Martin Sorrell’s WPP leads marketing and communications global deals surge in first quarter of 2016
The value of deals activity in the marketing and communications sector grew by two-thirds in the first quarter of 2016.
During the three months, 288 deals completed in the global market, up 32 per cent year on year, according to new research by Results International published today.
The combined disclosed value of the deals was $6.5bn, up from $3.9bn in the first quarter of 2015.
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Sir Martin Sorrell's London-listed WPP was the most active in the sector, with 14 deals completed. UK companies, meanwhile, were the targets of 38 of the deals.
The next most active companies were Dentsu, with 12 deals completed, and Publicis, with six deals. IT company IBM was also active, acquiring four firms in the sector.
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Julie Langley, a Results International partner, said: “First quarter activity suggests we should expect to see growing interest in agencies that can make the best use of data, and also there’s no doubt that good mobile businesses will get snapped up in a heartbeat.
“As a result marcoms is a very strong M&A market that is ever more competitive for acquirers. With buyers coming in from all sides and the lines between marcoms and technology getting increasingly blurred, the market should remain robust.”