UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 6-K
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Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the Month of December 2022
Commission File Number: 001-38303
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WPP plc
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
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Sea Containers, 18 Upper Ground
London, United Kingdom SE1 9GL
(Address of principal executive offices)
_________________________
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:
Form
20-F X Form 40-F
___
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ___
Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the
submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an
attached annual report to security holders.
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ___
Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7) only permits the
submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted to furnish a report
or other document that the registrant foreign private issuer must
furnish and make public under the laws of the jurisdiction in which
the registrant is incorporated, domiciled or legally organized (the
registrant’s “home country”), or under the rules
of the home country exchange on which the registrant’s
securities are traded, as long as the report or other document is
not a press release, is not required to be and has not been
distributed to the registrant’s security holders, and, if
discussing a material event, has already been the subject of a Form
6-K submission or other Commission filing on EDGAR.
Forward-Looking Statements
In
connection with the provisions of the U.S. Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the ‘Reform Act’), the
Company may include forward-looking statements (as defined in the
Reform Act) in oral or written public statements issued by or on
behalf of the Company. These forward-looking statements may
include, among other things, plans, objectives, beliefs,
intentions, strategies, projections and anticipated future economic
performance based on assumptions and the like that are subject to
risks and uncertainties. These statements can be identified by the
fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current
facts. They use words such as ‘anticipate’,
‘estimate’, ‘expect’, ‘intend’,
‘will’, ‘project’, ‘plan’,
‘believe’, ‘target’, and other words and
similar references to future periods but are not the exclusive
means of identifying such statements. As such, all forward-looking
statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to
future events and circumstances that are beyond the control of the
Company. Actual results or outcomes may differ materially from
those discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements.
Therefore, you should not rely on such forward-looking statements,
which speak only as of the date they are made, as a prediction of
actual results or otherwise. Important factors which may cause
actual results to differ include but are not limited to: the impact
of outbreaks, epidemics or pandemics, such as the Covid-19 pandemic
and ongoing challenges and uncertainties posed by the Covid-19
pandemic for businesses and governments around the world; the
unanticipated loss of a material client or key personnel; delays or
reductions in client advertising budgets; shifts in industry rates
of compensation; regulatory compliance costs or litigation; changes
in competitive factors in the industries in which we operate and
demand for our products and services; our inability to realise the
future anticipated benefits of acquisitions; failure to realise our
assumptions regarding goodwill and indefinite lived intangible
assets; natural disasters or acts of terrorism; the Company’s
ability to attract new clients; the economic and geopolitical
impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine; the risk of global
economic downturn; technological changes and risks to the security
of IT and operational infrastructure, systems, data and information
resulting from increased threat of cyber and other attacks; the
Company’s exposure to changes in the values of other major
currencies (because a substantial portion of its revenues are
derived and costs incurred outside of the UK); and the overall
level of economic activity in the Company’s major markets
(which varies depending on, among other things, regional, national
and international political and economic conditions and government
regulations in the world’s advertising markets). In addition,
you should consider the risks described in Item 3D, captioned
“Risk Factors,” which could also cause actual results
to differ from forward-looking information. In light of these and
other uncertainties, the forward-looking statements included in
this document should not be regarded as a representation by the
Company that the Company’s plans and objectives will be
achieved. Neither the Company, nor any of its directors, officers
or employees, provides any representation, assurance or guarantee
that the occurrence of any events anticipated, expressed or implied
in any forward-looking statements will actually occur. The Company
undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
EXHIBIT INDEX
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Exhibit
No.
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Description
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1
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Acquisition dated 08 December 2022, prepared by WPP
plc.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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8 December 2022
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WPP PLC ("WPP")
WPP acquires Canadian commerce agency Diff to grow its partner
ecosystem in North America
WPP today announces that it is acquiring Diff, a leading commerce
agency based in Montreal, Canada.
Diff is an award-winning developer of tailor-made commerce
solutions with specialized capabilities that address the rapidly
growing Shopify commerce ecosystem. Founded in 2011 by Benjamin
Crudo, the 115-strong company will join the Wunderman Thompson
global network, complementing its world-class commerce and
marketing services teams in North
America.
With direct-to-consumer commerce sales in the United States
forecast to grow to almost $213
billion by
2023, more brands are adopting D2C models as part of a multichannel
approach. Diff specializes in growth strategy, front-end design,
site optimization and system integrations which has enabled the
agency to create some of the most innovative, complex and
high-performing online stores on the Shopify platform, which
now accounts for 10% of the United States' eCommerce market share.
Among Diff's high-growth D2C client portfolio are Giant Tiger,
Kith, Sakara Life, and more.
The acquisition will further strengthen WPP's digital commerce
capabilities and reflects the company's ongoing investment into its
commerce offer for clients as consumer needs continue to change. It
is aligned with WPP's accelerated growth
strategy,
building on existing capabilities in the areas of commerce and
technology. WPP is ranked as a Leader in Forrester's latest
global Commerce Services Wave, and already manages more than $40bn
of direct and $20bn of marketplace GMV for clients, employing
13,500 commerce specialists across its
agencies.
Mark Read, CEO of WPP, said: "The tremendous growth in the digital commerce
ecosystem means our clients are looking to us to deliver the
innovative solutions they need to reach new and existing customers
in meaningfully engaging ways. Diff's Shopify expertise, alongside
its unique blend of strategy, optimization and design, will be a
welcome addition to our commerce portfolio and will drive results
for our clients in North America, which is WPP's largest
market."
Neil Stewart, CEO of Wunderman Thompson Commerce,
said: "This acquisition boosts Wunderman Thompson's
commerce and technology ecosystem across North America, bringing
Shopify expertise to our roster of well-established technology
partnerships. Our global clients will now have access to
the expertise of one of Shopify's longest standing
partners and its multichannel platform that caters to 600
million shoppers in more than 175 countries. Together we offer
brands and retailers extended routes to market, including D2C,
marketplaces, eRetail and social commerce."
Benjamin Crudo, CEO and Founder of Diff, said: "We
couldn't be more excited to join the ranks of Wunderman Thompson,
bringing Shopify's disruptive power to its global client base.
Ecommerce has been radically reshaping the way brands bring their
products and services to market, and Diff has been at the forefront
of this revolution. As one of Shopify's founding and most
innovative agency partners we're looking forward to continuing to
expand the platform's reach."
Further information
Martina Suess, WPP
+1
917-456-5049
Martina.suess@wpp.com
About WPP
WPP is the creative transformation company. We use the power of
creativity to build better futures for our people, planet, clients
and communities. For more information, visit www.wpp.com.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the
requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant
has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
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WPP PLC
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(Registrant)
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Date:
08 December 2022
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By:
______________________
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Balbir
Kelly-Bisla
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Company
Secretary
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