Kekst and Company led PR firms advising private equity deals in the first quarter as the firm worked 11 transactions, according to the Deal.
Kekst, which repped four target or seller companies and seven acquirers or bidders, was followed by Sard Verbinnen & Co. with 10 deals and an even split of five targets and five acquirers.
Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher and Owen Blicksilver PR handled nine deals apiece, while Brunswick Group was involved in eight and Abernathy MacGregor Group took part in four.
The Deal said it is tracking the "advisory class" of law firms, investment banks and PR counsel in private equity deals for the first time as the sector has evolved from large club deals taking companies private to more strategic transactions.
Kirkland & Ellis led law firms, while Barclays Capital was the top investment banks.
The Deal said advisers expected the PE transaction numbers to rise amid better peformance in financial markets in the second quarter.
Jenn Kettnich, who has more than 15 years of financial communications experience, has joined Liftoff Mobile as VP-investor relations following completion of its recent IPO.
Joele Frank handles Crinetics Pharmaceuticals as the specialist for treatments for endocrine diseases agrees to get acquired by Vertex Pharmaceuticals in a deal pegged at $8.8B.
Teneo represents Honeywell spin-off Solstice Advanced Materials as it buys Collected Strategies client Element Solutions in a deal pegged at $14.5B.
Dallas-based Throughline Global Advisors advised Principal Mineral as it acquired Isola Group, maker of copper-clad laminates used in printed circuit boards.
oele Frank works for satellite operator Iridium Communications as it gets acquired by space company Rocket Lab in a deal worth $8B.
