MAM
Publicis acquires German communications agency CNC
MUMBAI: Soon after buying out BBBH, Publicis Groupe has acquired Germany‘s strategic communications consultancy Communications & Network Consulting AG (CNC).
The acquired company will become a part of Publicis’ flagship strategic communications network, MSLGROUP.
CNC will, however, continue to be led by current CEO Dr. Christoph Walther. The CNC supervisory board will see the addition of MSLGROUP CEO Olivier Fleurot and MSLGROUP president for the EMEA region Anders Kempe with the latter taking the mantle of chairman.
CNC is group headquartered in Munich and has offices in 14 other cities including one at New Delhi. Started in 2002, the agency employs close to 100 professionals across its offices in Europe, Asia, North and South America.
The German clients will be offered the services of two consultancies. On the one hand, clients can avail of the services of CNC with its particular focus on strategic, financial and corporate communications as well as public affairs and on the other, they also can use the services of MSL Germany, with its broad capabilities across the communications spectrum including social media, corporate communications and reputation management.
CNC advises large corporations, mid-cap companies, institutions and individuals on all aspects of strategic communications within their specific markets providing services like strategic communications and reputation management, financial communications, crisis counseling including litigation advisory, branding and public affairs.
In the IPO market, CNC has been the market leader in Germany since 2005. The consultancy has been involved in more than 100 transactions with a total volume of more than 180 billion Euro and has a particularly strong focus on cross-border mandates.
Publicis Groupe chairman and CEO Maurice Levy said, “CNC is one of the premier strategic and financial public relations firms in Europe, with a client base that is outstanding. I have followed CNC‘s success story with interest and I am impressed by the company‘s entrepreneurial spirit. The skill set will fit perfectly into our group and our strategy to make Germany one of our key hubs.”
Fleurot said, “Bringing CNC into MSLGROUP makes us one of the top three networks in Germany, and at the same time gives us very valuable additional strategic capabilities in other key markets. We see considerable potential in matching and leveraging our collective competencies and relationships.”
Walther added, “We are very excited to team up with Publicis Groupe‘s strategic communications network MSLGROUP as it provides us with a truly global footprint. While our current clients will enjoy continued high-class service by the existing CNC offices, we will be able to tap into the significant benefits offered by being part of MSLGROUP.”
Brands
PUMA Q1 profit jumps 19.6 per cent to €51.9m despite 6.3 per cent sales decline
Inventory clean-up and cost controls lift earnings as brand navigates transition year
HERZOGENAURACH: PUMA has kicked off 2026 on a steady note, reporting improved profitability in the first quarter even as sales slipped, signalling early progress in what it calls a transition year.
The German sportswear major posted sales of €1,863.8 million in Q1 2026, down 6.3 per cent on a reported basis. On a currency-adjusted basis, the decline was milder at 1.0 per cent, helped by ongoing inventory clearance efforts.
Profitability, however, told a more upbeat story. Gross profit margin rose 60 basis points to 47.7 per cent, driven by the reversal of inventory reserves, lower freight costs and a favourable channel mix. EBIT climbed 19.6 per cent to €51.9 million, despite €-12.6 million in one-time costs linked to a cost efficiency programme. Adjusted EBIT stood at €64.4 million, up from €61.3 million a year earlier.
Net profit from continuing operations surged to €26.5 million, a sharp jump from €1.1 million in Q1 2025, with earnings per share improving to €0.18. The financial result also improved significantly to €-15.6 million from €-38.5 million, aided by currency tailwinds.
Speaking on the performance, PUMA chief executive officer Arthur Hoeld said, “In the first quarter our athletes won 21 medals at the World Athletics Indoor Championships and set national records at the Berlin Half Marathon. Operationally, we were off to a solid start to our transition year in 2026. We have managed to reduce our inventory levels faster than planned, streamlined our product portfolio and addressed operational inefficiencies.”
Inventory reduction remained a central theme. Inventories fell 8.6 per cent to €1,898.0 million, while working capital dropped 9.7 per cent to €1,879.2 million. Trade receivables declined 20.3 per cent and trade payables were down 26.2 per cent, reflecting lower sales and purchasing volumes.
Regionally, performance was mixed. EMEA sales fell 10.4 per cent on a currency-adjusted basis to €774.5 million, impacted by weak demand and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The Americas grew 6.1 per cent (currency-adjusted) to €655.6 million, led by a strong 10.5 per cent rise in Latin America, though reported growth was hit by currency fluctuations. Asia Pacific emerged as a bright spot, growing 7.9 per cent to €433.8 million, supported by strong demand in Greater China and Southeast Asia.
By channel, wholesale revenue declined 2.8 per cent (currency-adjusted), while direct-to-consumer sales rose 3.8 per cent to €528.1 million. The DTC share increased to 28.3 per cent from 27.5 per cent last year, reflecting a sharper focus on owned retail and digital channels.
Product-wise, footwear sales dipped 2.3 per cent (currency-adjusted) to €1,089.6 million, though running and training categories showed strong growth. Apparel inched up 0.9 per cent to €546.3 million, aided by football and golf, while accessories remained broadly stable at €227.9 million.
Free cash flow, though still negative at €-201.4 million due to seasonality, improved significantly from €-737.6 million a year ago. Net debt rose to €1,357.6 million, but the company maintained financial flexibility with €1,104.7 million in cash and available credit lines.
Looking ahead, PUMA reaffirmed its full-year outlook. It expects currency-adjusted sales to decline in the low to mid single-digit range, with EBIT projected between €-50 million and €-150 million. Capital expenditure for 2026 is pegged at around €200 million, focused on digital infrastructure and DTC expansion.
PUMA chief executive officer Arthur Hoeld added, “For the remainder of the year, we will continue to focus on improving the quality of our distribution, cost base and cash management. In doing so, we are laying the foundations for future growth.”
With inventory clean-up ahead of schedule and operational efficiencies beginning to show, PUMA appears to be tightening its laces for a stronger run, even as macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainties continue to test the track ahead.
