Chime Communications and Incepta, the listed public relations companies that own some of the UK’s best-known consultancies, have held extensive merger talks.
The Daily Telegraph reports that discussions between the two groups took place earlier this month but failed to reach an agreement on the terms of a possible merger. However, the prospect of a deal is by no means dead and talks are expected to be revived in the New Year.
If a merger does result, it would create a combined group with a market valuation of some £185 million owning a collection of prestigious PR brands. These include Chime’s subsidiaries Bell Pottinger and Good Relations, and Incepta’s Citigate Dewe Rogerson and the RED Consultancy. The merged group’s clients would include ITV, Wm Morrison, Carphone Warehouse, BAE Systems and Rio Tinto.