Bcom3 Shareholders Vote To Merge With Publicis Groupe.

At a Bcom3 Group shareholder meeting held in Chicago, the results of a special vote to merge Chicago-based, privately held Bcom3 with Paris-based Publicis Groupe SA were announced.

“I am pleased that more than 90 percent of our shareholders participated in the vote, with more than 95 percent of them in favor of this merger,” said Roger Haupt, the chairman and CEO of Bcom3 Group who will become president and chief operating officer of the new Publicis Groupe upon closing of the deal. “The new organization will have the necessary scale and resources to more effectively compete in today’s global marketplace. On its own, Bcom3 held a strong position in The Americas and Asia-Pacific, while Publicis Groupe has an enviable presence in Europe. Importantly, Dentsu’s participation in this new venture, by virtue of its dominance in Japan and Asia, will enable us to offer clients a unique multicultural view of the world that no other holding company can match.”

“This is a great day for clients, shareholders and employees of the Publicis Groupe,” said Maurice Levy, who will continue as chairman & chief executive officer of the Groupe that now has combined 2001 worldwide gross income of $4.77 billion. “The world-class agency brands under the Bcom3 umbrella share our commitment to creative excellence and they deliver brand- building results to some of the world’s most successful and demanding marketers. When you consider our exclusive partnership with Dentsu, Publicis Groupe is well-positioned to offer cross-border advertising, media and marketing services solutions to a much broader range of multinational and local clients.”

“It gives me great pleasure to congratulate Bcom3 shareholders on their decision to unite with Publicis in a new global partnership,” said Yutaka Narita, chairman & chief executive officer of Dentsu Inc. “Dentsu has forged a solid relationship with Bcom3 over the past two and a half years, and we will carry our strong ties forth into our relationship with Publicis Groupe S.A.”

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