Clarity acquired in digital deal

Further consolidation has taken hold in the digital media sector this week with two major acquisitions.

Clarity has been acquired by US consultancy Proxicom for approximately £10m in cash plus shares, while Syzygy has acquired the French consultancy NetForce, in which WPP has a minority interest.

The Nasdaq-listed Proxicom, a top five US digital player with more than 800 staff, will merge its London team with Clarity’s 80-staff, forming Proxicom’s biggest operation outside the US.

According to Clarity chairman Martin Chilcott, all staff will be retained, though the Clarity name will be dropped.

Chilcott takes on a senior business development role inside Proxicom’s pan-European operation, alongside Proxicom UK managing director Carina Smith. Clarity managing director Andrew Skates will head Proxicom’s new operation.

Meanwhile, the Syzygy acquisition of Paris-based NetForce will see the French group rebranded as Syzygy, prior to a reported flotation of Syzygy on the German Neuer Markt.

NetForce employs 40 people in five specialist business units: Internet, Intranet, eCommerce, eMarketing and Channels.