Our up-to-date knowledge and professional contacts in the advertising agency, marketing services agency, and direct marketing communities enable us to provide an ideal resource to assist with mergers and acquisitions. We “know the territory” and we have a first-hand understanding of the business and cultural ingredients which are necessary to result in effective long-term partnerships. We are not attorneys or financial experts. Our role is to bring industry knowledge and organizational perspective to the M&A process.

Our objective is to help organize and implement potential business relationships which make good long-term sense for both the acquirer and the acquiree. This takes into account business and financial objectives, agency capabilities, client base, geographic location, organizational strengths and weaknesses, and corporate culture fit.

The role of Gundersen Partners in this process is to: (1) assist in developing the acquisition strategy and objectives; (2) develop criteria to be used in identifying and screening candidates; (3) working through our network of industry contacts, organize personal and confidential meetings with owners/CEO’s of target firms; and where appropriate (4) facilitate direct contact between our client and the potential business partner. We then assist as a “third party” advisor to bring the parties together to a mutually-acceptable agreement. We are also available to explore scenarios for effectively combining the organizations from a strategic, organizational and management standpoint.

Gundersen Partners has helped many clients to orchestrate successful mergers and acquisitions. Our experience includes working with advertising agencies, marketing services agencies, direct marketing firms, specialist agencies, research firms, and consulting firms. Examples of M&A clients, including both acquirers and acquirees, are D’Arcy, Y&R, McCann MRM, Tempus Group/Added Value Group, Direct Partners, Sloan Group, and Singer Design.