Marcom acquisition deals drop during Q1 2015

Marcom mergers and acquisition deals are down, but the level of disclosed deal value grew to $3.9bn during the first quarter of 2015, according to Results International’s quarterly research.

Deals such as the acquisition of Fairway Outdoor Advertising by Adams Outdoor Advertising and Dalian Wanda Group’s acquisition of Infront Sports & Media boosted the value of deals during Q1 of 2015.

The data also showed that the pace of Marcoms agency deals were down, compared to the same time last year. Only 218 deals were completed in Q1 2015 compared to 267 deals in Q1 2014.

North America hosted the largest amount of deals (50%), the UK scooped 10% of the action.

Dentsu made the largest number of Marcom acquisitions, with nine deals, followed by Publicis (four) and Havas, WPP, Omnicorn, Keda Group and MCI, each with three.

This was the first quarter that WPP has not topped  the Top Buyer List since the research began in Q1 last year.