• Deal represents the landmark transaction in digital media in Slovakia, closed in 2017
• This transaction represents another step in successful consolidation in online classifieds sector
• Further strengthens no. 1 position of Ringier Axel Springer in digital publishing in Slovakia
• This deal is another example of successful exit of Slovak businesses to an international investor
  

Autobazar.eu is online classifieds portal established in 2004 with 93 000 daily visitors and over 1 million advertisements. Established in 2005, TopReality.sk has over 35 000 daily visitors and is one of largest real estate portals in Slovakia with over 250 000 listings.

Ringier Axel Springer Media AG is a leading integrated multimedia company in Central and Eastern Europe. The company was established in 2010 as a joint venture between Swiss Ringier AG and German Axel Springer SE in order to combine their international operations in Central and Eastern Europe. Today, Ringier Axel Springer Media AG manages an extensive portfolio of more than 165 digital and print products in the expanding markets of Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Serbia, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia.

Ringier Axel Springer Media AG executed the acquisition through its classified holding in Slovakia, United Classifieds s.r.o.

“We further sharpen our portfolio as the leading digital publisher in Slovakia. Autobazar.eu, TopReality.sk fit perfectly to our portfolio and prove the consistency of executing our strategy”, says Milan Dubec, CEO of Ringier Axel Springer Slovakia.

“With this transaction we clearly underline our determination to become the leading digital publisher in Central and Eastern Europe. Our new portfolio in Slovakia is fully digital and diversifies well opportunities in digital publishing, digital classifieds and digital businesses like Pokec and Bistro.sk. I am confident that this is an excellent setup to further healthy growth of our business in Slovakia”, says Mark Dekan, CEO of Ringier Axel Springer Media AG.

KPMG Deal Advisory acted as an exclusive M&A advisor to the shareholders of Autobazar.eu and TopReality.sk. KPMG assisted the shareholders through all steps of the transaction process resulting in closing of transaction in December 2017.

The Deal Advisory practice of KPMG International Cooperative’s member firms (”KPMG”) is a leading M&A advisor in the CEE region according to Thomson Reuters SDC’s 2016 global, European and CEE transaction volume league tables. Also in Slovakia, KPMG is ranked among top M&A advisors.