WRG snaps up smaller rival Canyon
LIVE events production agency WRG Creative has made its first acquisition since private equity investor LDC took a stake in a £12m deal last year.
The £45m turnover Salford Quays company has not travelled far to find its target – it is buying Manchester city centre-based Canyon, which will add 20 staff and an impressive rosta of clients including P&G, shoe retailer Clarks International, DFS, Associated British Foods, Nationwide Building Society and Jaguar Land Rover.
WRG said the acquisition would bring greater depth to its live communication expertise and strengthens its creative, film and logistics offering.
Canyon will become integrated under the WRG umbrella and founder and managing director, Jonathan Boyne, will become a director of WRG.
Barry Day, chief executive at WRG, said: “By acquiring such a highly respected agency we’re demonstrating our commitment to becoming the leading partner to global brands in the field of live communication.
“Both companies have an outstanding reputation in the European market and rank among the most innovative agencies. We have a shared commitment to creativity and an enviable record of successful delivery.
“The strength of our combined talents gives us enormous power to further expand both our suite of services and our geographical reach over the next 12 months.”
Jonathan Boyne, managing director of Canyon, added: “Our robust approach to strategic communication, based on deep commercial and market understanding, has made us a trusted partner to blue chip organisations across Europe. By becoming part of WRG we now have a truly global reach and greater strength in depth.
“This is an exciting opportunity both for our combined teams and clients. We’re looking forward to being part of WRG’s future growth story.”
Mr Boyne, who launched the business in 2006 and built it to a £3.3m turnover agency said Canyon is already benefiting from WRG’s larger resources.
“Our skills in live events are really attractive to WRG. The two businesses are a good fit and I was attracted to them by the additional scale and international ambitions they have.”
WRG employs over 140 people across its five locations and is set to open an office in the Far East this year. The company specialises in live, brand and healthcare communication and managed the G20 London Summit in 2009 and the Papal Visit to the UK in 2010.
A team from law firm Addleshaw Goddard’s Manchester office, led by partners Paul Medlicott and Justine Delroy and associate Catherine Shennan, advised WRG on the deal.
