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.
Transaction Category: Marketing Services
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.
Schireson Secures Capital From KeyBank
PALAZZO served as exclusive financial advisor to Schireson Associates, a strategic data science consulting firm, in securing capital from KeyBank. Headquartered in New York, Schireson Associates helps global companies decode rapidly shifting marketing forces and market dynamics. The Company’s world class data scientists and industry leading strategists transform businesses and optimize for better outcomes and efficiencies.
Clearhead Acquired by Accenture
PALAZZO served as exclusive financial advisor to Clearhead, the digital optimization company, on its sale to Accenture. Clearhead, based in Austin, Texas, helps brands continuously test, redesign and personalize digital customer experiences and digital products to optimize business outcomes. The acquisition bolsters Accenture Interactive’s full suite of personalization and digital customer transformation practices spanning experience design, marketing, content and commerce.
Scout Acquired by Stagwell Media
PALAZZO served as exclusive financial advisor to Scout, a leading healthcare and consumer marketing agency, on its sale to The Stagwell Group via its fund Stagwell Media, a holding company started by former WPP and Microsoft executive Mark Penn. Scout is an expert in the specialty pharmaceutical and rare disease space with a strong presence in the neurology and immunology categories. Scout has offices in Atlanta, Chicago, and San Diego and more than 140 employees.