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The Search Agency Announces Strategic Investment From JMI Equity
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JMI Will Help The Search Agency Accelerate its Growth in the Expanding
Online Advertising Marketplace
SANTA MONICA, Calif., April 28 /PRNewswire/ -- The Search Agency (TSA),
a leading search engine marketing (SEM) and search engine optimization
(SEO) firm, announced today that it has received a strategic investment
from JMI Equity. JMI, a private equity firm focused on investments in
growing software and business services companies, will work closely with
TSA management to support its strong growth in providing search marketing
services to clients worldwide. Peter Arrowsmith, a General Partner at JMI,
has joined TSA's Board of Directors. Terms of the transaction were not
disclosed.
TSA provides SEM and SEO to online advertisers through a suite of paid
search and organic search tools, including its AdMax platform. The
company's unique approach to online marketing is based on combining
proprietary technology with a robust service offering, and has resulted in
annual growth rates exceeding 100% and market leading client retention
rates. TSA plans to use the investment from JMI to expand its sales and
marketing efforts, and to support the continued research and development of
the company's proprietary technology.
"We welcome the opportunity to partner with JMI," said David Hughes,
Chief Executive Officer of TSA. "In our focus to accelerate TSA's growth
and gain market share, we were seeking an investment firm who is highly
knowledgeable in the online marketing space. The fact that JMI has proven
experience in our industry resonated with us. They clearly understand our
strategic plan and we are excited about the significant value they can
provide both strategically and financially to our organization."
"The Search Agency's ability to offer first rate service supported and
enhanced by technology is unique in the marketplace today," said Mr.
Arrowsmith of JMI. "We look forward to working with David and his team to
build on the company's success, help enhance its competitive position and
continue to generate profitable growth over the long term."
RBC Capital Markets was the exclusive placement agent to TSA and
Stubbs, Alderton & Markiles, LLC provided legal counsel to TSA on the
transaction. JMI was advised by Goodwin Procter, LLP.
About the Search Agency
The Search Agency is a profitable, privately held corporation that
employs search industry experts to guide its clients through the
complicated world of search engine marketing (SEM) and search engine
optimization (SEO) and in turn convert quality traffic for those client's
into revenue through conversion path optimization (CPO). This personal
approach combined with the company's innovative and proprietary technology
enables its clients to maximize ROI on search spend The Search Agency
proudly maintains over an 85% retention rate among their clients. TSA has
twenty-five engineers on staff and a total of 75 employees between two
offices in Rhode Island and Santa Monica.
For additional information please visit http://www.thesearchagency.com.
About JMI Equity
JMI Equity, based in Baltimore and San Diego, is a private equity firm
exclusively focused on investments in growing software and business
services companies at all stages of their lifecycles. Founded in 1992, JMI
has invested in more than 90 companies throughout North America and has
approximately $1.3 billion of committed capital under management. JMI
provides the first institutional capital to self-funded companies, partners
with management teams to acquire or recapitalize market leading companies
and selectively makes investments in early-stage companies. Representative
investments include Blackbaud, DoubleClick, Kronos, Undertone Networks and
Unica. For more information on JMI, visit http://www.jmiequity.com.
Media Inquiries:
Stephanie Robey - 310.582.5748
stephanie@thesearchagency.com
Chuck Dohrenwend for JMI Equity
The Abernathy MacGregor Group
212.371.5999
Business Development Inquiries:
Steve Levitt - 310.582.5720
Steve@thesearchagency.com
SOURCE The Search Agency
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