Publicis Groupe Acquires the Publicis MARC Group - Strengthens Holistic Offer in...

Publicis Groupe Acquires the Publicis MARC Group - Strengthens Holistic Offer
in the Balkan Region

PARIS, May 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Publicis Groupe announced today
the acquisition of its long-term affiliate Publicis MARC, the Bulgarian
integrated communications agency. Publicis MARC offers the full range of
communication services and offers its clients expertise in advertising, PR,
media consultancy, web and event marketing, sales promotions, direct
marketing and production. The Sofia-based agency will become part of the
Publicis Worldwide global network. Nikolai Nedelchev, the founder and CEO of
Publicis MARC, will continue to manage the agency and from now will report to
Tomasz Pawlikowski, CEO Publicis Central and Eastern Europe.
Publicis MARC was founded in 1995, and has enjoyed a special partnership
with Publicis Worldwide since 2002. The agency employs over 120 professionals
and services a broad range of international and Bulgarian clients including
L'Oreal, Garnier, Renault, Nestle, leading retail bank DSK, Coca-Cola,
Zagorka (Heineken), P&G, Sony, Starbucks, BNP Personal Finance, Carrefour,
and Shell. For the last two years, Publicis MARC has been the most
internationally awarded Bulgarian agency at awards shows such as the Golden
Drum and Epica awards.
Richard Pinder, Chief Operating Officer of Publicis Worldwide, greeted
the news with enthusiasm, "As a company, we are investing in countries and
disciplines that offer growth. We believe that Bulgaria has significant
growth potential and our investment in Publicis MARC is the most promising
way for us to tap into it. We are very happy to be closing this deal."
Nikolai Nedelchev, CEO of Publicis MARC, added, "This is a logical next
step in our strong collaboration with Publicis Groupe, and it has made
Publicis MARC Group the first-of-its-kind advertising and marketing services
structure in Bulgaria. We are very excited as this means a broader range of
business opportunities, and also provides us a chance for sustainable growth
and stability over the long term."
About Publicis MARC
Employing over 120 professionals, Publicis MARC Group is one of
Bulgaria's leading specialized marketing communications agencies. The
Publicis MARC Group was created in 2002, resulting from a partnership between
M.A.R.C. agency (founded back in 1995 by Nikolai Nedelchev) and Publicis.
Some of the agency's biggest accounts are Renault, HP, Groupe SEB, L'Oreal,
GARNIER, MAGGI, OMV, Reader's Digest, DSK Bank (part of OTP Group),
Coca-Cola, EVN, Kraft Foods, P&G, Sony, Shell, Intersnacks, Zagorka (part of
Heineken group), among others.
Web site: http://www.publicis-marc.bg
About Publicis Worldwide
Publicis Worldwide ranks among the largest global marketing
communications companies. Its parent company is Publicis Groupe (Euronext
Paris: FR0000130577). The network spans 82 countries with approximately 9,000
employees. Its total offering includes advertising; interactive and digital
marketing; CRM and direct marketing. Publicis' blue-chip client portfolio
includes some of the world's best known companies: Airbus, Coca-Cola, EADS,
Fidelity, HP, LG, L'Oreal, Nestle, P&G, Renault, Siemens, Pernod-Ricard,
Sanofi-Aventis, UBS, Telefonica, Zurich.
Web site: http://www.publicis.com
About Publicis Groupe
Publicis Groupe [Euronext Paris: FR0000130577] is the world's fourth
largest communications group. In addition, it is ranked as the world's second
largest media agency, and is a global leader in digital and healthcare
communications. With activities spanning 104 countries on five continents,
the Groupe employs approximately 45,000 professionals. Publicis Groupe offers
local and international clients a complete range of advertising services
through three global advertising networks, Leo Burnett, Publicis, Saatchi &
Saatchi, and two multi-hub networks, Fallon and 49%-owned Bartle Bogle
Hegarty. Media consultancy and buying is offered through two worldwide
networks, Starcom MediaVest Group and ZenithOptimedia; and interactive and
digital marketing led by Digitas. Publicis Groupe recently launched VivaKi to
leverage the combined scale of the autonomous operations of Digitas, Starcom
MediaVest Group, Denuo and ZenithOptimedia to develop new services, tools,
and next generation digital platforms. Publicis Groupe's Specialized Agencies
and Marketing Services offer healthcare communications, corporate and
financial communications, sustainability communications, shopper marketing,
public relations, CRM and direct marketing, event and sports marketing, and
multicultural communications.
Web site: http://www.publicisgroupe.com
SOURCE Publicis Groupe Services

Contacts: Publicis Groupe, Peggy Nahmany, Corporate Communication,
+33-1-44-43-72-83, Martine Hue, Investor Relations, +33-1-44-43-65-00.
Publicis Worldwide, Sarah Hazell, +44-207-830-3426. Publicis MARC, Ralitsa
Zhikova, +359-2-915-90-68