Exclusive: PR giant Orchestra acquires Civitas Public Affairs Group
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Orchestra, the public relations company formerly known as BerlinRosen Holdings, has acquired social impact firm Civitas Public Affairs Group, Axios exclusively reports.
Why it matters: This is Orchestra's seventh acquisition since 2022 and is a continuation of the consolidation spree within the communications industry.
Zoom in: Civitas was founded in 2011 with a focus on the intersection of public policy, advocacy, and philanthropic work. Clients include the Ford Foundation, Autism Speaks, and Planned Parenthood.
- The firm has 24 employees with offices in Washington D.C., New York City, and Boston.
- The deal closed on Sept. 12. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
Zoom out: Orchestra — backed by O2 Investment Partners and led by BerlinRosen co-founders Jonathan Rosen and Valerie Berlin — also recently acquired DE&I consultancy Onward and owns a majority stake in tech public affairs firm Glen Echo Group.
- Previous acquisitions include brand agency Derris, real estate and hospitality PR agency M18, tech PR agency Inkhouse and content company MessageLab.
The big picture: Corporations and brands now require a broader array of communication services.
- In response, collectives are forming and firms are consolidating and seeking more private equity capital to meet the heightened communications demands.
What they're saying: Civitas managing partner Katherine Grainger says the firm will use Orchestra's investment to expand its reach and partner with more "values-aligned experts" moving forward.
More on Axios: Private equity interest in communications firms is growing
