Local marketing firm Raidious acquired by Milwaukee-based agency

Indianapolis-based marketing firm Raidious LLC has been acquired by Milwaukee-based marketing communications agency Mortenson Kim Inc., the companies announced Tuesday.

Financial terms of the deal, which closed Sept. 20, were not disclosed.

The combined firm said it will change its name to Mortenson Kim + Raidious and continue to maintain Indianapolis operations downtown in Mortenson Kim’s existing 12,500-square-foot office on the eighth floor of Pan Am Plaza. Raidious has been located at 660 Virginia Ave. in Fountain Square.

Company officials said the combination will create one of the largest agencies in Indiana, with overall capitalized billings exceeding $40 million annually. Mortenson Kim has 45 employees and Raidious has 25.

Raidious, founded in 2009, focuses on content-based marketing and customer experiences. The firm announced plans in December 2012 to add 75 employees to its then-staff of 12 by the end of 2016. The Indiana Economic Development Corp. offered the company up to $800,000 in performance-based tax credits if it could meet those hiring goals, but the agency fell far short. It collected only about $32,000 in tax credits, according to the IEDC website.

Mortenson Kim, an integrated marketing communications agency, traces its roots to 1967 but has done business under several names since its founding as R.L. Meyer Advertising & Promotions Inc. It was also known as Meyer Jehs & Wallis Inc., Meyer & Wallis Inc., Mortar Inc. and Mortenson Safar Kim Inc.

It established its Indianapolis office in 1996.

The firm dropped the Safer name in 2017 after suing former president Shannon Safer for allegedly using a business relationship with the Hoosier Lotterry to secure an ownership interest in the company.

Mortenson Kim’s largest clients include Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Roche and Anheuser-Busch. Raidious’ largest clients include Lids, the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and Cummins Inc.

Raidious chief executive Taulbee Jackson was previously vice president of interactive for the Indianapolis office of Meyer & Wallis before he launched what was initially known as Raidious Digital Content Services.

“This is a natural fit and homecoming for me,” said Jackson, who becomes chief audience development officer of Mortenson Kim + Raidious. “Now, we’ll be able to deliver unique and engaging customer experiences in any channel, online or offline, for our clients. We are very excited about bringing these two incredibly talented teams together to continue to lead and innovate in this challenging, fast-moving and ever-evolving media environment.”