BOSTON — Roughly 88% of the world’s 200 largest asset management firms are leveraging content marketing across distribution channels as part of their overall marketing program, according to a new BackBay Communications study. Video and market commentaries are the two most popular forms of content they distribute, the study found. Additionally, more than half of those firms are distributing new content on a weekly basis, and 95% of asset managers are active on at least one social media platform, the study said.

NEW YORK — Issa PR and BMW will be launching a new film product showcasing leading private art collections across Europe.  The “BMW Art Guide Social Experience” will send two influencers to cultural centers including Norfolk, England and Turin, Italy to explore collections. The film builds on BMW’s partnership with the group Independent Collectors, which has already lead to publication of “The BMW Art Guide by Independent Collectors.”

PITTSBURGH — PNC Bank has reached a deal to acquire The Trout Group, an investor relations and strategic advisory firm serving the healthcare industry. PNC plans to combine Trout with its subsidiary Solebury Communications, creating a firm capable of providing services across multiple industries. The combined firm will be called Solebury Trout Communications.

SAN RAMON, CALIFORNIA — AMF Media Group has struck a deal to acquire San Luis Obispo-based Barnett Cox & Associates, giving AMF a presence on California’s Central Coast. AMF currently has offices serving the San Francisco and Los Angeles areas. The merger, which becomes official Jan. 1, 2018, will result in a fully integrated marketing and PR operation with an in-house creative services team that has video and commercial production capabilities.