PARIS, July 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ —

Publicis Groupe [Euronext Paris: FR0000130577] today announced
that it has acquired an equity stake in Big Fuel, the New
York-based social media agency. According to the terms of the
agreement, Publicis Groupe immediately acquires 51% of the new
agency, and has the possibility of increasing its participation to
100% from 2014. Big Fuel will be aligned under the VivaKi
organization and serve as a strategic social media “center” for the
VivaKi agencies Digitas, Razorfish, Starcom MediaVest Group and
Zenith Optimedia, complementing their existing teams.

With more than 170 employees, Big Fuel is one of the only
pure-play social media agencies in the industry, with all employees
dedicated to providing clients with social media services including
strategic, creative, distribution, management and analytics. The
company has grown from 30 employees in early 2010, and its 2011
revenue is expected to reach nearly $30M, a 500% increase
year-on-year. It has been named social media agency of record for
some major marketers, including GM and T-Mobile. Big Fuel also
works with Colgate-Palmolive, Microsoft, Clorox, Children’s Place,
Gore-Tex and Philips.

Big Fuel is headed by Jon Bond, CEO, who assumed the role in
January of 2011. Bond runs the agency in partnership with Avi
Savar, founding partner and Chief Creative Officer, and Mike
McGraw, managing partner and COO. Big Fuel will report into
the VivaKi organization through Laura Lang, global CEO of Digitas
and member of the VivaKi Board of Directors.

“Big Fuel is a dynamic social
media agency with a scalable model that encompasses social tools,
process, a content studio and a distribution network. As a
result, it will extend the creative and
content resourcing of Digitas and Razorfish,“said
Laura Lang. “They specialize in taking brands from
content to commerce, and their social media operating system has
earned them Social AOR status with some of the
world‘s most powerful marketers. Sitting inside
VivaKi, with its powerful media and digital agency networks, Big
Fuel gives us unprecedented Paid, Owned and Earned
capabilities, further enhancing the social media strategies
of its sister agencies.“

Jon Bond, CEO of Big Fuel, says the deal will help support Big
Fuel’s rapid organic growth. “Big Fuel’s founder Avi Savar had
the vision to create one of the first full-service social media
agencies,” said Bond. “Now that social is
revolutionizing global marketing, this partnership gives the agency
and its clients scale, impact, and a network around the
world.”

According to Research company eMarketer, worldwide spending on
social networks will reach almost $6 billion this year, amounting
to $3.1 billion in the US and $2.9 billion in international
markets.

About Publicis Groupe:

Publicis Groupe [listed on the Euronext Paris Exchange –
FR0000130577 – and part of the CAC 40 index] is the world’s third
largest communications group. With activities spanning 104
countries, Publicis Groupe employs approximately 50,000
professionals and offers local and international clients a complete
range of advertising services through three global networks: Leo
Burnett, Publicis, Saatchi & Saatchi, and numerous agencies
including Fallon, 49%-owned Bartle Bogle Hegarty, and Kaplan Thaler
Group. VivaKi combines digital and media expertise, allowing
clients to connect with consumers in a holistic way, with Starcom
MediaVest Group and ZenithOptimedia worldwide media networks; and
interactive and digital marketing led by Digitas and Razorfish
networks.Rosetta is an autonomous consulting and digital marketing
agency. Publicis Groupe offers healthcare communications with
Publicis Healthcare Communications Group (PHCG, the first global
network in healthcare communications). And with MSLGROUP, one of
the world’s top five PR and Events networks, also provides
expertise in corporate and financial communications, public
affairs, branding, and social media marketing.

Website: http://www.publicisgroupe.com
| Twitter: @PublicisGroupe | Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/publicisgroupe

About Big Fuel:

Big Fuel is a social media agency based in New York. It takes
brands from Content to Commerce, a unique approach that bridges
“people stories” to “product stories” through social media and
branded content. Big Fuel is one part marketing agency, building
brands through consumer insight; one part entertainment company,
creating content that people love; and one part distribution
company, driving guaranteed results by delivering content to and
growing targeted audiences. The company works with major brands,
leading agencies, publishers and platforms to help marketers
achieve true consumer engagement. Visit Big Fuel at http://www.bigfuel.com.

CONTACTS

Publicis Groupe
Peggy Nahmany, Corporate Communications
+33(0)1-44-43-72-83
Martine Hue, Investor
Relations
+33(0)1-44-43-65-00

Big Fuel
Christine
Perez-O’Rourke +1-212-966-9525

Digitas
Jill Kelly, Global
Communications +1-646-735-7330

VivaKi
Cheri Carpenter, Global
Communications +1-312-220-6218

SOURCE Publicis Groupe