
Adobe Stock
Public Policy Holding Company Inc., a leading government relations and public affairs group, on Monday announced it had agreed to acquire TrailRunner International.
The transaction, set to close by April 1, 2025, represents PPHC's fifth significant acquisition since its 2021 IPO. Terms were not disclosed
Founded in 2016, TrailRunner, based in Southlake, adds more than 80 full-time professionals across eight global offices to PPHC's network.
The acquisition significantly expands PPHC's footprint with new offices in high-growth U.S. markets, including Dallas-Fort Worth, Nashville, and New York City. It also expands the group's existing presence in Northern California and London.
"The acquisition of TrailRunner marks a transformational moment for PPHC as we simultaneously deepen our U.S. position and establish ourselves as a truly global strategic communications group," said Stewart Hall, CEO of PPHC, in a statement. "This expansion significantly advances our strategy of building the world's most comprehensive provider of government relations and corporate communications services."
TrailRunner significantly strengthens PPHC offerings in corporate affairs, financial communications, litigation communications, and crisis management, and also sports through TrailRunner's sports practice, TrailRunner Sports.
TrailRunner's lengthy roster of clients adds to PPHC's portfolio of more than 1,200 corporates, including nearly half of the Fortune 500, and many leading trade organizations, non-profit institutions, and government entities.
“Today's global megatrend in our business is the collision of critical practice areas, including corporate reputation, government relations, finance, crisis, litigation, and sports and I can think of no better strategic growth partner to capitalize on it than PPHC," said Jim Wilkinson, executive chairman of TrailRunner International. "TrailRunner is a unique and exciting growth company with a track record of proven financial success, an aggressive strategy for continued growth, and the deep bench of talent required to succeed.”
For five years running, PPHC has been recognized by legal disclosures as the largest provider of U.S. federal and state lobbying and has expanded its services into the areas of public affairs, research and grassroots campaigning in the U.S. and internationally. With the addition of TrailRunner, PPHC now operates through 11 subsidiaries globally.
"We are excited about this opportunity to accelerate our growth even further as a part of the PPHC family of companies,” said Jim Hughes, CEO of TrailRunner International. “From our very first conversations with Stewart and the PPHC team, it has been clear that there is very strong alignment between our cultures and our shared vision for the long-term opportunity in corporate advisory for firms that are truly committed to the success of their clients. TrailRunner's robust capabilities across strategic communications complement PPHC's strong offerings across government relations, public affairs, and public policy, and we are eager to join forces with PPHC to help even more clients around the world build and maintain the stakeholder support they need to achieve their business objectives."
TrailRunner's exclusive financial adviser in the transaction was GP Bullhound.