Building Blocks acquired by Dutch digital agency

Manchester-based digital agency Building Blocks has been acquired by Dept UK Holding Limited. 

Building Blocks is a top 100 digital agency, which specialises in helping global companies solve complex problems using digital technologies.

Based on Portland Street in Manchester and with additional offices in the US and Spain, the privately-owned agency was founded in 2007 by Andrew Iddon and Jonathan Whiteside. The two founding partners along with third partner Jasper van de Luijtgaarden will retain an interest in Dept UK Holding Limited as part of the deal.

Hill Dickinson acted on behalf of the acquirer, a wholly owned subsidiary of Dutch digital agency Dept, with a team led by corporate partner David Mkhitarian and assisted by James Down and Sean Lightfoot (corporate) and Tom Slinger (employment). Partner Richard Capper provided banking advice to the acquirer.

Part of an international network of leading digital agencies, Dept, which is backed by Waterland Private Equity, is a full service digital company employing 350 creatives, developers and data scientists that provide integrated digital solutions to clients.

Frank Schmid, Managing Director of Dept, said “In order to build a truly international digital agency, rapid expansion into the UK market was our top priority. We believe Building Blocks is the perfect first addition in the UK to our network of agencies.”