An advertising firm responsible for handling local authority recruitment has been bought out, after going into administration. Barkers Group made the shock announcement that its business, tangible assets and goodwill had been purchased by global HR consulting group, Penna plc. The £8.6m deal is for all of the Barkers Group and TCS, with 250 staff being transferred. Penna plc chief executive, Gary Browning, promised business as usual. He said: ‘We are proud to be associated with such an established and distinguished brand, and look forward to complementing Barkers' skills with the breadth of a successful consulting group.'