Merkle (www.merkle.com), a leading customer relationship marketing (CRM) firm and the nation’s largest privately-held agency, announced that it has acquired San Francisco-based 5th Finger, a leading technology-enabled mobile solutions provider. The acquisition supports Merkle’s ongoing strategy to expand its capabilities in mobile – adding another layer of expertise to the company’s connected CRM methodology and will complement Merkle’s existing mobile marketing practice.

5th Finger is the global authority on innovative mobile retail solutions and mobile health solutions and has won many prestigious industry awards. The business drives mobile enabled revenue for leading retailers, such as Jos. A. Bank, Jo-Ann Fabric & Crafts and Safeway, and improves patient adherence for the nation’s top pharmaceutical companies. 5th Finger’s unique hybrid structure unites its agency experience with technical disciplines to deliver a full spectrum of mobile solutions.

5th Finger has developed a suite of industry leading mobile technologies. For retailers and brands, the RedShop platform enables customizable mobile web, mobile app and tablet commerce experiences. 5th Finger’s mobile health technology, RedShop Rx, provides the most secure health tracking, education, engagement and sales support functions on the market.  And it’s latest product, RedShop Responsive, makes for one unified and easily managed website experience across desktop, mobile and tablet environments.

“The addition of 5th Finger’s mobile solutions to the Merkle family will present our clients with new tools and expertise in consumer  mobile marketing,” said David Williams, chairman and CEO of Merkle. “5th Finger’s unique hybrid of being a traditional mobile agency and deep technology platform provider will help expand Merkle’s capabilities to meet the changing landscape of marketing fueled by the evolution of the mobile space.”

5th Finger CEO, Patrick Collins, commented on the acquisition, “We are very excited to be uniting with Merkle.  We can now bring 5th Finger’s customers a deeper, more analytics driven mobile solution, which aligns with our vision of delivering increasingly relevant, engaging and successful mobile programs to market for our clients. With Merkle’s extensive client-base, a marriage between our two businesses feels very natural. I am excited to continue our rapid growth and to leverage the Merkle brand to attract the best mobile talent in the industry.”

5th Finger will continue to be a capability brand, positioned within the company’s Digital Solutions Group. The integration of Merkle’s core competencies with the new technologies available through 5th Finger’s RedShop Technology, will allow for better customer engagement, customer value, and conversion to support the true integration of mobile commerce, marketing and CRM.