EIG acquires Indian group

Enterprise IG has acquired a majority holding in Indian brand consultancy Ray & Keshavan Design Associates, in a move to capitalise on the thriving Indian economy.

The deal sees the 40-strong group renamed R&K Enterprise IG, but it will continue to be led by co-founder Sujata Keshavan. Enterprise IG parent company WPP plans to increase its equity in the business over time, according to consultancy global chief executive Simon Bolton.

‘We identified R&K as the best branding and design consultancy in India. It was Keshavan’s brainchild to start something in India, which didn’t exist at the time and is only now starting to grow [as a sector],’ says Bolton.

The deal allows Enterprise IG to tap into an economic boom in India, gaining local knowledge of the market. R&K brings a wide range of clients to the Enterprise IG table, including Unilever, Airtel, Bacardi-Martini, Compaq and Motorola. ‘A number of our clients have also been asking about the presence we have got in India,’ adds Bolton.

Ray & Keshavan was formed in 1989 by Keshavan and Ram Ray. While studying in the US, Keshavan previously trained with graphic design luminary Paul Rand.

Enterprise announced the forthcoming acquisition, next January, of British marketing consultancy Everystone last month (DW 23 November).