Publicis to acquire 'crown jewel' Sapient for $3.7 billion

The all-cash transaction for $25 per share has been approved by the boards of both companies. 

 

Sapient CEO and co-chairman Alan J. Herrick will join Publicis Groupe's senior management team (Directoire+) as CEO of Publicis.Sapient. Jerry A. Greenberg, co-founder and co-chairman

of Sapient, will join the Publicis Groupe Supervisory Board.

 

The purchase "accelerates achieving Publicis Groupe’s objective to become the leader at the

convergence of communication, marketing, commerce and technology", the company said in a press release. 

 

As a result of the acquisition, digital will account for more than 50 per cent of Publlicis' revenue, three years ahead of the 2018 plan, the company said.

 

“Sapient is a ‘crown jewel,’ a one of a kind company born in the technology space with strengths in marketing, communications, consulting and omni-channel commerce, all of which are equally important to best help clients achieve their digital transformation," Maurice Lévy, chairman and CEO of Publicis Groupe, said in the release.