Marketing & Advertising Acquisitions in Connecticut

Viamedia has acquired LocalFactor, a Westport, Connecticut-based tech-enabled digital advertising company, to integrate LocalFactor's programmatic and geo-targeting capabilities with Viamedia's linear TV and digital ad infrastructure. LocalFactor founder and CEO Evan Rutchik will join Viamedia as President & Chief Strategy Officer and LocalFactor will operate as a division of Viamedia to strengthen digital ad operations, sales monetization, and privacy-compliant audience targeting.

Stagwell has acquired Gold Rabbit Sports, a global sports marketing, partnership and activation agency, which will become a subsidiary of Stagwell's experiential agency TEAM. The acquisition expands Stagwell/TEAM's sports marketing and sponsorship capabilities and brings Gold Rabbit's expertise working with brands, rights‑holders and major sporting properties into the Stagwell network.

Pinnacle, a Hillsboro, Oregon–based experiential marketing firm, has acquired Creative Dimensions, Inc., a Cheshire, Connecticut provider of trade-show exhibits, branded environments and studio sets. The acquisition closed January 12, 2024 and brings Creative Dimensions' team and fabrication capabilities into Pinnacle to expand capabilities and geographic reach.

Supreme Optimization, backed by private equity firm Trinity Hunt Partners, has acquired Connecticut-based Clarity Quest Marketing. The acquisition expands Supreme’s life-sciences and healthcare-technology marketing capabilities by adding Clarity Quest’s PR, branding, strategy, and messaging services; Clarity Quest will continue operating under its existing brand.

Hawke Media has acquired Leverage Marketing, a digital marketing agency led by CEO Bob Kehoe, to combine performance marketing services and advanced e-commerce marketing capabilities. The acquisition brings Leverage’s software-driven performance tools and analytics into Hawke Media’s service offering to expand capabilities for clients across retail, e-commerce, healthcare and other end markets.

Marquis Software Solutions, a Plano-based financial marketing and compliance software and services provider backed by Rockbridge Growth Equity, has acquired ZAG Interactive, a Glastonbury, Connecticut-based website design and digital marketing firm that serves community banks and credit unions. The acquisition will combine Marquis' data analytics and compliance capabilities with ZAG's website, SEO, PPC and social media services to expand Marquis' marketing services for financial institutions; terms were not disclosed.

CentralBDC, an SJ Partners portfolio company based in Boca Raton, Florida, has acquired PowerBDC, a Stamford, Connecticut-based outsourced business development center serving automotive, RV, powersports and marine dealerships. The add-on expands CentralBDC's suite of inbound/outbound lead generation, lead management and CRM services as part of a strategy to grow its market share and capabilities in dealership marketing and customer engagement.

Practis, a Charlotte-based provider of digital marketing solutions for healthcare providers, acquired MedPB, a specialized digital marketing firm serving audiology and ENT practices. The deal expands Practis’ specialty footprint into audiology and ENT and strengthens its suite of patient-lead generation and digital marketing services for specialty medical practices.

Quote.com, a portfolio company of Osceola Capital, has acquired Ring2Media, a direct-response marketing agency specializing in Medicare enrollment. The acquisition will be consolidated under the Quote.com brand to expand the platform’s TV/OTT capabilities and accelerate penetration of the Medicare segment.

Grossman Marketing Group, a fourth-generation family-owned global print management and brand marketing firm based in Somerville, Massachusetts, has acquired PCI Creative Group, a Stamford, Connecticut-based cross-media marketing and creative services firm. The acquisition expands Grossman's service portfolio and client base; PCI's employees were retained and several PCI partners will assist with the transition.

Seattle-based marketing services firm DCG ONE has acquired Vertigo Partners, a Stamford, Connecticut qualitative market- and user-research firm. The deal brings primary research, UX research and consumer insights capabilities into DCG ONE's full-service marketing and creative offerings to support clients across CPG and financial services.

LCR Capital Partners has agreed to acquire Altacircle LLC, a digital marketing consultancy specializing in advertising technology and lead generation. LCR takes 100% ownership and Altacircle founder John Baker will join LCR as Chief Marketing Officer and equity partner to strengthen the firm's digital marketing capabilities for client acquisition and product development.

Boston-based private equity firm Fort Point Capital completed a recapitalization of Barrington Media Group (BMG), a Shelton, Connecticut–based technology-enabled marketing services business, in partnership with the company’s management team. Brookside Mezzanine Partners provided subordinated debt and a co-investment to facilitate the transaction, while Bell Bank provided debt financing; BMG will continue to be led by founder and CEO Peter Stavisky.

Merkle, a Dentsu Aegis Network agency, has acquired Water Cooler Group’s Media Storm, a media planning and buying agency known for its data & analytics and programmatic trading capabilities. Media Storm, based in Norwalk, Connecticut and formerly a portfolio company of TZP Group, will continue to be led by founder Craig Woerz following the transaction.

Marlin Equity Partners has completed the acquisition of Clarus Commerce, a provider of premium subscription loyalty programs and a technology platform for retailers. The transaction was made alongside Clarus management with minority investment from Norwest Venture Partners; Marlin said it will support product investment, partnerships and accelerated growth.

Digital Media Solutions (DMS) has acquired Fosina Marketing Group, a Danbury, Connecticut-based subscription and direct-to-consumer marketing firm. The deal brings Fosina's subscription marketing expertise and team (including founder Jim Fosina) into DMS's digital agency to expand its capabilities serving consumer-facing e-commerce and subscription brands.

EQT Mid Market has agreed to partner with management to acquire FocusVision, a provider of technology-enabled quantitative and qualitative market research solutions. EQT plans to support FocusVision’s domestic and international growth via investments in sales, product innovation, acquisitive growth and platform integration; FocusVision is headquartered in Connecticut with more than 300 employees and offices worldwide.