Publicis Retains M&A Appetite in Midst of Megamerger
Posted in: Uncategorized
Publicis Groupe’s planned merger with Omnicom hasn’t sated the holding company’s acquisition appetite. Since late July, when the pairing was announced, the Paris-based Publicis has purchased — or proposed to purchase — a dozen digital, data and media shops from Brazil to Poland and Ohio to India.
Its latest is a proposal to buy a majority stake in London-based Walker Media, which is 75%-owned by M&C Saatchi and valued at $75 million. While Publicis’ recent investments are regional and small relative to its purchases over the last two years — it snagged Amsterdam-based Lbi for $540 million and Hamilton, N.J.-based Rosetta for $575 million — the timing of a shopping spree in the midst of a pending megamerger raises questions. For the ever-hungry Publicis, when is enough enough? And how will Publicis’ insatiable appetite jibe with Omnicom’s philosophy to build vs. buy?
Post a Comment