HomeAway strengthens its European operations, acquires Abritel.fr

HomeAway, Inc., the US-based owner of www.Holiday-Rentals.co.uk, has acquired Abritel.fr.

Published: 22 Jan 2007

HomeAway, Inc., the US-based owner of http://www.homeaway.co.uk/, has acquired Abritel.fr.

Abritel.fr is HomeAway’s third acquisition in Europe, where the company also operates sites in the UK and Germany; Holiday-Rentals.co.uk and FeWo-direkt.de. With the addition of Abritel.fr, HomeAway’s European subsidiaries now represent over 60,000 properties worldwide.

In 2006, Abritel.fr represented 30,000 properties worldwide and received over 11 million visits.

Apart from strengthening operations in Europe, HomeAway also welcomed the founders of Alando (now eBay Germany) and Jamba! as investors and advisors to the company. Alexander, Marc and Oliver Samwer have become investors through their venture capital firm, the European Founders Fund GmbH.

European Founders Fund GmbH is a highly selective investment company run by brothers Marc, Oliver and Alexander Samwer, with offices in Munich, Germany.

The news follows HomeAway’s November 2006 announcement of $160 million in financing to fund global expansion initiatives including the purchase of top U.S competitor, VRBO.com.

“Since its founding in 2005, HomeAway has become the worldwide leader in holiday rentals. We are proud to provide our customers with access to this global online community”, says Christian Miquel, who founded Abritel. “HomeAway will enable Abritel.fr to grow the European market rapidly, providing our French and pan European homeowners the most cost-effective way to advertise to international travellers.”

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