Datacenter

Revenue ($ in millions)	2021	2020	% chg
Worldwide	$12,500.0	$10,648.3	17.4
U.S.	$5,900.0	$4,644.8	27.0
Non-U.S.	$6,600.0	$6,003.6	9.9
Ticker: ACN (NYSE)

Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

Fast facts: Accenture Interactive is a marketing-services operation within global consulting giant Accenture. Revenue shown is revenue for year ended August 2021 (shown as 2021).

Business segments and operations:

Accenture:

Accenture plc is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company. Dublin-based Accenture had about 624,000 employees in more than 200 cities in 50 countries in August 2021.

The company reported the following worldwide "revenues":

Fiscal 2021 (year ended August 2021): $50.533 billion
Fiscal 2020: $44.327 billion
Fiscal 2019: $43.215 billion
Fiscal 2018: $40.993 billion
Fiscal 2017: $36.177 billion
Fiscal 2016: $34.254 billion
Fiscal 2015: $32.406 billion

Effective Sept. 1, 2018, Accenture adopted Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and stopped reporting "net revenues." The company now reports "revenues," which include reimbursements.

Accenture previously reported "net revenues." The company reported the following worldwide "net revenues":

Fiscal 2018 (year ended August 2018): $39.573 billion
Fiscal 2017: $34.850 billion
Fiscal 2016: $32.883 billion
Fiscal 2015: $31.048 billion
Fiscal 2014: $30.002 billion
Fiscal 2013: $28.563 billion
Fiscal 2012: $27.862 billion
Fiscal 2011: $25.507 billion
Fiscal 2010: $21.551 billion
Fiscal 2009: $21.577 billion

Accenture reported the following worldwide employment:

August 2021: 624,000
August 2020: 506,000
August 2019: 492,000
August 2018: 459,000
August 2017: 435,000
August 2016: 384,000
August 2015: 358,000
August 2014: 305,000
August 2013: 275,000
August 2012: 257,000
August 2011: 236,000

Accenture Interactive:

Accenture Interactive launched in 2009. Accenture Interactive offers marketing services including consulting, technology and outsourcing.

Accenture's 10-K for year ended August 2021 said:

"Interactive combines creativity and technology to deliver meaningful experiences that drive sustainable growth and value for our clients. Our capabilities span ideation to execution: growth, product and culture design; technology and experience platforms; creative, media and marketing strategy; and campaign, content and channel orchestration. With strong client relationships and deep industry and function expertise, we are uniquely positioned to design, build, communicate and run experiences, reimagining the entire journey for customers, employees, patients and citizens alike. We embed this focus on experience across our services."Accenture in January 2020 reorganized the company into four services: Strategy & Consulting, Technology, Operations and Interactive. That marked the first time Accenture Interactive went to market as is own priority area within Accenture's overall company structure. Before that 2020 reorganization, Accenture Interactive operated as part of Accenture Digital, which offered a portfolio of consulting, technology and outsourcing services across digital marketing, mobility and analytics. Accenture formed Accenture Digital in December 2013 as the umbrella group for Accenture's digital assets, software and services across digital customer experience (Accenture Interactive), mobility (Accenture Mobility) and analytics (Accenture Analytics). Accenture dissolved the Accenture Digital grouping in the 2020 reorganization.

Deals and strategic moves:

Accenture has grown its marketing-services offerings in part through acquisitions.

Acquisitions include: Openmind, Milan, Italy (July 2021); Bionic, New York (June 2021); Entropia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (June 2021); Businet System, Tokyo (February 2021); Creative Drive, New York (August 2020); Yesler, Seattle (April 2020); Hjaltelin Stahl, Copenhagen (November 2019); Sutter Mills, Paris (November 2019); Box & Arrow, London (October 2019); Insitum, Mexico City (September 2019); Droga5, New York (May 2019); Shackleton, Madrid (April 2019); Storm Digital, Groningen, Netherlands (March 2019); Hjaltelin Stahl, Copenhagen, Denmark (March 2019); Adaptly, New York (December 2018); New Content, Brazil (December 2018); Kaplan, Stockholm (November 2018); Kolle Rebbe, Hamburg, Germany (November 2018); HO Communication, Shanghai (July 2018); MXM, New York (May 2018); Mackevision, Stuttgart, Germany (February 2018); Rothco, Dublin (February 2018); Altima, Roubaix, France (January 2018); Matter, San Francisco (September 2017); Wire Stone, San Francisco (August 2017); Clearhead, Austin, Texas (July 2017); Intrepid, Boston (June 2017); The Monkeys, Sydney (May 2017); Media Hive, New York (May 2017); Kunstmaan, Brussels (April 2017); SinnerSchrader, Hamburg, Germany (April 2017; majority stake); Karmarama, London (November 2016); IMJ Corp., Tokyo (July 2016); AD.Dialeto, Brazil (August 2015); Chaotic Moon, Austin, Texas (July 2015); PacificLink Group, Hong Kong (July 2015); Brightstep, Sweden (June 2015); Reactive Media, Australia (February 2015); Acquity Group, Chicago (July 2013); and Fjord, London (May 2013).

Droga5:

Accenture Interactive on April 3, 2019 agreed to buy Droga5, a high-profile creative agency. Accenture Interactive announced the deal's closing on May 1, 2019.

MXM:

Accenture on March 29, 2018, agreed to acquire MXM from Meredith Corp. MXM specializes in direct, database, digital and word-of-mouth marketing to corporate customers, as well as custom publishing. Accenture Interactive completed the acquisition of Meredith Xcelerated Marketing on May 4, 2018.

Wire Stone:

Accenture in August 2017 acquired Wire Stone, a digital agency based in San Francisco. The agency in August 2017 had about 200 employees.

Karmarama:

Accenture in November 2016 acquired Karmarama, a creative, digital and data agency based in London. The agency in November 2016 had about 250 employees.

IMJ Corp.:

Accenture in July 2016 acquired IMJ Corp., a digital agency based in Tokyo. The agency in April 2016 had about 600 employees.

AD.Dialeto:

Accenture in August 2015 acquired AD.Dialeto, a digital agency based in Sao Paulo. The agency in March 2016 had more than 100 employees.

Chaotic Moon:

Accenture in July 2015 acquired Chaotic Moon, an Austin, Texas-based, company that designs and develops software products. Chaotic Moon was founded in 2010.

Pacific Link Group:

Accenture in July 2015 acquired PacificLink Group, a group of six digital agencies based in Hong Kong. PacificLink Group had about 240 employees at the time of acquisition.

Brightstep:

Accenture in June 2015 acquired Brightstep, a Stockholm-based company that specializes in digital content and commerce solutions. Brightstep had more than 60 employees at the time of acquisition. Brightstep was founded in 2001.

Reactive Media:

Accenture in February 2015 acquired Reactive Media, a digital agency based in Melbourne, Australia, with offices in Sydney, London, New York and Auckland. The company's portfolio includes services for design and usability, technology development, digital marketing, digital strategy and e-commerce, delivered to companies in the retail, resources, entertainment, telecommunications and automotive industry as well as public sector organizations. Reactive Media was founded in 1997.

Acquity Group:

Accenture in July 2013 acquired Acquity Group, a Chicago-based digital agency, for $316 million cash ($282.985 million cash, net of cash acquired) and aligned it with Accenture Interactive, Accenture's Chicago-based digital marketing-services agency.

At the time of the acquisition announcement, Accenture Interactive employed 4,000 people while Acquity had more than 600 employees. Accenture at the time employed 266,000 people worldwide.

Acquity Group was founded in March 2001 and incorporated in the Cayman Islands. Acquity in May 2012 completed its initial public offering of American depositary shares.

Prior to the offering, Acquity was 30 percent owned by management and 70 percent by 2020 China Holdings, a venture owned by Louis Koo and Adrian Chan. Koo and Chan originally bought their Acquity stake in March 2008 for $49 million. Chan was a former investment banker at Goldman Sachs and UBS. Goldman Sachs served as Acquity's adviser on the sale to Accenture.

Fjord:

Accenture in May 2013 acquired Fjord, a London-based service design company. At the time of acquisition, Fjord employed more than 200 design experts in nine global creative hubs including Berlin, Helsinki, Istanbul, London, Madrid, New York, Paris, San Francisco and Stockholm. Fjord was founded in 2001.

History:

Accenture, initially known as Andersen Consulting, was established in 1989 as a separate legal entity operating independently from Arthur Andersen, a major accounting firm. Andersen Consulting changed its name to Accenture on Jan. 1, 2001. Arthur Andersen ceased its accounting practice in 2002.



Top executive: David Droga, CEO and creative chairman; Baiju Shah, global chief strategy officer; Sarah Thompson, global lead-communications and content
Headquarters: Accenture's Accenture Interactive/395 Ninth Ave., New York, N.Y. 10001/Phone: (917) 452-4400
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/accentureinteractive
Twitter: @AccentureActive
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/accenture-interactive

https://www.accentureinteractive.com

Revenue ($ in millions)	2021	2020	% chg
Worldwide	$1,233.5	$1,015.9	21.4
U.S.	$837.3	$751.6	11.4
Non-U.S.	$396.2	$264.3	49.9
Ticker: ADV (Nasdaq)

Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

Fast facts: Overview:

Advantage Marketing Partners is a full-service integrated-marketing agency group specializing in consumer, shopper, experiential and digital marketing.

Advantage Marketing Partners is the marketing-services division of Advantage Solutions.

Business segments and operations:

Advantage Marketing Partners:

Advantage Marketing Partners is the marketing-services division of Advantage Solutions, a business services provider.

Advantage Solutions (formerly Advantage Sales and Marketing) launched IN Marketing Services in 2000 as a shopper-promotions agency.

IN Marketing Services in 2015 rebranded under the umbrella name Advantage Marketing Partners.

Advantage Marketing Partners is based in Irvine, California.

Advantage Solutions:

Advantage Solutions offers business services for consumer goods marketers and retailers. The company's services include sales, retail merchandising, business intelligence and digital commerce along with (through Advantage Marketing Partners) a range of marketing services.

Advantage Sales and Marketing changed its name to Advantage Solutions in 2015.

Advantage Sales and Marketing began in 1987 as an independent food brokerage company in Southern California.

Advantage Sales and Marketing began to expand nationally in 1997. It now has offices throughout North America and a presence in select markets in Africa, Asia, Australia and Europe.

Allied Capital Corp., a business-development company, in 2004 bought a majority stake in Advantage Sales and Marketing. This followed a smaller investment that Allied had made in an Advantage Sales and Marketing unit in 2001.

Allied in 2006 sold a majority stake in Advantage Sales and Marketing to buyout firms J.W. Childs Associates and Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity.

J.W. Childs and BAML Capital Partners (formerly Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity) in 2010 sold a majority stake in Advantage Sales and Marketing to Apax Partners, another buyout firm.

Apax in 2014 sold its majority stake to buyout firms Leonard Green & Partners, based in Los Angeles, and CVC Capital Partners, based in London. Advantage Sales and Marketing said its senior management team would continue to own "a significant equity interest."

Other investors joined Leonard Green and CVC as investors in Advantage Solutions starting in 2017.

Advantage Solutions in October 2020 became a Nasdaq-listed public company through a business combination with Conyers Park II Acquisition Corp., a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company.

Deals and strategic moves:

Daymon Worldwide:

Advantage Solutions in December 2017 acquired 100% of Daymon Worldwide, a provider of services to retailers with a major presence in private label products.

Daymon's services included strategy and insights, sourcing, packaging and branding design, in-store retail execution and consumer experience marketing. Daymon's marketing-services arm is Daymon Interactions.

The deal came less than a year after Bain Capital in January 2017 teamed up with Yonghui Superstores Co., a supermarket chain in China, to buy Daymon. Bain had a 60% stake; Yonghui had a 40% stake. Bain and Yonghui gained an equity stake in Advantage when they sold Daymon to Advantage.

Other deals:

Advantage Solutions in 2021 acquired: SmallTalk, a digital agency in Palo Alto, California; and Gig Retail, a retail media agency in Leeds, U.K.

Advantage Solutions in 2020 acquired SixSpeed, a brand and consumer activation agency in Minneapolis.

Advantage Solutions in 2019 acquired: Bump Club and Beyond, an online community for parents basedin Chicago; and Halverson Group, a global strategy and research agency in Oak Park, Illinois.

Advantages Solutions in 2018 acquired: CSSI, a Chicago-based culinary marketing agency; Red/E, a quick-serve marketing platform; Take 5 Media Group, a Florida-based direct response agency; and Jun Group, a New York-based mobile video advertising agency.

Advantage Solutions in May 2017 bought Brand Connections, a consumer promotion, retail marketing and shopper marketing services company. Brand Connections had been owned by buyout firm Veronis Suhler Stevenson. At the time of the acquisition, Brand Connections had more than 60 staffers in its New York headquarters with an additional 370 field team members across the U.S. The company in March 2017 acquired Hatch Design, a brand and marketing agency in San Francisco.

The company completed 11 acquisitions in 2016. That included six sales agencies, one sales digital agency and two marketing agencies in the U.S. and Canada; and one sales digital agency and one sales agency in Europe.

Advantage Solutions in November 2016 acquired Upshot, an integrated marketing services agency based in Chicago.

Advantage Solutions in October 2016 acquired Adlucent, an Austin, Texas-based search marketing agency.

Advantage Solutions in June 2016 acquired Sage Tree, an e-commerce agency based in suburban Chicago. Advantage Marketing Partners on Sept. 1, 2015, acquired Marlin Network, a food-service marketing agency based in Springfield, Mo. At the time of the acquisition, Marlin Network operated five business units (Marlin, Deep, The Alchemedia Project, Food IQ and StarAwards).

Advantage Marketing Partners on July 1, 2015, acquired Blitz, a Los Angeles digital agency.

Advantage Sales and Marketing in June 2015 began a strategic international partnership with South Africa-based Smollan Group to, the companies said, "become the first and only global provider of innovative outsourced sales and marketing solutions for consumer goods companies and retailers."

Under the terms of the partnership, Advantage Sales and Marketing made an investment in Smollan, and the two companies agreed to cooperate to provide global services. Advantage Sales and Marketing took primary responsibility for execution within North America; Smollan took primary responsibility for execution within Africa, the Middle East, South America, Australia and East and South Asia. The two companies said they would serve Europe through a newly formed joint venture, Advantage Smollan.

Advantage Smollan in November 2016 acquired Flixmedia, a London-based digital retail platform provider.

IN Marketing Services in 2014 acquired two agencies: 206 Inc., an experiential agency in Seattle; and Sunflower Group, an experiential, merchandising and data/analytics agency in Lenexa, Kan.

IN Marketing Services acquired three U.S. promotions agencies in 2013: AMP Agency, an integrated digital branding and marketing agency based in Boston; Eventus, a Miami-based experiential marketing, sports, entertainment and shopper-marketing agency focused on multicultural consumers; and MASS Hispanic Marketing, a shopper-marketing agency based in Miami that specializes in multicultural audiences.

IN Marketing Services in 2007 bought Campaigners, an in-store marketing firm focused on consumer electronics. IN Marketing Services acquired two other marketing firms, TryFoods International and Marketration, in 2006.

IN Marketing Services in 2009 united its marketing-services operations, including Marketration, TryFoods International and Campaigners, under the IN Marketing Services brand.

Stock:

Advantage Solutions in October 2020 became a Nasdaq-listed public company through a business combination with Conyers Park II Acquisition Corp., a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company.



Top executive: Jill Griffin, CEO, Advantage Solutions; Gary Colen, president-marketing and digital commerce solutions; Andrea Young, president-customer experience, Advantage Solutions
Headquarters: Advantage Solutions' Advantage Marketing Partners/15310 Barranca Parkway, Suite 100, Irvine, Calif. 92618/Phone: (949) 797-2900
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/advantage-solutions-sales-marketing-technology

https://advantagesolutions.net

Revenue ($ in millions)	2021	2020	% chg
Worldwide	$2,897.8	$2,332.8	24.2
U.S.	$234.7	$146.1	60.7
Non-U.S.	$2,663.0	$2,186.7	21.8
Ticker: KRX:030000 (KRX)

Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

Fast facts: Cheil Worldwide is an agency company based in South Korea.

Cheil Worldwide is ranked in Ad Age Agency Report's Agency Companies ranking based on operating revenue.

Cheil was founded in 1973 and began to expand internationally in 1988, opening its first international branch office in Tokyo.

Cheil grew out of South Korea's Samsung network. Samsung remains a key client.

Publicis Groupe in June 2016 said it had ended talks with Samsung about a potential investment in Cheil. A Publicis statement said it "confirms having agreed with Samsung to end the discussions regarding a possible investment alongside the proposed collaboration with Cheil Worldwide." Samsung remained a client for Publicis: "The strategic relationship with Samsung is as strong as ever and we will continue to work daily with Samsung and Cheil Worldwide to make the brand even more successful," the Publicis statement said.

Publicis and Cheil earlier in 2016 had discussed the potential for Publicis to buy a minority stake in Cheil.

Samsung had apparently been talking to several agencies about options for Cheil. The South Korean agency company said in a June 2016 regulatory filing that it had learned talks between a "key shareholder and global agencies on multiple avenues to cooperate broke off without any conclusion, and that key shareholder is not engaged in any talks for cooperation with other third parties at present."

Publicis Chairman-CEO Maurice Levy said on an April 2016 earnings call: "We don't expect this year to be a year of numerous or large acquisitions with one possible exception, as I'm very cautious, which is the conversation that we had since a long while with ups and downs with Cheil. As I said in [a] previous call, we are in a discussion -- strategic discussion. And sometimes, there is an acceleration. Sometimes, there is a slowdown. If I had to say, we are in a plateau today, so it's difficult to say that this will happen or will not, and it's difficult to measure when and if this will happen."

Cheil became listed on the Korean Stock Exchange in 1998.

Samsung Electronics, with a 12.6 percent stake, and affiliate Samsung C&T Corp., with a 12.64 percent stake, as of September 2015 together owned 25.24 percent of Cheil Worldwide, according to Cheil regulatory filings.

Samsung owned 25.2% of Cheil Worldwide as of December 2020, according to Samsung's financial filings.

Hakuhodo DY Holdings as of March 31, 2020, owned 51% of Hakuhodo Cheil, a joint venture in South Korea with Cheil Worldwide, which owned 49%, according to Hakuhodo DY Holdings' annual report. Hakuhodo Cheil is a consolidated subsidiary of Hakuhodo DY Holdings.

Cheil on May 22, 2020, acquired ColourData, a data analytics company in Shanghai.

Cheil in 2018 acquired Boston-based agency 89 Degrees and folded it into Iris Worldwide under the name Iris Concise.

Cheil in January 2015 completed acquisition of a majority stake in Iris Worldwide, including marketing and communications agency Pepper Global, which Iris bought in August 2014.

An Iris press release at the time of acquisition said Pepper Global had 115 employees and three offices in Munich, Chicago and Singapore.

Cheil Worldwide in November 2014 announced it was buying a stake in Iris.

Iris until that point was minority owned by Meredith Corp.

Cheil and Iris declined to disclose terms of the deal. Cheil said in its November 2014 statement that it was making "a significant initial investment" that "will potentially rise to 100 percent of the business over the next five years."

As part of the deal, Meredith Corp. relinquished the minority stake in Iris it acquired in 2011.

Cheil owned a 65 percent stake in Iris as of March 2016 and March 2017. Cheil as of March 2018 and March 2019 had a 75.04 percent stake in Iris. Cheil as of March 2020 had a 100 percent stake in Iris.

Iris in November 2017 acquired London-based digital agency Atom42.

Iris in March 2017 acquired Toronto-based pricing strategy consulting firm Pricing Solutions.

Iris in April 2016 acquired London-based creative agency Founded.

Cheil in July 2012 bought a 100 percent stake in Durham, N.C.-based McKinney for an estimated $50 million.

Cheil in December 2009 bought a 47 percent share of digital agency Barbarian Group and in April 2010 increased its ownership to 75.56 percent. In first-quarter 2014 Cheil increased its stake in Barbarian Group to 100 percent.

Cheil in September 2009 bought a majority stake in OpenTide Greater China (now Cheil PengTai), an agency based in Beijing. Cheil in March 2014 had a 99.3 percent stake in the agency up from 58.33 percent a year earlier. Cheil in March 2017 retained a 99.3 percent stake in the agency. Cheil in April 2019 increased its stake in the agency to 100 percent.

Cheil in December 2008 bought a 49 percent stake in Beattie McGuinness Bungay, a London-based agency, in a step to build its international presence. Cheil in March 2014 had a 75 percent stake in Beattie McGuinness Bungay up from 49 percent a year earlier. Cheil in March 2016 and March 2015 retained a 75 percent stake in the agency. Cheil in March 2017 had a 100 percent stake in the agency up from 75 percent a year earlier.

Cheil in December 2017 named Jeongkeun Yoo president and CEO. Yoo began work at Cheil in 1987 as an account executive. His most-recent position was executive VP. Yoo succeeded former Cheil president and CEO Daiki Lim who resigned.

Cheil in December 2012 named Daiki Lim president and CEO. Lim had been Samsung's VP-corporate strategy in charge of advertising and communications prior to his appointment at Cheil. Lim succeeded former Cheil president and CEO Nack-hoi Kim who retired.



Top executive: Jeongkeun Yoo, president and CEO
Headquarters: Cheil Worldwide/222 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, 04404/Phone: 82 2 3780 2114
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/globalcheilworldwide
Twitter: @Cheil_Worldwide

http://www.cheil.co.kr/hq

Revenue ($ in millions)	2021	2020	% chg
Worldwide	$8,741.0	$8,019.2	9.0
U.S.	$4,546.9	$4,210.1	8.0
Non-U.S.	$4,194.1	$3,809.1	10.1

Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

Fast facts: Deloitte Digital is Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu's digital-services operation.

Revenue shown for Deloitte Digital is Deloitte Digital's reported revenue for work related to digital marketing, including creative, strategy, analytics and other services.

Business segments and operations:

Deloitte Consulting and its Deloitte Digital operation are part of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, a global group of firms providing audit, consulting, financial advisory, risk management and tax services.

Deals and strategic moves:

Deloitte has built its digital offerings through acquisitions and internal expansion.

Among the acquisitions:

2021:

Madras Global (Ad2Pro Global Creative Solutions Private Limited), a global content production agency.

Awesome TLV, a brand animation and user experience design studio based in Israel.

The Working Group (TWG), a digital consulting firm in Toronto.

2019:

Pervorm, a digital marketing agency in Amsterdam with an office in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

2018:

Brandfirst, an interactive marketing agency in Evere, Belgium.

Magnetic Media, an artificial intelligence company in New York.

AtaData, a cloud management services company in Atlanta.

Third Wave Consulting, a technology consulting firm in Halifax, Canada.

Wingman, a digital agency in Lisbon, Portugal.

CloudinIT, a consulting firm that implements Salesforce and Amazon Web Services systems in New Zealand.

2017:

Acne, a creative agency in the U.K.

Blab, a social intelligence platform services company in Seattle.

Web Decisions, a data management and marketing services company in Greensboro, N.C.

Red Planet, an innovation consultancy based in Dublin.

Market Gravity, a design consultancy in London.

Well Placed Cactus, a software developer firm in Melbourne and Brisbane, Australia.

Strut Digital, a cloud consulting firm in Sydney.

2016:

The Explainers, a digital studio in Australia that helps clients communicate through business storytelling.

Sixtree, a systems integrator based in Australia and founded in 2010.

Uselab, a user experience and customer experience design firm based in Poland.

Qualitekna, a digital marketing firm in Italy.

Heat, a creative agency in San Francisco, acquired in February 2016. Heat, founded in 2004, had 112 employees at the time of the acquisition.

Jinja Interactive, a South Africa-based digital-services firm focused on financial-services clients.

2015:

Alert Group, an information and communications technology firm in Malta.

Digital One, a digital agency in Poland.

MashUp, a customer experience consultancy in Australia.

LRA Worldwide, a customer experience measurement firm based in Pennsylvania.

