Adevinta, the Norway-based online classifieds group acquired last year by a private equity consortium led by Blackstone and Permira, is preparing to divest its Spanish operations as part of a broader strategic reshaping of the business, according to a report by Reuters.
The report cites unnamed sources familiar with the matter as highlighting that the sale process, which is being managed with the support of financial advisers, would see Adevinta offload a portfolio of high-profile digital assets including job platform InfoJobs, property portal Fotocasa, and car marketplace Coches.net. The Spanish unit could command a valuation north of €2bn, supported by estimated EBITDA of around €130m, one source said.
The move aligns with the consortium’s post-buyout strategy to refocus Adevinta’s operations around its three core markets – Germany, France, and the Benelux region – while divesting non-core assets to streamline operations and enhance value for investors. The Spanish business is seen as an attractive, cash-generative unit that could appeal to both financial sponsors and strategic buyers, particularly given rising interest in digital classifieds platforms.
Since closing the take-private deal in 2023, Blackstone, Permira, and co-investors General Atlantic and TCV have pursued a series of portfolio optimisation initiatives at Adevinta. These include the recent sale of its stake in Austrian classifieds platform Willhaben, and reported plans for a potential IPO of German automotive marketplace Mobile.de in 2026.
The anticipated sale of the Spanish division marks the latest step in this strategy and reflects a growing trend of value crystallisation among private equity sponsors in the online classifieds sector. In a comparable move, Cinven acquired Spanish real estate platform Idealista last year, while Rightmove recently turned down a multibillion-dollar approach from Australia’s REA Group—underscoring the sector’s strong M&A momentum.
Representatives from Adevinta, Blackstone, and Permira declined to comment.
