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Tokyo—February 6, 2017—Hakuhodo Inc. (Minato-ku, Tokyo; Hirokazu Toda, President & CEO), Japan’s second largest advertising company, has acquired 100 percent of shares in Integrated Communications Group Pte Ltd (ICG), an activation (see Note 1) agency group headquartered in Singapore with operations in 12 Asia Pacific countries.

Since its establishment in 2003 in Singapore, ICG has expanded throughout the Asia Pacific region to China, Malaysia, Korea, India, Australia, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka. PMG and other leading ICG subsidiary companies provide promotion planning, event production (especially B2B events (see Note 2)), marketing tool (see Note 3) creation, retail management (see Note 4), creative development, digital production, and other services. The activation agency group provides solutions and services in many countries to global clients.

The Hakuhodo Group is strengthening its specialist marketing service platforms as a means to realize its aim to be among the world’s top marketing companies and help build clients’ corporate value through integrated marketing and management competencies, as set out in the Group’s 2014 –2018 Medium-Term Business Plan. By welcoming ICG, the Group will significantly enhance its responsiveness and proposal platforms in the activation business domain in Asia Pacific.

Man Haw Kong, ICG Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer, said: “We are extremely delighted to be joining the Hakuhodo Group. We are confident that we can derive a lot of strategic value from the partnership by leveraging on our complementary strengths. We are looking forward to a very successful partnership, and to propel our business significantly in the coming few years with their support.”

Aaron Ow, ICG Executive Director, said: “We are happy to be joining the Hakuhodo Group, as it allows us to access new clientele in the region and offer new holistic solutions to our clients. There is much synergy between ICG and the Hakuhodo Group; the partnership will open an exciting new chapter for ICG in the region.”

Tim Jones, ICG Executive Director, commented on the business deal: “Over the last 21 years, ICG has grown exponentially in Asia Pacific to become the largest independent marketing communications firm in Asia Pacific. Today our journey takes an exciting new turn with ICG joining the Hakuhodo Group and their more than 120 years of company history. This brings together two companies with the shared aspiring goal of expansion of business in Asia Pacific. ICG is looking forward to working within the Group to the benefit of all our clients.”

The Hakuhodo Group will continue to bolster its marketing service network in Asia in order to provide its marketing knowledge, based on its vast store of sei-katsu-sha^*1 insight, to Japanese, local and, global companies operating in many countries.
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*1 Sei-katsu-sha are more than simply consumers, just as people’s lives and lifestyles include more than just shopping. Hakuhodo introduced this term in the 1980s to emphasize its commitment to a comprehensive,360-degree perspective on consumers’ lives.

Note 1:Activation: The understanding of consumer’s real behavior and engaging them through promotions at various touchpoints such as retail, exhibition, event, showroom
Note 2:B2B Events: Business to business events. Events that cater for business clients
Note 3:Marketing Tools: All tools used for promotions, increasing brand awareness or brand preference
Note 4:Retail Management: The managing and operating of marketing activities at the sales frontline in-stores

Outline of ICG
Name: Integrated Communications Group Pte Ltd
Head office: Singapore
Established: 2003
Directors: Man Haw Kong, Aaron Ow, Tim Jones
Employees: 440 (as of January 2017)
Business domain: Holding company of subsidiary companies such as PMG

Outline of PMG
Name: PMG Asia Pacific Pte Ltd
Head office: Singapore
Established: 1995
Directors: Man Haw Kong,Aaron Ow, Tim Jones
Business domain: Promotion planning, event production (planning, management, and execution), creative development, digital production (app development, system development, web production, interactive, etc.), marketing tool creation (fixtures, catalogs, posters, premiums, etc.)

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