Super indie Argonon has acquired branded video agency. Nemorin Film & Video.
The UK-based agency boasts clients ranging from Hugo Boss to McDonalds, Amazon to American Express.
The acquisition follows Argonon’s recent announcement of major US investment with the launch of Argonon USA, the appointment of a new Chief Creative Officer of Leopard USA and the opening of a West Coast office.
The acquisition of Nemorin is aimed at fast tracking Argonon’s growing branded content business. Argonon CEO James Burstall has identified branded entertainment as a critical growth market for the group and the acquisition of Nemorin will open new revenue pipelines. These include developing and creating original IP, branded content and co-productions which will include collaborations with Argonon’s production companies on both sides of the Atlantic.
The acquisition brings Nemorin Founder and CEO Pete Fergusson, and COO and Content Director Graham Hayday into the group. The deal was closed for Argonon by COO Laura Bessell.
Argonon CEO James Burstall commented: “There is a paradigm shift within the creative industry as the business model evolves, new revenue streams emerge, and traditional budgets come under increased strain. COVID-19 has forced us to fundamentally change our business and our strategic response to the rapidly changing entertainment ecology is to create the world’s first hyper-converged global superindie. The acquisition of Nemorin will power our ambitions in branded entertainment, supercharge our focus in digital growth markets and generate opportunities to both maximise and develop IP. We’re mapping out an ambitious path into 2021 and beyond, and our investment in Nemorin – following our recently announced US expansion plans – will drive future growth and diversification of revenue streams. As one of the last truly independent superindies across every genre, I am excited about the limitless potential for Nemorin to collaborate with our world class labels in both the UK and US.
“Pete, Graham and the talented digital natives at Nemorin have worked with an incredible array of global brands and bring extensive expertise and experience into the group. They have impressed us with their passion for all types of content, talent for storytelling and enthusiasm for partnerships. We look forward to welcoming Nemorin into our London HQ.”
Nemorin CEO Pete Fergusson said: “Our business is founded on a love of content and a passion to make creative films for a variety of audiences, across all digital platforms, devices and screens. Digital is in our DNA and we’re delighted to join a world class global production group with a track record of creative and commercial success, who share both our appetite to embrace new opportunities and ambitions for growth. The deal offers an ideal platform to elevate Nemorin to the next level.”
Nemorin Film & Video was founded in 2014 by Pete Fergusson, former Head of Commercial Video for the Telegraph Media Group. Graham Hayday joined the group in 2017 having spent nine years producing branded content at the Guardian, the last three of which were as head of the Guardian Labs studio. Nemorin’s content ranges from social videos to documentaries incorporating location and studio shoots, live action, animation, live streams and other types of content published on platforms ranging from YouTube to TikTok. Clients have included Credit Suisse, NBC Universal, Amazon, Revolut, Net-a-Porter, My Single Friend, Nat Geo, GiffGaff, Oasis, Virgin Media, Nationwide and many others.
Argonon is the superindie group producing content across all genres and home to several production companies including Leopard USA (House Hunters International – HGTV); Bandicoot (The Masked Singer – ITV); Leopard Pictures (Worzel – BBC One); BriteSpark Films (Dispatches – Channel 4); Windfall Films (Unearthed – Discovery) and Like A Shot (Abandoned Engineering – Discovery).
In addition to network commissions, Argonon has produced AFPs and branded video across the group. Windfall Films currently has a fully funded AFP project in production with an unnamed global brand and is developing a series of short films for an international organisation. Nemorin has been collaborating with a number of production companies across the group on potential co-productions and IP exploitation.
Jon Creamer
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