M&A Deal Summary

WPP Acquires The Glover Park Group

On November 29, 2011, WPP acquired media company The Glover Park Group from Svoboda Capital Partners and Apogem Capital

Acquisition Highlights
  • This is WPP’s 13th transaction in the Media sector.
  • This is WPP’s 16th transaction in the United States.
  • This is WPP’s 2nd transaction in District of Columbia.

M&A Deal Summary
Date 2011-11-29
Target The Glover Park Group
Sector Media
Buyer(s) WPP
Sellers(s) Svoboda Capital Partners
Apogem Capital
Deal Type Add-on Acquisition

Target

The Glover Park Group

Washington, District of Columbia, United States
The Glover Park Group is a strategic communications company. The firm delivers advocacy and image advertising, public affairs services, media relations, issues and crisis management, legislative affairs, research and corporate communications.

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Buyer(S) 1

Buyer

WPP

London, United Kingdom
Category Company
Founded 1985
Sector Marketing
Employees104,000
Revenue 14.8B GBP (2023)
DESCRIPTION

WPP is a marketing communications services provider that offers a comprehensive range of advertising and marketing services including advertising & media investment management; data investment management; public relations & public affairs; branding & identity; healthcare communications; direct, digital, promotion & relationship marketing and specialist communications. WPP was founded in 1985 and is based in London, the United Kingdom.

DEAL STATS #
Overall 39 of 95
Sector (Media) 13 of 16
Type (Add-on Acquisition) 34 of 86
State (District of Columbia) 2 of 2
Country (United States) 16 of 32
Year (2011) 4 of 4
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2011-08-04 Campaigns and Grey

Makati City, Philippines

Campaigns and Grey, Inc. is a provider of advertising services.

Buy -
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2012-06-20 AKQA Holdings

San Francisco, California, United States

AKQA provides consulting, customer relationship management, digital product design and e-commerce solutions to the world's leading brands. An independent firm, AKQA employs over 350 people worldwide and has offices in London, San Francisco, New York, Washington DC and Singapore.

Buy $350M

Seller(S) 2

SELLER

Svoboda Capital Partners

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Investor Investor Investor

Category Private Equity Firm
Founded 1998
PE ASSETS 400M USD
Size Middle-Market
Type Sector Agnostic
DESCRIPTION

Svoboda Capital Partners is a private equity firm that seeks buyout, recapitalization, and growth capital investments in mid-sized companies with leading market positions, strong customer relationships, and high margins. Svoboda generally looks to invest up to $25 million in businesses generating sales of $10 to $100 million and EBITDA of $3 to $15 million. Sectors of interest include value-added distribution, business services, and consumer products. Svoboda Capital Partners was formed in 1998 and is based in Chicago, Illinois.

DEAL STATS #
Overall 16 of 34
Sector (Media) 1 of 1
Type (Add-on Acquisition) 5 of 14
State (District of Columbia) 1 of 2
Country (United States) 16 of 34
Year (2011) 2 of 2
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2011-10-04 GPA Specialty Substrate Solutions

McCook, Illinois, United States

GPA is a marketer and value-added distributor of specialty printable substrates in North America. The company sells specialty labels, paper, substrates, and films and provides technical knowledge to the printing and graphic arts industry across the country.

Sell -
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2012-03-13 Nth Degree

Duluth, Georgia, United States

Nth Degree is a provider of exhibit management and event services. The company provides specialized installation and dismantle services for trade shows and also serves as an experiential marketing and management agency. Nth Degree is based in Duluth, Georgia.

Sell -
SELLER

Apogem Capital

Chicago, Illinois, United States
Category Asset Manager
Founded 2001
PE ASSETS 39.0B USD
Size Mega
Type Sector Agnostic
DESCRIPTION

Apogem Capital is a diversified alternative investment manager and subsidiary of insurance provider, New York Life. Apogem manages a variety of investment strategies including private equity, private credit, and real assets. Within private equity, the Firm looks to make fund, direct, and secondary investments, as well as acquire GP stakes. Within its direct investing activity, Apogem targets mid-sized companies valued up to $250 million and will consider businesses throughout North America and Europe. Apogem Capital formed as the result of New York Life combining PA Capital, Madison Capital Funding, and Goldpoint Partners into one entity. Apogem Capital is based in New York City.

DEAL STATS #
Overall 5 of 52
Sector (Media) 1 of 1
Type (Add-on Acquisition) 2 of 21
State (District of Columbia) 1 of 1
Country (United States) 5 of 52
Year (2011) 1 of 1
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2011-08-29 Elgin Fastener Group

Wheeling, Illinois, United States

Elgin Fastener Group is a manufacturer of short-run, high-quality specialty fasteners for a diverse range of niche industrial end markets. Elgin Fastener Group was founded in 2002 and is based in Wheeling, Illinois.

Buy -
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2011-12-30 Actagro

Biola, California, United States

Actagro LLC is a developer, manufacturer, and marketer of environmentally sustainable soil and plant health products and technologies. Actagro’s premier commercial portfolio includes approximately 30 specialty products that have a strong track-record of increasing crop productivity and financial returns for growers.

Buy -
Mergr

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