LD&A Jupiter advises Social Lab Group and its shareholders in the sale of a majority stake to Ogilvy & Mather, a WPP subsidiary

Ogilvy & Mather has acquired a majority stake in Social Lab Group. Ogilvy & Mather is one of the largest marketing communications companies in the world and a subsidiary of WPP, a world leader in communications services. WPP offers a comprehensive and, when appropriate, integrated range of communications services to national, multinational and global clients. WPP has over 170,000 employees in over 3,000 offices in 110 countries. WPP’s digital revenues were well over US $5 billion in 2012 and represented 33% of total Group revenues of US $16.5 billion.

Social Lab Group is the leading social media agency in Belgium with offices in Paris and Amsterdam, providing social media services (Consulting, Community Management and Advertising) to Tier 1 advertisers. The company combines its recognized creative expertise with perfect execution. Since its foundation in 2010, Social Lab Group has developed a loyal base of customers in 3 countries. Ogilvy & Mather will leverage the team’s demonstrated social media expertise to expand Social Lab offices in other markets.

Yves Baudechon, co founder of Social Lab Group indicates: “We had some connections with potential buyers. But LD&A Jupiter’s network of contacts was instrumental in exposing our company at the right level and initiate discussions. They have an intimate knowledge of our industry. From the preparation of all necessary memorandum and business plans, to rehearsals of presentations, to smoothing the process by avoiding ego or emotional frictions, they transformed an opportunity in a mutually beneficial deal.”

Matthieu Rosset, Managing Partner at LD&A Jupiter, comments: “We are very pleased to have advised Social Lab’s exceptional team in their sale to WPP. This transaction is a demonstration of LD&A Jupiter’s expertise in Internet, digital marketing and social media. This is our 7th internet transaction and third transaction in digital marketing this year. Following the sale of Techlightenment to Experian, this transaction further reinforces LD&A Jupiter’s leadership in social media marketing.”

Social Lab Legal Advisor: VVGB Advocaten / Avocats (Benjamin Haberkorn)

About Social Lab Group

Social Lab Group is the leading social media agency in Belgium with offices in Paris and Amsterdam, providing social media services (Consulting, Community Management and Advertising) to Tier 1 advertisers.

About Ogilvy & Mather

Ogilvy & Mather is one of the largest marketing communications companies in the world and a subsidiary of WPP. Today it has more than 450 offices in 169 cities.

About WPP

WPP is a world leader in marketing communications services and offers a comprehensive and integrated range of communications services to national, multinational and global clients. WPP has over 170,000 employees in over 3,000 offices in 110 countries.

About LD&A Jupiter

LD&A Jupiter identifies, structures and executes value-creative private and public market transactions for corporations and financial investors. Transactions include build-ups, mergers, acquisitions, divestitures as well as the issuance of equity or debt capital for customers from the Software, IT Services, Telecoms, Internet/Digital Media, Gaming, Customer Care, Electronics and Cleantech industries.

With offices in London, Munich, Paris, New York and Los Angeles, LD&A Jupiter offers international coverage and a unique combination of cross-border capabilities and know-how.