Dentsu Group Confirms 100% Ownership of Merkle

• Dentsu Aegis Network announces the accelerated purchase of 100% of Merkle shares.
• Decision to purchase remaining shares ahead of 2021 buyout date allows for fast-tracked integration, securing the expertise of key personnel.
• Merkle acquisition has enabled DAN to rapidly develop its global CRM capability, now the highest growth area of the business, and deliver integrated client solutions, contributing to achievement of long-term business strategy.

Wednesday 15^th April: LONDON – Dentsu Aegis Network, headquartered in London, announced that they have brought forward the purchase of Merkle, and today have signed the complete ownership agreement for 100% of Merkle shares.

Prior to the signing, Dentsu owned 65% of Merkle shares with an option to buy the remaining 35% in Q3 2021. However, the accelerated purchase of the remaining shares means that Dentsu Aegis Network now owns 100% of Merkle. As per the initial agreement, payment will still be made in Q3 2021.

The decision to bring the full purchase forward brings Dentsu Group Inc. a number of advantages: it secures the expertise and knowledge of Merkle’s senior management team, strengthens DAN’s CRM line of business and the group’s ability to offer clients world-class integrated solutions across Creative, CRM and Media; and allows the deployment of key Merkle talent to global roles across Dentsu Aegis Network.

Toshi Yamamoto, President and CEO, Dentsu Group Inc., and Acting Executive Chairman and CEO, Dentsu Aegis Network comments:“ Today’s announcement is significant on many levels as we fully integrate Merkle into Dentsu Aegis Network.  At a time of considerable uncertainty, this agreement provides clarity to our employees, clients and stakeholders. Merkle’s accelerated integration will help to further future-proof the business, enabling revenue growth and improving operating margins globally.”

“Merkle represents the highest growth area of the overall business. For our clients, the acquisition has already been transformative, positioning us as world leaders in delivering fully integrated services and solutions across the marketing mix, alongside our Media and Creative offerings, helping our clients to win, keep and grow their best customers.”

This announcement comes shortly after the confirmation of Wendy Clark’s appointment as the new Global CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network responsible for delivering integrated client solutions across Creative, CRM and Media. The accelerated acquisition of Merkle and Wendy’s appointment confirm the ambitions of Dentsu Aegis Network to deliver its long-term growth plans against a robust strategy in order to become the strongest integrated network globally.

David Williams, Founder & CEO, Merkle & Chairman, Dentsu Aegis Network, Americas comments:“ Today’s announcement is a positive step in our full integration solidifying the future of the team as central to Dentsu Aegis Network’s strategic ambitions. It provides us all with materially more flexibility to deliver integrated solutions for our clients, working alongside our talented colleagues across DAN’s Media and Creative offerings. In addition, the economics of Merkle are now fully linked to Dentsu’s thus empowering us as ‘one dentsu’ to move with agility as we emerge from the challenges of coronavirus, together.”

Dentsu Aegis has focused on acquiring relevant, high-performance businesses globally in high growth areas including data, brand commerce, customer experience, performance marketing and social & mobile. As the most acquisitive agency group DAN has welcomed over 177 agencies in the last six years, bolstering capability and focus on client delivery. Most notably, the Merkle acquisition placed DAN as the market leader for data, analytics and CRM. Merkle is the market leading data-driven, technology-enabled performance marketing agency with a core strength focused on CRM and maximising the value of clients’ customer portfolios. It works with world-class brands like Dell, T-Mobile, Samsung, GEICO, Kimberly-Clark, Sanofi and NBC Universal and employs more than 9,000 people across 56+ locations worldwide. The Merkle acquisition was the largest industry deal in 2016, and at that time Merkle was the largest independent US based data, analytics, CRM and marketing performance agency. 

About Dentsu Aegis Network

Part of Dentsu Inc., Dentsu Aegis Network is made up of ten global network brands - Carat, Dentsu, Dentsu X, iProspect, Isobar, mcgarrybowen, Merkle, MKTG, Posterscope and Vizeum and supported by its specialist/multi-market brands. Dentsu Aegis Network is Innovating the Way Brands Are Built for its clients through its best-in-class expertise and capabilities in media, digital and creative communications services. Offering a distinctive and innovative range of products and services, Dentsu Aegis Network is headquartered in London and operates in 145 countries worldwide with more than 42,000 dedicated specialists.

www.dentsuaegisnetwork.com

About Merkle

Merkle is a leading data-driven, technology-enabled, global performance marketing agency that specializes in the delivery of unique, personalized customer experiences across platforms and devices. For more than 30 years, Fortune 1000 companies and leading nonprofit organizations have partnered with Merkle to maximize the value of their customer portfolios. The agency’s heritage in data, technology, and analytics forms the foundation for its unmatched skills in understanding consumer insights that drive people-based marketing strategies. Its combined strengths in performance media, customer experience, customer relationship management, loyalty, and enterprise marketing technology drive improved marketing results and competitive advantage. With 9,000+ employees, Merkle is headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, with 21 additional offices in the US and 29 offices in EMEA and APAC. In 2016, the agency joined the Dentsu Aegis Network.

With 600+ employees, Merkle China is headquartered in Shanghai, with 2 additional offices in Beijing and Nanjing. For more information, please contact Merkle China at +86 21 2030 8000 or visit www.merklechina.cn.

For more information, please contact:

Lily Li

Marketing Head of Merkle China

Email: llli@merkleinc.com

Tel: +86 21 2030 8059