The company is already in Dizraptor’s portfolio since Apr 10. New offerings are possible in the future
About the Company
Klarna is one of the major payment systems of the next generation. The company has launched a platform that has become a full-fledged alternative to banks for both retail customers and business owners. The company was founded in 2005 in Sweden. Klarna is used by more than 85 million private customers and 200 thousand major online stores: H&M, IKEA, Expedia Group, Samsung, ASOS, Peloton, Abercrombie & Fitch, Nike, AliExpress and others.
Klarna was initially created as a platform for online shopping on credit. The Klarna system is integrated into an online store, finances customers' purchases (often with a zero interest rate), and receives payment from the seller's gross profit. Now Klarna has turned into a full-fledged digital wallet providing a wide range of services that include transfers, loans, brokerage services and savings management.
Market Opportunities
According to eMarketer data, the global online sales market reached $3.4T in 2019. The market is expected to grow to $5.8T by 2023. All stages of the commercial process are moving to the Internet – millennials and Generation Z are making more and more online purchases. However, e-commerce still accounts for only 14% of total retail sales.
With the growing adoption of online sales, customers are increasingly choosing innovative payment solutions instead of traditional credit payment methods. “Buy now, pay later” is the fastest-growing online payment preference globally. According to recent research from Checkout.com, 23% of consumers in Europe are now using BNPL, and the market is predicted to be worth $4T by 2030.
Financials and Valuation
Klarna has raised $3.7B from 45 venture capital investors, including Sequoia Capital, DST Global, General Atlantic, BlackRock, Visa and others. After a June 2021 funding round, the company was valued at $45.6B, up nearly 50% from the valuation in March 2021, when Klarna raised $1B at a valuation of $31B. Klarna's revenue in 2020 was $1.3B. The company is growing at an average annual rate of 40% and its gross margin is at a high level of 70%. The main driver is the growth of revenue and margins in new regions (USA, UK and others).
In June 2021 Klarna said that it was considering an initial public offering in the U.S. in the next year or two.
Risks
Amid concerns surrounding the increased use of the money lending service, MPs and lobbyists have called for more regulation of the BNPL space, in order to reduce the potential for consumer harm. Klarna will soon start sharing customer data with UK credit agencies, this means that lending companies will soon be able to see transactions and debts when conducting credit checks on potential borrowers. So potential and current customers of Klarna may think twice about this type of debt which will now start to appear on their credit report, and this can negatively affect the demand for its service.
Klarna operates in a highly competitive industry. Similar companies include Affirm, PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, and Square. If Klarna cannot compete, it will have a negative impact on the company's results and prospects.
Sources
Klarna's Second 2021 Raise Sees Valuation Top $45B, Crowdfund Insider, June 2021
Annual financial statement release, Klarna website, December 2020 (pdf)