$WPP

Berenberg increased its price target for WPP to GBP4.70 from GBP4.05, maintaining a buy rating. The company's shares have seen a 5-day change of 383.70 GBX, a 1st Jan change of -0.65%, and a 14.13% increase over a longer period.

Publicis Groupe was appointed PepsiCo's exclusive lead global media partner without a pitch, managing $1.7B in media spend. Publicis also withdrew from Coca-Cola's review, leaving WPP as the sole bidder. Omnicom's shares fell 5%, WPP's rose 4%. Coca-Cola's North America media account is now contested by Omnicom and Dentsu. The industry is shifting away from traditional pitches, focusing on capabilities and infrastructure.

WPP is expected to retain Coca-Cola's global media, data, and technology business, excluding the North America media account. Coca-Cola is reviewing its North America media account, with Publicis Groupe, Omnicom, and Dentsu in consideration. WPP has managed Coca-Cola's global creative and PR since 2020.

Group M, a media investment firm owned by WPP, will merge its agency brands into a single profit-and-loss statement. WPP will phase out agency-specific job titles as part of the restructuring, according to the company.

Deutsche Bank raised its price target for WPP (LSE:WPP) to 555p, maintaining a 'buy' rating. It also cut Canal+ (LSE:CAN) target to 330p but kept a 'buy' rating. 4imprint (AQSE:FOUR) and S4 Capital (LSE:SFOR) saw target increases. Analyst Gareth Davies noted UK media sector stabilisation and adaptation to technological change.

WPP and S4 Capital reported revenue declines in Q2, but their stock prices rose 26% as investors saw signs of slowing declines. Publicis reported 4.8% growth, according to the article.

FTSE 100 closed up 0.7% at 10,831.52, supported by cooling bond yields and UK services PMI growth. Prudential, Endeavour Mining, and Fresnillo rose, while Reckitt Benckiser and others fell. US markets also gained ahead of the jobs report.

WPP Media reported close to 3.5X returns from creator campaigns at scale, involving 500–600 creators, according to Sekhar Banerjee, President, Client Solutions, WPP Media South Asia. The company is developing systems for transparency and auditability in creator campaigns, combining human judgment with technology. Banerjee highlighted the importance of authenticity and relevance in creator marketing, citing a successful toothpaste campaign. Other panelists emphasized relevance over scale and the

The ERISA Industry Committee filed a brief supporting WPP Group USA Inc.'s dismissal of a lawsuit alleging misuse of employee retirement plan forfeitures. The committee argued that WPP's actions were lawful and aligned with federal regulations. The case is part of a broader trend in ERISA forfeiture litigation, with the DOL siding with employers in similar cases.

WPP is seeking dismissal of a lawsuit by former executive Richard Foster, who alleges wrongful termination after reporting alleged misappropriation of media rebates. Foster claims a Sony investigation revealed a rebate scheme costing clients millions. WPP disputes Foster's methods of obtaining the report and seeks sanctions. Foster's legal team maintains the claims are valid.