Switzerland-based live marketing company MCH Group has acquired MC² – a Chestnut Ridge, New York-based company in the exhibit and event marketing industry. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

This is by far the biggest acquisition in the 100-year history of MCH Group and a key strategic expansion, according to MCH Group officials,

"The acquisition of MC² marks a tremendous step forward in the implementation of our corporate strategy, which we have been pursuing since 2005",  said René Kamm, CEO of MCH Group. "With MC², we will be greatly boosting our international presence and activities, as well as expanding our range of services in the live marketing field."

MC² employs more than 350 employees at 15 locations in the U.S. (Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Kingman, Las Vegas, Lehigh Valley, Los Angeles, New York, Orlando, San Francisco and St. Louis) and in Germany (Düsseldorf).

The company records an annual turnover of about CHF 160 million. MC² will remain an autonomous company within MCH Group’s Live Marketing Solutions division.  

"We are delighted and proud that MC² will become an integral part of MCH Group.  It will prove to be beneficial to our clients, partners and employees as we will see a tremendous expansion of opportunities,” said Gary Benson, CEO MC².

He added, “The outstanding expertise and reputation of MCH and its unique Live Marketing Solutions network will enable us to increase our market share in the U.S.  Furthermore, it will support us in serving our global clients in important markets, and facilitate a stronger penetration of international segments.  Our current clients will now have easy access to global markets working through their existing account teams."

It also will maintain its organizational structure under the leadership of CEO Gary Benson and his management team, as well as its operational locations in the U.S. and Germany.

MCH's "Live Marketing Solutions" division provides strategy and conception, marketing consulting, event management, exhibition and event fabrication and various multi-media communication services.

In 2016, MCH founded its subsidiary MCH Global, which combined these competencies to provide one-stop-shop solutions to local and global clients.  By acquiring MC², MCH is implementing the next step in achieving this strategic initiative, according to MCH officials.

This move will increase the strength and competitiveness of both MCH and MC²’s performance through the access to new market segments and the exploitation of mutual synergies.

"We are happy to welcome MC² into our MCH Group and Live Marketing Solutions network", said Jean-Marc Devaud, CEO Live Marketing Solutions of MCH Group.  

He added, "We are impressed by the high level of competencies and the strong, loyal customer base of MC².  It enables access to the important market in the U.S. with a proven, growing partner."  Devaud emphasized further, "We are now able to serve locally and globally active clients in all the important markets – Europe, the United States, Asia and the Middle East – and engage all live marketing channels.  We can serve local clients utilizing our autonomous companies and global clients through our network under the leadership of MCH Global."