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.
Teneo represents American Ocean Minerals Corp as its merges with NASDAQ-listed Odyssey Marine Exploration to create a $1B deep-sea critical minerals research and mining platform that is under US-control.
Kekst CNC represents Cleveland-based Everstream as the business-only fiber network receives bankruptcy court approval for the sale of almost all of its operations to Bluebird Fiber for $385M.
FTI Consulting handles media for McCormick as the 137-year-old flavors company combines with Unilever Foods in a deal valued at $45B.
Edelman Smithfield handles Sysco as the world's largest food-away-from-home distributor acquires Foxcroft Strategy Group client Jetro Restaurant Depot, which serves delis and mom & pop shops, in a deal valued at $29B.
FGS Global represents Brown-Forman Corp. as it confirms merger discussions with French liquor giant Pernod Ricard.
