Apax IX completes the acquisition of Trade Me
The Apax IX Fund (“Apax IX”), alongside certain co-investors, today announced the completion of the acquisition of 100% of the issued share capital of Trade Me Group Limited.
Founded in 1999, Trade Me is the leading online marketplace and classified advertising platform in New Zealand. With a market-leading position, strong brand, and high diversification across multiple verticals, Trade Me is well-placed to grow further. In addition, Apax Partners will look to apply the best practices developed in prior Apax Funds’ investments in this category.
AGA, whose shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange, provides investors with access to the investment expertise of Apax Partners through its investments in a diversified portfolio of private equity funds advised by Apax Partners as well as derived investments in debt and equity. In May 2016, AGA committed $350m to Apax IX.
Funds advised by Apax Partners complete the acquisition of Trade Me
New York and Wellington, New Zealand, May 8, 2019 – Funds advised by Apax Partners (the “Apax Funds”), alongside certain co-investors, today announced the completion of the acquisition of 100% of the issued share capital of Trade Me Group Limited for NZ$6.45 per share. The transaction, which values Trade Me at c.NZ$2.56bn (c.US$1.7bn1), was unanimously supported by the Board of the company and received strong approval from shareholders.
Founded in 1999, Trade Me is the leading online marketplace and classified advertising platform in New Zealand. The company connects buyers and sellers across its leading vertical marketplaces for automobiles, property, and jobs as well as offering auctions and fixed-priced sales for new and used goods in its horizontal marketplace. Today the business employs over 600 people and is the fourth most visited website in New Zealand with approximately 1.8m visits each day and 7m listings.
Last month, Trade Me announced the appointment of Anders Skoe as Chief Executive Officer who will commence his role in July 2019. Anders brings extensive experience in the digital marketplace sector through his current position as CEO of Finn.no, a similar marketplace and classifieds business to Trade Me operating in Norway. He is also Executive Vice-President of Nordic Marketplaces at Schibsted, the global media group, in which Anders’ responsibilities comprise overseeing Finn.no alongside leading Swedish and Finnish digital marketplace sites Blocket.se and Tori.fi.
Current Trade Me CEO Jon Macdonald will continue in his role until Anders joins and assumes responsibilities. Jon had planned to leave Trade Me at the end of 2018, but at the request of the Board of the company he agreed to stay on while the Apax transaction was pending and to ensure a smooth transition to a new CEO. Jon will subsequently continue to play an important role in the business as a Non-Executive Director.
Mitch Truwit, Co-Chief Executive Officer of Apax Partners, said: “We are excited to partner with Trade Me; the clear leader in its market and one of New Zealand’s most-loved and recognised brands. We look forward to leveraging Apax’s significant experience, gained from other leading digital marketplace businesses around the world, to support management in delivering the company’s next phase of growth. We welcome Anders’ appointment and look forward to benefiting from his strategic insights, along with those of the existing Trade Me team, in the years to come.”
Anders Skoe, incoming Chief Executive Officer of Trade Me, said: “I am delighted to join the team at Trade Me, who have developed the company into a household name in New Zealand. I look forward to using my background and experience to build on Trade Me’s success to date and take the business to even greater heights. I’m also excited to be working with Apax who have an enviable reputation investing in this space.”
Jon Macdonald, current Chief Executive Officer of Trade Me, said “It’s fantastic that Anders is taking on the CEO role here in New Zealand, particularly given his strong experience in leading such a closely comparable business in a similar market. I wish him all the very best, and in my new governance role I’m looking forward to playing a small part in Trade Me’s continued success.”
The Apax Funds have a strong track record investing in digital marketplace businesses, combining extensive digital investment expertise with deep operational value-add. The investment in Trade Me is the eighth for the Apax Funds in this sub-sector. Previous investments include Auto Trader in the UK, Trader Corporation in Canada, Boats Group in the US, Idealista in Spain, and SoYoung and SouFun in China.
1 Based on FX rates as at 31 Dec 2018.
Contact details
Investor enquiries
Sarah Wojcik
IR Manager – AGA
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7666 6573
Email: sarah.wojcik@apax.com
Media enquiries
Andrew Kenny
Head of Communications
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7872 6371
Email: andrew.kenny@apax.com
About Apax Global Alpha Limited
AGA is a Guernsey registered closed-ended collective investment scheme incorporated as a non-cellular company that listed on the London Stock Exchange on 15 June 2015. It is regulated by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission.
AGA’s objective is to provide shareholders with capital appreciation from its investment portfolio and regular dividends. The Company is targeting an annualised Total Return, across economic cycles, of 12-15% (net of fees and expenses) including a dividend yield of 5% of Net Asset Value.
The investment policy of the Company is to make Private Equity investments in Apax Funds, and Derived Investments which are investments in equities and debt derived from the insights gained via Apax Partners’ Private Equity activities. The Company’s portfolio is expected to be allocated in approximately equal proportions between Private Equity and Derived Investments, although the investment mix will fluctuate over time due to market conditions, investment opportunities, cash flow requirements, the dividend policy and other factors. Further information regarding the Company and its publications are available on the Company’s website at www.apaxglobalalpha.com.
About Apax Partners LLP
Apax Partners is a leading global private equity advisory firm. Over its more than 40-year history, Apax Partners has raised and advised funds with aggregate commitments of c.€40 billion. Funds advised by Apax Partners invest in companies across four global sectors of Tech & Telco, Services, Healthcare and Consumer. These funds provide long-term equity financing to build and strengthen world-class companies. For further information about Apax Partners, please visit www.apax.com.
Apax Partners is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK.