BillDesk Acquires Worldline’s Indian Payment Operations

BillDesk has made significant strides in the Indian payments sector by acquiring the Indian payment operations of French payments giant Worldline SA for an estimated equity value of about $70.8 million. This acquisition is set to enhance BillDesk’s market position while also forging a long-term technology and software alliance with Worldline, allowing BillDesk to utilise Worldline’s payment software continuously.

Transaction Details

The deal outlines an enterprise value of $43.7 million for Worldline’s Indian operations. Worldline indicated that this sale supports its overall strategy to concentrate on core payment processes in Europe, streamline its operations, and optimise how resources are allocated. The cash earnings from this transaction are anticipated to bolster Worldline’s financial profile and facilitate capital redeployment to its primary businesses.

Regulatory Approval and Growth Prospects

In May of the previous year, Worldline secured approval from the Reserve Bank of India to function as a cross-border payment aggregator within India. This RBI authorisation enabled Worldline’s Indian division to handle online import and export transactions for merchants while adhering to regulatory norms. Post-acquisition, BillDesk is expected to leverage Worldline’s technological capabilities, further entrenching itself within the payments ecosystem.

Financial Performance

According to consolidated financial statements for FY24, BillDesk experienced a downturn in revenue from operations, sliding from Rs 2,678 crore the previous year to Rs 2,334 crore. Additionally, its profit after tax decreased from Rs 142 crore to Rs 121 crore. BillDesk concluded FY24 with cash and bank balances amounting to Rs 930 crore, while its FY25 outcomes remain pending announcement.

Worldline India Performance

Per the Head and Tale report, Worldline India reported an operational revenue of Rs 694 crore in FY25, albeit incurring a loss of Rs 22.5 crore. Furthermore, Worldline highlighted that the total net cash proceeds from earlier announced divestments—including its operations in MeTS, Worldline North America, Cetrel, PaymentIQ, and its Indian business—are estimated to range between $637.2 million and $696.2 million, with the proceeds expected by 2026.

Future Outlook

The completion of the BillDesk and Worldline India transaction is projected for the latter half of 2026, marking a pivotal moment for both entities in the rapidly evolving payments landscape.