Publicis achieves all-time high of €1.4bn in new business

by Daniel Farey-Jones, Brand Republic 11-Feb-05, 09:15

LONDON - Publicis Group achieved organic growth of 4% last year, although unfavourable currency movements caused its revenue to drop 1% to €3.83bn.

It won record new business of €1.4bn (£963.3m) in the fourth quarter, including Nestle's £900m US media planning and buying account.

Maurice Levy, Publicis chairman and CEO, said: "Our growth last year was healthy and solid, the source of operating margin that is exceeding targets. Our performance in terms of cash generation should also be beyond the objectives we have set."

The company revealed growth ranging from solid performance in Europe and North America to double figures in Asia Pacific and Latin America.

Levy said: "The year 2005 looks good: solid growth, without the advantage of major communications events and without the disadvantage of major economic uncertainties."

Levy added that he thought that consolidation in the advertising industry was almost over. He refused to comment directly on rival French group Havas, the subject of takeover speculation, but said that the last opportunities came with "only marginal benefits and sometimes some headaches".

"The consolidation is coming to an end. There are probably only one or two operations that can still be consolidated, but it is not something that will change the life of any of the big holding companies," he said.

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