Shares in S4 Capital have rallied this morning almost 20pc after hacks at The Wall Street Journal came up with an intriguing tale about takeover interest the digital advertising group set up by Sir Martin Sorrell, one of Britain's most successful admen and founder of WPP...
I see S4 Capital has just appointed heavyweight American investment banks Morgan Stanley and Jefferies alongside Dowgate Capital as corporate broker to the company. Below is the link to this morning's announcement:
It would appear Betaville's snouts were onto something when they suggested deal hungry Sir Martin was eyeing up a deal in the Far East as this morning S4 Capital announced it was acquiring China-based creative agency Tomorrow. Below is a link to today's deal announcement and the piece containing the titbit about Sir Martin's next deal:..
The idea of Sir Martin heading stateside for his next deal might have been a curve ball.
In case you don't recall the excellent Alex Lawson noted in the Mail on Sunday's Stockwatch column a few weeks ago that adman dealmaker was over in the US eyeing up deals ahead of Jo Biden becoming president. Below is a link to the Sunday round up piece I wrote on the topic a few weeks ago:..
Tucked away in the Mail on Sunday's stockwatch column is a snippet suggesting Sir Martin Sorrell's next deal might be done stateside.
Alex Lawson, who now edits the column, interviewed Sir Martin in last Sunday's section, so he was clearly well placed to prise out a hint about what the diminutive marketing communications dealmaker might be up to next...
Tucked away in yesterday's Evening Standard City Spy column is a little diary story about how Sir Martin Sorrell stayed in Belgravia during the summer months of the crisis instead of escaping to "sunnier climes" such as the South of France.
Apparently, according to the item, Sorrell spent most of his time at his central London pad growing and looking after "oranges and lemons" as it has a sun trap.
Really?..