WPP warns Sorrell over MediaMonks bid

UK – WPP has threatened to not pay Sir Martin Sorrell his share awards package, worth up to £20m, over a bidding war between the advertising giant and its former CEO.

Sir Martin Sorrell

Sorrell’s new advertising venture, S4 Capital, and WPP are both bidding for Dutch digital agency MediaMonks as the former looks to make its first acquisition, according to reports.

WPP lawyers wrote to Sorrell to warn him that he is at risk of losing his share awards if he breaches confidentiality obligations, Reuters said. 

Sorrell’s interest in Media Monks was first reported by the Financial Times on Monday ( 2 July). 

Following his sudden departure from WPP in April, Sorrell returned to the advertising industry after six weeks to take the helm at financial holding company Derriston Capital, which would acquire Sorrell’s new entity, S4 Capital.

At the time, Sorrell said the new group intended to build a marketing services business, initially through acquisitions: "S4 Capital is a company that aims to build a multi-national communication services business focused on growth."

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