The acquisition of WARC by Ascential marks a significant milestone in marketing intelligence. This strategic £24 million purchase enhances Ascential’s digital capabilities.
WARC, renowned for its digital marketing intelligence services, joins Ascential as the latter expands its influence in marketing effectiveness and creative excellence, blending their services with Cannes Lions’ The Work.
Global marketing intelligence firm WARC is poised to become part of Ascential in a substantial £24 million acquisition. Ascential, listed on the London Stock Exchange, will integrate WARC’s expertise to enhance its digital service offering.
The deal involves an initial payment of £19.5 million, with an additional £4.5 million deferred until 2019. This acquisition underlines Ascential’s commitment to bolstering its resources in digital marketing effectiveness.
Founded in 1985, WARC provides digital subscription services to evaluate the effectiveness of marketing strategies across various platforms. Its clientele includes approximately 1,200 global customers.
With offices in London, Washington DC, and Singapore, WARC employs around 90 staff, marking its significant presence in the international market.
The acquisition signifies an important step for Ascential to grow its digital footprint and enhance its marketing capabilities.
By combining WARC with Cannes Lions’ The Work, Ascential aims to offer a distinct digital subscription product, reinforcing its position in marketing intelligence.
Ascential’s CEO, Duncan Painter, recognises this acquisition as a method to add depth to their digital offerings, focusing on achieving creative excellence and marketing effectiveness.
WARC reported revenues of £10.8 million for the financial year ending 31 March 2018. This revenue stream provides a steady financial foundation for Ascential post-acquisition.
The investment in WARC reflects Ascential’s strategy to expand its high-value digital services within the marketing sector.
The strategic combination of WARC with Cannes Lions’ The Work is a focal point of the acquisition.
This integration aims to establish a robust digital subscription model that targets both marketing creativity and effectiveness.
By leveraging Cannes Lions’ renowned brand, Ascential strives to deliver a comprehensive marketing solution to its audience.
Duncan Painter, Ascential’s CEO, has underlined the strategic merits of this acquisition. It aligns with Ascential’s objective to diversify and enhance its product offerings.
The leadership team is focused on executing a seamless integration to optimise both WARC’s and Cannes Lions’ strengths.
Painter emphasises the combination of creative prowess with data-driven marketing approaches, indicating a visionary path for future growth.
The deal is set for completion by 2 July 2018, with expectations of significant synergies post-merge.
Ascential anticipates leveraging its extended capabilities to further dominate the marketing intelligence landscape.
This acquisition cements Ascential’s position as a leader in marketing intelligence, providing valuable insights to its clients.
The integration of WARC promises to enhance creativity and effectiveness in digital marketing services, marking a forward-thinking direction for the company.