Klarna CEO Secures $112M Loan Pledging $980M in Stock Before IPO

Bloomberg.com reports that Klarna Group Plc CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski leveraged his company's recent initial public offering (IPO) not to divest shares, but to consolidate his control. He pledged a significant portion of his personal stock as collateral for a $112 million loan from SEB AB. This strategic financial maneuver, confirmed by a source close to the matter, involved the 43-year-old founder using shares valued at approximately $980 million—based on Klarna's IPO price and regulatory filings—to secure the loan. This allowed Siemiatkowski to raise substantial capital without diluting his ownership or selling stock during the highly anticipated IPO, thereby reinforcing his leadership position within the company.