Clarion Investment Will Facilitate M&A Opportunities and Expand Firm’s Geographic Reach
Washington, D.C. – February 15, 2024 – Narrative Strategies, LLC (“Narrative”) – an integrated public affairs and corporate reputation agency – announced it has accepted a strategic investment from Clarion Capital Partners, LLC (“Clarion”). Narrative’s executive partners will maintain a significant ownership stake in the Company and continue leading operations, with founding partner Ken Spain serving as CEO.
Clarion has a long and successful history of investing in the media, entertainment, and technology space. With Clarion’s deep industry knowledge and focus on creating long-term partnerships, Narrative will diversify its offerings, enhance existing capabilities, and expand into new markets.
“The Narrative team and the business they have established fully aligns with our investment approach, market interests, and the value we place on collaboration, creativity, and discipline,” said David Ragins, a managing director at Clarion. “Narrative’s best-in-class team and exceptional growth trajectory – especially in the financial services, healthcare and life sciences sectors – attracted us to the business. We couldn’t be more excited to partner with Narrative and bring additional resources to fully own the strategic communications process for their clients, from inception to execution.”
Founded in 2019 by a team of former corporate communications professionals, journalists, political operatives, and PR agency leaders, the firm is now home to more than 65 practitioners working on behalf of Fortune 500 companies, trade associations, nonprofits, and law firms. Narrative’s founding partners include Patrick O’Connor, Ed Mullen, Ken Spain, and Katie Mitchell, with Rosemarie Calabro Tully and Andrew Fimka named partners in 2023. A full-service agency, Narrative’s services include strategic communications, media relations, content development, creative design, video production, digital marketing, coalition management, and research and analysis.
“In today’s complex media and political environment, a company’s ability to maintain its license to operate requires a more sophisticated approach than it did even two years ago,” said Ken Spain, founding partner of Narrative Strategies. “As businesses face increased challenges to their reputations, the existing public relations firm model simply isn’t built to navigate competing interests and audiences. Before, companies had the luxury of worrying primarily about a single audience – customers. Today, they must balance the interests of politicians, regulators, activists, employees, and investors. This partnership with Clarion will accelerate our ability to navigate this new terrain successfully with additional capabilities, talent, and geographies.”
Narrative Strategies was represented by BrightTower, a New York City-headquartered investment banking and M&A advisory services firm, which served as the exclusive financial advisor to Narrative Strategies in this transaction. Williams & Connolly LLP represented Narrative Strategies on all legal matters. Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP represented Clarion.
About Clarion Capital Partners, LLC
Clarion Capital Partners is a New York-based private equity firm that focuses on making equity investments in lower middle market growth companies. Clarion’s industry focus includes Business & Healthcare Services, Specialty Financial Services, Media, Entertainment & Technology, and Consumer & Retail. Additional information on Clarion can be found at www.clarion-capital.com.