listed company reported an 0.5 per cent organic decline in quarterly revenues to 831 million euros ($972 million) versus 826 million expected by analysts polled by the company
• The group sold the stake in Australian ANZ Worldline Payment Solutions and of New Zealand under agreement valuing the entire enterprise at around 107 million euros
• The group's share of net proceeds from the deal is 30 million euros
• The closing of the transaction is expected in the second half of 2026
• The company said that the combined net cash proceeds from all the announced divestments were expected to be between 590-640 million euros and should be received within this year
• Worldline confirmed its annual outlook, citing no material effects from geopolitical challenges in the period
• The company also said that its main division - merchant services - returned to growth for the first time since the end of 2024
($1 = 0.8551 euros)
