Publicis Groupe Acquires Chinese Digital Agency Wangfan

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November 2, 2011
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Publicis Groupe Acquires Chinese Digital Agency Wangfan

PARIS, November 2, 2011/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --

    Move Boosts Publicis Groupe in the Fast-Growing Shanghai Market

    Publicis Groupe [EURONEXT Paris: FR0000130577] announced today that it
has acquired 100% of Wangfan, an innovative digital agency based in Shanghai
that focuses on piloting interactive campaigns, web branding, and the
conception and design of websites.

    Founded in 1997, Wangfan was among the first digital agencies in China,
and has won numerous creative awards. The agency has seen rapid revenue
growth in recent years, with a 19% increase in 2010 over 2009 and a
projected 16% increase in 2011. Its clients include Puma and Shanghai
General Motors, alongside a broad range of other international and Chinese
companies.

    Wangfan will be rebranded to become part of Publicis Modem Shanghai, the
digital arm of Publicis Shanghai, and Wangfan CEO Bill Wang will become
Managing Director of Publicis Modem Shanghai. Wangfan's 61-person team will
provide a fresh boost to Publicis' local skill-set in the surging digital
market. According to ZenithOptimedia, ad expenditure rose by 25.3% in China
in 2010. Further double-digit growth is expected through 2013, driven
specifically by Internet advertising, whose share of total spend will rise
from around 18% in 2010 to 25% by the end of 2013.

    The acquisition of Wangfan, which remains subject to the approval of the
relevant authorities, is another step towards Publicis Groupe's ambitious
objective of doubling its size in the fast-growing Chinese market between
2010 and 2012. This goal is part of an overall strategy of strongly boosting
revenue derived from emerging economies and from the digital sector. In the
past twelve months the Groupe has acquired Chinese agencies Genedigi (June
2011), Dreams (May 2011), Interactive Communications Ltd (ICL) (February
2011), and Eastwei Relations (November 2010). In terms of organic growth
(not including acquisitions and foreign exchange movements), China was one
of eleven countries where the Groupe's growth hit double digits in the first
half of 2011.

    Jean-Yves Naouri, Publicis Groupe COO and Chairman of China Publicis
Groupe, commented, "China is a core priority for us. It's a market where we
aim to be perceived as essential interlocutors. Wangfan is a superb agency
with a talented and fast-moving team. They began as pioneers and they have
kept moving ahead of the creative and technological wave in the ongoing
digital boom. We're pleased to welcome them to our team in Shanghai."

    "Through this acquisition, Publicis Shanghai is able to integrate more
talents and resources, and to offer our clients more services," added
Chenghua Yang, Managing Director of Publicis Shanghai.

    "We're delighted to be coming to Publicis," said Bill Wang. "We've been
working on big digital campaigns for international and local clients for a
number of years. Now that we'll be operating from within a major
international communications group we can sharpen some new skills and put
them at the service of our clients. It's a win-win move for all of us."

    About Publicis Groupe

    Publicis Groupe [Euronext Paris FR0000130577, part of the CAC 40 index]
is the third largest communications group in the world, offering the full
range of services and skills: digital and traditional advertising, public
affairs and events, media buying and specialized communication. Its major
networks are Leo Burnett, MSLGROUP, PHCG (Publicis Healthcare Communications
Group), Publicis Worldwide, Rosetta and Saatchi & Saatchi. VivaKi, the
Groupe's media and digital accelerator, includes Digitas, Razorfish, Starcom
MediaVest Group and ZenithOptimedia. Present in 104 countries, the Groupe
employs 50,000 professionals.

    Web: http://www.publicisgroupe.com

    Twitter:@PublicisGroupe

    Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/publicisgroupe

    About Publicis Modem

    Publicis Modem is a global digital agency network that works with
world-class companies in more than 40 countries and has over 1,000 digital
employees. Publicis Modem offers a range of integrated marketing services,
including strategy and planning; award winning creative design and
execution; media research, planning and buying; search marketing; online and
offline direct marketing; and technology enablement. Publicis Modem is part
of the Publicis Worldwide network and a member of the Paris-based Publicis
Groupe.

   
    Web Site : http://www.publicismodem.com

    Wangfan Contact information
    Room 103, District B,2453 WanHangdu Road, Shanghai, 200051 China
    +86-21-51187989
    http://www.wangfan.com

    Contacts
    Publicis Groupe
    Martine Hue, Investors Relations, +33(0)1-44-43-65-00
    Peggy Nahmany, Corporate Communication, +33(0)1-44-43-72-83

    Publicis Shanghai
    Carrie Tu, +86-21-2208-3968

Source: Publicis Groupe

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