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Tag: Vivendi

  • Havas gets listed independently on Euronext Amsterdam

    Havas gets listed independently on Euronext Amsterdam

    MUMBAI: It’s got its independence at last. Advertising and marketing services giant Havas today announced the successful listing of its ordinary shares on the regulated market of Euronext in Amsterdam under the ticker HAVAS. This follows the completion of its spin-off from Vivendi and the distribution of Havas’s ordinary shares to Vivendi shareholders on a one-for-one basis, approved by them  at the combined general shareholders’ meeting  on 9 December 2024. 

    Havas chairman & CEO Yannick Bolloré said: “The successful completion of Havas’s spin-off and listing on Euronext Amsterdam marks a pivotal step towards the realisation of our long-term vision. It gives us additional flexibility to accelerate our growth across our key business lines and strengthens our unique position within the dynamic marketing and communications industry. Our converged strategy, enhanced by exceptional talent, data-driven insights, cutting-edge technology, and targeted acquisitions, places us in the best possible position to be even more creative and strategic, and deliver robust financial performance, creating long-term value for our shareholders. I would like to thank our talented teams for all their hard work and commitment throughout this process, and all our clients for their trust.” 

    Through its converged strategy, has drawn up a three pronged way forward to drive growth, creativity and innovation by focusing on three key priorities: 

    1. Strategic acquisitions: Continue its disciplined approach to acquisitions, targeting high-growth markets and expanding its expertise in data analytics, digital transformation, and AI. 
    2. Investment in innovation: Prioritise the development of capabilities in data, technology, and AI to deliver cutting-edge solutions, ensuring it remains at the forefront of the industry. 
    3. Increased Collaboration: Implement a group-wide operating system to fuse all Havas’ global expertise, tools and capabilities and further integrate its networks and agencies worldwide. 

    As disclosed at the capital markets day held on 19 November  2024: 
    * Havas is aiming to achieve an Adjusted EBIT margin ranging between 14 per cent  and 15 per cent by no later than the financial year ending 31 December 2028. Havas is also aiming to generate contributions to net revenue from new acquisitions averaging between €40 million and €50 million per year over the medium term, driven by the execution of the group’s acquisition strategy. 

    * Havas believes it can achieve the following as of and for the year ending 31 December 2024: 
    o A change in net revenue on an organic basis ranging between a decrease of one per cent  and no change, compared to the year ended 31 December 2023; 
    o Adjusted EBIT in excess of €330 million, reflecting management of operating expenses (such as personnel and travel expenses); 
    o Net cash and cash equivalents (excluding lease liabilities and earn-out and buy-out obligations) of around €150 million.

    * For the year ending 31 December, 2025, Havas believes it can achieve the following: 
    o Net revenue on an organic basis growth in excess of two per cent, compared to the year ending 31 December 2024; 
    o Adjusted EBIT margin ranging between 12.5 per cent and 13.5 per cent 

    Regarding its dividend policy, Havas says it intends to provide a regular return on capital to its shareholders through an annual dividend payment. This payment is expected to represent around 40 per cent of the net income (group share) for the relevant financial year, starting in 2025 for the financial year ending 31 December 2024. 

  • Vivendi shareholders give goahead to spinoff Canal+, Havas and Louis Hachette group

    Vivendi shareholders give goahead to spinoff Canal+, Havas and Louis Hachette group

    MUMBAI: If you thought, the world of advertising is only going through fusion following  the acquisition and merger of Interpublic group by the Omnicom group, you would be better off thinking otherwise.

    In Europe, there’s fission taking place. The combined general shareholders of Vivendi yesterday gave the company the go-ahead to break into pieces. 97.5 per cent of the votes were in favour of the separation of Vivendi from Canal+, Havas, and the Louis Hachette group (the company bringing together the 66.53 per cent investment in Lagardère and 100 per cent of Prisma Media). 

    The first trading day for the shares of these three companies will therefore take place, as announced, on 16 December 2024, respectively on the London stock exchange, Euronext Amsterdam and Euronext Growth Paris.  
    With a quorum of 71.96 per cent of shareholders present or represented, the two resolutions requiring approval by a two-thirds majority of votes, namely those regarding partial asset contributions subject to the French legal regime applicable to partial demergers (apport partiel d’actifs soumis au régime des scissions), were overwhelmingly adopted with 97.57 per cent of the votes for the Canal+ partial demerger and with 97.58 per cent  for the Louis Hachette group partial demerger.

    The resolution regarding the distribution in kind of Havas NV shares to the Vivendi shareholders, requiring the approval of a simple majority of votes, was adopted with 97.61 per cent of the votes. 

    Said  Havas chairman & CEO and chairman of the supervisory board Yannick Bolloré: “We are delighted with the very high adoption rate of our spin-off project. This undisputable result confirms the strong support of our shareholders for this transformative transaction. Over the past year, the teams have been working on this transformative project, which aims to better reflect the value of Canal+, Havas, Lagardère, and Prisma, which have been impacted by a conglomerate discount affecting the group for several years; to unlock their full potential in a global landscape filled with significant investment opportunities.This vote gives new momentum to Canal+ group, Havas, Lagardere and Prisma Media and marks a new era full of opportunities for Vivendi. The company will continue to play its role, particularly by pursuing the transformation of Gameloft and optimizing its portfolio of high-quality assets.”