Mobiento, a digital agency in Sweden.

2014:

Flow Interactive, a user experience design agency based in Cape Town, South Africa, founded in 2007 and acquired in November 2014.

2013:

Banyan Branch, a Seattle-based digital and social-media agency with about 50 employees, acquired in October 2013.

Doblin, a Chicago-based innovation practice, acquired in February 2013 purchase of Monitor Group.

2012:

Ubermind, a Seattle-based mobile agency with about 200 employees. Ubermind came in No. 6 in Ad Age's 2011 ranking of the Best Places to Work.

2003:

Eclipse Group, an internet development firm in Australia. Deloitte originally bought a 20 percent stake in Eclipse in 2000.

Management and employees:

Deloitte Digital employed more than 800 people worldwide at its May 2012 launch.

History:

Deloitte's Deloitte Consulting launched Deloitte Digital in May 2012, bringing together a global network of digital-services offerings.

The launch press release said: "Deloitte Digital provides clients with a suite of strategy, creative, user experience, engineering and implementation services across mobile, web, social and digital content solutions."

In the press release announcing the launch, John Kerr, managing director of global consulting at Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, said: "The launch of Deloitte Digital combines the strengths of a creative agency, a leading IT consultancy and an industry-centric business strategy provider in one company and allows Deloitte to help clients unleash the business value of these emerging technologies."

Deloitte and WPP in 2000 launched a U.S. digital venture, Roundarch, led by two veterans of Deloitte's Customer Relationship Management and e-Business practices. A Roundarch management group bought back the agency in 2005; Aegis Group purchased Roundarch in 2012; Dentsu Inc. acquired Aegis Group in 2013.



Top executive: Sam Roddick, global and U.K. head; John Peto, U.S. head
Headquarters: Deloitte's Deloitte Digital/330 Hudson St., New York, N.Y. 10013/Phone: (212) 829-6030
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deloittedigital
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deloitte-digital
Twitter: @DeloitteDigital
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/deloitte-digital

https://www.deloittedigital.com

Revenue ($ in millions)	2021	2020	% chg
Worldwide	$9,887.0	$8,794.4	12.4
U.S.	$2,127.9	$1,960.5	8.5
Non-U.S.	$7,759.1	$6,833.9	13.5
Ticker: TYO:4324 (TYO)

Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

Fast facts: Overview:

Dentsu Group is a global agency company based in Tokyo.

Worldwide revenue shown is stated revenue converted to U.S. dollars by Ad Age Datacenter.

Revenue in dollars for Tokyo-based Dentsu Group is affected by currency movements. The yen fell 2.7% against the dollar in 2021. The yen rose 2.1% against the dollar in 2020, 1.3% in 2019 and 1.6% in 2018.

Revenue in dollars was held down by a 3.3% drop in the value of the yen in 2017 vs. 2016. That followed an 11.5% gain in the value of the yen against the dollar in 2016 vs. 2015. This followed a 12.8% drop in the value of the yen in 2015 vs. 2014; 7.6% drop in the value of the yen in 2014 vs. 2013; and 18.2% drop in the value of the yen in 2013 vs. 2012.

Business segments and operations:

Dentsu Group operates two agency networks: Dentsu Japan Network, which oversees Dentsu Group operations in Japan; and Dentsu International, which oversees Dentsu Group operations outside of Japan.

Dentsu Japan Network's Dentsu ad agency, based in Tokyo, is the world's largest advertising agency.

London-based Dentsu International, formerly Dentsu Aegis Network, manages Dentsu Group's non-Japan operations, including former holdings of Aegis Media (the primary unit of Aegis Group, acquired in March 2013) and Dentsu Network. Dentsu Group in September 2020 changed the name of Dentsu Aegis Network to Dentsu International.

The company formed Dentsu Network in April 2012 to oversee Dentsu operations outside Japan, excluding companies solely engaged in sports marketing and content development.

Dentsu Network launched in 2012 with 82 operations in 29 countries. The company folded Dentsu Network West (Dentsu's network in the Americas, Europe and Australia) into Dentsu Network.

The company had formed Dentsu Network West in 2010 to manage agency ventures in the Americas (North America and Latin America) and Europe (excluding Russia).

Restructuring:

Dentsu Group in August 2021 announced a "comprehensive review and accelerated transformation program" intended to simplify its business, reduce operating expenses, improve its balance sheet and maximize shareholder value.

As part of that reorganization, the Dentsu International network plans to consolidate to six "global leadership brands" (Carat, iProspect, Dentsu X, Dentsumcgarrybowen, Isobar, Merkle) from more than 160 brands within two years. With this reorganization, Dentsu International expected its total headcount to decline about 12.5% by the end of calendar 2021 vs. the staffing level in the fourth quarter of 2020.

Dentsu International had 44,770 employees as of December 2021, according to Dentsu Group's integrated report.

Dentsu International had 44,208 employees as of December 2020, according to Dentsu Group's integrated report.

In a statement to Ad Age in March 2021, Dentsu said: "This new structure will be more transparent for our clients, enabling us to serve them better by de-duplicating the services offered to our clients. It will also enable us to reduce costs as our operations become simpler with more common systems and processes. The transformation will also include all service lines, functions and central teams."

New holding company structure:

The company reorganized under Dentsu Group Inc., a pure holding company, effective Jan. 1, 2020.

Up until then, Dentsu Inc. operated as both a holding company (overseeing subsidiaries such as Dentsu International (formerly Dentsu Aegis Network), its network outside Japan)and as an operating company (running Japan-based subsidiaries such as ad agency Dentsu East Japan and digital-marketing unit Dentsu Digital).

Dentsu Group consisted of a newly formed Dentsu Japan Network, which included advertising and advertising-related businesses in Japan (including Dentsu Inc. operations); and Dentsu International, its U.K.-based global agency network.

The company discussed the reorganization in a Nov. 14, 2019, news release:

"People within Dentsu are connected openly across countries and organizations on a global level, bringing together diverse perspectives, and making it a matter of course for innovation to be generated from anyone, anywhere. The aim is to become new Dentsu, that continues to create new value and new businesses by forming flexible teams not only within Dentsu, but also with various external partners."

That news release also said:

"Dentsu Group Inc. will ensure not only group governance, but also will empower all Group companies and their individuals who create value and innovation. Dentsu Group Inc.:

"1. will foster an environment in which flexible teams transcending organizational barriers can be created.

"2. will provide opportunities to expand business domains and launch new businesses and services, as well as develop supporting systems.

"3. will promote opportunities to cultivate the ideas that generate innovation, their execution, and the power of management.

"Rather than a conventional holding company, Dentsu Group Inc. aims to become a 'teaming company,' or a company of making all the companies one team."

The company discussed its planned reorganization in a February 19, 2019, news release:

"The business and the operating environment of the Company and its Group have been changing radically. In order to respond appropriately and promptly to this series of changes and to achieve the sustainable growth of the Group going forward, there is an urgent need to realize the acquisition and allocation of internal and external management resources on a timely basis from a group-wide and global perspective, to further promote the management of richly diverse human resources and foster an open organizational culture, and to establish the most appropriate group governance structure.

"In recognizing the above, the Company has decided to shift to a pure holding company structure in order to drive sustainable growth for the Dentsu Group as a whole, including promotion of business transformation in Japan, and maintenance and further development of the growth momentum of the overseas business headed by its headquarters Dentsu Aegis Network Ltd."

Sales and earnings:

The company changed the fiscal year for its Japan operations to the calendar year effective with the year ended December 2015. The company's Japan operations previously operated on a fiscal year ended March 31. Its non-Japan business, Dentsu Aegis Network, already operated on a calendar-year basis.

Deals and strategic moves:

Dentsu Group noted two acquisitions in 2021 (LiveArea, a U.S.-based global customer experience and commerce agency that became part of Merkle; Septeni Holdings, a Japan-based digital marketing company in which Dentsu increased its minority holding to a majority stake).

Dentsu Group disclosed five main acquisitions in 2020 in its annual financial report, including three U.S. acquisitions (Digital Pi, 4Cite Marketing, Media Storm).

The company disclosed 17 acquisitions in 2019 in its annual financial report, including U.S. ventures E-Nor, Filter and MuteSix.

The company said it made 16 acquisitions in 2018. Nine of the acquisitions were in EMEA, five in the Americas and two in APAC.

The company said it made 31 acquisitions and investments in 2017. The company said it made 45 acquisitions and investments in 2016, the largest number in its history.

The company acquired 76 companies in more than 20 countries outside of Japan from the start of 2013 through early 2016.

The company said it made 36 acquisitions and investments in 2015. Dentsu Inc. said about half of the acquisitions were digital businesses. Dentsu Inc.'s Dentsu Aegis Network (now Dentsu International) in 2015 said it made 36 acquisitions and investments totaling 116.3 million pounds ($177.8 million).

Dentsu Aegis Network ceased operations of Attik LLC, a San Francisco-based digital agency, on April 29, 2015, following the loss of Attik's largest client. Attik closed its London office in 2012. Dentsu bought Attik in October 2007.

The company signed 25 acquisitions in 2014.

Aegis Group acquisition:

The company in July 2012 signed a deal to acquire Aegis Group, a London-based agency company. The company completed the acquisition March 26, 2013, for 409 billion yen or 3.164 billion euros. That translated to $4.853 billion (calculated by Ad Age on 3.164 billion pounds at the exchange rate on the closing date).

Upon closing the Aegis Group acquisition, the company changed the name of "Aegis Group plc" to "Dentsu Aegis Network Ltd." Dentsu Group in September 2020 changed the name of Dentsu Aegis Network to Dentsu International.

North America acquisitions include:

LiveArea, a U.S.-based global customer experience and commerce agency; acquired in July 2021. LiveArea became part of Merkle.

Media Storm, a data-driven audience planning and targeting agency based in New York; 83.5% stake acquired in February 2020. Media Storm, founded in 2001, had 167 employees at the time of acquisition and 2019 revenue of $33.8 million. (The official company name was Water Cooler Group; it did business as Media Storm.) Media Storm became part of Merkle.

4Cite Marketing, a people-based identification and data services technology company in the e-commerce sector, based in Albany, New York, and acquired in January 2020. 4Cite, founded in 2010, had 50 employees at the time of acquisition and 2019 turnover of $7.7 million. 4Cite became part of Merkle.

Digital Pi, a business-to-business digital marketing agency based in Dallas and acquired in January 2020. Digital Pi was focused on marketing automation consulting services. The agency, founded in 2013, had 50 employees at the time of acquisition and 2019 turnover of $8.1 million. Digital Pi became part of Merkle.

E-Nor, a digital marketing analytics firm based in Santa Clara, California, acquired in December 2019. The company said E-Nor had 38 employees at the time of the acquisition and 2019 turnover of $7.4 million. E-Nor became part of Cardinal Path.

MuteSix, a direct-to-consumer marketing agency based in Los Angeles, acquired in August 2019. The company said MuteSix had about 120 employees at the time of the acquisition and 2018 revenue of $17.3 million. MuteSix became part of iProspect.

Filter, an experience design and digital marketing company based in Seattle, acquired in January 2019. Filter became part of Merkle. The company said Filter had 287 employees and 2017 revenue of $28.560 million.

Digital Evolution Group (DEG), a digital agency based in Overland Park, Kansas, acquired in December 2018. DEG became part of Isobar.

Character SF, a branding and design agency based in San Francisco, acquired in February 2018.

HelloWorld, a digital promotions agency based in Detroit acquired in January 2018. Dentsu Agency Network in January 2018 agreed to buy an 87% stake in HelloWorld. Post-acquisition, HelloWorld was to be rebranded as "HelloWorld, a Merkle Company," making it part of the network's Merkle operation. Dentsu Aegis Network's acquisition press release said HelloWorld employed about 370 people in the U.S. and had 2016 revenue of $53 million. Merkle in March 2018 said it had a 100% stake in HelloWorld.

Media 8 Inc. (M8), a Miami-based digital agency focused on the Hispanic market, acquired in April 2018. Dentsu Aegis Network aligned M8 with the iProspect network. Dentsu Inc. said M8 had revenue of $7.3 million in calendar 2017.

Swirl, an ad agency in San Francisco, acquired in December 2017. Swirl became a part of McGarryBowen.

David Wood & Associates (DWA), a digital business-to-business agency in San Francisco, acquired in December 2017. DWA became a part of Merkle.

Leapfrog Direct Response, a digital performance marketing agency in Evanston, Illinois, acquired in April 2017.

S&E Sponsorship Group, a sports and entertainment agency in Canada, acquired in December 2016. S&E became a part of MKTG.

Gravity Media, a multicultural ad agency based in New York, acquired in November 2016.

Accordant Media, a programmatic media agency based in New York, acquired in September 2016.

C2C Media, an out-of-home agency and its print production shop D1 Ink, both based in New York and acquired in September 2016.

Merkle, a data-centric performance marketing agency based in Columbia, Maryland, majority stake acquired in August 2016. (Dentsu bought the remaining stake in 2020, giving it 100% ownership.)

Gyro, a global business-to-business agency based in New York, acquired in July 2016.

Cardinal Path, a digital data analytics agency with dual headquarters in Chicago and Vancouver, Canada, acquired in March 2016.

Grip, a creative agency in Canada, acquired in January 2016.

Forbes Consulting Group, a market research business based in Lexington, Massachusetts, acquired in April 2015. Forbes Consulting had 25 staffers at the time of its acquisition. Dentsu Inc. said Forbes Consulting had 2014 revenue of $7,692,000. Forbes Consulting became part of Copernicus Marketing Consulting and Research.

Spoke, a digital creative agency in Canada, acquired in December 2014. Spoke became part of Isobar.

Rockett Interactive, a data-focused digital agency based in Cary, North Carolina, acquired in December 2014 and folded into iProspect.

Covario, a San Diego-based search and content performance-marketing agency with more than 140 employees, acquired in September 2014 and folded into iProspect. (Covario's Rio SEO software unit was not included in the acquisition and remained independent following the transaction.)

MKTG, a promotions and event-marketing agency based in New York, announced May 2014; deal completed Aug. 27, 2014.

NVI, a performance marketing agency based in Canada and purchased in May 2013. The agency, focused on search marketing and digital performance media, was folded into iProspect.

Mitchell Communications Group, a public relations agency based in Arkansas and acquired in January 2013. At the time of the acquisition, Mitchell had 75 employees and 2012 revenue of $13.68 million.

Bos, a Montreal ad agency acquired in May 2012. Bos had expertise in French-language advertising. The company merged it with Dentsu Canada; the combined agency operated as DentsuBos.

ML Rogers, a New York creative shop acquired in January 2012. ML Rogers' name was retired; its employees joined the Dentsu America agency. (As of 2014, Dentsu America's back office had been folded into sibling agency 360i.)

Firstborn, a New York-based digital agency acquired in February 2011. (Dentsu Aegis Network in March 2017 made Firstborn part of the Isobar network and combined the financials of Isobar and Firstborn.)

Innovation Interactive, a New York-based digital-marketing-services company acquired Jan. 26, 2010. Innovation Interactive had three operating units: 360i, a digital-marketing agency; SearchIgnite, a paid-search management technology venture; and Netmining, an audience optimization platform. In the sale announcement, Innovation Interactive said it had 300 employees and 2008 worldwide revenue of $60.98 million.

Attik, a San Francisco-based creative boutique acquired Oct. 31, 2007. Attik at the time of acquisition had 58 employees in San Francisco and 10 employees in the U.K.

Other recent acquisitions include:

Dentsu elfto architect Inc. (formerly Elfto Inc.) (Japan), 2020. IPG Inc. (Japan), 2020.

Chef (Colombia), December 2019. EBP (China), October 2019. Ambient Digital (Vietnam), July 2019. Davanti (New Zealand), July 2019. Ugam (India), July 2019. Re:Production (U.K.), June 2019. Redder (Vietnam), March 2019. BJL (U.K.), February 2019. Happy Marketer (Singapore), February 2019. Comunica+A (Spain), February 2019. Voyage Group (Japan), January 2019. Videobeat Networks (Germany), December 2018. Branded (Hong Kong), October 2018. MSTF Partners (Portugal), October 2018. B2B International (U.K.), October 2018. Namics (Switzerland), October 2018. Aaron Lloyd Group (Russia), September 2018. Amicus Digital (Australia), August 2018. Whitespace (Scotland), July 2018. Global Mind (Argentina), July 2018. The Big Now (Italy), June 2018. White Label (Chile), April 2018. Red Communication (Norway), April 2018. Red8 Group (Poland), March 2018. Data Artist (Japan), February 2018.

Oxyma Group (Netherlands), November 2017. PT Valuklik (Indonesia), November 2017. FoxP2 (South Africa), October 2017. People & Screens (joint-venture, Russia), October 2017. Little Giant Design (New Zealand), September 2017. Aquila Insight (Scotland), July 2017. Sokrati Technologies (India), July 2017. Outfox Intelligence (Sweden), June 2017. Novus Group (Singapore), June 2017. Customer Framework (U.K.), June 2017. Gleam Futures (U.K.), June 2017. Accordant (Australia), May 2017. Media.at (Austria), May 2017. SesliHarfler (Turkey), May 2017. Divisadero Digital Intelligence (Spain), April 2017. SVG Media Group (India), April 2017. Grant Group (Sri Lanka), March 2017. Blue-Infinity (Switzerland), January 2017. Dwi Sapta Group (Indonesia), January 2017.

Agencia Veriplan (Chile), December 2016. Fractal Ink Design Studio (India), December 2016. Bluecom Solutions (China), November 2016. Happy Creative Services (India), October 2016. Wasabi Analytics (France), September 2016. Keneo (France), September 2016. Perfect Relations (India), September 2016. Avid Media (U.K.), September 2016. With Collective Services (Australia), September 2016. Cosin Consulting (Brazil), September 2016. Markenloft (Germany), August 2016. WIS Performance Media (Taiwan), July 2016. Magnetix (Denmark), June 2016. Search Factory (Australia), June 2016. Scorch (Australia), June 2016. Digital Republic (Egypt), May 2016. Arrechedera y Claverol (Mexico), May 2016 (integrated into McGarryBowen). Shanghai VeryStar Internet Science and Technology Co. (China), May 2016. Liveposter Limited (U.K.), May 2016. Merdeka LHS (Malaysia), April 2016. Consider Digital (Malaysia), April 2016. Darwin Marketing (China), March 2016. Barnes, Catmur & Friends (New Zealand), March 2016. Adexpres Group (Czech Republic), March 2016. Flock (Mexico) March 2016. Achtung (Netherlands), February 2016. Alesport Group (Spain), February 2016. Navegg (Brazil), January 2016.

JaymeSyfu (Philippines), December 2015. Same Same (France), December 2015. Band (Hong Kong and Singapore), December 2015. ASPAC (Philippines), December 2015. PML Group (Ireland), November 2015. ZoneFranche (France), October 2015. Fountainhead (India), October 2015. Pontomobi (Brazil), October 2015. Adams Media (Ghana), August 2015. Synergy Medical Communications (Japan), July 2015. Redirect Digital Marketing (Brazil), July 2015. eCommera (U.K.), June 2015. Flexmedia (Thailand), June 2015. Marketing Wizards (Poland), June 2015. John Brown Media (U.K.), May 2015. AbaGada (Israel), April 2015. Mindworks (Greece), March 2015. Soap Creative (Australia), February 2015. BWM Group (Australia), January 2015. WATConsult (India), January 2015.

OOH Plus (Brazil), December 2014. Tempero (U.K.), December 2014 (integrated into ICUC). Fetch (U.K.), November 2014. Crimson Room (South Africa; 60%), August 2014. Media Fuse (Nigeria), August 2014. Milestone Brandcom (India; 51%), July 2014. Fifty Four Media (Kazakhstan; 51%), May 2014. NBS (Brazil; 70%), May 2014. Lesmobilizers (France), March 2014. Explido (Germany), February 2014. Verawom (China), February 2014. Socializer (Poland), January 2014. Oddfellows Holdings (Australia), January 2014.

Traffic (Russia), October 2013. Media Vision (Scotland), October 2013. Trio Digital Integrated (China), September 2013. Ymedia (Spain), September 2013. Simple Agency (Italy), July 2013. Webchutney (India), May 2013. Social Embassy (Netherlands), May 2013. Kinecto (Romania), May 2013. NewWorld (Belgium), May 2013. Brandscape (Thailand), April 2013. Beijing Wonder Advertising (China), April 2013. Taproot (India), August 2012. Lov Communications (Brazil), January 2012.

AdJug (U.K.), August 2011. Steak Group (U.K.), June 2011. Social Thinkers (Germany), January 2011.

Young & Rubicam relationship:

Dentsu and Young & Rubicam in 1981 announced a joint venture to build an Asian agency network. Dentsu and WPP ended the venture in 2018.

Publicis Groupe relationship:

Publicis Groupe on Feb. 17, 2012, bought back 18 million Publicis shares owned by Dentsu for 644.4 million euros ($840.3 million) or 35.80 euros ($46.68) a share. The buyback, which had been expected, ended a strategic alliance in place since 2002 (when Publicis bought Dentsu-backed Bcom3 Group, the then-parent of Leo Burnett and Starcom Mediavest).

In a statement, Dentsu said the sale of its big Publicis stake marked the end of three agreements: a shareholders' pact with Publicis; a strategic alliance with Publicis; and a shareholders' agreement with Elisabeth Badinter, a member of the founding family and major shareholder of Publicis.

"As a result of this termination, Dentsu and Ms. Badinter will no longer act in concert," the statement said. Publicis in February 2012 said Badinter held 10.99% of the shares and 19.92% of the voting rights of Publicis, making her the company's largest shareholder.

In announcing the buyback, Publicis said: "The friendly relationship and collaboration between the two groups will continue. Firstly, Dentsu holds 2.12% of the shares of Publicis Groupe S.A. (following the share cancellation). Secondly, the two joint ventures between Dentsu and Publicis Groupe will continue in the same form and with the same shareholdings as previously (Beacon Communications and Dentsu Razorfish owned respectively 66% and 19.35% by Publicis Groupe). Moreover, partnerships related to specific clients that the two groups have in common will continue, in the clients' interests."

Publicis on Feb. 15, 2013, bought back Dentsu Inc.'s remaining approximately 3.9 million Publicis shares for 181.4 million euros ($242.9 million).

In announcing the sale of its remaining Publicis shares, Dentsu Inc. said: "Dentsu and Publicis will continue to proactively consider all opportunities for future collaboration on their individual merits. Moreover, there will be no changes to the management structure or the management policies of the two companies established jointly by Dentsu and Publicis: Beacon Communications (Head Office: Tokyo; established in January 2001) and Dentsu Razorfish (Head Office: Tokyo; established in April 2001)."

Publicis said in its Feb. 15, 2013, announcement of the share buyback: "The two groups will continue to consider all opportunities for collaboration and to maintain cooperative relations, and the two [Japan-based] joint ventures between Dentsu and Publicis Groupe (Beacon Communications and Dentsu Razorfish) are expected to continue without change."

Publicis, the third-largest agency company in 2013, and No. 2 Omnicom Group in July 2013 announced plans to merge into the world's biggest agency firm, Publicis Omnicom Group N.V., a newly formed Dutch holding company. Publicis and Omnicom on May 8, 2014, terminated the deal, citing "difficulties in completing the transaction within a reasonable timeframe."

Dentsu Inc. in May 2015 bought Publicis' 19.37% stake in Tokyo-based agency Dentsu Razorfish, giving Dentsu Inc. 100% ownership of that agency. Dentsu Razorfish rebranded as Dentsu iX effective July 1, 2015. Dentsu Inc., in announcing the purchase of Publicis' stake, said Dentsu iX "will seek to expand its operations through cooperation with the Dentsu Group's international digital network."

Management and employees:

The company at year end had this number of employees worldwide:

2021: 64,832
2020: 64,533
2019: 66,400
2018: 62,608
2017: 60,064
2016: 55,843
2015: 47,324

Dentsu discloses its employee count in its annual integrated report.

