Jiji Acquires Bikroy in First Deal Outside Africa

In Short

• Jiji has acquired Bikroy, Bangladesh’s largest online classifieds platform.
• The deal is Jiji’s first acquisition outside Africa.
• Jiji says it funded the purchase with internal resources and shareholder support.

What Happened

Lagos-headquartered Jiji has acquired Bikroy, a major classifieds marketplace in Bangladesh. Jiji entered Bangladesh about 13 months ago as a direct competitor to Bikroy.

The company did not disclose the transaction value. Jiji CEO Anton Volianskyi said the acquisition was funded through internal resources and shareholder support.

This is Jiji’s first M&A deal outside Africa. It is also the second time in four years that Jiji has bought a marketplace from Sweden-based Saltside Technologies, the seller behind Bikroy. In 2022, Jiji acquired Tonaton in Ghana, another Saltside-owned classifieds business.

The Bikroy purchase continues what Jiji has used before, a compete-then-buy approach. In simple terms, Jiji enters a market, takes on the largest player, then acquires that competitor to consolidate users, listings, and operations.

Jiji has used a similar playbook in Africa. In 2019, it acquired OLX Africa’s operations across several markets including Nigeria and Kenya, after years of head-to-head competition.

Why It Matters

For African internet companies, cross-border expansion often means moving into new African countries. Jiji’s acquisition of Bikroy shows a different path, using M&A to enter and scale in a non-African market.

It also highlights how classifieds platforms grow, by aggregating supply and demand in one place. A classifieds marketplace is a listing site where people buy and sell items and services, similar to a digital notice board.

If Jiji successfully integrates Bikroy, it could strengthen its playbook for future international moves. It may also increase pressure on remaining independent classifieds operators across Africa, as consolidation becomes a clearer endgame.