It’s an Epiphany for Jaywing after it secures search engine in £18m deal

JAYWING plc, the marketing services group, has strengthened its search engine optimisation offering with the acquisition of Leeds-based Epiphany in a deal worth up to £18m, writes Bernard Ginns.
By The Newsroom
Published 19th Mar 2014, 00:00 BST

The Sheffield business, which is linked to billionaire Tory donor Lord Michael Ashcroft, said the deal will strengthen its performance in search marketing and increase its use of big data analysis to create targeted marketing campaigns.

Martin Boddy, chief executive, said: “By focusing on digital opportunities to marry data science with brand, acquisition and customer marketing, we will achieve superior results for our clients and better experiences for their customers.”

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Shane Quigley and Robin Skidmore founded Epiphany in 2005. The business is led by Rob Shaw. Jaywing said all three will remain employed in the business going forward.

Mr Shaw said the deal connects Jaywing’s expertise in data science with Epiphany’s heritage in content marketing, global paid search and website optimisation. The company reported a pre-tax profit of £1.43m last year.

Jaywing, formerly known as WeAre20:20, provides a range of digital marketing, brand marketing, data analysis and contact centre services to blue chip clients including Nestlé, Aviva and Yorkshire Water. It had revenues of £36.3m and a pre-tax profit of £1m last year.

The company is listed on the Alternative Investment Market. Its biggest shareholder with a 24.2 per cent stake is Mayfair Ltd, a nominee company owned by Lord Ashcroft.

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