Dark Matter Commerce, the leading Manchester-based digital commerce transformation collective that acquired Brave The Skies in 2022, has announced its acquisition of Bring Digital. The performance marketing agency, which is also based in Manchester, was founded in 2012 by previous AO marketeers.
Dark Matter Commerce was created in 2021 when BigCommerce and Adobe Commerce (Magento) specialist Space 48 attracted investment from leading regional SME investor, Foresight Group (Foresight).
By acquiring Bring Digital, Dark Matter Commerce will be able to offer clients a full range of eCommerce services, including performance marketing, as well as leveraging Bring Digital's commercial analytics expertise to enhance its existing solutions in digital commerce and digital transformation.
Collectively, Dark Matter Commerce’s client roster will include Bensons for Beds, Richer Sounds, Cotton Traders, Sports Shoes, Beauty Bay and Fitness First. The addition of Bring Digital to its portfolio will see its headcount increase to 170 people and annual turnover to £12.5m.
"We are delighted to welcome Bring Digital to Dark Matter Commerce. Our shared values and passion for delivering exceptional digital experiences to clients made this a natural fit. With the addition of Bring Digital's expertise, we can now offer a full service digital commerce solution to clients wherever they are on their digital transformation journey, ensuring that they have everything they need to succeed in the highly competitive world of eCommerce."
Jon Woodall, CEO of Dark Matter Commerce
Matthew Pomroy, Director at Foresight, added: “We are delighted to support the team at Dark Matter Commerce with their growth ambitions. This second acquisition is a significant milestone for the business, and the partnership should enable the team to become a market leader, and we look forward to developing it.”
The acquisition was completed on 9th May, and financial terms were not disclosed. Dark Matter Commerce were advised by TLT Solicitors and Mazars, and the sellers were advised by KBL Solicitors and MHA Moore & Smalley.
"Joining forces with Space 48 and Brave the Skies under the Dark Matter Commerce umbrella is an exciting opportunity for us. We have always admired their work in the digital commerce space, and we are thrilled to be able to offer our digital marketing expertise to their clients. Together, we are well-positioned to deliver outstanding results for our clients."
Justin Young, CEO of Bring Digital
About Dark Matter Commerce
Formed following investment from Foresight Group in 2021, Dark Matter Commerce is a collective of expert innovators and agencies led by Jon Woodall to transform digital commerce at scale for its clients. Dark Matter Commerce’s portfolio of agencies includes BigCommerce and Adobe Commerce (Magento) specialists Space 48, Shopify Plus specialists Brave the Skies and performance marketing experts Bring Digital.
About Bring Digital
Bring Digital has a reputation for providing excellent digital marketing solutions to clients across a range of industries, including retail, leisure, and healthcare. The company specialises in data-driven marketing strategies, including SEO, PPC, and social media marketing, and has a strong track record of delivering outstanding results for clients.
The company operates with the accountability of an in-house marketing team and has retained a strong focus on data-driven marketing strategies. Now with a headcount of 45, Bring Digital boasts a highly skilled team of specialists in SEO, PPC, affiliates, commercial analytics and social media marketing.
https://www.bringdigital.co.uk/
About Foresight Group:
Foresight Group was founded in 1984 and is a leading listed infrastructure and private equity investment manager. With a long-established focus on ESG and sustainability-led strategies, it aims to provide attractive returns to its institutional and private investors from hard-to-access private markets. Foresight manages over 350 infrastructure assets with a focus on solar and onshore wind assets, bioenergy and waste, as well as renewable energy enabling projects, energy efficiency management solutions, social and core infrastructure projects and sustainable forestry assets. Its private equity team manages eleven regionally focused investment funds across the UK and an SME impact fund supporting Irish SMEs. This team reviews over 2,500 business plans each year and currently supports more than 250 investments in SMEs. Foresight Capital Management manages four strategies across seven investment vehicles with an AUM of £1.3 billion.
Foresight operates in eight countries across Europe, Australia and United States with AUM of £12.2 billion*. Foresight Group Holdings Limited listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange in February 2021.
https://www.foresightgroup.eu/shareholders
*Based on Foresight Group unaudited AUM as at 31 March 2023.
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