Kahoot! was taken private and delisted from the Oslo Stock Exchange on January 23, 2024, after a buyout by Kangaroo BidCo AS, a consortium led by Goldman Sachs Asset Management’s private-equity business. The offer was NOK 35 per share, for an announced aggregate equity purchase price of about NOK 17.2 billion—roughly $1.7 billion at contemporaneous exchange rates.
What the Kahoot buyout terms meant
The consortium announced its recommended voluntary all-cash offer on July 13, 2023. The NOK 35 offer price applied to each Kahoot! share; the approximately NOK 17.2 billion figure was the aggregate equity purchase price, not a stated enterprise value. The dollar figure of about $1.7 billion is an approximate conversion, not a separate valuation measure. Kahoot’s announcement and the transaction release set out the terms.
The announcement described the offer as a premium to Kahoot’s closing share price on May 22, 2023. That comparison date matters: the offer was not simply a premium to an unspecified “stock price.” Kahoot’s board recommended the offer as being in shareholders’ best interests, but that recommendation does not establish that NOK 35 represented the company’s maximum intrinsic value.
Who bought Kahoot?
The legal buyer was Kangaroo BidCo AS. Its consortium included funds managed by Goldman Sachs Asset Management’s private-equity business, General Atlantic, KIRKBI Invest A/S—the LEGO family investment vehicle—Glitrafjord AS, certain Kahoot management shareholders, and other investors. Glitrafjord was controlled by Kahoot CEO Eilert Hanoa.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware match#1 Best Overall
- Family Fun: Dive into the wild adventure of Moose Match Mayhem the whole family can enjoy! This new dynamic card game is perfect for all ages and champions laughter at every turn.
- Easy to Learn: Boasting a simple objective and easy mechanics, Moose Match Mayhem is designed for everyone! This set collecting game makes it easy to jump in and start playing!
- Fast-Paced: Chant "Moose! Match! Mayhem!" and race to collect 3 sets of matching animals. Action-packed and fun to play, avalanches and yetis will keep everyone on their toes!
- Perfect for All Occasions: Moose Match Mayhem is your ticket to endless fun wherever you are! Its compact design is ideal for travel, parties and creating moose-filled magic anywhere!
- Award-Winning Creators: From the makers of the wildly popular "Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza" with over 8 million games sold worldwide. Join the adventure and create unforgettable memories with Moose Match Mayhem!
Shareholders representing approximately 34.20% of Kahoot’s outstanding share capital were committed under the investment agreement and irrevocable undertakings. Not every participating shareholder necessarily received cash in the same way: some existing shareholders contributed shares in exchange for interests in the buyer’s indirect parent. The consortium therefore combined financial investors, an existing major shareholder, management-linked investment, and other shareholders rather than a single buyer acting alone. The transaction release describes the consortium and commitments.
How the offer became a completed take-private
The July 2023 announcement began the process; it did not mean Kahoot immediately ceased to be public. The offer, subsequent pursuit of remaining shares, and delisting unfolded over several months.
Rank #2
- EXPLORE THE ISLAND OF CATAN: Settle the uninhabited island of Catan by gathering resources, building infrastructure, and nurturing trade relationships.
- STRATEGY AND COMPETITION: Compete with 2-3 opponents to expand your settlements and cities while managing resources and avoiding the robber.
- TRADE, BUILD, AND SETTLE: Use brick, wood, wheat, ore, and sheep to construct roads, settlements, and cities in your race to 10 victory points.
- REPLAYABLE AND ENGAGING: With a modular hexagonal board, no two games are the same, offering endless strategic opportunities and replayability.
- FOR FAMILIES AND STRATEGY ENTHUSIASTS: Designed for 3-4 players, ages 10 and up, CATAN 6th Edition is perfect for family game nights and friendly competition. Add the CATAN 5-6 Player Extension (sold separately) to expand your game to 5-6 players.
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| July 13, 2023 | Kahoot announced the recommended voluntary all-cash offer at NOK 35 per share. Kahoot announcement |
| July 14, 2023 | The transaction release described an aggregate equity purchase price of approximately NOK 17.2 billion. Transaction release |
| November 2023 | Kahoot said the consortium had reached approximately 84% ownership and intended to pursue the remaining shares; Kahoot was still publicly listed at that point. Kahoot update |
| January 23, 2024 | After the mandatory-offer and compulsory-acquisition stages, Kahoot announced completion of the acquisition process and its delisting from Oslo Børs. Delisting announcement |
The compulsory acquisition was the mechanism for moving from majority ownership to full control of the remaining shares under the transaction process. January 23, 2024—not the original announcement date—is the key completion and delisting date.
Why the board recommended the offer
Kahoot and the consortium said private ownership could give the company more room to invest in product innovation, its broader learning ecosystem, corporate learning, global sales and go-to-market activity, and strategic acquisitions. Kahoot’s board presented the offer as being in shareholders’ best interests; the consortium pointed to its capital, networks, and scaling experience as potential support for growth. These were the parties’ stated rationales, not proof that the anticipated growth or investment outcomes occurred.
