Publicis to acquire 60% in Solutions Integrated

Paris-based Publicis Group, the world's fourth-biggest marketing-services group, will acquire 60 per cent of Solutions Integrated Marketing Services for an undisclosed sum, subject to Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval.

Solutions Integrated Marketing provides direct, digital, retail, promotional and event marketing services to clients including Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, Cisco, Gillette and ESPN. The acquisition is meant to enhance Publicis' presence in the Indian marketing space.

The Publicis Group's presence in India is through Leo Burnett, Saatchi & Saatchi, StarcomMediaVest, ZenithOptimedia and Publicis Worldwide (with Publicis India and Publicis Ambience).

Solutions Integrated Marketing, post the acquisition, will become a resource for all Publicis Group agencies, particularly to its large global marketing services networks namely Arc Worldwide, Saatchi & Saatchi X, and Publicis Dialog. These networks will allow Solutions Integrated to deliver marketing services solutions to Publicis' clients.

"Specialised agencies and marketing services are a key investment area for the group, which is especially true for a fast-growing economy like India," said Maurice Levy, chairman and CEO of Publicis Group, in a statement.

Levy added that developing countries such as India could see explosive growth in marketing services "� which could include everything from staging promotional events to helping companies figure out better ways to sell their products.

"India will be an increasingly critical area for us and we are thrilled to have Solutions Integrated on board, to provide world-class marketing solutions for our clients who continue to invest in India and South Asia," said Levy.

On growth prospects, Levy said: "There is almost no infrastructure in marketing services, and you can expect tremendous growth because we are starting from a very low base."

Srikant Sastri, co-founder and managing director of Solutions Integrated said: "With Publicis, we have access to global resources, making us a better organisation and helping us deliver greater value for our multinational clients."