LONDON (dpa-AFX) - WPP Group Plc.(WPP.L, WPPGY) announced that its wholly owned operating company, GroupM, WPP's global media investment management arm, has acquired plista, a digital media specialist in Germany.
Founded in 2008 and employing approximately 100 people, plista is an online advertising specialist bringing advertisers and publishers together via its data-driven proprietary content and advertising platform. By optimally connecting advertising with content (native advertising), advertisers maximise the efficiency and effectiveness of their campaigns whilst publishers benefit from prolonged user visits and additional monetization of their digital services.
GroupM sees great potential in developing plista on a global level as part of its digital specialist portfolio, parallel with Xaxis and Quisma.
plista currently operates in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Clients include Volkswagen, Sony, Coca-Cola and RWE among others. plista's revenues for the year ended 31 December 2012 were EUR 3.9 million with gross assets as at the same date of EUR 2.9 million.
The company said the acquisition marks a further step towards WPP's declared goal of developing its networks in fast-growth markets and sectors and continues WPP's strategy of strengthening the Group's capabilities in digital media. WPP digital revenues were well over $5 billion in 2012 and represented 33% of total Group revenues of $16.5 billion.
WPP is targeting at least 40-45% of revenues to come from each of fast-growth markets and new media over the next five years.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
© 2014 AFX News
