Publicis Groupe posts third-quarter year-on-year revenue increase of 9.2%

Publicis Groupe, the French owner of ad agency networks including Saatchi & Saatchi, has reported a like-for-like revenue increase of 9.2% year on year in the third quarter of 2010 to €1.3bn (£1.15bn). The company reported organic revenue growth in all world regions, with Europe up 5% year on year. This was spurred by France, up 12.6%, and the UK, up 9.3%, although Germany remains "negative" and southern Europe "is still quite low". North American operations increased organic revenue by 12%, Asia Pacific and Latin America by 9.8% each and Africa and the Middle East by 6.5%. Maurice Levy, the chief executive of Publicis Groupe, said the improved performance seen in the third quarter was partly due to the upturn in the global ad market but "more importantly it is the outcome of our investment strategy in two high-growth areas, digital and emerging markets". The marketing services group said that across the first nine months of the year organic revenue growth was 6.6%. "Despite traditional fourth-quarter uncertainties, we are confident about how the year will end," Levy said. "We believe we can and will sustainably outperform the market." Publicis Groupe had net debt of €512m as at 30 September. • To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email [email protected] or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. • If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".