Visual Art Media today announces that the company has been acquired by UK-based DOOH giant Ocean Outdoor which effectively means a European DOOH-power house is being formed.
Visual Art Media introduced and developed DOOH on the Swedish market and has evolved to have a strong presence in Denmark, Finland and Germany. Today’s announcement is subsequently signaling it’s aim to further strengthen its position as the leading force within digital reach in northern Europe.
”What is being communicated today could be the most important news the OOH-industry has received in years. The journey that started a decade ago is now progressing in rapid pace given the Ocean Outdoor’s acquisition of Visual Art Media. Our companies’ joint core competencies, expertise, deep understanding of the medium and how to sell it give us unique competitive advantages. We aim to use those to continue building Europe’s most attractive digital reach offer, CEO Andreas Lind and CRO Hoss Khosravi said in a joint statement.
To the benefit of clients and agencies, Visual Art’s strengths – tech, innovation and unique advertising arenas – are now being elevated in a European context.
Former owners of Visual Art Media will own 50% of Visual Art Tech & Signage in a joint venture with Ocean to create a complementary, and high growth, tech business line that will drive significant synergies and opportunities across the full out-of-home and signage portfolio. The combination of Visual Art Technologies’ dynamic product set, creativity and high quality client base (including leading brands such as McDonald’s and H&M, amongst others), coupled with Ocean’s digital out-of-home expertise, provides a unique symbiotic relationship to drive meaningful commercial opportunities for both businesses globally.
Ocean Outdoor is listed at the London stock exchange and has a unique position in the Out Of Home advertising landscape, specializing only in digital, super premium and globally iconic screen locations, such as Piccadilly Lights in London. Ocean created the DOOH category as early as 2005 and has continued to pioneer, drive and establish DOOH to be the engaging media channel it is today. through innovation, premium locations, research, data and unique technology.
Commenting on the deal, Ocean Outdoor CEO Tim Bleakley said: “Visual Art is an attractive business that we have long admired. The company combines great people with great assets in growing DOOH markets, offering impressive opportunities across a number of different business areas and multiple countries.
Ocean Outdoor chairman Tom Goddard: “Visual Art is at the forefront of a dynamic media market with top class professionals working across the spectrum in Scandinavia and Germany. I have no doubt this move is going to be both successful and symbiotic for our clients, agencies, landlords and all the partners involved.
We have a strong connection with Sweden and Visual Art Media through our board member, Martin HP Söderström. With his network of Scandinavian real estate firms we see good synergies and possibilities to grow Visual Art Media in the Scandinavian market further.”
For more information please contact:
Andreas Lind, CEO, Visual Art
Tel. +46 739 24 20 10
andreas.lind@visualart.com
Tim Bleakely, CEO, Ocean Outdoor
Susann Jerry, Strategic Communications, Ocean Outdoor
Tel +44 (0)7725 091814
susann.jerry@oceanoutdoor.com
About Visual Art
Visual Art is an international technology and media group with headquarters in Stockholm, and with offices in the Nordic countries, Germany, Spain and the USA. The company was founded in 1997 and has more than 140 employees. The business idea is to be a strategic partner to its clients through tech innovation and business driven digital communication. The digital network consists of more than 25,000 screens operating in 24 countries around the globe.
Visual Art Group helps global customers to create sustainable and future-proof communications solutions. Intelligent menu boards at McDonald’s in the Nordics and Europe, voice-controlled interactive digital mirror in the H&M-store at Times Square, giant LED at the Mall of Scandinavia shopping center in Stockholm and digital outdoor advertising in the Nordic region – Visual Art Group has a broad range in its offer. Selection of clients: McDonald’s, ICA, H&M, Circle K, 7-Eleven, Volvo, Coca-Cola, Emirates, Zalando, Daniel Wellington, iZettle, Nike and Disney.