M&C Saatchi
SAA · AIM · Media · mcap £137m · 115.5p 4 open situations →
Open · 4
Australia restructuring and options review
The Australian options review began in November 2025 and the media buying business was closed. The planned private-equity-backed management buyout of the Australia and New Zealand business is now no longer progressing. The local team is talking to clients about ongoing work or moving it to other Group units. The sub-scale Malaysia disposal completed in Q1.
- MBO
- PE-backed Australia and New Zealand buyout no longer progressing
- Next
- Client talks; possible transfer of work within Group
- Malaysia
- Sub-scale business disposed, completed in Q1; £0.7m cash effect
Next: Client discussions on transitioning Australia work to wider Group
- 22 Sep 2026 MBO collapsed; work to transition
- 20 Apr 2026 Media buying closed; Australia still weak
- 24 Nov 2025 Restructured; management exploring options
FY25 guidance and FY26 recovery
FY25 was weak (LFL net revenue down 7.3%) and FY26 growth is targeted. The interims show H1 LFL net revenue down 1.4% and LFL operating profit down 31.7%, with a soft Q1 and Q2 back in modest growth. Management still expects FY LFL results in line with market expectations, so the recovery is H2-weighted.
- Trading
- First four months of 2026 in line with market expectations
- Targets
- Net revenue and operating margin growth in 2026
- Drivers
- Issues (easier Q4 comparator), Media, H2 new business
- Recent wins
- UNICEF, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, RAC Motoring Service, Brand USA
- H1 LFL net revenue
- £86.2m, down 1.4%; Q2 modest growth
- H1 LFL operating profit
- £6.2m, down 31.7%; margin 7.2%
Next: H2 delivery of growth targets, new business and Issues comparator
- 22 Sep 2026 H1 weak, Q2 growth; FY in line
- 11 Jun 2026 Four months in line; FY26 growth targeted
- 20 Apr 2026 FY25 delivered in line; FY26 growth targeted
- 9 Mar 2026 Medium-term growth confidence restated; CEO exit
CEO succession and interim leadership
The CEO left by mutual agreement in March 2026 and Dame Heather Rabbatts became Executive Chair pending a successor. The interims say she will remain Executive Chair, so no CEO is imminent. A new global transformation leadership team has been created to turn ROCP, AI and data into products.
- Interim lead
- Dame Heather Rabbatts, Executive Chair since April
- Priorities
- Simplify business, refine go-to-market offering, unlock intrinsic value
- Successor
- No CEO named
- Leader
- Dame Heather Rabbatts, Executive Chair
- Reason to remain
- Market volatility, simplification initiatives, unlocking intrinsic value
- New structure
- Global transformation leadership team created
Next: CEO appointment (none announced)
- 22 Sep 2026 Rabbatts stays Executive Chair; no CEO
- 11 Jun 2026 Rabbatts Executive Chair; no CEO named
- 20 Apr 2026 Rabbatts Executive Chair since early April
- 9 Mar 2026 Formal CEO search to be initiated
Murria and AdvT shareholder influence
- 9 Mar 2026 Murria on board; AdvT bound by Rule 2.8
Closed · 4
Company filings. Not investment advice.