MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--LLORENTE & CUENCA, the leading communication, public affairs and reputation management firm in Spain, Portugal and Latin America, announced the acquisition of 70 percent of U.S. firm EDF Communications (EDF), based in Miami.
With this agreement, EDF will be integrated into LLORENTE & CUENCA’s Miami operations, which will now have 12 employees. EDF is also present in Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Brazil and Costa Rica. Those employees will be integrated into the LLORENTE & CUENCA operations in their respective countries.
This is the fourth acquisition the firm has finalized since last June, when it announced the incorporation of French private equity firm MBO with the intention of implementing an expansion plan that would strengthen the position of the firm in those markets in which it was already present. This acquisition is the first one in the U.S.
Recently, LLORENTE & CUENCA announced the acquisition of 70 percent of Brazilian firm S/A Comunicação, as well as 70 percent of Impossible Tellers (impossibletellers.com), a consulting firm specialized in designing communication and branding strategies, transmedia storytelling and change management programs for executives. Last September, the firm acquired 60 percent of digital innovation consultancy Cink (cink.es) for the purpose of strengthening its position in the area of innovation and digital transformation.
EDF is a strategic communications and public affairs firm that has been operating in the U.S. and Latin America for more than a decade. Its founder and CEO, Erich de la Fuente, has managed the company since its creation in 2001. Following the acquisition of 70 percent of the firm, Erich de la Fuente will join LLORENTE & CUENCA as a company partner and CEO for the U.S.
“EDF Communications fits into our philosophy, our way of understanding communications and the way we provide services to our clients. Erich is not only an outstanding, highly-recognized communications professional, but has been collaborating with us for over a decade,” said José Antonio Llorente, chairman and founding partner at LLORENTE & CUENCA.
“EDF Communications has always provided its clients top-notch services, and with this integration, we will be able to offer greater benefits given our joint expansive network and scope, while continuing to work with our exceptional team of communications experts,” said Erich de la Fuente, founder of EDF Communications.
Committed to Miami
With the addition of EDF, LLORENTE & CUENCA builds up its structure in the U.S., broadening its service offerings and making a network of 11 offices throughout Latin America available to its clients.
The Miami office will have a team of 12 consultants and boast a client portfolio that includes several prestigious U.S. multinational companies operating in Latin America. The operation aims at strengthening five business areas in particular: multilatinas present in the U.S., U.S. companies with an interest in Latin America, corporate meetings being hosted in Miami, M&A operations and business litigations with an impact in the region.
With this merger, LLORENTE & CUENCA strengthens its Miami-based U.S. operations, launched in July 2015 under the leadership of Alejandro Romero, partner and CEO for Latin America and lead for the acquisition of EDF. According to Romero, “the purchase of EDF and the incorporation of Erich de la Fuente as partner and CEO of our U.S. operations, emphasizes our commitment to servicing our U.S.-based clients, attracting new U.S. clients operating in Latin America and improving the services we offer to clients throughout the region.”
About EDF Communications
EDF Communications offers a broad array of services ranging from targeted strategic communications planning and implementation to tactical services aimed at complementing its clients’ communication initiatives. It provides counseling in corporate communications, media relations, content development, nonprofit communications, internal communications, public affairs, political analysis and international good governance and anti-corruption initiatives. The firm was founded in 2001 by Erich de la Fuente, who has managed it since its inception and has over 20 years of experience providing strategic communications and public affairs counseling to corporations, institutions and international organizations.
Acquisitions Strategy
The 70 percent acquisition of EDF Communications is part of the expansion strategy LLORENTE & CUENCA is implementing to consolidate its leadership in those markets in which it operates. Recently, the company announced the incorporation of a financial partner, MBO Partenaires, which obtained 22 percent of the group in order to speed up the expansion process in Latin America, Spain and Portugal.
About LLORENTE & CUENCA
LLORENTE & CUENCA is the leading communication, public affairs and reputation management firm in Spain, Portugal and Latin America. The team is integrated by 22 partners, 20 of them being professionals and two financial partners, along with more than 450 professionals who provide strategic communications consultancy services to companies in all business sectors targeting the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking markets.
In June 2015, the firm incorporated a financial partner, French private equity firm MBO Partenaires, which took on 22 percent of the group. In September, the company announced the acquisition of 60 percent of the innovation and digital transformation consultancy firm “Cink,” based in Spain. In November, it announced the acquisition of Impossible Tellers to become its transmedia producer, and of Brazilian communications firm S/A Comunicação. Before the end of the year it acquired 70 percent of U.S. consultancy firm EDF Communications, based in Miami and with a strong presence in Latin America. This agreement is part of its commercial strategy to bring more business and accelerate regional growth.
LLORENTE & CUENCA currently has offices in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Spain, United States (Miami), Mexico, Panama, Peru, Portugal and the Dominican Republic. It also operates in Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela through affiliate offices.
Thanks to its international expansion, the company ranked 56 on The Holmes Report Annual Global Ranking of the most important communication firms in the world.
LLORENTE & CUENCA is the most awarded communications firm in those markets in which it operates. The company has won 54 awards this year, recognizing campaigns designed for clients such as Embratur, Coca-Cola, Iberia, Avon, Antamina, Gas Natural Fenosa, Gonvarri Steel Industries, CaixaBank, SABMiller and L´Oréal, among others, as well as corporate projects including the launch of the new corporate site, the 2014 annual report and the interactive animation document “Entertainment Territory.” It was also nominated as the company that best communicates on LinkedIn in Spain at the LinkedIn #PremiosIN2015.
In 2014 it won 36 awards, including the prestigious Communication Consultancy of the Year in Latin America and Europe (International Business Awards) – an award it won again this year - Iberian Consultancy of the Year (EMEA SABRE Awards) and Best Communication Consultancy in Peru (ANDA Awards).
