Dentsu Inc. agrees to acquire 85% stake in UK content marketing company John Brown Media Ltd.

Dentsu Inc.'s overseas headquarters, Dentsu Aegis Network, has reached an agreement with the shareholders of UK-based content marketing company John Brown Media Group Limited (hereinafter "John Brown Media") to acquire an 85% stake in the company. The Dentsu Group also holds an option to make it a wholly-owned subsidiary after 2018.

Founded in 1987, John Brown Media began as a publisher of consumer magazines and corporate publications. It has since grown into a company providing services such as print and digital publications and website development for client companies. Among its offerings, its content marketing services in the digital domain are highly regarded, earning strong praise from numerous clients, including globally recognized multinational corporations.

Content marketing is a strategy where companies provide relevant and valuable information (content) to their customers, thereby increasing customer engagement with the company's products and services and driving purchasing behavior. Search engines have advanced technologies to interpret searchers' intent and list sites that most closely match what they seek. In this process, qualitative aspects like the quality of a site's content are increasingly emphasized, further heightening the importance of content marketing.

This acquisition of one of the world's largest content marketing companies aligns with these industry trends. Furthermore, John Brown Media has offices not only in the UK but also in South Africa, Hong Kong, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), enabling the deployment of innovative content marketing on a global scale.

Until now, the Dentsu Group's digital performance services have primarily been provided through iProspect, one of its global network brands. Following the acquisition, the Group will deepen collaboration between iProspect and other group companies and John Brown Media, contributing to maximizing client ROI (Return on Investment) through higher-value solutions.

〈Overview of John Brown Media Group Limited〉

Company Name: John Brown Media Group Limited
Locations: London, UK;
South Africa (Cape Town, Johannesburg), Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates
(Dubai)
Established: April 1987
Shareholder Structure: Following completion of acquisition procedures
Dentsu Inc. Aegis Network: 85%
Company Management: 15%
Revenue: £16.7 million (approx. ¥2.96 billion) (Fiscal year ended March 2014)
Representative: Andrew Hirsch (CEO)
Number of Employees: 225
Business Activities: Content marketing business including print and digital publications, film production, and content creation/management

Dentsu Inc. News Releasehttp://www.dentsu.co.jp/news/release/2015/0514-004050.html