BillDesk to acquire Worldline India payment businesses
Mumbai: Digital payments company BillDesk said on Tuesday that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire French payments company Worldline’s payments business in India.
This comes nearly 10 months after Mint exclusively reported that Worldline had initiated a process to explore the potential sale of its India operations as part of a broader global restructuring.
The company had instructed its bankers to consider strategic options, including divestitures, amid efforts to exit non-core geographies and improve profitability following slowing global growth and repeated profit warnings.
Billdesk did not disclose the size of the transaction.
The transaction is also in line with a broader wave of consolidation in India’s fintech sector.
Mint Fragmented markets and weak profitability are pushing venture-backed fintech firms towards mergers and acquisitions to achieve scale and sustainable margins, he had previously reported, citing Kotak Investment Banking.
BillDesk said the deal will combine its online aggregation business with Worldline India’s offline merchant network and bank switching infrastructure.
The combined entity will offer integrated payment services across digital transactions, recurring authorizations, cross-border payments and in-store acceptances through point-of-sale terminals and QR-based systems, the company said.
This acquisition is expected to deepen BillDesk’s presence in regional markets and strengthen merchant distribution, particularly among mid-sized businesses expanding digital payment adoption.
“This transaction is a forward-looking investment in India’s payments ecosystem,” MN Srinivasu, co-founder of BillDesk, said in a statement, adding that the integration will help deliver a more connected payment experience for banks, businesses and merchants.
Mint has previously reported that an acquisition of this nature could help the buyer gain scale.
The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions. Law firm Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co. served as legal counsel to BillDesk, while EY served as diligence counsel.
global comeback
Worldline’s new chief executive officer (CEO) Pierre-Antoine Vacheron said in an April earnings call that the company would exit underperforming geographies and segments to revive growth, without sharing specifics.
“We need to be more selective given the investment required to meet innovation and compliance requirements. This will mean exiting segments or geographies inherited from past acquisitions that are considered non-core,” he said.
Founded in 1970, Worldline is a publicly traded solutions provider for payment companies operating globally, including Europe, India, Japan and the United States.
It launched its turnaround plan in February, focusing on tightening cost controls, pruning its portfolio and emphasizing free cash flow improvements.
Worldline has also appointed banking advisers to sell its Mobility and e-Transaction Services (MTS) business. Reuters Reported in November 2024. In December of the same year, Reuters The company has reportedly attracted early-stage takeover interest from private equity firms including Bain Capital. However, Bain later refused to evaluate Worldline.
The company’s former CEO, Gilles Grapinet, resigned in September 2024, issuing his third profit warning in a year. Vacheron was subsequently appointed CEO effective March 1.
In the March quarter 2025, Worldline’s revenue amounted to €1,068 million, down 2.3% year on year. In 2024, it reported muted growth in organic terms, with revenues of €4,632 million, up 0.5% year-on-year, and a net loss of €297 million. It follows the calendar year as the fiscal year.
