SoftBank targeting IPO for payment app PayPay

Tokyo: SoftBank wants to list payment app PayPay, the CEO of its wireless unit said on Tuesday, as he seeks to illustate growth potential at Japan’s No.3 carrier.

QR code payment app PayPay has acquired almost 40 million users since launch in October 2018 through aggressive rebates as Japanese consumers shift away from cash.

“We want PayPay to IPO in the future so they will become independent… I don’t think that would be too far out,” said Junichi Miyakawa, who became chief executive of SoftBank Corp last month, at an earnings briefing.

The telco is seeking to convince investors of its ability to grow new business lines as the wireless market matures.