[May 22, 2013] Accenture to Buy Acquity Group Tweet May 22, 2013 (Close-Up Media via COMTEX) -- Accenture and Acquity Group have entered into a definitive agreement under which Accenture will acquire Acquity Group, a digital marketing and eCommerce company. According to a release, the acquisition will further strengthen and expand the broad range of digital marketing services that Accenture provides to clients. Accenture has agreed to pay $13.00 per outstanding American Depositary Share, each of which represents two ordinary shares ($6.50 per ordinary share), or a total of approximately $316 million, in cash for Acquity Group. The acquisition is subject to Acquity Group shareholder approval as well as other customary closing conditions. Acquity Group provides strategy, digital marketing, and technical services to hundreds of companies to enhance their brand experiences and eCommerce performance. The acquisition will broaden Accenture's own services in these areas, which the company provides through Accenture Interactive, its group that offers chief marketing officers (CMOs) and brand leaders a comprehensive suite of marketing, technology and analytics solutions to help them improve their marketing performance. The addition of Acquity Group's skills and capabilities in eCommerce and leading digital platforms such as Adobe and hybris, supported by Accenture's industry depth and global delivery capability, will help Accenture Interactive further address the most pressing needs of today's CMO in the midst of a digital transformation in marketing, the company said. Once the acquisition is complete, Acquity Group's more than 600 employees are expected to join Accenture Interactive. "Chief marketing officers and brand leaders are looking for a new type of service provider that can blend the creative process with analytics and enabling technologies to engage consumers and deliver compelling user experiences across channels," said Brian Whipple, global managing director of Accenture Interactive. "The acquisition of Acquity Group will expand our capabilities in key areas of digital marketing and eCommerce, complementing our strengths in strategy, analytics, scaled technology enablement and marketing operations." Chris Dalton, CEO of Acquity Group, said, "As one of the pioneers in eCommerce and digital marketing services, Acquity Group is pleased to be joining forces with Accenture, one of the largest and most successful consulting, technology and outsourcing companies in the world. Our combined expertise will allow us to deliver transformational ebusiness solutions for our clients at scale and attract the best talent in the industry." Kirkland & Ellis is acting as Accenture's legal adviser with regard to the transaction. Goldman Sachs (Asia) is acting as financial adviser to Acquity Group and Shearman & Sterling is acting as its legal adviser with regard to the transaction. More information: www.accenture.com ((Comments on this story may be sent to [email protected])) [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]