D’Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles said Wednesday it would acquire Barbella Gagliardi Saffirio in Turin and Milan, Italy, and merge it with its three offices in Italy to form BGS/DMB&B.;
Though DMB&B; would not disclose terms of the acquisition, the agency company said it would create the largest international communications group in Italy, with billings estimated at $190 million.
Barbella Gagliardi Saffirio brings in billings estimated at $110 million from clients like Fiat SpA, to be added to DMB&B;’s $80 million in billings from clients like Mars Inc.
Pasquale Barbella, 54; Pietro Gagliardi, 52, and Silvio Saffirio, 53, the co-managing directors at Barbella Gagliardi Saffirio, were named co-chief executives at BGS/DMB&B.; Gavino Sanna, 56, retains the title of president.
DMB&B; also will buy an interest owned by Barbella Gagliardi Saffirio in SCS Communicazione Integrata, a marketing agency in Rome.
