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Publicis Posts Mixed Results; Digital Grows to 19% of Total Revenues

Publicis Groupe’s fourth-quarter growth was 1.1%, compared with 4.4% in the same period the previous year. Revenue rose 5.5% to $1.8 billion.

For the full year, net income slipped 1.1% to $585 million, on flat revenue of $6.1 billion, according to Adweek. The company managed to meet its full-year target of 3.8% growth in organic revenue. Organic growth was 1.8% in North America, 2.8% in Latin America and 36.7% in Africa and the Middle East. It slipped 1.8% in Europe and 1.1% in the Asia-Pacific region.

Maurice Levy, Publicis CEO, said that while the slowing growth reflects the decline of the economy in various sectors, and in various regions around the world, high growth continues in the media and digital businesses, and in many emerging economies. Still, he warned, the company is entering 2009 “serious minded.” “This is the year to win market share and consolidate our margins,” he said in a statement. Levy expects global advertising as a whole to drop between 2% and 3% in 2009 (via CNNMoney).

Publicis is on track to make 25% of total revenues from online by 2012, the company said. In 2008, it grew its digital business to 19% of total revenues, up from 15% last year, writes paidContent.