SumUp Acquires U.S. Payments and Marketing Platform Fivestars for $317 Million (Oct. 14, 2021)

Summary

Press release from London and San Francisco, Oct. 14, 2021, announcing that SumUp, a London-based payments service provider, is acquiring Fivestars, described as America’s largest two-sided local commerce network combining a marketing platform with integrated payments, for $317 million in a mix of cash and stock. It is SumUp’s first acquisition in the U.S. and follows a €750 million raise in March 2021. Fivestars’s network is put at more than 70 million consumer members and 12,000 small businesses, driving over $3 billion in sales and 100 million transactions per year. SumUp co-founder Marc-Alexander Christ and Fivestars co-founder and CEO Victor Ho are quoted, and Ho and the San Francisco team are to remain in their roles. BMO Capital Markets and Gunderson Dettmer LLP advised Fivestars, and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP advised SumUp.

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Global payments leader, SumUp, acquires U.S. payments and marketing platform, Fivestars, for $317 Million

Europe’s leading fintech scales its operations within the U.S. through the acquisition of America’s largest local commerce network

London & San Francisco, Oct. 14, 2021 - SumUp, the London-based global payments service provider with over 2,800 employees across three continents, today announces its acquisition of FivestarsOpens in new window, America's largest two-sided local commerce network that combines a marketing platform with integrated payments, for $317 million in a mix of cash and stock. The acquisition will enable both companies to offer essential payments and marketing automation services to small business owners across the U.S. and globally.

Following a €750 million raise in March 2021, one of the most significant [debt] financings for any privately backed startup in Europe, SumUp - which has grown since 2012 to support over three million merchant users in 34 markets - is executing on its commitment to international expansion. The acquisition is SumUp's first in the U.S. and will provide the company with access to the more than 70 million consumer members and 12,000 small businesses within Fivestars's network, which currently drives over $3 billion in sales and 100 million transactions per year.

"SumUp is a market leader because of our support for, and belief in, small businesses. Our global community of merchants has battled through lockdowns and volatility and we're confident that this acquisition will further energize the U.S.'s recovering small business economy. Now is the time to make sure our presence is as strong in the U.S. as it is in Europe and, by acquiring Fivestars, SumUp will deliver for U.S.-based merchants as it has in other international markets," said Marc-Alexander Christ, SumUp Co-founder.

Victor Ho, Co-founder and CEO, Fivestars said, "We founded Fivestars to give small businesses the opportunity to thrive in the digital economy and over the years, we've achieved just that. Understanding that SumUp shares this mission, it was an easy decision to partner, and together, we look forward to supporting a retail market that champions small business success."

SumUp’s exponential growth has been sustained through relentless innovation. The fintech behemoth continually broadens its product ecosystem, most recently through revamping its Online Store offering for merchants, and the Europe-leading fintech is now widening its global ambitions. Solid footings across the U.S. and South America will now be utilised as the expanded network, courtesy of the acquisition, sets about empowering American businesses.

Fivestars' San-Francisco-based team, including its CEO and co-founder, Victor Ho, will remain in their roles and continue to operate Fivestars. SumUp's acquisition of Fivestars will result in expanded technology offerings for American small businesses that will help them save money on payments and make money through smart automated marketing.

The acquisition comes as merchants across the U.S. look to new technologies to revitalize their businesses as the next normal sets in. During the pandemic, Fivestars became a lifeline for small businesses who needed technology to help them drive sales and reach customers and with a shared goal of serving small business owners, SumUp will tap into Fivestars' local market expertise and trusted commerce network for its nationwide expansion.

BMO Capital Markets served as an exclusive financial advisor and Gunderson Dettmer LLP served as an exclusive legal advisor to Fivestars. Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP served as the exclusive legal advisor for SumUp.

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