WPP to acquire Carnation Internet Tanácsadó Zrt in Hungary

April 16, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

WPP owned operating network Possible Worldwide, the global interactive marketing agency, is to acquire all of the shares in Carnation Internet Tanácsadó Zrt in Hungary (“Carnation”).

Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Budapest, Carnation is a full-service digital marketing services agency with additional offices in Serbia, Austria and Romania, servicing a variety of clients throughout the Central and Eastern Europe region.   The agency employs more than 75 people and major clients include Coca-Cola, MTV, Procter & Gamble, and Telenor.

Carnation’s consolidated unaudited revenues for the year ended 31 December 2011 were HUF 1,341 million with gross assets of HUF 1,431 million at the same date.

Hungary, Budapest

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WPP acquires Crowdverb, an advocacy firm in the US

April 16, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

WPP’s wholly owned subsidiary Burson-Marsteller has acquired the assets of Crowdverb. It will be aligned with Direct Impact, grassroots advocacy firm that is also part of Burson-Marsteller. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Crowdverb is a start-up company based in Seattle, Washington, with an office in Austin, Texas. Crowdverb specializes in using an intensely data-driven approach to provide cost-effective, highly scalable activist mobilization around issues and legislation, to manage brand reputations and promote products. Founding partners Cyrus Krohn, Todd Herman and Sally Poliak have all worked in the technology sector, bringing a range of experience from companies including Microsoft and Yahoo, and Krohn and Herman served successive terms leading digital strategy for the Republican National Committee. Poliak is a 2010 recipient of the Stevie Award for Women in Business.

Crowdverb will complement the fundamentals of traditional grassroots advocacy with technical counterparts. The new offerings will include proprietary technologies, data and tools with advanced micro-messaging tactics that target the beliefs and attitudes of voters, consumers and activists.

USA, Seattle, WA

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WPP’s Kantar Retail to acquire minority interest in retail consultancy GME in the UAE

April 16, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

Kantar Retail, WPP’ss wholly-owned insight and consultancy business, has agreed to acquire a minority interest in G.M.E.FZ-LLC (“GME”) based in Dubai, subject to regulatory approvals.

Founded in 2007, GME offers retail insight and consultancy services to clients across all business sectors. The business employs 16 people and clients include Arla, BP, Heineken, J&J and Samsung. GME has been Kantar Retail’s franchise partner in Dubai since 2007 and now becomes a full member of the Kantar Retail network.

GME’s revenues for the year ended 31 December 2011 were approximately AED 9.5 million, with gross assets at the same date of approximately AED 2.6 million.

UAE, Dubai

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Hearst Corporation acquires 20% stake in Stylus Media Group

March 28, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

Hearst Corporation has acquired a 20 percent stake in Stylus Media Group, which provides business intelligence to consumer companies. The announcement was made jointly by Frank A. Bennack, Jr., CEO of Hearst Corporation, and Marc Worth, CEO and founder of Stylus. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Stylus tracks consumer behavior and cultural shifts across consumer industries, including automotive, technology, media, retail, fashion and hospitality. Stylus is used by design, marketing, branding and business development departments inside companies to stimulate new ideas about consumer products and services.

As part of the agreement, Kenneth A. Bronfin, president of Hearst Interactive Media, will join the Board of Directors of Stylus. The Interactive Media group will manage Hearst’s stake in Stylus as it does with its numerous portfolio businesses.

Since its launch in September 2010, Stylus has grown to cover 20 sectors across 50 countries with a worldwide staff of 100. More than 200 major corporations have subscribed to Stylus data, including Saatchi & Saatchi, Starwood Hotels, Mulberry, Sony, Ford, Colombia Sportswear, The Container Store, Marks & Spencer and Interbrand. Its mission is to become a global leader in primary research, tapping into opportunities in emerging markets and meeting demand from business and design professionals for research and information.

Commenting on the acquisition, Bennack said, “For all businesses to be competitive, spotting the next trend can mean success or failure. We believe that Stylus offers information that no company should be without. The growth potential is very promising, as is the benefit to our own brands and businesses.”

“This strategic partnership signals a wealth of new opportunities for Stylus,” Worth said. “Hearst’s global presence will help drive Stylus’ business forward in Asia and Latin America as well as its core markets of U.S. and Europe. Hearst’s investment in both technology and new media businesses makes it an ideal partner and will allow us to meet demand for cross-sector, cross-country design intelligence.”

