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Merkle Acquires Leading US Digital Agency Axis41Merkle (merkleinc.com), a leading technology-enabled, data-driven performance marketing agency, announced its acquisition of Salt Lake City based Axis41 (www.axis41.com), a leading web and app development agency focused on customer experience. This is Merkle's first corporate acquisition since joining the Dentsu Aegis Network in August 2016. The move supports Dentsu Aegis Network's strategy of building within its network a set of full-scale people-based marketing capabilities rooted in data, analytics, and technology. Axis41's full staff of more than 170 employees, who are experts in marketing communications, strategy, design, technology, and marketing integration, will join the Merkle team. Merkle's people-based marketing approach to delivering relevant, personalized customer experiences requires a full breadth of skill sets, encompassing data, analytics, technology, and experience design and creation. The acquisition of Axis41 reinforces this strategy, bringing top-tier customer experience management services, including brand development, content strategy, persona development, UI/UX, graphic design, web development, content management systems implementation, web marketing, web optimization, and demand generation. A key consideration in bringing the two companies together is a shared partnership with Adobe (News - Alert). Axis41 is a specialized partner for Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) and one of the largest independent agencies in the world for AEM implementations and related professional services. This, combined with Merkle's fast-growing Adobe partnership, which includes specialties in both the Adobe Campaign and Adobe Analytics platforms, will augment the agency's Alliance Channel strategy. The acquisition strengthens Merkle's strategic partnership with Adobe, making it one of the few global partners with the full range of platform capabilities, including specialization in these three major Adobe platforms. Axis41 adds more than $25 million in revenue to Merkle's already broad and deep marketing cloud practice. Adobe is currently the largest marketing clod in terms of revenue, accounting for $1.7 billion in 2016, and annual growth of approximately 18 percent. Through the Axis41 acquisition, Merkle will become a larger and more strategic partner for Adobe and one of the few global partners with specialization in three of its technology platforms. Amplifying Axis41's technology assets is a wealth of creative capabilities. The acquisition will add 35 designers with deep experience designing and implementing sophisticated websites and other interactive customer experiences. Founding partners, Ron Pynes, Strategic Services, Steve Wiest, Creative Services, and Reed Wright, Technical Services, will join Merkle's Senior Management Team. "We're delighted to welcome Axis41 into the Merkle family and look forward to honing our collective people-based marketing capabilities that enable our clients to deliver ever more relevant, personalized customer experiences," said David Williams, president and CEO of Merkle. "Adobe and Axis41 have a long-standing relationship, with Adobe being a client of Axis41 as well as a partner. Our combined partnerships with Adobe create a powerhouse of cloud-based platforms to meet the rapidly evolving needs of the brands we serve. We're grateful to our colleagues at Adobe for seeing the potential fit between Merkle and Axis41 and making the connection that fits like a glove." "Joining forces with Merkle and Dentsu Aegis Network opens exciting opportunities for us to advance our business to new heights. It brings instant scale to Axis41, our clients, and our partners by leveraging the group's experience, global footprint, and business acumen," said Pynes. "Equally important to us in our decision was the fact that such a vibrant, modern, growth-focused agency offers the perfect cultural and professional fit for our employees and our clients." 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 25 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. When combined with its strength in performance media, Merkle creates customer experiences that drive improved marketing results and shareholder value. With more than 3,400 employees, Merkle is headquartered in Columbia, Maryland with 15 additional offices in the US and offices in Barcelona, London, Shanghai, and Nanjing. In 2016, the agency joined the Dentsu Aegis Network. For more information, contact Merkle at 1-877-9-Merkle or visit www.merkleinc.com. About Dentsu Aegis Network Part of Dentsu Inc., Dentsu Aegis Network is made up of ten global network brands - Carat, Dentsu, Dentsu media, iProspect, Isobar (News - Alert), 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 around 35,000 dedicated specialists. www.dentsuaegisnetwork.com About Axis41 Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, Axis41 is a digital marketing agency specializing in brand strategy, creative content, UI/UX architecture, site analytics and CMS implementation. The agency has worked with industry-leading clients such as Adobe, Backcountry.com, Ciena, Iron Mountain, Outside Magazine, SafeNet (News - Alert), and 1-800 CONTACTS. www.axis41.com
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