Following the transaction, GHP will own a majority stake in the business. The existing senior management team will stay in place, with Hugo Burge remaining as CEO – and retaining a significant minority stake in MGL.
Momondo Group (MGL), the pioneering online travel search company which operates in more than 30 countries worldwide, announces that it has accepted an £80m cash investment from Boston-based private equity fund, Great Hill Partners (GHP), valuing it at more than £132 million.
Following the transaction, GHP will own a majority stake in the business. The existing senior management team will stay in place, with Hugo Burge remaining as CEO – and retaining a significant minority stake in MGL.
The investment will enable Momondo to further focus on growing the business and more rapidly capitalise on the double-digit growth rates in the travel meta market. With access to this additional funding, Momondo Group sees a significant opportunity to build on its international growth plans, to continue developing its metasearch model for mobile, and to expand its global footprint into new and emerging markets worldwide.
Momondo Group has seen explosive international growth, with more than 85% of group revenues now generated outside the UK, driven by a host of new launches including new country-specific sites in China, South Africa, Brazil, Canada and Australia.
The company also has a strong product pipeline. The momondo flight search app is already one of the most popular travel apps for iOS and Android – and the Group is also currently rolling out its Cheapflights meta app in selected territories and markets around the world.
Momondo Group CEO Hugo Burge said: “As a business, Momondo Group has expanded rapidly over the last two years and is well-positioned to capitalise on the growth in the meta travel sector. We received expressions of interest from a wide range of high-calibre corporate and private equity investors. After a robust process we are pleased to be working closely with an investor who understands our culture and shares our vision – in a partnership which we believe represents the best outcome for our diverse range of stakeholders and investors.
“This is a strong vote of confidence in Momondo Group, its business strategy and management team – from an experienced and well-respected private equity firm. We look forward to working with Great Hill in the months and years ahead, as we realise our shared vision to bring the portfolio of Momondo Group brands and products to an even wider audience of consumers, helping them to make better-informed travel decisions – and help ‘open our world’. I look forward to the next chapter in our journey and the huge opportunity ahead.”
Michael Kumin, Managing Partner at Great Hill added: “Momondo Group has built one of the most dynamic companies in the global online travel market, a high-growth sector with substantial opportunity ahead. We are excited to partner with Hugo and the entire Momondo management team to extend the Company’s market leadership globally through continued product innovation and further international expansion.”
Arma Partners acted as advisors to MGL on the transaction.
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