The company in November 2021 named Hiroshi Igarashi president and CEO effective Jan. 1, 2022.

Before taking over as CEO of Dentsu Group, Igarashi was executive officer of Dentsu Japan Network and president-CEO of Dentsu Inc. Igarashi was born July 23, 1960, and joined Dentsu in 1984.

Igarashi succeeded Toshihiro Yamamoto as president and CEO.

The company in January 2017 named Yamamoto president and CEO effective Jan. 23, 2017. He succeeded Tadashi Ishii, who resigned in December 2016 after the suicide of an overworked young employee exposed tough working conditions at the company and in Japan in general.

Yamamoto joined Dentsu in 1981.

Management history:

1901: Hoshiro Mitsunaga established Japan Advertising Ltd. and Telegraphic Service Co., the predecessor of Dentsu Inc. and Dentsu Group.

1940: Shinzo Mitsunaga became the company's second president.

1945: Sekizo Ueda became the third president.

1947: Hideo Yoshida became the fourth president.

1963: Tsuneji Hibino became the fifth president.

1973:Yoshichika Nakahata became the sixth president.

1977: Hideharu Tamaru became the seventh president.

1985: Gohei Kogure became the eighth president.

1993: Gohei Kogure became the first chairman. Yutaka Narita became the ninth president.

2001: Yutaka Narita became the second chairman. Tateo Mataki became the 10th president.

2004: Tateo Mataki became president-CEO.

2007: Tateo Mataki became the third chairman. Tatsuyoshi Takashima became the 11th president.

2011: Tatsuyoshi Takashima became the fourth chairman. Tadashi Ishii became the 12th president-CEO.

2017: Toshihiro Yamamoto became the 13th president-CEO.

2022: Hiroshi Igarashi became the 14th president-CEO.

Stock:

Dentsu staged its initial public offering Nov. 30, 2001, with a listing on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

History:

1901: Hoshiro Mitsunaga established Japan Advertising Ltd. and Telegraphic Service Co.

1906: Telegraphic Service Co. became Japan Telegraphic Communication Co. Ltd.

1907: Japan Advertising Ltd. merged with Japan Telegraphic Communication Co. Ltd. The same year, it launched its communication and advertising operations.

1936: Japan Telegraphic Communication Co. Ltd. spun off its news-services department to Domei News Agency and relaunched itself as a specialized advertising agency.

1943: The company acquired 16 ventures to augment its advertising agency business.

1948: The company created the Dentsu Advertising Awards.

1949: The company started the Dentsu Advertising Essay Contest for students.

1951: Dentsu launched a radio division coinciding with the start of commercial radio broadcasting in Japan.

1953: Dentsu formed a radio and television division coinciding with the start of commercial TV broadcasting in Japan.

1955: The company changed its name to Dentsu Advertising Ltd.

1974: Ad Age ranked Dentsu as the world's largest ad agency based on calendar-1973 billings.

1978: The company changed its name to Dentsu Incorporated in April 1978; it shortened the name to Dentsu Inc. in September 1987.

1981: Dentsu and Young & Rubicam formed Dentsu Young & Rubicam, a joint venture in Tokyo.

1984: Dentsu and Young & Rubicam established DYR, an international service network.

1988: Ad Age named Dentsu the 1987 International Agency of the Year.

1989: Fiscal 1989 billings exceeded 1 trillion yen.

1995: Dentsu established five Japanese regional subsidiaries.

1996: Japan-China Advertising Education Exchange Project began. Dentsu Tec Inc. launched.

2000: Dentsu made an equity investment in U.S. agency firm Bcom3 Group. Information Services International-Dentsu Ltd. listed shares on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

2001: Dentsu staged its initial public offering Nov. 30, 2001, with a listing on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Dentsu celebrated its 100th anniversary.

2002: Publicis Groupe purchased Bcom3Group; Dentsu acquired 15% stake in Publicis as part of strategic alliance.

2003: Dentsu East Japan Inc., Ad Dentsu Tokyo Inc. and Dentsu Tohoku Inc. merged, with Dentsu East Japan as the surviving company. Geneon Entertainment Inc. and Geneon Entertainment (USA) Inc. were converted to subsidiaries.

2004: Dentsu launched UNESCO World Terakoya Movement kururimpa project.

2006: Dentsu Tec was converted to a wholly owned subsidiary and its shares were delisted.

2007: Dentsu Group reached consolidated billings (net sales) of 2 trillion yen.

2009: Dentsu introduced a management system consisting of director, member of the board and executive officer. Cyber Communications Inc. became a wholly owned subsidiary. Dentsu set a new Dentsu Group corporate philosophy: "Good Innovation."2010: Dentsu established Dentsu Network West to manage holdings in the Americas, Europe and Australia. Dentsu also established Dentsu Digital Holdings.

2012: Dentsu formed Dentsu Network, an umbrella organization of the company's agencies outside Japan. Dentsu Network absorbed Dentsu Network West. Publicis Groupe bought back 18 million Publicis shares owned by Dentsu, ending a strategic alliance in place since 2002; Publicis in 2013 purchased Dentsu's remaining approximately 3.9 million Publicis shares.

2013: Dentsu acquired Aegis Group and established a new London-based global operating unit, Dentsu Aegis Network Ltd., including former holdings of Aegis and Dentsu Network.

2020: The company reorganized as Dentsu Group Inc., a pure holding company. Dentsu Group consisted of a newly formed Dentsu Japan Network, which included advertising and advertising-related businesses in Japan (including Dentsu Inc. operations); and Dentsu Aegis Network, the company's U.K.-based global agency network. Dentsu Group in September 2020 changed the name of Dentsu Aegis Network to Dentsu International.



Top executive: Hiroshi Igarashi, president and CEO; Toshihiro Yamamoto, representative director; Shun Sakurai, representative director
Headquarters: Dentsu Group/1-8-1, Higashi-shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-7050/Phone: 81 3 6217 6600
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dentsu

https://www.group.dentsu.com/en

Revenue ($ in millions)	2021	2020	% chg
Worldwide	$1,103.6	$926.0	19.2
U.S.	$704.7	$593.6	18.7
Non-U.S.	$398.9	$332.4	20.0

Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

Fast facts: DJE Holdings (formerly Daniel J. Edelman Inc.) is a public relations agency network group based in New York.

The company owns the Edelman network and Zeno Group, a marketing-communications agency that operates separately from the Edelman PR network.



Top executive: Richard Edelman, CEO, Edelman; Matt Harrington, president and chief operating officer, Edelman; Judy John, global chief creative officer, Edelman
Headquarters: DJE Holdings/250 Hudson St., New York, N.Y. 10013/Phone: (212) 768-0550
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edelman
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edelman
Twitter: @EdelmanPR
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/edelman

https://www.djeholdings.com

Revenue ($ in millions)	2021	2020	% chg
Worldwide	$922.8	$653.1	41.3
U.S.	$579.7	$415.6	39.5
Non-U.S.	$343.2	$237.5	44.5

Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

Fast facts: EPAM Systems is a global provider of software product engineering, technology consulting and digital services. The company is based in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

EPAM on March 15, 2018, acquired Continuum, a Boston-based global design firm.

Following the Continuum acquisition, EPAM Systems in 2019 rebranded EPAM's integrated practice as EPAM Continuum, which serves as the umbrella for all EPAM business, digital and innovation consulting, design and strategy services as well as dedicated digital architecture design and optimization services.

Revenue in this record is for EPAM's digital engagement practice (strategy and experience, digital marketing, mobility, commerce).

Revenue shown is Ad Age Datacenter's estimate of revenue for EPAM Continuum.

EPAM disclosed total worldwide revenue (including services beyond its digital engagement practice) of $3.76 billion in 2021; $2.66 billion in 2020; $2.29 billion in 2019; $1.84 billion in 2018; $1.45 billion in 2017; $1.16 billion in 2016; $914.1 million in 2015; $730.0 million in 2014; and $555.1 million in 2013.

Deals and strategic moves:

The company has grown with acquisitions. EPAM's acquisitions include the following:

EPAM in January 2022 acquired Enginiety, a Polish e-commerce company specializing in SAP Commerce Cloud solutions.

EPAM in November 2021 bought Emakina Group, a Belgium-based group of independent digital agencies, for $145.1 million.

The company in July 2021 bought Core, a professional service provider specializing in IT strategy and technology-driven transformations in Europe and the Middle East, for $50.2 million.

EPAM in April 2021 acquired PolSource, a Salesforce partner operating in the Americas and Europe with more than 350 Salesforce specialists, for $148.2 million.

Other acquisitions in 2021 included Optiva Media (December 2021), S4N (August 2021), White-Hat Ltd. (May 2021) and Just-BI (May 2021).

EPAM in February 2020 acquired Deltix, a software integration and connectivity solutions provider based in Malta.

EPAM in September 2020 acquired Ricston, a software and services provider based in Natick, Massachusetts.

EPAM made the following acquisitions in 2019: Competentum (July 2019); ShareKnowledge (July 2019); Test IO (July 2019); Axsphere (September 2019); NAYA Technologies (November 2019); Onsolve (November 2019).

EPAM on Nov. 1, 2018, acquired Think, a London-based digital agency.

EPAM in June 2016 acquired Dextrys, a software engineering and application services firm.

EPAM in 2015 acquired Signus Labs, a game development and art production firm.

EPAM in November 2015 acquired Alliance Global Services, a software product development firm.

EPAM in July 2015 acquired NavigationArts, a digital strategy and design firm.

EPAM in June 2014 acquired GGA Software Services, a U.S.-based provider of scientific informatics services to pharmaceutical, scientific instrumentation, medical device, scientific publishing and software, and early-stage life science companies.

EPAM in March 2014 acquired Netsoft USA, a strategic technology and design firm based in New York specializing in the health care and health insurance industries.

EPAM in December 2012 acquired Empathy Lab for $27.2 million cash plus restricted stock valued at $6.8 million plus stock options. Empathy Lab was founded in 2005. EPAM Empathy Lab (formerly Empathy Lab) is a digital strategy and multi-channel experience design firm based in Conshohocken, Pa., outside of Philadelphia.

EPAM in October 2014 acquired Great Fridays. Great Fridays was founded in 2008. Great Fridays is a product development and software engineering solutions firm based in Manchester, U.K., with offices in London, San Francisco and New York.

History:

EPAM was founded in 1993 and went public, on the New York Stock Exchange, in February 2012.



Top executive: Arkadiy Dobkin, CEO and president; Natalie Gross, VP-brand and marketing; Kevin Labick, co-head, digital engagement practice
Headquarters: EPAM Systems' EPAM Continuum/21 Drydock Ave., Suite 410W, Boston, Mass. 02210/Phone: (617) 969-5400
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/epamsystems
Twitter: @EPAMSYSTEMS
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/epam-systems

https://epam.com/services/consult-and-design

Revenue ($ in millions)	2021	2020	% chg
Worldwide	$7,525.1	$6,534.0	15.2
U.S.	$485.7	$457.1	6.3
Non-U.S.	$7,039.4	$6,077.0	15.8
Ticker: TYO:2433 (TYO)

Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

Fast facts: Hakuhodo DY Holdings is a Japanese-based agency holding company created in October 2003 to integrate business operations of Hakuhodo, Daiko Advertising and Yomiko Advertising.

Hakuhodo, Daiko, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners, Yomiko and Kyu, a New York-based network founded in 2014, are wholly owned subsidiaries of the holding company.

Hakuhodo's results are estimates configured to a calendar year ended Dec. 31, although Hakuhodo's fiscal year ends in March.

Hakuhodo DY Holdings in 2014 founded Kyu, a network based in New York. Hakuhodo moved agencies Sid Lee, SYPartners, Red Peak and Digital Kitchen into the Kyu network. Hakuhodo in 2019 repositioned Digital Kitchen, Hornall Anderson and Red Peak under Sid Lee. Other units in the Kyu network include business conference organizer C2 International, management consulting firm BEworks, ad agency Kepler Group and design firm Ideo.

Hakuhodo DY Holdings acquired a majority stake in Kepler Group in April 2018.

Hakuhodo DY Holdings in June 2017 acquired the U.S. operations of Hornall Anderson from Omnicom Group.

Hakuhodo DY Holdings acquired Toronto-based BEworks in January 2017.

Hakuhodo DY Holdings acquired a minority stake in Palo Alto, California-based Ideo in February 2016.

Hakuhodo DY Holdings acquired Canadian agency Sid Lee in July 2015.

Hakuhodo DY Holdings acquired U.S.-based Digital Kitchen in June 2015.

Hakuhodo DY Holdings in May 2014 acquired U.S.-based agencies Red Peak Group and SYPartners.

Hakuhodo closed MZ Advertising, a Los Angeles ad agency, effective March 31, 2012. Hakuhodo in August 2009 had purchased the remaining stake in that agency, then known as Mendelsohn Zien.

Top executive: Masayuki Mizushima, representative director and president
Headquarters: Hakuhodo DY Holdings/Akasaka Biz Tower, 5-3-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 107-6320/Phone: 81 3 6441 9033

http://www.hakuhodody-holdings.co.jp/english

Revenue ($ in millions)	2021	2020	% chg
Worldwide	$533.6	$464.0	15.0
U.S.	$533.6	$464.0	15.0
Non-U.S.	$0.0	NA	NA

Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

Fast facts: Horizon Media is an independently owned media-agency company based in New York.

Horizon Media made its debut on the World's 50 Largest Agency Companies ranking in Ad Age's April 2012 Agency Report.

Deals and strategic moves:

Sale of minority stake:

Horizon Media in December 2021 said it had entered an agreement to sell a minority interest to Temasek, a global investment firm based in Singapore. LionTree, a New York-based investment and merchant bank, also was an investor in the transaction. Horizon Media did not disclose terms of the deal.

In a statement announcing the deal, Horizon Media founder and CEO Bill Koenigsberg said:

"Horizon sees more opportunity than ever before to take advantage of gaps in the marketplace and continue our significant growth in driving positive business outcomes for our clients. In evaluating the next evolution of Horizon, I wanted a world class partner who is like-minded strategically, has the same appetite for growth, understands the media, marketing, and technology landscape, is global in scale, and culturally aligned. I found that perfect combination in Temasek and LionTree."

Canvas Worldwide:

Horizon Media and Innocean Worldwide, a South Korea-based agency company, in August 2015 announced the creation of Canvas Worldwide, a standalone media-agency network launched as a joint venture 51% owned by Innocean and 49% by Horizon.

Canvas officially launched in September 2015. Its first clients were Hyundai Motor America and Kia Motors America, which moved to Canvas effective Jan. 1, 2016. Hyundai Motor America and Kia Motors America previously were handled by Interpublic Group of Cos.' Initiative.

Innocean is backed by Hyundai's founding family. Innocean staged its initial public offering in South Korea in July 2015. Innocean in 2014 generated 71% of its worldwide revenue from Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Corp.; Hyundai is a minority shareholder in Kia.

History:

Horizon Media was founded in 1989.



Top executive: Bill Koenigsberg, president, CEO and founder; Latraviette Smith Wilson, chief marketing and equity officer; Eileen Benwitt, chief talent officer
Headquarters: Horizon Media/75 Varick St., New York, N.Y. 10013/Phone: (212) 220-5000
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/horizonmediainc
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/horizonmediainc
Twitter: @HorizonMedia
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/horizon-media

https://www.horizonmedia.com

Revenue ($ in millions)	2021	2020	% chg
Worldwide	$6,385.3	$5,544.3	15.2
U.S.	$2,234.8	$1,940.5	15.2
Non-U.S.	$4,150.4	$3,603.8	15.2
Ticker: IBM (NYSE)

Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

Fast facts: IBM iX is IBM Corp.'s global digital-agency network.

IBM started its digital agency services business in 1995 and united its offerings under the brand IBM Interactive in 2008. IBM renamed the venture IBM Interactive Experience in 2014 and IBM iX in 2017.

IBM formed the venture in early 2008 by uniting and rebranding various existing IBM interactive services under the banner of IBM Interactive. IBM later renamed the network IBM Interactive Experience (IBM iX). IBM iX in 2016 stopped using the "IBM Interactive Experience" identity; it now goes to market as simply IBM iX.

IBM first appeared in Ad Age's rankings of agency companies in 2008.

IBM iX operates as part of the Business Transformation area of IBM's Consulting segment.

Ad Age Datacenter in Ad Age Agency Report 2019 revised its calculation of estimated IBM iX revenue to reflect that IBM has brought an increasing portion of IBM Global Business Services' Consulting business under its IBM iX practice.

IBM iX acquisitions include:

Rego Consulting (U.S., 2021); Waeg (Europe, 2021); 7Summits (U.S., 2020); Grampy (Middle East and Africa, 2017); Vivant Digital (Australia, November 2017); XPS expert personal shopper division of Fluid (U.S., November 2016); Bluewolf (U.S., May 2016); Aperto (Germany, February 2016); ecx.io (Germany, February 2016); and Resource/Ammirati (U.S., January 2016); Silverpop (April 2014); Cloudant (February 2014); Fiberlink Communications (November 2013); The Now Factory (October 2013); Xtify (October 2013); UrbanCode (April 2013); Star Analytics (February 2013); StoredIQ (December 2012); Butterfly (September 2012); Tealeaf Technology (May 2012); Worklight (January 2012); Emptoris (December 2011); and DemandTec (December 2011).



Top executive: Matthew Candy, global managing partner; Billy Seabrook, global chief creative officer; Jennifer Quinlan, managing partner, North America
Headquarters: IBM Corp.'s IBM iX/1 New Orchard Road, Armonk, N.Y. 10504/Phone: (914) 499-1900
Twitter: @IBM_iX

http://www.ibmix.com

Revenue ($ in millions)	2021	2020	% chg
Worldwide	$1,306.8	$1,037.9	25.9
U.S.	$556.1	$476.4	16.7
Non-U.S.	$750.7	$561.5	33.7

Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

Fast facts: Innocean Worldwide is an agency company based in Seoul, South Korea. Innocean launched in 2005.

Worldwide revenue shown is Innocean's stated worldwide net sales converted to U.S. dollars by Ad Age Datacenter. Ad Age began ranking Innocean among agency companies based on net sales effective with Ad Age Agency Report 2020. Ad Age previously ranked Innocean among agency companies based on gross profit.

U.S. revenue shown is Innocean's net sales in the Americas region (U.S., Canada, Brazil, Mexico) converted to U.S. dollars by Ad Age.

Innocean handles Hyundai Motor Co. advertising in various markets including the U.S.

Deals and strategic moves:

Wellcom Worldwide:

Innocean Worldwide in December 2019 acquired Wellcom Worldwide, a global content production agency based in Australia.

David&Goliath:

Innocean Worldwide in December 2017 acquired suburban Los Angeles-based ad agency David&Goliath, U.S. agency for Kia Motors America.

Canvas Worldwide:

Innocean Worldwide and Horizon Media, a U.S. media-agency network and company, in August 2015 announced the creation of Canvas Worldwide, a standalone media-agency network launched as a joint venture 51% owned by Innocean Worldwide and 49% by Horizon.

Canvas officially launched in September 2015. Its first clients were Hyundai Motor America and Kia Motors America, which moved to Canvas effective Jan. 1, 2016. Hyundai Motor America and Kia Motors America previously were handled by Interpublic Group of Cos.' Initiative.

Innocean Worldwide Americas:

Innocean Worldwide in October 2014 bought an additional 20% stake in Innocean Worldwide Americas LLC from Hyundai Motor America and Kia Motors America. That increased Innocean Worldwide's stake in Innocean Worldwide Americas LLC to 60.0%.

Innocean Worldwide as of Dec. 31, 2020, continued to own a 60% stake in Innocean Worldwide Americas.

Stock:

Innocean is backed by the founding family of South Korea's Hyundai Motor Co.

Innocean July 17, 2015, made its initial public offering in South Korea. Before the IPO, Chung Eui-sun, heir apparent of Hyundai Motor Group, and his sister, Chung Sun-yi, owned 50% of Innocean. After the IPO, the family's stake dropped below 30% in line with new antitrust rules in South Korea involving cross-ownership dealings.

Innocean 's shares were priced in the IPO at 68,000 won per share ($61.20), valuing Innocean at about 1.36 trillion won ($1.22 billion).

Innocean in 2014 generated 71% of its worldwide sales from Hyundai and Kia Corp. Kia is partly owned by Hyundai.

History:

Innocean launched in 2005.

Innocean opened a U.S. office, in Huntington Beach, California, in December 2008. Hyundai Motor America shifted its work to Innocean after parting with Omnicom Group's Goodby, Silverstein & Partners effective March 31, 2009.

Top executive: Yong-Woo Lee, global CEO
Headquarters: Innocean Worldwide/Landmark Tower 20F, 837-36, Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 135.937/Phone: 82 2 2016 2300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/innocean

http://www.innocean.com

Revenue ($ in millions)	2021	2020	% chg
Worldwide	$10,240.7	$9,061.0	13.0
U.S.	$6,360.2	$5,751.5	10.6
Non-U.S.	$3,880.5	$3,309.5	17.3
Ticker: IPG (NYSE)

Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

Fast facts: Overview:

Interpublic Group of Cos. is the world's fifth-largest agency company based on 2021 total revenue.

Business segments and operations:

Interpublic in 2022 listed General Motors Co., Johnson & Johnson and Verizon Communications as "three of our largest clients."

Interpublic's largest client sectors in 2021, based on net revenue, were (in alphabetical order) financial services; health care; and technology and telecom.

Interpublic's largest client sectors in 2020, based on net revenue, were (in alphabetical order) financial services; health care; and technology and telecom.

Interpublic's largest client sectors in 2019 and 2018, based on net revenue, were (in alphabetical order) auto and transportation; health care; technology and telecom.

Interpublic's largest client sectors in 2017, 2016 and 2015, based on revenue, were (in alphabetical order) auto and transportation; health care; technology and telecom.

Interpublic's largest client accounted for about 4% of worldwide net revenue in 2021; 3% in 2020 and 2019; and 4% in 2018 and 2017.

Interpublic's largest client accounted for about 4% of worldwide revenue in 2017, 2016 and 2015; 5% in 2014 and 2013; and 4% in 2012 and 2011.

Interpublic's 10 largest clients accounted for about 20% of worldwide net revenue in 2021 and 2020; 17% in 2019; 18% in 2018; and 20% in 2017.

Interpublic's 10 largest clients accounted for about 20% of worldwide revenue in 2017 and 2016; 19% in 2015; 20% in 2014; and 21% in 2013 and 2012.

In its 10-Ks for years ended December 2021 and December 2020, Interpublic said its top 500 clients "typically constitute approximately 80% to 85% of our annual consolidated net revenues."

In its 10-Ks for years ended December 2019 and December 2018, Interpublic said its top 100 clients "typically constitute approximately 55% to 60% of our annual consolidated net revenues."

In its 10-Ks for years ended December 2017, December 2016, December 2015 and December 2014, Interpublic said its top 100 clients "typically constitute approximately 55% to 60% of our annual consolidated revenues."

Overall, Interpublic as of 2015 served 5,000 clients in 100 countries, according to CFO Frank Mergenthaler in a comment made on a February 2015 earnings call.

The company's five largest revenue clients in 2014 were (in alphabetical order): General Motors Co., Johnson & Johnson, L'Oreal, Samsung Electronics and Unilever. Interpublic stopped disclosing its five largest clients effective with its 10-K for year ended December 2015.

The company's five largest revenue clients in 2013 were (in alphabetical order): GM, Johnson & Johnson, L'Oreal, Microsoft Corp. and Unilever.

The company's five largest revenue clients in 2012 were (in alphabetical order): GM, Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft, Unilever and Verizon Communications.

Sales and earnings:

Interpublic appears in Ad Age Agency Report 2022's ranking of the world's 25 largest agency companies based on worldwide total revenue.

