kgb has established a venture fund with the strategic objective of ensuring kgb’s continued leadership as a content and information services provider to consumers. Specifically, kgb is seeking to invest in early- to mid-stage businesses that are bringing novel content or information services to the Web and/or mobile environment. For opportunities that create substantial synergies and strategic benefit for kgb’s business, kgb will consider exploring an acquisition or a partnership. Areas of emphasis are mobile content services, mobile applications and development and consumer web services.
kgb has pioneered the provision of a broad range of wholesale and retail information services beyond traditional directory assistance services, including call completion, movie listings, train schedules, price comparisons and “Ask Us Anything” service across multiple platforms, including mobile and landline phones, SMS and the Web. As the company grows, kgb continually strives to distinguish itself as a leading content and information services provider.
Culturally, kgb prides itself on retaining an entrepreneurial environment while leveraging the success and scale of an established business. To that end, kgb encourages its partners and employees at every level of the organization to generate and execute new ideas and approaches that can help grow or improve the business.
kgb’s recent transactions include:
- Texperts (December 2008): Our acquisition of Texperts, based in Cambridge, U.K., gave us valuable technology and experience with text-based “Ask Us Anything” services. kgb has successfully leveraged Texperts’ innovative home agent platform to launch an “Ask Us Anything” service in the U.S. [by sending a text to 542-542].
- Metro One Communications (May 2008): Our acquisition of Metro One’s patent portfolio provided us with strategic technology that has enabled us to enhance our technical operations by helping to improve the breadth of services we offer and the efficiency of our infrastructure.
- 411 Save (September 2007): Our acquisition of U.S.-based 411 Save enabled us to acquire valuable software and other intellectual property that accelerated our ability to offer ad- supported voice services.
- Excell Services (September 2006): Our acquisition in North America of Excell Services broadened our product offerings, expanded our directory assistance customer base and provided us entry into the customer care market, including food ordering. Most importantly, it solidified kgb’s position as the largest independent provider of directory assistance in North America.
- Conduit (April 2006): Our acquisition of Conduit provided us entry into the directory services markets in Ireland, Austria and Switzerland and expanded our presence in the U.K. Additionally, Conduit had a growing customer care business as well as Web properties, including www.118.com that helped us expand our Web presence in Europe.
For more information, please contact us at ventures@kgb.com.