Shift4, a provider of integrated payments, announced a definitive agreement to acquire Global Blue, a specialty payments platform, for $7.50 per common share in cash, valuing the transaction at approximately $2.5 billion. This price represents a 15 percent premium over Global Blue’s closing share price as of February 14, 2025. The acquisition has been unanimously approved by the boards of both companies and is expected to close by the third quarter of 2025, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary conditions. Global Blue’s tax refund and currency conversion solutions will be integrated into Shift4’s payments platform, enhancing its services for merchants worldwide. Upon completion of the transaction, Global Blue’s shares will no longer be publicly traded.
As part of the deal, key Global Blue shareholders, including Ant International and Tencent, plan to remain investors in the combined business and explore strategic partnerships with Shift4. This includes expanding digital payment solutions including Alipay+ and Weixin Pay across Shift4’s ecosystem. Shift4 will finance the acquisition using cash on hand and a $1.795 billion bridge loan. Tom Farley, Chairman of Global Blue, expressed confidence and stated, “We are pleased to unanimously recommend the transaction, which we believe will deliver a significant, immediate, and certain value to Global Blue’s shareholders. More broadly, we firmly believe that this transaction is in the best interests of our employees, customers, and stakeholders, ensuring continued growth and innovation under new ownership.”
