Havas

Last updated

Havas NV
FormerlyHavas Conseil SA (1968–75)
Eurocom SA (1975–96)
Havas Advertising (1996–2002)
Havas SA (2002–24)
Company type Public
Euronext Amsterdam:  HAVAS
Industry Business Services
PredecessorAgence Havas
Vivendi advertising division
Founded1968;57 years ago (1968)
Founders
Headquarters Puteaux, France
Key people
ProductsAdvertising, marketing, media
RevenueIncrease2.svg€2.87 billion (2023) [1]
Number of employees
23,000
Parent Vivendi (2017–2024) [2]
Bolloré (2004–2017, 2024–present)
Divisions Havas Media Group
Havas Creative Group
Havas Health & You
Website www.havas.com
Building at 62, rue de Richelieu in Paris, built by the Societe generale des Annonces and used by Havas from 1921 as head office of its advertising operations RichelieuHavas.jpg
Building at 62, rue de Richelieu in Paris, built by the Société générale des Annonces and used by Havas from 1921 as head office of its advertising operations

Havas NV (French pronunciation: [avas] ) is a French multinational advertising and public relations company, with its registered office and head office in Puteaux, France. [4]

Contents

Havas operates in more than 100 countries. The group is structured into three main operational divisions, offering a wide range of services including digital advertising, direct marketing, media planning and buying, corporate communications, sales promotion, design, human resources, sports marketing, multimedia interactive communications, public relations, and innovation consulting. [5]

History

Early history

The original Havas was the world's first news agency, created in 1835 by Charles-Louis Havas. The Agence France-Presse news agency comes from it.

By 1968, Havas had become a diversified group which had, inter alia, media interests. These interests were incorporated into a société anonyme , Havas Conseil S.A., which expanded its business rapidly. In 1975, Havas Conseil split into five parts that re-merged to become Eurocom, a holding company of a Group of subsidiaries specializing in various communications activities. [6]

Havas was first listed on the Paris Bourse (now the Euronext Paris) in 1982. On 25 May 1987, Havas started the privatisation process as part of a nation-wide denationalization campaign and it was finished around June. [7] [8] [9]

In 1991, Eurocom acquired the French advertising group RSCG, leading to the creation of the Euro RSCG Worldwide advertising network. RSCG had been the lead advertising agency for Peugeot. In 1996, Eurocom changed its name to Havas Advertising and created four operating divisions, Euro RSCG, Campus, Diversified Agencies, and Médiapolis. [10] American Bob Schmetterer is named chairman and CEO of the largest division Euro RSCG, whose headquarters are moved to New York in 1997.

Vivendi ownership

In 1998, Compagnie Générale des Eaux, led by Jean-Marie Messier, changed its name to Vivendi and acquired both Havas S.A. and Havas Advertising; it acquired a third of Havas in February 1997, and the remainder in March 1998 in a deal that valued the company at €6 billion (£4.05 billion). [11] [12] [13] Havas went on to acquire Cendant Software in November 1998 [14] [15] and it was renamed to Havas Interactive. Meanwhile, Havas Advertising started the Media Planning Group joint-venture with Spanish company Media Planning S.A. and acquired Snyder Communications.

Vivendi began to stop using the Havas name, starting with Havas S.A. becoming Vivendi Universal Publishing on 11 December 2000. [16] [17] In 2001, Vivendi sold off its remaining stake in Havas Advertising to institutional investors [18] and Havas Advertising announced plans to both acquire the Havas name from Vivendi and rename itself to just "Havas". [19] [20] [21] These decisions took effect at the annual shareholders meeting held on 23 May 2002. [22] [23]

Reclaimed brand

In September 2003, the group reorganized itself, as agencies from the Diversified Agencies division were sold or absorbed into three core divisions: Euro RSCG Worldwide (integrated communications); MPG (Media planning and buying) and Arnold Worldwide Partners (advertising). In July 2004, after having completed its strategic reorganization, Bolloré Group started acquiring a stake in Havas. In October, the Company completed a €404 million capital increase which enabled it to reduce its overall debt levels.

By 2005, Bolloré had amassed a 22% stake, obtained 4 seats on the Havas board at the shareholders meeting, [24] and took control of the company. Chairman and CEO Alain de Pouzilhac was deposed in a boardroom coup on 21 June 2005. Other board and management level changes followed. [25] The board appointed independent non-executive director Richard Colker as interim CEO. [26] On 12 July 2005, Havas named Vincent Bolloré as board chairman, and veteran banker Philippe Wahl as chief executive officer. [27] In March 2006, Havas named Fernando Rodés Vilà, son of the founder of Media Planning S.A. Leopoldo Rodés Castañes, as its new CEO.

