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Reward Gateway Acquisition

Reward Gateway Acquisition: Key Details, Impact, and What Comes Next

March 14, 2025

Edenred's acquisition of Reward Gateway for £1.15 billion marks a significant move in the employee benefits and engagement industry. This strategic alignment is set to enhance Edenred's value proposition by integrating Reward Gateway's comprehensive suite of digital employee services. The acquisition is expected to accelerate the delivery of innovative solutions and expand the platform's reach into new markets.

What Is Reward Gateway?

Founded in 2006, Reward Gateway offers a comprehensive employee engagement platform designed to enhance employee wellbeing, recognition, rewards, and communication. Its core products include peer-to-peer recognition tools, manager awards, a reward marketplace, custom rewards, wellbeing programs, employee discounts, and communication tools. Unique in the market, Reward Gateway boasts high customer satisfaction with an NPS score of 72, ISO27001 certification, GDPR compliance, and a global reach serving over 8 million employees.

Who Acquired Reward Gateway?

Edenred is a global leader in providing specific-purpose payment solutions for food, incentives, mobility, and corporate payments. The company's key products and services include benefits and engagement solutions, corporate mobility and fleet management, and various complementary payment solutions. With a presence in 45 countries, Edenred serves over 60 million users, 1 million corporate clients, and more than 2 million partner merchants, handling approximately €45 billion in business volume, underscoring its significant market influence.

When Was Reward Gateway Acquired?

Edenred acquired Reward Gateway on May 16, 2023. This acquisition occurred during a period marked by significant challenges in the workforce, including market instability, inflation, and the ongoing war for talent. The timing aligns with Edenred's strategic goals to expand its Employee Benefits and Engagement solutions, addressing the evolving needs of employers and employees in a post-pandemic world. This move is part of Edenred's broader "Beyond 22-25" strategy to enhance its market presence and service offerings.

Why Was Reward Gateway Acquired?

  • Market Expansion: The acquisition will extend Reward Gateway's platform into six major Edenred countries: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Romania, and Spain. This expansion will provide Human Resources departments with access to a unique, multi-country Employee Benefits and Engagement platform.
  • Technology Integration: The combination of Reward Gateway’s operations and technology with Edenred’s global market presence will lead to the development of a single unified platform. This integration aims to leverage economies of scale to build tailored solutions for specific markets, enhancing product innovation and advanced technology.
  • Competitive Advantage: The acquisition positions Edenred and Reward Gateway to offer a market-beating solution by combining their strengths in commercial reach, product innovation, and advanced technology. This strategic move aims to provide HR leaders with a comprehensive and differentiated value proposition, making Edenred the most trusted global Employee Benefits & Engagement platform.

Acquisition Terms

  • Acquisition Price: £1.15 billion
  • Payment Method: The acquisition was financed through a combination of a €1 billion bridge loan, which will be refinanced in the debt capital markets, and €0.3 billion from Edenred's available cash.
  • Key Conditions or Agreements:
    • Reward Gateway will join Edenred's Employee Benefits Division.
    • Nick Burns, Global CEO of Reward Gateway, will continue to lead the business.
    • The acquisition will enable the roll-out of Reward Gateway’s platform in six major Edenred countries: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Romania, and Spain.
    • The transaction is expected to close within a few days and will be accretive to Edenred’s earnings and free cash flow from 2024.
    • Significant synergies are expected from the international roll-out and platform mutualization.

Impact on Reward Gateway

The acquisition of Reward Gateway by Edenred has led to significant changes in operations and management. Reward Gateway has been integrated into Edenred's Employee Benefits Division, with Arnaud Erulin overseeing the division and Nick Burns continuing as the Global CEO of Reward Gateway. This integration aims to leverage the strengths of both companies, ensuring a seamless transition and fostering a collaborative environment. The combined entity now boasts a workforce of 12,000 employees worldwide, enhancing its operational capabilities and market reach.

In terms of product offerings, the acquisition has expanded the range of services available to clients. Reward Gateway's platform will be rolled out in six major Edenred countries, providing a comprehensive suite of employee engagement tools, including employee savings, rewards & recognition, well-being programs, and corporate social animation. This strategic move has been well-received by customers, with new clients such as The Post Office and The Chevron Group joining the platform. Employees and customers alike have expressed positive reactions, appreciating the enhanced value proposition and the platform's ability to engage a diverse workforce.

For founders considering business transitions, tools like Sunset can assist in managing such processes compliantly, ensuring a smooth and efficient transition.