New York-based Interpublic reported worldwide total revenue of $10.24 billion in 2021; $9.1 billion in 2020; $10.22 billion in 2019; $9.7 billion in 2018; $9.0 billion in 2017 (restated); $9.1 billion in 2016 (restated); $7.6 billion in 2015; $7.5 billion in 2014; $7.1 billion in 2013; $7.0 billion in 2012 and 2011; $6.5 billion in 2010; $6.0 billion in 2009; and $7.0 billion in 2008.

The company reported worldwide net revenue of $9.1 billion in 2021; $8.1 billion in 2020; $8.6 billion in 2019; $8.0 billion in 2018; $7.5 billion in 2017;and $7.5 billion in 2016.

Effective Jan. 1, 2018, Interpublic adopted Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and revised its consolidated financial statements for calendar 2017 and 2016.

Effective with that change, Interpublic now reports both total revenue and net revenue.

Net revenue equals total revenue minus billable expenses.

In its 10-Ks for years ended December 2021, December 2020, December 2019 and December 2018, Interpublic said:

"Net revenue, primarily consisting of fees, commissions and performance incentives, represents the amount of our gross billings excluding billable expenses charged to a client."

Those 10-Ks said:

"The predominant component of billable expenses are third-party vendor costs incurred for performance obligations where we have determined that we are acting as principal. These third-party expenses are generally billed back to our clients. Billable expenses also includes incidental costs incurred in the performance of our services including airfare, mileage, hotel stays, out-of-town meals and telecommunication charges. We record these billable expenses within total revenue with a corresponding offset to operating expenses."

Deals and strategic moves:

2021 acquisitions:

Interpublic's 10-K for calendar 2021 said: "During 2021, no acquisitions occurred and we did not record any additional goodwill or other intangible assets related to acquisitions." That marked the first year since 2006 that Interpublic didn't make any acquisitions.

2020 acquisitions:

Interpublic said it in 2020 completed four acquisitions. Three were included in the Integrated Agency Networks segment; one was in the IPG Dxtra segment. (IPG Dxtra was known as Constituency Management Group before being rebranded as IPG Dxtra in 2020.)

The 2020 acquisitions consisted of a traditional advertising agency in Colombia; a marketing and communications agency in the U.K.; a boutique post-production company in New York; and a mobile app design agency in the U.K.

2019 acquisitions:

Interpublic said it in 2019 completed one acquisition, a U.K.-based content communications agency that is reported in the Integrated Agency Networks operating segment.

2018 acquisitions:

Interpublic said it completed five acquisitions in 2018 (Acxiom in the "Corporate and other" group; one in the Integrated Agency Networks operating segment; three in the Constituency Management Group operating segment).

In its 10-K for year ended December 2018, Interpublic said:

"These acquisitions include a full-service digital agency based in Brazil, an entertainment marketing and brand licensing agency in the fashion and lifestyle sector based in the U.K., a content-focused social creative agency based in the U.K., a data and technology company based in the U.S."--Acxiom--"and a content production firm based in Israel."

The acquisitions were:

Acxiom: Interpublic Oct. 1, 2018, bought Acxiom LLC (formerly known as Acxiom Marketing Solutions), Acxiom Holdings' marketing solutions business, for $2.3 billion. The 10-K for year ended December 2018 said: "The purpose of the acquisition is to combine the company's media, creative, marketing services and analytics capabilities, global scale and consumer insights, with Acxiom's expertise in identity, data, integrations and data stewardship." (Coinciding with the sale, Acxiom Holdings on Oct. 1, 2018, changed its name to LiveRamp Holdings, reflecting the name of its remaining business.)

That Lot: content-focused social creative agency in the U.K.; CMG (Weber Shandwick).

Cappuccino: full-service digital agency in Brazil; CMG (Weber Shandwick).

ITB: entertainment marketing and brand licensing agency in the U.K.; CMG (Octagon).

Saloona: content production firm in Israel; Integrated Agency Networks (IAN) (McCann).

2017 acquisitions:

Interpublic said it completed 10 acquisitions in 2017 (eight in the Integrated Agency Networks operating segment and two in the Constituency Management Group operating segment).

In its 10-K for year ended December 2017, Interpublic said:

"These acquisitions included a digital marketing agency based in the U.S., a data science and business intelligence firm based in the U.S. with operations in China, an advertising and consulting company based in Indonesia, a strategic communications agency based in the U.K., an independent creative agency based in the U.K., a retail branding and design firm based in the U.S., a content creation and marketing agency based in the Netherlands, an independent media agency and digital consultancy based in Finland, and an integrated marketing communications agency based in Canada."

The acquisitions included:

Chute Gerdeman: retail store design firm in Columbus, Ohio; IAN (FCB RED). Resolute Digital: data-driven digital marketing and technology agency in New York; CMG (Weber Shandwick).

Salt: strategic corporate and consumer communications agency in London; IAN (Mullen Lowe London).

Virta: full-service media agency specializing in programmatic and audience insights and based in Finland; IAN (IPG Mediabrands).

101 London: full-service creative agency in London; IAN (Mullen Lowe London).

Yune: social content marketing firm in the Netherlands; IAN (IPG Mediabrands).

Marketel: Canadian agency venture in which McCann previously held a minority stake and now owns 100%; IAN (McCann).

Bomoda: consumer intelligence firm with operations in China, merged into Weber Shandwick's MediaCo operations; CMG (Weber Shandwick).

Through R/GA Ventures, Interpublic in 2017 made strategic investments in 16 companies at the MarTech Venture Studio and the Media Tech Venture Studio.

2016 acquisitions:

Interpublic said it completed 10 acquisitions in 2016 (three in the Integrated Agency Networks operating segment and seven in the Constituency Management Group operating segment).

In its 10-K for year ended December 2016, Interpublic said:

"The most significant acquisitions include a product and service design consultancy based in the U.S., an integrated health care marketing communications agency based in the U.S., a content creation and digital agency with offices in the U.S. and the U.K., a mobile consultancy and application development agency based in the U.K., a full-service public relations and digital agency based in China, a search engine optimization and digital content marketing agency based in the U.K., and a mobile focused digital agency based in the U.K."

The acquisitions included:

Flipside: digital and mobile agency in U.K., August 2016; CMG (Weber Shandwick).

Sticky Eyes: mobile and search agency in U.K., July 2016; IAN (IPG Mediabrands).

Milkmoney: production venture in Australia, July 2016; CMG (Octagon).

Speck Design: branding and design firm in Palo Alto, California, April 2016; CMG (FutureBrand).

Magic Group: PR agency in China with 100 employees, March 2016, rebranded as GolinMagic; CMG (Golin).

Brooklyn Brothers: ad agency in New York, February 2016; CMG (Golin).

Mubaloo: U.K. mobile ad developer, January 2016; IAN (IPG Mediabrands). ReviveHealth: U.S. health care marketing company, January 2016; CMG (Weber Shandwick).

2015 acquisitions:

Interpublic in 2015 completed five strategic acquisitions. All acquired agencies were integrated into global networks or existing agencies. The most significant acquisitions included a full-service digital agency in the U.K., a group of creative marketing agencies based in Russia and a media planning and buying agency in Canada.

The acquisitions included:

McCann Russia, FCB Russia and MullenLowe Russia: ad agencies in Russia, acquired in December 2015 from ADV, a Russia-based agency group and Interpublic's longtime partner; IAN (McCann Worldgroup, FCB, MullenLowe Group).

Media Experts: media planning and buying agency in Canada with 150 employees, October 2015; IAN (IPG Mediabrands).

Hugo & Cat: digital agency based in London, August 2015; CMG (FutureBrand).

2014 acquisitions:

Interpublic in 2014 completed nine acquisitions, six in the Integrated Agency Networks segment and three in the Constituency Management Group segment. All acquired agencies were integrated into global networks or existing agencies. The most significant acquisitions included a global full-service digital agency (Profero), a U.S. digital agency (Genuine Interactive) and a search-marketing agency in the Netherlands (Traffic4U).

The acquisitions were:

Optaros: e-commerce services firm in Boston, Nov. 26, 2014; IAN (McCann Worldgroup [MRM//McCann]).

Promoqube: Turkey, Oct. 17, 2014; IAN (IPG Mediabrands).

Traffic4U: Netherlands, Aug. 7, 2014; IAN (IPG Mediabrands).

GGH: Germany, July 16, 2014; IAN (Lowe and Partners).

Genuine Interactive: digital, mobile-marketing and social-media agency in Boston, April 30, 2014; CMG (division of Jack Morton Worldwide).

Prime: 130-employee PR agency in Sweden, April 30, 2014; CMG (Weber Shandwick).

Halesway: U.K., March 7, 2014; IAN (FCB Health).

Black Sheep Social Media Group: U.S., Jan. 13, 2014; CMG (Octagon/Rogers & Cowan).

Profero: U.K., U.S., Asia, Jan. 24, 2014; IAN (Lowe and Partners).

Acquisitions in 2013:

Interpublic completed 11 acquisitions in 2013, nine in the Integrated Agency Networks segment and two in the Constituency Management Group segment. Interpublic integrated all the acquisitions into its global agency networks or existing agencies.

The acquisitions were:Inferno: U.K, December 2013; IAN (FCB).

E/OU: Brazil, November 2013; IAN (McCann Worldgroup).

UXUS: U.S./Netherlands, October 2013; CMG (FutureBrand).

Corporate Voice: India, April 2013; CMG.

Cross Colours: South Africa, April 2013; IAN (Lowe and Partners).

End to End: India, March 2013; IAN (McCann Worldgroup).

Interactive Avenues: India, March 2013; IAN (IPG Mediabrands).

MMS: Italy, March 2013; IAN (McCann Worldgroup).

Preview Propaganda: Brazil, March 2013; IAN (McCann Worldgroup).

Mnet: Australia, January 2013; IAN (McCann Worldgroup).

Sprung: U.S., January 2013; IAN (IPG Mediabrands).

The company in January 2013 made a minority investment in OKRP, a Chicago startup ad agency.

Acquisitions in 2012:

Interpublic completed 12 acquisitions in 2012. Interpublic integrated all the acquisitions into its global agency networks or existing agencies. The most significant acquisitions included a health care market research and consulting agency and a search marketing agency in the United Kingdom; and, in the U.S., a digital health care-marketing specialist and a designer of in-store shopping experiences.

Acquisitions in 2011:

Interpublic completed 22 acquisitions in 2011, including purchases of controlling interests in previously unconsolidated subsidiaries. The most significant acquisitions included full-service creative agencies in Australia; a public relations firm in Brazil; digital- and direct marketing agencies in the United Kingdom; a health care communications firm in Germany; and a social-media agency in the U.S.

Acquisitions in 2010:

Interpublic completed five acquisitions in 2010.

The company bought digital agency Huge in 2008 and search marketing agency Reprise Media in 2007.

Interpublic completed the following number of acquisitions in these years:

2009: 4
2008: 10
2007: 8
2006: 0
2005: 0

Divestitures:

Interpublic in September 2020 sold a majority stake in Casanova//McCann to the agency's long-time president-CEO, Ingrid Otero-Smart. Casanova//McCann is a Hispanic ad agency based in Costa Mesa, California. The agency was founded as Casanova Pendrill Publicidad in 1984. Interpublic bought the agency in December 1999.

Interpublic in July 2020 sold an 85% stake in The Axis Agency to the agency's original management team. Interpublic retained a 15% stake in Axis, a multicultural-marketing agency.

Interpublic in late 2019 sold Fitzgerald & Co., an Atlanta ad agency, back to its founder and chairman, Dave Fitzgerald. Interpublic had purchased the agency in 1998. Fitzgerald & Co., also known as Fitzco, had operated in Interpublic as part of the McCann Worldgroup network.

Interpublic in 2019 divested between five and 10 local country offices that had been part of global networks.

Interpublic's 10-Ks for years ended December 2020 and December 2019 said:

"During the past few years, we have acquired companies that we believe will enhance our offerings and disposed of businesses that are not consistent with our strategic plan."

Interpublic sold no units in 2018.

Interpublic in 2017 sold four U.S. agencies: Cassidy and Associates, Dailey, HackerAgency and TM Advertising. Investments and minority holdings:

Interpublic's investments and minority holdings as of May 2022 included:

IW Group (U.S. Asian-American agency, 49%). Management and employees:

Interpublic promoted Philippe Krakowsky to CEO from executive VP and chief operating officer effective Jan. 1, 2021. Coinciding with that move, Michael I. Roth shifted to executive chairman from chairman-CEO.

Roth stepped down as executive chairman and left the board Dec. 31, 2021. Board member David Thomas became non-executive chair of the board effective Jan. 1, 2022. Thomas, who joined the board in 2004, is a former CEO of IMS Health, a health care information, services and technology company.

Interpublic worldwide (and U.S.) employment at year end:

2021: 55,600 (23,300 in U.S.).
2020: 50,200 (21,100 in U.S.).
2019: 54,300 (22,400 in U.S.).
2018: 54,000 (22,500 in U.S.).
2017: 50,200 (20,100 in U.S.).
2016: 49,800 (19,900 in U.S.).
2015: 49,200 (19,900 in U.S.).
2014: 47,400 (19,200 in U.S.).
2013: 45,400 (18,400 in U.S.).
2012: 43,300 (17,600 in U.S.).
2011: 42,000 (18,000 in U.S.).
2010: 41,000 (18,000 in U.S.).
2009: 40,000 (17,000 in U.S.).
2008: 45,000 (19,000 in U.S.).
2007: 43,000 (19,000 in U.S.).
2006: 42,000 (18,000 in U.S.).
2005: 43,000 (18,000 in U.S.).

Stock:

Publicis Groupe sold its 1.13% stake in Interpublic in December 2013 (specifically, between Dec. 9 and Dec. 23, 2013). The Interpublic stock was a holdover from an investment Publicis made in FCB in 1988 as part of a later-aborted global alliance with FCB; Interpublic bought True North Communications (parent of FCB) in 2001.

Publicis' historic carrying price for Interpublic shares was $3.87 a share. The average listed share price between Dec. 9 and Dec. 23, 2013, was $16.74. Publicis scored a capital gain of 47 million euros ($64.5 million) on the sale.

History:

Interpublic Group of Cos. was incorporated under the name McCann-Erickson Inc. in September 1930 with the merger of ad agencies founded by Harrison K. McCann in 1911 and A.W. Erickson in 1902. The company adopted the Interpublic name in January 1961.

Top executive: Philippe Krakowsky, CEO; David Thomas, non-executive chair
Headquarters: Interpublic Group of Cos./909 Third Ave., New York, N.Y. 10022/Phone: (212) 704-1200
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/interpublicipg/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/interpublicgroup
Twitter: @InterpublicIPG
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ipg

https://www.interpublic.com

Revenue ($ in millions)	2021	2020	% chg
Worldwide	$727.7	$635.2	14.6
U.S.	$0.3	$0.3	10.0
Non-U.S.	$727.4	$634.9	14.6

Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

Fast facts: Mc Group (media consulta) is an independent agency network for integrated communications. It was founded in Berlin in 1993.

Services include advertising and media, public relations, corporate publishing, interactive marketing, sports, youth and music marketing, event management and TV production.

Revenue for mc Group figures reflect worldwide turnover including revenue of partner agencies as reported by media consulta.



Top executive: Harald Zulauf, CEO; Gerald Gebhardt, account director; Jan Schlesner, CFO
Headquarters: mc Group (media consulta)/Wassergasse 3, Berlin, 10179/Phone: 49 30 65000 225
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worldofideas
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mediaconsulta
Twitter: @mediaconsulta
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/media-consulta

https://www.mcgroup.com

Revenue ($ in millions)	2021	2020	% chg
Worldwide	$646.3	$416.9	55.0
U.S.	$355.8	$219.6	62.1
Non-U.S.	$290.5	$197.3	47.2
Ticker: LON:NFC (LON)

Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

Fast facts: Next Fifteen Communications Group is a London-based, publicly traded holding company that owns and operates public relations agencies and digital/research consultancies.

Revenue shown for the agency company is for the 12 months ended January 2022 and January 2021. Ad Age Datacenter converted revenue to U.S. dollars from British pounds.

Next Fifteen changed to a Jan. 31 fiscal year effective with the period ended Jan. 31, 2015. The company previously operated on fiscal years ended July 31.

Rankings:

Next Fifteen made its debut on the World's 50 Largest Agency Companies ranking in Ad Age's April 2012 Agency Report.

Deals and strategic moves:

Engine UK (2022):

Engine Group Holdings, a New York-based agency company, in March 2022 agreed to sell Engine UK (Engine Acquisition Limited), its U.K. division, to Next Fifteen.

In the acquisition announcement, Next Fifteen said Engine UK had about 600 employees including creatives, brand expert, product and UX designers, editors, consultants, data scientists and technologists, health care specialists and communications experts.

Next Fifteen said Engine UK had net revenue of 88.6M pounds in calendar 2021 ($121.9 million) and 75.1 million pounds in calendar 2020 ($96.4 million).

Lake Capital, a buyout firm, acquired Engine Group Holdings in 2014.

History:

Next Fifteen was founded in August 1981 as PR firm Text 100 and over time has expanded through acquisitions.

Text 100 Group changed its name to OneMonday Group in 2000. OneMonday in 2002 sold rights to its name to PricewaterhouseCoopers for $5 million and took the name Next Fifteen Communications Group.

Top executive: Penny Ladkin-Brand, chairwoman; Tim Dyson, CEO
Headquarters: Next Fifteen Communications Group/75 Bermondsey St., London, SE1 3XF/Phone: 44 20 7908 6444
Twitter: @Next_Fifteen
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/next-fifteen-communications-group-plc

http://www.next15.com

Revenue ($ in millions)	2021	2020	% chg
Worldwide	$14,289.4	$13,171.1	8.5
U.S.	$7,245.9	$7,186.1	0.8
Non-U.S.	$7,043.5	$5,985.0	17.7
Ticker: OMC (NYSE)

Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

Fast facts: Overview:

Omnicom Group is the world's second-largest agency company based on 2021 revenue.

Omnicom reported worldwide revenue of $14.3 billion in 2021; $13.2 billion in 2020; $15.0 billion in 2019; $15.3 billion in 2018; $15.3 billion in 2017; $15.4 billion in 2016; $15.1 billion in 2015; $15.3 billion in 2014; $14.6 billion in 2013; $14.2 billion in 2012; $13.9 billion in 2011; $12.5 billion in 2010, $11.7 billion in 2009; and $13.4 billion in 2008.

Omnicom during calendar 2020 began to disclose third-party service costs, which include expenses incurred with third-party vendors primarily when Omnicom acts as principal when performing services for its clients. Third-party service costs also include client-related travel costs.

Omnicom worldwide revenue minus third-party service costs is a proxy for net revenue. Worldwide revenue minus third-party service costs was $10.9 billion in 2021; $9.8 billion in 2020; $10.9 billion in 2019; and $11.1 billion in 2018.

Business segments and operations:

Clients:

Omnicom serves more than 5,000 clients in more than 70 countries, according to its February 2022 10-K filing.

Omnicom's 10 largest clients accounted for 21.7% of worldwide revenue in 2021; 20.8% in 2020; 19.6% in 2019; 19.1% in 2018; 19.6% in 2017; 18.3% in 2016; 17.9% in 2015; 18.1% of worldwide revenue in 2014; 19.1% in 2013; and 19.0% in 2012.

Omnicom said its largest client in 2021 represented 3.2% of revenue and was served by about 110 of its agencies. The company's 10-K filing for year ended December 2021 said: "Our 100 largest clients, many of which represent the largest global marketers, represented approximately 54% of revenue and were each served, on average, by approximately 52 of our agencies." Specifically, the top 100 accounted for 53.6% of revenue.

Omnicom said its largest client in 2020 represented 3.4% of revenue and was served by more than 110 of its agencies. The company's 10-K filing for year ended December 2020 said: "Our 100 largest clients, many of which represent the largest global marketers, represented approximately 54% of revenue and were each served, on average, by more than 50 of our agencies." Specifically, the top 100 accounted for 54.0% of revenue.

Omnicom said its largest client in 2019 represented 3.0% of revenue and was served by more than 210 of its agencies. The company's 10-K filing for year ended December 2019 said: "Our 100 largest clients, which represent many of the world's major marketers, represented approximately 51% of revenue and were each served, on average, by more than 60 of our agencies." Specifically, the top 100 accounted for 51.3% of revenue.

Omnicom said its largest client in 2018 represented 3.0% of revenue and was served by more than 225 of its agencies. The company's 10-K filing for year ended December 2018 said: "Our 100 largest clients, which represent many of the world's major marketers, comprised approximately 51% of revenue and were each served, on average, by more than 60 of our agencies." Specifically, the top 100 accounted for 50.7% of revenue.

Omnicom said its largest client in 2017 represented 3.0% of revenue and was served by more than 250 of its agencies. The company's 10-K filing for year ended December 2017 said: "Our 100 largest clients, which represent many of the world's major marketers, comprised approximately 51% of revenue and were each served, on average, by more than 50 of our agencies." Specifically, the top 100 accounted for 50.5% of revenue.

Omnicom said its largest client in 2016 represented 3.0% of revenue and was served by more than 250 of its agencies. The company's 10-K filing for year ended December 2016 said: "Our 100 largest clients, which represent many of the world's major marketers, comprised approximately 52% of revenue and were each served, on average, by more than 50 of our agencies." Specifically, the top 100 accounted for 52.4% of revenue.

Omnicom said its largest client in 2015 represented 2.7% of revenue and was served by more than 250 of its agencies. The company's 10-K filing for year ended December 2015 said: "Our 100 largest clients, which represented approximately 52% of revenue, were each served, on average, by more than 50 of our agencies." Specifically, the top 100 accounted for 52.3% of revenue.

Omnicom said its largest client worked with more than 200 of its agencies and represented 2.6% of revenue in 2014. The company's 10-K filing for year ended December 2014 said: "No other client accounted for more than 2.5% of revenue. In 2014, our top 100 clients, ranked by revenue, were each served, on average, by more than 50 of our agencies and collectively represented approximately 50% of revenue." Specifically, the top 100 accounted for 50.4% of revenue. Omnicom said its largest client in 2013 worked with more than 175 of its agencies and represented 2.7% of revenue. Omnicom's 10-K for year ended December 2013 said: "No other client accounted for more than 2.5% of revenue. In 2013, our top 100 clients, ranked by revenue, were each served, on average, by more than 50 of our agencies and collectively represented approximately 51% of revenue." Specifically, the top 100 accounted for 51.3% of revenue.

Omnicom said its largest client in 2012 worked with more than 150 of its agencies and represented 2.6% of worldwide revenue. Omnicom's 10-K for year ended December 2012 said: "No other client accounted for more than 2.6% of our 2012 revenue. Our top 100 clients, ranked by revenue, were each served, on average, by more than 50 of our agencies in 2012 and collectively represented approximately 52% of our 2012 revenue."

Omnicom said its largest client in 2011 worked with more than 200 Omnicom agencies and represented 2.6% of worldwide revenue. Omnicom's 10-K for year ended December 2011 said: "No other client accounted for more than 2.1% of our 2011 revenue. Our top 100 clients, ranked by revenue, were each served, on average, by more than 50 of our agencies in 2011 and collectively represented approximately 50% of our 2011 revenue."

Rankings:

Omnicom in 2008 dropped to No. 2 in worldwide revenue among agency companies, behind WPP. London-based WPP that year leapfrogged Omnicom with revenue from Taylor Nelson Sofres, a market research company WPP bought in October 2008. Taylor Nelson Sofres became part of Kantar, WPP's global market research business. (WPP in 2019 sold a 60% stake in Kantar to Bain Capital.)

Deals and strategic moves:

Omnicom has made relatively small acquisitions in recent years.

2022 deals:

TA Digital (March 2022), a digital agency specializing in design, delivery and implementation of customer experience, digital content management and digital commerce services. The San Francisco-based agency became part of Omnicom Precision Marketing Group.

Propeller (February 2022), a digital health care marketing agency founded in 2006 and based in Summit, N.J. Propeller was acquired by Omnicom Health Group.

