Latest news with #MartinSorrell
Times
6 hours ago
- Business
- Times
S4 Capital receives merger approach from MSQ Partners
Sir Martin Sorrell's S4 Capital has confirmed that it has received an approach from a rival advertising company, MSQ Partners, about a 'combination' of the two businesses. It is the latest attempt by a rival to move in on the veteran ad man's struggling company, capitalising on a stock price that has plummeted by more than 90 per cent over the past five years. Shares in S4 rose 3.8 per cent on Monday on news of the talks, gaining ¾p to close at 22p. No details about a potential valuation were disclosed and a statement from S4 said: 'There can be no certainty that a transaction will be forthcoming.' Any deal would be structured as an acquisition of MSQ by S4 Capital, rather than an offer under the Takeover Code by MSQ.
The Independent
14 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
Sir Martin Sorrell's S4 Capital in early talks over merger deal
Sir Martin Sorrell's advertising firm S4 Capital has confirmed early talks over a potential merger deal with rival MSQ Partners. Shares in S4, which was founded by the advertising mogul in 2018, jumped in early trading on Monday as a result. It comes after Sky News reported on Saturday that creative agency firm MSQ, which is owned by private equity group One Equity Partners, approached Sir Martin about a potential deal. In response, S4 said on Monday that it 'received a proposal' about potentially merging the two businesses. 'These discussions are at a very preliminary stage and there can be no certainty that a transaction will be forthcoming,' S4 said in statement. The London-based firm said any deal would be structured so that S4 would acquire MSQ to form the combined business. Sky News also reported that US firms Stagwell and New Mountain Capital have seen moves to buy S4, or parts of its business, rebuffed by Sir Martin over the past year. Sir Martin founded S4 following his departure from FTSE 100 giant WPP. He quickly grew the business globally through a raft of acquisition deal. The company saw its share valued soar to as much as £5 billion in 2021, but has seen this tumble to around £140 million after the advertising sector was hit hard by the global economic slowdown and growth in AI. S4 Capital shares were up 3.8% on Monday morning.
Bloomberg
16 hours ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Stock Movers: Orsted, S4 Capital, Rheinmetall
On this episode of Stock Movers: - Shares in Danish company Orsted A/S dropped as much as 24% after it announced it will conduct a rights offering to raise as much as 60 billion Danish kroner ($9.4 billion). -S4 Capital, the advertising agency founded by Martin Sorrell, is in talks to combine with private equity-owned MSQ Partners. - European defense stocks are significantly underperforming on Monday morning, with markets looking to US President Donald Trump's efforts to broker an agreement to end the war in Ukraine through a planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin later this week.
Reuters
16 hours ago
- Business
- Reuters
Martin Sorrell's S4 Capital confirms merger talks with MSQ Partners
Aug 11 (Reuters) - Martin Sorrell's ad group S4 Capital (SFOR.L), opens new tab is in early talks to potentially combine with marketing agency MSQ Partners, it said on Monday, sending its shares as much as 14% higher. S4 Capital, established in 2018 following Sorrell's exit from rival WPP (WPP.L), opens new tab, said any potential transaction would see it acquire MSQ Partners, a firm majority-owned by private equity group One Equity Partners. There is no certainty a deal will be concluded, S4 added. S4 Capital, hit by client spending cuts due to U.S. tariffs and a shift towards AI-driven marketing, lowered its revenue forecast in June as advertising firms face rising pressure to adapt or risk losing major accounts. The company's shares have dropped roughly 98% from their September 2021 peak to give a market value of about 140 million pounds, a fraction of its previous worth. The shares bounced from Friday's record low early on Monday, and were 10% higher at 23.25 pence by 0756 GMT. Sorrell, who built WPP into the world's biggest advertising agency through 33 years of dealmaking, quit the ad group in April 2018, after an allegation of personal misconduct, which he denied. The potential merger with MSQ Partners would give S4 Capital access to a broader client base spanning the finance, healthcare, and consumer goods sectors. MSQ has more than 250 clients including Unilever, Haleon, P&G and Lego. S4's clients include Google-parent Alphabet, Amazon and Meta. The deal discussions were first reported by Sky News on Saturday.
Wall Street Journal
17 hours ago
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Martin Sorrell's S4 Capital in Talks With MSQ Partners About Possible Tie-Up
Martin Sorrell's S4 Capital SFOR -5.78%decrease; red down pointing triangle said it received a proposal from marketing group MSQ Partners, majority owned by private-equity firm One Equity Partners, about a potential tie-up and that they are in talks. 'These discussions are at a very preliminary stage and there can be no certainty that a transaction will be forthcoming,' S4 Capital said.
