Publicis Groupe to Acquire 20:20 Media, 2020Social in India and Establish MS&LGROUP India - India's Leader in PR, Social Media and Specialty Communications Services
Poster: SySAdmin
Posted on October 1, 2010 at 1:35:01 AM
Publicis Groupe to Acquire 20:20 Media, 2020Social in India and Establish MS&LGROUP India - India's Leader in PR, Social Media and Specialty Communications Services
As PR and Social Media Increase in Importance in India, MS&LGroup India Takes Unrivalled Industry Leadership Position
PARIS, October 1, 2010/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Publicis Groupe today announced it has signed an agreement to
acquire a majority stake in one of India's most respected communications
agencies and the technology communications leader, 20:20 MEDIA, and in
India's first social media consulting firm, 2020Social. Subject to the
approval of the Indian government's Foreign Investment Promotion Board
(FIPB), the acquired entities will become part of MS&LGroup, Publicis
Groupe's flagship PR and events network.
Founded in 1989, 20:20 MEDIA is recognized as one of India's
leading public relations firms overall and remains the leader in technology
communications. 20:20 MEDIA employs more than 140 staff across its offices in
Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Pune. In 2009, 20:20 MEDIA
was selected as the India PR agency of the year at the Indy's Awards.
In addition to the rich capabilities of 20:20 MEDIA, the
acquisition of 2020Social gives MS&LGroup clients access to India's first
social media consulting firm. 2020Social was founded in 2009 and focuses on
strategy and advisory services for C-suite executives, marketers and PR
directors, and provides technology development, campaign management and
evaluation.
20:20 MEDIA and 2020Social will each operate independently
alongside MS&LGroup's existing multi-discipline communications agency in
India, Hanmer MS&L, which maintains a top position in the India PR industry
with more than 400 staff across eight offices.
The three agency operations will be united under the common
MS&LGroup India brand and comprise the largest, most-awarded, and specialized
PR and social media network in the country. The operations of each agency
remain independent as distinct business units, but will be directed by a
common India business strategy and Management Board. This board will be
chaired by MS&LGroup Asia President Glenn Osaki, and other. members will
include Sunil Gautam and Jaideep Shergill representing Hanmer MS&L, Sunil
Agarwal and Chetan Mahajan representing 20:20 MEDIA and 2020Social, as well
as other representatives from MS&LGroup.
With a combined staff across the three business units of more
than 550 employees, 16 owned offices and an activation network reaching 125
additional cities across the country, MS&LGroup India holds an unrivalled
leadership position in India's fast-growing PR, events and social media
industry.
To access more information on MS&LGroup India and its agencies, see
http://www.mslgroup.com/MSLGroup.India.2010.pdf
About Publicis Groupe
Publicis Groupe [listed on the Euronext Paris Exchange -
FR0000130577 - and part of the CAC 40 index] is the world's third largest
communications group. With activities spanning 104 countries on five
continents, Publicis Groupe offers local and international clients a complete
range of advertising services through three global advertising networks, Leo
Burnett, Publicis, Saatchi & Saatchi, and numerous agencies including Fallon,
49%-owned Bartle Bogle Hegarty, and Kaplan Thaler Group. VivaKi combines
digital and media expertise, allowing to connect with consumers in a holistic
way, with Starcom MediaVest Group and ZenithOptimedia worldwide media
networks; and interactive and digital marketing led by Digitas and Razorfish
networks. VivaKi develops new services, tools, and next generation digital
platforms. Publicis Groupe's specialized agencies and marketing services
offer healthcare communications with Publicis Healthcare Communications Group
(PHCG, the first network in healthcare communications), sustainability
communications and multicultural communications. With MS&LGroup, one of the
world's top three PR and Events networks, expertise ranges from corporate and
financial communications to public relations and public affairs, branding,
social media marketing and events.
Web sites: http://www.publicisgroupe.com and http://www.mslgroup.com
About 20:20 MEDIA
20:20 MEDIA was founded in 1989 and is India's first
technology communications firm. Today, it is recognized as one of India's top
PR firms and the leader in technology communications, with more than 140
staff and offices in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Pune.
20:20 MEDIA was selected as the India PR agency of the year 2009 at the
Indy's Awards. http://www.2020india.com
About 2020Social
2020Social is India's first social media consulting firm,
established in 2009 by 20:20 MEDIA founder Sunil Agarwal, with offices in
Delhi and Bangalore. 2020Social focuses on strategy and advisory services for
C-suite executives, marketers and PR directors, and provides technology
development, campaign management and evaluation. http://www.2020social.com
About Hanmer MS&L
Hanmer MS&L was founded in 1999 as Hanmer & Partners and today
is India's largest PR and specialty communications agency offering 360 degree
communications solutions to a prestigious clientele comprising over 150
Indian conglomerates and MNCs. Hanmer MS&L includes more than 400 staff
across offices in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad,
Hyderabad and Pune. It was selected by the Holmes Report as India's PR
consultancy of the year in 2009. http://www.hanmermsl.com
Source: Publicis Groupe Services
Contacts: Publicis Groupe: Martine Hue, Investor Relations: +33(0)1-44-43-65-00; Peggy Nahmany, Corporate Communication, +33(0)1-44-43-72-83; MS&LGroup Global: Trudi Harris, Corporate Communication, +33-61-3738-302; MS&LGroup Asia & India +65-6327-0283; Neelam Banghard, Communications, neelam.banghard@mslworldwide.com
As PR and Social Media Increase in Importance in India, MS&LGroup India Takes Unrivalled Industry Leadership Position
PARIS, October 1, 2010/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Publicis Groupe today announced it has signed an agreement to
acquire a majority stake in one of India's most respected communications
agencies and the technology communications leader, 20:20 MEDIA, and in
India's first social media consulting firm, 2020Social. Subject to the
approval of the Indian government's Foreign Investment Promotion Board
(FIPB), the acquired entities will become part of MS&LGroup, Publicis
Groupe's flagship PR and events network.
