SumUp raises €750 million to fuel growth through acquisitions

By Sunniva Kolostyak

Global payments service provider SumUp has raised €750 million in debt financing as it looks to accelerate its growth through acquisitions and expansion of its global reach and product suite.

The investment facility comes from returning investors Goldman Sachs and Bain Capital Credit, alongside Temasek and Crestline. The round was oversubscribed, and funds are managed by Oaktree Capital Management.

SumUp plans on using the proceeds to acquire and support its existing merchants in 33 markets across the world, as well as continue expanding the product suite, both organically and through further M&A activity, as well as for refinancing existing debt facilities.

The company has recently broadened its product portfolio in the POS and gastronomy space across the UK and continental Europe through the acquisition of leading POS software providers Goodtill and Tiller. These recent acquisitions will put SumUp into contact with potentially millions of new customers, from cafes and restaurants right up to the biggest sports stadiums and concert arenas; signalling a new generation of SumUp merchants coming into play.

SumUp has also recently completed the acquisition of the core banking system provider Paysolut as part of its strategy to build up its offering of banking services for merchants.

Despite the effects of COVID-19 on SMEs, SumUp has entered 2021 in its strongest position to date. Over the past year, SumUp has unveiled a host of new solutions and innovations to help businesses navigate the operating restrictions brought about by repeated lockdowns. This included the introduction of payment links & invoicing options, new online selling functionalities through the ‘SumUp Online Store’, and gift card collaborations with Google, Facebook, and Instagram; solutions all designed to help business owners to receive payments safely and continue trading in the face of uncertain economic circumstances.

Commenting on the funding, Marc-Alexander Christ, Co-founder at SumUp, said: “Each day I continue to be impressed by how the SumUp team has faced down the challenges of the past year and continued to deliver the vital, payments technology that empowers small businesses all over the world; helping them to continue to be successful doing what they love best.

“As one of the fastest-growing technology companies in the world, this cash injection – in addition to having the built-in option to expand the financing – will significantly accelerate the growth of our customer base, enhance SumUp’s technology leadership position, and drive the development of new services to support our merchants globally.”

Tom Maughan from Bain Capital Credit added: ”We’re proud to be backing SumUp once again and we recognise the truly impressive strides made by the company over the past couple of years. We have huge admiration for what SumUp is doing for small businesses across the world in helping them to keep trading and flourishing in some of the most trying economic circumstances imaginable. The doubling down of our investment in SumUp in this round is both a demonstration of our confidence in the company today and its strong future.”

In the year ahead, SumUp, which is used by over 3 million businesses, is looking to grow its 2000+ strong team by adding the world’s best talent to its 19 international offices on three continents. In addition to prominence in Europe, the US, and Brazil, SumUp’s long-term trajectory will include expansion into Asia. In Europe, SumUp has launched in Romania, bringing the number of its European markets to 29.

Within its new markets, SumUp acquired the full stake in the joint venture it previously had with Chile’s BancoEstado and will continue serving merchants and developing the market further exclusively under the SumUp brand. The Colombian market launch is also a hugely significant step for SumUp, with the fourth largest economy in LATAM and a population of over 50 million people now able to come into contact with the company’s technology.