An affiliate of Sun European Partners, LLP (“Sun European Partners”), today announces the acquisition of the River Group Ltd (“the River Group”) a full service, leading UK content marketing agency. The intention is to form a new partnership in the magazine and content sector with The Polestar Group. The companies will remain independent but will work closely together on specific retail and brand projects.
Established in London in 1994, River provides high profile consumer brands with a wide range of marketing services, helping them to devise content and manage its delivery to their consumers via printed matter, on-line, digital, email and social media.
Nicola Murphy will continue in her role as CEO of The River Group and maintain an economic interest in the business.
Jordan Wadsworth Principal Sun European Partners, commented; “Sun specializes in the purchase of market leading companies and creating relationships between symbiotic businesses which will positively effect their growth and which will deliver positive benefits to their customers and staff.”
Barry Hibbert, CEO of Polestar, said; “I am looking forward to working with River Group. This partnership will greatly enhance our services and proposition to retailers and brands we already support as well as a growing list of new clients.”
Nicola Murphy, CEO of River Group, said; “We will reap the benefits on behalf of clients and staff of being part of a bigger group. There are many synergies in service capability and I look forward to adding to River’s services with the backing of a strong financial owner.”
About Sun European Partners, LLP
Sun European Partners, LLP is a leading private investment advisory firm, combining the financial skills and resources of a traditional private equity firm with the operational insight and expertise of a world class operating team. The firm focuses on market-leading companies that can benefit from its in-house professionals, resources, and expertise in their efforts to materially improve operating performance. Affiliates of Sun European Partners, LLP have invested in more than 335 companies worldwide since 1995, with combined sales in excess of €35 billion. Further information on Sun European Partners, LLP is available at www.SunEuropeanPartners.com
About the River Group Ltd
River is the UK’s sixth largest content agency combining the specialisms of digital and print with market-leading content. The agency focuses on the delivery of content on behalf of major blue chip brands including WeightWatchers, NBTY, Honda, Superdrug, SBH and The Co-Operative Group. Further information on the River Group is available at www.therivergroup.co.uk
About The Polestar Group
Market leaders in the magazine, newspaper supplement and commercial printing markets, the Group is also a major supplier to the retail, travel and financial markets. Polestar is the only printer in the UK to offer gravure, heatset web offset, sheet-fed, cutstar and digital printing. The Group has the largest armoury of finishing facilities, enabling award winning, first rate quality production to the tightest possible schedules. Polestar is currently undertaking a £50 million capital investment programme in state of the art heatset web offset presses at our Sheffield site.
Further information is available on www.polestar-group.com
