Writtle Holdings Ltd, the media sector investment company, has acquired Loewy Group, the marketing services group, in an all-share deal. At the same time, more than £4.5 million of new capital has been raised from existing Writtle and Loewy shareholders to fund further growth.

The transaction brings together the iconic Loewy brand’s operating companies, which include Epoch Design, Seymour Powell, Speed Communications, The Team and Williams Murray Hamm with Writtle’s existing portfolio of businesses, which include 20|20, Arken, Beyond Communications, Creo Retail Marketing, Maglabs and Magnet Harlequin.

The combined group now comprises 16 companies, many of which are market leaders in their specialist fields, and an international client base with revenues of around £100 million. The group’s expertise spans artwork, design and production of packaging; branding; digital communications and asset management; point-of-purchase; product development and design; PR; and retail design and strategy.

Writtle’s Chairman and Chief Executive, Robert Essex, said: “It is rare to find such a complementary mix between two marketing services groups. We will combine Loewy’s renowned brand and excellent operating companies with Writtle’s business model of decentralised growth and equity involvement for key directors to fuel further growth. It is a strategy that has served us well to date.”

Will Whitehorn, Loewy’s Chairman, said: “As marketing services continue to develop at the same rapid pace as digital technologies and social media, we believe that the winners will be those organisations in the industry that can invest for the future whilst remaining entrepreneurial in their outlook. Bringing together these two complementary groups creates precisely this environment.”

Note to Editors: For further information on Writtle, see 159.65.48.191 on Loewy see www.loewygroup.com

For further information on the transaction contact Speed Communications:
stephen.waddington@speedcommunications.com
Tel – +44 (0) 20 7842 3200