Publicis Groupe''s PR arm Manning Selvage & Lee''s to acquire top Indian PR firm Hanmer & Partners

02 November 2007

The world''s fourth largest communications group, Publicis Groupe, has agreed to acquire leading Indian public relations consultancy Hanmer & Partners, subject to Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval. A pan India consuting firm, Hanmer & Partners employs 350 professionals across 10 practice and vertical specialisations in 42 cities across India.

Mark Hass, global CEO of MS&L, said, "We''ve worked with Hanmer & Partners for
several years, and we have a very successful history of collaboration. Sunil Gautam (managing director of Hanmer & Partners) and his team will add significant new expertise and resources to the MS&L family in a region that is of growing importance to the public relations industry and MS&L''s global clients.

This acquisition is in line with Publicis Groupe''s commitment to expand its offering in high-growth emerging markets and is an important component of MS&L''s aggressive growth plans for Asia, where the firm already enjoys a significant presence in China, Japan and Southern Asia."

Following this acquisition, Hanmer will be aligned with Manning Selvage & Lee (MS&L), one of the world''s most important public relations firms, and the Indian agency will be renamed Hanmer MS&L.

This acquisition significantly strengthens MS&L''s presence and capabilities in India, while offering Hanmer & Partners'' clients access to a global network.

Sunil Gautam, managing director of Hanmer & Partners, said: "Partnering with MS&L gives us the opportunity to build our client relationships both inside and outside of India. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to join MS&L, and I think this will be a very fruitful and successful partnership for many years to come."