Leading global company eyes Grass Roots’ established meetings and events business; at right Richard Bandell, CEO of Grass Roots
Grass Roots (Grass Roots Group Holdings Ltd.), a leading employee and customer engagement solutions company with a well- established meetings and events division, has entered into an agreement to be acquired by Blackhawk Network Holdings, Inc., a leading prepaid and payments global company based in California. The acquisition is expected to allow Grass Roots to offer new products and capabilities to its current clients, as well as take advantage of Blackhawk’s global network to broaden Grass Roots’ international reach.
This acquisition is also expected to be an opportunity for Blackhawk to extend its global footprint in the UK by offering global reward and incentive products to its clients through Grass Roots’ leading employee and customer engagement solutions. One of the business divisions of Grass Roots offers services in corporate event planning and production, strategic meeting management, delegate management and registration technology. This acquisition allows Blackhawk to tap into Grass Roots’ existing expertise of meeting and events management and add an important element to its portfolio.
“We are really excited about the opportunities this partnership brings to Grass Roots,” said Richard Bandell, CEO of Grass Roots. “Joining Blackhawk opens up significant growth opportunities for Grass Roots, transforming us into a leading global business and allowing us to inspire more people worldwide. Together, the two companies will have increased scale and scope, and we will bring those benefits to our clients and partners.”
“The acquisition of Grass Roots complements the existing client portfolio of Blackhawk’s incentives business, and enhances solutions for customers requiring global reward and incentive platforms and products,” said Bill Tauscher, executive chairman of Blackhawk. “We will also offer new products and capabilities to Grass Roots’ clients.”
“The Grass Roots team has extensive industry experience and a proven track record of success in the consumer and employee engagement markets. We are thrilled to welcome them and over 2,000 managed service clients to the Blackhawk family,” added Talbott Roche, CEO and president of Blackhawk.
Grass Roots will operate as a subsidiary of Blackhawk. Matthew Howe and Jonathan Kenny, co-managing directors of Blackhawk’s UK-based Europe operations, will lead the European operations of Grass Roots. Stewart Rigby, managing director, Blackhawk Asia Pacific, will lead the Asia-Pacific operations of Grass Roots.
For more information, please visit www.blackhawknetwork.com.
