CONQUERING THE GLOBAL MARKET
Behind the transformation of games producer Asmodee, there lies a serious ambition: to make board games exciting again, to develop new ways of playing and to get people outside France to share in its passion for games. Between 2014 and 2018, with Eurazeo’s assistance, Asmodee rose to the challenge and became a world leader in publishing and distributing board games.
INSPIRING RENEWED PASSION FOR GAMES
In 2013, Asmodee wanted to revitalize board games through innovation. As well as improving and digitalizing its catalog, it wanted to expand internationally from its base in the Paris region. Eurazeo helped to transform that ambition into value.
AN IMPROVED CATALOG AND SOME NEW BLOCKBUSTERS
Eurazeo acquired a stake in Asmodee and helped the company realize its ambition of conquering the global market with a three-pronged development strategy: owing the intellectual property in its catalog and improving it, winning new customers outside France through acquisitions, and digitalizing the games in its catalog. In the space of four years, Asmodee’s revenue tripled, with annual growth of 37%, and the proportion of its business coming from outside France rose to 75%. To achieve that, Asmodee – with Eurazeo’s support – carried out 20 acquisitions in Europe and the US.
CATANE, JUNGLE SPEED AND TIME’S UP!
Eurazeo’s teams wanted to make major changes to Asmodee but retain the brand’s DNA, based on expertise, originality, innovation and audacity. This has resulted in a unique catalog with numerous best-sellers such as Catane, Les Aventuriers du Rail, Dobble, Jungle Speed and Time’s Up!, along with collectable cards such as Pokémon, Horreur à Arkham, Keyforge and Marvel Champion.
Chiffres Titre
In Figures
2018, Eurazeo sold all of its stake in Asmodee
Almost four times its initial investment
An internal rate of return (IRR) of around 35%