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Svoboda Capital Partners has made an investment in Bully Pulpit Interactive to finance the acquisition by Bully Pulpit of The Incite Agency.

Bully Pulpit Interactive (BPI) is a digital marketing agency providing advertising, full service digital campaigns, testing and analytics to Fortune 1000 companies, political groups, and non-profit organizations. The company was founded in 2009 and has over 90 full-time employees. BPI is headquartered in Washington DC with additional offices in New York and Chicago (www.bpimedia.com).

With the addition of the Incite team, BPI will be able to expand its service offerings to include message development, strategic communications plus crisis and reputation management.

“Digital is no longer a service offering – it is the foundation of modern communications. While our industry’s typical approach is for traditional firms to bolt on digital services, we are inverting the model and truly breaking down barriers,” said Andrew Bleeker, President of Bully Pulpit Interactive. “Our partnership with Svoboda Capital will provide the tools to best serve our clients by becoming their ‘first chair’ counselor. This begins with the addition of The Incite Agency.”

The Incite Agency was founded in 2013 by Ben LaBolt and Robert Gibbs and has offices in Washington DC and New York. Mr. Gibbs was President Obama’s White House Press Secretary from 2009 to 2011. Today, he is the Executive Vice President and Global Chief Communications Officer of McDonalds.

“BPI is one the most innovative and data-driven marketing agencies in the country,” said John Svoboda, a Managing Director of Svoboda Capital. “By partnering with BPI and Incite, we intend to preserve their great cultures, and provide the capital and support to help expand their footprint and further enhance their already great reputations.”

Svoboda Capital invests from $10 million to $20 million in business services, value-added distribution, and consumer products companies that have revenues from $10 million to $100 million and EBITDAs from $3 million to $15 million. The firm was founded in 1998 and has over $300 million of capital under management.  Svoboda Capital is based in Chicago (www.svoco.com).

New York-based investment bank AdMedia Partners was the financial advisor to Bully Pulpit Interactive. “The team at AdMedia were great partners from day one. Their depth of knowledge of the digital marketing landscape helped us find a solution that advanced both our business and our culture,” said Mr. Bleeker.

© 2016 Private Equity Professional • 9-20-16

Searchlight Capital Partners has acquired a majority equity interest in 160over90, a branding and creative services agency.

The 160over90 agency portfolio can be divided into three segments. In the consumer space, 160over90 counts Nike, Ferrari North America, and Under Armour among its clientele. In the world of professional sports, the agency represents the Washington Nationals, Philadelphia Eagles, and Arizona Coyotes. In higher education, the firm is the agency of record for UCLA, Texas A&M University, and the University of Florida.

160over90 was founded by CEO Shannon Slusher and COO Darryl Cilli and has approximately 150 employees in the company’s three locations: Philadelphia, PA; Newport Beach, CA; and Gainesville, FL (www.160over90.com).

To create shareholder value, Searchlight intends to increase the services provided by 160over90 and extend its geographic reach. The agency’s brand, locations, and management team will remain intact.

“Searchlight’s international presence, investment acumen, and financial support will accelerate 160over90’s expansion and global reach, build our integrated services, and allow us to continue to recruit the best and brightest branding talent,” said Mr. Slusher. “We are excited to have them as our partner.”

Searchlight Capital Partners invests equity and debt in companies active in the telecom; communications, information and information technology services; business and financial services; industrial goods; and consumer sectors. The firm was founded in 2010 by its partners Oliver Haarmann, Erol Uzumeri, and Eric Zinterhofer. Searchlight is headquartered in London with additional offices in New York and Toronto (www.searchlightcap.com).

“160over90 has built an impressive, diversified portfolio of nationally recognized brand leaders and distinguished itself as one of the most innovative branding agencies in North America. We are thrilled to partner with the 160over90 team, and see great potential for building a network around them,” said Mr. Zinterhofer.

160over90 is the only branding agency in Searchlight’s current stable of portfolio companies. Other investments include Hunter Boot, a British boot and footwear brand; Roots, a Canadian retailer of women’s, men’s, children’s, and baby’s apparel; Ocean Outdoor, a UK provider of large-format, digital, advertising locations; and TouchTunes, an in-venue music and entertainment platform.

© 2016 PEPD • Private Equity’s Leading News Magazine • 3-2-16