Intuit Inc., the software giant behind TurboTax, is buying personal finance website Credit Karma Inc. for about $7.1 billion in cash and stock.
San Francisco-based Credit Karma has garnered more than 100 million users by offering free credit scores since it was founded in 2007. The financial technology startup offers other services too, including the ability to apply for a credit card, find an auto loan or start a savings account. The combination will help consumers manage debt, maximize savings and have better access to credit cards and loans, Intuit said in a statement Monday.
Fintech companies are at a crossroads where a number of them are established enough to go public, but a spate of poor-performing IPOs are making acquisitions more attractive. At the same time, incumbent companies aren't afraid to snap up startups as a way to fuel their own growth. "The fertile M&A market, shift to growth stage investments, and rich valuations open the door for a lot of discussions, as well as distractions," said Lindsay Davis, an analyst at CB Insights. "Fintech startups will have a choice to take a deal or buckle down and focus on filling product gaps."