Diana Marszalek 15 Nov 2022 // 1:55PM GMT
MEXICO CITY — SEC Newgate has purchased a majority stake in Mexico City agency another, giving the Milan-based communications group a significant presence across Latin America.
Another will continue to operate independently, maintaining its brand and leadership under CEO Jaspar Eyears and Rodrigo Peñafiel, who co-founded the firm in 2004. SEC Newgate bought 70% of the company.
Joining SEC Newgate’s network of companies — located across continental Europe, the UK, the US, Asia, Australia and Dubai — gives another the geographical reach and resources to expand beyond its core LatAm business.
“This represents the perfect match for the vision of expansion and growth that Rodrigo and myself have for another, basically shortening our plans from years to months, but also giving us the opportunity to lead the way with our new partners and our valuable talent across our offices,” Eyears said.
SEC Newgate, meantime, establishes a presence in emerging markets across LatAm including Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama, Peru and Uruguay.
Another has more than 225 employees and a footprint across 21 countries. In 2021, the firm’s revenue grew nearly 38% to $11.8 million, according to PRovoke Media’s PR agency rankings.
SEC Newgate's investment comes as the group is pursuing international expansion as part of its growth plan.
In March, SEC Newgate reported revenues for 2021 were up by 38% to $106 million.
The year-end results were announced as SEC Newgate delisted from the London Stock Exchange and returned to private ownership, after Three Hills Capital Partners became a minority shareholder. The private equity firm is providing initial funding of $53.25m to support the next stage of the group’s growth plans, including global expansion.
In April, SEC Newgate purchased a “significant stake” in Global Strategy Group, giving the Milan-based communications group a significant presence in the US.
Operating under CEO Fiorenzo Tagliabue, SEC Newgate in 2021 bought a majority stake in Dubai firm Twister Communications in August 2021, now operating as SEC Newgate ME, and opened an Eastern European hub in Warsaw last spring.
SEC Newgate was formed in 2019 from the merger of Italian-owned public affairs firm SEC and Porta, the owner of London-based financial and corporate agency Newgate and public affairs consultancy Newington. All its operations are now either in the process of using the SEC Newgate brand, or in transition.