Public relations and healthcare company Huntsworth Plc (HNT.L), Wednesday said it is buying a US-based lobbying firm Dutko Worldwide Holdings Inc, for an initial payment of US$33.6 million or GBP 20.4 million. The acquisition is expected to be "enhancing" to the company's earnings in its first full year of consolidation.
London-based Huntsworth said the total payment can increase on performance, reaching US$44.6 million for a yearly profit growth of 10% over a three-year period. The initial payment comprises US$22.4 million of Huntsworth's shares at completion and US$11.4 million shares at the end of 2010.
The company will also assume Dutko's net debt of US$9.7 million, according to the terms of the agreement.
The acquisition of Washington-based Dutko, which has a limited overlap with existing Huntsworth clients, would add U.S. lobbying and government relations services to Huntsworth existing public affairs clients.
As both companies share a health-care sector specialization, a timely cross marketing of US lobbying services are expected to help Huntsworth's healthcare clients across the Group.
Dutko's key clients include Abbott Laboratories, GlaxoSmithkline and Johnson Controls, with 90% of its revenues coming from the U.S. For the year to Dec. 31, 2008, Dutko reported pretax profit of US$5.6 million, on revenues of US$33.3 million.
Huntsworth also said the transaction adds a new Chicago- based investor to its portfolio, Lake Capital Partners LP, giving it a 7% of the Huntsworth share capital.
HNT.L last traded at 66 pence, gaining 4 pence or 6.45% on the London Stock Exchange.
For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
June 12, 2026 17:14 ET Major central bank action was the focus this week in economic news. The European Central Bank became the first major central bank to move in response to the rising inflationary pressures in the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East. In North America, the U.S. inflation and trade data as well as Canada’s central bank decision gained attention. The Chinese trade data was the main news in Asia.