WSS makes strategic acquisition

World Sports Solutions, the company which promotes stars including footballer Rio Ferdinand, today acquired marketing specialist Chris Reed for an undisclosed sum.

WSS, whose shareholders include Arsenal’s Patrick Vieira, has just seen its shares re-listed on junior market Aim following suspension.

The company, whose shares were suspended in March after it went into liquidation, has also bought a 35% stake in cinema and film promotions firm Mellow Marketing.

WSS recently brokered a deal between Ferdinand of Manchester United and Ben Sherman to be the advertising “face” of the brand.

The firm’s entertainment and marketing subsidiary SP Active will merge the acquisition with its existing operation which has clients including Thomson Holidays, electronics firm JVC and the Beagle 2 Mission to Mars.

Chris Reed Marketing (CRM), which was founded in July 2002, specialises in creating marketing partnerships between brand owners and media companies. It is designed to give businesses with limited resources access to co-operative arrangements with other organisations.

Current clients include Daily Mail publisher Associated Newspapers, Chrysalis Radio, magazines group Future Publishing, drinks firm Diageo, Swedish furniture giant IKEA and Sony Ericsson.