Regulatory News :
Publicis Groupe (Paris:PUB) [EURONEXT Paris: FR0000130577] today announced the acquisition of Net@lk, one of China's leading social media services providers.
Specialising in delivering tailor-made social influence marketing campaigns to clients and building brands in a social context, Net@lk is a group comprised of four stand-alone business divisions: Net@lk and Simone, providing social media services; Lenx, producing social content; and Buzzreader, engaging in social intelligence including monitoring, research and analytics, covering most social platforms in China, such as Weibo, Renren, Youku, Taobao, and WeChat.
Founded in 2007 Shanghai's Net@lk has aggressively grown and now employs a team of over 350 people in six cities (Shanghai, Beijing, Hefei, Chengdu, Nanjing, Xiamen) offering research, insight, strategic planning, branded content creation, engagement, and analytics in the realm of social media. Net@lk services more than 200 clients both local and multinational, including Coca Cola, Pernod Ricard, Walmart and Adidas - all of which have been with the agency from the year of its creation.
Net@lk and Lenx will be aligned with DigitasLBi, creating one of the largest agencies in China developing socially-connected consumer engagement strategies to drive business results. Simone will be merged with the social media division of Razorfish, strengthening its existing capabilities, and Buzzreader will be aligned with VivaKi, making this social intelligence capability available to the entire Publicis Groupe. The move follows a number of recent acquisitions announced by Publicis Groupe and further strengthens the Groupe's presence in China as well as its global digital leadership.
Existing Net@lk CEO Lamy Zhang will lead the newly merged DigitasLBi Net@lk operation, and will report to Roy Capon, CEO of DigitasLBi APAC.
"We committed to grow our digital marketing capabilities in China on the dual strategic pillars of e-commerce and social media," said Vincent Digonnet, Executive Chairman of Razorfish and DigitasLBi networks in APAC. "The acquisition of Longtuo in May 2012 enhanced Razorfish's e-commerce development capability and the acquisition of Net@lk completes our two-pronged strategy making DigitasLBi the leading socially-led digital marketing network in China."
"We are proud to join a group as steeped in history and success as Publicis Groupe and see this as the most exciting step in our onward journey," added Lamy Zhang. "We look forward to bringing full digital marketing and e-commerce capabilities to our clients and continuing to pioneer social media expertise in China."
Jean-Yves Naouri, COO, Publicis Groupe, commented, "The Net@lk acquisition is another realisation of the Publicis Groupe strategy for digital leadership in China, demonstrating our commitment to developing our networks in fast-growing markets and sectors. Net@lk bolsters our existing team expertise providing both our local and multinational clients best-in-class services."
The Groupe counts 84 agencies in China with a total headcount of 6,300 permanent staff through its brands Publicis Worldwide, Saatchi & Saatchi, Leo Burnett, VivaKi, MSLGROUP, PHCG, DigitasLBi and Razorfish.
About Publicis Groupe
Publicis Groupe [Euronext Paris
FR0000130577, CAC 40] is one of the world's leading communications
groups. We offer the full range of services and skills: digital
(DigitasLBi, Razorfish, Rosetta, VivaKi), creative services (BBH, Leo
Burnett, Publicis Worldwide, Saatchi & Saatchi), public affairs,
corporate communications and events (MSLGROUP), media strategy, planning
and buying (Starcom MediaVest Group and ZenithOptimedia) and healthcare
communications, with Publicis Healthcare Communications Group (PHCG).
Present in 108 countries, the Groupe employs 60,000 professionals.
www.publicisgroupe.com
| Twitter:@PublicisGroupe | Facebook: www.facebook.com/publicisgroupe
Viva
la Difference !
About DigitasLBi
DigitasLBi, the leading, "most complete" global digital agency network,
partners with some of the foremost marketers and brands in the world.
Also a top ten global agency, DigitasLBi comprises of 5,700
best-in-class digital and technology experts in 25 countries around the
world.
In 2012, Digitas and LBi received a combined total of over
200 awards globally including two Cannes Lions Grand Prix's and SXSW
People's Choice Award. Digitas was also recently named OMMA Agency of
the Year 2012 and LBi UK Digital Agency of the Year 2012 by Marketing
magazine. Digitas USA operates the brand content platform, The Third
Act: producers of first and most well renowned event on digital content, The
NewFront.
About Razorfish
Razorfish, ranked in Advertising Age's
A-List top ten in 2012 and 2013, creates experiences that build
businesses. As one of the largest interactive marketing and technology
companies in the world, Razorfish helps its clients build better brands
by delivering business results through customer experiences. Razorfish
combines the best thought leadership of the consulting world with the
leading capabilities of the marketing services industry to support our
clients' business needs, such as launching new products, repositioning a
brand or participating in the social world. Razorfish has 3,000 digital
professionals, with offices in Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, Hong
Kong, Japan, the UK and the United States. Clients include Audi, C&A,
Delta, DHL, McDonald's, Nike, Samsung and Unilever. Razorfish is part of
Publicis Groupe.
For further information: http://www.razorfish.com
| Twitter: @razorfish | Facebook: www.facebook.com/razorfish
About VivaKi
Part of Publicis Groupe (Euronext Paris
Exchange: FR0000130577; and part of the CAC 40 index), the world's third
largest communications group, VivaKi was established in 2008 to propel
the digital transformation and expertise of the Groupe and its agencies.
Today VivaKi is the global leader in digital advertising solutions,
working with the world's leading organizations and most innovative
start-ups to navigate the evolving and chaotic media landscape. Across
the globe, VivaKi employs more than 300 engineers, technology experts,
product designers, analysts and digital marketing professionals.
Visit
us online at www.vivaki.com or
follow us on Twitter: @Vivaki
About Net@lk
Net@lk, founded in 2007, is China's leading
social media company. Having worked with over 60 Fortune, 500 companies
and almost 300 top brands over its history, Net@lk specializes in
all-inclusive solutions for all of a brand's social networking needs.
With in-house creative, implementation, media, production house, and
measurement services, Net@lk has been a trailblazer in China for
developing socially led marketing strategy and leveraging consumer
engagement. Currently employing 350 staff, Net@lk has offices in six
cities across China, including Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, Hefei,
Xiamen, and Nanjing.
Publicis Groupe
Peggy Nahmany, + 33 (0)1 44 43 72 83
Corporate
Communication
or
Martine Hue, + 33 (0)1 44 43 65 00
Investor
Relations
or
Stéphanie Constand-Atellian, + 33 (0)1 44 43 74 44
Investor
Relations
or
Digitas
Jill Kelly, +1 646-735-7330
EVP,
Global Director,
Corporate Communications