Rank #3
- Award Winner: Spiel des Jahres Game of the Year 2022. American Tabletop Award for Best Strategy Game (2022), Board Game Geek's Light Game of the Year (2021)
- Family-Friendly Fun: exciting strategy board game with family mode for new gamers.
- Easy to Teach and Learn: elegantly simple gameplay, teach in 2 minutes, plays in 15-30 minutes, for 1-4 players.
- Spatial Puzzle Game: build nature corridors, attract wildlife.
- Multiple Ways of Scoring Points : balance building your habitat corrdiors with placing your wildlife in the best possible configurations.
Kahoot announced a new board under private ownership in March 2024, chaired by Gavin Patterson. The company framed the board’s role around supporting growth and innovation. Kahoot’s board announcement records that governance change.
What Kahoot does beyond classroom quizzes
Kahoot is a learning and engagement platform, not only a classroom quiz game. Its activities span schools and universities, corporate training and employee engagement, family learning, self-directed learning, and partner content. Its broader group includes Clever, a U.S. digital learning platform.
Rank #4
- AWARD-WINNING STRATEGY GAME: Spy Alley Won Mensa’s Best Mind Game, a highly sought-after award only few games ever win. Spy Alley was also named Australian Game of the Year, as well as one of the Chicago Tribune’s Top Ten Games and Family Life’s Best Learning Toy, among many others.
- HIGH REPLAYABILITY FOR ALL AGES: Like beloved classics such as Chess, Checkers, and Risk, Spy Alley was designed for Adults and Families. Players can use as much or as little strategy as they would like, making it the perfect game to revisit year after year.
- THE PERFECT HOLIDAY GIFT & GATHERING GAME: This classic strategy game is an ideal gift for teens, families, and adults. Ensure your winter break and holiday parties are filled with high-stakes fun and memory-making. Give the gift of a trusted, multi-generational classic.
- TIMELESS HIDDEN IDENTITY CLASSIC: For over 30 years, families across the globe have enjoyed the thrill of this classic game of deduction and misdirection. Master the art of suspense, intrigue, and espionage in this iconic game, enjoyed by generations.
- COINCIDENCE OR COVERUP: The game's designer, William Stephenson, shares his namesake with the legendary WWII Spymaster Sir William Stephenson, Code Name: INTREPID. This fun coincidence is what gives the game its unique personality and pays tribute to the true legacy of espionage that inspired our favorite spy James Bond and brings the thrill of a spy movie to your table.
By 2023, Kahoot reported more than 10 billion non-unique participants across its sessions in more than 200 countries and regions. “Non-unique” is essential: the count includes repeat participation and does not mean 10 billion distinct people. Kahoot’s November update reported the participation milestone.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What private ownership changes
For former public shareholders
- Kahoot shares no longer trade on Oslo Børs, so public investors no longer have ordinary exchange-based liquidity or public-market price discovery for the company.
- Shareholders who believed Kahoot’s future value would exceed the offer price could not continue participating in public-market upside after the compulsory acquisition.
- The offer provided a defined cash exit at NOK 35 per share for shares acquired for cash; some existing shareholders instead contributed shares for interests in the buyer’s indirect parent.
- The board’s recommendation was an assessment of the offer, not a guarantee that the price was the highest possible value for every shareholder.
For the company and its stakeholders
Delisting means Kahoot is no longer subject to the same public-company reporting and governance obligations associated with its exchange listing. Private ownership can allow a company to make longer-horizon investments without the same quarterly public-market pressures, but it also changes disclosure and accountability for outside investors. Private-equity ownership can bring capital and strategic focus; more generally, it can also bring stronger growth, profitability, restructuring, or eventual-exit expectations. Those are possible pressures of the ownership model, not verified claims about Kahoot’s internal plans.
Best Value
- EXPANDS YOUR GAMEPLAY: This is an official 5-6 player expansion for the CATAN 6th Edition board game. It adds the necessary components to allow 2 additional players to join the race for settlements, increasing the total player count to 3-6 people.
- NOT A STANDALONE GAME: This is an add-on expansion only; you MUST own the CATAN 6th Edition Base Game (sold separately) to play. This set includes 28 terrain hexes, 25 resource cards, 9 development cards, and two full sets of wooden player pieces (brown and green).
- SOCIAL STRATEGY: Perfect for deepening the CATAN experience; more players mean more trading opportunities, more competition for resources, and a larger island map to explore, making every turn more dynamic and interactive.
- HOLIDAY & PARTY GAME: The perfect solution for family reunions, holiday gift exchanges, or weekend game nights where you have more than four players—ensuring no one is left out of the fun during winter evenings or summer celebrations.
- FAMILY & FRIENDS: Designed for groups of 3-6 players, ages 10 and up. A must-have for the living room board game shelf, this expansion allows CATAN fans to host larger social gatherings and competitive gaming sessions at home.
The change in ownership alone does not establish what happened to any particular user’s account, a school or employer contract, product pricing, data handling, or feature availability. Those depend on current product terms and the relevant plan or agreement; the acquisition is not evidence that the service disappeared or that a particular product changed.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
