Blockchain
Ageras targets ‘1-2 major acquisitions’ amid growing revenue, profits and market appetite for a pan-European consolidation of fintechs to catch its ‘camel ride’
Danish fintech Ageras, a leading provider of accounting, banking and business software solutions for more than 300,000 European small businesses, is ready to respond to a ‘growing market appetite’ for a pan-European consolidation in the fintech and business software sector, targeting to complete 1-2 major acquisitions before a potential IPO in 2026. And according to its CEO, the company is already in ‘advanced talks’ with prospects that can fulfil its vision of becoming Europe’s largest in its industry, aiming to execute on its ambitions as early as 2024, as the publication of Ageras’ 2023 annual report shows its first-ever profitable EBITDA and continued revenue growth of 53% to support its further expansion plans:
“As a result of our transformative and strategic ‘One Company’ initiative, we grew our revenue by 53% and reached the important milestone of becoming profitable, ending the year at an EBITDA margin of +30%. This accomplishment not only validates the effectiveness of our strategic direction, but also underpins our position as a resilient player in the market. This is a unique platform for consolidation and further growth and with other European fintechs and SaaS companies having been hit in the wake of the last couple of years’ financial turmoil, we believe there is now both supply and demand for a pan-European consolidation on our platform for accounting and banking software; together we can own the niche,” says Rico Andersen, CEO and co-founder of Ageras.
A financial ‘camel ride’
According to Ageras’ 2023 annual report, the 53% revenue growth amounted to a turnover of EUR 31.7 million in a fiscal year labelled its ‘most exciting year ever’ which also included the Danish fintech’s first-ever profitable EBITDA of EUR 1.2 million. More importantly, an upward trend in Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) for the past five years of a similar 53% underlines that Ageras is on a stable and strong growth trajectory defying the financial environment. Thus a unique market position that serves as a clear call-to-action for other fintechs and business software companies wanting to consolidate and join the journey, Rico Andersen argues:
“Last year we spoke about Ageras being a camel, a financial term coined by Alex Lazarow. Camels can survive the scorching heat of the desert sun, sandstorms, as well as the freezing desert nights. Unlike unicorns, camels are not imaginary creatures living in fantasy worlds. They are real, resilient, and can survive in the harshest places on Earth. Our 2023 metrics and market position proved that we are mission-critical and resilient. We can survive turbulent times. It is this financial ‘camel ride’ we want to offer Europe’s fintechs and business software companies servicing SMEs with accounting, banking and tax solutions,” elaborates Rico Andersen.
Timing ‘couldn’t be better’
Earlier in the spring of 2024, Ageras raised EUR 82 million in fresh equity for new acquisitions with overwhelming commitments from the existing investor Investcorp and new investors including Norwegian state pension fund Folketrygdfondet and American asset manager Lazard. And with the European tech sector showing stabilisation and the ECB having just announced easing on interest rates, Ageras’ investors too feel confident that the timing is right for Europe’s accounting and banking software suppliers to come together to service the continents’ almost 25 million SMEs on a central platform under the Ageras brand:
“We are continuing to successfully execute our strategy to acquire and consolidate the fintechs and business software companies servicing Europe’s millions of SMEs. On the Ageras platform, they will benefit from economies of scale, cross-border reach and thus the ability to tap seamlessly into new markets across the continent, and with the macroeconomic environment easing its grip on Europe’s tech sector combined with Ageras’s unique market position, both financially speaking and concept-wise, timing couldn’t be better,” says Gilbert Kamieniecky, Head of Private Equity Europe at Investcorp, who entered Ageras as investor in 2017.
The post Ageras targets ‘1-2 major acquisitions’ amid growing revenue, profits and market appetite for a pan-European consolidation of fintechs to catch its ‘camel ride’ appeared first on HIPTHER Alerts.
Sarah Brennan, an accomplished figure in corporate and securities law, serves as General Counsel at Delphi Ventures, focusing on investments in the Web3 space. With over 14 years of experience in securities law and a deep involvement in digital assets since 2017, Brennan also co-leads LeXpunK, a collective dedicated to establishing legal frameworks for decentralized digital communities.
In a candid interview with a prominent cryptocurrency news outlet, Brennan discussed various critical topics. She addressed the emergence of crypto super PACs, funded significantly by major firms like Ripple and Circle, to counter strict SEC regulations. Brennan viewed the SAB 121 bill, backed by the US administration, as potentially isolating the crypto community from broader financial integration.
While acknowledging the influence of centralized entities in advocating for crypto interests, Brennan cautioned against replicating traditional financial hierarchies within the crypto sphere, which contradicts its revolutionary ethos. She expressed concerns about monopolistic scenarios that could dominate the crypto landscape, exerting excessive control over essential industry components and traditional financial operations.
Regarding regulatory challenges, Brennan advocated for tailored regulations to manage systemic risks posed by large centralized crypto institutions. She criticized the current regulatory opacity and inconsistency, which she believes have fostered suboptimal business practices. Through LeXpunK, Brennan endeavors to pioneer experimental legal structures that could redefine regulatory compliance for token issuances, though reception from policymakers has been lukewarm.
Looking ahead, Brennan emphasizes the need for proactive regulatory approaches using antitrust measures to prevent crypto monopolies, promote decentralization, and target bad actors. However, she highlighted the persistent communication gap between crypto-literate legal advocates and hesitant regulators as a significant obstacle.
Brennan continues to drive forward her mission through new advocacy platforms aimed at shaping the future of cryptographic regulation, navigating complexities to ensure balanced and effective regulatory frameworks in the evolving crypto landscape.
Source: shakirabrasil.info
The post Legal Luminary Sarah Brennan Champions Pioneering Crypto Regulation Approaches appeared first on HIPTHER Alerts.
Italy is preparing to strengthen its oversight of cryptocurrency markets to align with the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulatory framework. This initiative, initially enacted in 2022, aims to impose stricter monitoring of digital asset markets, particularly targeting insider trading and market manipulation. Under the new decree, fines ranging from 5,000 to 5 million euros ($5,400 to $5.4 million) will be imposed based on the severity of violations, reinforcing compliance and market integrity.
For blockchain firms and decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols, MiCA presents significant challenges. These entities must decide between fully decentralizing their networks or complying with MiCA’s Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) regulations. Fully decentralized networks are exempt from reporting requirements but risk non-compliance if they employ foundations or intermediaries moderating communities.
Centralized exchanges like Binance are adapting to MiCA by categorizing stablecoins as authorized or unauthorized, aligning with regulatory requirements without delisting these assets from spot markets. Uphold has similarly adjusted by delisting certain stablecoins for compliance purposes.
Despite regulatory pressures, experts are optimistic about stablecoins’ future. Figures like Jeremy Allaire, CEO of Circle, predict stablecoins could represent 10% of the money supply within a decade. They anticipate widespread adoption driven by benefits such as financial inclusion, lower remittance costs, and seamless cross-border commerce via public blockchains.
This regulatory framework underscores the transformative potential of stablecoins and blockchain technology within the global financial system.
Source: coinfomania.com
The post Italy Ramps Up Crypto Oversight in Line with MiCA appeared first on HIPTHER Alerts.
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