Founded in 1989, 20:20 MEDIA is recognized as one of India's
leading public relations firms overall and remains the leader in technology
communications. 20:20 MEDIA employs more than 140 staff across its offices in
Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Pune. In 2009, 20:20 MEDIA
was selected as the India PR agency of the year at the Indy's Awards.
In addition to the rich capabilities of 20:20 MEDIA, the
acquisition of 2020Social gives MS&LGroup clients access to India's first
social media consulting firm. 2020Social was founded in 2009 and focuses on
strategy and advisory services for C-suite executives, marketers and PR
directors, and provides technology development, campaign management and
evaluation.
20:20 MEDIA and 2020Social will each operate independently
alongside MS&LGroup's existing multi-discipline communications agency in
India, Hanmer MS&L, which maintains a top position in the India PR industry
with more than 400 staff across eight offices.
The three agency operations will be united under the common
MS&LGroup India brand and comprise the largest, most-awarded, and specialized
PR and social media network in the country. The operations of each agency
remain independent as distinct business units, but will be directed by a
common India business strategy and Management Board. This board will be
chaired by MS&LGroup Asia President Glenn Osaki, and other. members will
include Sunil Gautam and Jaideep Shergill representing Hanmer MS&L, Sunil
Agarwal and Chetan Mahajan representing 20:20 MEDIA and 2020Social, as well
as other representatives from MS&LGroup.
With a combined staff across the three business units of more
than 550 employees, 16 owned offices and an activation network reaching 125
additional cities across the country, MS&LGroup India holds an unrivalled
leadership position in India's fast-growing PR, events and social media
industry.
To access more information on MS&LGroup India and its agencies, see
http://www.mslgroup.com/MSLGroup.India.2010.pdf
About Publicis Groupe
Publicis Groupe [listed on the Euronext Paris Exchange -
FR0000130577 - and part of the CAC 40 index] is the world's third largest
communications group. With activities spanning 104 countries on five
continents, Publicis Groupe offers local and international clients a complete
range of advertising services through three global advertising networks, Leo
Burnett, Publicis, Saatchi & Saatchi, and numerous agencies including Fallon,
49%-owned Bartle Bogle Hegarty, and Kaplan Thaler Group. VivaKi combines
digital and media expertise, allowing to connect with consumers in a holistic
way, with Starcom MediaVest Group and ZenithOptimedia worldwide media
networks; and interactive and digital marketing led by Digitas and Razorfish
networks. VivaKi develops new services, tools, and next generation digital
platforms. Publicis Groupe's specialized agencies and marketing services
offer healthcare communications with Publicis Healthcare Communications Group
(PHCG, the first network in healthcare communications), sustainability
communications and multicultural communications. With MS&LGroup, one of the
world's top three PR and Events networks, expertise ranges from corporate and
financial communications to public relations and public affairs, branding,
social media marketing and events.
Web sites: http://www.publicisgroupe.com and http://www.mslgroup.com
About 20:20 MEDIA
20:20 MEDIA was founded in 1989 and is India's first
technology communications firm. Today, it is recognized as one of India's top
PR firms and the leader in technology communications, with more than 140
staff and offices in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Pune.
20:20 MEDIA was selected as the India PR agency of the year 2009 at the
Indy's Awards. http://www.2020india.com
About 2020Social
2020Social is India's first social media consulting firm,
established in 2009 by 20:20 MEDIA founder Sunil Agarwal, with offices in
Delhi and Bangalore. 2020Social focuses on strategy and advisory services for
C-suite executives, marketers and PR directors, and provides technology
development, campaign management and evaluation. http://www.2020social.com
About Hanmer MS&L
Hanmer MS&L was founded in 1999 as Hanmer & Partners and today
is India's largest PR and specialty communications agency offering 360 degree
communications solutions to a prestigious clientele comprising over 150
Indian conglomerates and MNCs. Hanmer MS&L includes more than 400 staff
across offices in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad,
Hyderabad and Pune. It was selected by the Holmes Report as India's PR
consultancy of the year in 2009. http://www.hanmermsl.com
Source: Publicis Groupe Services
Contacts: Publicis Groupe: Martine Hue, Investor Relations: +33(0)1-44-43-65-00; Peggy Nahmany, Corporate Communication, +33(0)1-44-43-72-83; MS&LGroup Global: Trudi Harris, Corporate Communication, +33-61-3738-302; MS&LGroup Asia & India +65-6327-0283; Neelam Banghard, Communications, neelam.banghard@mslworldwide.com