Publicis Groupe to Buy Sapient for $3.7 Billion

Publicis Groupe, a French PR firm, will buy digital marketing company Sapient for $3.7 billion, said a Publicis news release Monday. The buy will let Publicis derive 50 percent of revenue from “digital and technology three years ahead of 2018 plan,” said Maurice Levy, Publicis CEO. “This transaction provides substantial value to our shareholders, offers an ideal cultural match for our people and provides an opportunity to share a wealth of new capabilities with our clients,” said Sapient CEO Alan Herrick. Publicis plans to create Publicis.Sapient, a website focused on “digital transformation and the dynamics of an always-on world across marketing, omni-channel commerce, consulting and technology,” said the release.