MAM
JWT to acquire stake in Pakistan-based digital agency
MUMBAI: JWT has agreed to acquire a minority stake in Pakistan-based digital agency, Converge Technologies, as part of its strategy to add depth and breadth to its Asian digital offerings.
The global agency has not announced how much stake it will hold and at what price. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals.
Founded in 2007, Converge Technologies is based in Karachi and handles clients like Unilever, PTCL, Mobilink, HP, Bank Alfalah, Nokia and Pakistan State Oil.
JWT Pakistan CEO Mansoor Karim Shaikh said, “This partnership will put both Converge and JWT Pakistan in a position to leverage each other’s strengths and scale up our integrated offering for our clients.”
Converge offers services including digital media strategy, social media planning and management, platform, content, technology enablement, game and app development, mobility campaign planning and execution.
JWT Asia Pacific has moved aggressively into the digital space over the last year, expanding both organically and through acquisitions.
JWT signed an agreement in 2011 to acquire A4A, a digital and social media marketing company in China. On 12 March XM Asia, a JWT company, acquired Indonesia-based digital agency Magnivate.
“As one of the ‘Next 11‘ growth economies, Pakistan is a very strategic market for JWT. This deal adds yet more momentum to our regional digital growth strategy. We will continue to add depth and breadth to our Asian digital offerings over the coming month,” JWT Asia Pacific President Michael Maedel said.
Brands
ZEEL transfers syndication business, invests Rs 505 crore in IP push
Restructuring, stake buy and FCCB moves signal sharper content strategy
MUMBAI: In the content economy, owning the story is half the battle monetising it is the real game, and Zee Entertainment Enterprises is doubling down on both. The company has approved the transfer of its syndication and content licensing business to its wholly owned subsidiary ZI-IPR Enterprises, alongside an investment of Rs 505 crore aimed at strengthening its play in content intellectual property (IP) acquisition, management and monetisation. The move, effective April 1, 2026, will see the business transferred on a slump sale basis at book value, including all associated assets, liabilities and commercial rights effectively consolidating IP operations under a more focused structure.
At its core, the restructuring signals a strategic shift. As content consumption increasingly fragments across digital and global platforms, the value of IP lies not just in creation but in how efficiently it can be distributed, repackaged and monetised across markets. By housing its syndication engine within ZI-IPR Enterprises, ZEEL appears to be building a more agile and scalable ecosystem, one that can better extract value from its vast content library while adapting to evolving distribution models.
But the company’s ambitions are not limited to restructuring. ZEEL has also approved an investment of up to Rs 20.09 crore in Culture of Real Experiences (CORE), acquiring a 51 per cent stake in the entity. The move expands its footprint into the broader creative and experiential space, suggesting a push beyond traditional broadcasting into areas where content, culture and immersive experiences intersect.
At the same time, ZEEL has moved to tidy up its financials, approving the redemption of $23.9 million in outstanding foreign currency convertible bonds (FCCBs) and cancelling an unused $215.1 million commitment. The twin steps are expected to ease pressure on its treasury, freeing up capital and improving financial flexibility as the company invests more aggressively in its IP strategy.
Taken together, the decisions reflect a company in recalibration mode streamlining legacy structures, sharpening its focus on content ownership, and exploring new avenues for growth. In a market where the lines between television, streaming and experiential entertainment are increasingly blurred, ZEEL’s latest moves suggest it is not just creating content, but building a system to make that content travel further and pay better.
