Mobiliar has reduced its stake in Swiss Marketplace Group (SMG), the operator of online classifieds platforms, from 19.3% to 11.8%, the insurer said on Tuesday. The sale was part of its portfolio and risk diversification strategy. Mobiliar said it remains a significant shareholder and will continue to have representation on SMG's board of directors.
TX Group acquired part of the shares, increasing its holding in SMG from 31.4% to 34.9%. In an accelerated bookbuilding, TX Group bought 3,426,731 shares from Mobiliar at CHF 28.50 per share, for a total of about CHF 98 million.
SMG, based in Zurich Oerlikon, was created at the end of 2021 through the combination of Scout24 Switzerland and Ringier's portals, including Ricardo and Tutti. At formation, the main shareholders were TX Group with 31%, Ringier with 29.5%, and Mobiliar with 29.5%. SMG was listed on the Swiss exchange in autumn 2025.
TX Group, which publishes 20 Minuten and the Tages-Anzeiger and operates digital platforms such as Homegate and Jobs, said the purchase reflected confidence in the quality of SMG's marketplace platforms and their long-term growth potential. Daniel Mönch, head of portfolio and operations, said SMG is well positioned to deliver sustainable value to shareholders and contribute to TX Group's results in coming years.
TX Group's stake remains below the 35% opting-up threshold set in SMG's statutes, so the transaction does not trigger a mandatory public offer.
SMG also participated in the placement, buying back about 1.0 million shares, or roughly 1.0% of issued shares, at the same CHF 28.50 price. The remaining shares offered by Mobiliar were sold to institutional investors.
On the Swiss exchange, SMG shares closed at CHF 30.95 on Monday, after trading at CHF 36.80 at the start of the year.
