NEWS: IN BRIEF

Supply Management, Aug 5, 2005

McdiaCom joins Group M

Media buying agency Mediacom has joined Group M, a consortium owned by WPP Group.

The move makes Group M one of the UK's largest media buying agencies, worth £900 million.

Tina Fegent, commercial director at agency Lowe, said MediaCom - part of WPP - would boost the consortium's buying power and help smaller members to win better deals.

Group IVI was formed in 2004 and makes deals for smaller WPP agencies such as MindShare.

Logistics service launch

Procurement and supply chain logistics companies 4C Associates and Exel have formed a joint venture called 4CX.

The partnership has been created to provide a full sourcing and delivery package for indirect goods and services.

Ed Ainsworth, 4C's co-chief executive, said the deal could save buyers, including existing customers, up to 20 per cent. Exel has acquired a 25 per cent equity stake in 4C as part of the deal.

Greener wind blows

Energy from wind farms could be cheaper and more abundant after the Ministry of Defence lifted objections to 18 proposed sites.

Demand forwind energy currently outstrips supply, and lan Dobson, chair of the CIPS energy committee, said the move "gives hope" to green energy buyers.

But experts said the changes are at least three years away and lower prices are not guaranteed.

The MoD had claimed vibrations from wind farms could interfere with radars and seismic sensors.

Name change in Wales

The Welsh Procurement Initiative has been renamed Value Wales.

The organisation now comprises three divisions: procurement, strategic partnership, and capital.

It has been asked to make £600 million in efficiency savings by 2010.

Procurement should achieve £120 million of this by 2008.

By January, suppliers should also be able to take part in e-auctions on the Value Wales website, Buy4Wales. It has been used for £500 million of contracts since it was set up in 2003.