Last year they grew by 16 to 698 billion yenThe new generations are affected more and earlierthe decrease in dividends to the shareholders were interviewed by the competition authorityWhen the France so ask the professionalsThe lowest affected in March major stock indexes is impressiveDespite signs of recovery the financial crisis is not to be finiteIn the Iraqi capital the danger is everywhereRio Tinto which has since October 2006 a 94 million units over the period 7 growth on a yearFor the President of the Executive Board of Publicis, Maurice Lévy, the trough of the wave has probably been reached in the second quarter. "If this is not the case, it will be in July, or even later in August", he said, building on "a rise sloping from the third quarter.
Already, the mother House of Publicis, Leo Burnett and Saatchi & Saatchi network, which opened yesterday the ball of the publications for advertising groups, just before the US Omnicom result has pleasantly surprised analysts. In the second quarter, organic growth declined by 8.6. Decreased while nearly two times greater than that recorded in the first quarter (4.4), but confirming the capacity of resistance to the crisis of Publicis.
About six months, organic growth of the group declined by 6.6, while the advertising market, he plunged more than 10. Without exposure to the bankruptcy of one of its major customers, General Motors, the decline would have even been lower, limited to 5.4. "We win market share," welcomed Maurice Lévy, who puts forward the $ 3.2 billion of new budgets made in the first half, including Carrefour, JP Morgan Chase and Co. and China Mobile. He must however await "July 2010" that the group returned to positive growth.
Cost reduction
In the meantime, Publicis which, in the first half, recorded a fall of 13 of its net income part of the group in EUR 167 million for revenues of 2.2 billion, light down 0.8, reduced costs: on the first six months, 84 million euros in savings have been made.
Without announcing social plan - as some of its rivals such as the British WPP-, the French group has decreased its workforce of 4. "A total 1,800 employees are parties", recognizes Maurice Lévy, who wishes to continue to lower expenses. In the first half, operating margin rate was reduced to 13, 15 a year earlier over the period. The President of the Executive Board of Publicis, refuses to give a forecast figures for the second part of the year.
Any acquisitions
Between April and June, it was in Europe that the Group was most affected with a decline of 15.8 of its activity, penalized by the Spain and the Italy.
In the Asia-Pacific region, the situation was also tense (9.9). However, on the North American market, Publicis limited case-sensitive: thanks to digital activities and a strong presence in the field of health, its revenues have declined by 3.8.
In Latin America, on the other hand, net sales remained almost stable (0.4).
Poor conditions does not preclude Publicis interest in possible acquisitions. Where Microsoft would be vendor, Razorfish Agency, specialized in marketing and interactive advertising, "we will be interested because this society would complement smoothly our activities," said Maurice Lévy, little disert on the subject.
End of June, Razorfish whose turnover amounted to 380 million in 2008, had been assessed around 600 to 700 million by the press. With a Treasury of war of EUR 3.5 billion, Publicis would have the means to finance such acquisition, unless one of his rivals do him captures the folder.
Maurice Lévy denied, however, have considered the possibility to buy the American Interpublic Group.
Read "Screen" page 32.
