PayPal founder pumps $4mln into Xero

PayPal founder to join Xero advisory board, pumps in $4mln

by Paul McBeth

Oct. 22 (BusinessDesk) – Xero Ltd., the accounting software company, has tapped PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel for $4 million to help fast-track its expansion in the U.S.

Thiel, who helped set up online payments company PayPal and later sold it to eBay for US$1.5 billion, will buy about 2.7 million shares in Xero in a private placement to help support the company’s expansion into the U.S., giving him about 3% ownership.

Once the deal is done, he will join Xero’s U.S. Advisory Board. The shares climbed 3.6% to $1.54 in trading today, and are down 8.6% this year.

“With the support of Peter and his team, we believe we are now strongly positioned to enter the U.S. and capitalise on the opportunity that this market represents,” chief executive Rob Drury said in a statement.

“Access to their extensive networks will provide a major boost as we take on Quickbooks in the vast U.S. small business market.”

Xero entered the U.S. market last year when it appointed Dell Inc. executive Andy Lark to be its first member on the company’s U.S. Advisory Board, and in May last year it won two Webby awards.

In January, Xero entered into an arrangement with American online banking services provider Yodlee Inc. to offer its accounting system.

(BusinessDesk) 10:58:59

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