Publicis Groupe to Acquire Press Agency Relaxnews

Publicis Groupe and Relaxnews today announced the start of exclusive negotiations in view of the acquisition of Relaxnews for a consideration of approximately 15 million euro, corresponding to a price of 9.58 euro per share.

Founded in 2000, Relaxnews is a press agency, member of Fédération Française des Agences de Presse and of the International Press and Telecom Council, with global expertise in consulting, production and management of content for the digital transformation of media and firms. This Paris-based agency employs around 100 professionals.

Relaxnews recently launched the world’s first platform combining data, content and services for brands and media. The announcement of this innovative offering was commended at the last Online News Association trade fair (ONA14) in Chicago.

The platform relies particularly on the strategic global partnership it entered into with AFP (Agence France Presse) in 2009 and which has recently been renewed and extended. The AFP-Relaxnews newswire has already attracted over 200 clients worldwide – Getty Images, Globo, Microsoft, Yahoo! – among others. This partnership would have the possibility to be magnified in the new context.

Relaxnews would align with the ZenithOptimedia network, but would also work with the various divisions within Publicis Groupe. The agency would retain its current management team under the leadership of Jérôme and Pierre Doncieux who would report to Sébastien Danet, Global Managing Partner at ZenithOptimedia.

“Bringing Relaxnews into the Groupe would allow us to combine our leadership in digital with their unmatched expertise in today’s content revolution. The synergies between these two pillars will transform media platforms for the benefit of our clients,” commented Sebastien Danet.

Jérôme and Pierre Doncieux, Co-Chairmen of Relaxnews, added: “This project would be wonderful recognition of the Relaxnews adventure. By combining our expertise in the key areas of content and technology with the global clout of Publicis Groupe, we hope to provide media and brands with the leverage to accelerate their digital transformation. The prospect of working with Publicis Groupe and our partner AFP to help French companies flourish throughout the world would be a source of great pride.”