CIC have been refining their strategic intent to anticipate
increasing consumer mobility and client ROI concerns.
Finding the right partner was crucial; and a number of different
types of players characterized a diverse buyer landscape, who
recognized the premium value of a scalable, market leader,
with proprietary IP and a blue-chip client base, in China.
CIC were acquired by Kantar Media. Kantar Media is a unit of
Kantar, the consumer insight arm of WPP.
Such an alignment will enhance the consultative positioning of
CIC, as they seek to deepen their leadership scope in the
burgeoning area of social-business.
Within a traditional communications, holding group perhaps the
more obvious home would have been aligned to an agency or media
planning group.
As part of Kantar Media, they will have the opportunity for
unconstrained expansion as the boundaries of social blur, as well
as leverage 'best in class' insights and analytics from the broader
WPP parent.
Comments from Sam Flemming, CIC
"With Results, we entered into conversations and negotiations
with the confidence that comes with experienced counsel.
Results helped us understand how best to leverage our unique
position in the Chinese communications landscape for full advantage
as well as helped us ensure each step of the deal was handled with
professionalism and effectiveness".