Deals

Argus Media Group has hired bankers to consider strategic options for the business, including a sale or a stock market flotation

WPP announces that GroupM, the world’s leading media investment management group, has acquired a majority stake in mobile marketing agency Yonder Media in South Africa

Lads’ mag Loaded is to get a new lease of life as a digital publication dropping the scantily-clad girls of its heyday in favour of classier content including an interview with Hollywood actor Colin Farrell in its first edition

Press release:  CTi is based in Connecticut, USA and was founded in 1990 to cater for the growing demand for high quality translation services in the life sciences sector. It is now a recognised leader in successfully managing complex translation projects on behalf of the world’s top pharmaceutical and biotech companies and their Clinical Research Organisation (CRO) partners. As CTi’s customers operate in highly regulated and audited industries, they place a premium on high quality translations being delivered to specific deadlines. CTi enjoys a preferred supplier relationship with many of its key customers, with extraordinary penetration of the blue chip life science community. The acquisition is in line with the strategy of complementing organic growth with selective acquisition.

ITE’s subsidiary Airgate Holdings has acquired a 31.7 per cent share of Mumbai-based ABEC Exhibitions and Conferences, taking its overall share to 60 per cent

WPP has acquired Essence Digital, one of the fastest-growing media agencies and the largest independent buyer of online advertising

Publicis Healthcare Communications Group (PHCG) is acquiring PDI’s Commercial Services operation (CSO) that features a contract sales organization and other fee-for-services businesses in the medical and clinical areas

Archant has announced the acquisition of general aviation website, UKGA.com, the site for private pilots. It bolsters Archant’s aviation offering, joining its aviation magazine, Pilot

Penton has acquired London-based MRO Network, a media company targeting the aircraft maintenance and repair market. The deal, which includes events, publications and digital products, expands the company’s aviation assets and provides deeper coverage of the market’s supply chain

One of London’s hottest independent, digital media-buying agencies, Essence Digital, is in advanced talks to sell to WPP. Essence is Google’s main global digital agency and other clients include Expedia and eBay. No price was put on the planned Essence deal, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

WPP announces that Landor, a leading strategic brand consulting and design firm, has acquired a majority stake in multi award-winning motion design studio ManvsMachine.

Adaptris Group is a fast-growing supply chain integration and e-solutions company, says RBI. It has a focus on the agriculture and food industry network via its First 4 Farming brand as well as through DBT, a division that provides solutions to the animal health sector

The buyout titan Blackstone is leading the race to buy the Cannes advertising festival’s parent company as its current owner weighs the alternative of a £1.1bn stock market listing

Time inc has acquired two websites focused on women operated by Say Media Inc. and magazine editor Jane Pratt, according to people familiar with the situation

Time Inc. (UK) Ltd. has announced that it has acquired International Craft & Hobby Fair Limited (ICHF), an events business specialising in trade and consumer events in the crafts arena

Informa’s Global Exhibitions Division has expanded its Life Sciences portfolio with the acquisition of FIME Exhibition & Congress in Miami, Florida. Now in its 25th year, FIME serves the communities of North and South America with a primary focus on medical technology, medical products and supplies, medical services, and medical equipment

Teneo, which is headquartered in New York, also acquired Blue Rubicon and StockWell in July, making financial and corporate comms agency Pendomer its third UK acquisition

Private equity firm Lonsdale Capital Partners has acquired a majority stake in Ocean Media Group, organiser of UK-based events, online solutions and a series of specialist publications.

James Murdoch has said that 21st Century Fox is not happy being a partial shareholder in pan-European pay-TV broadcaster Sky

This means a new chapter opens in the long history of Ipack-Ima, one of the world’s leading exhibitions for processing and packaging technology. Fiera Milano has been the venue of Ipack-Ima since its very beginning. Now it owns the Italian show, as well