Altor and Curamando to build a digital transformation powerhouse

STOCKHOLM 2019-12-04. Altor Fund V (Altor) has signed an agreement to partner and invest in a newly formed digital transformation and creatives Group led by Curamando AB (Curamando). The Group will simultaneously be extended by the addition of Kurppa Hosk, Animal and Keybroker.

Curamando has from the start differentiated themselves by focusing solely on helping companies transform their operations and grow revenues, in a new digital reality – from strategy to execution. With an organic annual growth rate exceeding 50% in the past three years, Curamando has not had the capacity to build up certain adjacent services requested by their clients. The strategy Curamando has chosen is to join forces with leading companies neighboring their offer to become a one-stop shop for their clients’ digital competitiveness. In 2017, Curamando acquired Conversionista, a leading expert in digital conversion, that since has doubled their revenue. Now, three companies within branding, creative and performance marketing will join the new Group; Kurppa Hosk, Animal and Keybroker. The aggregated revenue for the five companies is currently just south of 400 MSEK.

“We are enthusiastic about the partnership with Altor and I am equally excited to announce a dynamic trio of companies joining our family, making us able to complete the services our clients have requested for their digital growth agenda. The three companies will operate freely and will not disappear, which many times has happened to agencies when they have been acquired by our global peers”, says Mattias Olofsson, CEO and founder of Curamando.

“Currently, there is almost a limitless need to support companies in adapting to a new digital reality. At Altor we have seen how ‘digital first’ consultancies outgrow their incumbents by almost 5 times – in Curamando we believe we have found a “McKinsey” of digital growth.” says Stefan Linder, Partner at Altor.

“Next to Kurppa Hosk’s brand and design expertise, our clients will now benefit from a full set of services, including change management, communications and performance marketing. We are excited to have an even larger canvas on which to craft innovative brand experiences,” says Måns Jacobsson Hosk CEO and co-founder of Kurppa Hosk.

“Together we can offer our clients cutting edge services covering all aspects of the digital growth journey. I see an opportunity to offer services that will challenge the norms of our industry,” says Ida Hällkvist, CEO at Keybroker.

”With the complementary service offering, Animal can add a creative boost that will help our clients reach their full market potential. Equally important, with this new multi-faceted group of competences, our employees will have an ocean of career opportunities” says Henrik Palm Johansson, CEO and co-founder of Animal

“Each of the companies in the Group has been a pioneer in their respective niche, supporting their customers adapting to a new and digital reality. They share a culture and mindset, something that is essential to make a group like this work well together. We really look forward to an amazing journey together with these great entrepreneurs, says Mattias Holmström, director at Altor.

All founders will continue working at their respective companies, except Keybroker’s co-founder Fredrik Holmén that will take on a a new role at Curamando with focus on strengthening and developing Curamando’s value offer within MarTech and data activation.

About Curamando

Curamando is a marketing management consultancy, which supports companies’ online revenue growth by optimizing marketing and sales operations.

Curamando was founded in 2012 with the insight that there was a shift underway in the marketing ecosystem, which placed high demands on companies’ ability to change fast. Curamando is built on the belief that management consultants and digital experts working together is what it takes to meet that shift and achieve growth, operational excellence and increased efficiency.

Curamando has 163 employees with offices in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Oslo. In 2017, the company acquired Conversionista, Europe’s leading experts in conversion rate optimisation. For more information visit curamando.com

About Animal

Animal is a house of creativity who operate in and around product and communication. Founded in 2007, in the digital age, they build products together with the brands that are shaping the future. Inspired by big challenges, they offer full-service solutions fueled by creativity and collaboration. Animal has a team of 45 people covering business areas that range from design, digital, strategy and PR. Some of Animal’s work within Sweden, the Nordics, and Globally include Spotify, Volvo Cars, COOP, Hertz, HP and Carlsberg. animal.cc

About Kurppa Hosk

Kurppa Hosk is an internationally acclaimed design agency founded in 2009 and with offices in Stockholm and New York. They help world leading brands and organizations to define and design outstanding brand experiences through Business Artistry – the combination of strategic insights and creative magic. Today, Kurppa Hosk’s team is comprised of 45 talented individuals who work with companies across the globe. Clients include Tele2, Estee Lauder, HM, Nike, Pinterest, Sandvik, Scania and SEB. kurppahosk.com

About Keybroker

Keybroker is a pioneer within digital marketing and was founded in 2006. Through automated processes and digital strategies, Keybroker optimizes and manages all digital marketing channels to drive customers’ growth. The company serves the Nordic market through a team of 24 employees from their office in Stockholm. Clients include Best Western, Obos, Lexington, Dahl and Kronans Apotek among others. For more information visit keybroker.se

About Conversionista

Conversionista is run out of three offices in Sweden & Norway, creating the leading conversion team in the Nordics. By using scientific methods, they have increased the growth of their clients’ business. To date, they have run more than 600 conversion projects. For more information visit conversionista.se

About Altor

Since inception, the family of Altor funds has raised some EUR 8.3 billion in total commitments. The funds have invested in excess of EUR 4.2 billion in more than 60 companies. The investments have been made in medium sized predominantly Nordic companies with the aim to create value through growth initiatives and operational improvements. Among current and past investments are Meltwater, Rossignol, Helly Hansen, SATS and RevolutionRace. For more information visit altor.com and tech.altor.com/story/goingglobal/