Merkle Continues European Growth with DBG Buy

Data-driven marketing agency Merkle has acquired London-based DBG, which helps clients integrate data from different sources for effective customer communication. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

DBG was launched in 2007, truns over around £13m annually and works with first, second and third-party data, using analytics and targeting technology to deliver database marketing, campaign management and marketing automation. Its London- and Bristol-based team of 140 will join Merkle's Marketing Solutions Group, giving the new parent a total of 300 UK employees and more than 3,000 worldwide. Tim Berry, previously President of Merkle's CRM solutions, will now become President of Merkle Europe.

The buy is Merkle's second in the UK in a year - in May 2015 it acquired London-based Periscopix, a specialist in search, programmatic media and web analytics. At the time, Merkle said it had set aside $1 billion for acquisitions over the next five years.

David Williams, Merkle Chairman and CEO (pictured) says the company is looking to 'build competencies that complement its US business model', working with 'in-country professionals who share our values of hard work and entrepreneurial spirit'.

DBG CEO Richard Lees says the deal should ensure the best future for his company, and also 'expand the range of products and capabilities available to clients, adding best-in-class expertise and global scale'.

Privately held and headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, Merkle has fourteen other offices in the US and overseas locations in London, Shanghai, and Nanjing. Web sites: www.merkleinc.com and www.dbg.co.uk .