Mercer & Hole has advised the Shareholders of leading strategic marketing consultancy

Mercer & Hole worked with Contagious Communications Limited on the sale of their shares to Ascential plc.

Led by CEO Karl Marsden and Co-Founder & Chief Brand Office Paul Kemp-Robertson, Contagious Communications Limited is an innovative consultancy business helping agencies and brands transform and adapt their marketing to respond to shifts in consumer culture and technology. Contagious supports agencies in growing their accounts through creative problem solving, effective and insightful pitching and by maintaining a competitive edge through industry awareness.

Contagious will strengthen Ascential’s existing marketing brands which include LIONS, a global creative destination for the creative and marketing communications industry for over 65 years, and WARC, the global authority on advertising and media effectiveness.

Karl Marsden said “Jacqui, Tom and the Mercer & Hole team provided unswerving support and service throughout the inevitably complex M&A process as we steered the Contagious business in to join Ascential plc. Their knowledge, experience, attention to detail and willingness to go the extra mile made sure that what was always going to be a good deal evolved into a great deal for everybody involved. We quite literally could not have done it without them.”

The Mercer & Hole team led by Tax Partner, Jacqui Gudgion and supported by Corporate Finance Director, Tom Pollard provided taxation and negotiation advice to the Shareholders throughout the sale process.

Jacqui Gudgion commented “We are delighted to have helped the Shareholders throughout the sale process.  Over the past 19 years, Contagious has grown to become a well-respected innovative consultancy and now being part of the Ascential group they can continue to harness their market leading position.”