Dutch payments giant Mollie is poised to acquire UK-based fintech GoCardless in a deal expected to be announced as early as this week, according to people familiar with the matter cited by Bloomberg.
The transaction would mark one of the most significant consolidations in Europe’s fintech sector in recent years, combining two well-capitalized, profitable firms to create a more comprehensive payments platform spanning direct debits, card acquiring, and embedded finance across the continent.
GoCardless, founded in 2011 by Hiroki Takeuchi, Matt Robinson, and Tom Blomfield, pioneered automated bank-to-bank payments in Europe and has grown into a leader in recurring and subscription-based payment processing.
The company reported £133 million ($168 million) in revenue in its latest financial year and achieved EBITDA profitability for the first time in early 2025, a notable milestone amid widespread fintech retrenchment. It was last valued at $2.1 billion during a 2022 funding round.
Mollie, backed by Blackstone and headquartered in Amsterdam, processes payments for over 200,000 merchants across Europe and was valued at $6.5 billion in a 2023 secondary transaction.
While traditionally strong in card and digital wallet payments, the firm has sought to expand its capabilities into bank-based payment rails, particularly in markets like the UK, Germany, and France where variable recurring payments (VRPs) and open banking are gaining regulatory and commercial traction.
The acquisition aligns with a broader trend of consolidation in European fintech. After a period of rapid expansion fueled by low interest rates and abundant venture capital, many fintechs are now prioritizing profitability and scale over growth-at-all-costs. Strategic M&A has emerged as a preferred path to diversify revenue streams and enhance technical infrastructure without the costs of organic development.
GoCardless had initially explored a secondary share sale in late 2024 to provide liquidity to early employees and investors but halted the process earlier this year as inbound interest from potential acquirers intensified. Sources indicate that Mollie’s offer represented the most compelling strategic and financial proposition, though terms of the deal, including the purchase price, have not been disclosed.
The merger would create a rare pan-European payments player with deep integration across multiple payment methods: Mollie’s strength in one-off and card transactions complements GoCardless’s dominance in recurring bank debit schemes such as SEPA Direct Debit, Bacs, and BECS.
Together, they would offer merchants a unified, multi-rail solution, particularly valuable for subscription businesses, SaaS platforms, and utilities that require both one-time and recurring payment capabilities.
Regulatory scrutiny is expected but unlikely to pose a major hurdle. Both firms operate under national regulators in the EU and UK, and their product offerings are more complementary than overlapping. Moreover, neither holds significant market share in any single payment rail that would trigger antitrust concerns at the EU level.
For GoCardless’s founders and investors, including Y Combinator, Adams Street Partners, and GV (Google Ventures), the sale could deliver a strong return after more than a decade of building a capital-efficient, infrastructure-oriented business.
Employees, many of whom hold equity, stand to benefit if the deal includes retention incentives or rollover provisions, though integration challenges typical in cross-border tech acquisitions remain.
