Publicis Groupe in €1.3 Billion Bond Offering to Finance Sapient Acquisition

Cleary Gottlieb represented Publicis Groupe in connection with its €1.3 billion offering of bonds consisting of two tranches, the first a €700 million tranche bearing interest at 1.125% and maturing on December 16, 2021 and the second €600 million tranche bearing interest at 1.625% and maturing on December 16, 2024. The bonds are listed on the regulated market of Euronext in Paris. They were issued as part of the financing package for the $3.7 billion tender offer by Publicis for the outstanding shares of Sapient.

The offering, consisting of an international private placement, launched and priced on December 9, 2014 and closed on December 16, 2014.

This offering was led by BNP Paribas, Citigroup Barclays acting as Global Coordinators and acting with Merrill Lynch, CM-CIC, J.P. Morgan, Société Générale, HSBC, Natixis and Crédit Agricole CIB as Joint Lead Managers.

Publicis Groupe is one of the world’s leading communications groups. The Groupe offers a full range of services and skills: digital, advertising, public affairs, corporate communications and events, media strategy, planning and buying, healthcare communications and brand asset production. Publicis announced on November 3, 2014 its intention to launch an offer for all outstanding shares of Sapient, a global services company that helps clients transform in the areas of marketing, omni-channel commerce and consulting.