Wirecard and SoftBank intend to form large-scale strategic partnership for digital payment solutions

Aschheim (Munich) (ots) -

- Proposal for a SoftBank company to invest approximately EUR 900m
[1] in Wirecard via convertible bonds
- Companies to partner to unlock collaboration opportunities in
digital payments, data-analytics/AI and innovative digital
financial services within SoftBank's ecosystem of portfolio
companies
- SoftBank to support Wirecard's launch into the Japanese and
South Korean markets

Today Wirecard AG (Wirecard) and SoftBank Group Corp., Japan, have
signed a binding term sheet under which an affiliate of SoftBank
(SoftBank) shall invest approximately EUR 900 million in Wirecard via
a convertible bond mechanism.

For this purpose, Wirecard shall issue convertible bonds with a
term of five years exclusively to SoftBank, convertible to 6,923,076
ordinary Wirecard shares (currently corresponding to approximately
5.6% of common stock) at EUR 130 per Wirecard share. The intended
issuance of convertible bonds, under exclusion of subscription
rights, is subject to the approval of Wirecard's Annual Shareholders
meeting to be held on 18 June 2019.

In connection with the investment, the parties have also signed a
memorandum of understanding (MoU) on a strategic partnership for
digital payment solutions. Under the MoU, SoftBank Group will seek to
support Wirecard's geographic expansion into Japan and South Korea,
as well as providing collaboration opportunities within SoftBank
Group's global portfolio in digital payments, data-analytics/AI and
other innovative digital financial services.

It is anticipated that the partnership will also extend to joint
exploration of new product and service offers in digital lending in
order to leverage from high quality customer portfolios, strong
liquidity and other innovative financing solutions.

Markus Braun, CEO at Wirecard, commented, "As global innovators,
we focus heavily on expanding our networks and creating opportunities
for companies with groundbreaking ideas. In SoftBank we have found a
partner that shares both our passion for new technologies and drive
to spearhead the latest innovations, all on a global scale. In
addition, through this potential partnership, we will expand our
reach and products to the East Asian markets, thereby further
strengthening our position in Asia."

Credit Suisse is serving as financial adviser to SoftBank and
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP as legal adviser. Noerr LLP and Gibson, Dunn
& Crutcher LLP are serving as legal advisers to Wirecard.

[1: Intended issuance is subject to the approval of Wirecard's
Annual Shareholder meeting]

About Wirecard:

Wirecard (GER:WDI) is one of the world's fastest growing digital
platforms in the area of financial commerce. We provide both business
customers and consumers with a constantly expanding ecosystem of
real-time value-added services built around innovative digital
payments by using an integrated B2B2C approach. This ecosystem
concentrates on the areas payment & risk, retail & transaction
banking, loyalty & couponing, data analytics & conversion rate
enhancement in all sales channels (online, mobile, ePOS). Wirecard
operates regulated financial institutions in several key markets and
holds issuing and acquiring licenses from all major payment and card
networks. Wirecard AG is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (DAX
and TecDAX, ISIN DE0007472060). Visit us on www.wirecard.com, follow
us on Twitter @wirecard and on Facebook @wirecardgroup.

Wirecard contactsact:
Investor Relations
Iris Stoeckl
Tel.: +49 (0) 89 4424 1424
Email: iris.stoeckl@wirecard.com

Media Relations
Jana Tilz
Tel.: +49 (0) 89 4424 1363
Email: jana.tilz@wirecard.com

Original-Content von: Wirecard AG, übermittelt durch news aktuell