EQT Partners is a Swedish investment group with around 20 investment funds in Sweden. private equity invested in unlisted companies, investing in small and medium-sized companies through venture capital funds or equity funds, mainly in start-ups or companies in need of strong financing.
EQT has taken control of Idealista after acquiring a stake of around 85% of the real estate capital, in a transaction worth more than 200 million euros. This is, to date, the largest acquisition of a digital company in Spain.
About Idealista
Idealista is a Spanish company founded in 2000, offering through the Internet a real estate portal service in Spain, Italy and Portugal. Spain is the leading marketplace for buying and selling and renting homes. It also has approximately 38 million monthly visitors in Spain, Italy and Portugal.
El modelo de negocio de Idealista se focaliza en los anuncios clasificados, negocios vinculados al sector inmobiliario, como el servicio de ‘Big Data’ (reforzado tras la compra el año pasado de la startup TerceroB por casi 6 millones) o el análisis del riesgo de morosidad en el alquiler. Logrando un beneficio neto en 2019 de 23,3 millones.
Los principales inversores de Idealista en los últimos años han sido: Tiger Capital (22%), Kutxabank (14%), Bonsai Venture Capital (10,7%), además del equipo fundador conformado por Jesús Encinar, Fernando Encinar y César Oteyza.
A promising future for Idealista
Idealista will continue to have the founding management team -Jesús Encinar, Fernando Encinar and César Oteiza- although with a clear commitment to the digitalisation of the economy and a vigorous housing market.
The Swedish fund, EQT, wants to boost and accelerate Idealista's growth by leveraging EQT's in-house digital and technological expertise, as well as its international presence and network of advisors. It will increase its penetration in strategic markets and strengthen its position as the market leader and benchmark online platform for real estate classified ads in Southern Europe.
