Wirtualna Polska Media S.A. acquired 100 percent shares of Benchmark.pl. It is one of the leading Internet portals on computer, new technology, video games and electronic equipment. The amount of the transaction was PLN 14.1 million.
Benchmark.pl's content reaches 3 million Poles each month. These are mainly reviews, tests and opinion texts. The acquisition strengthens Wirtualna Polska in the market of online publishers, especially in its position as the undisputed leader in the technology website category.
"I am glad that Wirtualna Polska Holding is successfully buying not only e-commerce sites, but also those in the media area. Benchmark.pl is an important portal on the Polish market, which will provide WP users with interesting and unique content. The transaction will also open up new revenue opportunities. The companies have already started working on a joint advertising offer for customers" says Joanna Pawlak, Vice-President of Wirtualna Polska Holding S.A.
"Benchmark is the fifth technology website in our portfolio. It not only enriches the thematic content we publish, but will allow us to increase our competitive edge in this area. With Benchmark, our reach can be almost double that of the next competitor. We want to continue to work with the entire team that for years has been building the service, providing it with high-quality content. Our technology editorial staff will be the most numerous in Poland" says Marcin Bartnicki, deputy editor-in-chief of Wirtualna Polska.
According to a Mediapanel survey, Wirtualna Polska remains the leader in the science and technology category. In August 2022, Wirtualna Polska's technology services: WP Tech, dobreprogramy, Komórkomania and Gadgetomania were visited by 7.5 million real users.
Wirtualna Polska is buying a stake in the portal from Komputronik S.A., one of the largest suppliers of electronic equipment in Poland, and an individual – the founder of Benchmark.pl. The transaction amount of PLN 14 million consists of Benchmark's enterprise value of PLN 12 million and PLN 2.1 million of cash in the company.
"The market conditions and the continuous development of technology bring about enormous demand for the latest, reliable, quality information in the field of technology. I am convinced that with this transaction, new prospects for further development are opening up before the portal and the team members. Komputronik's cooperation with Benchmark will be continued. We have also been cooperating with Wirtualna Polska for years, so I assume that thanks to this transaction and our mutual relations we will be able to create many more innovative solutions together. In Komputronik we are currently focusing on our strategic business goals, which are related to providing customers with equipment and technology as well as a range of complementary services, while we put the media company in the hands of the best specialists," says Wojciech Buczkowski, President of the Management Board of the Komputronik Group.
In the 2021/2022 financial year ending March 2022, Benchmark.pl reported nearly PLN 4.7 million in revenue and PLN 1.9 million in EBITDA.