NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Investment adviser and portfolio management firm Innovatus Capital Partners, LLC (“Innovatus”) announced today that it has acquired Match Marketing Group’s Public Label and Match Retail – two North American agencies out of Boulder, CO and Toronto, ON – from Southfield Capital. The acquisition comes on the heels of Innovatus’ purchase of VSA Partners in January, a leading design and brand experience agency that represented the foundational entity in this newly created global marketing services platform.
The acquisition marks the next stage of evolution for Public Label and Match Retail following Match Marketing Group’s restructuring and official launch of the two agencies in December 2020. Public Label, a creative marketing agency, and Match Retail, a leading sales, merchandising and branded retail agency, are now positioned to further strengthen their respective capabilities in North America and beyond with the support of the new ownership.
“We are impressed with the unique positioning that Public Label and Match Retail bring to the North American clients they serve,” said Ravi Bhagavatula, Partner at Innovatus. “Both agencies are seeing positive momentum following the recent launch and are poised for strong growth in their sectors.”
The launch of Public Label and Match Retail was the result of an extensive overhaul and modernization of Match Marketing Group’s expertise and offerings. The decision to form two separate agencies provided clarity of purpose and allowed each agency to clearly articulate what makes them different in the marketplace. Public Label offers integrated, experiential, shopper and digital marketing for clients such as Progressive, adidas, Fujifilm, Mars Wrigley, Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, OZO and Ford Bronco. Match Retail, which helps brands get “retail ready” and drive conversion in traditional shopping environments, has been operating for over 12 years, primarily in Canada. Current clients include LG, Rogers Communications, TELUS, Nespresso, Danone and L’Oréal.
“We’re thrilled to begin a new chapter with Innovatus Capital Partners,” said Brian Cohen, CEO of Public Label and Match Retail. “We had a tremendous run with Southfield Capital, and they were instrumental in helping facilitate this transition. Given our new trajectory, Innovatus is the accelerant we need to take our agencies to the next level of growth. We have a shared vision for where the market is going, and are aligned on investment opportunities in data/analytics, technology and culture. We’re looking forward to a fantastic partnership.”
The leadership team for Public Label and Match Retail will remain unchanged under the new ownership.
About Public Label
Public Label is a North American creative marketing agency. Made up of an inspired group of enthusiasts from all corners of the marketing world, Public Label’s mission is to help brands recognize and align with consumer motivations and cultural movements. Public Label identifies cultural trends, taps into what people already believe in, and builds stronger brand affinity and loyalty. This results in action that drives conversion, ultimately leading to brand growth. For more information, visit www.publiclabelagency.com.
About Match Retail
Match Retail is a leading sales, merchandising and branded retail agency working for major brands across North America. Inspired by an endless desire to help transform brands so they can be retail ready, Match Retail works with tier one clients to drive conversion in traditional shopping environments through enhanced customer experiences. The agency prides itself on top-notch people and best-in-class training to produce unparalleled execution that it measures with pinpoint accuracy. Learn more at www.matchretail.com.
About Innovatus
Innovatus Capital Partners, LLC (https://www.innovatuscp.com) is a New York based registered investment adviser and portfolio management firm with assets in excess of $1.5B under management; focused on creating value across special situations, emergent asset classes, private credit and asset-based investments. Innovatus adheres to an investment strategy that identifies disruptive and growth opportunities across multiple asset categories with a unifying theme of capital preservation, income generation, and upside optionality.
Innovatus’ lower middle market strategy seeks to invest in companies with a strong market position, tangible and identifiable value, and excellent growth potential. The investment team works closely with business owners, management teams, and lenders to develop creative financial and operational solutions in both control and non-control situations. The team targets lower middle market and middle market companies with revenues of $25 – $250 million with typical deal sizes from $10 – $50 million.
