New figures from marketing effectiveness consultancy R3 show that Publicis Groupe (above) led the way in mergers and acquisitions in 2014, thanks to its mega $3.7bn deal to buy US tech consultancy Sapient. The deal actually closed this year but was agreed in 2014.
R3 expects Sapient to add $1bn to Publicis revenues in 2015 which will move the French-owned group closer to, but still behind, number two marcoms group Omnicom.
The ever-active WPP led the way (as usual) in the number of deals with 43 but these amounted to ‘just’ $1.3bn. Which might make you believe that boss Sir Martin Sorrell has a big one up his sleeve for 2015.
In another sign of things to come, Dentsu and China’s Blue Focus moved significantly up the M&A ladder (to fifth and fourth places respectively).
