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Publicis Groupe Acquires Convonix, India's Leading Full Service Digital Marketing and Consulting Agency
PARIS, March 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
Publicis Groupe [EURONEXT Paris: FR0000130577] today announced the acquisition of
Convonix, one of India's leading Digital Marketing Consulting firms based in Mumbai. The
company will align with Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG) in India to provide Search Engine
Optimization, Paid Search Marketing, Social Media Marketing and Online Reputation
Management to an extensive roster of clients. This news follows a number of recent
acquisitions announced by Publicis Groupe in India and fortifies its position as India's
largest digital marketing operation.
Founded in 2003, Convonix was the first Search Engine Optimization organization in
India, and currently employs over 200 digital advertising specialists serving clients such
as Taj Hotels, Reliance Industries, Kotak Mahindra Group, Club Mahindra, Kodak, Aditya
Birla Group, among others. Convonix has a strong international footprint with over 60% of
its business coming from overseas. Convonix has also recently developed a proprietary
in-house brand monitoring and social listening platform called IrisTrack which enables
clients to gather market insight on their products and competitors and also engage
customers online to improve their customer service.
The three founding members, Vishal Sampat, CEO, Sarfaraz Khimani, co-COO and Pallav
Jain, co-COO, will continue to lead the agency. Convonix will sit within SMG and will
operate as SMG Convonix, with two market-facing brands: SMG Digital, and Convonix.
"As the first SEO organisation in India, Convonix has continued to innovate and build
the very best digital capability whilst being highly respected for its ability to recruit
the best talent from universities each year, and transform them into digital advertising
experts through a rigorous training program," said Laura Desmond, Global Chief Executive
Officer for Starcom MediaVest Group. She continues: "Combined with our existing talent in
the market, this deal strengthens our offering to ensure we are the market leaders in
digital."
Year on year, Convonix has increased revenues on average 66 percent since 2008.
According to the latest ZenithOptimedia adspend forecast, Search Marketing continues to
expand rapidly in India and is forecast to increase 35% in the region during 2013, and
more than 70% in the next two years.
Vishal Sampat, CEO for Convonix, comments: "We have built our reputation by focusing
on talent, training, technology and performance, and doing so has enabled us to rapidly
evolve with the consumer. Aligning with SMG gives us global scale and a more powerful face
to the market which we can leverage to constantly improve our offering and give our
clients the best tools and solutions available."
The acquisition of Convonix is a testament to Publicis Groupe's strategic commitment
to expanding its operations across India, with the ambitious goal of doubling its size in
India between 2010 and 2015. The Groupe has been working to increase its profile in the
country, including recent acquisitions of Indigo Consulting (April 2012), Resultrix
(August 2012), iStrat (December 2012) and MarketGate (December 2012).
Srikant Sastri, VivaKi Country Chair for India who is presiding over the acquisition
and transition of Convonix, adds: "First Resultrix, and now Convonix. We are now clearly
the digital marketing leaders in India, ahead of any other global network. We are positive
that this acquisition will set the tone for our next phase of digital pre-eminence both in
terms of expertise and revenue and we are continuing to explore other agencies that can
help us capitalize on the outstanding potential of the digital marketplace in India."
About Publicis Groupe
Publicis Groupe [Euronext Paris FR0000130577, part of the CAC 40 index] is the third
largest communications group in the world, offering the full range of services and skills:
digital (Digitas, Razorfish, Rosetta, VivaKi, LBi), traditional advertising (BBH, Leo
Burnett, Publicis Worldwide, Saatchi & Saatchi), public affairs, corporate communications
and events (MSLGROUP), media buying and strategy (Starcom MediaVest Group and
ZenithOptimedia) and specialized communications with PHCG (Publicis Healthcare
Communications Group). Present in 104 countries, the Groupe employs 58,000 professionals.
http://www.publicisgroupe.com | Twitter:@PublicisGroupe | Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/publicisgroupe
Viva la Difference !
About Starcom Mediavest Group (SMG)
Starcom MediaVest Group is the Human Experience Company. Our dream is to grow our
clients' business by transforming human behavior through uplifting, meaningful human
experiences. These brand "experiences'" are brought to life by distinct, strategic
point-of-views - Truth and Design and Space for Ideas - created and owned by SMG's two
global agency brands: MediaVest and Starcom, respectively. Ranked one of the largest brand
communications groups in the world, Starcom MediaVest Group (http://www.smvgroup.com)
encompasses an integrated network of human experience strategists, investment specialists,
content creators and digital experts. With nearly 6,700 employees in 110 offices
worldwide, SMG is the #1 ranked Global Media Agency (AdAge) and 2011 Media Network of the
Year at the Global Festival of Media as well as the most celebrated global media network
at the 2010 and 2009 Cannes International Advertising Festival.
About Convonix
Convonix is a 200 strong digital consulting firm that helps companies in India and
overseas draw and implement digital strategies spanning search engine optimization, search
engine marketing, social media marketing, online reputation management, web analytics and
conversion rate improvement. Founded in 2003, Convonix has evolved from being the first
pureplay SEO company in the country to offering the full range of digital advertising
solution for clients ranging from Fortune 100 companies to small and medium enterprises in
India, USA and Europe.
