Indiantelevision.com Team

(13 March 2007 9:00 pm)

MUMBAI: Publicis, the world's fourth largest communications group and second largest media counsel and buying group, has announced its financial results for the 2006 fiscal, reporting "strong performance in all areas".

Looking at a regionwise break-up, Europe grew 5.1 per cent, North America 5.3 per cent, Asia-Pacific 5.3 per cent, Latin America 9.3 per cent and Africa-Middle East 20 per cent.

Commenting on the results, Publicis Groupe chairman and CEO Maurice Levy said: "Publicis Groupe teams have not only kept all their commitments, but once again-surpassed them.

"Our 2006 results are further confirmation of the effectiveness of the strategy we have pursued over recent years. Strong organic growth and net new business are especially satisfactory as they follow the extraordinary records set in 2005. Operating margin came in at 16.3 per cent of revenue, a record high for our industry, while vigorous cash generation resulted in free cash flow of over Eur500 million.

"The strength of our financial performance has allowed Publicis Groupe to engage in major strategic moves, notably marked by the acquisition of Digitas. This vaults us to a leading global position in digital and interactive communications.

Publicis is targeting an operating margin of 16.7 per cent, including allowance for the impact of the Digitas acquisition, in 2008.