EMPG acquires Lamudi, expands to Southeast Asia

MANILA, Philippines — EMPG, one of the leading digital classifieds groups in Middle East, North Africa (MENA), South Asia and Southeast Asia (SEA) regions, has announced its acquisition of Lamudi Global, which has businesses in the Philippines, Indonesia and Mexico.

The group said the acquisition had taken place before its merger with OLX Group’s businesses in MENA and South Asia that raised EMPG’s valuation to $1 billion.

EMPG had also acquired Thailand’s top marketplace Kaidee in February which, along with the Lamudi Global transaction, marks the group’s strong push into Southeast Asia.

EMPG owns and operates Bayut in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, Zameen in Pakistan, Bproperty.com in Bangladesh, and Mubawab in Morocco and Tunisia, alongside Kaidee. It now also owns and operates Dubizzle in the UAE, OLX Pakistan, OLX Egypt, and OLX Lebanon, in addition to several other OLX platforms in the GCC.

Lamudi was founded in 2013 as an online property platform focused on emerging markets.

It is currently a well-recognized brand in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Mexico. EMPG had already acquired Lamudi’s Middle East, Pakistan, and Bangladesh businesses last year.  

The combined total real estate transactions in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Mexico is estimated to be $55.1 billion per year, with a potential commission pool of over $2.3 billion for real estate professionals. The combined population of the three countries is just shy of half a billion. 

“We welcome the Lamudi Global teams to the EMPG family. They bring with them a lot of experience and domain knowledge, and we value the people who have been with the business since the beginning. We look forward to working with the team to continue growing the business, and EMPG will provide strategic, technological, and financial support as needed,” said Imran Ali Khan, chief executive officer of EMPG.

The acquisition also signaled EMPG’s intent to focus on Southeast Asia in addition to its core regions. 

“Our aim is to build a strong presence in the region with these acquisitions. Southeast Asia is a bustling, happening market with tremendous potential, and we look forward to providing the best experience to both professionals and consumers,” Khan added. 

EMPG’s expansion into the region would raise the bar for online marketplaces. 

“EMPG has built highly successful businesses in all of its geographies, and the group’s strategic depth and advanced tech are two major assets Lamudi looks forward to as we begin this next phase of our journey,” said Kian Moini, chief executive officer of Lamudi. 

The transaction value was not disclosed.  

For more information, visit the EMPG website here, and the Lamudi website here.