Fotocasa’s Owner, Schibsted Spain, Buys Habitaclia

17 January 2017 – Inmodiario

On Monday, Schibsted Spain announced its acquisition of the real estate portal Habitaclia. In this way, Schibsted Spain, owner of other portals including Fotocasa, has strengthened its leadership position in the real estate classified adverts sector.

“Habitaclia is a well-known real estate portal in the Mediterranean area. The portal has managed to grow in an extraordinary way in a highly competitive environment, basing its success on a detailed understanding of the needs of users and advertisers. Habitaclia is a great company and we are really happy that it has joined the Schibsted Spain family” said Frode Nordseth, CEO of the company.

Following this latest acquisition, Schibsted will offer its users more than 1,500,000 properties to buy and rent each month, from more than 15,000 estate agents and individuals. Moreover, the acquisition will allow advertisers to reach a larger audience in a simpler way.

Schibsted Spain owns a group of portals that receive more than 180 million visits per month, of which 35 million relate to the real estate sector. As a result of the purchase of Habitaclia, the group’s traffic will increase by more than 15%.

Habitaclia will operate as an independent brand within the Schibsted Spain group, retaining its offices and incorporating its more than 80 employees into Schibsted’s workforce. Fotocasa and Habitaclia will continue to operate independently, although certain processes will be established to enable both brands to learn from the strengths of the other.

“We are very happy to be joining the Schibsted family. Schibsted Spain has extensive experience and knowledge about the management of classified advert portals across multiple sectors. We are certain that Habitaclia will be able to benefit from this experience to offer greater value”, explained Javier Llanas, CEO at Habitaclia.

Habitaclia’s turnover amounted to €6.8M during the first three quarters of 2016, which represents an increase of 36% compared to the previous year. The firm has an EBITDA margin of more than 30% in its main region of operation (Cataluña, Balearic Islands and Andorra). This acquisition will increase Schibsted Spain’s total turnover by 8%, resulting in combined revenues of more than €88 million during the first three quarters of 2016.

Besides fotocasa, Schibsted also owns InfoJobs, Coches.net, Vibbo and Milanuncios.

Original story: Inmodiario

Translation: Carmel Drake

Italian RE Portal Immobiliare Acquires Catalan Firm Enalquiler

6 July 2016 – Expansión

The Italian portal Immobiliare.it has completed the purchase of almost 100% of Enalquiler, its Catalan counterpart, from Grupo Intercom, its majority shareholder. Both digital companies are portals specialising in rental housing.

Created ten years ago by Grupo Intercom – itself chaired by Antonio González Barros – Enalquiler employs around 75 people at its headquarters in the centre of Barcelona and at an office in Madrid; it recorded turnover of around €3 million in 2015.

With a catalogue of more than 100,000 homes in Spain, Enalquiler already has a presence in the Italian market, with another 100,000 properties that it manages under the Mioaffitto.it brand, as well as in Mexico, where it operates through the portal Rentamosya.com.

The corporate transaction represents Grupo Intercom’s seventeenth such sale; last year it sold Bodas.net to the US portal WeddingWire.

New player in Spain

The acquisition of Enalquiler, the price of which has not been disclosed, represents the entry of Immobiliare.it into Spain, where it will compete with Fotocasa, Idealista and Hablitaclia, amongst other online platforms.

Regarded as the leading real estate portal in Italy, Immobiliarie.it was created in Milan in 2005 by the entrepreneur Silvio Pagliani and other partners. In June, the portal, which is led by Carlo Giordano, invested €1.5 million in ProntoPro.it, an employment platform for freelancers.

“For Enalquiler, this means it can continue to grow alongside a strategic partner who has complete confidence in us”, said Julio Vasco, founder and President of Enalquiler.

The Catalan company will continue to use the Enalquiler and Mioaffito names: “both brands are recognised in the Spanish and Italian markets; there are no plans to change them”, said Vasco.

Immobiliare has taken control of the majority of Enalquiler, and the firm’s management team retains a small stake. “The rental market has certain needs that are not being covered effectively by the existing portals”, concluded Vasco.

Original story: Expansión (by T. Díaz and J. Orihuel)

Translation: Carmel Drake