Securing £30 million investment for digital marketing agency Croud

International law firm Taylor Wessing has advised digital marketing agency, Croud on its £30 million minority investment from mid-market private equity house LDC.

The deal will support Croud to further accelerate global growth via its innovative service delivery that combines its proprietary technology with Croud’s worldwide network of on-demand digital experts.

LDC is backing the existing management team led by Co-Founders Luke Smith and Ben Knight. The firm will help Croud build on its position as a leading independent marketing agency through investing in its operations in the UK and overseas. The partnership will also support further development of Croud’s proprietary technology products and expansion of its range of services.

The complexity of this transaction required a team drawn from across the firm's corporate, private equity, employment, tax and commercial technology practices.

Commenting on the deal, Mike Turner, Partner and International Head of Technology, Media and Communications said: “We have expertise in advising companies throughout their lifecycle and here we have been able to help Croud arrive at the next step. The team at Croud have built a unique proposition that is disrupting and transforming the market – this ethos is something that we share at Taylor Wessing. We are privileged to bring our depth of experience and multidisciplinary approach to bear for Croud."

Luke Smith, CEO and Co-Founder of Croud, said: “We are absolutely delighted to announce our partnership with LDC. This moment is the culmination of eight years of hard work, dedication and brilliance from our team, all of whom are stakeholders in the business and will share in our success. Our thanks go to Mike, Alex and the team who were essential in making this a success."

The team was led by partners Mike Turner, Alex Richardson and Ed Waldron (Corporate) with the support of senior associate Siobhán Langwade (Corporate) and associates Nick Karangizi and Luc Swietochowski (Corporate).

Further support was provided by partner Anna Humphrey (Tax and Incentives), senior counsel Colin Godfrey (Employment), senior associates Jean-David Behlow (Commercial Technology and Data) and Katie Lewis (Tax and Incentives), associates Will Egan (Tax and Incentives) and trainees Nick Harrison and Laura Roberts (Corporate).