LONDON: Lighthouse Global Network appears ready to add to its rapidly expanding portfolio by acquiring public affairs consultancy GJW.
LONDON: Lighthouse Global Network appears ready to add to its
rapidly expanding portfolio by acquiring public affairs consultancy
GJW.
The talks are said to be in the preliminary stages, with few concrete
figures having been exchanged. However, a senior source at GJW confirmed
that ’there are discussions going on with Lighthouse and others. There
will be changes sooner or later.’
Both Julian Hanson-Smith, chief UK operating officer for Lighthouse, and
Amy LaBan, the firm’s Chicago-based VP for strategic relations, refused
to comment on the rumors.
GJW finance director Nigel Clarke - one of the firm’s three largest
shareholders along with chairman Wilf Weeks and chief executive Andrew
Gifford - did not deny that talks had taken place: ’We are the largest
independent in London, and people have always come to talk to us. That
has always been the case.’
The bidding for GJW Holdings, which also boasts outposts in Belgium and
Hungary, included Shandwick’s public affairs arm at an earlier
stage.
The agency was founded in 1980 by Gifford, Weeks and a third partner,
Jenny Jeger. The three sold their holdings to the Lowe group in 1987,
but bought the firm back in 1993.
Should the Lighthouse deal come to pass, GJW’s links to Financial
Dynamics, bought by Lighthouse last year (PRWeek, August 9, 1999), would
be reinforced.
The two agencies jointly set up Matrix Public Affairs in 1992.
Other recent Lighthouse purchases include IR shop Morgen-Walke (PRWeek,
January 31).
