Cheil Worldwide acquires Barbarian Group

http://www.dmnews.com/cheil-worldwide-acquires-barbarian-group/article/159025/
Cheil Worldwide, a Korea-based agency, acquired a majority stake in New York-based digital firm The Barbarian Group this week. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Barbarian, founded in 2001, will keep its brand and office. Its three founders will continue to run the company. The deal, signed December 2, is expected to close next week.

“We want to be bolder and more capable, and we are excited that Cheil can provide that opportunity for us,” said Rick Webb, co-founder and COO of Barbarian, in a blog post.
The acquisition of Barbarian, known for pushing the envelope in creative campaigns, including Burger King's “Subservient Chicken” video and the Virgin America "Name our Planes" campaign, is part of Cheil's long-term growth plans, as the group looks to do more business in the US, according to a company statement.

Cheil, which was ranked as the 16th-largest agency company in the world by Advertising Age, has offices in 25 countries, as well as in New Jersey and Dallas. Yet this deal gives the company a New York presences for the first time.

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/December2009/02/c7325.html

The Barbarian Group was founded in 2001 in Palmer's apartment with a borrowed $500 and a dream to reinvent the way agencies worked with production companies to create effective digital marketing. They mastered that dream by 2004, culminating in their work for Burger King. From there, the company expanded beyond production roots, indeed, beyond "digital advertising" as the agency world views it. Today, the company has three offices, and provides a full range of digital marketing, planning, technology and strategy not just to brands such as Kashi and Red Bull, but to technology companies, publishers and entertainment properties. Their recent work with CNN Shirts and their work with several start ups illustrates this diverse client base. As a result, The Barbarian Group is now one of the most respected digital marketing companies.