Havas reports revenue growth

MUMBAI: Global advertising and communications services group Havas has reported real growth in annual revenue for 2006. This is the first time this has happened in the last five years.

Full-year revenue was 1,472 million euros compared to 1,461 million euros for the previous year, an increase of 0.8 per cent.

Havas’ performance won recognition from Ad Age and Campaign, the advertising trade publications in the US and UK respectively, both of which named Euro RSCG Worldwide as the best global ad agency. BETC Euro RSCG was voted best agency of the year by CB News. In France, the Recma report ranked MPG France as the country’s leading media agency.

Havas’ fourth quarter revenue was 410 million euros, reflecting organic growth of 0.4 per cent. Good news came in the form of a return to growth in North America and confirmation of growth in Asia-Pacific and in the UK. Elsewhere, Latin America saw an acceleration in the trend apparent since the start of the year, with double-digit organic growth.

In the Asia Pacific region renewed growth is being driven by India, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia.

Accounts won in the fourth quarter included Weight Watchers Meetings and Staples UK Retail (UK), Progressive Direct, Pearle Vision, Trex Company, Life Time Fitness, Select Comfort, (USA) in the advertising category. In Media accounts won included Peugeot-Citroen, Forte Pharma (France) ; Orange, Copa America 2007, Fiat, (Spain) and Telefonica (Brazil).