“We have been quite impressed with the tremendous amount of progress that Stylus has made since its launch in terms of content development and brand-name client acquisition,” Bronfin said. “We look forward to working with Stylus as it expands its reputation as an authoritative business intelligence resource for design and creative professionals.”

USA, New York, NY & UK, London

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JWT to acquires stake in digital agency, Converge Technologies in Pakistan

March 20, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

JWT (part of the WPP group)is to acquire, by subscription for new shares, a minority stake in Converge Technologies Pvt Limited, a leading provider of technology-based marketing solutions and digital marketing services agency in Pakistan.

Converge’s offer includes 360 degree activation, digital content marketing, customized applications for SMS, interactive voice response, web, WAP, kiosk and platforms, digital viral marketing, data and research management and content services including music, interactive voice response, script writing, production and post production, interactive web portals, entertainment content, news and broadband gaming, and building mobile websites.

Founded in 2007, Converge is based in Karachi and employs 90 people. Clients include Nokia, Pakistan State Oil, PTCL and Unilever.  Converge’s revenues for the year ended 30 June 2011 were PKR 187 million, with gross assets at the same date of PKR 76 million.

Pakistan, Karachi

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Aegis Group plc announces preliminary results for 2011

March 15, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

Aegis Group plc has announced preliminary results for 2011.

Highlights:

  • Group organic revenue growth of 9.9% (2010: 5.3%), including 12.0% in fourth quarter
  • Group underlying operating margin of 17.4% (2010: 16.1%)
  • Strong performances from digital, faster-growing regions and North America
  • Record-equalling year in net new business, with $2.7 billion in billings (2010: $2.0 billion)
  • Aegis now a unique, scaled media and digital communications specialist, following sale of Synovate for enterprise value of £525m
  • Continued focus on acquisitions, with around £75m spent in initial consideration on 18 bolt-on acquisitions and investments in 2011
  • Appointment as global strategic media partner by General Motors Co. (“GM”) in January 2012, with anticipated annual global media spend of $3 billion
  • Proposed total dividend (excluding special dividend) increased to 3.20p, from 2.75p in 2010, including proposed final dividend of 2.01p
  • Expect to deliver continued sector-leading organic revenue growth and further improvement in underlying operating profit in 2012

 

Full details and notes on accounts are available here

Jerry Buhlmann, Chief Executive Officer of Aegis Group plc, said, “Aegis Group delivered a very strong performance in 2011, reporting sector-leading organic growth, positive margin progression and a record-equaling year in net new business wins of $2.7 billion.

“The successful sale of Synovate represented the largest structural change in our history and gives the Group increased flexibility to move ahead with our programme of targeted acquisitions and investments. We completed 18 acquisitions and investments in 2011, and they have improved our core capabilities and positioning in a number of key geographies. This is in line with our strategy to increase revenue contribution from digital, faster-growing regions and North America.

“All these achievements, coupled with recent successes, including our appointment as GM’s global strategic media partner, leave us well placed as the world’s leading specialist media and digital communications group. We are better positioned than ever before to support our clients in re-inventing the way their brands are built.

“We are optimistic about the outlook for the advertising sector in 2012, supported by key sporting events and the US Presidential Elections, and we anticipate further success for the Group in the year ahead and beyond. We expect to continue delivering sector-leading organic revenue growth which we expect to convert into further margin progression and earnings enhancement for our shareholders over time.”

UK, London

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The Economist Group acquires TVC Group

March 14, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

The Economist Group has acquired TVC Group. TVC is a communications agency, based in London, which specialises in a content-driven approach to public relations and creative services. TVC will continue to provide a stand-alone offer to its existing clients that include major brands across the consumer, government and luxury sectors. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Nigel Ludlow, UK managing director at The Economist Group, said: “This is a great move for The Economist Group. In a rapidly-changing media landscape, one consistent factor is our clients’ desire to communicate across a range of platforms and reach audiences in innovative ways. With TVC on board we will further advance the conversation with our partners and build relationships that reflect diverse and evolving requirements.”

TVC Group employs over 50 people in London serving a range of broad clients including Coca-Cola, British Gas, Aviva, Louis Vuitton and Jaguar Land Rover. Principal executives who will join The Economist Group include Nicky Minter-Green (managing director), Adam Clyne (commercial director), James Myers (broadcast director), Sarah Harris (strategy director) and Greg Lappage (creative director).

