WPP operating company JWT has acquired a majority stake in Durban-based The Hardy Boys, whose clients include Unilever, Diageo, SA Home Loans, ADvTECH and RCL Foods, among others. According to WPP, The Hardy Boys’ revenues for the year ended 28 February 2014 were approximately R55 million, with gross assets at the same date of approximately R32.2 million.
In South Africa, WPP (including associates) generates revenues of around US$500 million and employs around 26 000 people. Across the continent of Africa, WPP (including associates) collectively generates revenues of over US$600 million and employs over 27 000.
WPP recently announced that its wholly-owned operating company Grey had acquired a majority stake in The Volcano Group. It also took a controlling stake in Quirk.
Both WPP and Publicis have been actively acquiring agency properties in the country over the past few months, with more deals in the pipeline. WPP also recently bought into Cerebra and Native; Publicis Groupe recently bought out OwenKessel and merged it with Leo Burnett, as well as digital agency Lighthouse Digital, which has become part of Publicis division Starcom MediaVest Group. In December 2013, Publicis also bought out digital agency Synergize to sit within Saatchi & Saatchi South Africa.
See also:
- WPP acquires majority stake in Cerebra
- WPP buys NATIVE, joins agency to VML network
- South Africa Top 4 revenue growth region for WPP
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