Dentsu acquires Aegis in $4.9bn deal

Japanese advertising giant Dentsu has agreed to acquire Aegis Media, creating the largest media buying group in Asia.

Japanese advertising giant Dentsu has agreed to acquire Aegis Media in a deal that values the British media buying company at US$4.9 billion.

The combination of Dentsu and Aegis will create one of the largest media buying groups in Asia Pacific, and gives an increasingly aggressive Dentsu a strong presence in Europe and North America.

Tadashi Ishii, president and CEO of Dentsu, said the combined companies will deliver best-in-class services to clients through a new global communication network born in the digital age.

"Dentsu and Aegis will be the market leader in the Asia Pacific region, enjoying a strong presence across Europe and the fastest growing agency network in the US," he said.

Aegis' biggest shareholder Vincent Bollore sold a 15 per cent stake to Dentsu today (Thursday, 12 July) and has agreed to sell a further 5 per cent.