Hakuhodo Acquires Canadian Agency Sid Lee

Hakuhodo DY Holdings Inc. strategic operating unit kyu has acquired a 100% interest in Sid Lee International, LLC and a 49% stake in Sid Lee Architecture.

Sid Lee is highly regarded inside and outside the advertising industry. Its entries into award shows have garnered over 300 prizes at top-tier competitions including the International Festival of Creativity at Cannes, D&AD, One Show and Marketing Awards. In 2014, it was named independent agency of the year by France’s Grand prix des agences de l’annee and agency of the year by the influential Canadian marketing journal Marketing Magazine (four times since 2009). The agency, which has around 550 professionals with an array of specializations from over 27 countries, is partner to numerous global companies.

Digitalization and globalization have made the marketing activities that companies carry out more complex and sophisticated world-wide, spurring innovation in marketing methods and the development of new solutions. To respond to these changes, the Hakuhodo DY Group put forward the acquisition of specialist marketing service companies that offer advanced specialist marketing methods and solutions as a key driver of growth in its new Medium-Term Business Plan. The acquisition of Sid Lee is part of this endeavor.