NEWS: Pendragon hired by TCI amid takeover rumours

Luther Pendragon has been appointed by global media giant TCI, amid

rumours that the consultancy is itself the target of a takeover by a

leading advertising agency.

The agency was hired last month by London-based Tele-Communications

International on a mixed PR and Parliamentary affairs brief. The

business is the UK subsidiary of the world’s leading cable operator, TCI

which has major stakes in TeleWest, Discovery Communications and

Flextech.

Luther Pendragon’s retained appointment follows previous project work

for the company, including support for the recent negotiations between

Flextech, Discovery Communications and the BBC, on the development of

subscription channels.

Meanwhile George Pitcher, Luther Pendragon’s joint managing director,

has declined to comment on speculation that a major UK advertising group

wants to buy the agency.

The unnamed agency, which already owns a PR shop, is thought to have

been attracted by Luther Pendragon’s corporate strengths, and is

believed to have offered around pounds 5 million for the firm.

Luther Pendragon, set up almost five years ago by Pitcher, a former

Observer industrial editor and Charles Stewart-Smith, a past editor of

News at Ten, is not yet thought to have decided whether it will take up

the offer, but negotiations are continuing.