WARSAW: Polish auction site Allegro has been sold for USD 3.25 billion to a group of private equity funds, the company’s owner Naspers has said. “South Africa-based global internet and entertainment group, Naspers Limited […], announced the disposal of a 100% stake in Poland-based Allegro Group, which includes both Allegro.pl and Ceneo.pl, to funds advised by private equity firms Cinven, Permira and Mid Europa for US$3.253bn,” Naspers said in a press release on Friday. Allegro is Poland’s most popular online auction website with more than 20 million registered users, conducting more than 850,000 sales a day.
“The company employs 1,275 people across five offices in Poznań, Warsaw, Toruń, Wrocław and Kraków. Based in Wrocław, Ceneo.pl is the most popular online comparison shopping business in Poland,” Naspers said.
Bob van Dijk, CEO of Naspers said: “Allegro is a business that we invested in during 2008, and since then we have built it into a respected and successful commerce brand in Poland. […] We are extremely proud of Allegro’s team and success, and we are delighted that Cinven, Permira and Mid Europa will lead its next chapter. Our decision to sell Allegro is consistent with our strategy to find and realise value for our shareholders.”
