Rover Group closes in on Gudog acquisition

Rover Group, a platform that connects pet owners to walkers and sitters, is reportedly set to acquire Dublin-based marketplace Gudog for an undisclosed sum

Rover will expand its territory to Ireland and Denmark with the acquisition while adding 20,000 dog sitters and walkers across Europe.

Rover plans to expand to more countries in Europe, its fastest-growing region for first-time users, the statement shows.

The company has earmarked about $15m (£11.2m) to invest in new markets over the next five years and has its sights set on Switzerland, Finland, Austria, Poland and Belgium.

While on the hunt for more businesses to buy, Rover is also exploring options for connecting pet owners with physical daycares, grooming services and a pet training offering.

Brent Turner, president of Rover, said: “Both pet parents and care providers have embraced Rover throughout Europe with an enthusiasm that has exceeded our expectations thus far.

“With that in mind, we are excited to introduce Rover to pet parents in Denmark and Ireland, and we could not be more pleased to welcome the Gudog community to Rover. These investments enable us to further our mission, which is to make it easier for people to experience the unconditional love of pets in their lives.”

Alternative asset giant Blackstone Inc paid $2.3bn (£1.72bn) in cash to take Rover private in February 2024.

Rover’s revenue grew 13% last year to about $264m (£197m) while gross booking value climbed about 10% to $1.1bn (£820m).

That was a turnaround from its fortunes as a public company, when its shares dropped 27% from the day it began trading after a merger with a blank-check company until Blackstone announced the take-private.