Publicis takeover by Capgemini rumours resurface – report (translated)
04 OCT 2017
Rumours of a possible acquisition of French advertising group Publicis [EPA:PUB] by French IT consulting giant Capgemini [EPA:CAP] have resurfaced, French daily Le Figaro reported without citing any source.
The report cited Paul Hermelin, head of Capgemini, as saying that in order to improve and supplement the group’s offering in the marketing and digital sectors, he would rather build alliances with advertising companies
than acquire them.
than acquire them.
Hermelin however added that because of the digital transformation of businesses and the digitalisation of the customer experience, companies like Accenture have become a competitor to advertising groups.
And if Accenture [NYSE:ACN] decides to acquire a major advertising company, then the shareholders and the markets would likely put strong pressure on Capgemini. Meaning that the company could have to think about how to “go into” advertising, Hermelin went on to say.
Capgemini has 200,000 employees and reported sales of EUR 12.5bn in 2016.