We have also verified, in accordance with the professional standard applicable in France relating to the procedures performed by statutory auditor regarding the annual and consolidated financial statements prepared in the European single electronic format, that the preparation of the consolidated financial statements intended to be included in the annual financial report mentioned in article L.451-1-2, I of the French Monetary and Financial Code (Code monétaire et financier), prepared under the responsibility of Chairman of the Management Board, complies with the single electronic format defined in Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 2019/815 of December, 17 2018. Regarding consolidated financial statements, our work includes verifying that the tagging thereof complies with the format defined in the above mentioned regulation.
On the basis of our work, we conclude that the preparation of the consolidated financial statements intended to be included in the annual financial report complies, in all material respects, with the European single electronic format.
We have no responsibility to verify that the consolidated financial statements that will ultimately be included by your company in the annual financial report filed with the AMF (Autorité des marchés financiers) agree with those on which we have performed our work.
We were appointed as statutory auditors of Publicis Groupe by your Annual General Meeting held on June 25, 1981 for MAZARS and on June 4, 2007 for ERNST & YOUNG et Autres.
As at December 31, 2021, MAZARS and ERNST & YOUNG et Autres were in the 41th year and 15th year of total uninterrupted engagement respectively (ERNST & YOUNG Audit having previously served as statutory auditor of Publicis Groupe from 2001 to 2006).
Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union and for such internal control as management determines is necessary to enable the preparation of consolidated financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the consolidated financial statements, management is responsible for assessing the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless it is expected to liquidate the Company or to cease operations.
The Audit Committee is responsible for monitoring the financial reporting process and the effectiveness of internal control and risk management systems and where applicable, its internal audit, regarding the accounting and financial reporting procedures.
The consolidated financial statements were approved by the Management Board.