IRVINE, CA — Australia’s Bastion Collective has expanded its presence in the United States with the acquisition of two Irvine, California digital agencies. Rare Branding, a digital marketing agency, and Digital Brand Group, a web and mobile application development services company, will serve as anchors for a newly formed US division of Bastion Collective called Bastion Rare. This latest acquisition continues Bastion Collective’s strategy of acquiring complementary businesses to expand its offering to Australian, US and international clients.

DENVER — One Eight Oh PR has opened a Denver office to serve clients in the western part of the country. The Sarasota, FL.-based firm serves clients in Georgia, Illinois, California and Colorado in addition to its home state.

ORLANDO, FL AND CHICAGO — Kanaris Group has acquired Uproar PR, a $4.4m firm launched in 2011.  Catriona Harris will remain with the company as CEO as which she will continue to focus on client strategy and team development.  Mike Harris will remain president and COO, with his primary role remaining client acquisition and retention. 

LOS ANGELES — Englander Knabe & Allen has launched a joint venture partnership with AP Triton Consulting, which specializes in fire safety, deployment studies, EMS system review, fire prevention services and cost recovery and revenue management services. The joint firm draws on the complementary strengths of the two firms: AP Triton’s consulting services to cities, counties, special districts, as well as public, private and industrial providers of EMS and fire services with EKA’s government affairs, political campaigns, reputation and crisis communications, association management and litigation support capabilities.

BOSTON — Milldam Public Relations has launched a crisis communications practice dedicated to the data center ecosystem. The agency launched the new service in response to what leaders see as a lack of preparedness in the data center industry when responding to negative events tied to data center operations.