 Paul Taaffe |
Huntsworth’s Grayling-led PR group reported a 5.4 percent drop to $47.2M in first-half revenues as CEO Paul Taaffe dumped unprofitable client contracts to get it back on track.
The communications sector, which also includes Citigate Dewe Rogerson and Red, suffered an 18.1 percent operating profit fall to $3.5M.
Grayling revenues fell 7.0 percent to $24.8M. It swung to a $399K loss from a $520K year ago profit.
The unit’s lackluster performance was due largely to a profitability decline in Europe, one-off Middle East contract profits last year and a number of restructuring costs. Grayling’s profitability strengthened in the US and UK.
Taaffe expects Grayling’s results will improve during the second half.
Huntsworth’s PR woes overshadowed a robust performance in its dominant healthcare operation.
The firm posted an 8.0 percent hike in revenues to $132M and a 9.0 percent rise in pre-tax headline profit to $14.3M.
Healthcare will receive a major second-half boost with the inclusion of financial results from Giant Creative Strategy, which was acquired July 16 in a $72M deal.
Prosek Partners handles New York’s Tilray Brands, craft beer & cannabis operation, as it acquires BrewDog, a leading British independent beer producer in the UK, for $45M.
Brunswick Group handles Zurich Insurance as it agrees to buy UK-based Beazley specialty insurer in a deal valued at $11B.
FGS Global represents Brink’s as it agrees to acquire NCR Atleos, which relies on Collected Strategies, in a $6.6B cash & stock deal to create a leading fintech infrastructure company. (Updated)
A January article in O’Dwyer’s proposes that in 2026, the strongest financial brands will not simply tell compelling stories—they will “signal readiness.”
C Street Advisory Group is working the Chapter 11 filing of Axip Energy Services as it unloads its nearly all of its assets to deal with a heavy debt load.
