Publicis Groupe Acquires 49.32% of Business Interactif’s Capital To File a Mixed Tender Offer for Remaining Shares
PARIS, July 9, 2007 – Publicis Groupe announced today that it had acquired a 49.32% block of the share capital of Business Interactif following the agreement reached June 14th between Publicis Groupe and the senior managers and founders of Business Interactif, Emmanuel Henrion and François de la Villardière.
The transfer of the senior managers’ shares was agreed at the price of €10.10 for each Business Interactif share, with payment consisting of 50% in cash and 50% in new Publicis Groupe shares. Based on 100% of the capital of Business Interactif, this transaction values the company at €137 million, split between a €68 million cash component and 2.0 million newly-issued Publicis Groupe shares.1
Publicis Groupe will file a mixed public offer with the French financial authority (AMF) aimed at acquiring the remaining Business Interactif shares not yet held by Publicis Groupe. Under the principal mixed public offer, Business Interactif shareholders will receive 5 Publicis Groupe shares and €167 in cash in exchange for 33 Business Interactif shares. Under the subsidiary exchange offer, subject to an aggregate limit of 50% in Publicis Groupe shares and 50% in cash, Business Interactif minority shareholders will receive 10 newly-issued Publicis Groupe shares for 33 Business Interactif shares. Under the subsidiary cash offer, Publicis Groupe will offer to purchase Business Interactif shares for €10.10 / share.
A prospectus will be published once the offer is tendered, and will be available on the Publicis Groupe and AMF web sites. This document will also be available free of charge from Publicis Groupe, 133 avenue des Champs Elysees – 75008 Paris, Ixis Corporate & Investment Bank, a Natixis subsidiary, 47 quai d'Austerlitz – 75648 Paris Cedex 13, and from Lazard Freres Banque, 121 boulevard Hausmann – 75008 Paris. The tender offer will be opened within the coming weeks, upon obtaining AMF approval.
1 Number of shares calculated on the basis of 20 trading days weighted average price of Publicis Groupe shares, June 11, taking into account 0.5€/share of dividend paid on 3rd July 2007.
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Publicis Groupe (Euronext Paris: FR0000130577 and
NYSE: PUB) is the world’s fourth largest communications
group, and a global leader in digital and online advertising, media
consulting, and healthcare communications. With some 42,000
professionals in 104 countries, the Groupe’s activities cover
advertising, through three global advertising networks:
Leo Burnett, Publicis, Saatchi & Saatchi, as well as through
its two multi-hub networks Fallon Worldwide and 49%-owned Bartle
Bogle Hegarty; media agencies with two worldwide networks
ZenithOptimedia and Starcom MediaVest Group; and marketing
services, including digital and interactive communications through
Digitas; relationship and direct marketing, public and media
relations, corporate and financial communications, multicultural
communications, and event communications. The Groupe is also the
world leader in healthcare communications.
Web site: www.publicisgroupe.com
Business Interactif (Euronext Paris: FR 0000076051) is France’s leading and most integrated pure-play interactive marketing agency.
The company offers a complete range of services and products designed to optimize multi-channel relationships and interactive marketing strategies such as: Recruitment and loyalty building e-mail and marketing campaigns, Search engine optimization, Site design, implementation and maintenance.
Business Interactif has a strong International presence with offices in Paris, New York, Tokyo and Shanghai, and has an impressive portfolio of long term top-tier clients: Accor, Airbus, Areva, Bic, Carrefour, Chronopost, International Olympic Committee, EDF, Lancôme, Lagardère, L’Oréal, Nestlé, PPR Group, SEB Group, Renault, Société Générale, and others. Business Interactif has specialized units, such as Webformance, European leader in search engine optimization, and I Base, a leader in email marketing.
Web site: www.businessinteractif.fr
Contacts:
Publicis Groupe
Eve Magnant, Corporate Communications + 33 (0)1 44 43 70 25
Martine Hue, Investor Relations + 33 (0)1 44 43 65 00
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