In this week's newsletter, we delve into the dynamic landscape of mergers and acquisitions, exploring significant narratives that are shaping the business world.
We delve into a distinctive and thought-provoking development that has stirred significant industry discussions. Accenture's acquisition of a PR firm in Japan, an unexpected move, underscores the evolving strategies of major players in the consulting and technology sector. This strategic decision has ignited debates about its potential to reshape the landscapes of both public relations and consulting services, shedding light on the intersections between these sectors. The unique amalgamation of a technology and consulting powerhouse like Accenture with a PR firm highlights the fluidity of business strategies and prompts intriguing conversations about the synergies and implications of this unconventional union.
We turn our attention to the evolving landscapes of AI and media technology. DoubleVerify's acquisition of AI-powered digital advertising company Scibids signifies the increasing role of AI in optimizing advertising strategies and customer engagement. Affinity's acquisition of media tech company Opinary reflects the growing importance of data-driven decision-making and media tech integration in the modern marketing landscape.
Transitioning to our next focal point, we shed light on the power of partnerships in shaping the marketing and creative domain. The ongoing acquisition trend highlights how agencies are increasingly forging alliances to amplify their collective impact. Thinkerbell's reacquisition of a minority stake from PwC exemplifies the agency's determination to navigate its distinct path while reaping the benefits of strategic collaboration. Furthermore, the acquisition of design agency Tinsel Experiential Design by Stagwell's Constellation Network underscores the dynamic fusion that emerges when innovative experiential design converges with strategic planning.
Japan:?Accenture?Acquires PR Firm?Signal
- Signal has 100 employees.
- Signal is a diversified PR firm, offering integrated marketing services like social media management, influencer marketing, advertising, market research, web design and site construction.?
- The acquisition of Signal aims to improve Accenture’s customer experience capabilities.
- Signal is a subsidiary of?Vector, Inc., one of Japan’s larger PR companies.
- Strongbow Consulting has 60 employees.
- Strongbow Consulting is a data-driven strategic advisory firm with expertise in helping organizations plan and execute technology transformation strategies.
- Strongbow Consulting will help expand Accenture’s Technology Business Management (TBM) solutions.
- Strongbow Consulting will become a part of Accenture Technology Strategy & Advisory in North America, forming the core of its Tech Value practice, which was launched when?Advocate?joined last year.
USA:?Thales?Acquires Security Vendor?Imperva
- Imperva has 1,713 employees.
- Imperva is a cyber security software and services company which provides protection to enterprise data and application software.
- Thales said that it will add about US$500 million in revenue and “significantly expand its data and application security offering.”
- The deal is valued at US$3.6 billion, sold by its private equity owner,?Thoma Bravo.
Norway:?Goldman Sachs Asset Management?and group of investors Acquires EdTech Company?Kahoot
- Kahoot has 374 employees.
- Kahoot is an online game-based learning platform that can be accessed via a web browser or app.
- Lego’s parent company,?Kirkbi, is among the other co-investors, alongside private equity firm?General Atlantic.
- The deal is valued at $1.7 billion, or 17.2 Norwegian Krones.
- The offer to take Kahoot private offers shareholders about $3.48 a share, a 51 percent premium to its closing price of $2.28 in May.
- Kahoot has acquired seven companies since it launched, one of the largest being a $500 million acquisition of digital learning platform Clever in May 2021.
USA:?Tietoevry?Acquires Digital Engineering Firm?MentorMate
- MentorMate has 1,000 employees.
- MentorMate provides advanced digital engineering services, human-centred design, data, and AI capabilities to its customers in North America and Europe.
- The acquisition accelerates Tietoevry’s strategy with a focus on software and digital engineering services.
- MentorMate will be part of the Tietoevry Create business.
- In 2022 MentorMate revenues were USD 65 million, growing at ~40%.
Australia:?Thinkerbell?Buyback Minority Stake from?PWC?
- Thinkerbell has 160 employees.
- Thinkerbell is an independent Australian creative agency.
- PwC picked up a 10 per cent stake, worth $300,000, in the agency in 2017 just a few months after Thinkerbell’s launch.
- The passive shareholding deal was facilitated in 2017 by Russel Howcroft, at the time PwC’s chief creative officer and co-architect of marketing division CMO Advisory.
- Thinkerbell has since buyback the 10% amid the PwC tax scandal.
