Dutch tech investment giant Prosus has shown early-stage interest in acquiring Mobile.de, Germany’s biggest online auto marketplace, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Current owners Permira and Blackstone are leaning toward an initial public offering (IPO) rather than an outright sale, but Prosus — through its classifieds division OLX — could enter the race depending on market conditions. The company’s tentative approach underscores growing competition for digital auto platforms across Europe.
The private equity funds have enlisted JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs to prepare Mobile.de for a potential IPO that could value the company at up to €10 billion ($11.7 billion), sources said. The listing could take place next year, though no formal sale process has yet begun.
Alongside Prosus, private equity groups EQT, Cinven, and Apax have also expressed interest, according to the report. All parties declined to comment.
Mobile.de’s parent company, Adevinta, was purchased by Permira and Blackstone in 2023 for around 141 billion Norwegian crowns. Since then, the new owners have begun breaking up Adevinta’s holdings, including selling its Spanish classifieds business to EQT and its Austrian subsidiary Willhaben to Sprints and Styria Media Group.
Prosus, the investment arm of South Africa’s Naspers, has recently expanded its automotive footprint, buying France’s La Centrale platform for €1.1 billion earlier this month.
The early-stage talks reflect the growing investor appetite for online vehicle marketplaces, which have proven resilient and profitable amid a broader slowdown in tech valuations.