2021 deals:

The company's 10-K for year ended December 2021 said: "In 2021, we completed five acquisitions that increased goodwill by $285.9 million. In addition, during 2021, we acquired additional equity interests in certain majority owned subsidiaries, which are accounted for as equity transactions, and no additional goodwill was recorded. None of the acquisitions in 2021, either individually or in the aggregate, was material to our results of operations or financial position."

Omnicom broke out these acquisitions on its quarterly earnings calls:

BrightGen (November 2021), a U.K.-based digital business transformation specialist that became part of Credera and Precision Marketing.

Jump 450 Media (October 2021), a New York-based performance marketing agency founded in 2016. Jump 450 Media was acquired by Omnicom Media Group.

Antoni (September 2021), a creative agency in Germany.

OSK (September 2021), a PR agency in Germany.

Areteans (majority stake, April 2021), which became part of Credera. India-based Areteans is a global services company specializing in design, delivery and implementation of real-time interaction management and digital customer relationship management. Areteans was founded in 2015 and had more than 600 employees at the time of the transaction. Omnicom expected to complete the deal in second-quarter 2021.

Archbow Consulting (April 2021), which became part of Omnicom Health Group. Archbow, founded in 2017, helps pharmaceutical and biotech companies design, build and optimize market access operations, product distribution and patient access hubs.

2020 deals:

Omnicom broke out one 2020 acquisition over the course of its quarterly earnings presentations. The company's 10-K for year ended December 2020 said: "None of the acquisitions in 2020, either individually or in the aggregate, was material to our results of operations or financial position."

The 2020 acquisition broken out by Omnicom:

DMW Group (majority stake acquired by Credera; third-quarter 2020), a technology consultancy based in London. DMW became part of Credera within Omnicom Precision Marketing Group. DMW reported gross profit of 10.2 million pounds ($13.4 million) in year ended March 2019.

2019 deals:

Omnicom said it completed six acquisitions in 2019. The company's 10-K for year ended December 2019 said: "None of the acquisitions in 2019, either individually or in the aggregate, was material to our results of operations or financial position."

Omnicom's two 2019 acquisitions were:

Smart Digital (third-quarter 2019), a Germany-based consulting and marketing technology company that uses artificial intelligence and data to manage real-time customer experiences. It became a stand-alone agency within Omnicom Precision Marketing Group.

De Vloer (majority stake acquired by TBWA Worldwide; first-quarter 2019), a creative agency in Belgium. De Vloer, founded in 2013, became a separate brand in the TBWA Worldwide network.

2018 deals:

Omnicom said it completed six acquisitions in 2018. The company's 10-K for year ended December 2018 said: "None of these acquisitions, either individually or in the aggregate, was material to our results of operations or financial position."

Omnicom's six 2018 acquisitions were:

Media and Performance Marketing (fourth quarter 2018), or M&PM, a performance marketing venture in Germany and division of United Digital Group. M&PM, rebranded as Resolution, became part of Omnicom Media Group.

Credera (majority stake; third quarter 2018), a U.S. consulting and marketing technology services business that became part of Omnicom Precision Marketing.

Levo Digital (third quarter 2018), an Australian marketing services and technology venture that became a division of BBDO Worldwide's Clemenger Group.

EMC K.K. (second quarter 2018), Elsevier's pharmaceutical communications business in Japan. Snow Cos. (first quarter 2018), a health care agency in Virginia.

Brain Group (first quarter 2018), a Germany-based digital venture that operated Brainagency, which merged into OMD, and BrainConsulting and CrazyLegs, which became part of Omnicom Media Group.

2017 deals:

Omnicom said it completed four acquisitions in 2017. The company's 10-K for year ended December 2017 said: "None of these acquisitions, either individually or in the aggregate, was material to our results of operations or financial position."

Omnicom's four 2017 acquisitions were:

Perceptive (third quarter 2017), a "customer intelligence agency" based in New Zealand. It became a separate division of Clemenger Group within the BBDO Worldwide network.

Verve Search (third quarter 2017), a search engine optimization and content marketing agency based in London and founded in 2009. It became a separate division within Omnicom Media Group's U.K. operations.

Mobile Strategy (second quarter 2017), a digital agency based in Amsterdam and founded in 2010. It became part of the TBWA network.

Lucky Generals (first quarter 2017), a U.K. creative agency founded in 2013 and bought by TBWA Worldwide.

2016 deals:

Omnicom said it completed five acquisitions in 2016. The company's 10-K for year ended December 2016 said: "None of the acquisitions or dispositions, individually or in the aggregate, in the three year period ended December 31, 2016 was material to our results of operations or financial position."

Omnicom's five 2016 acquisitions were:

Grupo Sancho (fourth quarter 2016), an affiliate of the BBDO network in Colombia since 2000. BBDO Worldwide bought a controlling interest in Bogota, Colombia-based Grupo Sancho, which operated a network of agencies including Sancho BBDO; OMD, PHD and MediaWise media agencies; Proximity, a digital and customer relationship management agency; and Sistole and Senor Lopez.

Rabin Martin (second quarter 2016), a health care strategy consulting firm founded in 2004 and based in New York. Rabin Martin became part of Omnicom Public Relations Group.

BioPharm Communications (second quarter 2016), a health care communications agency founded in 2005 and based in New Hope, Pennsylvania. It became part of Omnicom Health Group.

Omnicom Media Group Schweiz AG (second quarter 2016), a Zurich, Switzerland, firm and affiliate of Omnicom Media Group. Omnicom bought a controlling interest. Omnicom Media Group Schweiz had about 110 employees when Omnicom bought its controlling stake.

Grupo ABC (deal completed Jan. 29, 2016), a Brazilian agency company, acquired by DDB Worldwide. DDB had announced a deal to buy Grupo ABC in November 2015. At the time of its acquisition, Grupo ABC had 2,000 employees with services including advertising, public relations, CRM, digital, promotion and events. DDB had a business relationship with Grupo ABC dating to 1997.

2015 deals:

Omnicom said it completed eight acquisitions in 2015. It also made an unspecified number of additional equity interests in majority-owned subsidiaries. The company's 10-K for year ended December 2015 said: "None of the acquisitions or dispositions, individually or in the aggregate, in the three year period ended December 31, 2015, was material to our results of operations or financial position."

Omnicom's eight 2015 acquisitions were:

Wednesday Agency Group (fourth-quarter 2015), a creative agency focused on fashion, luxury and consumer lifestyles, founded in 2003 and with offices in New York and London; became part of BBDO Worldwide network.

Cortex (third-quarter 2015), a health care agency in Turkey founded in 2006; became part of TBWA/WorldHealth.

Re-Mind (third-quarter 2015), a digital media agency in France founded in 2007; became part of Omnicom Media Group network.

DataOnDemand (third-quarter 2015), a CRM agency in France founded in 2012; became part of Omnicom Media Group network.

Semetis (second-quarter 2015), a search and web analytics business in Belgium founded in 2009; became part of Omnicom Media Group network.

Torben, Lucie und die gelbe Gefahr (TLGG) (first-quarter 2015), a digital agency in Germany founded in 2008; became part of Rapp.

Trakken Web Services (first-quarter 2015), a web analytics firm in Germany; became part of Omnicom Media Group network.

Mercury New Jersey (first-quarter 2015), a public affairs business in New Jersey, controlling interest acquired by Mercury Public Affairs; Mercury New Jersey became part of Mercury Public Affairs. Mercury New Jersey previously was a non-equity affiliate of Mercury Public Affairs.

2014 deals:

Omnicom said it in 2014 completed 10 acquisitions and made additional investments in companies in which it had an existing minority ownership interest. The company's 10-K for year ended December 2014 said: "None of our acquisitions or dispositions, individually or in the aggregate, in the three year period ended December 31, 2014 was material to our financial position or results of operations."

While the 10-K mentioned a total of 10 acquisitions, Omnicom's quarterly investor presentations listed 13 acquisitions in 2014:

Cozum (third-quarter 2014), an ad agency in Turkey; became part of Integer Group in TBWA Worldwide network.

DDC Advocacy (fourth-quarter 2014), a Washington-based public affairs agency; became part of FleishmanHillard.

GRA Everingham (fourth-quarter 2014), a government relations agency in Australia; became part of GRACosway division of Clemenger Group in the BBDO Worldwide network.

Haygarth (second-quarter 2014), a brand strategy and retail agency in London; became part of Rapp.

Heimat (second-quarter 2014), an ad agency in Germany; became part of TBWA Germany in TBWA Worldwide network.

HMKM (first-quarter 2014), a design consultancy based in London; became part of Interbrand Group.

Ketchum Estrategia (fourth-quarter 2014), a Brazil PR agency (controlling stake); rebranded as Ketchum Brazil.

Marketforce (fourth-quarter 2014), a marketing agency in Australia; became part of Clemenger Group in the BBDO Worldwide network.

Media Interactive, a digital media planning and buying agency in Chile; became part of Omnicom Media Group.

Mobile5, a mobile-marketing agency in London; became part of Omnicom Media Group.

Mood (first-quarter 2014), a promotion and ad agency in Brazil; became part of TBWA in Brazil in TBWA Worldwide network.

Planning Shop international (third-quarter 2014), a London-based health care research brand consultancy; became part of Adelphi Group.

22feet Communications (first-quarter 2014), a digital and mobile agency in India; merged with existing Omnicom holdings in India to form 22feet Tribal Worldwide, part of DDB Mudra Group in DDB Worldwide network.

2013 deals:

Omnicom said it in 2013 completed eight acquisitions and made additional investments in companies in which it had an existing minority ownership interest. Omnicom's 10-K for year ended December 2013 said: "None of our acquisitions or dispositions in the three year period ended December 31, 2013 was material to our financial position or results of operations."

Key 2013 acquisitions cited by Omnicom included:

Brandzeichen, a brand consultancy and communications agency in Germany.

HDI Youth Marketers, a youth-marketing agency in South Africa.

Icon Singapore, a public relations consultancy in Singapore.

Openco, a full-service, integrated communications agency based in South Africa, founded in 2008 and servicing clients across Africa. (Omnicom raised its stake to 51% from its previous 30% ownership.)

Redhanded Communications Group, an integrated marketing and communications agency in Australia.

2012 deals:

Omnicom in 2012 completed 13 acquisitions and made additional investments in companies in which it had an existing minority interest. The 10-K for year ended December 2012 said: "None of our acquisitions in 2012 were material to our results of operations or financial position."

Acquisitions in 2012 included Nim Digital, an agency in China specializing in media planning and buying, search and digital production services; and a number of consumer-insights and analytics companies.

2011 deals:

Now-former CFO Randall Weisenburger said significant 2011 acquisitions included international ventures Clemenger Group, Mudra Group and Medina Turgul; and two U.S. ventures, Communispace, a digital market-research-services firm, and Marina Maher Communications, a New York PR agency.

Omnicom effective Feb. 1, 2011, acquired majority ownership in Clemenger Group, an Australian agency company, increasing its equity ownership to 73.7% from 46.7%. Omnicom's BBDO Worldwide had been a minority investor since 1972.

Omnicom in fourth-quarter 2011 bought a majority stake in Mudra Group, a marketing-communications group in India. Omnicom previously owned a 10% stake. Mudra was founded in 1980. Mudra formed an alliance in 1988 with Omnicom's DDB Worldwide, making Mudra part of the DDB network. DDB Mudra opened in 2007.

Omnicom's DDB Worldwide in fourth-quarter 2011 bought a controlling interest in its two Turkish affiliates, Medina Turgul DDB and DDB & Co. Medina Turgul DDB and DDB & Co. had been DDB affiliates since 1995 and 2004, respectively.

Omnicom in 2010 disbanded pioneering digital agency Agency.com, splitting its offices among TBWA Worldwide network agencies.

Divestitures:

Omnicom in March 2019 sold MarketStar, an Ogden, Utah, sales outsourcing venture, to Wasatch Group, a Utah-based investment company. Omnicom had owned MarketStar since 2002.

Omnicom in third quarter 2018 divested "certain businesses, primarily in our CRM Execution & Support discipline," including "Sellbytel, our European-based outsourced sales, service and support company."

Germany-based Sellbytel had been part of the BBDO Worldwide network. Sellbytel was founded in 1988 and acquired by BBDO in 1994.

Omnicom said in an October 2018 filing: "As a result of our disposition activity, we expect a net reduction to revenue in the fourth quarter of 2018 to be between 2.5% and 3% and 2.25% for the full year 2018, and a reduction of approximately 3% in the first half of 2019." The company's February 2019 10-K said that as a result of disposition activity, "we expect a net reduction to revenue of approximately 3% to 3.5% in the first half of 2019 and 2.5% for the full year."

Omnicom in April 2017 sold Novus Media, a print and digital media agency founded in 1987. Omnicom bought Novus in October 2000.

The sale of Novus came after Omnicom in first-quarter 2017 sold several agencies in its field marketing and events discipline; divestitures included some field marketing operations in the U.S. and outside the U.S.

Omnicom CFO Philip Angelastro disclosed the sale of Novus and the field marketing and events agencies on the company's April 2017 earnings call. He said several of the businesses sold "were not our peak performers." Angelastro added that Omnicom intended to continue to evaluate its portfolio but that the company believed its 2017 dispositions were substantially completed.

Omnicom on May 1, 2015, sold Fame, an agency in Minneapolis, to the agency's president-CEO, Lynne Robertson. Fame previously was part of Omnicom's TBWA Worldwide network.

Omnicom in 2010 initiated a global review of operations with the aim to reorganize or dispose of what President-CEO John Wren termed "non-core, low-growth, low-margin businesses ... generally in smaller markets." As of April 2011, Omnicom had disposed of units with combined annual revenue of about $120 million.

Weisenburger said the company in 2011 made "some 35 dispositions." Specifically, he said: "We completed a number of small dispositions during the year, mostly in the United States."

Omnicom in March 2011 sold a majority stake in U.S. PR firm Brodeur Partners.

Weisenburger in July 2011 said: "The companies that we've tried to dispose of were not high margin, high growth businesses otherwise we wouldn't have been looking to dispose of them."

Weisenburger also said in July 2011 that the businesses on Omnicom's "potentials list" of possible divestitures had annualized revenue of about $200 million. Wren in July 2011 said the likelihood that Omnicom would complete all those possible divestitures was "unfortunately small," so that the annualized revenue of completed divestitures on that potentials list would be less than $200 million.

Weisenburger in February 2012 said: "I know we have a couple of divestitures or dispositions that we continue to work on, so we know we at least have those to go. We will constantly evaluate businesses. We have a number of agencies that I'd say are on our very active watch list, so we have plans in place for them to change their business, and we'll monitor how that progresses over the course of the year."

Wren in March 2013 said at an investors conference: "There's one company that hangs on that eventually we'll rid ourselves of, but it's not big enough for any of you to care about." Omnicom declined to disclose the name of that company.

Omnicom on June 28, 2013, sold Bernard Hodes Group, a recruitment agency, to Findly, an online-based recruitment company launched in 2010 and owned by private-equity firm Symphony Technology Group. The deal was disclosed in July 2013; the price tag wasn't revealed. Weisenburger in July 2013 told analysts Hodes had annualized revenue of "about $100 million," adding that Hodes had been "costing us $2 million to $5 million a quarter in negative organic growth," implying the agency's revenue was shrinking. Weisenburger said Hodes' business, "while it was not positive [in revenue growth], was starting to -- was stabilizing at a very low number." At the time of the sale, Hodes had about 300 employees. (Omnicom retained part of the Bernard Hodes business: The company in 2013 integrated Bernard Hodes' Hong Kong and London operations into Omnicom's FleishmanHillard.)

Wren in July 2013 told analysts: "Implied in what we said in 2010 of the agencies that we felt were no longer strategic to the business [was that] ... we wanted to, in an orderly fashion, dispose of them. Hodes was probably the largest of the remaining items on that list, and it just took us until now to dispose of it in an orderly fashion."

Omnicom's investments/minority holdings include:

Footsteps (U.S. multicultural agency, 49%).

Third Ear, which previously operated as LatinWorks, (U.S. Hispanic agency, 49%).

SpikeDDB (U.S. African-American agency, 49%).

Termination of Publicis Omnicom Group merger:

New York-based Omnicom and Paris-based Publicis Groupe in July 2013 announced plans to merge into the world's biggest agency firm, Publicis Omnicom Group. Omnicom at the time ranked No. 2 among agency companies based on worldwide revenue; Publicis ranked No. 3.

The companies on May 8, 2014, terminated the deal, citing "difficulties in completing the transaction within a reasonable timeframe."

Omnicom and Publicis originally expected to complete the merger in fourth-quarter 2013 or first-quarter 2014, but the deal as of May 2014 still needed regulatory approval in China and agreement on tax issues in France, the U.K. and the Netherlands. The companies also disagreed on how to fill top management posts in what had been billed as a "merger of equals."

Publicis Omnicom Group N.V., a newly formed Dutch holding company, would have had its "official seat" in Amsterdam and "operational headquarters located in Paris, France, and New York," according to Omnicom regulatory filings, though the company's "principal place of business" would be in the U.K., under terms of the merger. The merged company would have "exclusive tax residency in the United Kingdom," according to an Omnicom regulatory filing in April 2014.

Michael O'Brien, Omnicom senior VP-general counsel, said on Omnicom's April 2014 earnings call: "The new company is to be incorporated in the Netherlands. The agreements require that Publicis Omnicom's principal place of business be in the United Kingdom. ... Our agreements with Publicis require that the new company be a tax resident of the United Kingdom."

Management and employees:

Omnicom employed 71,700 people at year-end 2021 (22,600 in the U.S.); 64,100 at year-end 2020 (20,800 in the U.S.); 70,000 at year-end 2019; 70,400 at year-end 2018; 77,300 at year-end 2017; 78,500 at year-end 2016; 74,900 at year-end 2015; 74,000 at year-end 2014; 71,800 at year-end 2013; 71,099 at year-end 2012; 70,600 at year-end 2011; 65,500 at year-end 2010; 63,000 at year-end 2009; 68,000 at year-end 2008; 70,000 at year-end 2007; and 66,000 at year-end 2006.

Omnicom's board on Oct. 29, 2021, named Daryl Simm president and chief operating officer effective Nov. 1, 2021, setting him up as John Wren's likely successor.

Simm was age 60 when Omnicom announced his appointment as president and chief operating officer. Before becoming Omnicom president, Simm was CEO of Omnicom's Omnicom Media Group for more than two decades. Simm joined Omnicom in 1998. Simm started his career at Procter & Gamble Co., where he was general manager of P&G Productions and VP of worldwide media.

President-CEO John Wren became chairman-CEO in May 2018 when Omnicom combined the posts of chairman and CEO. The move came when Bruce Crawford, 89 as of April 2018, retired as chairman, a post he had held since 1995. Wren was named president in September 1995 and succeeded Crawford as CEO Jan. 1, 1997.

Wren was age 69 as of April 2022.

Top executive: John D. Wren, chairman and CEO; Daryl Simm, president and chief operating officer
Headquarters: Omnicom Group/280 Park Ave., New York, N.Y. 10017/Phone: (212) 415-3600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/omnicomgroupinc
Twitter: @Omnicom
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/omnicom

http://www.omnicomgroup.com

Revenue ($ in millions)	2021	2020	% chg
Worldwide	$519.9	$403.8	28.7
U.S.	$109.3	$112.4	-2.8
Non-U.S.	$410.6	$291.4	40.9

Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

Fast facts: Overview:

Plus Company is an agency company with headquarters in Quebec City and San Francisco.

Plus Company formerly operated as BlueFocus International, the non-China operation of China-based BlueFocus Communication Group.

BlueFocus Communication Group in 2021 sold a majority stake in BlueFocus International to buyout firm CVC Capital Partners and Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec, a global investment group.

Plus Company was incorporated Sept. 1, 2021.

At its launch in 2021, Plus Company reported more than 3,000 employees, across 12 countries in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific.

Deals and strategic moves:

The 2021 transaction, announced in May 2021, followed two aborted deals involving BlueFocus International.

Legacy Acquisition Corp. in July 2020 terminated a pending deal to absorb BlueFocus non-China operations. In an SEC filing, Legacy said: "The termination is in response to the increasing impact on the global advertising sector, and global markets broadly, resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, which has negatively affected the market valuations."

BlueFocus in August 2019 had signed a deal to spin off the company's non-China business (BlueFocus International) and two China ventures (Madhouse, a mobile performance marketing business based in China; Metta, a marketing agency based in Hong Kong) to Legacy Acquisition Corp.

Legacy was a publicly traded U.S. special-purpose acquisition company or shell company. On the deal's closing, Legacy would have changed its name to Blue Impact. BlueFocus would have been the largest shareholder in Blue Impact.

Cogint, a public company based in Boca Raton, Florida, in September 2017 signed a deal to merge with BlueFocus International, the branch of BlueFocus that oversaw BlueFocus operations outside China. Cogint and BlueFocus scrapped the deal in February 2018.

Under that deal, BlueFocus would have contributed to Cogint the following: $100 million in cash; Vision7 International, a Canada-based marketing communications company; We Are Very Social Limited, a U.K.-based global social media agency; and Indigo Social, a New York-based social media, online public relations and branding company that began operations in January 2017.

For its part, Cogint would contribute Fluent, a performance-marketing venture. (As a condition to closing the deal, Cogint's data and analytics operations, IDI, would spin off as a new public company, Red Violet.)

BlueFocus Communication Group would end up with a 63.0% stake in Cogint.

Cogint's Sept. 7, 2017, press release announcement said: "The combined company"-Cogint and BlueFocus International-"is expected to have 2018 annual revenues in excess of $500 million."

Cogint's September 2017 investors presentation proclaimed: "Cogint and BlueFocus combine businesses to create world-class, global marketing services company."

Cogint on Feb. 21, 2018, said the deal was dead. In a press release, it said: "As a condition to closing the transaction, the parties sought regulatory approval by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (Cfius). As a result of the political climate regarding Chinese-based acquirers of U.S. companies, Cfius has indicated its unwillingness to approve the transaction. Therefore, the parties have withdrawn their application and terminated the business combination agreement."

Cogint has changed its name and focus multiple times. It began in 2009 under the name SearchMedia Holdings, which was in the out-of-home advertising industry in China. SearchMedia Holdings in 2012 changed its name to Tiger Media. In 2015, Tiger Media bought The Best One, which it described as "a holding company engaged in the acquisition of operating businesses and the acquisition and development of technology assets across various industries"; at that point, Tiger Media took the name IDI Inc. and The Best One took the name IDI Holdings. Late in 2015, IDI Inc. bought Fluent, a digital marketing venture. In 2016, IDI Inc. took the name Cogint, which it said "better reflects our commitment and expertise in driving technology innovations in order to shape the future of the data fusion industry."

In its 10-K for calendar 2016, Cogint billed itself as "a data and analytics company providing cloud-based mission-critical information and performance marketing solutions to enterprises in a variety of industries."Earlier deals and strategic moves:

BlueFocus on Dec. 31, 2014, acquired a majority stake in the North American operations of Vision7 International, a Canada-based agency firm whose holdings included Cossette, a Canadian ad agency, and Citizen Relations, a U.S.-based PR agency. BlueFocus bought Vision7 from Mill Road Capital, a Connecticut-based private-equity firm. BlueFocus as of April 2016 owned a 95.2% stake in Vision7.



Top executive: Brett Marchand, CEO; Nathan Oliver, chief growth officer; Martin Faucher, CFO
Headquarters: Plus Company/500 Sansome St., San Francisco, Calif. 94111
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pluscompany-ca

https://www.pluscompany.com

Revenue ($ in millions)	2021	2020	% chg
Worldwide	$13,890.3	$12,313.0	12.8
North America	$8,134.4	$7,385.7	10.1
Rest of world	$5,755.9	$4,927.3	16.8
Ticker: EPA: PUB (EPA)

Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

Fast facts: Overview:

Publicis Groupe is the world's third-largest agency company based on 2021 revenue.

Revenue:

Worldwide revenue shown is Publicis' stated revenue converted to U.S. dollars from euros at average annual exchange rates.

