Print Firm Quad Buys to Build Marketing Services Offer

Wisconsin, US-based printing company Quad/Graphics is to buy marketing services agency Periscope for $132.5m, with the aim of building an end-to-end, fully-integrated marketing services offer.

Quad was founded in 1971 and is now 'the second largest print and integrated media solutions provider in the [western] hemisphere'. Periscope - not to be confused with McKinsey's similarly named prescriptive analytics platform - wad founded in 1994, is based in Minneapolis with offices in Chicago, Hong Kong and Delhi, and now employs around 500 people. Following the buy it is expected to keep its identity, leadership team including president and CEO Elizabeth Ross (pictured) and offices.

The deal, approved by both companies' boards of directors and expected to close in early 2019, follows the retirement of current Periscope owner Bill Simpson.

Quoted on www.mediapost.com Joel Quadracci, Chairman, President and CEO of Quad/Graphics comments: 'Periscope will turbo-charge our existing offering with its world-class capabilities in strategy, including media buying and analytics, creative and account management'.

In June 2017 Periscope itself acquired Chicago data-driven business Anthem Marketing Solutions for an undisclosed sum.

Web sites: www.periscope.com and www.qg.com .