The acquisition by Media Square, which paid 拢600,000 for the London office of Arnold Interactive, is the latest in a string of purchases by the company.
This year alone, Media Square has bought four companies, including the direct marketing agency Clark McKay Walpole, for which it paid 拢5.3m in September. Over the last 20 months, the company has acquired 10 companies, including the retail communications company Coutts Holdings, which it also bought last month.
Last year, it bought Banc, the agency founded by Robert Bean, the former BT marketing chief.
The Arnold Interactive deal will swell Media Square's headcount to 350, and the company has offices in Oxford, Manchester and Leeds, as well as London.
Arnold Interactive handles the digital and online marketing strategy for a number of high-profile clients including the Post Office, Thistle Hotels, Expedia, Samsung and National Express, and has a staff of 30.
In the UK, Arnold Interactive is run by chief executive Bruce Winfield. The deal does not include Arnold Interactive's operations in the US, where it has several offices.
Jeremy Middleton, Media Square鈥檚 chief executive, said: "The acquisition of Arnold Interactive brings a great team of people with a range of valuable skills and client contacts to our group and helps us to accelerate the growth of our communications business in London."
The decision by Havas to sell the business comes after the advertising network lost out to WPP in the purchase of Grey Worldwide.
Earlier this week, it emerged that the French Bollore Group had acquired more than 15% of Havas, fuelling speculation that Vincent Bollore is planning a takeover of the group.
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