WPP expands Belgium investments, part of EU expansion

Grey Group, a wholly owned operating company within the WPP group, has acquired a majority stake in the holding company of Famous, a leading creative agency in Belgium.

Founded in 1998 and based in Brussels, Famous is a multi-award winning and full-service agency with creativity at its core. Famous creates in three languages: French, Flemish and English. Its main services include creative and design, strategy and innovation, digital strategy and production, data and performance marketing and PR. Its revenues for the year ended 31 December 2015 were approximately €8.1m with gross assets of approximately €7.5m as at the same date.

Following the acquisition, Famous will rebrand as FamousGrey. It will strengthen Grey’s position as a provider of creative and effective full-service marketing solutions in Belgium, which has increasing creative reputation and influence.

Because of the UK’s Referendum decision to leave the European Union, WPP will place an even greater emphasis on growth in Western Continental Europe. This acquisition continues WPP’s strategy of investing in important markets and sectors. Collectively (including associates) group companies in Belgium generate revenues of over $100m and employ around 600 people. In Benelux, group companies (including associates) generate revenues of over $400m and employ over 2,000 people.