Professional services company Accenture has announced its intent to acquire SinnerSchrader, the fourth largest digital marketing and advertising agency in Germany. With the acquisition, Accenture intends ‘strengthen and expand the capabilities’ of its digital agency, Accenture Interactive, in Germany.

The German agency develops digital products, services, and marketing solutions. It employs around 500 people in studios in Hamburg, Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Hanover and Prague – boasting clients such Allianz, Audi and BMW.

Brian Whipple, head of Accenture Interactive, said: “With SinnerSchrader, we continue to build out Accenture Interactive’s position as a leading digital customer experience agency.”

The pair have signed an agreement for Accenture to purchase a 62 per cent majority of the German company’s shares from co-founder and CEO Matthias Schrader, CFO Thomas Dyckhoff, and at other shareholders at €9 (£7.61) per share. With its sights set on a full takeover, Accenture will eventually launch a public tender offer to all remaining shareholders at the same price.

Under the terms of the agreement, the pair aim ‘to jointly develop digital transformation solutions through the combination of consulting, design and technology’. In addition, Schrader will retain his role as CEO of the company and, in the near future, lead the joint digital agency business of Accenture Interactive in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

“The planned acquisition will benefit our clients and employees as well as our shareholders,” said Schrader.

The acquisition, expected to close in the first half of 2017, is Accenture Interactive’s tenth since 2013. Most recently, it acquired independently-owned British creative advertising agency Karmarama.