LekkeSlaap sold to SA investors as co-founders exit

South African accommodation booking platform LekkeSlaap has been acquired by a consortium led by Bellair Road Investment Partners and Janic Capital, with the transaction marking the exit of co-founders Jonathan Womersley and Marcel van de Ghinste and other long-standing shareholders.

The consortium also includes the Ferreira Family Office, Moolman Family Office, and Investec, while LekkeSlaap’s executive management team has invested alongside the new shareholders and will continue running the business with the group.

Jonathan Womersley, co-founder of LekkeSlaap, says that, “After so many years, finding new owners who share our culture, values and vision for the business matters enormously to us.”

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Die storie van LekkeSlaap

Founded in 2013, LekkeSlaap has grown to connect travellers with more than 40 000 properties across Southern Africa and has served more than 9 million guests since its launch.

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The transaction keeps the accommodation platform under South African ownership as the new investors back further expansion and technology investment.

The company said in a statement that it will continue to be led by CEO Frans Joubert and its existing executive team. Herman Bosman, chairman of the OUTsurance Group and Fortress Real Estate and former CEO of RMB Holdings and RMI Holdings, has been appointed chairman of LekkeSlaap.

He is joined on the board by Robert Paddock, co-founder of GetSmarter and Valenture Institute. Both Bosman, through Atelier Partners, and Paddock have invested alongside the consortium.

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Marcel Boezaart, partner at Bellair Road Investment Partners, says the investors intend to build on the company’s existing platform while retaining its South African identity.

“We are grateful to be entrusted with this wonderful brand and excited to build on the foundations laid by Jonathan, Marcel and the team to create an enduring South African technology champion,” says Boezaart.

Joubert says the business intends to expand further across Southern Africa while investing in technology and localisation. He added that, “Our ambition is simple: to put Africa on the map.”

Phenyo Selinda is a Moneyweb Intern*

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