French influencer marketing company YKONE has acquired a 70% stake in content and influencer marketing agency Barcode for an undisclosed amount.
This move will enable both YKONE and Barcode to leverage their respective strengths, resources and expertise into new business opportunities and adapt to the evolving developments in the international influencer marketing environment.
The acquisition of Barcode further strengthens YKONE's position with sales of $100 million and more than 300 employees.
Founded in 2008, YKONE was first headquartered in Paris and now has a presence in 18 cities, from Hong Kong to Dubai to Milan. Over the past decade, the agency has campaigned for brands in the luxury goods, beauty, fashion, travel sectors and, more recently, the FMCG market.
Hugo Boss, Chopard, Prada, Estée Lauder, Ferragamo and Nespresso are among the more than 100 brands using YKONE to connect with audiences through impactful stories and content on social media. YKONE provides comprehensive influencer marketing and social media solutions, creating an effortless experience for our clients.
Founded by Rahul Khanna in 2019, Barcode has over 150 employees and operates out of three offices. The company is the go-to representative for 100 brands in India, including big names like YouTube, Unilever, Amazon, Sharechat, Flipkart, Myntra, Tira, Warner Music, Budweiser, MG Motors, Glance, and more.
Barcode's talent management arm, known as 'CLICK MEDIA', represents over 20 famous Indian influencers and actors, including Rohit Zinjurke with 30 million followers and Karishma Sharma with 2.2 million followers. It is claimed that This expands YKONE's portfolio and strengthens its ability to connect brands with prominent influencers in the Indian market.
