SoftBank Vision Fund 2, a fund with a goal to invest in AI-based technology, led a $639m funding round in Klarna, a global payments provider, retail bank, and shopping service. Additional investors include Sequoia Capital, SilverLake, Dragoneer, Permira, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Bestseller Group, Ant Group, Northzone, GIC, BlackRock and HMI. “Consumers continue to reject interest-and fee-laden revolving credit and are moving toward debit while simultaneously seeking retail experiences that better meet their needs. Klarna's more transparent and convenient alternatives align with evolving global consumer preferences and drive worldwide growth. I’m very proud of the investors who are supporting Klarna’s ambition to challenge these outdated models to empower consumers with fair, transparent, and convenient products to help them bank, shop and pay each day," Sebastian Siemiatkowski, Klarna Founder and CEO.