French advertising group Publicis (PUBP.PA) said it would purchase U.S.-based Rosetta Marketing Group for at least $575 million in cash in a move that will boost its digital and interactive marketing service offerings In addition to the initial transaction value, Rosetta's manager-shareholders can receive a potential deferred payment in 2014 based on the agency's performance between 2011 and 2013, Publicis said in a statement on Tuesday. Princeton-based Rosetta, which will become part of Publicis' VivaKi digital arm, is expected to have annual revenue of nearly $250 million in 2011, with clients mainly in the healthcare, financial, retail and technology industries.The growing popularity of Internet video and social media as advertising platforms is boosting Internet display advertising, while advertising in newspapers and magazines is slowing.
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