PR and healthcare communications group Huntsworth has acquired Dutko Worldwide Holdings, a US-based public policy management company, for an initial fee of $33.6 million (£20.4 million).

Dutko is the largest independent public policy management group by revenue in the US market. Based in Washington with 10 offices around the US, it will form a major part of Huntsworth’s developing global public affairs network.

Dutko’s scale in the lobbying and government relations market will turn Huntsworth’s international public affairs network into one of the largest lobbying and public affairs networks in the world, with combined revenues of over $50 million worldwide.

“We have been looking for some time for the right opportunity in Washington to extend our international public affairs network,” said Peter Chadlington, CEO of Huntsworth. “In Dutko we have found a high quality management team with an impressive client roster and a robust business model supported by a high proportion of retainer fees.”