Havas remained listed on Euronext, but delisted from the NASDAQ stock exchange as of 28 July 2006. [28]

In March 2015, the group's main shareholder Bolloré S.A. sold a 22.5 percent stake in the firm for around €600 million, but announced it intended to remain a majority shareholder. [29]

French corporate raider Vincent Bolloré, through his holding company the Bolloré Group, is the main shareholder, controlling 32.84% of the share capital as of 7 May 2012. Bolloré himself took over the chairmanship of the Havas board (Président du conseil d'administration). In November 2017, Havas acquired Malaysia-based agency Immerse and rebranded to Havas Immerse. [30]

In April 2022, Havas acquired the UK-based digital agency and Google partner, Search Laboratory. [31]

In April 2024, it was announced Havas had acquired the Paris-headquartered data consultancy company, TED Consulting. [32]

In July 2024, four of their agencies - Havas London, Havas Lemz, Havas New York, and Havas Immerse - lost their B Corp status over work for Shell plc. [33]

The company started trading at Euronext Amsterdam after its spin-off from Vivendi on 16 December 2024, the shares were trading at 1.91 euros on that day, up 6% on the opening price. [34]

In January 2025, Havas acquired CA Sports, one of the largest sports marketing agencies in Spain. [35]

Timeline

YearEvent
1835Foundation as a press agency by Charles-Louis Havas.
1879The Havas news agency incorporated as a Société Anonyme (plc).
1920Havas merges with the Société Générale d'Annonces and becomes the leading press manager (later extended to radio and cinema domains).
1923Havas starts billboarding
1940Havas' news agency is taken over by the Vichy government and named "Office français d'information"
1945Havas' news service becomes Agence France-Presse
1968Havas creates Havas Conseil S.A. to become advertising and media consultants
1975Havas Conseil S.A. splits into five entities and they merge to form Eurocom
1987Agence Havas is privatised and becomes Havas S.A.
1996Eurocom S.A. changes its name to Havas Advertising S.A.
1997Havas SA absorbs C.E.P. Communication, publisher of professional and medical journals as well as such magazines as L'Express and Le Point [36] and owner of book publisher Groupe de la Cite
1998 Vivendi agrees to takeover of Havas (100%)
2000Havas S.A. becomes Vivendi Universal Publishing
2001Vivendi sells off remaining stake in Havas Advertising
2002Havas Advertising buys the "Havas" brand from Vivendi and becomes just "Havas"
2022HARMAN and Havas announce a global partnership for a globally integrated agency model [37]

Services

Havas is a media holding company, whose subsidiaries provide communication consulting services, through traditional advertising media (television, radio and print and display), to media buying, and various marketing services such as advertising management, direct marketing, sales promotion, corporate communications, blockchain and ICO marketing, healthcare communications, internal communications, Television sponsorship, design, human resources communications and interactive communications.

Attempting to be perceived by clients and potential clients as "more entrepreneurial and more agile", Havas adopted a new structure in late 2012. The agency network once known as Euro RSCG was rebranded 'Havas Worldwide', much like their compatriots Publicis and their network, named 'Publicis Worldwide'. Other advertising agencies owned by Havas, such as Arnold Worldwide are rebranded 'Havas Creative'; the media division remains as 'Havas Media'. Havas created an umbrella brand, Havas Digital Group, to operate across the Creative and Media divisions. [38]

Case against former directors

Holding 22.01% of the share capital of Havas, on 21 June 2005, Bolloré ousted CEO Alain de Pouzilhac. [26] [39] Havas then dismissed Hérail for gross negligence; vice-chairman Alain Cayzac and others close to de Pouzilhac were also relieved of their services. Alain de Pouzilhac took Havas to court to seek unblocking of payment for non-compete that Havas had been withholding; civil cases were also launched by both for severance pay – a total of ten cases (including appeals) involving de Pouzilhac, four involving Hérail. [40] Payment for de Pouzilhac's non-compete clause was upheld. Hérail and former Havas executives Alain Cayzac and Agnès Audier won at the labour tribunal, where Hérail was granted damages of close to €5 million. [41]

