Seigenthaler, DVL bought by New York PR firm

Neither DVL Public Relations & Advertising nor Seigenthaler Public Relations Inc. was looking for a buyer.

Both Nashville firms, each with decades of experience and long rosters of local clients, were growing their book of business and further establishing themselves regionally and nationally. But when they together began partnering on projects with New York-based public relations firm Finn Partners last year and talks of a merger began, leaders of both companies were receptive.

On Thursday, the firms announced that Finn Partners is buying both DVL and Seigenthaler, forming a Nashville office that will immediately become the city's largest public relations group.

"Nashville is becoming more and more of a national player," said DVL CEO Ronald Roberts. "We realized we needed to be a national player as well. We have the capability now, but we wanted to position ourselves more to be leaders in the marketplace."

The acquisition allows Finn Partners, a global firm, to enter the quickly growing Nashville market and tap into the relationships established locally and nationally by the two agencies that together bring in fees close to $11 million.

"Clearly there is something very special going on in this market, and I want to be a part of it," said Peter Finn, who founded Finn Partners in 2011. "The firms they are running are also very impressive, the clients they have, the work they are doing."

Roberts will lead the 80-person company as CEO, and Seigenthaler Public Relations CEO Beth Seigenthaler Courtney will become president. The combined local company is named DVL Seigenthaler and will be located in DVL's office in the Gulch area.

Finn Partners — whose clients include Bosch Home Appliances, MOMA, I LOVE NY and Verizon Foundation — bills about $65 million annually with its new Nashville firms.

For the two Nashville firms, Finn Partners offers opportunities of reach and scale through its seven U.S. cities, including Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., San Francisco and Chicago, and overseas offices in Jerusalem, London, Paris and Munich. DVL Seigenthaler will be able to work in conjunction with other global offices on projects in Nashville or connect local clients to resources and talent in other cities.

"It's really about providing competitive opportunity for our clients," Courtney said. "If we are not staying in step and even ahead of the market, then we are not being as viable for them as we could be."

Both DVL and Seigenthaler have represented Nashville and national clients for several decades. DVL was formed in 1980 by Hank Dye, John Van Mol and Tom Lawrence. The firm, now with 56 employees, has represented clients including spirits producer Brown-Forman Corp., The J.M. Smucker Co., AmSurg Corp. and Bridgestone Americas Inc. In 2014, DVL brought in $6.4 million in fees.

Seigenthaler PR, founded in 1972 by Thomas Seigenthaler, has represented Airbus DS Communications, LifePoint Hospitals Inc. and Regions Financial Corp. The firm also worked to promote Music City Center when it was up for city approval. Last year, Seigenthaler PR earned $4.5 million in fees, a 20 percent increase from 2013.

The DVL Seigenthaler executives emphasized that the transition to a new company will not include layoffs. While more positions could be added, the immediate focus is on combining teams. "We are doing this to grow and build," said Roberts, who joined DVL in 1992.

DVL Seigenthaler managing partners will also include DVL partners Jimmy Chaffin and Nelson Eddy and Seigenthaler Public Relations partners Amy Seigenthaler Pierce and Katie Seigenthaler.

Reach Jamie McGee at 615-259-8071 and on Twitter @JamieMcGee_.

About the companies

•DVL Public Relations & Advertising: Founded in 1980 by Hank Dye, John Van Mol and Tom Lawrence. Clients include Brown-Forman Corp., The J.M. Smucker Co., AmSurg Corp., Bridgestone Americas Inc., Nashville Electric Service and Tractor Supply Co.

•Seigenthaler Public Relations Inc.: Founded in 1972 by the late Thomas Seigenthaler. Clients include Airbus DS Communications, LifePoint Hospitals Inc., Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, Natural Resources Defense Council and Regions Financial Corp.

•Finn Partners: In 2011 founder Peter Finn spun off Finn Partners from Ruder Finn, where he served as co-CEO. Clients include Bosch Home Appliances, Hyundai Hope on Wheels, MOMA and Verizon Foundation. The New York-based agency generates about $65 million in fee billings and has 450 employees in Chicago, Detroit, Jerusalem, London, Los Angeles, Munich, Nashville, Paris, San Francisco, Washington and Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

The two Nashville firms together bring in about $11 million in fees with 80 employees.