Communisis Acquires LIFE in £23 Million Deal

London and Birmingham-based integrated marketing agency LIFE today revealed that it has been acquired outright by customer communications group Communisis PLC, in a deal with a total value of £23 million.

This presents an unparalleled opportunity for LIFE’s growth and future development and provides Communisis with a great agency brand. There are numerous synergies between the two businesses, particularly in the shopper marketing and integrated channel.

Communisis has taken a 100 percent stake in the multi-award-winning agency, which was founded seven years ago. Since then LIFE has demonstrated 30 percent year on year growth with an impressive blue chip client list including brands such as Dr Oetker, GSK, Molson Coors, Onken, SCA, Whitbread and Samsung.

No redundancies or structural changes will take place at the 70-strong agency and joint owners and MDs Ian Humphris and David Poole will continue to run the business staying true to its founding ethos built on delivering the most insightful marketing strategy and creativity for clients.

Ian Humphris at LIFE comments: “We had no immediate plans to sell but were approached out of the blue with an offer that very quickly will allow us to deliver on our global growth ambitions. It also soon became evident after just a few conversations that Communisis has a very progressive view of agency acquisition – a breath of fresh air from the standard M&A deals offered by the major networks. It’s a new way of thinking about deals.

“We’ve always tried to maintain a flexible strategy and this deal plays into LIFE’s ambitions and our desire to create something exceptional for our clients. In seven years we’ve created a business that’s achieved a great deal, continues to broaden the breadth of competence and our clients will only benefit from what Communisis has to offer.

“Of course, we’ll have a boss again for the first time in seven years, but they’re good guys and we will work very well together!”

Andy Blundell, chief executive at Communisis plc, adds: “LIFE has exceptional talent throughout the business, a spectacular international client list and a way of doing business that tallies perfectly with what we’re trying to achieve.

“Ian, David and the team have created something pretty special, and we want to help them build on it, drive further synergies and keep their clients happy.”