Done deal for Daft.ie owner

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, September 30, 2026

REA Group has agreed to acquire a 35 percent stake in Irish property search platform owner Distilled Media for £216 million, with the deal expected to close by the end of 2026. This investment enables REA to enter the growing Irish market and expand its global presence in property technology alongside its dominant positions in Australia and the U.S.

Australian property technology company REA Group has agreed to acquire a 35 percent stake in Distilled Media, the owner of Ireland’s leading property search platform Daft.ie, for £216 million. The transaction is expected to be finalized before the end of 2026.

REA Group, majority-owned by media conglomerate News Corp, which publishes The Times, described the acquisition as an opportunity to enter a high-growth market. Distilled Media, established in 1997 by brothers Eamonn and Brian Fallon, operates several classified advertising websites in Ireland, including PropertyPal, DoneDeal.ie, and Used Cars NI. Eamonn Fallon, 49, currently serves as the company’s chief executive and will maintain a significant ownership stake following the completion of the deal.

REA Group holds a dominant position in the property search sector in Australia, owning platforms such as realestate.com.au. The company also has a presence in the United States through its shareholding in realtor.com. In 2024, REA attempted to extend its reach into the UK property market by pursuing a stake in Rightmove, the country’s largest property website.

Distilled Media reported revenues of €72.4 million and an adjusted underlying profit of €43.3 million for the financial year ending June 2026. The company’s portfolio and growth prospects are seen as highly attractive by REA. Cameron McIntyre, REA’s chief executive, emphasized that the investment would provide immediate access to a strong business with significant growth potential.

The deal marks a strategic expansion for REA Group as it seeks to consolidate its position in global property technology markets.

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