Klarna has taken a significant step toward a U.S. initial public offering by confidentially submitting a filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission, signaling its intent to enter the American market
Klarna, a Swedish buy-now, pay-later (BNPL) startup, is on the verge of becoming a publicly traded corporation. The fintech informed the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Wednesday that it has confidentially submitted a draft registration statement.
The listing announcement, which has been in the works for an extended period, is being made in the context of a scarcity of initial public offerings (IPOs) in the technology sector. The excitement surrounding today’s news is further heightened by Klarna’s European status.
Klarna, which was established in 2005, is one of several entities in the BNPL sector that allow customers to acquire products with the assurance of interest-free credit.
Klarna achieved a significant valuation of over $45 billion by 2021, following its launch in the United States in 2015. However, this figure rapidly declined by 85% to $6.5 billion as a result of market “corrections.”
Nevertheless, Klarna’s valuation has recently increased to $14.6 billion, as previously reported, as a result of an investor’s increase in its stake.
The number of shares that will be offered and the price range of the IPO are still unknown. However, today’s announcement will likely facilitate Klarna’s IPO in the first half of 2025.