Worldline CEO Denounces Media Campaign as "Unacceptable" and "Attacked"

Worldline CEO Pierre-Antoine Vacheron blames an orchestrated media campaign for the company's 38% stock decline, labeling reports as "unacceptable." The firm, Europe's largest payments processor, claims to have increased compliance standards and has zero tolerance for deviations. Vacheron denies ignoring warnings and enabling fraudulent transactions, saying the company is committed to strict compliance with regulations.

Shift4, a leading global payments processor, has announced the acquisition of Smartpay, an Australian payments processor, for $180 million. The deal, announced on June 22, is part of Shift4's strategy to expand its presence in Australia and New Zealand [1].

Shift4 CEO Taylor Lauber stated, "By combining our payment infrastructure with Smartpay’s distribution capabilities, we are well positioned to go to market at scale in the region with our leading products and services such as SkyTab POS for restaurants, SkyTab Venue for stadiums and arenas, and our end-to-end payment solution for hotels and unified commerce merchants" [1].

This acquisition follows Shift4's pattern of combining acquisitions to deliver an integrated payment experience with localized distribution, service, and support. The company has previously acquired Global Blue, a tax-free shopping provider, for about $2.5 billion in enterprise value [1].

In a separate development, Tom Lapham, senior vice president of Cheq at Cantaloupe, highlighted the challenges of providing a smooth payment experience at sporting and entertainment events. He emphasized the need for faster, more personalized, and frictionless experiences, noting that 57% of fans would spend more if allowed to order directly from their seats [1].

Meanwhile, Worldline CEO Pierre-Antoine Vacheron has blamed an orchestrated media campaign for the company's 38% stock decline, labeling reports as "unacceptable." Vacheron denies ignoring warnings and enabling fraudulent transactions, asserting the company's commitment to strict compliance with regulations [2].

References:
[1] https://www.pymnts.com/acquisitions/2025/shift4-pays-180-million-dollars-australian-payments-processor-smartpay/
[2] https://www.pymnts.com/acquisitions/2025/worldline-ceo-blames-media-campaign-for-stock-decline/