• by Joe Mandese  @mp_joemandese, February 9, 2012

Publicis Groupe, which has been bulking up on digital agency acquisitions as part of a long-term plan, this morning unveiled a “friendly takeover bid” of Pixelpark, an independent digital shop headquartered in Germany.

The disclosure, which came as part of the agency holding company’s quarterly earnings report, said the offer was made by Publicis’ German subsidiary, MMS, which bid a 28% premium over Pixelpark’s current share price, but it did not disclose the number of shares being acquired, or what the total value of the acquisition would be.

Publicis said the offer was contingent on acquiring at least 75% of the current shares of Pixelpark, and noted that the deal would be subject to German regulatory approval.

Publicis said Pixelpark's core businesses range from “the creation of digital brands, consulting, content management, the social media, mobile marketing, eBusiness solutions and data analysis and management.”

Publicis, which is the parent of digital and media agencies such as Digitas, Starcom MediaVest Group and ZenithOptimedia Group, has been on a digital acquisitions tear, and earlier this month acquired Flip Media, one of the large digital agency networks in the Middle East.

Earlier this year, it acquired France’s Mediagong, and Russia’s The Creative Factory.