UTV Media makes £5m acquisition of Irish social media agency Simply Zesty
UTV Media has announced the £5m acquisition of Irish social media agency Simply Zesty.
The deal for the Dublin agency, which employed 22 members of staff, will see an initial considering paid of £1.7m, possibly rising to around £5m depending on future trading.
John McCann, group chief executive for UTV Media, commented: “The acquisition of Simply Zesty is part of our strategy to create a diversified multi-media business.
“Simply Zesty is a very successful Irish business with an international presence in the fast-growing social media sector. This acquisition strengthens our existing New Media division and adds further impetus to our multi-media strategy.
“The social media presence of UTV Media’s radio and television stations in the UK and Ireland will also be enhanced by the acquisition of Simply Zesty, facilitating far greater integration of media across online and broadcast platforms,” he continued.
Ken Fitzpatrick, CEO of Simply Zesty, added: “We at Simply Zesty are delighted to be part of the UTV Media Group. Simply Zesty has grown strongly as a social media marketing agency since its foundation, thanks to our great staff and clients both Irish and International. As part of UTV, we hope to develop our existing brand and business model at an accelerated pace.”
Nigel Robbins, group commercial director for UTV Media, explained that the acquisition would allow the company to integrate the knowledge of the agency across its radio, TV and New Media divisions.
“Simply Zesty’s well-proven social media expertise will ensure that advertising clients across UTV, whose campaigns require the most effective multiplatform spread, will continue to be extremely well served,” added Robbins.