Author: ally

PPHC Acquires MultiState to Broaden Client Offering and Footprint

Posted on by ally
  • $22m acquisition “fits perfectly” with PPHC strategy – PPHC CEO, Stewart Hall
  • Geographical footprint broadened to all 50 US states and across Canada
  • Enables PPHC to extend client offering into more areas, e.g. research and compliance
  • Significant cross-referring of business between MultiState and existing PPHC brands expected

The government relations and public affairs holding company PPHC is continuing to execute on its stated growth strategy and has acquired MultiState Associates, one of the largest state and local government relations specialists, for $22m. Read the full acquisition announcement here.

The deal gives PPHC a significantly expanded footprint with operations in all 50 US states as well as across Canada. It also enables PPHC to broaden its client offering given MultiState’s strength in the areas of research and compliance.

The combination of the two businesses is therefore highly complementary and a significant level of cross-referring of business between MultiState and the six other brands within PPHC’s broader network is expected. PPHC’s other brands include Crossroads Strategies, Forbes Tate Partners, Seven Letter, O’Neill & Associates, Alpine Group Partners and KP Public Affairs.

MultiState was founded in 1984 and has its headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia. It has over 300 corporate clients including several Fortune 500 constituents and has gained particular expertise over the years in representing some of the world’s best-known organisations on issues of local, state, and national importance. MultiState’s 77 employees – including all senior executives – will remain with the business.

PPHC has been undergoing significant growth and acquired KP Public Affairs, the largest advocacy and PR firm in California, for $25m in October 2022 – the most recent acquisition prior to MultiState. The pipeline of potential acquisition opportunities under development remains strong and, in considering each possible deal, PPHC will continue to look to broaden its geographical footprint, both in the US and internationally, and its service offering.

Stewart Hall, CEO of PPHC, commented:

“The acquisition of MultiState fits perfectly with our strategy of broadening our geographic footprint into key US state capitals and metropolitan areas, while extending our offering by adding key service capabilities in research and compliance. MultiState has a talented team and its strategic capabilities will solidify PPHC’s leadership position as the largest and most comprehensive public policy firm in the US. Linking our well-established businesses in Washington DC, Sacramento, California and Boston, Massachusetts to MultiState’s network in 50 states makes the Group uniquely suited to support corporate clients in the most complex risks and opportunities they face.

“Our growth in the resilient and fragmented $17+bn US strategic communications market is driven by increased inter-connectedness of federal, state and international policies and risk exposure. I am confident that our combined businesses will benefit greatly from new capabilities, new geographies and new client opportunities.”

Joseph Crosby, CEO of MultiState, commented:

“PPHC is bringing together highly specialised government relations businesses at a scale that’s never been seen. This acquisition marks a significant milestone ​during​​ ​​​MultiState​’s 40th year in business as well as for each of my talented partners and colleagues.  It also marks a milestone for our clients and the industry, as federal and state policy issues are evermore interdependent and require the professionalism and seamless integration that only PPHC and MultiState now offer.”

Seven Letter Adds Mike Ricci as Partner, Kobina Yankah as Creative Director of Seven Letter Labs

Posted on by ally

WASHINGTON – Mike Ricci is the newest Partner to be added to Seven Letter. Ricci joins the public affairs firm after working as Communications Director for Maryland Governor Larry Hogan. Bringing more than a decade of prior experience as top spokesperson for Republican House Speakers Paul Ryan and John Boehner, and given the current political climate, Ricci is a welcome addition to Seven Letter’s team.

Seven Letter also added the new position of Creative Director of Seven Letter Labs. Kobina Yankah joins the firm to take on this new role after working throughout the midterms as Creative Director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Yankah has previously created content for New Line Cinema, the MLB, and the NBA, for which he earned a National Emmy Award.

Visit Seven Letter’s blog for more details.

PPHC Mourns the Loss of Alpine Group Founding Principal Greg Means 

Posted on by ally

We are sad to share the news that Mr. Greg Means, a founding principal of Alpine Group and beloved member of the PPHC family, passed away on Sunday, February 5th. Greg grew Alpine Group from its founding to become one of the top 20 government relations firms in DC, all while remaining a dedicated husband, father, and friend to many. Greg will be deeply missed by his friends and colleagues at Alpine Group and across PPHC. Our thoughts are with his family at this time.  

Read Alpine Group’s full tribute to Greg Means on their website.  

PPHC Firms Finish Strong with ’22 LDA Revenues of +$66 Million

Posted on by ally

WASHINGTON – U.S. federal lobbying disclosures for the fourth quarter of 2022 have been released, along with yearly totals for 2022. Remaining strong in the Top Twenty Lobbying Disclosure Act Revenue Rankings once again are PPHC’s three federal lobbying firms: Forbes Tate Partners, Crossroads Strategies, and Alpine Group. Combining the three firms’ Lobbying Disclosure Act revenue comes to a grand total of $66 million, surpassing that of the number one spot on the list.

