Publicis Groupe To Acquire LiveRamp In $2.2 Billion Deal

Publicis Groupe has announced an agreement to acquire LiveRamp in a deal valued at approximately $2.2 billion, as the company looks to strengthen its capabilities in data collaboration, artificial intelligence and technology-led services.

The acquisition is aimed at expanding Publicis Groupe’s position within data co-creation and enterprise identity solutions as the advertising and marketing industry increasingly shifts toward AI-driven ecosystems.

According to the companies, LiveRamp will continue operating under the leadership of chief executive officer Scott Howe, who will report directly to Arthur Sadoun following the completion of the transaction.

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Acquisition Expands Data Capabilities:

LiveRamp operates a global data collaboration platform that enables businesses to unify, manage and activate data across digital channels. The platform connects more than 25,000 publisher domains and over 500 technology and data partners across 14 international markets.

The company works with brands, retailers, media platforms and data providers to help convert fragmented datasets into unified systems designed for audience insights, activation and measurement.

Publicis Groupe said the acquisition forms part of its broader investment strategy across technology, AI and data services to prepare for what it described as the “agentic era”.

Under the agreement, Publicis Groupe will acquire LiveRamp in an all-cash transaction based on a purchase price of $38.50 per share. The deal represents a total enterprise value of $2.167 billion and a total equity value of $2.546 billion, including acquired net cash of $379 million.

The offer price reflects a premium of nearly 30 per cent over LiveRamp’s closing share price on May 15, 2026.

The transaction has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies.

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Publicis Raises Growth Outlook:

According to Publicis Groupe, the acquisition is expected to contribute positively to headline earnings per share from the first year of consolidation, excluding transaction-related costs.

The company also raised its financial outlook for 2027 and 2028 following the announcement, increasing its projected net revenue growth and headline EPS targets at constant currency.

Arthur Sadoun said the acquisition demonstrates Publicis Groupe’s long-term strategy of investing ahead of major market changes.

He referenced the company’s earlier acquisition of Epsilon in 2019, describing the LiveRamp deal as another step towards helping clients gain stronger control over their data and identity capabilities in an evolving digital environment.

Scott Howe said the acquisition would provide LiveRamp with additional resources and flexibility to scale its platform and continue developing data collaboration tools for customers and partners.

The companies also stated that LiveRamp will continue operating as a neutral and interoperable platform, with existing customer access, pricing structures and data privacy commitments remaining unchanged.