For more information on Convonix, visit http://www.convonix.com
Contacts
Publicis Groupe
Peggy Nahmany, Corporate Communications, +33(0)1-44-43-72-83
Martine Hue, Investor Relations, +33(0)1-44-43-65-00
Stephanie Atellian, Investor Relations, +33(0)1-44-43-74-44
Starcom MediaVest Group
Lauren Hurvitz, EVP, Global Corporate Communications, +1-212-468-3045
Publicis Groupe
Publicis Groupe Acquires Convonix, India's Leading Full Service Digital Marketing and Consulting Agency
PARIS, March 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
Publicis Groupe [EURONEXT Paris: FR0000130577] today announced the acquisition of
Convonix, one of India's leading Digital Marketing Consulting firms based in Mumbai. The
company will align with Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG) in India to provide Search Engine
Optimization, Paid Search Marketing, Social Media Marketing and Online Reputation
Management to an extensive roster of clients. This news follows a number of recent
acquisitions announced by Publicis Groupe in India and fortifies its position as India's
largest digital marketing operation.
Founded in 2003, Convonix was the first Search Engine Optimization organization in
India, and currently employs over 200 digital advertising specialists serving clients such
as Taj Hotels, Reliance Industries, Kotak Mahindra Group, Club Mahindra, Kodak, Aditya
Birla Group, among others. Convonix has a strong international footprint with over 60% of
its business coming from overseas. Convonix has also recently developed a proprietary
in-house brand monitoring and social listening platform called IrisTrack which enables
clients to gather market insight on their products and competitors and also engage
customers online to improve their customer service.
The three founding members, Vishal Sampat, CEO, Sarfaraz Khimani, co-COO and Pallav
Jain, co-COO, will continue to lead the agency. Convonix will sit within SMG and will
operate as SMG Convonix, with two market-facing brands: SMG Digital, and Convonix.
"As the first SEO organisation in India, Convonix has continued to innovate and build
the very best digital capability whilst being highly respected for its ability to recruit
the best talent from universities each year, and transform them into digital advertising
experts through a rigorous training program," said Laura Desmond, Global Chief Executive
Officer for Starcom MediaVest Group. She continues: "Combined with our existing talent in
the market, this deal strengthens our offering to ensure we are the market leaders in
digital."
Year on year, Convonix has increased revenues on average 66 percent since 2008.
According to the latest ZenithOptimedia adspend forecast, Search Marketing continues to
expand rapidly in India and is forecast to increase 35% in the region during 2013, and
more than 70% in the next two years.
Vishal Sampat, CEO for Convonix, comments: "We have built our reputation by focusing
on talent, training, technology and performance, and doing so has enabled us to rapidly
evolve with the consumer. Aligning with SMG gives us global scale and a more powerful face
to the market which we can leverage to constantly improve our offering and give our
clients the best tools and solutions available."
The acquisition of Convonix is a testament to Publicis Groupe's strategic commitment
to expanding its operations across India, with the ambitious goal of doubling its size in
India between 2010 and 2015. The Groupe has been working to increase its profile in the
country, including recent acquisitions of Indigo Consulting (April 2012), Resultrix
(August 2012), iStrat (December 2012) and MarketGate (December 2012).
Srikant Sastri, VivaKi Country Chair for India who is presiding over the acquisition
and transition of Convonix, adds: "First Resultrix, and now Convonix. We are now clearly
the digital marketing leaders in India, ahead of any other global network. We are positive
that this acquisition will set the tone for our next phase of digital pre-eminence both in
terms of expertise and revenue and we are continuing to explore other agencies that can
help us capitalize on the outstanding potential of the digital marketplace in India."
About Publicis Groupe
Publicis Groupe [Euronext Paris FR0000130577, part of the CAC 40 index] is the third
largest communications group in the world, offering the full range of services and skills:
digital (Digitas, Razorfish, Rosetta, VivaKi, LBi), traditional advertising (BBH, Leo
Burnett, Publicis Worldwide, Saatchi & Saatchi), public affairs, corporate communications
and events (MSLGROUP), media buying and strategy (Starcom MediaVest Group and
ZenithOptimedia) and specialized communications with PHCG (Publicis Healthcare
Communications Group). Present in 104 countries, the Groupe employs 58,000 professionals.
http://www.publicisgroupe.com | Twitter:@PublicisGroupe | Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/publicisgroupe
Viva la Difference !
About Starcom Mediavest Group (SMG)
Starcom MediaVest Group is the Human Experience Company. Our dream is to grow our
clients' business by transforming human behavior through uplifting, meaningful human
experiences. These brand "experiences'" are brought to life by distinct, strategic
point-of-views - Truth and Design and Space for Ideas - created and owned by SMG's two
global agency brands: MediaVest and Starcom, respectively. Ranked one of the largest brand
communications groups in the world, Starcom MediaVest Group (http://www.smvgroup.com)
encompasses an integrated network of human experience strategists, investment specialists,
content creators and digital experts. With nearly 6,700 employees in 110 offices
worldwide, SMG is the #1 ranked Global Media Agency (AdAge) and 2011 Media Network of the
Year at the Global Festival of Media as well as the most celebrated global media network
at the 2010 and 2009 Cannes International Advertising Festival.
About Convonix
Convonix is a 200 strong digital consulting firm that helps companies in India and
overseas draw and implement digital strategies spanning search engine optimization, search
engine marketing, social media marketing, online reputation management, web analytics and
conversion rate improvement. Founded in 2003, Convonix has evolved from being the first
pureplay SEO company in the country to offering the full range of digital advertising
solution for clients ranging from Fortune 100 companies to small and medium enterprises in
India, USA and Europe.
For more information on Convonix, visit http://www.convonix.com
Contacts
Publicis Groupe
Peggy Nahmany, Corporate Communications, +33(0)1-44-43-72-83
Martine Hue, Investor Relations, +33(0)1-44-43-65-00
Stephanie Atellian, Investor Relations, +33(0)1-44-43-74-44
Starcom MediaVest Group
Lauren Hurvitz, EVP, Global Corporate Communications, +1-212-468-3045
Publicis Groupe