Publicis Groupe has acquired Mountaingate Capital's stake in Mars United Commerce, a global commerce marketing practice which uses a proprietary technology platform called Marilyn to help marketers understand the total business impact of their commerce marketing activities.

The sales marks the end of a three year partnership between Mountaingate Capital and Mars, which saw the latter employ approximately 450 individuals. By 2024, Mars is projected to conclude the year with over 1,000 employees, marking a growth of over 200% since the start of the partnership.

Mars has also made significant investments in its proprietary Marilyn technology platform, infrastructure, and operations, and has made three strategic add-on acquisitions. The company now claims to be the largest independent full-service commerce marketing partner for brands and retailers worldwide.

Co-Founder and Managing Director of Mountaingate, Bruce Rogers, said: "It has been a privilege to partner with the Mars team during a period of transformative growth over the last three years. Management's superb execution of the strategic plan we jointly developed at the outset of our partnership led to exceptional growth and major new client wins".

Mars operates in four key commerce disciplines: Strategy & Analytics, Digital Commerce, Content & Experiences, and Retail Consultancy. The company's growth and success have been attributed to its strategic plan and execution, as well as major new client wins.

Mountaingate Capital, a Colorado-based private equity firm with over $900 million of capital under management, was advised by Canaccord Genuity and law firm Kirkland & Ellis during the sale.