SolutionSet Media Whiz acquires D.L. Ryan

SolutionSet MediaWhiz has snapped up D.L. Ryan Cos., which owns shopper firm Ryan Partnership, among others.

The deal marks the creation of a new-school holding company. The companies will combine their efforts in Hyper Marketing, an umbrella company that will comprise Solution Set, MediaWhiz, Ryan Partnership and Catapult. Lake Capital, a private-equity firm in Chicago that bought a stake in SolutionSet in 2006, will have the majority interest in Hyper Marketing, with the remainder held by senior executives.

According to the Ad Age DataCenter, in 2010, D.L. Ryan Cos. had revenue of $105.7 million, MediaWhiz had $36.4 million and SolutionSet had $83.1 million. But Mr. Raj estimates the companies' combined revenue at a little north of $400 million.
 
The deal adds 600 employees to SolutionSet MediaWhiz, while Hyper Marketing has a workforce of more than 1,300 people in 19 cities. Its activities include direct and digital marketing, digital media-planning and buying, and shopper marketing and promotions.
 

Mr. Raj describes what he is building as a "future-driven model" willing to leave the companies under its umbrella discrete. At the same time, however, Hyper Marketing won't be hands off but will put together cross-unit solutions for clients when asked. Those clients include AT&T , American Express, Adidas, Cisco, Dell , eBay, Energizer, GlaxoSmithKline, Kellogg's, Office Depot, The Home Depot and Unilever .

http://adage.com/article/agency-news/solutionset-mediawhiz-buys-shopper-marketing-firm-d-l-ryan/232008/