Klarna Group plc

Klarna Group plc ( Klarna or the Company ) was founded in 2005 in Sweden with the objective of improving trust and efficiency in online commerce. The Company initially focused on providing flexible payment solutions designed to allow consumers to pay for goods after delivery, thereby reducing friction and uncertainty between consumers and merchants in e-commerce transactions. Following its founding, Klarna expanded rapidly across the Nordic region and subsequently into other European markets. By 2010, the Company operated in the Nordics, Germany and the Netherlands, and by 2016 had established operations in nine markets, including Austria, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. During this period, Klarna focused on scaling its payments platform, expanding its merchant network and refining its underwriting capabilities to support real-time transaction decisioning. In 2017, Klarna began operating as a licensed bank within the European Economic Area following approval by the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority. This milestone enabled Klarna to broaden its range of financial services, including the ability to fund a significant portion of its lending activities through customer deposits, and supported the continued development of its consumer and merchant offerings. Beginning in 2019, Klarna initiated a strategic expansion into additional international markets, with a particular focus on the United States. Over the following years, the Company expanded into multiple new geographies while continuing to invest in product development, technology infrastructure and brand awareness.