US giant buys agency Adam & Eve

The 70-strong staff of Adam & Eve, the independent agency that is behind hit advertising for the department stores chain John Lewis, yesterday landed an estimated £60m windfall as it was sold to the US giant Omnicom.

The four co-founders, who will stay with the firm, will collect the lion's share, but all staff at the London agency will receive a payment. Adam & Eve will be merged with Omnicom's DDB, creating the UK's sixth largest advertising agency in terms of revenues.

Adam & Eve also counts Google and Cadbury's among its clients.