Q3 Revenue Falls for WPP and DIM

WPP group revenue fell 0.8% to £3.76bn in the third quarter, as the firm's Data Investment Management (DIM) arm reported like-for-like revenue less pass-through costs down 1.2% compared with -1.3% in the second quarter.

Reflecting the group slowdown in the third quarter and a 'more cautious outlook for the rest of the year', WPP has slashed its full-year guidance from growth of 0.3% to a decline of between 0.5% and 1%. CEO Mark Reid (pictured) said that turning around WPP requires 'decisive action and radical thinking', and the company's performance in the third quarter of 2018 reinforces his belief in this approach. Overall for the group, all regions, except Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East and Central and Eastern Europe showed a deteriorating trend in the third quarter, with all sectors, except DIM, slipping back. Shares in the company fell by as much as 22 per cent after WPP warned its Q3 trading had been hit by a slowdown in client spending.

As reported earlier by DRNO, Reid's turnaround strategy includes a formal process to review the possible sale of the DIM division Kantar, which is valued at about £3bn, with WPP retaining a stake in the business. Reid confirmed that unsolicited expressions of interest have already been received. Kantar's potential sale was first rumoured back in April, following the departure of WPP founder Sir Martin Sorrell.

In the third quarter, DIM saw a 'significant improvement' in Asia Pacific, up over 7%, with Western Continental Europe also showing improvement. North America remained 'difficult' and the UK, following an improvement in the second quarter, slipped back, as Kantar Insights and Kantar Media came 'under pressure'. According to WPP, Kantar Public and Kantar Health 'remain challenged', but both showed an improvement in the third quarter compared with the first half.

Separately, WPP's Group Finance Director, Paul Richardson, who worked with Sorrell for decades, has decided to retire after 22 years with the company.

Web site: www.wpp.com .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.