Group 1 - Klarna achieved a valuation of $19.5 billion after going public, with shares rising over 30% following an initial public offering that raised $1.37 billion [1] - The stock opened at $52 per share, exceeding the expected pricing of $40 [1] - The CEO highlighted a growing demand in the U.S. for alternatives to credit cards, as consumers seek better products due to dissatisfaction with high interest rates [2][3] Group 2 - A study indicated that 20% of American households are financially stable but view credit cards negatively, preferring fixed installment products [2] - Klarna's Visa-powered debit card has a waiting list of 5 million people, which could position the company as one of the larger card issuers in the U.S. [5] - The company offers merchants an alternative to high credit card processing fees, which can help increase their sales by providing consumers with 0% interest installment options [6]
Klarna CEO calls IPO day a 'very special' moment