Ogilvy & Mather acquires majority stake in Foster, a digital agency in Brazil

July 17, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

WPP’s wholly-owned operating company Ogilvy & Mather, the global marketing communications group, has acquired a 70% stake in Foster Informatica, Ltda, a leading digital agency in Brazil.

Founded in 1993, Foster is based in São Paulo and employs 50 people.  Clients include Monsanto, Bayer, Metro, Danone and Goodyear.

Foster’s unaudited revenues for the year ended 31 December 2011 were R$5.0 million, with gross assets at the same date of R$4.1 million.

UK, London & Brazil, San Paulo

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Ron Sachs Communications acquires What’s Next Marketing

July 11, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

Ron Sachs Communications has acquired What’s Next Marketing, a full-service social/digital media/marketing practice.

“In just three years of existence, What’s Next Marketing has made an extraordinary impact in the ever-evolving world of media and digital marketing — establishing itself as an emerging dominant player in the field,” said Ron Sachs, president and CEO of Ron Sachs Communications. “We respect and recognize that founder Ryan Cohn has been at the forefront of thought leadership about the convergence of media platforms – and his team’s abilities will be great assets for our firm.”

The Sachs firm acquisition includes all of What’s Next Marketing’s key staff, clients and resources. Cohn will head the Sachs digital media division. Key staff leadership at What’s Next Marketing joining the Sachs team includes Brian O’Toole, the digital operation’s creative director.

USA, Tallahassee. FL

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A Fusion Deal: Econsultancy sold to Centaur

July 10, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

Fusion Corporate Partners are pleased to announce our latest deal, the sale of Econsultancy.com Limited to business information and events group Centaur Media plc.

Econsultancy is a leading digital and events-led information provider to the global digital marketing and e-commerce community in the UK, with a growing presence in the USA, Middle East, Asia and Australia. Econsultancy’s revenues stem from subscriptions, events, training, professional qualifications and media. The company has approximately 110,000 registered users and approximately 5,000 subscribers.

Centaur are paying an initial consideration of £12m in cash, with deferred consideration of up to £38m due in 2016, based on EBITDA performance for the year ending December 2015.

Econsultancy was founded in 1999. In the financial year to 31 December 2011, Econsultancy reported revenues of £6.6m (representing an increase of 50 per cent. on the prior period) and adjusted EBITDA of £1.1m. Econsultancy’s CEO and key executives will remain with the business following the acquisition

The acquisition is a key part of the strategy to transform the Centaur Group into a predominantly digital and events-led business. The deal complements Centaur’s market-leading publications, events and digital services in the marketing, design and creative sectors.

Geoff Wilmot, Centaur Chief Executive, said, “The earnings enhancing acquisition of Econsultancy provides us with an exciting opportunity to acquire a leading information brand in a high growth sector with global potential which fits well with Centaur products including Marketing Week and New Media Age. Econsultancy is highly complementary with Centaur and gives us a prominent position in the rapidly growing digital marketing sector with the opportunity to scale internationally. We see considerable potential for collaborative growth through leveraging our existing position in marketing and the development of high value, paid-for information services.”

Paul Slight, Director at Fusion, said, “We were delighted to work with the team at Econsultancy. The company has become the leading source of independent advice and insight on digital marketing and ecommerce. It will be an excellent fit with Centaur products.”

UK, London

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Posted in B2B Services, Conference/Exhibitions/Events, Consultancy, Content Media, Fusion Deal, Internet Media, Marketing/Advertising, Publishers, Research Reports, Training/Education, ~Europe. Tags: , , , . Leave a Comment »

Kantar to acquire a majority stake in Press Index S.A. in France

July 6, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

WPP’s wholly-owned operating network Kantar, an information, insight and consultancy group, is to acquire 87% of the share capital of Press Index S.A. in France at a price of EUR 6.81 per share.

On completion, Kantar will file with the French Market Authority, l’Autorité des marchés financiers, a cash simplified public tender offer to purchase the outstanding shares of Press Index for the same price per share.

If, at the end of the public tender offer, the non-tendered shares held by the minority shareholders represent less than 5% of the share capital and voting rights of Press Index, Kantar intends to implement a squeeze-out procedure.

Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Boulogne Billancourt (near Paris), Press Index is a search and media intelligence agency which has pioneered the press electronic monitoring business.  The agency employs around 210 people across offices in France, UK, Spain and Italy.

