The US-based advertising and marketing services provider Interpublic Group (IPG) is scouting for acquisitions in India to strengthen its presence and may utilise a part of $150 million that it has earmarked for the purpose.
The company had earmarked about $150 million for acquisitions this year and had recently announced around 11 transactions globally.
“For 2012 also, it will be a similar number (fund) and we do see some part of it going in India as India is very important market and we have a great opportunity here,” IPG Chairman and CEO Mr Michael Roth told PTI at AdAsia 2011 here.
Asked if the firm is actively looking for acquisitions in India at present, he said: “We are we are always looking out… I hope to see something soon, but can’t give you the exact time.”
While he did not exactly share financial details about the group’s operations in India, Mr Roth said: “We have had double digits growth in India and we are very excited about the opportunities here so and that’s across the board all our agencies.”
IPG is the parent company of global agencies like McCann Erickson, Draftfcb and Lowe + Partners.
“We just announced a joint venture with Interactive Avenues and Reprise Media and we have very strong brands here and we continue to invest behind them and if we see some acquisitions that fit those brands we will do them,” he said.
Commenting on global revenues, Mr Roth said: “North America contributes 60 per cent of our revenues, Western Europe 20 per cent and the rest of the world is 20 per cent. India and China are important markets for us.”
Interpublic employs approximately 41,800 marketing professionals and in 2010 had revenues of $6.5 billion.