UK, London

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Aegis Group acquires Hungarian out-of-home agency PPI Central Europe

March 14, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

Media and digital communications group Aegis Group plc has acquired the Hungarian Out-of-Home agency PPI Central Europe Ltd (“PPI”). PPI will be rebranded to become part of the Posterscope EMEA division of Posterscope Worldwide. The value of the gross assets of PPI at the end of 2011 was €1 million. The acquisition follows a long working relationship between Aegis Hungary and PPI.

Established in Budapest in 2001 PPI is a leader in the Hungarian outdoor specialist market serving a strong list of domestic and international clients. Its expertise lies in using the latest technology for enhanced capability in campaign planning, site selection, buying and campaign appraisal to deliver distinct competitive advantage in the central European Out-of-Home market.

Commenting on the acquisition Annie Rickard, Global CEO, Posterscope says: “We extend a very warm welcome to PPI and are excited to be bringing Posterscope to Hungary where Out-of-Home plays a central role in advertising. PPI’s innovative methods and extensive experience, knowledge and professionalism are driven by an accomplished management team. The new operation will add further strength to our comprehensive European network and bring new client opportunities into play by opening up central Europe.”

UK, London & Hungary, Budapest

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Publicis Groupe acquires King Harvests and Luminous

March 8, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

Publicis Groupe has acquired two specialty marketing agencies in Asia: King Harvests and Luminous.  Both agencies will be integrated into MSLGROUP, the flagship strategic communications network of Publicis Groupe. Founded in 2002, with 360-degree marketing capabilities across Tier-one and Tier-two cities in Mainland China, King Harvests’ staff of more than 100 offer particularly strong expertise in both events and experiential marketing to local and international clients including Bosch, Haier, Sanyo and Siemens.

Established in 2005 and with more than 40 employees, Luminous is an award-winning experiential marketing consultancy with offices in Hong Kong, Singapore and Macau. Luminous produces live marketing events for clients including Cathay Pacific, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Prudential.

Agency heads Laura Lee and Antony Spanbrook – founders of King Harvests and Luminous, respectively – will report to Isabelle Chouvet, the founder of Emotion, MSLGROUP’s high-end and luxury events communication agency in Asia. King Harvests’ and Luminous’ experiential marketing expertise will enrich the scope of Emotion’s service offering.

“We have made our development in fast-growing markets in general, and China in particular, a top priority for the Groupe,” explained Jean-Yves Naouri, Publicis Groupe COO and Chairman, Publicis Groupe China. “The acquisitions of King Harvests and Luminous are important milestones, and further testimony to our commitment to China. We will continue strengthening our capabilities and footprint in China for the benefit of our clients and employees.”

Olivier Fleurot, MSLGROUP CEO, commented “Experiential marketing is today viewed by both agencies and clients as one of the biggest marketing opportunities for the next few years, alongside social/digital. We’re therefore very excited to have King Harvests and Luminous join us to expand our Asian offering in this space.”

“People today want the chance to experience a brand‘s promisesfor themselves,“ Isabelle Chouvet added. “‘Experiential‘ is a huge growth area globally, and by bringing King Harvests and Luminous into the fold we can offer more of what our clients are increasingly asking for in Asia today.” Chouvet will now oversee a network of 280 people in Asia, across Beijing, Hong Kong,Macau, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo.

King Harvests and Luminous are the latest in a series of acquisitions in Greater China by Publicis Groupe, including Eastwei Relations, Interactive Communications Ltd (ICL), Dreams, Genedigi, Wangfan, Gomye and most recently UBS. It is in line with Publicis Groupe’s strategy to increase its presence in fast growing markets, with China at its core and where Publicis Groupe has set an objective to double its size.

France, Paris & Hong Kong & China, Shanghai

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Aegis Group to acquire Beijing eLink Advertising Co.

March 5, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

Media and digital marketing group Aegis Group plc has entered into an agreement to acquire Beijing eLink Advertising Co., Ltd, a digital agency in China. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2012. eLink’s gross assets as of 31 December 2011 were £3.0 million.

Founded in 2007, eLink is a media-skilled full service digital agency specialising in marketing communications strategy, online media buying and online PR, as well as website design. eLink has grown rapidly, clients, include CMCC (China Mobile Communications Corporation), COFCO (China National Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Corporation) and ICBC (Industrial and Commercial Bank of China).

eLink will become part of the Isobar network in China.

China, Beijing

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