Worldline in Talks to Sell Digital Services Unit Amid Fraud Probe and Stock Crash

Worldline SA is seeking to sell its digital-services unit, Mobility & e-Transactional Services, to focus its activities after its stock collapsed following media reports alleging fraud. The unit has 3,800 employees and is valued at €410 million. The sale comes after the Brussels Public Prosecutor's Office opened an investigation into Worldline's Belgian unit. Worldline's market value has dropped significantly since peaking at €24 billion in 2021.

Worldline SA, a leading provider of payment services, has entered exclusive negotiations to sell its Mobility & e-Transactional Services (MeTS) business line. The move comes following a significant drop in the company's stock value, which peaked at €24 billion in 2021 but has since plummeted to €1.01 billion. The sale is part of a strategic refocus to optimize resource allocation and enhance the company's financial profile.

Worldline's digital-services unit, which includes MeTS, has about 3,800 employees and is valued at €410 million. The unit delivers innovative IT solutions and products to public and private sector clients, with a turnover of approximately €450 million in 2024. The sale is expected to simplify the group's operations and allow Worldline to concentrate on its core payment activities.

The decision to divest MeTS follows an investigation by the Brussels Public Prosecutor's Office into allegations that Worldline's Belgian unit ignored warnings and continued doing business with prohibited and high-risk clients, allowing fraudulent transactions to persist. The investigation was opened last month.

The contemplated transaction involves a binding offer from Magellan Partners, a leading consulting and technology company, valued at €400 million plus an additional €10 million based on the 2025 operating performance of the perimeter. The deal is expected to close by the end of the first half of 2026, subject to customary approvals.

Worldline's CEO, Pierre-Antoine Vacheron, stated that the contemplated transaction is a significant step in the company's strategic transformation. He expressed confidence in Worldline's payments expertise and acknowledged the potential for MeTS to accelerate its digital transformation as an independent leader under Magellan Partners' guidance.

Magellan Partners, founded in 2008, specializes in business and management consulting and information systems. The company has extensive expertise in technology, generative AI, and data, with a focus on digital transformation. With the acquisition of MeTS, Magellan Partners aims to create a unique European player capable of delivering advanced digital services across various sectors.

The integration of MeTS within Magellan Partners would result in a combined entity with over 6,700 employees and a turnover of €900 million in 2025. The new entity would offer a comprehensive range of services, including consulting, technology solutions, and secure digital services leveraging AI at scale.

The transaction is expected to be finalized in the framework of relevant social processes and ongoing dialogue with employee representatives' bodies. The financing for the acquisition is provided by the group's historical banks, the Crédit Agricole Group and BNP Paribas, along with the entry of ICG into the capital of Magellan Partners.

[1] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-29/worldline-seeks-to-sell-unit-to-focus-business-after-stock-crash
[2] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/worldline-announces-contemplated-strategic-announcement-164500956.html