PALAZZO served as exclusive financial advisor to Firewood Marketing an international digital marketing agency, on its sale to S4 Capital plc (SFOR.L), the new age/new era digital advertising and marketing services company founded by Sir Martin Sorrell, in a transaction valued at $150 million. As a result of the transaction, Firewood will merge and join forces with MediaMonks, the digital content arm of the S4 Capital family. This allows Firewood to enhance its capabilities, accelerate growth and bring its agile, efficient, and transparent way of working to new global clients.
Transaction Category: Marketing Services
Walker Sands Secures Equity Capital from Stone-Goff Partners
PALAZZO served as exclusive financial advisor to Walker Sands, a marketing agency focused on accelerating the growth of B2B brands, in securing equity capital from Stone-Goff Partners. From strategy to execution, Walker Sands offers tailored solutions including public relations, demand generation, branding, creative, marketing strategy, and web to drive real business results for its B2B clients. The investment will fuel further growth for Walker Sands, including new service offerings, new offices and potential acquisitions.
BEAM Acquired by MERGE, a Portfolio Company of Keystone Capital
PALAZZO served as exclusive financial advisor to BEAM, a premier experience design, digital marketing and technology consultancy on its sale to MERGE, a premium creative, marketing and technology company backed by Keystone Capital. The transaction dimensionalizes MERGE’s business across its U.S. markets and bolsters the company’s offerings in experience strategy and design, CRM and platform development. In turn, MERGE offers BEAM and its client partners increased creative and technology depth as well as robust media and contact planning capabilities.
89 Degrees Acquired by Iris Worldwide
PALAZZO served as exclusive financial advisor to 89 Degrees, a Boston-based strategic consulting firm that leverages its expertise in advanced marketing analytics, marketing technology enablement, customer journey management and loyalty programs to drive more profitable customer relationships. As part of the transaction 89 Degrees will rebrand to Iris Concise, part of the Iris Worldwide network. Iris Worldwide is a thriving micro network of over 1,000 people in 14 locations across the globe that delivers a multitude of fully integrated services within creative, consulting and mar-tech to some of the most progressive companies around the world.
Stern Investor Relations Acquired by Precision Medicine Group
PALAZZO served as exclusive financial advisor to Stern IR, a leading investor relations firm for entrepreneurial biotechnology and healthcare companies, on its sale to Precision Medicine Group. Stern IR supports more than 70 companies in the entrepreneurial biotechnology and healthcare sectors, and its core competencies include creation of investor relations strategy aimed at lowering the cost of capital, positioning and messaging development, relationship building with the financial community, and seamless tactical execution. With this acquisition, Precision significantly expands its capabilities to include a complete range of strategic communication services aimed at facilitating capital formation and enhancing client visibility and productive interactions with the financial community.
Heard City Sold an Equity Interest to a Private Investor Group
PALAZZO served as exclusive financial advisor to the majority owner of Heard City in the sale of its equity interest to a private investor group. Heard City is a premier audio post-production company servicing the advertising, motion picture and television industries. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in New York City, Heard City’s next generation studio has mixed dozens of spots, including six Superbowl commercials.
Soulsight Acquired by Bruin Sports Capital
PALAZZO served as exclusive financial advisor to Soulsight, an award-winning strategic branding, design and creative agency, on its sale to Bruin Sports Capital. Headquartered in Chicago, Soulsight specializes in holistic brand strategy, including strategic concept-to-commercialization development using a set of proprietary systems and tools proven to inspire innovation and drive business growth. The company has partnered with leading multinationals and premium brands including Campbell’s, Hershey’s, KraftHeinz, MillerCoors, Pepsico, Tyson, and Walgreens to manage, build, create and introduce an array of outstanding products and services worldwide. The acquisition adds another dimension to Bruin’s portfolio of high-growth, next-generation enterprises which represent the vanguard of the new consumer-driven global sports economy.
Havas Acquires Stake in Republica
PALAZZO served as exclusive financial advisor to Republica, a leading independent multicultural agency, on its transaction with Havas. Based in Miami, Republica’s team of 120 experts specializes in creating relevant, enduring connections across culture, language, and technology, providing strategy, creative, research, media planning and buying, analytics, consumer science, digital, public relations, social, and experiential for brands in the U.S. and around the globe. The agency will be renamed Republica Havas and will continue offering expert multicultural marketing intelligence, combined with the ability to leverage Havas’ global integrated communications network as well as tap into parent company Vivendi’s media and entertainment properties.
Click3X Acquired by Industrial Color Studios, a Portfolio Company of Frontenac
PALAZZO served as exclusive financial advisor to Click3X, a video production company, on its sale to leading content company, Industrial Color Studios, a Frontenac portfolio company. Click3X is a pioneering video and post production studio with over 25 years of award-winning industry expertise in film, video and new media formats such as VR, AR and CGI. Click3X complements Industrial Color Studios’ plans for continued growth by adding creative strategy, video and branded content specialists, thereby positioning Industrial Color Studios as one of the industry’s most integrated content solutions platform.
PIA Acquired by CreativeDrive, a Portfolio Company of Bertram Capital
PALAZZO served as exclusive financial advisor to PIA, a motion content agency, on its sale to global content provider, CreativeDrive, a Bertram Capital portfolio company. PIA specializes in powerful storytelling through live action video, animation and original music that shapes experiences for global brands, including HP, SAP, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, PepsiCo and PetCo. Headquartered in Carlsbad, Ca., with additional offices in San Francisco and Portland, OR., PIA’s top-tier video content solution will be offered to CreativeDrive’s clients to enhance their own stories and video needs.