News

Shamrock Capital has invested in Wpromote, taking a minority stake. Financial terms weren’t announced. Wpromote, of El Segundo, California, is a digital marketing agency.

PRESS RELEASE

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE) [insert dateline]–Wpromote, the nation’s largest independent digital marketing agency, announced today it has committed to “Make Mondays Suck Less” for a new partner: Shamrock Capital. Shamrock is a top-tier, Los Angeles-based private equity firm that invests in established but growing companies in media, entertainment and communications. As minority investors, Shamrock will work with Wpromote to expand its foothold with high-growth mid-market Challenger Brands that are looking to scale digital marketing.

Wpromote started in 2001 in the dorm room of founder and CEO, Michael Mothner. Mothner shared the news with the Wpromote team by saying, “When I started Wpromote seventeen years ago, I had no idea that it would become what it is today; 350 people across eight offices, the largest independent digital agency in the country, and a culture and community that makes me so incredibly proud. And the fact that we did this without outside investment makes it all the more of an accomplishment.”

As Wpromote grew, it built its culture through the motto “Make Mondays Suck Less,” which is focused on nurturing an environment and outcomes that make Wpromote’s talent and clients excited about coming into work each Monday (and every other day).

“Mike and his team at Wpromote have done a phenomenal job of building a best in class digital agency that achieves superior results for its clients in a rapidly expanding digital advertising market” said Steve Royer, Partner at Shamrock Capital Advisors. “Wpromote is one of the largest and fastest growing independent agencies in the country. We are excited to partner with them to help support their continued growth”.

Shamrock has a great deal of experience investing in the media, entertainment and communications sectors. “As The Challenger Agency, some of our most exciting clients are like us: high-growth private-equity backed companies that look to challenge their industry,” said Mothner, “and we’re excited to be part of such a well-respected network.” Wpromote has had a string of exciting accomplishments, including completing three acquisitions in the past 18 months, as well being awarded Agency of the Year by Search Engine Land and named one of the Elite Digital Marketing Agencies in Forrester’s Search Marketing Wave. “Our goal was not to seek investment but to be the most sought-after digital marketing agency for fast growth Challenger brands,” said Mothner. “We believe the best possible way to continue to do this is with Shamrock as a key part of our future.

About Wpromote
Founded in 2001 by Michael Mothner, Wpromote is an award-winning, rapidly expanding digital marketing firm with eight offices across the United States, including Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Dallas. Named one of the Best Places to Work in the US by Ad Age two years running, Wpromote and its 350 employees have helped hundreds of clients—from startups to Fortune 500 companies—grow their businesses online with end-to-end digital solutions. As the Challenger Agency for major brands like Providence Health & Services, Frontier Airlines, Z Gallerie, Bronto Software, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, United Bank, Omni Hotels & Resorts, and Forever 21, Wpromote utilizes integrated search, mobile, and social marketing tactics to challenge its clients’ top competitors. With unmatched experience in multi-channel, content-centric campaigns and unrivaled dedication to clients’ results, Wpromote helps companies big and small act and move like large enterprises online. For more information, visit http://www.wpromote.com.

About Shamrock Capital
Shamrock is a Los Angeles-based alternative investment firm with approximately $1.9 billion of assets under management, investing exclusively in the media, entertainment and communications sectors. Shamrock was originally founded in 1978 as the Roy E. Disney Family Investment Company and has since evolved into an institutional money manager with a leading group of investors including endowment and pension funds. Shamrock partners with strong management teams and takes an active, collaborative approach to creating value in each investment. Shamrock’s current investments include Appetize, Branded Cities, BTI Studios, Consilio, FanDuel, Giant Creative, Isolation Network, Maple Media, Mobilitie, Omega Wireless, Questex, RBmedia, Screenvision Media, Silvergate Media and Wazee Digital. For more information, visit: shamrockcap.com.