In largest ever equity investment in a German fintech company, Kreditech receives EUR 110 million investment from PayU and expands strategic partnership

PayU and Kreditech agree global partnership to increase access to credit services in high growth, emerging markets 

Kreditech, the leading technology group for digital consumer credit using machine-learning based underwriting, has closed a EUR 110 million investment from global online payment service provider PayU.

The landmark investment is the largest ever equity investment in a German fintech company and builds on a successful 12-month pilot programme in Poland.

As part of the deal, Kreditech and PayU agree a global partnership to deliver a joint proposition for Point of Sale Finance. The agreement combines PayU’s strong international footprint with Kreditech’s unique technology to bring innovative credit services to underbanked markets around the world. Kreditech will expand its Lending as a Service (LaaS) offering and deliver its unique AI and machine-learning credit underwriting and loan management technology to PayU’s 300,000-strong network of merchants.

The announcement follows a successful pilot programme managed by Kreditech and PayU, offering Polish consumers improved access to credit in a real-time online process. The pilot programme issued more than EUR 10 million in credit.

Through this major growth financing, PayU has acquired a significant minority stake in Kreditech, joining existing prominent fintech investors including JC Flowers, Varde, Blumberg Capital, HPE, Peter Thiel, Rakuten and the World Bank’s IFC.  Additional transaction parameters were not disclosed.

Increased purchase power for online shoppers in emerging markets

The strategic investment is part of PayU’s global plan to build on its payments heritage to become a leading fintech provider in high growth markets. PayU has a strong track record building payments businesses in growth markets, including Eastern Europe, India and Latin America.

Kreditech can reach its full potential and expand into new territories through its partnership with PayU, meeting its vision to improve financial freedom for the underbanked through technology. The agreement will enable retailers in high growth, emerging markets to offer their customers new ways of financing online purchases – conveniently, transparently, and at competitive interest rates.

Kreditech’s and PayU’s non-exclusive partnership is the first such strategic cooperation pact between a payment service provider and a technology driven consumer finance company.

Retailers benefit from increased sales potential

“We are thrilled to offer online point-of-sale finance in markets where the development of consumer credit has been severely constrained by the lack of reliable credit risk assessment. Our credit scoring and underwriting technology allows PayU and its merchant partners to offer a competitive, convenient credit product to their retail customers”, Alexander Graubner-Müller, CEO of Kreditech, explained. “Teaming up with PayU provides underbanked customers new possibilities and supports our mission of providing financial freedom through technology. At the same time, we enable retailers to reach a new customer group and significantly increase sales volume.”

Laurent le Moal, CEO at PayU, says: “We are excited to build a leading innovative online consumer lending player in high growth markets. With our substantial investment we deepen our relationship with the industry-leading management team at Kreditech, and help to bring pioneering machine learning and AI technology to the many high growth markets around the world that need better access to financial services. At PayU we believe in the enormous potential of technology to unlock credit and financial services for underserved populations. In the past 12 months, we have become the leading corporate venture capital investor in FinTech, investing more than EUR 245 million around the world. This latest investment in Kreditech fits perfectly with this vision.”

Kreditech’s Lending as a Service product line is an API-based solution which enables partners to offer tailor-made consumer finance products to their customers build on top of Kreditech’s technology and machine-learning based underwriting. Partners gain access to the complete Kreditech consumer lending value chain including loan application management, credit risk management, know your customer principles (KYC), e-signature, loan refinancing, loan processing and servicing, collections as well as customer service.

Kreditech Group’s mission is to improve financial freedom for the underbanked with the use of technology.  Combining non-traditional data sources and machine learning, the company is aiming to provide access to better credit and a higher convenience for digital banking services. The product offerings include consumer loans, a digital wallet and a personal finance manager designed to help customers manage their credit score and plan their spending. Kreditech also offers a “Lending as a Service” model, allowing partners to integrate Kreditech’s credit products via an API into their own platform and services.

Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, Kreditech covers more than 5 markets worldwide, amongst others

Russia, Mexico, Spain and Poland. Up until now, the company has processed more than four million loan applications through its subsidiaries. Kreditech’s team of more than 387 people is led by CEO and Co-Founder Alexander Graubner-Müller and is financially backed by world-class investors including PayU, J.C. Flowers, Peter Thiel, and the World Bank’s IFC.

PayU uses its payments heritage and expertise to deliver financial services in emerging markets. Our local operations in Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa enable us to be experts in these countries and provide the best solutions for the local market. PayU is the leading online payment service provider in 16 high growth markets, dedicated to creating a fast, simple and efficient payment process for merchants and buyers. Our 250+ payment methods and PCI certified platforms are designed to meet every consumer’s needs.

The markets in which PayU operates represent a potential consumer base of nearly 2.3 billion people and a huge growth potential for merchants. PayU has more than 1,800 payment specialists based in these local markets supporting PayU’s 300,000+ merchants and the millions of consumers making online payments. www.payu.com