Japanese PR operation Vector Group has acquired Hawaii’s PacRim Marketing Group to create a $90M Asia-Pacific network with around 500 staffers.

Dave ErdmanErdman

The deal, expected to close by the end of the year, includes PacRim’s sister units PRTech (online marketing) and PacRim Marketing Tokyo (Japan office).

Honolulu-based PacRim founder and chief Dave Erdman, a Hill+Knowlton Asia alum, said his firm’s client will benefit from Vector’s deep understanding of Asian consumers and contacts in the region. PacRim has worked with Hawaiian Airlines, Neiman Marcus and Ritz-Carlton.

Vector president and global chair Keiji Nishie praised PacRim’s 26-year history of multicultural and multilingual marketing communications, as well as digital PR savvy. He called “acquiring one of the top marketing firms in Hawaii” a “natural step to increasing the quality and scale of our public relations business.”

The Japan-centric Vector sees a complement to PacRim’s North American and Pacific region focus.