Abraaj Group, the Dubai-based private equity firm, has announced a large investment in one of Turkey's oldest and largest online retailers, Hepsiburada . Abraaj has acquired a 25 percent share in the Turkish e-commerce company, which was founded in 1998 and is reportedly valued at $400 million.
With the capital from the investment, Hepsiburada plans to not only expand its e-commerce operations but also will combine its five warehouses into one massive 100,000 square meter facility. According to a press release published by Abraaj, Hepsiburada, which means "It's all here," offers some 500,000 products and had 1.5 million customers in 2014 as well as 14 million unique monthly visitors, representing more than one-third of Turkey's total online community.
Abraaj invests in emerging markets throughout Asia, the Middle East, Africa and South America. Currently the firm manages some $7.5 billion in assets and boasts about 300 employees spread throughout six regional centers: Mumbai, Mexico City, Istanbul, Nairobi, Singapore and Dubai. This is the latest in a string of Abraaj investments in Turkey, a market that has been difficult for private equity investors to break into.
Founder and Chief Executive of the Abraaj Group, Arif Naqvi said the deal highlighted his firm's commitment to Turkey.
"Our investment in Hepsiburada represents a landmark transaction for Abraaj in the online retail space and marks our ninth investment in Turkey since 2007. Our strong credentials in Turkey are underpinned by proven partnerships, outstanding exits and a robust commitment to value creation, which we will continue to demonstrate using our significant regional and investment expertise to transition Hepsiburada into the next phase of its growth trajectory," he said.
Hanzade Dogan Boyner, Executive Chairwoman of Hepsiburada, also commented on the new investment in her company saying, "The partnership with Abraaj will further strengthen our leadership position and provide us with a competitive edge as we continue our expansion plans in Turkey and the region."
Earlier this year, Abraaj was involved in a bidding war against Michigan-based cereal-maker Kellogg for the majority share of Egyptian company, Bisco Misr . In the end, Kellogg walked away with nearly 86 percent of the company, with Abraaj going home empty-handed.
This time Abraaj is hoping its new investment is a clear win.