AXA Private Equity has acquired a 20% equity stake in leading Facebook marketing agency, KRDS. Through its Innovation & Growth funds, AXA Private Equity’s investment will enable KRDS to reinforce its leading position in the French social networking market, hire new talent and grow internationally.
KRDS, founded in 2008 by four internet and social network enthusiasts, creates and develops successful social media applications. It has rapidly become a French leader in the Facebook application market and is a member of Facebook’s “Preferred Developer Consultant” program. This is a network composed of 85 agencies which are directly recommended by Facebook to companies, more than 50 of which are based in the US. Only companies which have demonstrated a thorough knowledge of the platform and a capacity to develop quality applications are invited to join the program.
Antoine Lacour (pictured), Director at AXA Private Equity, says: "We were attracted to KRDS by the quality of the management team and the company’s deep market knowledge and expertise. We are delighted to be supporting the future development of KRDS, alongside its founders."
Thomas Jestin, co-founder & co-managing director at KRDS added: “We have found in AXA Private Equity a partner with true understanding of our market and a shared vision of the development potential of our business. The collaboration will enable us to consolidate our leading position in this market."
Over the last three years, KRDS has completed over 300 campaigns and applications for more than 100 brands in nine countries in Europe and Asia, including Coca-Cola, BNP, Nestlé, Renault, Peugeot, Dior, TF1, Danone, Air France, L’Oréal, Canal +, SFR, and Electronic Arts in France, and Mediaset, RTVE, Tissot, RTBF and Facebook in the rest of the world.
