MC2, the largest independent marketing agency in the North West, has acquired Vertigo PR. The deal, completed on 7th January 2008 for an undisclosed fee, strengthens MC2’s brand division, which will now trade under the Vertigo brand.

Vertigo, launched by former Communiqué PR MD Nathalie Bagnall in April 2007, has scored spectacular success in its first nine months of trading, creating a fee income in excess of £250,000 in that period, even before significant client wins in December, including American Golf.

In the new MC2 structure, current Managing Director, Mike Perls, will move to Chief Executive Officer and Nathalie Bagnall will become Managing Director of the overall MC2 operation. Jenny Morgan will continue as Head of PR. The entire Vertigo team will transfer to join the established brand division at The Boardwalk, MC2’s city centre home, with immediate effect.

Mike Perls commented on the agency’s first acquisition: “Nathalie brings a wealth of complementary experience to MC2’s team and will ensure that the agency can support its future plans for growth after a record performance in 2007. She has built Vertigo into a successful brand in a short space of time, which reinforces her reputation as a consummate PR professional. We have shared values and ambitions and we enter 2008 with great optimism about future possibilities.”

“MC2 has achieved spectacular growth since inception in 1999”, he continued. “We have averaged 26 per cent growth year on year, with over 36 per cent in 2006/07. We have always been very clear about our vision to create the most successful independent agency in the UK and I feel that Nathalie is the ideal person to help us achieve this vision. Joining forces with the Vertigo team sends a clear message of our ambitions to our clients, the market and our own team.”

Bagnall added: “My intention on launching Vertigo was to become a key national PR force within two years and we are well on our way to achieving that. I could have waited for that to happen organically but the opportunity that the MC2 deal provides is unique in that Vertigo continues to grow while I personally achieve a much wider business remit. It was an offer I couldn’t refuse.”

MC2 was advised by Grant Thornton and Cobbetts. Vertigo PR was advised by turner parkinson LLP.