SoftBank invests in Wirecard for strategic partnership on digital payments

Wirecard and SoftBank have signed a binding term sheet under which an affiliate of SoftBank will invest approximately €900m in Wirecard via a convertible bond mechanism.

For this purpose, Wirecard shall issue convertible bonds with a term of five years exclusively to SoftBank, convertible to 6,923,076 ordinary Wirecard shares (currently corresponding to approximately 5.6% of common stock) at €130 per Wirecard share. The intended issuance of convertible bonds, under exclusion of subscription rights, is subject to the approval of Wirecard’s Annual Shareholders meeting to be held on 18 June 2019.

In connection with the investment, the parties have also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on a strategic partnership for digital payment solutions. Under the MoU, SoftBank Group will seek to support Wirecard’s geographic expansion into Japan and South Korea, as well as providing collaboration opportunities within SoftBank Group’s global portfolio in digital payments, data-analytics/AI and other innovative digital financial services.

It is anticipated that the partnership will also extend to joint exploration of new product and service offers in digital lending in order to leverage from high quality customer portfolios, strong liquidity and other innovative financing solutions.