Essence Digital in talks to sell to WPP

One of London’s hottest independent, digital media-buying agencies, Essence Digital, is in advanced talks to sell to WPP. Essence is Google’s main global digital agency and other clients include Expedia and eBay. No price was put on the planned Essence deal, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

read more

Sorrell on newspaper digital ad slowdown: ‘paywalls are the way to go’

ir Martin Sorrell has said that the slowdown in digital newspaper advertising growth is proof that publishers should have paywalls.Speaking at the Society of Editors conference, the WPP chief executive said that a range of factors are contributing to clients reassessing the efficacy of digital ad spend levels, which will make it difficult for publishers solely relying on digital advertising income

read more

WPP and Providence in talks on Chime deal

Chime Communications, the London-listed sports marketing specialist, is in advanced discussions to sell itself for more than £350m to Sir Martin Sorrell’s WPP and US buyout group Providence Equity Partners.Chime said that an independent committee of board members had been convened to discuss a cash offer for all its shares at 365p per share

read more

Kantar invests in digital media intelligence agency BIScience

WPP’s Kantar Media has acquired a stake in digital media intelligence specialist BIScience, which specialises in cross-channel and global digital media monitoring, planning and optimization. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.Kantar Invests in Digital Media Intelligence FirmBIScience’s flagship AdClarity platform enables users to make strategic decisions across display, video, mobile web, mobile apps and social media channels

read more

GroupM acquires majority stake in directComm in Turkey

WPP announces that GroupM, the leading global media investment management group, has acquired a majority stake in directComm Marketing Group (“directComm”), a leading provider of integrated direct marketing services in Turkey. directComm specialises in digital marketing, customer relationship management, events and social media

read more