Revitalised agency’s sights set on Europe expansion

Jun 12 2008 by Barry Turnbull, Liverpool Daily Post

REVITALISED digital media firm Amaze is searching for new Liverpool premises in its drive to become a leading European agency.

The business collapsed with debts of £2m in December, but 70 jobs were saved when communications group Hasgrove stepped in with a rescue package.

Now the new owners say its digital divisions, including Pavilion and Connectpoint, are being rolled up into the Amaze brand to create the North West’s biggest agency, based in Liverpool and Manchester.

Managing partner Natalie Gross said: “This is great news for the Amaze brand, following the difficulties of last year. Hasgrove had always signalled their intention to use the brand as a platform for future growth and the merger of these businesses demonstrates that.

“We are now looking at options for an office in Liverpool.”

Around 70 of the 170-strong creative workforce will be based in the city, with the rest in Manchester.

Hasgrove plans to develop Amaze into a leading pan-European company within the next 24 months, through a combination of organic and acquisitive growth, focusing on acquisition opportunities in London, France and Germany.

Rod Hyde, Hasgrove’s chief executive, said: “We are very confident combining the communication skills of its constituent companies into the new Amaze will deliver strong synergies and create a major player within the UK digital marketplace.

“The combination of the three businesses will also provide our growing list of international clients with a more comprehensive and sophisticated range of marketing communications solutions.”

Amaze’s clients include the Co-operative Group, Greater London Authority, Lexus, The National Lottery, Northern Rail, ODEON Cinemas, Siemens Enterprise Communications and Toyota Europe.

Amaze, which was spun out of Liverpool John Moores University in 1997, called in administrators late last year after accumulating debts believed to be in excess of £2m.

Manchester-based Hasgrove paid £600,000 for the business.

Hasgrove said that, in 2007, the digital and communications businesses saw revenues rise 44% to £6.2m.

Its statement added: “On a pro forma full-year basis, revenues would have been £13m to £14m.”

barryturnbull