Publicis reported worldwide revenue of $13.9 billion (converted from euros) in 2021; $12.3 billion in 2020 and 2019; $11.7 billion in 2018; and $11.5 billion in 2017 (restated to reflect the new accounting standards).

Publicis reported worldwide net revenue of $12.4 billion (converted from euros) in 2021; $11.1 billion in 2020; $11.0 billion in 2019; $10.6 billion in 2018; and $10.5 billion in 2017 (restated to reflect the new accounting standards).

Publicis changed its accounting for revenue effective Jan. 1, 2018, in accordance with new International Financing Reporting Standards. Publicis previously reported "revenue." It now reports "net revenue"; and, after adding in pass-through revenue, "revenue."

In its earnings release for year ended December 2018, Publicis said the accounting change resulted in "increased revenue since certain costs--that are directly re-invoiced to clients--are no longer set against revenue. These costs mainly concern production and media activities, as well as various miscellaneous costs incumbent on clients.

"In this context, as these items that can be re-billed to clients do not come within the scope of analysis of operations, Publicis Groupe has decided to focus on a different indicator, i.e. revenue less pass-through revenue or Net revenue, which is the most relevant indicator in terms of measuring the Groupe's operational performance."

Under its previous accounting, Publicis reported worldwide revenue of $10.9 billion (converted from euros) in 2017; $10.8 billion in 2016; $10.6 billion in 2015; $9.6 billion in 2014; $9.2 billion in 2013; $8.5 billion in 2012; $8.1 billion in 2011; $7.2 billion in 2010; $6.3 billion in 2009; and $6.9 billion in 2008.

Business segments and operations:

Publicis Groupe said its largest clients accounted for the following percentages of worldwide revenue:

Five largest clients: 13% in 2020; 12% in 2019; 12% in 2018; 13% in 2017; 14% in 2016; 15% in 2015; 17% in 2014; 18% in 2013; 19% in 2012.

Ten largest clients: 20% in 2020; 19% in 2019; 18% in 2018; 19% in 2017; 20% in 2016; 21% in 2015; 24% in 2014; 25% in 2013; 27% in 2012.

Twenty largest clients: 31% in 2020; 29% in 2019; 28% in 2018; 30% in 2017; 30% in 2016; 30% in 2015; 33% in 2014; 34% in 2013; 37% in 2012.

Thirty largest clients: 37% in 2020; 35% in 2019; 34% in 2018; 36% in 2017; 37% in 2016; 37% in 2015; 40% in 2014; 41% in 2013; 44% in 2012.

Fifty largest clients: 45% in 2020; 42% in 2019; 42% in 2018; 44% in 2017; 45% in 2016; 45% in 2015; 49% in 2014; 50% in 2013; 53% in 2012.

Top 100 clients: 56% in 2020; 53% in 2019; 53% in 2018; 55% in 2017; 55% in 2016; 55% in 2015; 59% in 2014; 61% in 2013; 63% in 2012.

The company's registration document for year ended December 2019 said: "The average duration with the 10 main clients is 36 years."

The French registration document for year ended December 2018 said: "The average duration of relations with the 10 main clients is 39 years."

The French registration document for year ended December 2017 said the average duration of the 10 main clients was 46 years.

Rankings:

Publicis in 2009 passed Interpublic Group of Cos. to take the No. 3 spot based on agency company worldwide revenue, behind WPP and Omnicom Group.

Deals and strategic moves:

Epsilon acquisition:

Publicis Groupe and Alliance Data Systems Corp. on July 1, 2019, completed a deal for Publicis to buy Epsilon (including Conversant), a provider of data and marketing services. The companies announced the deal April 14, 2019. This came after Alliance Data in November 2018 said it was "exploring strategic alternatives" for Epsilon and Conversant, including a potential sale.

Publicis said it bought Irving, Texas-based Epsilon for $4.451 billion cash. The Epsilon sale was the biggest agency deal in years. The purchase price topped WPP's $4.37 billion purchase of Young & Rubicam in 2000. (WPP announced Y&R as a $4.7 billion transaction, but final value of stock in that all-stock deal was $4.37 billion.) The Epsilon deal was below the price tag on Dentsu Inc.'s $4.853 billion acquisition of Aegis Group in 2013 (the largest-ever acquisition of an agency company).

Alliance Data on Nov. 27, 2018, said it was "exploring strategic alternatives for its Epsilon business, including its digital media arm Conversant. ... These strategic alternatives include a potential sale of the business."

The strategic review came after another data venture, Acxiom, earlier in 2018 went on the block and was acquired in October 2018 by Interpublic Group of Cos. Sapient Corp. acquisition:

Publicis in February 2015 acquired Sapient Corp., a global marketing and technology services company, for about $3.7 billion cash.

Sapient's largest holding was SapientNitro, a digital-centric advertising and marketing-services agency network.

In announcing the deal's closing on Feb. 6, 2015, Publicis said: "The acquisition of Sapient gives birth to the Publicis.Sapient platform, encompassing the global leaders in digital -- SapientNitro, Razorfish Global, Rosetta and DigitasLBi, and the deep industry expertise of Sapient Global Markets and Sapient Government Services."

Other major acquisitions:

LBi, an Amsterdam-based digital network, purchased in January 2013 for 416 million euros ($554 million). After buying LBi, Publicis combined it with Digitas in February 2013 to form the DigitasLBi network. (DigitasLBi in March 2018 shortened its name to Digitas.)

Rosetta Marketing Group, a U.S.-based digital agency, acquired in July 2011 for $577 million cash.

Razorfish, a U.S.-based digital agency, acquired in October 2009 from Microsoft Corp. for $544 million ($547 million including transaction costs). Publicis paid $286.8 million cash plus 6.5 million Publicis shares for a purchase price of 369 million euros ($544 million based on currency rates when the deal closed) or 371 million euros including transaction costs ($547 million). The deal gave Microsoft a 3.3% stake in Publicis; Microsoft later sold its entire stake in Publicis.

Digitas, a U.S. digital agency, purchased in January 2007 for $1.3 billion.

Bcom3 Group, a U.S.-based agency company, acquired in 2002. Bcom3 owned Leo Burnett (ad agency); D'Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles (ad agency); Manning Selvage & Lee (public relations); Starcom Mediavest Group (media-agency network); Medicus (health care communications); and a 49% stake in Bartle Bogle Hegarty (U.K. ad agency). Saatchi & Saatchi, a U.K.-based agency company, acquired in 2000.

Publicis in 2001 formed ZenithOptimedia, a media-agency network, by merging its Optimedia unit with Zenith Media, which had been a 50/50 of Saatchi & Saatchi and Cordiant Communications Group. Cordiant at that point ended up with a 25% stake in ZenithOptimedia. WPP in 2003 bought Cordiant and sold the 25% stake in ZenithOptimedia to Publicis.

Other acquisitions:

2022 deals:

Tremend (January 2022), a software engineering company based in Bucharest, Romania, and operating in Central and Eastern Europe. At the time of the acquisition, Tremend employed 650 people. Tremend was founded in 2005.

2021 deals:

Publicis acquisitions in 2021 included:

BBK Worldwide (December 2021), an R&D marketing firm whose offerings included clinical trial experience services, acquired by Publicis Health.

CitrusAd (September 2021), a software-as-a-service platform helping brands with marketing directly within retailer websites. Australia-based CitrusAd was founded in 2017.

Boomerang (July 2021), an Amsterdam-based creative agency.

Other 2021 acquisitions included Third Horizon, Octopus, Balance Internet, Taylor Herring and Means Advertising.

Publicis and Siam Commercial Bank in December 2021 launched SCB Tech X, a platform-as-a-service fintech venture in Southeast Asia. The joint venture, which started with 1,200 employees, is 40% owned by Publicis Sapient and 60% by Siam Commercial Bank.

2020 deals:

Publicis made no significant acquisitions in 2020.

The company said in its registration document for year ended December 2020: "During 2020, marked by COVID-19, the number of acquisitions was limited."

2019 deals:

In addition to buying Epsilon, Publicis made other acquisitions in 2019, though Publicis said, "The other acquisitions during the period were not material (either individually or taken as a whole)." The other acquisitions in 2019 included Rauxa (U.S.) and Soft Computing (France).

Publicis acquisitions in 2019 (in addition to Epsilon) included:

Rauxa (August 2019), a U.S. full-service marketing agency.

Soft Computing (February 2019), a data marketing firm in France.

2018 deals:

Publicis made no large-scale acquisitions in 2018.

Deals in 2018 included:

Xebia (November 2018), an information technology consultancy in France.

Kindred Group (September 2018), a digital communications company in the Czech Republic.

One Digital (August 2018), a Sao Paulo, Brazil-based digital agency with 64 employees.

Payer Sciences (July 2018), a pharma agency in Morristown, New Jersey, that employed 40 data analysts.

2017 deals:

Publicis said for 2017, "there was no significant takeover (individually or taken together) during the period."

Publicis said it made six main acquisitions in 2017:

September 2017: Publicis Health bought 100% of PlowShare Group, a Stamford, Connecticut-based communications agency that works exclusively with humanitarian organizations and federal agencies on social issue and cause marketing campaigns. PlowShare at time of acquisition had 18 full-time employees.

September 2017: Publicis Communications bought 100% of Harbor Picture Co., a production company specializing in advertising films for TV and internet. Publicis aligned it with Prodigious, Publicis' production unit.

July 2017: Prodigious bought 85% of Translate Plus, a supplier of language services with expertise in transcreation (adapting the brand message of a product or advertisement to a target market). Translate Plus was founded in 2008 and at time of acquisition had 130 employees across 10 offices worldwide.

July 2017: Publicis Communications bought 100% of Herd Agency, a public relations agency in Australia. Publicis aligned Herd Agency with MSLGroup.

January 2017: Publicis Communications bought 100% of two digital agencies, The Abundancy and Ardent, through Leo Burnett. Ardent provided proprietary technology that uses search data to understand behavior and predict consumer intent. The Abundancy applied those findings to customer content. At time of acquisition, these two agencies had 60 employees.

Other 2017 acquisitions included:

July 2017: Publicis Communications acquired Ella Factory, a French consulting agency specializing in corporate communications. Ella Factory was founded in 2012. Publicis aligned it with Publicis Consultants.

2016 deals:

Publicis said for 2016, "there was no significant takeover (individually or taken together) during the period."

Publicis Chairman-CEO Maurice Levy said on an April 2016 earnings call: "We have reduced enormously the flow of acquisitions as we need first to integrate properly Sapient and make sure that this is working well. And this is how we had been working always when we made a large acquisition, be it Digitas in the good old days or Bcom3 or Razorfish."

Publicis said it made six main acquisitions in 2016:

MercerBell, a customer experience agency in Australia. MercerBell specialized in customer relationship management and digital strategy, creativity, content and technology. The agency opened in 1999. At the time of acquisition, it had 65 employees and clients including Toyota, Foxtel, Quantas, BT, Allianz and ASX. MercerBell was integrated into Saatchi & Saatchi.

Seven Seconds, a London-based e-commerce and digital specialist. Its main clients at the time of acquisition were British Airways, Barclays, Boots, Tesco Retail and Tesco Bank. The agency, founded in 2013, was integrated into BBH.

Vertiba, a U.S. venture that sells Salesforce consulting services for data-based marketing, sales and customer service.

The other main 2016 acquisitions were Digitouch; North Strategic; and Notch Video.

Other 2016 acquisitions included Venus Communications, a PR agency in Vietnam with more than 40 employees; acquired by and rebranded as MSL Group.

Also in 2016, Publicis bought a stake in Troyka Group, a communications services group in Nigeria. At the time of the deal, Troyka was composed of six agencies: Insight Communications, The Thinkshop, All Seasons Media, Media Perspectives, The Quadrant Company and Hotsauce. Starting out with Insight Communications in 1980, Troyka had 300 employees at the time of Publicis' investment.

Cheil Worldwide:

Publicis in June 2016 said it had ended talks with Samsung Electronics about a potential investment in Cheil Worldwide, South Korea's largest agency company. Cheil grew out of South Korea's Samsung network and is a key agency partner for Samsung. A Publicis June 2016 statement said it "confirms having agreed with Samsung to end the discussions regarding a possible investment alongside the proposed collaboration with Cheil Worldwide." Samsung remained a client for Publicis: "The strategic relationship with Samsung is as strong as ever and we will continue to work daily with Samsung and Cheil Worldwide to make the brand even more successful," the Publicis statement said.

Publicis and Cheil earlier in 2016 had discussed the potential for Publicis to buy a minority stake in Cheil. Samsung Electronics, with a 12.6% stake, and affiliate Samsung C&T Corp., with a 12.64% stake, as of September 2015 together owned 25.24% of Cheil Worldwide, according to Cheil regulatory filings.

Samsung had apparently been talking to several agencies about options for Cheil. The South Korean agency company said in a June 2016 regulatory filing that it had learned talks between a "key shareholder and global agencies on multiple avenues to cooperate broke off without any conclusion, and that key shareholder is not engaged in any talks for cooperation with other third parties at present."

Levy said on an April 2016 earnings call: "We don't expect this year to be a year of numerous or large acquisitions with one possible exception, as I'm very cautious, which is the conversation that we had since a long while with ups and downs with Cheil. As I said in [a] previous call, we are in a discussion--strategic discussion. And sometimes, there is an acceleration. Sometimes, there is a slowdown. If I had to say, we are in a plateau today, so it's difficult to say that this will happen or will not, and it's difficult to measure when and if this will happen."

2015 deals:

In addition to Sapient, Publicis made nine other 2015 acquisitions:

Creative Counsel Group, a marketing-services agency group in South Africa that provided marketing and activation services to local and international clients.

Epic Communications, a strategic communications agency in South Africa employing 50 consultants; rebranded as Epic MSL Group.

Expicient, a Massachusetts-based technology services firm with expertise in inventory and order management systems; integrated into Rosetta, part of the Razorfish Global network.

Glickman Shamir Samsonov, a creative agency in Israel with a staff of more than 75 people.

Langland Advertising, Design & Marketing Limited, a U.K. health care agency; acquired by Publicis Healthcare Communications Group; employed 100 people at the time of acquisition.

Match Media, a media agency in Australia; integrated into Blue 449.

Monkees, a digital-marketing and social-network venture in France with 25 employees.

Tardis Medical, a U.K. health care consultancy; acquired by Publicis Healthcare Communications Group and integrated into Publicis Touchpoint Solutions. 2014 deals:

Main 2014 acquisitions:

Nurun, a digital agency based in Montreal, acquired in September 2014 for Canadian $125 million (U.S. $115 million) from Quebecor Media. Publicis folded Nurun into the Razorfish Global and Publicis Worldwide networks.

Other 2014 acquisitions:

Ambito5, a social-media agency in Italy.

Applied Media Logic (AML), a media agency in South Africa. Publicis aligned it with ZenithOptimedia.

BrandsRock, a South African branding firm with 45 employees; integrated into Saatchi & Saatchi.

Crown Partners, a technology-focused venture in Dayton, Ohio, with more than 150 employees. Publicis aligned Crown with Razorfish.

Hawkeye, a digital marketing-services agency based in Dallas. Publicis on March 6, 2014, bought Hawkeye, which Publicis said employed more than 160 people at the time of the acquisition. (Publicis Hawkeye at the time of the acquisition said Publicis Hawkeye employed 225 staffers, including 160 in the Dallas headquarters and 65 in other U.S. offices.) The company rebranded Hawkeye as Publicis Hawkeye and aligned the agency with Publicis North America, part of the Publicis Worldwide network.

Law & Kenneth, an ad agency in India (51% stake).

Liquorice, a digital-marketing agency in South Africa with 115 employees. Publicis aligned the agency with DigitasLBi.

Lighthouse Digital, a digital-media agency in South Africa.

Machine, a communications agency in South Africa with more than 130 employees; integrated into Publicis Worldwide and rebranded as Publicis Machine.

Net@lk, a social-media services provider in China.

OwenKessel, an ad agency in South Africa.

Qorvis Communications, a public relations agency in Washington, D.C.; rebranded as Qorvis MSL Group.

Relevant24, a Boston-based firm focused on creating original, multimedia branded content. Relevant24 had 23 staffers at the time of its acquisition. Publicis aligned Relevant24 with Starcom Mediavest Group. Run, a New York-based data management and multichannel programmatic buying platform. Publicis aligned Run with Starcom Mediavest Group.

Salterbaxter, a U.K. sustainability strategy and communications consultancy firm with 70 employees. Publicis aligned Salterbaxter with MSL Group.

3 Share, a San Diego-based firm with more than 50 employees that offers services related to Adobe Systems products.

Turner Duckworth, a design and branding agency based in London. The agency, which had 70 employees in London and San Francisco at the time of its acquisition, kept its name and aligned with Leo Burnett.

Zweimaleins, a business-to-business agency in Germany that became Saatchi & Saatchi Pro.

2013 deals:

Main 2013 acquisitions:

LBi (see above).

Walker Media, a U.K. media agency. Publicis in November 2013 bought a 75.1% stake in Walker Media, a U.K. media agency, from M&C Saatchi, which kept a 24.9% stake. M&C Saatchi in January 2019 sold the remaining 24.9% stake to Publicis. Walker Media opened in 1998 and had more than 130 employees at the time of the acquisition. Walker Media morphed into Blue 449, one of Publicis Media's media agencies.

Engauge Marketing, a Columbus, Ohio, digital agency, acquired in August 2013. Publicis aligned Engauge with Moxie, part of ZenithOptimedia.

Other 2013 acquisitions:

Beehive Communications, an integrated-communications agency in India specializing in marketing services and advanced communication for clients in southern Asia.

Bosz Digital SA, Costa Rica, and Bosz Digital Colombia SAS, media and digital production ventures in Central America.

Convonix, a digital agency based in India. The agency was founded in 2003 and employed more than 200 people at the time of acquisition. Publicis aligned the agency with Starcom Mediavest Group.

Espalhe, a digital-marketing and public relations agency in Brazil.

ETO, a customer-relationship-management agency in France specializing in digital marketing and data analytics.

Heartbeat Ideas, a U.S. digital health care agency.

Interactive Solutions, a digital agency in Poland.

Jana Mobile, a Boston-based mobile technology startup; $15 million investment.

Neev, a technology services provider in India specializing in e-commerce, software as a service and cloud applications across web, social and mobile. Publicis aligned Neev with Razorfish; the deal marked the launch of the Razorfish brand in India. Neev was founded in 2005 and employed 250 people at time of acquisition. In announcing the deal, Publicis said: "Year on year, Neev has increased revenues on average 45% since 2007."

Poke, a digital agency in the U.K.

Synergize, a digital-marketing agency in South Africa.

TPM Communications, an agency in Canada specializing in digital, video and events.

Verilogue, a U.S. venture focused on medical data analytics and specializing in physician-patient communications.

Zenith Romania, a communications and media agency in Romania.

Publicis in 2013 also acquired majority ownership in some agencies that had long-standing partnerships with the company's major agencies.

2012 deals:

Main 2012 acquisitions:

Publicis in July 2012 purchased the remaining 51% stake in Bartle Bogle Hegarty, a London-based agency. Publicis acquired its initial 49% stake when Publicis bought Bcom3 Group in 2002. Leo Burnett Worldwide, part of Bcom3, had acquired that 49% interest in 1997.

Publicis reported the acquisition cost of BBH at 214 million euros ($269 million), including the fair value of its previously held stake and the price paid for the additional 51% stake.

In a separate transaction in July 2012, Publicis acquired 100% of BBH's Brazilian affiliate, Neogama/BBH, purchasing 34% from BBH and 66% from the agency's founder and his partners.

Publicis reported the acquisition cost of Neogama at 111 million euros ($140 million), including the price paid for the agency as well as earn outs payable to the agency's founder and his partners.

Taterka, a Brazilian agency, additional equity stake taken in November 2012.

CNC, a German-based network of agencies in strategic consulting and communications, acquired in July 2012.

BBR Group, a communications group in Israel, acquired in June 2012.

Pixelpark, a digital-communications group in Germany (now part of the Publicis Worldwide network), acquired following a February 2012 tender offer.

Other 2012 acquisitions:

Mediagong, a digital agency in France.

Creative Factory, a Moscow-based marketing, digital and production firm (now part of the Saatchi & Saatchi network).

U-Link Business Solutions Co., a health care agency in China, as well as King Harvests and Luminous, specialized marketing agencies in China and Singapore.

Flip Media, a network of digital agencies in the Middle East.

Indigo Consulting, a full-service agency based in Mumbai, India; it became part of the Leo Burnett network.

Longtuo, a Beijing-based digital marketing company (rebranded as Razorfish Longtuo China).

Zoom Advertising, a subsidiary of Ramallah-based Massar Group, giving Publicis a 20% stake in a Palestine-based communications venture. (Rebranded as Publicis Zoom, part of the Publicis Worldwide network.)

Resultrix, an India-based digital services agency.

Arachnid, a digital agency in Malaysia.

AR New York, a luxury-market agency in New York; it became part of the Publicis Worldwide network.

iStrat, an integrated digital services agency in India, and Market Gate, a marketing and strategy consultancy in India.

Outside Line, a U.K.-based social-media and experiential-marketing agency.

Monterosa, a mobile-marketing agency in Sweden; it became part of the BBH network.

Rokkan, a New York-based digital agency.

2011 deals:

Big Fuel, a New York-based social-media agency.

Talent Group, a major independent agency firm in Brazil. Publicis in April 2011 raised its interest to 60%. Publicis bought its initial 49% stake in Talent in 2010.

DPZ, an ad agency based in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Publicis in July 2011 bought 70% of DPZ. At the time of the acquisition, Publicis said it could increase its ownership to 100% over the following two or three years. DPZ kept its name and operated within Publicis Groupe on a stand-alone basis. Founded in 1968, DPZ had about 230 employees at time of acquisition. Publicis said the agency had seen double-digit organic growth over the past three years prior to acquisition, with 2011 revenue expected to reach 40 million euros. (DPZ in 2015 merged with Taterka to form DPZ&T. Publicis in 2021 disposed of part of its interest in DPZ&T.)

GP7, a Sao Paulo-based ad agency, acquired in April 2011. The agency had 40 employees at the time of acquisition. The agency was founded in 2004. Publicis renamed the agency Publicis Red Lion, aligning it with the Publicis Worldwide network.

Tailor Made, a Brazilian independent advertising agency; Publicis acquired a minority stake in April 2011 with the option to increase its holding to 100% by 2013. Publicis integrated the agency into Leo Burnett Brazil, which was renamed Leo Burnett Tailor Made. (Publicis in August 2010 bought another Brazilian agency, digital shop AG2.)

Divestitures:

Publicis made no significant divestitures in 2021 or 2020.

Publicis in 2021 divested smaller ventures including DPZ&T (partial disposal), PC Epsilon Fitness, Sirius, Nexus and Found.

Publicis in March 2020 sold its minority stake in Matomy Media Group, a performance-based digital-marketing firm based in Israel. Publicis bought a 24.9% stake in 2014.

Publicis in December 2019 divested Financiere Relaxnews, a France-based press agency whose services included consulting, production and management of content; Publicis kept a 12.5% stake. Publicis bought Relaxnews in 2015.

Publicis in first-half 2019 sold Proximedia, a digital communications venture in Europe. Publicis bought Proximedia in July 2014.

Publicis in January 2019 sold Publicis Health Services, a contract sales and commercialization organization, to Altamont Capital Partners. Publicis in second quarter 2018 sold Genedigi, a public relations and marketing communications agency in China. Publicis had purchased Genedigi in June 2011 and aligned it with MSL Group. Founded in 1997, Genedigi as of June 2011 employed 400 communications professionals across PR, event marketing, digital marketing and an in-house market research center.

Publicis said: "No significant disposals were made during 2017 and 2016. It should be noted, however, that the group sold 56.67% of the company Mediavision et Jean Mineur SA on June 16, 2016."

Investments and minority stakes include:

Burrell Communications Group (U.S. African-American agency, 49.0%).