See the full list from POLITICO here.

Forbes Tate Partners Acquires Engage

Posted on by ally

Bipartisan Public Affairs Firm Formalizes Partnership with Leading Digital Advocacy Specialists

WASHINGTON – Forbes Tate Partners (FTP), a bipartisan, full-service, government relations and public affairs firm, today announced its acquisition of Engage, a DC-based digital media agency. The acquisition will cement the two firms’ long-standing partnership and enable the newly expanded FTP to advance its clients’ goals in even more seamless and productive ways in the face of an ever-changing advocacy market.

“Forbes Tate Partners just celebrated a decade in business,” said Jeff Forbes, FTP Founding Partner.  “Today’s announcement marks the next step in our firm’s evolution as we continue to deliver a competitive edge for our clients. Having successfully partnered with Engage on many projects in the past, we are confident they are a perfect fit for our firm’s culture. We are delighted to formally welcome them to the Forbes Tate family and to add their considerable ability and expertise to our team.”

Added FTP Founding Partner, Dan Tate, “The formalization of our partnership allows FTP a unique opportunity to add top-notch talent, expand our footprint, and, ultimately, be that much more effective on behalf of our combined group of clients, spanning the nation’s largest industries, from health care, energy and financial services to emerging technologies, telecommunications, and manufacturing.”

“Digital public affairs is hardly new, but Forbes Tate’s commitment to investing in innovation clearly sets them apart,” said Engage Managing Partner, Nick Schaper. “Engage has established best-in-class capabilities that blend winning creative and technology with decades of experience at the highest levels of public policy to achieve effective, measurable results.”

Engage Managing Partner, Erik Rapprich said, “We look forward to formally joining forces with our colleagues at Forbes Tate to begin this new chapter in our shared history and unlock the value of the significant opportunity ahead.”

Engage, a full-service digital agency providing technology, design and creative, advocacy, and advertising services, was founded in 2007 and employs 19 professionals who have partnered with Fortune 500 companies, leading advocacy organizations, and the largest trade associations in the United States.

In December ‘21, FTP went public on the London Stock Exchange AIM as part of the Public Policy Holding Company (stock ticker PPHC.L). It was once again recognized as one of Bloomberg Government’s top performing lobbying firms for 2021. Most recently, FTP was named a PRNEWS Top Elite 100 agency for 2023, a prestigious honor recognizing the firm as one of the leading public relations practices in the country.

To learn more about FTP and Engage, visit FTP’s website.

Three Firms Show Strength in Q3; PPHC Remains the Leader

Posted on by ally

WASHINGTON – U.S. federal lobbying disclosures for the third quarter of 2022 have been released, showing that PPHC firms continue to thrive. Forbes Tate Partners, Crossroads Strategies, and Alpine Group Partners have once again all cracked the top 20 rankings. The three firms’ revenue combined has PPHC leading the pack in the number one spot.

Read the full revenue rankings list from POLITICO here.

Public Policy Holding Company Announces the Acquisition of KP Public Affairs

Posted on by ally

A leading firm in Sacramento becomes the newest addition to PPHC; first since IPO 

Today, we announce the acquisition of KP Public Affairs, a leading California lobbying, government affairs, and public relations firm. This is our first acquisition as a publicly listed business and complements our strategy to build and acquire lobbying and strategic communications assets in key state markets, as outlined in our IPO.  

California is the largest individual state economy in the US and is at the forefront of major issues including climate change, privacy, and labor regulations. KP has been ranked as one of the largest lobbying firms in California for more than 20 years, with current clients including many Fortune 500 corporations, industry associations, local governments, and small businesses.   

“The firm’s Managing Partners, Jonathan Ross, Michael Burns, Ed Manning, Patrick George, Alison MacLeod, Jeff Sickenger and their stellar team have long been one of the largest practices in California.  More importantly, their deep policy expertise and longstanding commitments to clients promises to make KP a strong addition. We have a proven track record of integrating outstanding, entrepreneurial businesses, and I look forward to working closely with the team.”  -Stewart Hall, CEO, PPHC

Following completion of the acquisition, KP will continue operating under its existing brand and with its longstanding and incentivized management team and staff, as a wholly owned subsidiary of PPHC. 

Read more about KP Public Affairs here.  

Congratulations to Forbes Tate Partners and Seven Letter for Being Named to PRNEWS’ Agency Elite Top 100

Posted on by ally

WASHINGTON — Forbes Tate Partners (FTP) and Seven Letter have both been named to PRNEWS’ Agency Elite Top 100 for 2023. This prestigious honor places a spotlight on the most innovative agencies in the business, recognizing the two PPHC firms as leaders in the public relations industry.

See the full 2023 Agency Elite Top 100 list here.