I-Hsien Sherwood
Jan 24, 2018

Publicis Groupe refutes anonymous charge it overvalued organic growth

Holding company labels anonymous accusation a "destabilization attempt".

Publicis Groupe refutes anonymous charge it overvalued organic growth

On Tuesday, after financial markets closed in Paris, auditors and regulators received an anonymous letter claiming Publicis Groupe had "overvalued its organic growth for 2016 and 2017," according to a statement from Publicis released Tuesday evening. 

The letter alleges that the Publicis figures are off due to "an early application of IFRS 15," an accounting standard that governs the way companies report revenues from contracts with customers.

The holding company firmly denies the accusation, calling it a "destabilization attempt" by someone who "obviously has no knowledge of accounting standards and is proceeding by amalgam, for the sole purpose of creating doubt and disturbing the reality of Publicis Groupe’s figures."

According to the statement, Publicis has informed the Autorité des marchés financiers, the market regulator in France, about the anonymous letter, and the holding company is also "studying all possible legal options at its disposal." 

Publicis did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment. 

Source:
Campaign US

Related Articles

Just Published

1 hour ago

Brands must eradicate the 'insight famine' to find ...

The fifth annual 'State of Creativity' report finds that more than half of brands describe their ability to develop high-quality insights as poor or very poor.

3 hours ago

Sweaty Betty kicks off campaign focused on leg

'Wear the damn shorts’ empowers women to embrace their legs and challenge beauty standards.

3 hours ago

Is a four-day working week viable for adland?

A small number of agencies have embraced the four-day working week, and while agency leaders seem to be up for it, there are a few hurdles to overcome before it can become a more general reality.

4 hours ago

Adidas and FCB create performance shoe for runners ...

Three years in the making: After rigorous testing and development, the product is set to launch in 2026.