WPP - M&A Summary and Business Overview

MarketingCompany

WPP M&A Summary

WPP has acquired 96 companies, including 15 in the last 5 years. A total of 6 acquisitions came from private equity firms. It has also divested 6 assets.

WPP’s largest acquisition to date was in 2008, when it acquired Taylor Nelson Sofres for $2.5B. WPP has acquired in 13 different US states, and 26 countries. The Company’s most targeted sectors include marketing (45%) and media (17%).

WPP Business Overview

Where is WPP headquartered?

WPP is headquartered in London, United Kingdom.

What is WPP’s revenue?

WPP disclosed revenue of 14,845M GBP for 2023 and 14,429M GBP for 2022.

How many employees does WPP have?

WPP has 104,000 employees.

What sector is WPP in?

WPP is a marketing company.

When was WPP founded?

WPP was founded in 1985.

M&A Summary

  • M&A Total Activity101
    • M&A Buy Activity95
    • M&A Sell Activity6
  • Total Sectors Invested 9
  • Total Countries Invested 26
  • M&A Buy/Sell Connections 16

WPP

WPP plc

Sea Containers, 18 Upper Ground,
London, SE1 9GL
United Kingdom,
+44 20 7282 4600
www.wpp.com

WPP is a marketing communications services provider that offers a comprehensive range of advertising and marketing services including advertising & media investment management; data investment management; public relations & public affairs; branding & identity; healthcare communications; direct, digital, promotion & relationship marketing and specialist communications. WPP was founded in 1985 and is based in London, the United Kingdom.


M&A Summary

Buy vs Sell

Year ≤ '19 '20 '21 '22 '23 '24 T
Buy (3.0/yr) # 80 - 4 6 5 - 95
vol $5.8B $5.8B
Sell (0.2/yr) # 5 - - - - 1 6
  101

Most Recent M&A

Company Date Value Type
FGS Global, Inc. 2024-08-07 - Divestiture
New York, New York · www.fgsglobal.com
amp GmbH 2023-04-20 - Add-on Acquisition
Munich, Germany · www.ampsoundbranding.com
Obviously 2023-03-27 - Add-on Acquisition
New York, New York · www.obvious.ly
Goat Solutions Ltd. 2023-03-22 - Add-on Acquisition
London, United Kingdom · www.goatagency.com
3K Agentur für Kommunikation GmbH 2023-03-07 - Add-on Acquisition
Frankfurt, Germany · www.3k-kommunikation.de
Fenom Digital LLC 2023-01-05 - Add-on Acquisition
Red Bank, New Jersey · www.fenomdigital.com
Ben Crudo Consulting Inc. 2022-12-08 - Add-on Acquisition
Montreal, Quebec · www.diffagency.com
Passport Brand Design 2022-10-06 - Add-on Acquisition
Newport Beach, California · www.passportbranddesign.com
The Jeffrey Group LLC 2022-09-21 - Add-on Acquisition
Miami, Florida · www.jeffreygroup.com
Newcraft Group B.V. 2022-09-01 - Add-on Acquisition
Amsterdam, Netherlands · www.newcraftgroup.com
View All >>

Business Unit M&A

Company Acquired Add-On/Sale Date #
Group M Worldwide, Inc.    - IEG Sponsorship Conference 2018-07-23 1
New York, New York · www.groupm.com Chicago, Illinois · www.sponsorship.com
Wunderman Thompson    - Pmweb Comunicação Ltda. 2017-01-03 9
New York, New York · www.wundermanthompson.com Sao Paulo, Brazil · www.pmweb.com.br
FITCH    - StartJG Hong Kong Ltd. 2016-10-24 1
London, United Kingdom · www.fitch.com Hong Kong, China
Xaxis LLC    - Triad Retail Media, Inc. 2016-10-13 3
New York, New York · www.xaxis.com Tampa, Florida · www.triadretail.com
Group M Worldwide, Inc.    - The Exchange Lab Ltd. 2015-12-21 16
New York, New York · www.groupm.com London, United Kingdom · www.theexchangelab.com
Group M Worldwide, Inc.    - plista GmbH 2014-01-07 15
New York, New York · www.groupm.com Berlin, Germany · www.plista.com
WPP AUNZ Ltd.    - AMR Interactive Group Pty Ltd. 2006-02-28 3
Millers Point, Australia · www.wppaunz.com St Leonards,NSW, Australia · www.amrinteractive.com.au

M&A by Sector

Sector Buy # Value Sell # Value
Marketing 42 (44%) 5.5B (94%) 3 (50%) -
Media 16 (17%) - 1 (17%) -
Digital Media 16 (17%) - - -
Business Services 7 (7%) 350M (6%) 1 (17%) -
Information Technology 5 (5%) - - -
Internet Software and Services 4 (4%) - - -
Software 3 (3%) - - -
Information Services 1 (1%) - 1 (17%) -
E-Commerce 1 (1%) - - -
Total 95 $5.8B 6 -

By Geo

State/Country Buy Value Sell Value
United States 32 3.4B 2 -
  New York 12 3.0B 2 -
  California 5 350M - -
  District of Columbia 2 - - -
  Texas 2 - - -
  Pennsylvania 2 - - -
  Florida 2 - - -
  Oregon 1 - - -
  Ohio 1 - - -
  North Carolina 1 - - -
  New Jersey 1 - - -
  Montana 1 - - -
  Minnesota 1 - - -
  Illinois 1 - - -
United Kingdom 18 2.5B 2 -
Germany 5 - - -
Australia 4 - - -
India 3 - 1 -
Brazil 3 - - -
Canada 3 - - -
  Quebec 1 - - -
  Ontario 1 - - -
  British Columbia 1 - - -
Italy 3 - - -
Belgium 2 - - -
France 2 - - -
Ireland 1 - 1 -
Mexico 2 - - -
Netherlands 2 - - -
South Africa 2 - - -
Vietnam 2 - - -
1 - - -
China 1 - - -
Denmark 1 - - -
Malaysia 1 - - -
Mongolia 1 - - -
Peru 1 - - -
Philippines 1 - - -
Portugal 1 - - -
Singapore 1 - - -
Spain 1 - - -
Sweden 1 - - -
Domestic 18 (19%) 2.5B (42%) 2 (33%) -
Cross-border 77 (81%) 3.4B (58%) 4 (67%) -
Total 95 $5.8B 6 -

Deal Values

buy # Total
> $1B 2 $4.0B
$100M to $1B 3 $1.9B
TOTAL $5.8B
Largest Taylor Nelson Sofres plc
$2.5B (2008-10-08)

M&A Connections

Deals
Acquired from
Investor(s)
5%
5 (5%)
Strategic(s)
2%
2 (2%)
Divested to
Investor(s)
67%
4 (67%)
Strategic(s)
33%
2 (33%)

Company Summary

SECTOR

Marketing

Revenue

14,845   3% 2023
14,429   13% 2022
12,801   7% 2021
12,003   10% 2020
13,234   16% 2019
15,602   3% 2018
15,265   7% 2017
14,389   18% 2016
12,235   7% 2015
11,529   5% 2014
11,019   7% 2013
10,373   2012
(millions of GBP) Show More Show Less

Employees

104,000

Established

1985

Public

London Stock Exchange: WPP

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