Oakley backs German e-commerce companies – Oakley Capital Origin Fund has acquired controlling stakes in Afterbuy and DreamRobot, two leading providers of e-commerce software in the German-speaking region, which will be combined to become the newly formed ECOMMERCE ONE Group.
The two companies provide a comprehensive suite of Software as a Service (“SaaS”) solutions for small to mid-sized online merchants selling their products through web shops and online marketplaces, such as Amazon or eBay. The platform enables its users to manage and automate difficult, manual and time-critical processes, such as multi-channel product listing, data collection and stock management. Together, more than €50bn of gross merchandise volume has been processed across the businesses to date.
These two investments mark the beginning of a strategy aimed at solidifying ECOMMERCE ONE’s position as the market-leading provider for small and medium-sized online merchants in the DACH (Germany/Austria/Switzerland) region. Oakley will support the growth of the businesses through its operational experience and software buy-and-build expertise, drawing on its track-record of successful investments in WebPros and Ekon.
Oakley says that the e-commerce software market is experiencing rapid growth, underpinned by a structural shift as consumers increasingly transact online and retailers launch and expand their online offerings. Software tools such as Afterbuy and DreamRobot enable merchants’ e-commerce success by simplifying tasks and providing a comprehensive overview and control centre for all sales and transaction processes, which results in loyal customer bases and recurring subscription revenues.
Oakley Capital Investment’s share of the deal is £6m. Following this, it still has £173m of liquid resources.
OCI : Oakley backs German e-commerce companies