Since the boardroom coup, Bolloré had consolidated control by further increasing his stake, which stood at 37% as of November 2012. Havas seized the Nanterre criminal court on 15 May 2007, and again in August and November 2007 to initiate three cases against de Pouzilhac, Hérail and Cayzac, accusing them of "conspiracy, misappropriating from the company, and attempting to cover up". Havas alleged that the three directors had signed new employment contracts during the takeover that gave them generous golden parachutes in the likely event of their removal. [39] Also, de Pouzilhac was accused of conspiring with Hérail to grant payment of €300,000 to fellow director Thierry Meyer. [39] The preliminary inquiry into the charges under public prosecutor Philippe Courroye lasted three years, during which time the accused were given either sporadic or no access to evidence for their defence, contrary to the legal requirements. [40]

"The Tribunal took the view that the criminal proceedings had not complied with proper procedures, nor with the European Convention on Human Rights. The Nanterre Court said that specifically, the provisions of this Convention relating in particular to access to the case file, the personal assistance of counsel during the investigation and the balance between the parties had not been met. In its decision, the Court considered that, given the weight and complexity of the case, which had 700 items – a preliminary investigation was not the most appropriate way of proceeding. Instead, the case should have been by instruction, which allows adversarial examination."
Les Echos, 15 November 2012 [42]

