On September 14, Publicis Health, Publicis Groupe’s Healthcare solution, announced the acquisition of PlowShare Group, the leading communications agency exclusively dedicated to humanitarian organizations and federal agencies for marketing campaigns on social causes and missions. Created over 20 years ago, PlowShare works with the American Red Cross, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Habitat for Humanity, MakeA-Wish Foundation, March of Dimes, World Wildlife Fund. Based in Stamford (Connecticut) with offices in Atlanta, New York and Washington DC, and with a team of 18 people, PlowShare provides all advertising and marketing services: media buying, creation, public relations, social media, etc.
On September 29, Publicis Communications announced the acquisition of Harbor Picture Company, a production company specializing in advertising films for television and Internet. Created seven years ago, Harbor Picture Company is attached to Prodigious, Publicis’ production entity.
Total acquisition costs for entities integrated during 2017 (gross payments, before acquired cash) came to euro 76 million. In addition, euro 232 million was paid out in earn-outs and euro 35 million to buy-out non-controlling interests.
In 2017, in addition to the shares bought under the liquidity contract, the Group carried out share buybacks for an amount of euro 324 million, as part of the hedging for performance stock plans for Group employees.
2018 saw the implementation of the “Sprint to the Future” plan. This resulted in a number of acquisitions, designed in particular to strengthen the strategic game changers (data, dynamic creativity, digital business transformation), but also the disposal of a number of companies that fell outside the scope of this plan
Publicis Groupe completed the disposal of Genedigi in the second quarter of 2018.
On July 17, Publicis Health announced the acquisition of Payer Sciences, an ultra-innovative agency employing marketing strategies built around strong expertise in data analytics, and helping pharmaceutical groups in their dealings with the reimbursement systems in the United States. Based in Morristown, New Jersey, Payer Sciences has a 40-strong team of data analysts, experts in reimbursement systems and in B2B communications.
On August 1, Publicis Communications announced the acquisition of One Digital, a digital agency based in Sao Paulo, focused on performance and creativity. Founded in 2003, One Digital has 64 employees and works with both Brazilian and international brands such as Agora (investments), American Express, Autoline (financial services), BitBlue (crypto-currency), Bradesco (banking services), Next (online banking services), Norsk Hydro Brasil (aluminum production) and ShopFacil. com (e-commerce). The agency will be part of Publicis Communications, which has 1,700 employees in Brazil across all agencies including Arc, Deepline, DPZ&T, F/Nazca Saatchi & Saatchi, Leo Burnett, Tailor Made, MSL, Publicis Brésil, Prodigious, Sapient AG2, Talent Marcel and Vivid Brand.
On October 4, Publicis Groupe announced the acquisition of Kindred Group, the largest independent digital communications player in the Czech Republic. Founded in 2013 by Michal Nýdrle and a number of partners, Kindred Group is a group of independent specialist agencies including the Nýdrle and Inspiro digital agencies, and the Red Media and Go.Direct media agencies. Within a period of five years, Kindred Group has become the largest independent digital communications agency in the Czech Republic in terms of revenue (source: Association of Communications Agencies Czech Republic). Kindred Group’s client base includes a series of local and international brands such as Moneta Money Bank, Unilever, KMV, Vodafone, Zoot, Rémy Cointreau, the Ceskoslovenska obchodní bank, Huawei and Makro Cash and Carry. Following this acquisition, the total number of Publicis Groupe employees in the country has grown to 400. Following the integration of Kindred Group, Publicis Groupe is in a position to offer an integrated solution to its clients in the Czech Republic encompassing data analysis, technology implementation and consultancy, as well as programmatic media buying and data enriched creativity.
On October 22, Publicis Groupe announced that it had entered exclusive negotiations with Xebia France, an agile IT consultancy firm. Founded in 2005 by Luc Legardeur, Xebia France is a renowned agile IT consultancy firm that specializes in Data, Web, Cloud technologies, reactive software programming and mobility. This technological gem, with a 170-strong talented team called the “Xebians”, works with large accounts such as Axa, Air France, BNP Paribas, la Française des Jeux, Meetic, Natixis, Sanofi and startup businesses such as BlaBlaCar, Early Birds, ManoMano. This merger would strengthen the Publicis Sapientteams in France (650 people) and bolster its technological expertise, which is a key component of Publicis Sapient ’s unique combination of strategy, consulting, experience and technological expertise – all of which are crucial to the delivery of a successful end-to-end transformation for clients. The acquisition was wrapped up at the end of 2018.
On December 20, Publicis Groupe announced that it had entered into exclusive negotiations with the founding shareholders of Soft Computing, a leading data marketing firm in France, with a view to the acquisition of a controlling block representing 82.99% of the share capital at a price of euro 25 per share (2018 coupon attached), i.e. at a premium of 66.66% to the closing price on December 19, 2018. This acquisition was completed on February 7, 2019. Created in 1984 by Eric Fischmeister and Gilles Venturi, Soft Computing is specialized in data and how it is applied to enhance digital marketing and transform the customer experience. With over 400 experts, this market leading company provides its services to the majority of large corporates in the retail, services and financial sectors. This merger reinforces Publicis Groupe’s data marketing expertise across the entire value chain in France, further consolidating its position as the preferred partner for its clients’ transformation.
On December 31, 2018, Publicis Groupe signed an agreement to sell Publicis Health Services (PHS) to Altamont Capital Partners. The disposal was completed on January 31, 2019. This disposal followed the July 2018 announcement of the strategic review of this asset, and the launch of the divestment process communicated to the market the following October. This entity is in the Contract Sales Organization business. This disposal allows Publicis Health, led by Alexandra von Plato, to refocus on its creative, media, insights and consulting activities. Publicis Groupe remains committed to providing the best possible solutions to help clients with their digital transformation and to this end will invest in health-related consulting, in data and technology.
