NetRetail Holding

NetRetail Holding, operating under the Mall Group brand, is a significant e-commerce entity in the Central and Eastern European (CEE) market. The company functions as an online retailer offering a wide array of products, including consumer electronics, home appliances, and sporting goods. Its business model has been transitioning from a first-party (1P) retailer, where it owns the inventory, towards a third-party (3P) marketplace model, which facilitates sales for external merchants.

The company's history involves several key ownership changes. In 2012, MIH Allegro, a subsidiary of Naspers, acquired a controlling stake in NetRetail Holding. A major milestone occurred in 2016 when Rockaway Capital, led by founder Jakub Havrlant, took over NetRetail Holding, which included Mall.cz. This acquisition led to the formation of the Mall Group, consolidating various online shops from Rockaway's portfolio to strengthen its position in the CEE region. The investment was supported by prominent investors Daniel Křetínský, Patrik Tkáč, and the PPF Group. Under Havrlant's leadership, the group focused on improving its financial performance, eventually reaching EBITDA profitability for the fiscal year ending March 2021 for the first time in its history under the new ownership.

A landmark event in the company's trajectory was its acquisition by the Polish e-commerce platform Allegro. The agreement, announced in late 2021 and finalized in April 2022, involved Allegro acquiring a 100% stake in both Mall Group and the courier company WeDo. The total transaction was valued at approximately €881 million, with a portion paid in Allegro shares, making the former Mall Group shareholders participants in the newly enlarged entity. This strategic merger was designed to create a leading regional e-commerce platform, combining Allegro's marketplace expertise with Mall Group's established presence and logistics infrastructure across countries like the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, and Poland. The integration aims to provide a seamless selling experience for over 135,000 merchants and an enhanced shopping experience for a potential market of 70 million customers.

Keywords: e-commerce, online retail, Central and Eastern Europe, marketplace, NetRetail Holding, Mall Group, Allegro, CEE market, online shopping, Jakub Havrlant, Rockaway Capital, third-party marketplace, 1P retail, 3P marketplace, cross-border e-commerce, logistics, WeDo, Czech Republic e-commerce, Poland e-commerce, regional acquisition