The WPP Group has signed an agreement to take over 24/7 Real Media. The acquisition will strengthen WPP’s position in the rapidly-growing digital marketing industry enhancing the Group’s position in search marketing, digital media and adding strong technology skills.

Under the terms of the deal WPP will buy all the 24/7 Real Media shares at $11.75 per share, this represents a 30% increase on the average closing price of – the last sixty days of trading. The transaction has been approved by both boards of directors and is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2007.

Rationale for the Offer

WPP believes that access to strategic advice, creativity, high quality information and specialist communication skills is critical to providing clients with comprehensive advertising, media investment management and marketing services solutions.

24/7 Real Media is a leading company in the global digital marketing industry. Its business spans three key sectors in the rapidly-changing digital media industry – media, search and technology:

– its media business is one of the largest CPM-based media networks with more than 950 participating sites and 115 million monthly unique users worldwide.

– its search business provides clients with strategic advice and consulting on search engine optimisation (SEO) and search engine management (SEM) as well as shopping comparison services.

– its technology business offers the number 2 publisher-side advertising management platform to more than 400 clients.

In April of this year, 24/7 Real Media announced the Mobile Edition of their Open AdStream ad serving platform, highlighting their belief in the future of mobile advertising. Read the press release about the mobile edition HERE.

Read a detailed press release on the acquistion by WPP HERE