Mumbai-based payment gateway BillDesk is acquiring the India business of Worldline, as reported by CNBC TV18. While the company did not disclose the deal size, Moneycontrol reported that the transaction is valued at ₹650 crore (around $70 million). The acquisition brings together large-scale payment aggregation, bank-grade transaction switching and omnichannel merchant acquiring within a single unified platform, according to BillDesk. According to Mumbai Tribune, before finalising the deal, other payment firms, including PayU, had evaluated the asset. Notably, PayU had earlier attempted to acquire BillDesk in a $4.7 billion deal, which was later called off.
The deal adds a sizeable in-store presence to BillDesk's largely online payments franchise, as reported by CNBC TV18. Worldline India works closely with large banks and runs their offline payment terminal business. The acquisition includes a long-term technology and software agreement, with BillDesk continuing to use Worldline's payment software on a long-term basis. As reported by Mumbai Tribune, the combined operations are expected to offer digital transaction processing, cross-border payment capabilities, in-store Point-of-Sale (POS) systems, QR and card acceptance solutions. The transaction remains subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions.
According to CNBC TV18, the combined business will offer an integrated omnichannel payments stack spanning recurring mandates, cross-border flows, and in-store POS and QR acceptance. As stated by MN Srinivasu, co-founder of BillDesk, the acquisition strengthens their ability to deliver a more connected and scalable payments experience for banks, enterprises and merchants. The move deepens BillDesk's bank relationships and pushes it further into omnichannel acquiring. As reported by Mumbai Tribune, the integration will enable a seamless omnichannel payment experience for both urban and emerging markets, with the acquisition expected to expand BillDesk's footprint in regional and emerging markets, strengthening its competitive position in India's fast-growing digital payments ecosystem.
Founded in 2000 by M.N. Srinivasu, Ajay Kaushal, and Karthik Ganapathy, BillDesk is among India's oldest payment gateway firms, with long-standing relationships with banks and a strong presence in government bill payments, as reported by CNBC TV18. The company reported operating revenue of ₹2,446 crore and a net profit of ₹121 crore in FY24. The latest acquisition underscores its strategic focus on strengthening technological capabilities and expanding its market reach in India's rapidly evolving fintech sector. The acquisition marks a strategic reset for BillDesk, four years after its proposed $4.7 billion sale to PayU collapsed in 2022.