  • Adobe and Havas expand partnership

    Adobe and Havas expand partnership

    Mumbai: Adobe and Havas have announced an expanded partnership, transforming the agency’s end-to-end content workflows and paving the way for a smarter and more responsible content supply chain. The collaboration will enable all Havas agencies to leverage Adobe generative AI, and more efficiently deliver unparalleled personalised customer experiences.  

    Havas agencies will adopt Adobe GenStudio – Adobe’s breakthrough enterprise content supply chain solution that brings together best-in-class applications across Adobe Creative Cloud, Express and Experience Cloud. The integration will enable agencies to accelerate the content process from ideation to delivery, while also giving them direct access to Adobe Firefly, Adobe’s family of creative generative AI models, so they can generate content that is designed to be safe for commercial use.

    Using Adobe GenStudio, Havas agencies will be able to choose which content creation techniques and practices they employ, as well as how they prefer to leverage generative AI when activating new and variant content. They will also gain access to audience-specific data insights, enabling impact-based content optimization, and Adobe GenStudio’s seamless collaboration features, which empower cross-functional teams to create, edit and deliver customer experiences in real time.

    On the heels of the recent launch of Prose on Pixels, Havas’ global content at scale network, this collaboration reaffirms Havas’ commitment to driving transformative change in the content production field. It will also help Havas agencies keep up with growing demands for real-time personalized content without compromising quality or brand consistency and while reducing waste.

    “In today’s rapidly evolving digital world, where the boundaries between creativity, technology and communication are constantly shifting, it is imperative to be at the forefront of innovation,” said Havas Chairman and Global CEO, Vivendi chairman Yannick Bolloréi. “This partnership will enable us to harness the latest technologies, combining the strength of Adobe’s cutting-edge software with the deep well of Havas’ brand expertise to create a ‘meaningful AI’ that not only meets but exceeds the expectations of our clients.”  

    “The digital world runs on Adobe products, and Havas is a strategic partner, delivering stand-out digital work for brands that are household names around the world,” said Adobe digital experience president Anil Chakravarthy. “We’re excited to see how Havas redefines content creation and innovates with our solutions to embed sustainability and generative AI with Firefly into their content supply chain.” 

  • Vivendi files a corrupt organisations complaint against T-Mobile

    Vivendi files a corrupt organisations complaint against T-Mobile

    MUMBAI: Global European media conglomerate Vivendi has announced that it filed a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations Act (Rico) complaint in federal court in the State of Washington in the US.

    The charge is that T-Mobile illegally appropriated Vivendi’s $2.5 billion investment in Polish mobile telecom operator Polska Telefonia Cyfrowa (PTC), through a pattern of fraud and racketeering.

    Named in the complaint are T-Mobile USA, T-Mobile Deutschland, Deutsche Telekom AG and . Zygmunt Solorz-Zak, who controls another Polish company Elektrim, which is Vivendi’s joint-venture partner for its investment in PTC.

    According to the suit, this case involves two companies, Vivendi and T- Mobile, that have substantial business activities in the US, one of whom (T-Mobile) colluded with Mr. Solorz-Zak in a pattern of racketeering activity over US wires as part of an unlawful scheme to take over an enterprise, PTC, and corrupt another enterprise, Elektrim.

    Vivendi says that it considers that T-Mobile and Mr. Solorz’ Elektrim illegally appropriated its $2.5 billion investment in PTC and, at every turn, have defied court orders. By filing this Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations Act complaint, it is asking the court for a simple remedy – give back its money or its PTC shares.

  • Vivendi Games turns on the heat with ‘Miami Vice’ game

    Vivendi Games turns on the heat with ‘Miami Vice’ game

    MUMBAI: Vivendi Games’ Sierra Entertainment has launched a game for the playstation based on the new film Miami Vice.

    The game has been released in the US. Set in present-day Miami, the third-person action shooter is inspired by the crime drama, Miami Vice. Players will go deep undercover as narcotic officers Sonny Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs in the notorious world of Miami Vice — a place where badges don’t count.

    The development of the game comes through an agreement with Universal Studios Consumer Products Group. Vivendi Games chief strategy and marketing officer Cindy Cook says, “By allowing players to go dangerously undercover as Crockett and Tubbs in the rich, glamorous and decadent world of Miami Vice, as well as providing game design elements that maximise the technology of the PSP system including cutting-edge motion capture, highly-detailed environments, and lighting effects inspired by the film, Miami Vice The Game delivers a truly authentic Miami Vice experience that will appeal to fans and action gamers”.

    In Miami Vice The Game, players follow a storyline set just before the events of the film. Gamers must build up the nefarious reputation necessary to infiltrate the seedy underbelly of South Beach, and ultimately bring down the organisation of an ‘untouchable’ South American drug lord. Gamers can also choose to play as either Crockett or Tubbs, or team up via wireless to play each action-packed mission cooperatively.

    Armed with intelligence from informants and utilising hacking skills, players will take on the enemy in varied locations with an impressive array of weapons including high-speed chases through Miami’s treacherous waterways while engaging in boat-to-boat shootouts.