Skroutz, Greece’s most popular online marketplace, is changing ownership after Blackstone reached a definitive agreement to acquire a majority stake in the company from CVC Capital Partners Fund VII.
Blackstone, the world’s largest alternative asset manager, said funds managed by its private equity division had agreed to acquire the controlling shareholding in Skroutz, which operates the country’s largest online shopping platform.
Founded in 2005, Skroutz offers more than 26 million products from around 9,000 partner merchants and serves approximately 2.5 million active users. The platform has evolved from a price comparison website into a fully integrated marketplace, operating its own courier network and warehouses, providing fulfilment and storage services, licensed financial services and a fast-growing digital advertising business for partner retailers.
Under the terms of the transaction, Skroutz’s founders will sell part of their shareholdings but will remain actively involved in the business. Giorgos Chatzigeorgiou will continue as chief executive officer.
In recent years, Skroutz has expanded beyond Greece, establishing a presence in Cyprus and more recently entering the Romanian and Bulgarian markets, as part of a broader strategy to grow across south-eastern Europe. The company said the relatively low penetration of e‑commerce in the region compared with western Europe offers significant growth potential as markets continue to develop.
Alexander Walsh, senior managing director at Blackstone, said the investment reflects confidence in the continued expansion of online marketplaces driven by e‑commerce growth in Europe. “Giorgos and the Skroutz team have built an outstanding platform with a strong brand that is well positioned to capture this opportunity in Greece and south-eastern Europe,” he said.
Alex Fotakidis, managing partner and head of CVC in Greece, said Skroutz made major progress during the firm’s investment period, including significant investments in infrastructure, merchant capabilities and customer experience. “We believe Skroutz has all the foundations required to continue its growth with Blackstone as its new partner,” he said.
Chatzigeorgiou described the deal as a new chapter for the company. “We are grateful to CVC for its support over the past six years, during which Skroutz successfully transformed into a leading marketplace,” he said. “Blackstone’s experience in digital marketplaces makes it an ideal partner as we accelerate the next phase of innovation and growth.”
Blackstone has previously invested in global digital platforms including Adevinta and Property Finder. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the second half of 2026.