Press Index’s consolidated audited revenues for the year ended 31 December 2011 were EUR 17.5 million, with gross assets of EUR 12 million as at the same date.

UK, London and France, Boulogne Billancourt

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Porta acquires Twenty 20 Media Vision

July 6, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

Porta Communications PLC has  taken a majority stake in Twenty 20 Media Vision in a deal that values the company at up to £1.9 million.

Twenty 20 Media Vision is a full service media planning and buying agency based in Tunbridge Wells. It was founded just two years ago. Twenty 20 Media Vision has a client base from a range of sectors, such as entertainment, luxury, retail and healthcare; including Carpetright, Fat Face, Raymond Weil Watches, Wren Kitchens and Gieves and Hawkes.

Deal details:

Porta Communications has taken a 90% share. The maximum consideration payable will be linked to profits generated by Twenty 20 Media Vision over the next full year. The initial consideration of £370,000 will paid £40,000 in cash and through the issue of 3,300,000 new ordinary shares of 10p each. Additionally, deferred consideration of up to £1,530,000 will be payable subject to Twenty 20 Media Vision generating profits before tax for the year to 30 September 2013 of in excess of £500,000. The maximum deferred consideration will be paid as up to £300,000 in cash and the balance in new shares. If profits fall below £500,000 then the consideration will be scaled back on the following basis: for every £50,000 shortfall in profit, the consideration will be reduced by £190,000 in the same cash to shares ratio as the maximum deferred consideration (being approximately 20 : 80), by such a factor until only the initial consideration is payable.

Porta Chief Executive, David Wright stated that: “Twenty 20 represents another key element in the Porta business plan. It not only represents the first significant development by Porta in the advertising space, but also provides the Group both the management expertise and market presence to further develop its plans for the sector. We are looking to build on this strong base with further acquisitions in the near future.”

UK, London & Tunbridge Wells, Kent

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GroupM, WPP’s global media investment management arm, to acquire Alchemedia

July 2, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

GroupM, WPP’s global media investment management arm, is to acquire Alchemedia, a media planning & buying agency in South Korea.

Founded in 2004 and based in Seoul, Alchemedia is an independent media planning & buying agency. Alchemedia will be merged into GroupM Korea, and the combined company’s client roster will include Audi, GSK, Hicos Fragrances, IBM, LG Electronics, Lock & Lock, Procter & Gamble, Sejung Fashion, Red Bull, Rolex and VW.

Alchemedia’s audited revenues for the year ended 31 December 2011 were KRW 1.4 billion, with gross assets of KRW 10.0 billion.

UK, London & South Korea, Seoul

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Valassis Communications acquires Brand.net

June 25, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

Media and marketing services company Valassis has acquired Brand.net, an online display, video and mobile advertising platform. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“The traditional path to purchase was linear and brought the consumer from awareness to action one step at a time,” said Rob Mason, Valassis President and Chief Executive Officer. “Today, consumers are in control and their media habits are changing at a remarkable rate which means that clients need to use a mix of media to stay both visible and relevant. That’s where Valassis has a proprietary advantage — we deliver targeted, print and digital solutions to engage consumers at every point along the path to purchase.”

USA, Livonia, MI & Silicon Valley, CA

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Burson-Marsteller to acquire i&e SAS

June 25, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

WPP’s wholly-owned public relations and public affairs firm Burson-Marsteller, is to acquire communications consultancy, i&e SAS in France.

Paris-based i&e has 50 years of experience in the French market and specialises in reputation management, brand marketing and change management.  The consultancy employs around 110 people and provides public relations services to public institutions and companies, including many of France’s leading brands.

i&e’s unaudited revenues for the year ended 31 December 2011 were approximately €13 million with gross assets of approximately €5 million at the same date.

Collectively, WPP companies employ nearly 5,000 people in France (including associates) with revenues of approximately US$850 million.  On this basis, France is WPP’s seventh largest market.

UK, London & France, Paris

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WPP to acquire AKQA

June 20, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

WPP is to acquire the assets of digital agency AKQA Holdings, Inc.

Founded in 2001, AKQA provides integrated digital communications campaigns, spanning social media, mobile, interactive experiences, gaming and content creation.  Clients include Delta, Diageo, EDF, GAP, Google, Microsoft Xbox, Nike, Target, Unilever and Virgin Money, among many others.

