May 13 (Reuters) -
Digital banking fintech firm Chime disclosed a rise in 2024
revenue in its IPO filing on Tuesday for a long-awaited U.S.
stock market launch.
Financial technology companies have increasingly entered
the U.S. lending space, aiming to wrest market share from major
players such as JPMorgan Chase ( JPM ), Bank of America ( BAC )
and Citigroup ( C/PN ).
Chime's revenue rose to $1.67 billion in the fiscal year
ended 2024, up from $1.28 billion, a year earlier.
The IPO window has reopened as markets recover sharply amid
progress in trade talks, offering companies an opportunity to
list their shares after months of turbulence driven by tariffs.
A strong debut by Chime could pave the way for other IPO
candidates, particularly in the technology sector, to move
forward with their listings.
"We led the 2017 Series B when few Silicon Valley investors
believed, driven by our conviction that Chime could become a
category-defining company," said Simon Wu from Cathay
Innovation.
"Today's IPO filing marks an exciting new chapter - not
just for Chime, but for the future of inclusive,
technology-driven consumer finance."
San Francisco-based Chime, co-founded by Chris Britt and
Ryan King in 2012, provides financial services via a mobile app.
The company has raised $2.65 billion from private
investors since its inception, according to data from PitchBook.
Its last fundraise round attracted high-profile investors
including SoftBank Investment Advisers, General Atlantic and
Tiger Global Management.
In August 2021, Chime achieved a valuation of $25 billion
during a fundraise. However, the company did not disclose the
number of shares it intends to sell or the estimated price band
for its listing.
The startup will trade on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange under
the ticker symbol "CHYM".
Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and J.P.Morgan are heading a
syndicate of Wall Street investment banks chosen to underwrite
the offering.