Publicis is in talks to buy Alliance Data System’s Epsilon marketing unit, with reports that it’s valued at around $5 billion ($AU7 billion).
A statement released by Publicis said: “The group’s governing bodies feel an obligation to study any possibility to strengthen its position thanks to assets that could fit the group’s strategy and bring an enhanced service to the group’s clients, while reinforcing its competitiveness for the future.
The holding company said while they are indeed in talks with Alliance Data System, it “cannot give any indication on whether a transaction would materialize or not.”
Acquiring Epsilon would strengthen Publicis’ presence in the US where it competes with Omnicom, Interpublic and WPP.
Publicis recently bought data marketing company Soft Computing earlier this year, and also acquired Czech firm Kindred Group last year.
