The Zip Co Ltd (ASX: Z1P) share price has started the week very strongly.
In early trade, the buy now pay later (BNPL) provider's shares are up a sizeable 5% to $7.41.
Why is the Zip share price charging higher?
Investors have been buying Zip's shares this morning following the release of an expansion update.
According to the release, the company plans to enter the European and Middle East markets after acquiring the remaining shares of European BNPL provider Twisto Payments and UAE-based BNPL provider Spotii. Zip had previously bought stakes in both companies.
Management notes that the transactions align with Zip's global expansion plans and the rapidly accelerating global BNPL opportunity.
It also notes that, as demonstrated through the acquisition of QuadPay, Zip is building its playbook in successfully identifying, completing, and integrating strategic acquisitions. It believes that Twisto and Spotii are now well-positioned to leverage the benefits of this competency and the synergies of a truly global payments organisation.
In addition, Twisto and Spotii are already integrated into Zip's global Single Merchant Interface (SMI), which provides merchants instant access to 11 countries across five continents.
Twisto Payments
Zip will purchase the remaining shares in Twisto that it does not already own for an amount of ~89 million euros (~$140 million). The completion of the acquisition is expected to occur in the fourth quarter of calendar year 2021.
The acquisition gives Zip access to 27 European Union (EU) countries. Given that the EU is the world's second-largest ecommerce market with $1.1 trillion annual volume, this is a lucrative market to operate in.
The release explains that over 1 million customers have transacted on the Twisto platform, with an annual run-rate of $12 million revenue and $230 million total transaction value (TTV), and 14,000 merchants.
Flagship merchants in the region include Delivery Hero, Pizza Hut, Gap, New Balance, Yves Rocher and Under Armour. It also has a robust pipeline of sizable merchants thanks to a regional partnership with global fintech leader PayU.
Zip Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Larry Diamond said: "The acquisition of Twisto shows our commitment to global growth and follows our 'Coalition of Founders' model, where we back strong founders with a shared vision and deep cultural alignment in our quest for global payments coverage. We are very much looking forward to adding this strategic geography to our growing footprint and fulfilling global merchant demand. We have been impressed by the Twisto team, their deep customer focus and product set and look forward to working closely with them to deliver on the opportunities we jointly have in front of us."
Spotii
Zip will purchase the remaining shares in Spotii that it does not already own for US$16 million (~$21 million), implying an enterprise value of ~US$20 million (~$26 million). The completion of the acquisition is expected to occur in third quarter of 2021.
Management notes that the Middle East is one of the fastest-growing ecommerce regions globally, with online spend increasing at 25% annually.
Spotii was only founded in 2020 but has shown early traction with 650 merchants already integrated into the platform. This includes flagship regional brands such as Jashanmal and Danube Home. Total transaction volume has grown at an average of 90%+ month-on-month since inception.
Mr Diamond commented: "The Spotii acquisition is an important step in Zip's global expansion and international strategy, with Ecommerce in the Middle East on a significant upward trajectory. We have been working with Spotii since our initial investment in December 2020 to broaden our understanding of the BNPL opportunity in the region and have a number of exciting global merchants we are looking forward to activating in the coming months. We also believe there is a large untapped opportunity to bring BNPL to emerging markets where cash on delivery remains a significant merchant challenge, and where the digitisation of retail accelerates."
