Buy Strengthens Merkle in Central Europe

Dentsu Aegis Network has agreed to acquire Namics AG, a full-service digital agency based in Switzerland and Germany, for an unknown sum. Namics will become part of the group's data-driven marketing wing, Merkle.

Merkle says the buy will help to increase its global footprint, and enhance its customer experience (CX) and marketing technology practice with new digital experience, creative and service design expertise.

Namics was founded in 1995 and provides strategic consulting, concept development and creative, as well as technical implementation, with a strong focus on user experience. The company employs 550 digital specialists in offices in Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, St. Gallen, Zurich and Belgrade, and their arrival at Merkle will bring the latter's EMEA headcount to more than 2,000.

EMEA President Michael Komasinski (pictured) says the buy brings 'important scale' to the EMEA business, 'adding new markets and an established service offering that fits perfectly with our existing marketing technology and CX practice'. He adds: 'With an enviable client base and a shared vision, Namics accelerates our strategy to extend Merkle's people-based marketing capabilities across EMEA'.

Namics Chief Exec Bernd Schopp says joining Merkle and Dentsue Aegis is 'a fantastic opportunity for Namics as we have a shared vision of helping clients become winners in digital transformation'.

The acquisition is subject to approval from the German competition authority. Merkle has 5,500 employees and is headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, with 24 additional offices in the US and 25 offices in Europe and APAC.

Web site: www.merkle.com .