International recognition for its creative excellence has earned the agency numerous industry awards, including 19 Agency of the Year titles.  Last year, AKQA won Digital Agency of the Year honours in both the US (Adweek) and the UK (Campaign) and collected five Cannes Lions.

Currently employing 1160 people worldwide – from software engineers and technologists to creatives and strategists – the agency operates through offices in the US (San Francisco, New York, Washington DC), Europe (London, Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin) and Asia (Shanghai). The agency had gross assets of $282 million as at 31 December 2011 and forecasts revenues of around $230 million in 2012, having achieved $189 million in 2011.

AKQA will continue to operate as an independent and stand-alone brand within WPP and be led by founder and CEO Ajaz Ahmed and Chairman Tom Bedecarré.  Tom Bedecarré will also become President of WPP Ventures, a new Silicon Valley-based company, which will explore new digital investment opportunities for WPP as a whole.

Commenting on the arrival of AKQA, Sir Martin Sorrell, CEO, WPP said:  “We are thrilled to welcome AKQA’s unique team of technological innovators and entrepreneurs to WPP.  We have admired their creativity and technological skills for a long time along with their outstandingly effective and award-winning work for clients. We are looking forward to working with Ajaz and Tom to broaden their offer and our own, both geographically and functionally.  We are delighted to be united!”

UK, London & USA, San Francisco, CA

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Publicis Groupe becomes first communications group to enter the Palestinian market through acquisition of an equity stake in Zoom Advertising

June 19, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

Publicis Groupe has acquired an equity stake in Ramallah-based Zoom Advertising, a subsidiary of Massar International. According to the terms of the agreement, Publicis Groupe immediately acquires 20% of the agency, and has the possibility of increasing its participation over the coming years. The transaction marks an unprecedented entry for a publicly-listed international communications group into the Palestinian market. Zoom will be renamed Publicis Zoom and will be aligned with the Publicis Worldwide global network. The acquisition remains subject to the approval of relevant authorities.

Maurice Lévy, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Publicis Groupe, signed the agreement today in Ramallah with Bashar Masri, Zoom’s Chairman of the Board at a ceremony attended by private sector leaders and government officials from Palestine.  Maurice Lévy was accompanied by Jean-Yves Naouri, Chief Operating Officer of Publicis Groupe and Executive Chairman of Publicis Worldwide, and by Loris Nold, Member of the Executive Committee of Publicis Worldwide.

Zoom was founded in 2004 and quickly established itself as the leading agency in the Palestinian communications industry, providing sophisticated digital and interactive tools. Along with its expertise in multimedia applications, Zoom is the local leader of creative and brand strategy, with corporate clients in virtually all market sectors. Zoom’s clients include the Bank of Palestine, the Paltel Group, the Palestine Exchange, Coca-Cola, the European Union, UNICEF, UNRWA, Peugeot, Cairo-Amman Bank and the new Palestinian planned city of Rawabi. The agency employs a staff of 23 and will continue to be led by its current executive team, General Manager Firas Awad and Managing Partner Jane Masri.

Palestine is the most recent addition to Publicis Worldwide’s expanding Middle East presence, joining agencies in UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. Publicis Groupe’s direct investment in a Palestinian company signals Mr. Lévy’s personal confidence in the Palestinian economy as well as a strongly optimistic long-term view of both the Palestinian and regional economies, and his hope for sustained peace in the region.

“Today‘s transaction is important on several levels” said Maurice Lévy, Chairman and CEO of Publicis Groupe. “One key element, of course, is Publicis‘ desire to serve our clients wherever they work. But the impact of this operation extends much further than that. It comes immediately after our announcement of the acquisition of BBR in Israel; symbolically, this speaks to every man‘s dream of seeing peace in the Middle East and between the Palestinian and Israeli peoples. Moreover, it is also a call to French and international companies to set up in the region and to contribute to creating the economic development without which there can be no durable peace.“

Jean-Yves Naouri, Chief Operating Officer of Publicis Groupe, added, “Zoom Advertising‘s excellent track record in the Palestinian digital and interactive markets made it a natural partner for Publicis Groupe, with its focus on fast growing markets and digital as its two strategic pillars. The Arab world is embracing digital technology at an unprecedented pace, as was demonstrated during the events of the Arab spring, and Palestine is no exception. We consider ourselves extremely fortunate to have found such a promising partner in Palestine and this deal underscores our commitment to strengthening our presence in the region.”

France, Pari & Palestine, Ramallah

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