Mountaingate Capital-backed W2O Group Acquires Pure Communications

9/7/16

SAN FRANCISCO & WILMINGTON, N.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–W2O Group, a network of complementary, digitally oriented, analytics-directed communications and marketing firms, today announced the acquisition of Pure Communications, LLC, a leading strategic communications consultancy focused in the healthcare industry.

Under the terms of the agreement, Pure Communications, with offices in Wilmington, NC and Cambridge, Mass., will combine with W2O Group’s BrewLife, headquartered in San Francisco with staff across the U.S. and Europe, creating a new global life sciences and technology focused firm with a distinctive offering of branding/positioning, public relations/communications, investor relations, creative, digital and analytical services.

Pure Communications founder and CEO Andrea L. Johnston will lead the integrated firm, which will be part of W2O Group’s network and officially launch in early 2017.

Ms. Johnston started Pure Communications in 2004 and has built the agency into a partner-of-choice for the management teams of VC-funded start-ups to mature, publicly traded biopharmaceutical and medical device companies. Pure currently employs approximately 30 people.

“Under Andrea’s inspirational leadership, vision and perseverance, Pure has attracted some of the best talent in the business and become a recognized leader in integrated communications for the life sciences and medtech sector,” said Jim Weiss, founder and CEO of W2O Group. “This is a key move to accelerate our vision to become a pre-eminent communications consultancy of the future, combining high-touch strategic counsel in the C-suite with cutting-edge communications programs for healthcare, technology and global brands.”

Earlier this year, W2O Group announced that Mountaingate Capital, a leading middle-market private equity investment firm, had secured an investment position in the organization as a means to significantly fuel its continued growth through a mix of strategic business acquisitions, talent, expanded global footprint and increased innovation around its offerings, models and capabilities.

“Jim and his team have been leaders of healthcare communications while building a strong offering in non-health sectors,” said Ms. Johnston. “They have established an exceptional platform spanning corporate, creative, marketing, analytics, digital, social media, public relations and advocacy relations that we plan to fully leverage to benefit our clients. This combination of East and West Coast, as well as Europe, enhances the capabilities and reach we can offer our clients and expands the opportunities and possibilities for our people.”

Weiss added, “This is going to be an immediately productive and synergistic partnership for clients because we and Pure share similar DNA and a passion for the life science and technology sectors – especially where they increasingly meet – and an affinity for helping emerging, innovative companies achieve their ambitious goals.”

Both companies are privately held and the financial terms of the acquisition are not being disclosed. Petsky Prunier served as advisors to Pure Communications on the transaction.

About Pure Communications, Inc.
Pure Communications, Inc. is a leading strategic communications consultancy focused on the healthcare industry. Our client roster includes a select group of biotech, pharmaceutical, diagnostic and medical device companies who are developing or have made available transformative therapies and diagnostics to transform patient care. We focus on helping these organizations translate their brands, technology platforms and science into compelling stories for the media, employees, the investment community, partners, customers, health care professionals and patients. For more information, please visit www.purecommunicationsinc.com.

About W2O Group

Founded and led by Chairman and CEO Jim Weiss in 2001, W2O Group is an independent, fast-growing network of complementary marketing and communications firms focused on integrated business solutions to drive change and growth through “pragmatic disruption” for the world’s leading brands and organizations. W2O Group firms employ proprietary analytics models, methodologies, and approaches that uncover key insights leading to precise communications strategies and engagement to deliver business results. W2O Group’s network includes WCG, Twistmktg, and BrewLife, with a growing footprint of offices in the United States and Europe. For more information, please visit www.w2ogroup.com.

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