Ogilvy Public Relations World-wide yesterday announced that it acquired Era Public Relations Co (21
The UK-based WPP Group Plc, Ogilvy's parent company, said in an e-mail statement that it had bought a 70-percent stake in Era, with Era's senior management owning the remaining equity. Neither side was willing to reveal the price of the acquisition.
The acquisition has created the largest public-relations agency in Taiwan, with more than 100 employees.
No new company will be formed, and the two firms will pool resources while continuing to operate independently.
"We are committed to strength-ening specialized PR in Taiwan and linking Taiwan in constructive ways with other parts of `greater China' and the world," said Matthew Anderson, president of Ogilvy PR Asia Pacific.
Taiwanese companies focusing on software development, high-end semiconductor production and design, LCD displays and mobile handsets will come under increasing pressure to move sales and manufacturing operations to China.
"Taiwan IT firms are attempting to move the majority of their facilities into China. So through this deal we will be able to help Taiwan technology companies achieve this goal," said Joseph Pai (白崇亮), chairman of Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide Taiwan.
Era opened an office in Shanghai and will be well placed to help Taiwan-owned corporations manage their transition into the China market, Pai said.
Partnering with Era will play a key role in this service as the PR firm specializes in handling communications for companies including Hewlett-Packard, Dell Computer, Oracle, Priceline, Xilinx, ARM and Cypress.
"As partners with Ogilvy PR and its network, especially in `greater China,' we are now able to provide our clients with the expertise Ogilvy is best known for -- branding. Era will remain focused on our strength -- information technology," said Olive Ting (
Era reported revenues of US$1.49 million for last year and net assets of US$840,000.
Ogilvy also plans to supply counseling on management issues, mergers and acquisitions, internal communications, corporate social responsibility and investor relations.
WPP acquired the Ogilvy Group for US$864 million in 1989, which included Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide. The acquisition of Era is the third major partnership formed by Ogilvy PR in Asia this year, following the acquisition of H-Line PR in June, making Ogilvy the largest PR firm in China, an Ogilvy statement said.
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