ClickSquared Closes Out 2009 with a 79% Increase in EBITDA
A Strong Executive Team, New Customers and Organic Growth Keeps ClickSquared Moving Forward in Uncertain Economy
WALTHAM, Mass., February 10, 2010 — ClickSquared® Incorporated, a premier provider of intelligent, on-demand email and multi-channel relationship marketing solutions, looks back at 2009 as a year of growth and evolution for the organization.
"We are thrilled to have added new, innovative clients to our roster and to have grown our existing client relationships to achieve organic growth in a down economy," said ClickSquared CEO, Wayne Townsend. "In concert with executive hires that bring decades of industry experience to the company, we've taken ClickSquared and the solutions we offer to the next level. In fact, we were publicly recognized for our capabilities when we were named a Strong Performer in The Forrester Wave: ‘Email Marketing Service Providers, Q4 2009'."
Customer Growth
Privately held ClickSquared announced a 79% increase in EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization) for 2009; EBITDA is a commonly used proxy for measuring cash flow from operations. Factors contributing to this dramatic increase include new business relationships, increased spending by current clients and aggressive cost management. New relationships include JADE, Kraft Sports Group, Leading Hotels of the World, MC Communications, SPCA International and Capital One Bank. Organic growth was particularly notable among key clients such as Comcast Corporation, HomeAway and Hyatt Hotels Corporation.
A Strong Executive Team
Three new executive hires strengthened ClickSquared's management team. In June, seasoned finance executive Joyce Bell joined the organization as Chief Financial Officer. Bell is focused on partnering with senior management to accelerate the organization's business growth and profitability while also playing a key role in strategic planning.
Bolstering its already significant presence in the Travel and Hospitality sector, ClickSquared added Robert King as general manager for this strategic industry vertical. King is leveraging his 20+ years of industry experience to work with clients in North America, Asia and Europe to help define innovative marketing strategies and implement personalized, highly effective traveler communications and engagement programs
Also joining the executive team was Senior Vice President of Marketing Dan Smith, who is leveraging his long experience in marketing technologies and Software as a Service to set the strategic direction for ClickSquared's corporate and product marketing efforts.
Industry Recognition
ClickSquared was recognized as a Strong Performer in the December 2009 Forrester Research, Inc. report, "The Forrester Wave: Email Marketing Service Providers, Q4 2009." The new report gives ClickSquared top marks in several areas including analytic services, transactional messaging, throughput speed, systems integration and content library capabilities.
According to the report, "ClickSquared provides a host of digital services by leveraging its own proprietary Web hosted platform that supports self, managed, and blended service models. It has good provisions for enabling multichannel communications including email, direct mail, and SMS."
The report also said "ClickSquared offers a complete set of production and strategic services." Forrester continued, "ClickSquared's strategy development is focused on architecting relationship marketing strategies and tactics that capitalize on clients' brand advantages. The strategies encompass personalized value propositions that are extended to clients' customers through direct communications and service. These services include industry-specific expertise, and ClickSquared offers a comprehensive array of strategic services."
Funding News
ClickSquared secured $6.5 million in funding led by MMV Financial with participation from ROI Capital. "ClickSquared's strong management team, combined with a superior platform to provide affordable on-demand multi-channel marketing solutions, has positioned the Company to be a leader in intelligent email and relationship marketing across several industry verticals, especially Travel & Hospitality, Banking and Cable" said Ron Patterson, Executive Vice President, MMV Financial. "We have high confidence in the Company's leadership and are excited to be a part of their ongoing success. We are happy to extend our support towards the Company's growth."
Townsend concluded: "We will be building upon our considerable 2009 momentum in 2010. The recognition we've received in the marketplace, coupled with new platform capabilities that we're already rolling out, positions ClickSquared for strong success over the coming quarters."
About ClickSquared:
ClickSquared is a premier provider of intelligent email and relationship marketing solutions. With innovative offerings ranging from self-service email to highly automated, real-time customer engagement programs, ClickSquared's on-demand marketing platform orchestrates and optimizes analytics-driven customer communications across email, direct mail, social, mobile and web channels. Leveraging a team of marketing and technology experts that are passionate about our clients' success, ClickSquared delivers affordable, personal, relevant and effective marketing solutions that enable organizations of all sizes to maximize the return on their marketing investment.
ClickSquared has helped to build some of the world's best known brands including ARAMARK, Boston Celtics, Cable One, Comcast, Dr. Pepper/7-Up, Greyhound, HomeAway, Hyatt, Loews Hotels, Montage Resorts, Outrigger Enterprises Group, Starwood, Sovereign Bank, and US Gypsum.
