CVC Capital Partners (“CVC”) today announced that KKR has agreed to acquire a significant minority stake in global travel technology company Etraveli Group. The strategic partnership between CVC and KKR positions Etraveli Group for an exciting next chapter of growth and reinforces its position as the world’s largest flight intermediary and fulfilment company outside of China. Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed.
Headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, Etraveli Group operates a sophisticated Flight Tech Platform that delivers airline tickets to nearly 50 million travellers annually across 75 markets. With a mission to offer the broadest range of high-quality air content – easy to book and competitively priced – the company leverages AI-driven technology, deep industry expertise and strong strategic partnerships. Its services are delivered through its own consumer-facing brands such as Gotogate, Mytrip and Flightnetwork, as well as through its booking and fulfilment solutions for global partners like Booking.com, Radisson Hotel Group and TUI.
“We are excited to welcome KKR as a new investment partner, given their strong track record in the global travel and technology markets,” said Mathias Hedlund, Etraveli Group’s Chief Executive Officer. “This is another landmark moment for Etraveli Group that strengthens our global position and marks the next chapter in our effort to bring innovation and expertise to facilitate flight purchases for customers around the world. Together with CVC and KKR, we look forward to accelerating the expansion of our global B2B Flight Tech Platform and continuing to deliver smart, seamless travel solutions together with our partners.”
CVC’s Technology and Nordic teams led the acquisition of Etraveli Group from media company ProSiebenSat.1 in 2017, partnering with management to accelerate the company’s transformation into the global market leader. Today, Etraveli Group facilitates over €15 billion of flight sales annually, having consistently delivered strong double-digit growth, with earnings today approximately 4x higher than at the time of the CVC fund’s original investment. Etraveli Group is well-positioned for sustained growth, underpinned by its strategic partnership with Booking.com, a robust pipeline of B2B opportunities and a promising fintech offering.