Osborne Clarke has advised the shareholders of leading UK on-line display advertising company Adviva on its sale to US competitor Specific Media for an undisclosed sum.  The deal is OC's seventh in the competitive marketing services sector so far this year.

The combination of Specific Media and Adviva in the UK gives brand advertisers an opportunity to combine massive reach with every method of targeting to produce the results they are looking to achieve. The Adviva acquisition marks Specific Media’s entry into the European market, giving the company a strong start on global expansion.

The combined companies will become the fourth largest ad network in the UK reaching 25.9 million unique UK users.

The Osborne Clarke team was led by associate Simon Smith and head of corporate Adrian Bott and trainee Mathias Loertscher.  Specific Media was advised by O'Melveny & Myers LLP partner Michael Kennedy assisted by associate Jonathan Atha.

Osborne Clarke's other marketing services work this year includes:

• Advising direct marketing agency Partners Andrews Aldridge and Fuel on its £18  million sale to Engine Group

• Advising Naked Communications on its £16.5 million sale to Photon Group

• Advising a strategic investor on its £50 million investment into leading B2b  marketing agency Gyro International

• Advising marketing agency Adam & Eve on its much-anticipated start up

• Advising leading UK agency BLM on its sale to Arena Communications Network, part of  Havas SA

• Advising on search marketing agency Latitude's £55 million partial sale to  Vitruvian Partners LLP

Date: 14 Mar 2008
Key Contact: Mike Gutsell