Dentsu Aegis Network Acquires Majority Share of Scorch

Dentsu Aegis Network today announces the acquisition of leading performance marketing agency Scorch Pty Ltd (Scorch) in Australia. Scorch will become Scorch iProspect, joining the existing global performance marketing agency iProspect and adding scale to the network’s digital capabilities in the market, within search and more diversified areas of performance marketing, including content, UX, data, web development and social.

Founded in 2006 by digital specialists Terence Hooi and Kevin Hooi, Scorch is headquartered in Melbourne with offices in Sydney and Manila, comprising of 50 staff. With a strong team of 50 digital experts, the agency offers digital consulting across a wide range of performance marketing services, including search, social, content, UX, web development and owns proprietary technology including Remarket360, Definico and PEM.

Following the acquisition, Scorch Founders Terence Hooi and Kevin Hooi will continue to manage all operations of Scorch, retaining their current roles of CEO and COO respectively reporting to Dan Kalinski CEO iProspect Australia.

Simon Ryan, CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network ANZ, said: “This acquisition will unlock the ability of Dentsu Aegis Network‘s digital businesses to scale up operations and capabilities and lead the way in the Australian performance marketing industry.”

“Strategically and culturally, Scorch is a strong fit for our growing Australian group. Both Dentsu Aegis Network and Scorch have an embedded entrepreneurial culture with a heavy focus on innovation and a digital-first approach to marketing. I’m very excited to welcome Terence, Kevin and the team at Scorch to Dentsu Aegis Network.”

Matthew Crook, Chief Strategy Officer and CEO of Performance & Data for Dentsu Aegis Network ANZ, said: “Having worked alongside Scorch as both partner and competitor over the years, we have a great deal of respect for the business and the people within it. Scorch’s tenure, reputation and capabilities are rare in the Australian market, and will deliver capability to Dentsu Aegis Network that supports our digital ambitions and long term vision.”

Terence Hooi, founder of Scorch, said: “ It is rare opportunity to join an organisation which shares the same strategic vision and values of integrity and innovation that we hold dear. The digital-first strategic direction of Dentsu Aegis Network makes it a very natural partner for Scorch. We’re very excited to embark on this new opportunity and the continued evolution of the business that the team and I built from the ground up over 10 years ago.” 

Scorch’s prorprietary tools include Remarket360, an EDM and SMS platform with unique delivery technology and inbuilt segmentation system. Definico is an SEO and change management risk detection technology which identifies SEO risks faster and in real time. PEM is Perfect Efficiency Model which is a methodology for achieving high yield from adwords bidding. 

The acquisition includes Scorch’s operations in Sydney (SearchFound Pty Ltd) and in Manila (Scorch Philippines).