Dentsu Inc. Reaches Agreement to Acquire 100% Stake in Leading French Web Analytics Firm Wasabi
Dentsu Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Nao Ishii; Capital: ¥74,609,810,000) has reached an agreement with the shareholders of Wasabi Analytics SAS (Headquarters: Paris, CEO: Sébastien Manaches, hereinafter "Wasabi") to acquire 100% of the company's shares. This acquisition aims to enhance the digital presence of the Dentsu Group in France.
One of the primary methods for measuring the effectiveness of digital advertising is "server-centric" analysis, which involves analyzing server logs. Server-centric analysis is broadly categorized into two types: "ad-centric," which analyzes logs from ad delivery servers, and "site-centric," which analyzes logs from web servers.
Founded in 2010, Wasabi excels in user behavior analysis primarily based on web server logs, i.e., site-centric measurement. It is the only independent analytics company in France certified as a "Google Analytics Premium Authorized Reseller."
Until now, our operations in France have centered on our group company iProspect , which specializes in ad-centric solutions. Following the acquisition, we will integrate Wasabi, with its expertise in site-centric solutions, into iProspect's French operations.
This will enable us to provide top-tier services in France for integrated data solutions and digital advertising effectiveness measurement—areas of high customer demand—further strengthening our group's presence and business foundation.
According to global advertising expenditure growth forecasts (September 2016) by Carat, our group's media and communications agency, digital advertising expenditure in France surpassed television in 2015 to become the largest advertising medium, growing 5.5% year-on-year in 2015. Growth is expected to remain robust in 2016 and 2017, with increases of 5.6% and 5.0%, respectively.
The impact of this matter on the Company's consolidated results for the fiscal year ending December 2016 is expected to be immaterial.
* iProspect is a digital performance agency and one of the global network brands within our group.
