Publicis Groupe to Acquire Performics Search Marketing Business from Google

Publicis Groupe has agreed to acquire the Performics search marketing business from Google (News - Alert). Chicago-based Performics helps advertisers maximize their investments and campaigns.

 

Looking to capitalize on the increasingly profitable search spending market, Publicis Groupe and its clients will now be based on Performics. In a report, Jupiter Media estimated that the search market will be worth $9.9 billion for 2008 and is projected to grow at a 12 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) through 2012.

 

Performics boasts more than 150 search engine marketing companies as its clients.

 

The company was launched in 1998 and employs nearly 200 search marketing specialists in Chicago, San Francisco, New York, London, Hamburg, Sydney, Singapore and Beijing.

 

The acquisition of Performics strengthens the offering of the VivaKi Nerve Center, a new strategic entity launched by the Publicis last June, and also will enrich the group’s search capabilities. Using collective scale of Digitas (News - Alert), Starcom-MediaVest, Denuo and Zenith-Optimedia VivaKi develops new services tools and partnerships, including new and emerging performance marketing platforms.

 

 The VivaKi Nerve Center includes numerous performance marketing assets, including Phonevalley, Webformance, Click2Sales and iBase. Publicis Groupe agencies and their clients are expected to derive a full and enhanced suite of performance marketing tools and capabilities with the addition of Performics.

 

“The acquisition of Performics will position the Groupe for significant growth by delivering a broad portfolio of clients into our operations,” said  Maurice Lévy, chairman and CEO of Publicis Groupe, in a statement. “Performics will also bring widely-recognized talent and capabilities that can be embedded into the client teams inside Digitas, Starcom MediaVest Group and ZenithOptimedia. Not only will this acquisition bring critical mass to Publicis Groupe’s formidable Search capabilities, but it will also enhance our affiliate marketing and overall performance marketing offering.”