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Valtech acquires eFocus, Graion

Valtech, a French digital agency, recently acquired Netherlands-based eFocus and Argentina-based Graion. The acquisitions are part of a strategy to add service capabilities and increase its global presence. Valtech, whose name stands for “value through technology,” is a publicly traded company on Euronext that was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Paris. The digital agency has gradually grown through acquisitions since its founding, adding agencies in France and the Nordic region most notably to grow operations. The company has 16 offices across Europe, 4 in North America, and 4 in Asia-Pacific. Now, Valtech is bolstering its European and South American presence with the acquisition of Netherlands-based digital agency eFocus, and Argentina-based agency Graion.

Founded in 2001, eFocus is one of the largest digital agencies in the Netherlands. The company has four regional offices – Utrecht; Amsterdam; Amersfoort; and Eindhoven – and is home to approximately 200 employees. The company’s strengths lie in building, designing, and creating digital touchpoints in commerce and web content management platforms. eFocus holds strategic partnerships with Adobe, EPiServer, SAP Hybris, and Sitecore. The company also works with drupal and works with clients such as Heineken, Volkswagon, and Rabobank. eFocus also offers a variety of marketing services, including content creation, search engine optimization, and application development, and they also offer services around strategic consulting engagements and change management initiatives – all services aimed at helping organizations accelerate through digital transformation.

eFocus will continue to operate with the same teams across its 4 Dutch offices, forming the basis of the “Valtech Netherlands” operation. “The Dutch economy is very entrepreneurial and internationally focused with very strong brands. Our two forces combined make us the partner of choice for these global brands,” said Olivier Padiou, Valtech’s COO.

Valtech also announced that it is acquiring Argentina-based digital agency Graion, a software development and digital marketing entity. Founded in 2010, the company has two offices in the capital city of Buenos Aires and has approximately 50 employees. The company focuses on helping clients deliver great user experiences through mobile, web, and social channels, and works regularly with both web content and commerce-based platforms. Graion works with clients such as Galicia Seguros (Insurance broker), Ipsos Market Research, and Omint (Argentina health care services.)

With the acquisition of these two digital agencies, Valtech augments not only its delivery capabilities, but its global presence as well. The Netherlands-based eFocus allows Valtech to increase its European presence and capture key clients in the Benelux region. There is also added significance in light of the recent Brexit announcement, as Jill Finger Gibson pointed out: the Netherlands is an attractive entry point for foreign brands looking to gain traction in the European Union due to its well-educated, multilingual workforce, and central location on the continent.

Graion, while it is a significantly smaller-sized agency, represents a key market – allowing Valtech to enter into the South American region. This is notable for two major reasons: 1) Valtech currently does not have any Spanish-language offices, and Graion allows Valtech to add this capability to its stack, potentially opening up opportunities across the Spanish-speaking landscape. 2) With two offices in the capital of Argentina, Graion is well-situated to help Valtech launch its journey into the fast-growing South American market.

Both companies bring complementary technical and marketing skills to the Valtech team and provide a regional differentiator that will significantly add to the Valtech brand. With each of the companies maintaining a high degree of independence, while having the ability to tap into the larger Valtech network, there is high chance of success for clients working under these new additions. Valtech still has a some gaps to fill before it becomes a true global digital agency, but clearly they are on the global path and can better serve global clients with these new regional offerings.


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