Publicis Groupe has reported a 1.1% fall in net profits for 2008, to €447 million (£400 million).
Publicis, the world’s fourth largest advertising and marketing group, also reported a 0.7% year-on-year increase in revenue to £4.7 billion (£4.2 billion) with an overall organic revenue growth rate of 3.8%, meeting analysts’ forecasts.
The firm’s digital operations represented 19% of revenue last year, up from a 15% share in 2007. A total of 38% of revenue came from advertising services and 26% from media planning and buying.
Net debt fell from €837 million (£751 million) as of 31 December 2007 to €676 million (£606 million) at the end of last year.
Maurice Lévy, chairman and CEO of Publicis Groupe, said: “In this extremely difficult environment, Publicis Groupe has achieved good results, and I thank very warmly all our teams throughout the world, who have successfully been able to provide our clients with creative, efficient and effective solutions.
“A series of good figures testify to the relevance of our strategic choices that bear promises for the future: 3.8% organic growth for the year, although it slowed in the fourth quarter, continuation of the operating margin at its record level, 16.7%, strong cash generation and new business worth more than five billion dollars, which again put us at number one in the world. A fundamental factor in our success has been the Groupe’s expectation concerning the change, particularly in emerging economies, and the accelerated development of digital communication.”
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