Skip Header
Important information: The value of investments can go down as well as up so you may get back less than you invest. Investors should note that the views expressed may no longer be current and may have already been acted upon. This is a third-party news feed and may not reflect Fidelity’s views.

WPP said to have begun sale process for PR arm

(Sharecast News) - WPP has reportedly begun a potential sale process for its public relations arms, which could pave the way for the advertising group's first major disposal under a dramatic structural overhaul set out by its new boss. According to The Times, advisors at Goldman Sachs are exploring strategic options for Burson on behalf of the advertising company, which could pave the way for an eventual sale of the communications agency.

It comes as Cindy Rose, who was appointed to lead a turnaround of the British advertising group in September, embarks on a plan to simplify WPP's operations and return the group to growth.

Its public relations operations suffered the worst decline in revenue last year, falling 6% on an underlying basis.

Burson was formed via the merger of BCW and Hill & Knowlton, WPP's two largest communications agencies, in 2024 and employs about 6,000 people globally.

The Times said a sale would mark a near-complete exit from PR for WPP, which sold its majority stake in FGS Global to private equity firm KKR, which valued the communications firm at £1.3bn.

At 1345 BST, the shares were up 5.1% at 257.03p.

Share this article

Related Sharecast Articles

CAB Payments shares drop as Helios won't support StoneX bid
(Sharecast News) - Shares in CAB Payments dropped on Friday after major shareholder Helios Investment Partners said it would not support a takeover offer from rival bidder StoneX despite the recommendation from the board of British payment processing and foreign exchange business.
FirstRand lining up advisers for sale of Aldermore - report
(Sharecast News) - South Africa's FirstRand is reportedly lining up advisers to oversee a sale of challenger bank Aldermore after expressing outrage at the terms of a compensation scheme for car finance mis-selling.
Renewables Infrastructure Group sees only 'modest' impact from government's carbon tax removal
(Sharecast News) - London-listed renewable energy investment company, The Renewables Infrastructure Group, has estimated that the government's decision to remove the Carbon Price Support (CPS) in two years would only have a "modest" impact on the business.
KLM axes European flights due to rising fuel costs
(Sharecast News) - Dutch airline KLM said it had been forced to cancel more than 150 European flights due to the rising cost of jet fuel amid the Iran war and Hormuz strait blockade.

Important information: This information is not a personal recommendation for any particular investment. If you are unsure about the suitability of an investment you should speak to one of Fidelity’s advisers or an authorised financial adviser of your choice. When you are thinking about investing in shares, it’s generally a good idea to consider holding them alongside other investments in a diversified portfolio of assets. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.

Award-winning online share dealing

Search, compare and select from thousands of shares.

Expert insights into investing your money

Our team of experts explore the world of share dealing.