Shift4 acquiring global payments company

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Center Valley-based Shift4, the payments technology company founded by billionaire SpaceX astronaut Jared Isaacman, is expanding with the acquisition of another payments company. 

Shift4 has acquired Global Blue, a specialty payments and technology platform enabling tax-free shopping, dynamic currency conversion, and payments solutions to the world’s largest retail brands. 

The companies announced late Tuesday that they had entered into a definitive agreement where Shift4 will acquire Global Blue for $7.50 per common share in cash, representing an 15% premium to Global Blue’s closing share price as of Feb.14, and a $2.5 billion enterprise value. 

 Global Blue services travel and luxury retail across Europe, Asia, and South America. More than 400,000 premium retail and hospitality locations rely on Global Blue’s tax-refund and currency conversion technology. 

 “This acquisition continues a bold tradition of introducing transformative capabilities to exceptional customers along with a massive embedded cross-sell opportunity,” said Shift4 President Taylor Lauber. “It fits perfectly in the Shift4 playbook: delivering an enormous volume conversion opportunity while unlocking significant new revenue opportunities and capabilities that open entirely new markets for us. Integrating Global Blue into our unified payments platform positions Shift4 as a leading unified commerce payment provider around the world.” 

The addition of tax refund and currency conversion capabilities enhances Shift4’s position as an innovative vendor and trusted partner, Lauber said. 

 Global Blue’s merchant solutions will be added to Shift4’s global payments platform to deliver an enhanced end-to-end experience for its merchants.   

“Uniting with Shift4 represents the next phase of Global Blue’s growth journey, enhancing our integrated value proposition to our marquee merchants globally,” said Global Blue CEO Jacques Stern. “Most importantly, we’re excited, alongside Shift4, to continue our track-record of innovation to deliver better experiences for all stakeholders in the shopping ecosystem.” 

 The acquisition has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of Shift4 and Global Blue. It is expected to close by the third quarter of calendar year 2025, subject to receipt of regulatory approvals, other customary closing conditions 

Shift4 said in a release that it expects to finance the acquisition with cash on hand and a 364-day $1,795 million bridge loan facility entered in connection with the transaction.