Nasdaq / Verafin 2020
Nasdaq acquired Verafin for $2.8B on November 19, 2020.
- Target
- Verafin
- Acquirer
- Nasdaq
- Deal value
- $2.8B
- Deal type
- Cash
- Announced
- November 19, 2020
- Sub-sector
- Regtech
Transaction overview
- Nasdaq announced the acquisition of Verafin on November 19, 2020 for $2.75 billion in cash.
- Verafin is a Canadian financial crime management software company founded in 2003 and headquartered in St. John's, Newfoundland.
- The platform served more than 2,000 financial institutions across North America at the time of announcement.
- Verafin's software covers anti-money laundering, fraud detection, and Bank Secrecy Act compliance for banks and credit unions.
- Nasdaq funded the acquisition partly through a $1.75 billion debt offering and a $750 million equity offering.
- The deal closed on February 12, 2021 after receiving required regulatory approvals.
- Nasdaq pursued Verafin to expand its non-trading technology revenue, particularly in financial crime detection sold to banks.
Why it matters
- The $2.75 billion price was among the largest acquisitions of a Canadian fintech company at the time of announcement.
- The deal accelerated Nasdaq's shift away from exchange revenue toward recurring SaaS-style technology revenue sold to financial institutions.
Strategic rationale
Nasdaq buys St. John's-based anti-financial-crime platform serving 2,000+ community banks to extend its Anti-Financial Crime offering globally.
Deal terms & multiples
About Verafin
Verafin is a financial crime management software company founded in 2003 and headquartered in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. The company sells cloud-based software to banks and credit unions for detecting fraud, money laundering, and other financial crimes. Its platform integrates transaction monitoring, case management, and regulatory reporting tools. At the time of the Nasdaq deal, Verafin served more than 2,000 financial institutions, primarily in the United States and Canada.
- Founded
- 2003
- HQ
- Canada
- Employees
- 500
- Prior funding
- Approximately $515 million raised prior to acquisition, including a $515 million growth equity round led by Spectrum Equity in 2019.
- Key metric
- More than 2,000 financial institution clients across North America as of late 2020.
About Nasdaq NASDAQ: NDAQ
Nasdaq, Inc. operates stock exchanges, options markets, and technology businesses serving financial institutions globally. The company is headquartered in New York and listed on its own exchange under the ticker NDAQ. Beyond exchange operations, Nasdaq sells market technology, data analytics, and compliance software to exchanges, brokers, and banks. The Verafin acquisition was part of a broader effort to grow the company's non-trading technology revenue.
- Founded
- 1971
- Ticker
- NASDAQ: NDAQ
Frequently asked questions
How much did Nasdaq pay for Verafin?
Nasdaq paid $2.75 billion in cash. The acquisition was financed through a combination of new debt and an equity offering.
What does Verafin do?
Verafin sells cloud-based software to banks and credit unions for detecting fraud, money laundering, and related financial crimes. Its tools cover transaction monitoring, case management, and regulatory reporting.
When did the Nasdaq-Verafin deal close?
The deal closed on February 12, 2021, roughly three months after the November 19, 2020 announcement.
Why did Nasdaq acquire Verafin?
Nasdaq wanted to expand its technology revenue sold to financial institutions, particularly in financial crime detection. Verafin's client base of more than 2,000 banks and credit unions gave Nasdaq a direct distribution channel into that market.
Where is Verafin headquartered?
Verafin is headquartered in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. It was founded there in 2003.
How many clients did Verafin have at the time of the acquisition?
Verafin served more than 2,000 financial institutions across North America at the time Nasdaq announced the deal.
Sources
- ir.nasdaq.com /news-releases/news-release-details/nasdaq-acquire-verafin-creating-global-leader-fight-against