European Commission approves Santander and Centerbridge takeover of Ebury

The European Commission has approved the joint acquisition of British fintech firm Ebury by Banco Santander and the American fund manager Centerbridge Partners. Following an analysis under the EU Merger Regulation, the Commission concluded that the transaction does not raise competition concerns due to the limited market positions of the involved entities.

Ebury specializes in international payments, currency exchange, and risk management services for corporate clients. The company operates in 30 regulated markets and serves over 27,000 businesses globally. The approval removes a significant regulatory hurdle, allowing Ebury to utilize new capital for product expansion and entry into new markets.

Santander remains the majority shareholder with approximately a 55% stake. This follows a funding round in which Santander and other investors provided significant capital to support Ebury’s rapid growth, which has seen revenues increase by over 30% annually since Santander’s initial involvement in 2020.