Database giant Salesforce has moved to acquire digital marketing provider Exact Target, in a deal which is expected to be finalised by the end of July and worth $2.5 billion.

Exact Target which provides online marketing services has provided services to major labels including Coca-Cola and Nike, with over 6,000 companies and brands employing Exact’s services.

The marketing company’s acquisition marks the largest purchase deal that Salesforce has carried out, of the 40 companies purchased over the last five years.

The move comes as digital marketing is predicted to expand rapidly over the following two years, with the purchase complimenting the acquisition of a social media monitoring company and a social media management company in 2011 and 2012 respectively.

The database giant has said that the new deal is expected to deliver a additional $120 million in revenue by 2014.

Salesforce.com launches storage application Chatterbox

Salesforce.com acquires shared-browsing company GoInstant