RK Swamy Advertising Associates, now known as the RK Swamy Hansa Group, is one of India’s most distinguished agencies. Founded by the legendary ad guru RK Swamy, it has been operational for 50 years and recently the company has initiated plans to unlock the value and launch their first ever initial public offering (IPO). An investment syndicate of bankers have been appointed for this purpose.
The IPO is looking to raise around Rs 500 crore, which would include primary capital of Rs 150- Rs 200 crore and a secondary issue of Rs 300 crore. It is expected to facilitate an exit for a clutch of NRI investors who own 16 percent of the company and raise growth capital.
The RK Swamy Hansa Group operates on a composite business model and offers services in advertising, interactive and media, market research, brand activation, data analytics, marketing analytics, media research, events, health care communication, public relations, outdoor, AdTech, MarTech, etc. It operates across seven cities India and two cities in the US
Led by Srinivasan Swamy the Chairman & Managing Director and Shekar Swamy the Group CEO, the Group has served over 200 clients ranging from government institutions like RBI and SBI to private institutions like TAFE, Indus Ind Bank, Shriram Group, Himalayas, MagicBricks, Tata Steel and Mahindra & Mahindra. The group has received recognition for successfully executing complex projects over its fifty year journey.
RK Swamy, the founder of the Group, was the Grand Old Man of Indian Advertising. A pioneer in the industry, Swamy had a career that spanned 63 years, beginning at J Walter Thompson. Having made a name for himself, Swamy decided to go his own way and founded RK Swamy Advertising Associates in 1955.
The company rose to even greater heights after it struck a partnership with the BBDO Worldwide Network in 1986. Other Indian advertising and communication groups have been sold to large International networks such as WPP, Publicis, Dentsu, and Omnicom. The RK Swamy Hansa groups, however, has been able to stay independent and continues to stay ahead of the curve.
