Morrow Sodali acquires Brand and Communications Agency, Designate

Designate's Capabilities Further Strengthen Morrow Sodali's Stakeholder Engagement And Communications Offering For Clients

SYDNEY, Dec 15, 2023: Morrow Sodali (the “Firm”), a global leader in stakeholder engagement advisory services, is pleased to announce that it has acquired Designate, one of Australia’s leading integrated brand communications agencies.

The acquisition of Designate will enable the Firm to advise clients across all stages of their brand lifecycle, from formulating strategies for new brands to refreshing identities and content for established ones. Additionally, Designate brings significant experience supporting clients with investor, sustainability, and employee communications, as well as digital experiences to foster meaningful engagement with stakeholders.

Founded more than 30 years ago, Designate has a strong track record advising leading corporate and government clients. Their expertise is highly additive to the Firm’s service offering across strategic and financial communications, public affairs, M&A and activism, proxy solicitation, sustainability and ESG consulting, and research.

 Left to right: Ben Fletcher, Managing Director / Roger Lindeback, Director, Brand & Strategy / Martin Taylor, Director, IT Systems (Designate), Christian Sealey, CEO, International (Morrow Sodali) 

Christian Sealey, CEO International, Morrow Sodali, said: "Designate has a long and distinguished track record of enhancing clients’ brand value and crafting strategies that effectively engage stakeholder groups across various mediums and channels. Their expertise, particularly in the areas of investor and sustainability communications, aligns seamlessly with Morrow Sodali’s global strategy to create a unique, highly differentiated, full-service proposition for our clients. After years of collaboration with Designate, we are thrilled to welcome them as part of our global communications team, alongside Citadel-MAGNUS, Powerscourt, and Domestique."

Ben Fletcher, Managing Director of Designate said: "We are incredibly excited to join Morrow Sodali, particularly at a time when such a diverse and complementary group of subject matter experts is coming together under one umbrella. Our longstanding collaboration with their team in supporting joint client initiatives has always been positive, and this acquisition will only accelerate what is possible for clients in terms of our combined value add. In addition to creating a more compelling service offering for clients, joining Morrow Sodali also provides greater career opportunities for our team including collaboration with colleagues in other regions."

Roger Lindeback, Director, Brand & Strategy at Designate said: "Morrow Sodali’s focus on stakeholder engagement services presents a natural fit for Designate and our next chapter as a business. We have always been impressed with the team at Morrow Sodali and their approach to supporting clients. This acquisition will open even greater opportunities for our business and team members in terms of the clients we support, markets we operate in, and more. We look forward to leveraging Morrow Sodali’s global presence and taking full advantage of what our combined businesses have to offer."

Ransom Langford, Partner at TPG, said: "Australia is an important marketplace for Morrow Sodali, and we are pleased to support further growth in the region with the acquisition of Designate. Their integrated brand and communications offering will enhance Morrow Sodali’s value add for clients, while also complementing the work of other specialist teams, including Domestique which the Firm acquired earlier this month."

The terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

About Designate
Designate is an integrated brand and communications agency, combining strategy, creativity, and technology to deliver competitive advantage for many of Australia’s leading brands. For more than 30 years, it has helped ambitious organisations create meaningful connections with their stakeholders, inspiring engagement, advocacy, and action. Designate’s expertise spans brand identity, investor communications, sustainability, digital experience, and employee engagement.

For more information, visit www.designate.com.au.

About Morrow Sodali
Morrow Sodali is a global corporate consultancy that provides clients with comprehensive advice and services relating to corporate governance, compensation, ESG, sustainability, proxy solicitation, capital markets intelligence, shareholder and bondholder engagement, M&A, activism and contested situations, financial communications, investor relations and research. The addition of Designate represents Morrow Sodali’s latest acquisition as the firm continues to expand and enhance the range of advisory services it provides to its clients globally.

From headquarters in New York and London and offices in global capital markets, Morrow Sodali serves over 1,000 clients in more than 80 countries, including many of the world’s largest multinational corporations, as well as mutual fund groups, stock exchanges and membership associations.

In 2022, Morrow Sodali celebrated its 50th anniversary and secured majority investment from TPG Growth, the middle market and growth equity platform of alternative asset firm TPG. This partnership significantly advances Morrow Sodali’s mission of providing clients worldwide with best-in-class strategic advice and comprehensive support, enabling them to maximize value and expertly manage stakeholder relations.

For more information, visit www.morrowsodali.com.

About TPG
TPG is a leading global alternative asset management firm, founded in San Francisco in 1992, with $212 billion¹ of assets under management and investment and operational teams around the world. TPG invests across a broadly diversified set of strategies, including private equity, impact, credit, real estate, and market solutions, and our unique strategy is driven by collaboration, innovation, and inclusion. Our teams combine deep product and sector experience with broad capabilities and expertise to develop differentiated insights and add value for our fund investors, portfolio companies, management teams, and communities.

For more information, visit www.tpg.com.

1. As of September 30, 2023, including AUM attributable to TPG Angelo Gordon on a pro forma basis.