Transaction Category: Marketing Services

PALAZZO served as exclusive financial advisor to Media Experts, a Canadian media planning and buying agency, on its sale to IPG Mediabrands, the media and communications arm of Interpublic Group (NYSE:IPG). Mark Sherman, the Founder, Owner and CEO of Media Experts will continue in his role leading the company with his executive team and its 150 employees. Media Experts will continue to service clients in the areas of media planning and buying, search engine optimization, search engine marketing and programmatic trading. The company’s roster of clients includes leading Canadian and global brands.

PALAZZO served as exclusive financial advisor to Ferrara & Company, a full-service advertising and marketing agency, on its sale to PureRED Integrated Marketing. Ferrara & Company has a rich 30 year history of developing creative campaigns that include TV, Digital, Print, and Professional Marketing services for major blue chip clients. The union of these two premier agencies will deliver a highly differentiated set of capabilities and services creating a Channel Marketing Powerhouse in the Retail, CPG and Business to Business markets.

PALAZZO served as exclusive financial advisor to inVNT, a New York-based experiential marketing company that specializes in live media, digital and traditional media, brand environments and creative services on its sale to Time Inc. inVNT has created events that span 60 countries across six continents for Fortune 50 brands that include Intel, PepsiCo, Merck, General Motors, Subway, Juniper Networks and the Outdoor Advertising Association of America. The two companies together currently present more than 575 events a year – in the consumer and business-to-business space.

PALAZZO served as exclusive financial advisor to Digital Kitchen, a digital content and design agency, on its sale to kyu, a strategic operating unit of Hakuhodo DY Holdings Inc. Digital Kitchen has offices in Chicago, Seattle and Los Angeles and takes a unique approach of blending strategic creative development, film, animation, digital, experiential design and rich brand storytelling to provide high-engagement brand solutions.

PALAZZO served as exclusive financial advisor to Pereira & O’Dell, a leading international advertising agency, on its share repurchase from Grupo ABC. Pereira & O’Dell was most recently named as a “Standout Agency” in Advertising Age’s 2015 A-list and as one of the “Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in Advertising” by Fast Company in 2014. With four offices in the US and Brazil, Pereira & O’Dell is currently working with major leading international brands for Skype, Intel, Coca-Cola, Henkel, Fiat-Chrysler, Anheuser-Busch Inbev, Fox Sports 1 and Memorial Sloan Kettering.

PALAZZO advises Underline Communications, a New York City based CRM and digital solutions agency on its sale to sandbox, a full service advertising agency established through the acquisition of complementary entrepreneurial marketing services firms. Underline helps leading brands including American Express and Leading Hotels of the World build valuable customer relationships through personalized communications and engaging digital experiences. In connection with this transaction sandbox also announced the acquisition of McCormick Company and ONE Advertising.

PALAZZO advises Formula, a national public relations agency, on its sale to Havas. The new entity, Havas Formula, will comprise of about 100+ staff across three offices in New York, Los Angeles and San Diego. As one of the nation’s top PR firms, Formula has established a name for itself as a progressive firm that serves challenger brands looking to disrupt the market. Formula has represented clients as Heineken, Nestlé, Wyndham Hotel Group, and Dunkin’ Donuts.

PALAZZO advises Swift, a digital agency that specializes in creative and strategy, branded content creation and social media, on its sale to POSSIBLE, a wholly owned WPP company. Swift was recently recognized as “Small Agency of the Year, Northwest” by Advertising Age, which speaks to the Company’s creative excellence, innovation and ability to deliver excellent results for their clients. Portland, OR based Swift serves a client roster including major names such as Starbucks, HTC and Nestle.