Jana Mobile (U.S. mobile venture, 21.0%).

Interpublic investment:

Publicis sold its 1.13% stake in Interpublic Group of Cos. between Dec. 9 and Dec. 23, 2013. Publicis' historic carrying price for Interpublic shares was $3.87 a share. The average listed share price between Dec. 9 and Dec. 23, 2013, was $16.74. Publicis scored a capital gain of 47 million euros ($64.52 million) on the sale. The Interpublic stock was a holdover from an investment Publicis made in Foote, Cone & Belding Communications in 1988 as part of a later-aborted global alliance with FCB; Interpublic bought True North Communications (parent of FCB) in 2001.

Termination of Publicis Omnicom Group merger:

Paris-based Publicis and New York-based Omnicom Group in July 2013 announced plans to merge into the world's biggest agency firm, Publicis Omnicom Group. Publicis at the time ranked No. 3 among agency companies based on worldwide revenue; Omnicom ranked No. 2.

Publicis' registration document for year ended December 2013 said: "This merger of equals, which is scheduled to be completed in 2014, will create the world leader in communications, advertising, marketing and digital services."

The companies on May 8, 2014, terminated the deal, citing "difficulties in completing the transaction within a reasonable timeframe."

Publicis and Omnicom originally expected to complete the merger in fourth-quarter 2013 or first-quarter 2014, but the deal as of May 2014 still needed regulatory approval in China and agreement on tax issues in France, the U.K. and the Netherlands. The companies also disagreed on how to fill top management posts in what had been billed as a "merger of equals."

Publicis Omnicom Group N.V., a newly formed Dutch holding company, would have had its "official seat" in Amsterdam and "operational headquarters located in Paris, France, and New York," according to Omnicom regulatory filings, though the company's "principal place of business" would be in the U.K., under terms of the merger. The merged company would have "exclusive tax residency in the United Kingdom," according to an Omnicom regulatory filing in April 2014.

Michael O'Brien, Omnicom senior VP-general counsel, said on Omnicom's April 2014 earnings call: "The new company is to be incorporated in the Netherlands. The agreements require that Publicis Omnicom's principal place of business be in the United Kingdom. ... Our agreements with Publicis require that the new company be a tax resident of the United Kingdom."

Management and employees:

Arthur Sadoun succeeded Maurice Levy as chairman-CEO (chairman of the management board) on June 1, 2017. Publicis announced the move in January 2017.

Sadoun, age 45 at the time of the announcement, was CEO of Publicis Worldwide before taking the top job at Publicis Groupe.

Upon stepping down as chairman-CEO, Levy became chairman of the company's supervisory board.

Levy had run Publicis as chairman of the management board since 1987.

Year-end employment:

Publicis employed 86,500 people worldwide (26,600 in North America) at year end 2021; 79,051 people worldwide (25,409 in North America) at year end 2020; 83,235 people worldwide (27,098 in North America) at year end 2019; 75,588 people worldwide (22,494 in North America) at year end 2018; 77,767 people worldwide (24,054 in North America) at year end 2017; 78,913 people worldwide (24,638 in North America) at year end 2016; 77,574 people worldwide (25,554 in North America) in 2015; 63,621 people worldwide (22,030 in North America) in 2014; 62,533 people worldwide (20,834 in North America) in 2013; 57,500 people worldwide (18,711 in U.S. and 19,548 in North America) in 2012; 53,807 people worldwide (17,965 in the U.S. and 18,797 in North America) in 2011; 48,531 (17,306 in North America) in 2010; and 45,402 (14,215 in North America) in 2009.

The company at year end employed 44,727 people worldwide in 2008 and 43,808 in 2007.

Stock:

Publicis listed on the Paris stock exchange in June 1970.

The company added a listing on the New York Stock Exchange in September 2000. Publicis ended its New York Stock Exchange listing in 2007.

Biggest shareholder:

Publicis Groupe's biggest shareholder (based on voting rights) is Elisabeth Badinter, daughter of the company's founder, Marcel Bleustein-Blanchet.

Badinter and her family owned a 6.74% equity stake and had 12.36% of voting rights as of Dec. 31, 2020.

Badinter and her family owned a 6.95% equity stake and had 12.85% of voting rights as of Dec. 31, 2019.

Badinter and her family owned a 7.10% equity stake and had 13.13% of voting rights as of Dec. 31, 2018.

Badinter and her family owned a 7.24% equity stake and had 13.26% of voting rights as of Dec. 31, 2017.

Badinter and her family owned a 7.39% equity stake and had 13.34% of voting rights as of Dec. 31, 2016.

Badinter and her family owned a 7.50% equity stake as of Dec. 31, 2015.

Badinter and her family owned a 7.58% equity stake and had 13.88% of voting rights as of March 2015. The family had held an equity stake of 8.67% and voting rights of 15.87% before a March 2015 stock buyback by Publicis.

Badinter's equity stake has fallen in recent years. Publicis in February 2012 said Badinter held 10.99% of the shares and 19.92% of the voting rights of Publicis.

Dentsu relationship:

Publicis on Feb. 17, 2012, bought back 18 million Publicis shares owned by Dentsu Inc. for 644.4 million euros ($840.3 million) or 35.80 euros ($46.68 million) a share. The buyback, which had been expected, ended a strategic alliance in place since 2002 (when Publicis bought Dentsu-backed Bcom3 Group, the then-parent of Leo Burnett and Starcom Mediavest).

In a statement at that time, Dentsu Inc. said the sale of its big Publicis stake marked the end of three agreements: a shareholders' pact with Publicis; a strategic alliance with Publicis; and a shareholders' agreement with Elisabeth Badinter. "As a result of this termination, Dentsu and Ms. Badinter will no longer act in concert," the statement said.

In announcing that buyback, Publicis said: "The friendly relationship and collaboration between the two groups will continue. Firstly, Dentsu holds 2.12% of the shares of Publicis Groupe S.A. (following the share cancellation). Secondly, the two joint ventures between Dentsu and Publicis Groupe will continue in the same form and with the same shareholdings as previously (Beacon Communications and Dentsu Razorfish owned respectively 66% and 19.35% by Publicis Groupe). Moreover, partnerships related to specific clients that the two groups have in common will continue, in the clients' interests."

Publicis on Feb. 15, 2013, bought back Dentsu Inc.'s remaining approximately 3.9 million Publicis shares for 181.4 million euros ($242.9 million).

Publicis said in its announcement of that share buyback: "The two groups will continue to consider all opportunities for collaboration and to maintain cooperative relations, and the two [Japan-based] joint ventures between Dentsu and Publicis Groupe (Beacon Communications and Dentsu Razorfish) are expected to continue without change."

In its February 2013 announcement of the Publicis share sale, Dentsu Inc. said: "Dentsu and Publicis will continue to proactively consider all opportunities for future collaboration on their individual merits. Moreover, there will be no changes to the management structure or the management policies of the two companies established jointly by Dentsu and Publicis: Beacon Communications (Head Office: Tokyo; established in January 2001) and Dentsu Razorfish (Head Office: Tokyo; established in April 2001)."

Dentsu Inc. in May 2015 bought Publicis Groupe's minority stake in Dentsu Razorfish, giving Dentsu Inc. 100% ownership of that agency. Dentsu Razorfish rebranded as Dentsu iX effective July 1, 2015.

History:

Publicis Groupe was founded in 1926 by Marcel Bleustein-Blanchet. Bleustein-Blanchet died April 11, 1996. He was chairman of the supervisory board at the time of his death.

The company's name comes from the combination of "Publ" (for "PublicitT," which is "advertising" in French) and "six" (for 1926).

Top executive: Arthur Sadoun, chairman and CEO
Headquarters: Publicis Groupe/133 Avenue des Champs-Elysees, Paris, 75008/Phone: 33 1 44 43 70 00
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/publicisgroupe
Twitter: @PublicisGroupe
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/publicis-groupe

http://www.publicisgroupe.com

Revenue ($ in millions)	2021	2020	% chg
Worldwide	$8,880.0	$7,700.0	15.3
U.S.	$4,220.0	$3,540.0	19.2
Non-U.S.	$4,660.0	$4,160.0	12.0

Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

Fast facts: PwC Digital Services is the global digital-services practice of global professional-services firm PwC, or PricewaterhouseCoopers.

PwC Digital Services, part of the company's PwC Advisory Practice, offers digital services focused on strategy, innovation, user experience, technology, analytics and activation/optimization.

PwC Digital Services, officially formed on Nov. 4, 2013, brought together PwC's global digital offerings and digital acquisitions made since 2009.

Business segments and operations:

PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2010 formally shortened its brand name to PwC, but "PricewaterhouseCoopers" remains the full name of the global organization for legal purposes and is the name PwC firms use to sign company audits.

PwC reported worldwide gross revenue of $43.0 billion in the year ended June 2020; and $42.4 billion in the year ended June 2019, according to its Global Annual Review.

PwC reported worldwide net revenue (revenue minus expenses and disbursements on client assignments) of $40.8 billion in the year ended June 2020; and $39.9 billion in the year ended June 2019, according to its Global Annual Review.

PwC had 284,258 worldwide employees as of June 2020; 276,005 as of June 2019; 250,930 as of June 2018; 236,235 as of June 2017; and 223,468 as of June 2016.

PwC's Advisory Practice (including PwC Digital Services) had stated gross revenue of $14.7 billion in the year ended June 2020; $14.4 billion in the year ended June 2019; $13.3 billion (restated) in the year ended June 2018; $12.3 billion in the year ended June 2017; $11.5 billion in the year ended June 2016; $11.2 billion in the year ended June 2015; $10.0 billion in the year ended June 2014; and $9.2 billion in the year ended June 2013.

Deals and strategic moves:

PwC Digital Services acquisitions include:

2020:

EagleDream Technologies, a cloud-native transformation company and partner in the Amazon Web Services Partner Network.

Tyconz Enterprise Business, an SAP implementation and technology partner operating in the Middle East.

2017:

cDecisions, a technology consulting firm in the U.K.

Pond Innovation, a digital agency in Sweden.

2016:

NSI DMCC, a technology consulting firm based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Everett, a cybersecurity consultancy based in the U.K..

Fluid HK, a creative design and digital agency in Hong Kong. Acquired in February 2016.

Outbox Group, a technology consulting firm based in Poland.

Praxism, a cyber-security firm in Scotland.

2015:

Cinovate, a cloud computing company in Canada.

Nealite, a digital design and user experience agency based in France and founded in 2005. Acquired in October 2015.

2014:

Booz Digital, a U.S. strategy, design and technology practice. Acquired in April 2014 when PwC bought Booz & Co. (renamed Strategy& in April 2014), a management consultancy launched in 2008 as a spinoff of consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton.

Stamford Interactive, an Australia-based digital firm focused on user experience and founded in 2003. Acquired in February 2014.

2013:

BGT Partners, a Miami area digital agency focused on marketing and technology solutions and founded in 1996. Acquired in November 2013.

Intunity Digital Solutions, an Australia-based web and mobile solutions provider founded in 2006. Acquired in July 2013. Rebranded in 2013 as Accelerate.

2012:

Ant's Eye View, a U.S. social-media strategy development and consulting firm founded in 2009. Acquired in September 2012.

Logan Tod & Co., a London-based online performance optimization and analytics consultancy founded in 2002. Acquired in March 2012.

2011:

PRTM Management Consulting, a U.S. management consulting firm founded in 1976. Acquired in August 2011.

2010:

Diamond Management & Technology Consultants, a Chicago-based strategy, technology and management consultancy founded in 1994. Acquired in November 2010.

2009:

BearingPoint's North American Commercial Services practice. Acquired in June 2009 after BearingPoint filed for bankruptcy reorganization. BearingPoint began as a spinoff of accounting firm KPMG.

History:

Accounting firms Price Waterhouse and Coopers & Lybrand merged in 1998, creating PricewaterhouseCoopers.

PwC traces its roots to an accounting practice started by Samuel Lowell Price in London in 1849. Price merged with London's Waterhouse in 1865. William Cooper opened his firm in London in 1854; the firm merged with U.S.-based Lybrand in 1957, forming Coopers & Lybrand.

PwC in 2002 changed the name of its consulting arm, PwC Consulting, to Monday in preparation for a spinoff of that unit. (PwC in 2002 paid $5 million to U.K. firm OneMonday Group for rights to its name; the PR firm changed its name to Next Fifteen Communications Group.) Later in 2002, PwC sold PwC Consulting to IBM Corp. for $3.5 billion; the "Monday" moniker was scrapped.



Top executive: Tom Puthiyamadam, partner, global digital services and BXT leader; Jose Reyes, principal and chief creative officer; Elissa Arkinstall, principal and experience consulting leader
Headquarters: PwC's PwC Digital Services/300 Madison Ave., New York, N.Y. 10017/Phone: (646) 471-3000
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifeatpwc
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pwc
Twitter: @PwC
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pwc

https://www.pwc.com/digital

Revenue ($ in millions)	2021	2020	% chg
Worldwide	$1,189.4	$1,113.2	6.8
U.S.	$1,189.4	$1,113.2	6.8
Non-U.S.	$0.0	NA	NA
Ticker: QUAD (NYSE)

Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

Fast facts: Quad is a provider of commercial printing services and marketing services.

The company in February 2019 shortened its brand name to Quad from Quad/Graphics.

Ad Age ranks Quad among Agency Companies based on net sales from catalogs, direct marketing and agency solutions.

Quad made its debut in the Agency Companies ranking in the May 2020 report.

The company in recent years has expanded its marketing-services offerings through acquisitions.

Quad reported worldwide total net sales of $3.0 billion in 2021; $2.9 billion in 2020; and $3.9 billion in 2019.

Deals and strategic moves:

Quad in April 2021 increased its stake in Rise Interactive (Rise Interactive Media & Analytics LLC) to 100% from 99%. This came after Quad in 2020 increased its stake to 99% from 57%. Rise Interactive is a digital marketing agency specializing in media, analytics and customer experience. Quad acquired a non-controlling interest in Rise Interactive in July 2016 and gained a controlling stake in 2018.

Quad on Jan. 22, 2020, acquired Mexico City-based Apple Tree Group, a strategic and creative agency specializing in point-of-sale advertising.

The company on Jan. 3, 2019, bought Periscope, an ad agency in Minneapolis, for $121 million excluding acquired cash.

Quad on Feb. 21, 2018, bought Ivie & Associates for $90.0 million cash, with a potential earn-out of up to an additional $16.0 million based on performance. Ivie & Associates is a marketing-services firm specializing in marketing and business process outsourcing.



Top executive: Joel Quadracci, chairman, president and CEO; Julie Currie, executive VP and chief revenue officer; Eric Ashworth, executive VP-product and market strategy; Josh Golden, CMO
Headquarters: Quad/N61 W23044 Harry's Way, Sussex, Wis 53089/Phone: (888) 782-3226
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/quadgraphics
Twitter: @QuadGraphics
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/quadgraphics

https://www.quad.com

Revenue ($ in millions)	2021	2020	% chg
Worldwide	$1,054.2	$1,081.1	-2.5
U.S.	$1,054.2	$1,081.1	-2.5
Non-U.S.	$0.0	NA	NA

Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

Fast facts: Overview:

R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co. is a global provider of business communications services and marketing solutions.

The company appears in Ad Age Agency Report based on operations of its Marketing Solutions segment.

R.R. Donnelley was acquired in February 2022 by buyout firm Chatham Asset Management.

RRD Marketing Solutions made its Agency Report debut in the April 2019 report.

Business segments and operations:

R.R. Donnelley divides its operations into two segments: Marketing Solutions (marketing services) and Business Services (business communications services).

RRD Marketing Solutions:

The Marketing Solutions segment's products and services include direct marketing, in-store marketing, digital print, kitting (producing custom marketing kits using various types of marketing collateral), fulfillment, digital and creative solutions and list services. Marketing Solutions accounted for $1.1 billion of the company's $5.0 billion net sales in 2021.

RRD Business Services:

The Business Services segment's products and services include commercial printing,packaging, labels, statement printing, supply chain management, forms and business process outsourcing.

Business Services accounted for $3.9 billion of the company's $5.0 billion net sales in 2021.

Deals and strategic moves:

R.R. Donnelley in 2020 completed a plan to exit its logistics business.

R.R. Donnelley in October 2016 spun off its financial communications and data services business (Donnelley Financial Solutions) and its publishing and retail-centric print services and office products business (LSC Communications) as two separate publicly traded companies.

R.R. Donnelley in August 2016 bought Precision Dialogue, a U.S. provider of email marketing, direct mail marketing and other services.

History:

R.R. Donnelley was founded as a printing and publishing company in Chicago in 1864 by Richard Robert Donnelley.

R.R. Donnelley, which had been a public company, went private Feb. 25, 2022, when it was acquired by buyout firm Chatham Asset Management.



Top executive: John Pecaric, president, Marketing Solutions and Business Services; Maureen Powers, president, direct marketing; Toni Thompson, president, retail solutions
Headquarters: R.R. Donnelley's RRD Marketing Solutions/35 W. Wacker Drive, Chicago, Ill. 60601/Phone: (800) 742-4455
Twitter: @rrdonnelley
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rr-donnelley

https://www.rrd.com

Revenue ($ in millions)	2021	2020	% chg
Worldwide	$475.0	$350.0	35.7
U.S.	$439.0	$324.0	35.5
Non-U.S.	$36.0	$26.0	38.5

Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

Fast facts: Real Chemistry is a network of independent health care marketing, communications and research and development firms. It is based in San Francisco, with offices in the U.S. and Europe.

Real Chemistry previously operated as W2O Group. It rebranded in March 2021.

W2O in 2020 made the following acquisitions: IPM.ai (October 2020); Swoop (October 2020); Starpower (Oct. 5, 2020); Elysia Group (Sept. 24, 2020); Discern Health (July 20, 2020); Symplur (April 14, 2020); 21Grams (Jan. 13, 2020).

W2O in 2019 acquired: Radius Digital Science, a digital health care agency in New Jersey (Nov. 11, 2019); ISO.health, a medical and scientific communications agency in London (Nov. 5, 2019); and Arcus Medica, a medical and scientific communications agency in Philadelphia (Oct. 9, 2019).

W2O in December 2016 acquired Sentient Interactive, a digital agency with offices in New Jersey and New York.

W2O in November 2016 acquired New Hope, Pennsylvania-based Marketeching, a market research and social listening firm focused on health care.

W2O in August 2016 acquired Wilmington, North Carolina-based Pure Communications, a communications agency focused on life sciences.

W2O was formed in March 2012 to be the parent company of communications agency WCG; communications and marketing agency Twist Mktg; and technology incubator W2O Ventures.

WCG, formerly WeissComm Partners, was founded by Jim Weiss in 2001. WCG began as a public relations firm with a health care focus. It evolved into a fully integrated communications company.

Top executive: Jim Weiss, founder and chairman; Shankar Narayanan, CEO
Headquarters: Real Chemistry/50 Francisco St., Suite 400, San Francisco, Calif. 94133
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/real.chemistry
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRealChemistry
Twitter: @RealChemistry_
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/therealchemistry

https://www.realchemistry.com

Revenue ($ in millions)	2021	2020	% chg
Worldwide	$916.0	$715.1	28.1
U.S.	$56.7	$34.3	65.1
Non-U.S.	$859.3	$680.8	26.2

Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

Fast facts: Serviceplan Group is an agency company based in Munich.

Serviceplan Group operations include Facit, a market-research unit; Mediaplus Group, a media planning and buying unit; Plan.Net, a digital agency; Serviceplan, a creative agency; Serviceplan Consulting Group, a strategy and innovation consultancy; and Solutions, a content, technology and production unit.

CEO Florian Haller is the son of Peter Haller, who co-founded Serviceplan in 1970 with Rolf Stempel.



Top executive: Florian Haller, CEO
Headquarters: Serviceplan Group/Brienner Str. 45 a-d, Munich, 80333/Phone: 49-89-20-50-20
Facebook: https://de-de.facebook.com/serviceplan
Twitter: @serviceplan

https://www.serviceplan.com

Revenue ($ in millions)	2021	2020	% chg
Worldwide	$2,770.2	$2,439.1	13.6
U.S.	$1,022.4	$947.5	7.9
Non-U.S.	$1,747.8	$1,491.5	17.2
Ticker: EPA:VIV (EPA)

Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

Fast facts: Overview:

Havas is an agency company based in France.

Vivendi, a French entertainment and media group, acquired full ownership of Havas in 2017.

Business segments and operations:

Havas consists of three segments: Havas Creative Group; Havas Media Group; and Havas Health & You.

Havas in January 2013 rebranded its media agencies under the banner Havas Media Group.

Havas in September 2012 rebranded Euro RSCG Worldwide as Havas Worldwide. It later dropped "Worldwide" from its name.

Deals and strategic moves:

Vivendi:

Vivendi, a French entertainment and media group, on July 3, 2017, acquired a 59.2% stake in Havas from Bollore Group. Vivendi on Oct. 5, 2017, increased its stake in Havas to 94.75%. Vivendi as of December 2017 owned 100% of Havas.

Havas and Vivendi already were connected through the Bollore family and its web of shareholdings.

Other deals and strategic moves:

Havas in 2021 acquired: Raison de Sante (December); Agence Verte (October); Nohup (October); BLKJ (February).

Havas in 2020 acquired: Inbar (December); Camp + King (September); Hyland (August); Cicero (March).

Havas in 2019 acquired: Shobiz (December); Gate One (December); Langoor (September); Buzzman (September); Battery (June); Think Design (May).

Havas in 2018 acquired: Republica (September); Catchi (July); M&C Consultancy (March); Deekeling Arndt Advisors (January); Etoile Rouge (January).

Havas in October 2015 acquired Fullsix Group, a marketing services group based in France, for an estimated $75 million. That was the biggest acquisition by Havas in 15 years. McKinney, a regional agency based in Durham, N.C., in June 2008 bought itself back from Havas. The French ad firm bought the shop in April 2001 from internet consultancy MarchFirst; MarchFirst's predecessor, CKS Group, bought McKinney in 1997. South Korea-based Cheil Worldwide in July 2012 acquired McKinney, which became a part of Cheil Americas, a regional network of agencies.

Management and employees:

Havas in August 2013 named Yannick Bollore chairman of Havas, succeeding his father, Vincent Bollore.

Yannick Bollore in January 2014 took on the added role of Havas global CEO. He succeeded David Jones, who left the company in January 2014.

Cyrille Bollore, Yannick Bollore's brother, in 2019 succeeded Vincent Bollore, as chairman-CEO of Bollore Group.

History:

Havas traces its roots to its founding in 1835 in Paris by Charles Lewis Havas.



Top executive: Yannick Bollore, chairman and CEO, Havas Group
Headquarters: Vivendi's Havas/29 Quai Dion Bouton, Puteaux, France 92800/Phone: 33 1 58 47 80 00
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/havasgroup
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/havasgroup
Twitter: @HavasGroup
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/havasgroup

https://www.havasgroup.com

Revenue ($ in millions)	2021	2020	% chg
Worldwide	$17,610.5	$15,406.8	14.3
U.S.	$5,806.6	$5,411.8	7.3
Non-U.S.	$11,803.9	$9,995.0	18.1
Ticker: LON:WPP (LON)

Asterisk (*) indicates figures are Ad Age estimates.

Fast facts: Overview:

WPP is the world's largest agency company based on 2021 revenue.

WPP reported worldwide revenue in U.S. dollars of $17.6 billion in 2021; $15.4 billion in 2020; $16.9 billion (excluding Kantar) in 2019; $20.8 billion in 2018; $20.4 billion in 2017 (restated); $19.4 billion in 2016; $18.7 billion in 2015; $19.0 billion in 2014; $17.3 billion in 2013; and $16.5 billion in 2012.

The company reported worldwide "revenue less pass-through costs" in U.S. dollars of $14.3 billion in 2021; $12.5 billion in 2020; $13.8 billion (excluding Kantar) in 2019; $17.1 billion in 2018; $17.0 billion in 2017; $16.7 billion in 2016 (when WPP referred to the line as "net sales"); $16.1 billion in 2015; $16.5 billion in 2014; $15.8 billion in 2013; and $15.1 billion in 2012 (when WPP referred to the line as "gross profit").

