Grass Roots (Grass Roots Group Holdings Ltd.), a leading employee and customer engagement solutions company, 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 its clients a pan-global approach to their benefits, rewards and recognition packages through Blackhawk’s global network, enjoying the advantages that come from scope and scale.
This acquisition is expected to be an opportunity for Blackhawk to extend its global footprint by offering global reward and incentive products to its clients through Grass Roots’ leading employee and customer engagement solutions. Grass Roots inspires thousands of employees with its engagement programmes, which include Recognition and Incentives, Benefits and Wellbeing, Learning and Development and Communications and Feedback.
"Inspiring people in the workplace – starting with our own employees – has always been at the heart of what Grass Roots does so we’re really excited about the opportunities this partnership brings,” 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 we’re confident that employers and their staff will benefit greatly from the relationship.”
“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.”
Previously an affiliate of WPP, 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.
