Fintech company Gen Digital plans to purchase MoneyLion in a one billion dollar transaction
In a significant move, Gen Digital, a global firm known for its cyber safety brands like Norton, Avast, LifeLock, Avira, AVG, ReputationDefender, and CCleaner, has announced the acquisition of MoneyLion, an AI-powered fintech platform, for approximately $1 billion. The deal, expected to close between the second and third quarter of 2025, marks a strategic expansion for Gen Digital, aiming to fuse cybersecurity with digital financial services.
MoneyLion, with its consumer finance app, embedded finance, and media services, caters to over 18 million customers. The acquisition will bring these financial management tools and embedded financial marketplaces to Gen's user base, potentially broadening and diversifying Gen Digital's customer base.
The rationale behind the deal includes the ability to cross-sell MoneyLion's products to Gen's 500 million subscribers and the potential to target higher-income consumers beyond MoneyLion's existing customer base. The acquisition is predicted to face little risk in gaining regulatory approval.
Gen Digital will pay $82 per share in cash at the time of closing, and MoneyLion shareholders will receive a contingent value right per share, potentially entitling them to $23 in Gen common stock if certain share price conditions are met. The acquisition will more than double Gen's addressable market to over $50 billion.
The combination of MoneyLion's fintech products with Gen's robust identity and cybersecurity solutions could unlock new revenue streams through B2B2C white-label fintech solutions. It could also enable Gen to offer an integrated AI-driven fintech and cybersecurity platform, appealing to both consumers and financial institutions alike.
Moreover, the acquisition is expected to enhance customer engagement and retention by providing a holistic digital freedom ecosystem that blends financial empowerment tools with advanced digital security. This could accelerate innovation with a more diversified product portfolio and customer data, supporting continuous AI-driven improvements and personalized services.
Oppenheimer analysts believe MoneyLion differentiates itself through its two-sided consumer finance ecosystem. They expect lower interest rates and a more favorable regulatory environment to stimulate borrowing and enable product innovation. In February, MoneyLion announced its partnership with EY US, aiming to leverage the fintech's embedded marketplace infrastructure to serve smaller and mid-sized financial institutions.
Gen CEO Vincent Pilette stated that the acquisition of MoneyLion will extend Gen's capabilities to enable people to better manage and grow their financial wealth. The acquisition is expected to close in the first half of Gen's fiscal year 2026, subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals. The deal is aimed at empowering smarter financial decisions and securing people's digital and financial lives.
Sources:
[1] Gen Digital. (2025). Press Release: Gen Digital Acquires MoneyLion. [2] Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. (2025). Research Report: Gen Digital Acquires MoneyLion. [3] MoneyLion. (2025). Earnings Report: Third Quarter. [4] EY US. (2022). Press Release: MoneyLion and EY US Announce Partnership. [5] Gen Digital. (2022). Press Release: Gen Digital Merges with Avast.
Gen Digital's acquisition of MoneyLion, a fintech platform, will bring finance management tools and embedded financial marketplaces to Gen's user base, potentially broadening and diversifying Gen Digital's customer base. The integration of MoneyLion's fintech products with Gen's robust identity and cybersecurity solutions could unlock new revenue streams through B2B2C white-label fintech solutions.
