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Falfurrias Capital Partners has acquired a majority stake in Hamilton Place Strategies, the DC lobbying firm launched by former George W. Bush administration veterans Tony Fratto and Stuart Siciliano.
With the investment, HPS and its Flag Media Analytics unit will merge with FCP’s Ballast Research operation.
Fratto, who was assistant press secretary at the White House, said Ballast “brings unmatched data and insights to understanding issues and the impact of advocacy on policy-making” to HPS.
Alex Jutkowitz, Ballast executive chairman and former US CEO at Hill+Knowlton, will chair the new venture.
He said the new platform would provide CEOs a new depth of understanding of issues and strategy required to deal with increased public scrutiny and demands for accountability.
Charlotte-based FCP is the firm of former BankAmerica CEO Hugh McColl and CFO Marc Oken.
WPP shares have been dropped from the London Stock Exchange’s prestigious FTSE 100 index as its stock market price has plunged by two-thirds this year.
Public Policy Holding Company registered 23.8 percent Q3 growth to $48.8M, with organic growth contributing 4.5 percent and the balance driven by merger & acquisition activity.
Publicis Groupe reported 3.1 percent in Q3 growth to $4B, sparked by a 3.6 percent jump North America, its biggest market.
WPP suffered a 10.2 percent drop in 1H revenues to $6.7B and a 47.8 percent plunge in operating profit to $297M.
Interpublic reported Q2 net revenues dropped 6.6 percent to $2.2B and operating income tumbled 23.4 percent to $243.7M. 
