Top PR firm in 'super-agency' link-up
02/05/2006 - 11:47:16

One of the Norths leading PR companies, Citygate SMARTS, has joined forces with three others in Britain to create a new super-agency, it was announced today.

Media Square, one of the UKs fastest growing communications groups, announced four of its leading agencies had merged to create the single agency focusing on PR, marketing and design.

Holywood, Co Down-based Citygate SMARTS has linked up with IAS in Manchester, Catalyst in London and interactive agency River.

The merged business will operate as IAS Smarts plc, with the Northern Ireland business becoming IAS Smarts [Northern Ireland] Ltd.

Pippa Arlow and Leontia Fetherston, joint managing directors of the Northern Ireland company said: Media Square is one of the fastest growing UK-quoted marketing companies and its decision to create one super-agency in marketing services boosts our capacity locally as well as enabling the new company to make use of the experience and talent that we have developed over the years in Northern Ireland.

The new company will have annual revenues of 11m (16m) and a network of six offices in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Scotland and the North.

The merger also gives IAS Smarts partnership in the BBN, a global agency network with offices in 25 countries.

The new super-agency is based on what it called a Centres-of-Excellence strategy, under which each location would retain its normal business, but also deliver specialist expertise to the network to provide seamless, multi-disciplined full solutions campaigns.

In the North, IAS Smarts has a range of local and national blue-chip clients including AXA, Bank of Ireland, British Airways, Coca-Cola Bottlers [Ulster Ltd], Diageo, the Dairy Council for Northern Ireland, the International Fund for Ireland and Yell.

article from todays telegraph Media Square, the struggling marketing communications group, moved up 2pc to 5.625p after Prime Active Capital, an Irish special situations investor, revealed that it had taken a 15pc stake.


Prime Active Capital, which is led by Irish financier Peter Lynch, built up the stake through contracts-for-difference broker MF Global.

Roger Parry, executive chairman of Media Square, said that Mr Lynch told him he thought the company was "undervalued".

"I welcome any shareholder who buys into the turnaround story," said Mr Parry, a former journalist who also chairs Johnston Press, YouGov, Future, and Mobile Streams.

"Everybody is in the same boat. We all want it to be successful. And in a turnround it's easier if you have four or five big shareholders, because they'll give you stability

Thanks to Markie

Media Square, the struggling marketing communications group, moved up 2pc to 5.625p after Prime Active Capital, an Irish special situations investor, revealed that it had taken a 15pc stake.


Prime Active Capital, which is led by Irish financier Peter Lynch, built up the stake through contracts-for-difference broker MF Global.

Roger Parry, executive chairman of Media Square, said that Mr Lynch told him he thought the company was "undervalued".

"I welcome any shareholder who buys into the turnaround story," said Mr Parry, a former journalist who also chairs Johnston Press, YouGov, Future, and Mobile Streams.

"Everybody is in the same boat. We all want it to be successful. And in a turnround it's easier if you have four or five big shareholders, because they'll give you stability."

4% bought at 20% premium to mid price today.

Bob Morton trebles his stake at a big premium, he's a shrewd judge and
that means this stock is a great recovery play, but very hard to buy any
size without paying a premium but i see 30-40p before the year is out.