Prominent Spokane-based advertising and public relations agency DH has acquired Seattle-based Nyhus Communications LLC and its book of clients.

The combined agency will have more than 50 employees at the offices in Spokane and Seattle, says DH CEO Michelle Hege, who declines to disclose the terms of the transaction.

Nyhus, which specializes in crisis and high-stakes communications as well as health care communications, will be rebranded as DH, Hege says.

The acquisition will help the combined agency provide clients insights, expertise, and services in all markets across the state, Hege says.

The agencies are no strangers to each other, having collaborated before, she says.

“We have partnered previously with Nyhus Communications on advocacy campaigns,” Hege says. “We knew our firms’ values and teams aligned.”

DH and Nyhus have been IPREX partner agencies for more than a decade. IPREX is a global network of independently owned agencies with 96 offices worldwide and has provided important benefits to clients of both DH and Nyhus, she says.

With the June 30 closing of the transaction, Nyhus CEO Roger Nyhus, who founded the agency in 1994, has retired.

The remaining staff of nine is being retained by DH, Hege says.

Marc Berger, Nyhus president and partner, will become executive vice president and Seattle market leader for DH. Berger currently leads the Nyhus team and oversees the agency’s work.

DH has been in operation for 25 years and, before the acquisition, it had a staff of 42. The agency’s Spokane office is located at 315 W. Riverside, downtown.

DH’s clients have included Washington state Department of Health, MultiCare Health System, Association of Washington Business, King County Metro, Washington State University and its Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Gonzaga University, Innovia Foundation, and Itron Inc.

Clients Nyhus has served include Alaska Airlines, Swedish Health Services, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Russell Investments, Four Seasons Seattle, Seattle University, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Boeing Co., and Seattle Convention Center.