The criminal court of Nanterre dismissed the last of these cases in November 2012, citing "the lack of equity and violation of the rights of the defence". [41] Olivier Metzner and Olivier Bluche, lawyers for Alain de Pouzilhac and Jacques Hérail, criticised Vincent Bolloré for exploiting his close connection with Philippe Courroye, public prosecutor for Nanterre, to launch the case. [40]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Communiqués de presse" (PDF). 7 March 2024.
  2. ↑ "Financial Report and Audited Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2017". 15 February 2018.
  3. ↑ Isabelle Brot (1967), "Les archives de l'Agence Havas" , La Gazette des Archives, 56 (1): 11–24, doi:10.3406/gazar.1967.1946
  4. ↑ "Legal notices". Havas. Retrieved 4 June 2024. [...]its registered office at 29-30 Quai de Dion Bouton – 92800 Puteaux – FRANCE[...] - French page
  5. ↑ Lepitak, Stephen (18 December 2023). "What Could Be in Store for an Independent Havas Group?". www.adweek.com. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  6. ↑ "Advertising; Creation Of HCM Completed". The New York Times . 19 March 1985. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  7. ↑ "La privatisation d'Havas " Le maitre Jacques de la presse ", disait Balzac". Le Monde . 24 May 1987. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  8. ↑ "INTERNATIONAL REPORT; FRANCE EMBRACES 'POPULAR CAPITALISM'". The New York Times . 8 June 1987. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  9. ↑ Candoy-Seske, Rebecca (August 1989). "Techniques of Privatization of State-Owned Enterprises" (PDF). World Bank Group . Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  10. ↑ "Havas Craves Recognition". International Herald Tribune . No. 35, 124. 2 February 1996.
  11. ↑ "New owner to keep Havas Advertising unit". Ad Age. 9 March 1998. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  12. ↑ "INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS; Generale des Eaux to Buy Remaining 70% of Havas". The New York Times. 10 March 1998. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  13. ↑ Marshall, Caroline (17 April 1998). "Alain's Masterplan For Havas". PR Week
  14. ↑ Hansell, Saul (20 November 1998). "Cendant Said to Near Sale of Software Division". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  15. ↑ "Company News; Cendant to Sell Division to French Concern". The New York Times. 21 November 1998. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  16. ↑ "HAVAS devient VIVENDI UNIVERSAL PUBLISHING". Vivendi Universal Publishing. 18 December 2000. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  17. ↑ "HAVAS becomes VIVENDI UNIVERSAL PUBLISHING". Vivendi Universal Publishing. 18 December 2000. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  18. ↑ "Vivendi Sells Remaining 9.9% Stake In Havas Advertising for $386 Million". The Wall Street Journal . 7 June 2001. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  19. ↑ "Havas Advertising reprend le nom Havas". Havas. 7 December 2001. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  20. ↑ "Havas Advertising to become Havas". Havas. 7 December 2001. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  21. ↑ "Havas pays Vivendi £2.8m for the rights to its name". Campaign . 7 December 2001. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  22. ↑ "Havas Advertising devient Havas". Havas. 23 May 2002. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  23. ↑ "Havas Advertising becomes Havas". Havas. 23 May 2002. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  24. ↑ Remila, Laurence (9 June 2005). "Bolloré Gains Seats on Havas' Board" AdWeek.
  25. ↑ Eric Pfanner, Havas picks Bolloré as chairman, International Herald Tribune, 13 July 2005
  26. 1 2 "Alain de Pouzilhac poussé vers la sortie" Archived 6 December 2012 at the Wayback Machine . TF1, 21 June 2005
  27. ↑ "Havas Names Bolloré Chairman, Wahl CEO" AdWeek, 12 July 2005.
  28. ↑ "Havas: se retire du Nasdaq américain" (in French). Cercle Finance. 21 June 2006.
  29. ↑ "Bollore sells 22.5 percent Havas stake for $662 million". Reuters (Press release). 26 March 2015.
  30. ↑ "Havas buys Malaysian agency Immerse in recognition of the growing importance of the market". The Drum. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  31. ↑ "Havas expands global remit with acquisition of digital agency". campaignlive.co.uk. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  32. ↑ "Havas Acquires TED Consulting | LBBOnline". lbbonline.com. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  33. ↑ Ormesher, Ellen (18 July 2024). "Havas Agencies Lose B Corp Status Over Work For Shell". DeSmog. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  34. ↑ Nostro, Gianluca Lo; Marchandon, Leo; Loève, Florence (16 December 2024). Nissi, Milla (ed.). "Canal+ falls, Havas and Louis Hachette up on market debut post Vivendi split". Reuters . Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  35. ↑ "Havas N : acquiert CA Sports". zonebourse.
  36. ↑ "Havas to buy 25.8% stake in CEP for $503.7 million". Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y. New York, N.Y., United States, New York, N.Y. 17 January 1997. pp. –10:1. ISSN   0099-9660. ProQuest   398557623.
  37. ↑ "JBL BRAND AND HARMAN INTERNATIONAL'S HOUSE OF BRANDS APPOINTS HAVAS GROUP AS AGENCY OF RECORD". www.prnewswire.com (Press release). Havas Group. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  38. ↑ Elliott, Stuart (24 September 2012). "Havas Doubles Down on, Well, Havas", The New York Times.
  39. 1 2 3 AFP, "Havas : Alain de Pouzilhac sera jugé pour abus de bien sociaux". Le Monde, 30 March 2011. "Le groupe publicitaire Havas avait déposé plainte le 15 mai 2007 pour "abus de biens sociaux, complicité et recel" contre Alain de Pouzilhac, son ancien vice-président Alain Cayzac et son ancien directeur financier Jacques Hérail. Dans sa plainte, Havas accusait ses trois anciens dirigeants d'avoir rédigé dans la précipitation des avenants à leur contrat de travail pour toucher de confortables indemnités de départ après la prise de contrôle du groupe par Vincent Bolloré fin 2004, qui signifiait pour eux une probable mise à l'écart. Le 21 juin 2005, le nouveau conseil d'administration de Havas, fort de quatre administrateurs de Vincent Bolloré, avait brutalement révoqué Alain de Pouzilhac."
  40. 1 2 3 Poussielgue, Gregoire (15 November 2012), "Les anciens dirigeants d'Havas blanchis par la justice" Les Echos(in French)
  41. 1 2 "Bolloré perd au pénal contre Pouzilhac". Le Point, 15 November 2012. "Dans le volet civil de l'affaire, Vincent Bolloré a déjà perdu à dix reprises contre Alain de Pouzilhac et à quatre reprises contre Jacques Hérail, que ce soit en référé ou au fond. L'acharnement de l'homme d'affaires breton à détruire l'ancien P-DG de Havas prend fin aujourd'hui, sauf à ce que le parquet fasse appel. L'enquête étant annulée, les faits sont prescrits. Bolloré avait également perdu aux prud'hommes contre Alain Cayzac et Agnès Audier, deux anciens dirigeants de Havas de l'époque Pouzilhac. Le nouvel actionnaire avait également tenté de faire sauter le paiement de la clause de non-concurrence d'Alain de Pouzilhac. Son recours fut retoqué le 8 décembre 2011 par la cour d'appel de Paris. Aux prud'hommes, Jacques Hérail avait obtenu près de 5 millions d'euros de dommages."
  42. ↑ Poussielgue, Gregoire (15 November 2012), "Les anciens dirigeants d'Havas blanchis par la justice" Les Echos(in French) "Le Tribunal a en effet estimé que la procédure pénale n'avait pas été respectée, tout comme la Convention européenne des Droits de l'Homme. En l'espèce, les dispositions de cette Convention relatives notamment à l'accès au dossier, l'assistance effective d'un avocat pendant l'enquête et l'équilibre entre les parties n'ont pas été respectées, a estimé le Tribunal de Nanterre. Dans son justement, le Tribunal estime que, compte tenu de la lourdeur et de la complexité du dossier -qui compte 700 pièces -, une enquête préliminaire n'était pas la façon la plus adéquate de faire les investigations, et qu'il aurait fallu une instruction, qui permet des procédures contradictoires."
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.