# FD Technologies PLC

FD Technologies PLC is an IT Services and IT Consulting based in Newry, United Kingdom.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** IT Services and IT Consulting
- **Headquarters:** Newry, United Kingdom
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** Newry, United Kingdom
- **Founded:** 1996
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** fdtechnologies.com
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/fd-technologies-plc

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

FD Technologies PLC, formerly known as First Derivatives, was founded in 1996 by Brian Conlon in Newry, Northern Ireland. The company has since expanded to offices in London, New York, Santa Monica, Grass Valley, and Fort Mill, reflecting its global client base in financial services and beyond. Conlon led the firm until his death in 2022; current leadership includes CEO Seamus Keating, who stepped into the role in May 2023. The firm operates through two primary divisions: KX, which provides a real-time data analytics platform used in trading, manufacturing, and cybersecurity, and First Derivative, a consulting arm focused on capital markets technology and regulatory projects. KX competes with platforms like kdb+, while First Derivative placements are often embedded within banks and exchanges. The company reports revenue rather than AUM; for fiscal year 2024, revenue was approximately £268 million (per company filings), with KX contributing the larger share. Employee count was roughly 2,500 globally as of mid-2024, per the company's annual report. The firm maintains a global footprint across five countries. In May 2024, the company appointed Seamus Keating as CEO to oversee a strategic shift toward higher-growth software sales under KX. A structural differentiator is FD Technologies' hybrid public company model: it trades on the London Stock Exchange as a technology firm, yet its primary offerings are B2B analytics and consultancy rather than software products or services sold to consumers. This setup gives it the capital raising ability of a listed entity while requiring disclosure of financials that are typically opaque for family offices.

## Offices

- New York City
- Grass Valley
- Fort Mill
- London
- Santa Monica

## Questions

### What structure does FD Technologies operate under?

FD Technologies is a public limited company listed on the London Stock Exchange, not a family office or asset manager. It operates through two divisions: KX (real-time analytics software) and First Derivative (capital markets consultancy). The public structure means it files annual reports and financial disclosures, unlike private firms.

### How does KX differentiate from other analytics platforms?

KX is built on the kdb+ database for real-time processing of time-series data, used in finance for trade execution and risk analytics, and increasingly in manufacturing and cybersecurity. Its speed and ability to handle streaming data set it apart from batch-oriented platforms. KX competes with alternatives like InfluxDB and Apache Kafka.

### Does FD Technologies make investments or operate as an allocator?

No. FD Technologies is a technology services company that generates revenue through software licenses and consulting. It does not manage external capital, own portfolio companies as investments, or operate as a family office. Its financials are reported as revenue and profit, not AUM.

### What sectors and clients does First Derivative serve?

First Derivative serves banks, exchanges, hedge funds, and regulators in capital markets, focusing on technology integration, data management, and compliance. It has worked with major global banks on projects like MiFID II and trade surveillance systems. The division competes with consulting firms like Accenture and specialist vendors.

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Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

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