Strategic new market expansion

RNS Reach

13 July 2020

SEC Newgate S.p.A.

("SEC Newgate" or the "Group")

Strategic new market expansion

SEC Newgate (AIM: SECG), the international strategic communications, advocacy and research group, announces the establishment of SEC Newgate US LLC ("SEC US") as the Group continues to deliver on its three-year Strategic Plan announced in November 2019.

The new entity will be based in New York and Washington and represents the Group's first expansion into the North American market. The US is a key strategic market for the Group as it strengthens its geographic presence and ambitions to act as a global player in the communications market.

SEC US is a newly incorporated joint venture, in which the Group has a 55% ownership with the balance held by the US executive partner Bellwether Strategies. This will enable SEC Newgate to have a low risk, local presence and approach the US market with well-established key professionals in New York and Washington. Mike Holtzman is the founder and president of Bellwether Strategies whose professional trajectory spans over 20 years in the communications business in advisory roles and in US policy making operating domestically and internationally and Phil Elwood is a very seasoned Washington public relations executive with excellent contacts in politics and the media.

Commenting, Fiorenzo Tagliabue, the Group's CEO, said:

"Despite Covid-19's impact on the global current state of affairs, we decided to pursue this fundamental step in our strategic development plan given the paramount importance of the US market. I believe SEC Newgate is dealing with this huge market with a solid approach which, while it limits our financial exposure, provides us with a solid base, a very seasoned partner, and a platform for further expansion over the coming years."

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About SEC Newgate

· Further information is available at www.secnewgate.com

· The Group specialises in research, advocacy and communications and achieves positive change for its clients by operating at the interface of business, politics, markets and media.

· The Group's entrepreneurial roots started in 1989 when SEC S.p.A. was created by Fiorenzo Tagliabue. It became the number one agency in Italy and developed a European presence. On 3 September 2019, SEC S.p.A. and Porta Communications Plc merged to create SEC Newgate S.p.A. This created a top 30 global strategic communications group with a team of 600 SEC Newgate people based at 34 offices, in 15 countries and five continents - from London to Sydney, from Milan to Bogota, and Berlin to Shanghai.

· The Group's principal brands are: ACH SEC Global (Spain); Cambre Associates (Belgium); Cambre Maroc (Morocco); CLAI (France); Kohl PR (Germany); Martis Consulting (Poland); SEC Latam (Colombia); Newgate Communications (Abu Dhabi, Australia, Greater China, Singapore, UK); Newington (UK); Publicasity (UK); SEC Newgate S.p.A. (Italy); and 2112 (UK).

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