France:?DoubleVerify?Acquires AI-powered Digital Advertising Company?Scibids
- Scibids has 73 employees.
- Scibids builds A.I. to create customizable algorithms for advanced privacy-friendly media buying, executed in DSPs to optimize programmatic bidding strategies.
- The acquisition expands DV’s product capabilities in real-time campaign optimizations.
- The transaction was fully funded via a consideration mix of equity and cash.
- Shares of DoubleVerify Holdings were in the red in Monday's late trading session following news the company agreed to acquire Scibids, trading 6.7% lower.
Singapore:?8traordinary?Acquires Stakes in Marketing Agency?X10 Media
- X10 Media has 65 employees.
- X10 Media is a regional influencer marketing agency with proprietary technology for Instagram campaigns.
- The acquisition of X10 Media aims to enhance 8traordinary’s capabilities in influencer marketing.
- Through the collaboration, 8traordinary will have access to X10 Media’s tangible return on investment (ROI) solution for influencer campaigns.
- Tinsel Experiential Design has 18 employees.
- Tinsel is a marketing and design studio focused on immersive customer experiences and experiential engagement.
- Tinsel joins Stagwell's Constellation Network of agencies, complementing TEAM Enterprises with creative resources and integrated production capabilities to take on larger-scope projects.
- Tinsel will retain its brand, and its founders will remain in leadership roles.?
UK:?Midwich?Acquires Audio Technology Provider?HHB Communications Holding
- HHB Communications has 75 employees.
- HHB is a supplier of professional audio equipment, content creation products and music technology.
- The acquisition will allow Midwich to develop its offering in the broadcast, media and entertainment markets.
- HHB’s existing leadership team will remain in post.
- Our?Alliance of International Corporate Advisors?(AICA) partner,?FRP Advisory, advised on the deal.
USA:?Gravity Global?Acquires Marketing Agency?9thWonder
- 9thWonder has 128 employees.
- 9thWonder specialities range from research and brand strategy to digital marketing, media and creative services.
- The acquisition grows Gravity Global by 40%, accelerating its US expansion, and deepening its global, data- and tech-enabled teams.
- 9thWonder is Gravity Global’s fourth U.S. acquisition in the last 15 months.
USA:?RCG Global Services?Acquires Software Development Firm?Woodridge Software
- Woodridge Software has 74 employees.
- Woodridge specialises in building custom mobile and web applications for enterprises across a diverse set of industries.
- As a result of the acquisition, RCG has expanded its delivery team in the U.S. which strengthens RCG's existing capabilities in strategy, design, development, and operations for the financial services industry.
- RCG is part of the Frontenac portfolio of companies, a Chicago-based private equity firm, focused on investing in lower middle market buyout transactions in the consumer, industrial, and services industries.
Germany:?Affinity?Acquires Media Tech Company?Opinary
- Opinary has 39 employees.
- Opinary develops a user engagement platform for publishers globally.
- The acquisition strengthens Affinity’s market presence through Opinary’s extensive network of brands and publishers.
- Opinary was backed by VCs like Project A and Trafo.
- The transaction was fully funded via a consideration mix of equity and cash.
USA:?Level Agency?Acquires Marketing Agency?Becker Media
- Becker Media has 49 employees.
- Becker is an education-focused performance marketing agency specializing in direct response marketing and lead generation.
- The acquisition aims to expand Level Agency’s performance marketing capabilities and the education marketing market.
- The acquisition will preserve Becker’s brand identity and there will be no changes to the team.
Germany:?TargetVideo?Acquires Technology Platform?Brid.TV
- Brid.TV has 49 employees.
- Brid.TV is a video revenue & engagement platform that helps publishers and ad networks optimize the video monetization process and boost ROI.
- The acquisition aims to give TargetVideo access to the international market and also accelerates the development of its ad-technology.
- Brid.TV is a long-time technology partner of TargetVideo.
Canada:?ZGM?Acquires Design Agency?Dossier
- Dossier has 12 employees.
- Dossier specializes in brand design, package design, interaction design, digital design and business modelling.
- The acquisition of Dossier is to help meet the growing demand for its services in the packaged goods and food spaces. Dossier brings expertise in the food and beverage sector, into which ZGM has plans to expand.
- The agency is the fifth to be acquired by ZGM in just over a decade, with each company either adding a new service offering or expanding the agency’s geographic footprint.
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