Merchantwise Buys Jaywing Companies

In Melbourne, Australia, marketing and media company Merchantwise Group has announced the acquisition of two sister companies, data, creative and performance marketing agency Jaywing, and digital product and UX specialist Frank Digital.

The combined buy is the largest to date for Merchantwise Group, and doubles the size of its business to just under 150 people, which combine licensing, creative marketing and media capabilities and has additional offices in Sydney, Adelaide, London, The Hague, Shanghai and Hong Kong. The firm is backed by Sydney-based private equity firm Parc Capital.

Jaywing offers brand strategy, creative, customer prediction, insight and AI, PR and advertising services; while Frank Digital is known for building web sites, apps and platforms across government, education, and consumer sectors, with a focus on UX optimization.

Alan Schauder (pictured left), group CEO of Merchantwise Group, says the acquisitions are 'transformative' for the group and bring together 'best-in-class talent from brand, content, performance, UX and data science.' He continues: 'Jaywing and Frank Digital are powerhouse agencies that work with major Australian and global brands. By bringing them into the Merchantwise Group, we're combining data, creativity, media and technology to deliver full-funnel solutions for some of the world's most exciting brands.'

Tom Geekie (pictured right), who is CEO of Jaywing and Frank Digital, adds: 'Merchantwise Group is the perfect new home to take this next step, as they share our passion for creativity, data and innovation. It will bring immediate benefit for our clients as we welcome an award winning social content, strategy and influencer team, a technical performance media team and additional creative resources.'

The firms are online at www.merchantwisegoup.com , www.jaywing.com.au and www.frankdigital.com.au .