French Payment Giant Worldline Nears End of Business Restructuring Efforts

Digital payment company Worldline announced it's almost finished selling off parts of its business after meeting annual financial targets. The Paris-based firm has struggled with profit warnings and investigations over the past two years but expects a major turnaround.

A major European digital payment company says it’s close to wrapping up a major business restructuring effort after meeting its annual financial projections following a challenging period under new leadership.

Worldline, based in Paris, announced on February 25th that annual revenues dropped 2.4% to 4.5 billion euros (approximately $5.3 billion), which includes a digital services division set to be sold off as part of the company’s streamlining efforts.

The company’s adjusted core earnings reached 841 million euros, falling within their predicted range of 830 million to 855 million euros.

Looking ahead to 2026, Worldline maintained its projections for modest organic revenue growth in the low single digits, with adjusted core earnings expected between 630 million and 650 million euros.

Company officials indicated that the business selloffs will result in workforce reductions of approximately 30%.

Chief Executive Pierre-Antoine Vacheron described the fourth quarter as a “decisive turning point” for Worldline, expressing confidence that the earnings announcement combined with a planned 500 million euro capital increase in March would mark the end of two difficult years for the French payment processing company.

The firm has seen its market value plummet significantly from pandemic-era highs, facing numerous profit warnings, leadership changes, and media allegations of hiding client fraud. Belgian authorities also launched a money laundering investigation into the company.

The upcoming stock sale, which actually surpasses Worldline’s current market value of roughly 400 million euros, is designed to break a downward cycle that has included substantial short-selling activity and mounting debt concerns.

Company leaders also hope the financial moves will preserve their credit rating following a damaging downgrade to junk status by S&P rating agency late last year.