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Starboard Takes 8.5% Stake in BILL Holdings, Plans Boardroom Challenge

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Activist investor Starboard Value disclosed on Thursday that it has built an 8.5% stake in BILL Holdings (BILL.N) and plans to nominate directors as part of a boardroom challenge to push for changes at the financial automation software company. The move was confirmed in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing, which followed a Reuters report earlier in the day.

BILL Holdings’ shares surged as much as 10% in after-hours trading after the news. The company, headquartered in San Jose and valued at nearly $5 billion, processes more than 1% of U.S. GDP through its platform but has seen its stock lose almost half its value since January. Shares have fallen 86% from their November 2021 peak, though the company has authorized a $300 million share repurchase program, acknowledging its stock is undervalued.

Starboard’s filing said it intends to nominate director candidates, and discussions with management and the board are ongoing. Four of BILL’s 12 directors are up for election at this year’s annual meeting, and sources said Starboard may put forward as many as four nominees before Saturday’s deadline. BILL stated that it values engagement with all shareholders and will consider Starboard’s candidates once officially nominated.

While BILL expects revenue to grow up to 15%, it currently trades at just three times revenue, making it one of the least expensive U.S. technology firms. Analysts say this, along with increasing M&A activity in the sector, could make it an attractive acquisition target. Rivals such as Melio, AvidXchange, and Esker have all recently been acquired by strategic buyers or private equity firms.

Starboard has a track record of pushing operational improvements and strategic changes. It has recently taken positions in Rogers (ROG.N) and Tripadvisor (TRIP.O), and has previously reached boardroom settlements at Autodesk (ADSK.O) and Kenvue (KVUE.N). BILL, in its latest 10-K filing, acknowledged the potential disruption activist investors could bring, warning that proxy contests could divert resources and impact business execution.

Nubank Reports 42% Profit Rise; Shares Surge

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Nu Holdings (NU.N), the parent company of Brazilian digital lender Nubank, posted a 42% year-on-year increase in net profit on a foreign exchange-neutral basis, driving its shares up more than 8% in after-hours trading on Thursday.

The company, which serves nearly 123 million clients across Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico, reported $637 million in second-quarter net profit. CFO Guilherme Lago attributed the growth to operational leverage and revenue expansion but noted that the drivers of growth are shifting. “If in the last three to five years a major part of our growth came from adding new customers, in the next three to five years a major part of our revenue growth in Brazil will come from deepening the relationship with these customers,” he said.

Nubank’s annualized return on equity remained at 28%, consistent with the prior year. Analysts from Citi described the quarter as “strong,” highlighting both net profit exceeding expectations and a recovery in net interest margins.

The lender’s total loan book rose 8% from the first quarter to $27.3 billion, with personal loans contributing to growth alongside existing credit card debt. The early default ratio declined to 4.4%, down 0.3 percentage points from the prior quarter, while the over-90-day delinquency ratio edged up to 6.6%, reflecting seasonal trends and short-term delinquencies in Q1.

Lago said the bank plans to continue expanding unsecured lending throughout 2025 and 2026, provided asset quality remains stable. “Until today… everything seems to be super on track,” he added.

Klarna Q2 Revenue Rises 20% Amid IPO Pause

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Swedish fintech Klarna reported on Thursday that its second-quarter revenue grew 20% year-on-year on a like-for-like basis, while adjusted operating profit increased slightly. Revenue for April–June reached $823 million, with adjusted operating profit at $29 million, up $1 million from the same period last year.

The number of active Klarna customers rose 31% year-on-year to 111 million. The company, known for its short-term financing model that reshaped online shopping, paused its planned U.S. initial public offering (IPO) in April due to recession concerns and uncertainty over tariffs.

Klarna had publicly filed its IPO paperwork in March, marking its second attempt to go public in three years since starting the process in November 2024. The company has not indicated when it will resume its IPO plans, though Bloomberg reported last month that it could occur as soon as September.