Revenue less pass-through costs is revenue less media (such as media billings purchased at GroupM's Xaxis unit) and other pass-through costs.

WPP in December 2019 sold a majority stake in Kantar, its market research business, to Bain Capital.

Business segments and operations:

WPP in recent years has simplified its agency network structure through mergers.

The company in 2020 combined AKQA and Grey to form AKQA Group. The company in 2019 aligned branding consultancies Landor Associates and Fitch under Landor & Fitch.

WPP in 2018 merged Y&R and VML, forming VMLY&R; J. Walter Thompson Worldwide and Wunderman, forming Wunderman Thompson; and Burson-Marsteller and Cohn & Wolfe, forming Burson Cohn & Wolfe.

Clients:

In its financial disclosures for year ended December 2021, WPP said it worked for 317 of the Fortune Global 500, all 30 of the Dow Jones 30 and 62 of the FTSE 100.

In its financial disclosures for year ended December 2020, WPP said it worked for 325 of the Fortune Global 500, all 30 of the Dow Jones 30, 62 of the Nasdaq 100 and 61 of the FTSE 100.

In its financial disclosures for year ended December 2019, WPP said it worked for 348 of the Fortune Global 500, all 30 of the Dow Jones 30 and 70 of the Nasdaq 100.

In its financial disclosures for year ended December 2018, WPP said it worked for 369 of the Fortune Global 500, all 30 of the Dow Jones 30 and 71 of the Nasdaq 100.

In its financial disclosures for year ended December 2017, WPP said it worked for 369 of the Fortune Global 500, all 30 of the Dow Jones 30 and 71 of the Nasdaq 100. The company said it worked for 913 national or multinational clients in three or more disciplines; and 629 clients (accounting for more than 53% of WPP's revenue) in four disciplines. WPP said it worked for 477 clients in six or more countries.

In its financial disclosures for year ended December 2016, WPP said it worked for 360 of the Fortune Global 500, all 30 of the Dow Jones 30 and 78 of the Nasdaq 100. The company said it worked for 892 national or multinational clients in three or more disciplines; and 596 clients (accounting for more than 53% of WPP's revenue) in four disciplines. WPP said it worked for 462 clients in six or more countries.

In its financial disclosures for year ended December 2015, WPP said it worked for 352 of the Fortune Global 500, all 30 of the Dow Jones 30 and 77 of the Nasdaq 100. The company said it worked for 552 clients across four disciplines. WPP said it worked for 448 clients in six or more countries.

In its financial disclosures for year ended December 2014, WPP said it worked for 355 of the Fortune Global 500 companies; all 30 of the Dow Jones 30; and 71 of the Nasdaq 100. The company said it worked for 826 national or multinational clients in three or more disciplines. It served 534 clients (account for more than 53% of worldwide revenue) in four disciplines. WPP said it worked for 426 clients in six or more countries.

In its annual report for year ended December 2013, WPP said it worked for 351 of the Fortune Global 500; all 30 of the Dow Jones 30; 69 of the Nasdaq 100; and 31 of the Fortune e-50. "Almost 770 clients" -- the year-end 2014 preliminary financials presentation said 768 -- "are now served in three distinct disciplines," the annual report said. "Some 490 clients" -- the year-end 2014 preliminary financials presentation said 489 -- "are served in four disciplines, and these clients account for 57.5% of Group revenues. Group companies also work with nearly 400 clients across six or more countries."

Largest clients:

WPP told Ad Age its three largest clients in revenue in 2021 were Ford, Google and Unilever.

WPP told Ad Age its three largest clients in revenue in 2020 were Ford, Google and Unilever. WPP, in a November 2019 press release about the planned opening of a WPP office campus in Detroit, said Ford Motor Co. is "WPP's largest client."

WPP's annual report for year ended December 2021 said: "Our ten largest clients accounted for 17% of revenue less pass-through costs in the year ended 31 December 2021." The report also said: "30%of our revenue less pass-through costs comes from our top 30 clients."

WPP's 20-F filing for year ended December 2021 said: "The company's 10 largest clients accounted for 15% of the company's revenues in the year ended 31 December 2021. No client of the company represented more than 5% of the company's aggregate revenues in 2021. The group's companies have maintained long-standing relationships with many of their clients, with an average length of relationship for the top 10 clients of approximately 50 years."

WPP's annual report for year ended December 2020 said: "The company's 10 largest clients accounted for 16% of the company's revenues in the year ended 31 December 2020. No client of the company represented more than 5% of the company's aggregate revenues in 2020. The group's companies have maintained long-standing relationships with many of their clients, with an average length of relationship for the top 10 clients of approximately 50 years."

WPP's annual report for year ended December 2019 said: "Our 10 largest clients accounted for 15% of revenues in the year ended 31 December 2019." WPP said no client represented more than 5% of the company's revenue in 2019.

WPP's annual report for year ended December 2018 said: "Our 10 largest clients accounted for 14.4% of revenues in the year ended 31 December 2018," while "28% of our revenue is generated by our 30 largest clients." WPP said no client represented more than 5% of the company's revenue in 2018.

WPP's 20-F for year ended December 2017 said: "The company's 10 largest clients accounted for 14.9% of the company's revenues in the year ended 31 December 2017. No client of the company represented more than 5% of the Company's aggregate revenues in 2017. The group's companies have maintained long-standing relationships with many of their clients, with an average length of relationship for the top 10 clients of approximately 50 years."

WPP's 20-F for year ended December 2016 said: "The company's 10 largest clients accounted for 15.5% of the company's revenues in the year ended 31 December 2016. No client of the company represented more than 5% of the company's aggregate revenues in 2016. The group's companies have maintained long-standing relationships with many of their clients, with an average length of relationship for the top 10 clients of approximately 50 years."

Now-former Chief Executive Martin Sorrell, in a March 2016 earnings call, said Unilever was "our second largest client."

WPP's 20-F for year ended December 2015 said: "The group's 10 largest clients accounted for 16.2% of revenues in the year ended 31 December 2015. No client of the company represented more than 5% of the company's aggregate revenues in 2015. The group's companies have maintained long-standing relationships with many of their clients, with an average length of relationship for the top 10 clients of approximately 50 years."

Sorrell in November 2015 said: "Our biggest client is Ford. Our second biggest client is Unilever. Our third biggest client is Procter. Our fourth biggest client is now Nestle. Our fifth biggest client is Microsoft. Our sixth biggest client is VW (Volkswagen)."

WPP's 20-F for year ended December 2014 said: "The company's 10 largest clients accounted for 16.6% of the company's revenues in the year ended 31 December 2014. No client of the company represented more than 5% of the company's aggregate revenues in 2014. The group's companies have maintained long-standing relationships with many of their clients, with an average length of relationship for the top 10 clients of approximately 50 years." The 20-F didn't list the 10 largest clients.

Sorrell in December 2014 said: "Ford is our largest client. Unilever is our second largest client. Procter & Gamble is our third largest client."

WPP's 20-F for year ended December 2013 said: "The company's 10 largest clients accounted for 17.8% of the company's revenues in ... 2013. No client of the company represented more than 5% of the company's aggregate revenues in 2013." The 20-F didn't list the 10 largest clients.

WPP's 20-F for year ended December 2012 said: "The company's 10 largest clients accounted for 17.4% of the company's revenues in ... 2012. No client of the company represented more than 5% of the company's aggregate revenues in 2012." The 20-F didn't list the 10 largest clients. Sorrell said in November 2012 that Procter & Gamble Co. was WPP's "second-largest client as of June 30 year end" (P&G's fiscal year ends June 30).

WPP's 20-F for year ended December 2011 said: "The company's 10 largest clients in 2011, measured by revenues and in alphabetical order, were, British American Tobacco p.l.c., Colgate Palmolive, Dell Inc., Ford Motor Company, Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft Corporation, Nestle S.A., The Procter & Gamble Company, Unilever PLC and Volkswagen. Together, these clients accounted for approximately 17% of the Company's revenues in 2011. No client of the Company represented more than 5% of the Company's aggregate revenues in 2011."

Headquarters:

WPP is incorporated in the British Crown dependency of Jersey and lists London as its principal executive office.

The company in 2008 moved its principal executive office to Dublin for tax purposes (though London remained a key office). WPP moved its headquarters back to London effective Jan. 2, 2013, after the U.K. government changed its tax laws.

WPP Group in 2008 formed a new holding company, WPP plc. WPP plc, or WPP, is the official name of the parent company overseeing WPP's agencies and businesses.

Rankings:

WPP surpassed Omnicom Group as the largest agency company in 2008. WPP leapfrogged Omnicom with help from the revenue contribution of Taylor Nelson Sofres, a U.K.-based market-research firm that WPP bought in October 2008. Taylor Nelson Sofres became part of WPP's Kantar market research business.

WPP in December 2019 sold a majority stake in Kantar to Bain Capital.

Deals and strategic moves:

2022 acquisitions:

WPP in February 2022 bought Village Marketing, an influencer marketing venture in New York. It became part of the Wunderman Thompson network. Village Marketing was founded in 2013 and had 150 employees at the time of its acquisition.

2021 acquisitions:

WPP in December 2021 bought a majority stake in Made Thought, a London-based branding and design agency. Made Thought was integrated into AKQA. Made Thought was founded in 2000 and employed 55 people in London and New York at the time of the acquisition.

WPP in November 2021 bought Cloud Commerce Group, a U.K.-based technology company that helps brands market, sell and deliver products across e-commerce platforms and marketplaces globally, such as Amazon, eBay, Etsy and Wayfair. Cloud Commerce Group employed more than 100 people across Europe at the time of the acquisition. Cloud Commerce Group joined the Wunderman Thompson network.

WPP in August 2021 bought Satalia, a U.K. technology company offering artificial intelligence solutions. The company was founded in 2008 and employed more than 80 people across Europe at the time of the acquisition. It joined Wunderman Thompson Commerce.

WPP in May 2021 bought the remaining 38.5% stake in Australia-based WPP AUNZ, a move that gave WPP 100% ownership of WPP's Australian and New Zealand operations. This came after WPP and Australia-based STW Group (STW Communications Group Limited) in April 2016 completed a deal to merge WPP's Australian and New Zealand businesses with STW and to increase WPP's stake in STW to 61.5% from 23.6%. STW changed its name to WPP AUNZ in May 2016. WPP had been an STW investor since 1998. That merged group became the primary operation for WPP in Australia and New Zealand. STW said WPP Australia and New Zealand had net sales of Australian $429 million (U.S. $337.7 million) in the 12 months ended September 2015; that business plus STW had stated pro forma net sales of Australian $847 million (U.S. $666.7 million) in the 12 months ended September 2015.

WPP's Wunderman Thompson in March 2021 bought NN4M, an Edinburgh, Scotland-based provider of commerce services across mobile and in-store channels. NN4M had 50 employees when WPP bought it.

WPP in February 2021 bought DTI Digital, a digital innovation and software engineering company in Brazil. Price tag wasn't disclosed. DTI was founded in 2009 and employed 800 people at the time of its acquisition.

2020 acquisitions:

In its 20-F filing for year ended December 2020, WPP said: "There were no material acquisitions completed in the year ended 31 December 2020."

2019 acquisitions:

In its 20-F filing for year ended December 2019, WPP said: "There were no material acquisitions completed in the year ended 31 December 2019."

2019 disposals:

Kantar:

WPP in July 2019 announced a deal to sell a 60% stake in Kantar, its market research business, to Bain Capital.

WPP completed the bulk of that transaction in December 2019. It completed the rest in 2020.

WPP said in December 2019: "Following final completion in respect of the remaining Kantar business in the first half of 2020, total aggregate net proceeds after transaction costs, tax and WPP's continuing investment in 40% of the equity of Kantar are expected to be approximately $3.1 billion," or about 2.4 billion pounds.

Other 2019 disposals:

In its 20-F filing for year ended December 2019, WPP said it in 2019 disposed of 22 "non-core businesses."

WPP in 2019 sold its investments in Chime and The Farm.

WPP in June 2019 sold its original business, once known as Wire and Plastic Products, a British maker of baskets and household wares marketed under the brand name Delfinware.

In announcing its 2019 results in February 2020, WPP said: "Our disposal programme is substantially complete, with over 50 businesses or investments sold in the last 18 months. We will continue to review our portfolio to maximise value for our shareholders."

2018 acquisitions:

In its 20-F filing for year ended December 2018, WPP said: "The group acquired a number of subsidiaries in the year."

2018 disposals:

In its annual report for year ended December 2018, WPP said it in 2018 "disposed of 30 non-core investments and associates, raising 849 million" pounds, or $1.1 billion. WPP uses the phrase "associates" to describe firms in which it has a minority stake.

WPP in 2018 divested stakes in AppNexus (acquired by AT&T), Bruin Sports Capital, DA & Search Link, Fullscreen, Globant, Imagina, oOh!media and Teledirect.

Dentsu and Young & Rubicam in 1981 announced a joint venture to build an Asian agency network. Dentsu and WPP, which acquired Y&R in 2000, ended the venture in 2018.

2017 acquisitions:

In its financial disclosures for year ended December 2017, WPP said it "completed 43 transactions in the year; 15 acquisitions and investments were in new markets, 32 in quantitative and digital and 5 were driven by individual client or agency needs. Out of all these transactions, 9 were in both new markets and quantitative and digital."

WPP explained in those disclosures:

"Specifically, in 2017, acquisitions and increased equity stakes have been completed in advertising and media investment management in the United States, Germany, the Middle East and North Africa, Croatia, Russia, China and India; data investment management in the United Kingdom and Ireland; brand consulting in the United Kingdom and Italy; direct, digital and interactive in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Ireland, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, Kenya, China and Brazil.

"A further 3 acquisitions and investments were made in the first two months of 2018, with 1 in advertising and media investment management; and 2 in direct, digital and interactive."

2016 acquisitions:

In its financial disclosures for year ended December 2016, WPP said it "completed 56 transactions in the year; 20 acquisitions and investments were in new markets, 38 in quantitative and digital and 10 were driven by individual client or agency needs. Out of all these transactions, 12 were in both new markets and quantitative and digital."

WPP explained in those disclosures:

"Specifically, in 2016, acquisitions and increased equity stakes have been completed in advertising and media investment management in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Turkey, Argentina, Brazil and Ecuador; in data investment management in the United States, Denmark, Greece, India and New Zealand; in public relations and public affairs in Canada, Switzerland, Turkey, Kenya, India and Brazil; in branding & identity in the Netherlands and Hong Kong; in direct, digital and interactive in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Turkey, China, Singapore, South Korea, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico; in health care in the United States; and in sports marketing in the United States.

"A further 7 acquisitions and investments were made in the first two months of 2017, with 3 in advertising and media investment management; 2 in data investment management; and 2 in direct, digital and interactive."

2015 acquisitions:

In its financial disclosures for year ended December 2015, WPP said it "completed 52 transactions in the year; 18 acquisitions and investments were in new markets, 37 in quantitative and digital and 8 were driven by individual client or agency needs. Out of all these transactions, 11 were in both new markets and quantitative and digital."

WPP explained in those disclosures:

"Specifically, in 2015, acquisitions and increased equity stakes have been completed in advertising and media investment management in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Turkey, South Africa, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and Mexico; in data investment management in the United States, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Israel and Brazil; in public relations and public affairs in the United States, Germany and India; in branding & identity in the United States and the United Kingdom; in direct, digital and interactive in the United States, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Lebanon, UAE, South Africa, Peru and China; in health care in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia; and in sports marketing in the United States.

"A further 15 acquisitions and investments were made in the first two months of 2016, with 1 in advertising and media investment management; 2 in data investment management; 3 in public relations and public affairs; 7 in direct, digital and interactive; 1 in health care; and 1 in sports marketing."

WPP made the following point in its year-end 2015 disclosure:

"There appears to be growing evidence that excessive, competitive acquisition pricing together with lower standards for compliance, driven by a desire to play catch-up have resulted in slower, and even negative growth rates and impairments for some competitors with several acquired companies in Brazil, India and China." WPP made a similar point in its year-end 2014 disclosure. 2014 acquisitions:

In its financial disclosures for year ended December 2014, WPP said it "completed 65 transactions in the year; 36 acquisitions and investments were in new markets, 53 in quantitative and digital and one in health care in the United States. Of these, 25 were in both new markets and quantitative and digital." WPP explained in that disclosure:"Specifically, in 2014, acquisitions and increased equity stakes have been completed in advertising and media investment management in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Turkey, the Middle East, South Africa, Peru, Australia, China, India and Vietnam; in data investment management in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, Spain, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates; in public relations and public affairs in China; in direct, digital and interactive in the United States, the United Kingdom, China and Vietnam; in health care in the United States."

WPP made the following point, worded identically in its year-end 2014 and year-end 2013 disclosure of preliminary financial results:

"There appears to be some growing evidence that excessive, competitive acquisition pricing together with lower standards for compliance, driven by a desire to play catch-up are resulting in slower, and even negative growth rates for competitors with several acquired companies in Brazil, India and China."

2013 acquisitions:

WPP said it completed "62 small and medium-sized acquisitions" in 2013. WPP explained in its year-end 2013 financial disclosure:

"Specifically, in 2013, acquisitions and increased equity stakes have been completed in advertising and media investment management in Canada, Kenya, Colombia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Thailand; in data investment management [WPP's Kantar business] in the United States, Brazil and Myanmar; in public relations and public affairs in the United States, the United Kingdom, China and Hong Kong; in direct, digital and interactive in the United States, the United Kingdom, Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, South Africa, Turkey, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay, India, Singapore and Australia."

The year-end 2013 disclosure continued: "Further acquisitions and investments were made in the first two months of 2014 in advertising and media investment management in Russia; in direct, digital and interactive in the United States, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, South Africa, China and Vietnam."

2012 acquisitions:

WPP said it completed 65 acquisitions in 2012. Among the deals, WPP in July 2012 bought AKQA, a digital network, for an enterprise value of $540 million.

WPP investments:

WPP's investments/minority holdings as of December 2021 included:

Advantage Smollan (U.K.-based strategic international partnership between Advantage Solutions and Global Smollan Holdings, 25.1%).
Barrows Design and Manufacturing (retail marketing services in South Africa, 35.0%).
Dat Viet VAC Media Corp. (firm in Vietnam, 30.0%).
GIIR (agency group in South Africa, 30.0%).
Haworth Marketing & Media (media agency in U.S., 49.0%).
HighCo (agency firm in France, 34.1%).
Imagina Spain (Spain, 22.5%).
Kantar (research firm, 40%; reported as Summer (BC) US JVCo SCSp).
Nanjing Yindu Ogilvy Advertising Co. (firm in China, 49.0%).
Smollan Holdings (field marketing in South Africa, 24.8%).

Key acquisitions include:

1987: WPP acquired J. Walter Thompson Group for $566 million. The deal included ad agency JWT; PR firm Hill & Knowlton (now Hill&Knowlton Strategies); and market-research network MRB Group.

1989: WPP acquired The Ogilvy Group for $864 million. The deal included ad agency Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide; marketing-services unit Ogilvy Direct; and Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide.

2000: WPP bought Young & Rubicam. The deal included Burson-Marsteller (public relations), Cohn & Wolfe (PR), Landor (branding), Sudler & Hennessey (health care), Wunderman (marketing services) and Y&R (advertising). WPP's May 2000 press release announcement of its agreement to buy Y&R termed the all-stock deal "a $4.7 billion transaction" based on WPP share prices at point. WPP later valued the deal at 2.979 billion pounds ($4.369 billion) based on the opening price of WPP shares Oct. 4, 2000, the day the deal closed.

2001: WPP purchased Tempus Group. WPP merged Tempus Group's media agency, CIA, with The Media Edge (acquired in the 2000 Young & Rubicam deal) to form Mediaedge:cia (now Wavemaker).

2003: WPP acquired Cordiant Communications Group. The deal included Bates, Fitch, HealthWorld and 141 Worldwide.

2003: WPP created GroupM to oversee its media agencies.

2005: WPP bought Grey Global Group (now folded into AKQA Group) for $1.75 billion in cash and stock.

2007: WPP bought 24/7 Real Media for $649 million. The unit later shortened its name to 24/7 Media. In January 2014, WPP merged 24/7 Media into Xaxis, GroupM's programmatic media and technology platform. The combined venture goes to mark as Xaxis.

2008: WPP acquired U.K.-based research firm Taylor Nelson Sofres, which became part of Kantar Group, WPP's research operation. WPP paid 1.025 billion pounds (about $1.600 billion based on exchange rates that day) for TNS stock. In addition, WPP inherited TNS's debt on the acquisition date (577.8 million pounds; or $902 million based on exchange rates when the deal closed). WPP in 2009 said: "The cost of the acquisition of TNS was 1.6 billion pounds," or $2.5 billion, including money paid for TNS stock plus debt inherited from TNS.

2012: WPP purchased AKQA Holdings, a U.S.-based digital network, in a deal with an enterprise value of$540 million.

Key divestitures include:

2019: Kantar (sale of 60% stake in the market-research business to Bain Capital). WPP completed most of that transaction in December 2019. WPP said in December 2019: "Following final completion in respect of the remaining Kantar business in the first half of 2020, total aggregate net proceeds after transaction costs, tax and WPP's continuing investment in 40% of the equity of Kantar are expected to be approximately $3.1 billion," or about 2.4 billion pounds.

Management and employees:

WPP at year-end 2021 employed 109,382 people worldwide, including 20,000 staffers in the U.S.

WPP at year-end 2020 employed 99,830 people worldwide, including 19,000 staffers in the U.S.

WPP at year-end 2019 employed 106,786 people (excluding employees at units, notably Kantar, that WPP sold), including (according to WPP's calendar-2019 earnings slides) 20,000 staffers in the U.S.

WPP reported year-end worldwide employment of 134,281 in 2018; 134,413 in 2017; 134,341 in 2016; 128,123 in 2015; 123,621 in 2014; 119,116 in 2013; 115,711 in 2012; 113,615 in 2011; 104,052 in 2010; 99,565 in 2009; and 112,663 in 2008.

Martin Sorrell, WPP's chief executive since 1986, abruptly stepped down as CEO April 14, 2018, in the wake of a board investigation. WPP's board April 3, 2018, announced it had "appointed independent counsel to conduct an investigation in response to an allegation of personal misconduct against Sir Martin Sorrell, Chief Executive Officer of WPP. The investigation is ongoing. The allegations do not involve amounts which are material to WPP."

In announcing April 14, 2018, that Sorrell had "stepped down...with immediate effect," WPP said: "The previously announced investigation into an allegation of misconduct against Sir Martin has concluded. The allegation did not involve amounts that are material."

WPP named Mark Read as CEO in September 2018. Read, a longtime WPP executive, had served as joint chief operating officer since Sorrell's departure.

Stock:

WPP's primary stock listing is on the London Stock Exchange.

WPP in 1988 listed shares on Nasdaq as American Depositary Shares. WPP in November 2017 moved its ADS listing to the New York Stock Exchange from the Nasdaq Global Market.

History:

Martin Sorrell in 1985 took a stake in Wire and Plastic Products, a British maker of baskets and household wares, following his search for a public company through which to build a worldwide marketing-services company. The company adopted the name WPP Group, later shortened to WPP. The company sold Wire and Plastic Products, the basket business, in 2019.

Sorrell stepped down from his position and exited WPP April 14, 2018, in the wake of a board investigation into an allegation of misconduct. After leaving WPP, Sorrell became executive chairman of, and began to build out, S4 Capital, another publicly traded advertising and marketing-services venture.

Top executive: Mark Read, CEO; Roberto Quarta, chairman
Headquarters: WPP/Sea Containers, 18 Upper Ground, London, SE1 9GL/Phone: 44 20 7282 4600
Instagram: http://wpp.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wpp
Twitter: @WPP
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wpp

http://www.wpp.com