Stagwell Media Acquires Leading Healthcare And Consumer Agency Scout

WASHINGTON, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Stagwell Group (http://www.stagwellgroup.com/) today announced its fund, Stagwell Media LLC has acquired SCOUT (http://findscout.com), a full-service marketing communications firm focused on healthcare and consumer marketing.

SCOUT is a leader in the specialty pharmaceutical and rare disease space, as well a driving force in consumer marketing. "Adding SCOUT to our growing portfolio gives Stagwell a core platform in the competitive healthcare sector around which we can add even more capabilities," said Mark Penn, Managing Partner and President of The Stagwell Group. "In addition, SCOUT's consumer group has a unique process for humanizing brands, and is strongly focused on the 'mom' consumer who I believe are key to marketing success."

SCOUT's specialty healthcare group has a strong presence in the neurology and immunology space, as well as a strong portfolio of pharmaceutical clients and recently entered the medical device space. The core component of SCOUT's consumer division is its Human Brand Method — finding meaningful connections between brands and people that drive profoundly relevant strategy and creative solutions.

"It's our combination of deep expertise in scientific marketing combined with a robust practice of insight-driven consumer marketing that makes SCOUT standout," said Jennifer Brekke, CEO and Principal of SCOUT. "We embrace the opportunity to join a company like Stagwell who, in our view, is reinventing the agency holding company model. We were resolute in avoiding the typical holding company model with bureaucracy and overlapping agencies. We were drawn to Stagwell's platform, which we see as nimble, progressive and focused on digital innovation."

SCOUT has offices in Atlanta, Chicago, and San Diego and more than 140 employees.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. SCOUT's leadership team will continue to manage agency operations.

This is Stagwell's 11th investment in under two years. Other members of the Stagwell Group family include: research leader Harris Insights & Analytics, performance marketing firm PMX Agency, creative digital leader Code and Theory, strategic communications agency SKDKnickerbocker, entertainment research innovator National Research Group (NRG), public relations firm Finn Partners, communications agency Wye Communications, digital advocacy shop Targeted Victory, creative advertising consultancy Wolfgang and technology innovator Stagwell Technologies.

PALAZZO served as financial advisor to Scout in this transaction.

About The Stagwell Group
The Stagwell Group LLC is a registered investment advisory company formed by Mark Penn who serves as the Managing Partner of Stagwell Media LLC, a private equity fund. The Stagwell Group portfolio includes public opinion research leader Harris Insights & Analytics, leading integrated performance-driven global marketing firm PMX Agency, creative digital firm Code and Theory, strategic communications firm SKDKnickerbocker and entertainment research firm National Research Group (NRG). Stagwell Group has also made a strategic investment in public relations firm Finn Partners and created communications agency Wye Communications. The Stagwell Marketing Incubator includes digital advocacy shop Targeted Victory and creative consultancy Wolfgang. The fund previously announced it has raised $250 million in capital and may leverage that to make up to $750 million in acquisitions. Online at www.stagwellgroup.com.

SOURCE The Stagwell Group

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