Global Blue

Started in Sweden in 1980, tax-free shopping is about refunding the VAT/GST levied in normal stores on the high street to non-resident visitors who will privately export the goods purchased, according to the legislation in the European Union{{cite web |url=http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/common/travellers/leave_eu/ |title=Travellers leaving the EU VAT export refund scheme |publisher=European Commission |accessdate=June 9, 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611081523/http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/common/travellers/leave_eu/ |archivedate=June 11, 2014 }} and other countries.

Founded as Sweden Tax Free Shopping, the company later became Europe Tax Free Shopping and then Global Refund in 1998. The company was bought out by its management in partnership with Apax Partners, which took a majority stake, and FEXCO for £118 million in 1999.{{cite web |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/fexco-and-apax-join-forces-in-takeover-of-global-refund-1.220207 |title=Fexco and Apax join forces in takeover of Global Refund |publisher=The Irish Times |date=August 25, 1999}}

In 2007, Apax sold the company to Equistone Partners Europe (at the time Barclays Private Equity), which valued the company at €360 million.{{cite web |url=http://www.growthbusiness.co.uk/news-and-market-deals/mergers-and-acquisitions/261039/barclays-backs-global-refund-mbo.thtml |title=Barclays backs Global Refund MBO |publisher=Growth Business UK |date=October 12, 2007 |access-date=September 9, 2013 |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714175018/http://www.growthbusiness.co.uk/news-and-market-deals/mergers-and-acquisitions/261039/barclays-backs-global-refund-mbo.thtml |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.apax.com/news/apax-news/2007/august/apax-partners-sells-global-refund-to-barclays-private-equity/ |title=Apax Partners sells Global Refund to Barclays Private Equity |date=August 7, 2007 |access-date=December 15, 2017 |archive-date=December 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216035012/http://www.apax.com/news/apax-news/2007/august/apax-partners-sells-global-refund-to-barclays-private-equity/ |url-status=live }} Previously operating the two brands Tax Free Shopping and First Currency Choice, Global Refund completed its repositioning, product diversification and rebranding as Global Blue in 2010.{{cite web |url=http://www.realwire.com/releases/Transform-Awards-2012-Announce-Winners |title=Transform Awards 2012 Announce Winners |date=March 27, 2012 |publisher=Real Wire |access-date=September 9, 2013 |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714162300/http://www.realwire.com/releases/Transform-Awards-2012-Announce-Winners |url-status=live }}

Equistone Partners sold the business in May 2012, for 1 billion euros to the technology private equity firm Silver Lake, with Swiss private equity house Partners Group taking a minority stake.{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-24/silver-lake-to-buy-global-blue-from-equistone-for-1-3-billion.html |title=Silver Lake to Buy Equistone's Global Blue for $1.3 Billion |date=May 25, 2012 |publisher=Bloomberg |access-date=2017-03-07 |archive-date=2014-02-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222154639/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-24/silver-lake-to-buy-global-blue-from-equistone-for-1-3-billion.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Waters |first=Richard |url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/d01f17b4-a557-11e1-b421-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2e1xnjAJP |title=Silver Lake in €1bn Global Blue deal |publisher=FT.com |date=2012-05-24 |accessdate=2014-06-09 |archive-date=2017-12-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216091103/http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/d01f17b4-a557-11e1-b421-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2e1xnjAJP |url-status=live }} On 10 April 2014 Global Blue announced the appointment of David Baxby as chief executive officer and a member of the board of directors, taking over from Per Setterberg, who had run the company for 25 years.{{cite news | url=http://www.wallstreet-online.de/nachricht/6693021-global-blue-leading-provider-of-traveler-commerce-technology-solutions-names-david-baxby-as-ceo | title=Global Blue, Leading Provider of Traveler Commerce Technology Solutions, Names David Baxby as CEO | date=April 10, 2014 | access-date=April 10, 2014 | archive-date=April 13, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413144503/http://www.wallstreet-online.de/nachricht/6693021-global-blue-leading-provider-of-traveler-commerce-technology-solutions-names-david-baxby-as-ceo | url-status=live }} Following David Baxby a new CEO, Jaques Stern, has been announced on 18 May 2015.{{cite news | url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-blue-announces-jacques-stern-as-chief-executive-officer-300084638.html | title=Global Blue Announces Jacques Stern as Chief Executive Officer | date=May 18, 2015 | access-date=July 20, 2015 | archive-date=July 22, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722014234/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-blue-announces-jacques-stern-as-chief-executive-officer-300084638.html | url-status=live }}

