CP Media expands with Adverta acquisition

Outdoor advertising specialist CP Media has acquired bus and tram advertising business Adverta Transport Advertising.

CP Media is one of the UK’s fastest growing outdoor advertising companies, providing bespoke advertising and sponsorship services for local authorities and transport providers. It has offices in Halifax and Harrogate.

Adverta is one of the UK’s largest bus and tram advertising specialists and represents around 30 bus companies.

The acquisition sees CP Media add 23 staff to its growing team, which now numbers 70 people, along with further offices in the East Midlands and Ripon.

Mike Brennan, chief executive of CP Media, said: “The bus and tram advertising sector is one that we know well. I was heavily involved in transport advertising for many years alongside my business partner Andrew Walker. This means that Adverta is a perfect fit for our ambitious growth strategy.

“We are really looking forward to working with the Adverta team and growing the business in the same way that we have grown the main CP Media business and subsequently Eye Airports following our 2019 acquisition.”

Lisa Ratcliffe, managing director of Adverta, said: “I am proud of Adverta and very happy that it will be joining the CP Media group. CP Media has a great track record of diversification, acquisition and growth and I know that this move will help Adverta to grow significantly.”

Earlier this year, CP Media was awarded a major contract by CalMac Ferries to rollout a full upgrade of advertising sites across its fleet of 33 vessels.

In 2019, CP Media acquired Eye Airports, the leader in UK regional airport advertising with the rights for 19 regional airports, from its management and employees. Since the takeover Eye Airports has grown in both turnover and staff numbers despite the challenges of Covid and is now the fastest growing airport advertising company.

CP Media was named number 78 in the UK in the top founder-led private businesses of 2022, awarded by FEBE Growth 100. The group reported a 40% increase in revenue for the 2021 financial year.