Google In Talks To Seize Major Stake In UK Challenger MonzoAlphabet, the parent company behind Google, is reportedly on track to seize a major stake in the digital retail bank Monzo as it leads investors in a fresh funding round.
Alphabet will leverage its independent growth fund Capital to pour between £300 million and £500 million into the UK-founded challenger, valuing it above £4 billion, Sky News reports.
Also set to include new and existing investors, sources tell Sky News that the round could close before the end of the year, however final details are yet to be released.
The challenger last raised over £377 million ($500 million) in December 2021 in a Series H funding round led by Abu Dhabi Growth Fund, with participation from Accel, General Catalyst, Goodwater, Passion Capital, Octahedron and Thrive along with new investors Coatue and Alpha Wave Ventures.
Last month, Sky News reported that Monzo was looking to raise £300 million in fresh funds through a share sale, and is believed to have engaged with a number of blue-chip investment funds.
The move is thought to be clearing the way for the challenger to go public, while ex-Cash App head Conor Walsh and Brolly founder Phoebe Chibuzo Hugh have been brought on-board to lead both its product and market expansions.
It’s not clear when or where Monzo will induce a stock market floatation, but Alphabet and its long history of acquiring companies that go public inching ever closer into its ownership structure could provide the finishing touches to its final preparations.
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