In 2010, Global Blue and the Economist Intelligence Unit started to use the expression 'globe shopper' to identify the market segment of "people who consider shopping as a fundamental part of their travel experience".{{cite web |author=HKTOct 26, 2012 |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/scene/2012/10/26/asias-best-city-for-shopping/ |title=Hong Kong Tops Asia's Shopping Destinations - Scene Asia - WSJ |publisher=Blogs.wsj.com |date=2012-10-26 |accessdate=2014-06-09 |archive-date=2014-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141001221616/http://blogs.wsj.com/scene/2012/10/26/asias-best-city-for-shopping/ |url-status=live }} Global Blue Intelligence's globe shopping data and publications are referenced by international and national media including the Financial Times,{{cite news |url=http://search.ft.com/search?queryText=Simplify+visas+for+Chinese%2C+urge+UK+retailers+Global+Blue |title=Simplify visas for Chinese, urge UK retailers |publisher=Financial Times |date=30 January 2011 |access-date=6 May 2011 |archive-date=2 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202005103/http://search.ft.com/search?queryText=Simplify+visas+for+Chinese%2C+urge+UK+retailers+Global+Blue |url-status=live }} The Wall Street Journal,{{cite web |last=Masidlover |first=Nadya |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323664204578609452047467788 |title=Chinese Shopping-Tour Buses Go Out of Fashion in Paris - WSJ |publisher=Online.wsj.com |date=2013-07-24 |accessdate=2014-06-09 |archive-date=2015-05-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529050415/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323664204578609452047467788 |url-status=live }} City A.M.,{{cite news |url=http://www.cityam.com/latest-news/chinese-luxury-spenders-keep-uk-tills-ringing |title=Chinese luxury spenders keep UK tills ringing |date=April 30, 2012 |publisher=City A.M. |access-date=September 9, 2013 |archive-date=June 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120630171508/http://www.cityam.com/latest-news/chinese-luxury-spenders-keep-uk-tills-ringing |url-status=live }} the Moodie Report,{{cite web |url=http://www.moodiereport.com/document.php?c_id=6&doc_id=36024 |title=Chinese dominate tourism spending in 2012, reports Global Blue |publisher=TheMoodieReport.com |date= |accessdate=2014-06-09 |archive-date=2014-07-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714142900/http://www.moodiereport.com/document.php?c_id=6&doc_id=36024 |url-status=live }} China Confidential{{cite news |url=http://www.ftchinaconfidential.com/Consumer/ConsumerTrends/Features/GuestColumn/article/20101118/a2db9d5a-f0a3-11df-8ac5-00144f2af8e8/Chinese-shoppers-go-on-overseas-spending-spree |title=Chinese shoppers go on overseas spending spree |publisher=China Confidential |date=18 November 2010 |access-date=16 April 2011 |archive-date=10 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110410175329/http://www.ftchinaconfidential.com/Consumer/ConsumerTrends/Features/GuestColumn/article/20101118/a2db9d5a-f0a3-11df-8ac5-00144f2af8e8/Chinese-shoppers-go-on-overseas-spending-spree |url-status=dead }} and The Hurun Wealth Report.{{Cite web |url=http://www.hurun.net/hurun//listreleaseen554.aspx |title=The Hurun Report |access-date=2011-07-08 |archive-date=2011-06-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110630104608/http://www.hurun.net/hurun/listreleaseen554.aspx |url-status=dead }}

In 2010, the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore commissioned Global Blue to develop and operate Singapore's Electronic Tourist Refund Scheme.{{cite web |url=http://www.news.gov.sg/public/sgpc/en/media_releases/agencies/iras/press_release/P-20101201-1.html |publisher=SG Press Centre |title=Tourists can look forward to hassle-free GST refunds |date=December 1, 2010 |access-date=July 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006211319/http://www.news.gov.sg/public/sgpc/en/media_releases/agencies/iras/press_release/P-20101201-1.html |archive-date=October 6, 2011 |url-status=dead }} In 2011, the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service selected Global Blue as the payment supplier for tax-free shopping in Australia.{{cite web |url=http://www.global-blue.com/merchant-services/corporate/presscentre/global-blue-named-exclusive-payment-supplier-for-tax-free-shopping/ |title=Global Blue named exclusive payment supplier for tax free shopping |date=March 21, 2011 |publisher=Global Blue |access-date=July 8, 2011 |archive-date=July 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110712133127/http://www.global-blue.com/merchant-services/corporate/presscentre/global-blue-named-exclusive-payment-supplier-for-tax-free-shopping/ |url-status=live }} In July 2013, Global Blue announced a joint venture with NTT DATA to offer tax-free shopping services in Japan.{{cite web|author=Global Blue July 10, 2013 4:30 AM |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/global-blue-ntt-data-form-083000237.html |title=Global Blue and NTT DATA form Joint Venture to Offer Tax Refund Services in Japan - Yahoo Finance |publisher=Finance.yahoo.com |date=2013-07-10 |accessdate=2014-06-09}} Global Blue is also a certified supplier of the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) Quality Service Certification programme.http://www.qualitytourism.cn/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110905061714/http://www.qualitytourism.cn/ |date=2011-09-05 }} China Outbound Tourism Quality Service Certification

In February 2025, Shift4 announced that they would be purchasing the company for $2.5 billion.{{cite web|url=https://thepaypers.com/payments-general/shift4-extends-its-tender-offer-to-acquire-global-blue--1273225|title= Shift4 extends its tender offer to acquire Global Blue}}

Global Blue employs around 2,100 people in 53 countries, and provides services to approximately 300,000 merchants (retailers, hotels, restaurants, etc.), and banks in these locations.{{Cite web|url=http://corporate.globalblue.com/press-centre/global-blue-releases-the-globe-shopper-report-china-edition/|title=Global Blue releases the Globe Shopper Report: China Edition {{!}} Business - Global Blue|website=corporate.globalblue.com|access-date=2016-10-26|archive-date=2016-10-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025032431/http://corporate.globalblue.com/press-centre/global-blue-releases-the-globe-shopper-report-china-edition/|url-status=live}}

{{Reflist }}

Category:Financial services companies established in 1980

Category:1980 establishments in Sweden

Category:Companies based in Geneva

Category:Silver Lake (investment firm) companies

Category:Sales taxes

Category:Financial services companies of Switzerland

Category:Multinational companies headquartered in Switzerland

Category:Apax Partners companies