Publicis acquires UK's independent digital agency 'Outside Line'

Publicis Groupe [Euronext Paris: FR0000130577] has announced the acquisition of award-winning British digital agency Outside Line, a specialist in social and experiential media. The move accelerates Publicis Groupe’s buildup of its profile in digital markets, in line with its strategic commitment to continue to increase the revenue it derives from digital and other high growth sectors.

Founded in 2000 and based in London, Outside Line has become one of the top 5 independent social agencies in the UK according to New Media Age (Top 100 agencies report). The skill-set of the agency's 68-strong team ranges from digital design and development to content creation, customer relations management and  experience-driven social media marketing. Outside Line's client list  includes Andy Murray, Arla Foods (Cravendale and Lurpak), British Gas, Queen and Virgin Galactic, and its award-winning campaigns include “Music Inspired” for Beck’s, “Newsroom
Blog” for British Gas, “Milk Matters” for Cravendale, and “Food Beats” for Lurpak.

Outside Line will be integrated into the Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide network, working alongside the Saatchi & Saatchi London office and further improving the agency's ability  to deliver highly creative and effective multi-channel digital output at a faster, more efficient and costeffective rate. Ant Cauchi and Lloyd Salmons, in addition to their current roles as Outside Line's co-founders, will take senior roles as digital directors at Saatchi & Saatchi London, and will be responsible for integrating existing business and  growing digital revenue. They  will work closely with Saatchi & Saatchi’s creative partners Kate Stanners and Paul Silburn, director of strategy Richard Huntington, as well as the director of integration Matt Groves, while reporting to Saatchi & Saatchi London's CEO Magnus Djaba. 

"Outside Line is a perfect cultural fit for Saatchi & Saatchi," said Magnus Djaba, CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi London. "Both our agencies share an exciting vision. We're driven to create interactive social currency that is world-class, both online and offline — work that people share online, tweet about, and talk about in pubs, playgrounds and by the coffee machine. We're thrilled to be able to
seize this opportunity to strengthen our digital core and further boost our service to clients in this crucial sector."

"We see this as a terrific opportunity to join  an agency whose work we  have always admired," commented Outside Line co-founders Ant Cauchi and Lloyd Salmons. "Like us, Saatchi & Saatchi's
teams are passionate about creating work that is inspiring and engaging, which people love and want to share. We know this is an exciting new step forward, both for our agencies and for our clients." 

In December 2012 ZenithOptimedia forecast Internet adspend in the United Kingdom will grow by 9.2% in 2013, followed by 7.8% in 2014 and 4.3% in 2015.