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STAGWELL (STGW) ACQUIRES SIDEKICK TO STRENGTHEN ALLISON'S EUROPEAN PRESENCE

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Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW) acquires Sidekick, a creative collective specializing in experiential, digital storytelling, and branded content, to enhance Allison's brand storytelling capabilities in Europe. The acquisition aims to strengthen Allison's integrated marketing services and expand its presence in the European market.
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Insights

The acquisition of Sidekick by Stagwell, a NASDAQ-listed marketing network, represents a strategic move aimed at strengthening its position in the European market. By integrating Sidekick's expertise in experiential marketing, digital storytelling and branded content, Stagwell is poised to offer a more comprehensive suite of services to its clients. This aligns with current industry trends where brands are increasingly seeking out immersive and integrated marketing solutions to engage consumers.

The transaction is likely to create synergies by combining Sidekick's creative production capabilities with Allison's strategic communications and data analytics. This could potentially lead to enhanced service offerings and increased efficiency, providing a competitive edge in acquiring and retaining clients. The focus on experiential marketing and digital storytelling is particularly relevant as these areas are experiencing notable growth due to shifts in consumer behavior towards more interactive and personalized brand experiences.

From a financial perspective, the acquisition of Sidekick by Stagwell could be indicative of the company's growth strategy and its commitment to expanding its European footprint. While the financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, the market will be looking at how this acquisition contributes to Stagwell's revenue streams and whether it will lead to improved profitability through cross-selling opportunities and expanded client services.

Investors will also be interested in the impact of this acquisition on Stagwell's operational costs and whether the expected synergies will translate into cost savings. The long-term financial health of Stagwell may be bolstered if the integration of Sidekick leads to a solidified market position and the ability to command higher premiums for a more diverse range of services.

The cultural implications of Stagwell's acquisition of Sidekick should not be underestimated. Sidekick's award-winning reputation for experiential and digital storytelling is a strong asset in today's brand strategy landscape. The emphasis on creating immersive experiences aligns with the growing importance of cultural relevance and authenticity in brand communications.

Moreover, the integration of Sidekick's capabilities into Allison's existing framework is likely to enhance the group's ability to craft narratives that resonate with European audiences. This cultural alignment and the expertise in leveraging digital platforms for storytelling are critical for brands looking to establish a meaningful connection with their consumers, especially in a diverse and fragmented market like Europe.

Creative collective will bolster multichannel brand storytelling and creative production capabilities at Allison

NEW YORK and LONDON, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW), the challenger network built to transform marketing, today announced it has acquired Sidekick, an award-winning collective of specialist agencies focused on experiential, digital storytelling, and branded content. Sidekick will join Allison, a global marketing and communications consultancy within Stagwell.

Sidekick will join Allison, a global marketing and communications consultancy within Stagwell.

"Sidekick is at the forefront of storytelling and will be an essential part of the challenger marketing network we are building in Europe," said Mark Penn, Chairman and CEO, Stagwell. "As we embark on our next chapter in Europe, I'm excited to welcome Duncan and Ollie to our network and see Allison continue to transform its content innovation capabilities."

The addition of Sidekick will further expand Allison's footprint in Europe and introduce capabilities in the market that are critical for a new era of integrated brand storytelling. It adds tremendous synergies to Allison's existing core competencies of strategic communications, influencer marketing, digital, performance marketing and data analytics. 

"After a successful period of collaboration with the Sidekick team, we are delighted to have them officially join the Allison family.  The organisation that the Sidekick founders have built together with their colleagues delivers an impressive suite of services that complements those already offered by Allison and leads with a strong and supportive culture that aligns with our own," said Scott Allison, Global Chairman of Allison.  He added, "As we continue to expand our operations throughout Europe, Sidekick will form an integral part of this growth story."

The Sidekick Group launched back in 2021 when experiential agency Kreate and content agency Many Makers came together to form a strategic arm of the business, capitalising its collective expertise on behalf of clients.  Kreate delivers 'real-world' activations for clients, specialising in brand experience and live events.  Many Makers is a video and brand content agency that uses digital storytelling including social media, video production, gamification and AR/VR content on behalf of the wider group.

Sidekick Co-founders Duncan McCaslin and Ollie Burgoyne will remain as Managing Directors of their respective teams and both will join Allison's European management team.  Directors William Howe and Stephen Bradley will also move across in their current roles.  No other staffing changes are planned.

"The acquisition represents a significant leap forward in the growth of Sidekick and our people. Having seen our collective teams work successfully together over the last year or so, we knew that joining with Allison and Stagwell was the logical next step. We see this as the perfect time to combine forces, further enhancing our collective capabilities and ensuring that we continue to deliver outstanding results for our clients," said Duncan McCaslin, MD of Sidekick and Kreate.

"This is an extremely exciting next step for Sidekick. Having worked alongside the team at Allison for the last two years, we quickly realised that we share the same vision and values.  I can't wait for our teams to work as one and to be a part of the exciting growth plans that Scott and team have in place," added Ollie Burgoyne, MD of Sidekick and Many Makers.

This acquisition comes amid a significant European acceleration at Stagwell, which has in recent months appointed James Townsend as CEO, EMEA, and launched a regional hub at the Blue Fin Building in London to connect its 15+ agencies and over 1900 employees within the region.

Sidekick is Stagwell's second acquisition of the year, following the purchase of Team Epiphany, a culturalist creative agency connecting brands to multicultural consumers, in January 2024.

About Stagwell
Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW) is the challenger network built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world's most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing. Led by entrepreneurs, our 13,000+ specialists in 34+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for their clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com

About Allison
Allison is a global integrated marketing and communications consultancy dedicated to driving growth, innovation, and positive change for clients, colleagues, and communities. With a diverse range of expertise and a forward-looking mindset, Allison delivers game-changing results that make a lasting impact. Allison is owned by Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW), one of the fastest growing and most influential marketing and communications networks in the world. Agency partners leverage Stagwell's technology, data analytics, insights and strategic consulting solutions to drive measurable results and optimize return on marketing investment for more than 1,700 clients worldwide. Learn more at www.allisonworldwide.com  

Stagwell PR Contact
Beth Sidhu
pr@stagwellglobal.com 

Stagwell IR Contact
Ben Allanson
ir@stagwellglobal.com 

Allison PR Contact
Kate Lynch
kate.lynch@allisonworldwide.com 

Stagwell is the challenger network built to transform marketing. (PRNewsfoto/Stagwell Inc.)

 

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SOURCE Stagwell Inc.

FAQ

What did Stagwell acquire?

Stagwell acquired Sidekick, a creative collective specializing in experiential, digital storytelling, and branded content.

What are the key focus areas of Sidekick?

Sidekick focuses on experiential, digital storytelling, and branded content.

What are the benefits of the acquisition for Allison?

The acquisition expands Allison's footprint in Europe, enhances its integrated brand storytelling capabilities, and introduces critical capabilities for a new era of marketing.

Who will lead Sidekick after the acquisition?

Sidekick Co-founders Duncan McCaslin and Ollie Burgoyne will remain as Managing Directors of their respective teams and join Allison's European management team.

What other acquisitions has Stagwell made recently?

Stagwell's recent acquisitions include Team Epiphany, a culturalist creative agency, in January 2024.

Stagwell Inc.

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