Romania’s eMAG to come under sole control of Naspers after EU approval
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of sole control over Dante International of Romania by South African investment fund Naspers Limited.
"The Commission concluded that the notified operation does not raise competition concerns, as the companies are not active on the same markets or on markets that are in a vertical relationship, and the impact on the market structure is limited. The transaction was examined under the simplified merger control procedure," the EC stated in a press release.
Last month, businessman Iulian Stanciu announced the sale of his stake in the eMAG Group to global consumer internet and technology investment group Prosus, 17 years after taking over the company and 14 years after signing the partnership with Naspers, the owner of Prosus.
After the sale, eMAG will continue its development and extensive investment plans, with RON 1.2 billion budgeted in this fiscal year alone for technology, logistics and financial services, with the support of Prosus and an experienced management team, company representatives stated. They also noted the regional growth potential of e-commerce, which remains significant, with growth rates of up to three times in the coming years, compared to the current penetration rate of 11-12% of total retail.
"The investments will be directed predominantly toward logistics and delivery infrastructure, AI and financial services, consolidating the foundation for a strong digital economy in the region. I want to thank Iulian for his dedication, vision, and for keeping us focused on the customer and on continuous personal development," said at that time Tudor Manea, CEO of eMAG Group, cited by News.ro.
At group level, eMAG recorded in fiscal year 2025 a turnover of RON 11.4 billion (USD 2.64 billion), up 11% compared with the previous financial year. The eMAG Group portfolio includes the eMAG brand, the Fashion Days online store, Romania’s 100% online hypermarket Freshful, the IT and electronics specialist store PC Garage, the Romanian national and international express courier company Sameday, the Depanero repair workshop, the most relevant recommerce platform in South-Eastern Europe Flip, as well as the financial services company HeyBlu.
(Photo source: Peter Williams|Dreamstime.com)
