Publicis Groupe set to acquire Sapient in $4.2bn cash deal

Advertising holding company Publicis Groupe has made an offer of $25 per share to acquire the independent Sapient digital advertising agency, as it bids to strengthen its digital prowess following the failed merger with Omnicom earlier this year.

The $4.2bn acquisition of Boston-based Sapient, which has offices in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane under the SapientNitro badge, would see the French group, which has assets including creative agency Leo Burnett and media agencies Starcom Mediavest and Zenith Optimedia, take its digital earnings to above the 50 per cent target it had set itself in a recent review.

In a statement released to the market this evening Maurice Lévy, chairman and CEO of Publicis Groupe, said: “Sapient is a ‘crown jewel,’ a one of a kind company born in the technology space with strengths in marketing, communications, consulting and omni-channel commerce, all of which are equally important to best help clients achieve their digital transformation.