The conditions of the acquisition are believed to be the same as the previous proposal (Media, 7 June), with Aegis paying an estimated US$12 million for the digital network, which has offices in Hong Kong, Korea and San Francisco.
No one at Aegis or Ion would confirm why the earlier deal failed to complete. Chinadotcom was unavailable for comment as Media went to press.
Ion Global will be aligned within the Aegis digital network Isobar. The Ion brand will remain in Korea, and MD Sun Young Lee will continue to run the agency.
In Hong Kong, however, the agency will rebrand as Wwws Consulting. Ion Hong Kong MD Marcus Crowley will also stay, and report to Wwws CEO Jean Lin.
Ion San Francisco will merge with Isobar’s Molecular. Ion Global was founded in 1995 and has around 100 staff worldwide.
Barney Loehnis, network director of Isobar, said: “Ion Global will bring a new blend of digital insight and skills into the network – particularly an expertise in mobile, user interface design, and website application development. At the same time Isobar will be able to expand the range and geographic reach of the digital services Ion Global offers their clients. Every party involved - especially our clients - stands to gain.”
Ion Global was founded in 1995 and has 145 staff worldwide.
