Klarna Antitrust Verdict Favors PriceRunner Against Google

Klarna Group plc (NYSE: KLAR) said in a press release on July 1, 2026, that a Stockholm court ruled in favor of its PriceRunner unit in an antitrust case and awarded damages. The company cautioned the award is subject to appeal, sharing arrangements, and taxation.

Court Ruling and Damages Award

The Patent and Market Court in Stockholm, a specialized forum for competition and intellectual-property cases, issued a final judgment at first instance in antitrust damages proceedings brought by PriceRunner, Klarna’s price-comparison business acquired in 2022. Klarna said the court awarded $1.97 billion in damages as compensation for lost revenue caused by Google’s preferential treatment of its own comparison-shopping service. Klarna described the conduct as harmful to competition and consumer costs. The litigation follows earlier EU findings against Google’s shopping service.

Procedural Caveats and Appeals

Klarna had informed investors on June 24 that the court rescheduled the judgment’s publication from June 26 to July 1, 2026, at 13:00 CET (07:00 ET) due to workload, calling the change procedural. The company warned the outcome was inherently uncertain and said no assurance could be given that PriceRunner would succeed on liability or damages. It noted any award would be subject to appeal by Google, sharing arrangements with former PriceRunner shareholders and Klarna’s litigation funder, and applicable taxation. Klarna did not update financial guidance or specify expected net proceeds after these factors.

Discrepancy in Damages Figures

A separate report cited a court-ordered payment equivalent to SEK 14.3 billion, roughly $1.5 billion, creating a discrepancy with Klarna’s $1.97 billion figure. This difference raises questions about currency conversion, interest, or accounting methods affecting the final amount and potential recoveries.